Bluebird Heritage Parade in London 12th June
May 18, 2012 Uncategorized Leave a comment
An exciting centenary parade of Campbell Bluebird boats and cars is planned along The Haymarket in central London from 8 – 10.30am on 12th June, organised in association with The Theatre Royal Haymarket.
The date marks one hundred years since grandfather decided to name the car in which he raced at competition “Blue Bird.” (At that time he was spelling it as two separate words.)
He christened his car Blue Bird, painting it blue, after he and grandmother went to see the play The Blue Bird by the Belgian playwright, Count Maurice Maeterlinck, at the Haymarket Theatre in London.
He was so inspired by the play’s theme that, on the way home from the theatre, he woke the local ironmonger and bought all the blue paint in the shop. In the small hours of the morning, he painted his racing car, naming her “Blue Bird”. With the paint still wet, he drove down to “Brooklands” race circuit in Surrey, England and won his very first race!
The parade on June 12th is expected to attract crowds along The Haymarket (passing the theatre of course) to welcome a line of Bluebirds which are coming to London specially for the event. These will include the Bluebird from Beaulieu and my own beloved Bluebird power boat. (You will note that grandfather changed the name Blue Bird from the original two word spelling to the one word Bluebird recognised across the world today.)
My cousin Don Wales and I will be speaking at The Haymarket Theatre at 2pm. To book tickets and find out more, use this link to The Haymarket Theatre
The following Bluebird vehicles will be on display in front of the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 12th June 2012*:
- Lorraine Dietrich Vieux Charles III (1912)
This is believed to be Sir Malcolm Campbell’s original ‘Blue Bird’. It is housed at Brooklands’ Race Circuit where Grandfather won his first race 100 years ago.
- Sunbeam 350 HP (1924)
Grandfather achieved his first Land Speed World Record in this car in 1924 on Pendine Sands, South Wales.
- Bluebird K3 (1937)
Grandfather then achieved his first Water Speed World Record of 126.33mph in this boat on Lake Maggoire, Switzerland in 1937.
- Agfa Bluebird (1984)
My Bluebird boat means a lot to me; I won won the National and The European Championships in her, as well as the 1984 UK Offshore Boating Association Championship. She still looks as fine today as she did in her Agfa livery, so it will be great to see her joining in the parade!
- Bluebird Electric (2000)
My cousin, Don Wales, broke the UK Electric Land Speed Record in this vehicle during the millennium year. The car reached speeds of 137mph on Pendine Sands, where grandfather had become a record breaker in 1924.
- Bluebird GTL Formula E (2012)
100 years after Sir Malcolm’s first win in ‘Blue Bird’, the Bluebird team unveil their latest vehicle. The Bluebird legend continues…
*Please note all vehicles are all subject to confirmation
Reg Transfers gifts K7 DAD for my car!
May 18, 2012 Uncategorized Leave a comment
Those lovely people at Reg Transfers have made me a very special gift!
My dear friend and Web Editor, Michele Andrew, knew that she when she saw the registration K7 DAD on Reg Transfers’ list of registrations for sale that it would be the ideal plate for me. So, she approached the company (without me knowing anything about it) and, in a wonderful gesture, they offered the registration plate to serve as a permanent reminder of my daddy on my car.
The plates were presented to me by Reg Transfers in London on the day I went to Buckingham Palace. I’m sure you’ll agree they look just the business. So, no more covert operations for me driving around with such a distinct plate!
Gina attends Royal Reception
December 9, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
Gina was honoured by a Royal Invitation to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace on 8th December.
The royal reception was held for those involved in exploration and adventure. On Gina’s last visit to Buckingham Palace, when she was awarded the Queen’s Service Order for her community services in New Zealand, Her Majesty told Gina how pleased she was to have been able to honour three generations of the racing Campbell family.
Gina’s grandfather, Sir Malcolm was knighted by King George V in 1931. Her father, Donald Campbell, was made a Commander of The British Empire in January 1957 for his water speed record breaking – in particular for his record at Lake Mead in the USA.
Yesterday’s reception was hosted by Her Majesty The Queen, with Prince Philip, Prince Edward, The Princess Royal and Princess Beatrice in attendance. Guests included Sir David Attenborough, mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, world record holder Sir Ranulph Fiennes and documentary presenter Michael Palin. Younger explorers attending the Buckingham Palace party included yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur, Chief Scout Bear Grylls and Edward Stafford, European Explorer of the Year 2011.
Other guests included Brian Jones, who co-piloted the first balloon circumnavigation of the globe, Britain’s first astronaut Helen Sharman and Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Everest.
As part of the reception there was be an exhibition of artefacts from Arctic, Antarctic and Everest campaigns over the past decades.
New Donald Campbell book launched
December 5, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
Book launch at Ruskin Museum
Gina was at The Ruskin Museum recently for the launch of Neil Sheppard’s book “Donald Campbell: Bluebird and the final record attempt.” A crowd of fans and original team members gathered for the first editions of this illustrated story of the last water speed record attempt made by Donald Campbell in 1966/7.
Featuring a diary beginning with his first plans in June 1966, the preparations and modifications to Bluebird K7, the trials and setbacks at Coniston, the unsuccessful speed runs made in December 1966, and the runs over the Christmas holidays, the story is told right through to the attempt on 4 January, where Campbell lost his life.
Disaster was not inevitable, but the team were aiming for an eighth speed record to add to their earlier successes. The book details the minutiae of the events as they occurred, and illustrates how frustrations regarding the attempt built up over time, to the extent that Campbell went from being optimistic that the record would be achieved within a matter of days, to the point where he become more and more beleaguered as the weeks rolled on, and finally, where he seemed to be about to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, only for circumstances to intervene which resulted in his death.
Replica K7 shocks Coniston crowd
December 5, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
Gina headed back to Coniston for the Coniston Power Boats Records Week in October. “It was also the annual dinner of the famous K7 Club, with many familiar faces from the old days there. It was shocking to see a ghostly shape in the form of K7 on the water… no, it wasn’t a mirage, but was a replica boat made by Helical as a tribute to my father.
As it was all a complete surprise, and as I didn’t know anything about the look-alike K7 until it turned up, I wasn’t in the mood to be receptive. However, when the replica was swamped once put on the water, it was impossible to stay at arm’s length from the newcomer. (Image courtesy of View Finder Pictures.)
It seems that Charles Morris, whose team instigated the replica, was full of good intent and had not meant to upset my family by unveiling his look-alike craft. In fact, he had built the boat as a tribute to my father, who is hero-worshipped by Charles’ three sons. So I took the opportunity to find out more of Charles’ plans. Hopefully, the Morris family may now join with me in supporting some of the projects planned for The Campbell Wing of The Ruskin Museum. “
Bonneville 400mph Club Honours Dad
December 4, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
Quite by chance, a lovely letter arrived in the post this week from the President of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. The American club has formed a new chapter to honour my father – the 400 MPH Club.
Donald Campbell was included as a Charter Member of the Club at its annual banquet, held at the Bonneville Salt Flats this autumn. Dan Warner, the Club President writes:
The Club is proud to have the world’s only Ultimate Land and Ultimate Water Speed Record Holder as a Member.”
“At the annual meeting, older club members – some of whom remember Donald Campbell’s attempts at Bonneville – noted that even the younger members of the Club are still in awe of how much was accomplished by the Campbell Family in so few years of active competition.”
“In recognition of your father’s election to the 400 MPH Chapter, the Club produced a special cap with Donald’s name and record speed embroidered on the side. Only Charter Members of the 400 Chapter will receive these special caps – a total of 14 people. We hope you will treasure this hat..”
And, of course, enclosed was one of the embroidered caps, which I shall treasure indeed. Warm thanks to all at Bonneville 200 MPH Club.
200mph Club history
The salt flats’ potential for racing was first recognized in 1896 by W.D. Rishel who was scouting a bicycle race course from New York to San Francisco. Rishel returned and convinced daredevil Teddy Tezlaff to attempt an automobile speed record on the flats. Tezlaff drove a Blitzen Benz 141.73 m.p.h. to set an unofficial record in 1914.
The salt flats drew international attention in the 1930′s when Utah driver Ab Jenkins lured Sir Malcolm Campbell to compete for speed records on the salt surface. (Photos reveal he never wore appropriate shoes! They always look like leather-soled suit shoes.)
By 1949, the raceway on the Bonneville Salt Flats was the standard course for world land speed records. A pioneering group of land speed racers laid the foundation for what has turned into one of the largest, and certainly fastest, motor sports events in the world. On this natural straightaway the 300, 400, 500, and 600 mile per hour land speed barriers were broken.
The original idea for the formation of a club to recognise the accomplishments of drivers setting speed records over 200 mph on the Salt Flats was the brainchild of So-Cal Special driver, Dean Batchelor, and Hop Up magazine editor, Lou Kimsey. The go ahead and support came from Hop Up magazine publisher Bill Quinnin in 1953.
A review of the Club’s membership will find some of the most famous names in motorsports. Internationally recognised drivers Art Arfons, Craig Breedlove, Gary Gabelich, Don Garlits, Andy Granatelli and Andy Green are, of course, joined by Sir Malcolm Campbell and Donald Campbell.
But things didn’t always go according to plan…
Donald Healy, Phil Hill, Bobby Isaac, Sir Stirling Moss, Richard Noble, Mickey Thompson and Bobby Unser have all raced on the famous salt flats. A look at the membership roster finds family names spanning several generations. The club currently boasts 15 female members, proving that land speed racing is not an exclusive ‘boys club’.
Sir Malcolm’s grandson aims for Bonneville
Since the first speed record attempts in 1914, hundreds of records have been set and broken in a variety of automotive and motorcycle classes.
Typically, speed trials are scheduled throughout the summer and fall at the Bonneville Raceway. Most events are open to the public. The annual Speed Week is usually held in mid-August.
In 2013, Gina’s cousin Don Wales will be attempting a World Speed Record at Bonneville Salt Flats with a new Bluebird Electric car, capable of speeds in excess of 400mph. So it won’t be long before he’s sporting a new cap too.
