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THIS year marks half a century since Donald Campbell died in the jet-powered hydroplane Bluebird K7. He was attempting to break the water speed record he’d set in Australia three years earlier.
Campbell had followed in his father Malcolm’s footsteps, making land- and water-speed attempts in record-breakers all named Bluebird. His road cars were painted the same pastel blue – a Jaguar XK and E-Type, a Bentley 4 1/4 Standard, and even a Land Rover support car.
The 50th anniversary of Campbell’s death was marked with a series of events in Coniston, attended by Campbell’s daughter Gina, herself a water-speed champion.
Fans hoped Bluebird K7 would be restored in time for the occasion, but the project continues to edge towards completion. One day, it’s planned that Bluebird will again power across the lake that claimed Campbell’s life 50 years ago.
Deeply superstitious and with a hatred of the colour green, Campbell never referred to Evan by his surname, instead calling him “Mr Blue”.
The water speed record Campbell had set on Lake Dumbleyung was broken the same year he died, by American Lee Taylor. It was subsequently twice bettered by Australian Ken Warby; Spirit of Australia’s 1978 record of 511.12km/h stands to this day.
