50 years ago today, Donald Campbell died

[Evangelion]

I can't believe how time flies, it's now half a century since Donald Campbell was killed at Coniston while trying to increase his water speed record, but I can still remember it as though it were yesterday.

Indeed I got a huge shock a few days later; I was living abroad at the time, and as news at that time was on film, it was a while before I actually saw what happened. I hadn't realised it completely somersaulted in midair - I thought it had just gone up and come down again.

As far as I know, the restoration is continuing.

[Longnose]

Yes, I remember it too. I was 18 at the time. He never seemed to catch the public mood the way he should have done. Don't know why.

They've had the engine running (a new engine presumably) and it's supposed to be back on the water this year or next.

[RONV]

[RONV]

[Longnose]

I think they're both props from TV programs. The real car is in the USA and the boat is being rebuilt.

[Evangelion]

I believe the prop used in the film Across The Lake was a 0.8 scale replica. It is on display in a museum somewhere.

[Skyedriver]

Yes, they are very poor replicas at the "Museum"
I still wish they'd left the boat at the bottom of Coniston - sorry.
The restored boat will have so little of the old in it.

I felt the same way about Parry Thomas's Babs on Pendine Sands

[AlecT]

I remember this like it was yesterday, I was travelling back from London on the train with my Dad from Waterloo, going home to Worcester Park in Surrey, I was not quite 15, my Dad showed me the news in the evening paper, Donald Cambpell was hero of mine.....
If I remember correctly the newspaper also had a big advert in it from Rover for the launch of the new Rover Three Thousand Five (P6) which became a favorite of mine in later years

[CATD8H]

Skyedriver said:

Yes, they are very poor replicas at the "Museum"
I still wish they'd left the boat at the bottom of Coniston - sorry.
The restored boat will have so little of the old in it.

I felt the same way about Parry Thomas's Babs on Pendine Sands

With respect,if you pay a visit to the "Bluebird Project" forum (sorry too dumb to be able to do a link) you will see the efforts being made to conserve as much original material as possible.

Babs of course was buried in salty material from the outset..

[SDB660]

Was lucky enough to be allowed to photograph interior of the Bluebird-Proeus CN7 the other year. Can't imagine being in it at the speeds achieved.

[EagleMoto4-2]

I was only at Coniston a year and a half ago visiting the Museum in the village where they will eventually house the restored boat, then of course Campbells grave. I also visited the Lakeland Motor Museum where the replica boat is displayed.
I too was of the opinion the wreck should have stayed at the bottom of Coniston, it will be interesting nevertheless to see it run again. It always comes as a bit of a surprise when these kind of anniversaries come around.
We also took a boat trip on the lake, but at 4mph it took a long time to get from one end to the other!

[Mutley]

CATD8H said:

Skyedriver said:

Yes, they are very poor replicas at the "Museum"
I still wish they'd left the boat at the bottom of Coniston - sorry.
The restored boat will have so little of the old in it.

I felt the same way about Parry Thomas's Babs on Pendine Sands

With respect,if you pay a visit to the "Bluebird Project" forum (sorry too dumb to be able to do a link) you will see the efforts being made to conserve as much original material as possible.

Babs of course was buried in salty material from the outset..

Also, once they had located K7 and Donald the team had a fear that others would recover them in a less than respectful manner.

[EagleMoto4-2]

[Skyedriver]

Mutley said:

CATD8H said:

Skyedriver said:

Yes, they are very poor replicas at the "Museum"
I still wish they'd left the boat at the bottom of Coniston - sorry.
The restored boat will have so little of the old in it.

I felt the same way about Parry Thomas's Babs on Pendine Sands

With respect,if you pay a visit to the "Bluebird Project" forum (sorry too dumb to be able to do a link) you will see the efforts being made to conserve as much original material as possible.

Babs of course was buried in salty material from the outset..

Also, once they had located K7 and Donald the team had a fear that others would recover them in a less than respectful manner.

Yes I appreciate the grave robbers would be active if it wasn't recovered

[Jukebag]

Noticed in a news report they showed footage of Campbell's blue series 1 E-Type FHC. Apparently in the film, Across the Water, the reg no is DC 7 but in reality it had a more mundane number.

[wattsm666]

He used to own this particular Bentley although not sure when. A very nice car, but not a great picture.

[Vocal Minority]

Jukebag said:

Noticed in a news report they showed footage of Campbell's blue series 1 E-Type FHC. Apparently in the film, Across the Water, the reg no is DC 7 but in reality it had a more mundane number.

Understand DC7 was borrowed from time to time.

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/chasing-speed-reco...

Some nice merged photos

[Flip Martian]

I read about his exploits as a youngster but it was only really on visiting the Lakeland Museum it struck home more. The audio recording from his cockpit as he matter of factly explained how he was losing control and "I'm gone" rather sent chills up my spine. The things people do in search of a buzz.