The Campbell Legacy of Speed - The Bluebird Land and Water Speed Records of Sir Malcolm Campbell and Donald Campbell CBE

I mean, Where to start ? 21 World Land and Water Speed Records set by the Campbells. Its not just limited to Sir Malcolm Campbell and Donald Campbell either- its the extended family too! Donald Campbell's Great Grandaughter, Gina Campbell QSO (Queens Service order) set The Women's World Water Speed Record in 1984 of 122mph, unfortunately she crashed later that day attempting to beat it again- however she has lived to tell the tale. She then broke this record again in 1990 - smashing it and hitting 166mph on water off the coast of New Zealand- She held this record until 1993. This record breaking trait extends to Gina's cousin, Donald Wales ( I wonder who he was named after?!) and her Niece, Joseph Wales. Joseph is currently active in the motorsports world to this day- While they dont't hold the second name- they are most definitely part of the bloodline Since Donald Wales is Sir Malcolm Campbells' Great Grand Son. Donald Wales has a few records to his name, he holds a Steam Powered Car Landspeed record of 148mph. He has also held an electric car speed record of over 160mph for 12 years from 2000 to 2012 - last I could find, he has his sights set on over 400mph to set the new Electric Car Landspeed record. I think the most hilarious one Donald Wales has is a Guiness World Record for the Fastest Lawnmower set in 2010 of 87.833mph over the measured mile at Pendine Sands in Wales (I used to go there with my family as a child funny enough). ...."How fast do you think you your lawnmower is?" - Would defnitely of popped up in a few conversations after a Guiness or 3 was polished off at the pub I imagine! So a very fitting title to have for sure! If setting land and water records every other year or a few times a year is a family business - or an area of business you would like to venture in to - This family and their Legacy would be a great place to start. Back to the Bluebird Exhibit - The aura of this place is incredible. As you walk in, You are struck by the grandure and grace of Sir Malcom Campbell's 1935 Land Speed Record Bluebird car which made him the first man to cross the 300mph barrier in a land based vehicle/car.

Just off to the side of it is a replica of his Bluebird K7 Water Speed Record Car that unfortunately cost Donald his life at Coniston Water in the cold January of 1967 pursuing 300mph on water. The Bluebird K7 peaked at 286mph, so you can see why the desire to clear the 300mph barrier was there.

As soon you venture past these Goliath machines and manage to go over everything in the cabinets, the stories start to unfold. It is well worth taking some quality time to soak these all in. It's the perfect amount to note the Family's accomplishments aswell as their peers and feed the curious side of you that wants to find out more and leaves an impression on you days or months after your visit.

As you pop round the corner past the entry hall and main exhibit area, you can see the personal car of Sir Malcom Campbell's Wife. This leads nicely on to a seating area showing clips of adverts, tv shows, videos and music of old that really add to the ambience and atmosphere of the area. It's a great place to stop, have a sit down and reflect on some of what you have just seen and read before venturing round to the rest of the exhibit and veering more towards the water speed record side of things.

One of the other fascinating parts of the exhibit is the cutaway of the Sapphire Sa7r Jet Engine that produced 12,230lb of thrust - This Was in the Water Speed Record K7 Machine and it was the beginning of the jet age for land speed record cars with an earlier version going into the Bluebird-Proteus-CN7. The Bluebird-Proteus-CN7 never quite found its potential unfortunately in land speed record cars as the first run with this engine in 1961 on the Bonneville salt flats resulted in Donald Campbell crashing and writing the car off.

However-Donald picked up the pieces, recovered himself and returned to a different location. This location was Lake Eyre and in 1964 he set a Land Speed Record of 403mph with a development of the previous car and this engine. He wasnt too pleased with this as the car was designed for more, and he felt it had more- but at the time it was a record set nonetheless. As it was leaving recorded mile, it was well over 440mph- evidence if any that there was lots left on the table for this machine.

(images used from Gina Campbell's page on the CN7 here: Bluebird CN7 - Gina Campbell) Next to the engine, and almost squeezed into the corner is the Bluebird K4 Waterspeed Record boat, This served as an early development into Water speed record setting boats and had an adaptation of the Rolls Royce R engine used in Sir Malcolm Campbells 1935 Bluebird car. This boat held a singular Water Speed record title of 141.74MPH set in 1939 on Coniston Water in the Lake District.

In between this and the Bluebird K7 boat is a seating area and a further TV sharing the story of the Water Speed Records and development and sentiment at the time of Water Speed Records. With the dwindling interest from the mass public and media at the time of Land Speed and Water Speed Records, This perhaps played a factor in why Donald Campbell wanted to push for that final 15mph that unfortunately cost him his life in Bluebird K7 in 1967. I got the sense that he was perhaps a little bit internally conflicted on setting this record as on one hand the media interest around the topic was drying up, but he knew 300mph would most likely be headline news across the world and make it a hot topic again. I think it was also a personal goal of his as his dad was the first to break the 300mph Land Speed Record. I think he thought it would of been fitting tribute and a bit of a life goal to hold that title for water speed records. Donald and His dad could then be content with the fact that one held a land speed record of 300mph, and the other held a water speed record of 300mph. Little did they know that it was all their other attempts and records up to this point and even into recent history with their descendents that truly built The Campbell Legacy of Speed. I couldn't of put his little piece together of the exhibits and the stories of the Campbell family without help from Gina Campbell's website- so it you really want to look into anything I've mentioned here further- please be sure to head over to her website here: Gina Campbell (QSO) - A Dynasty of Record Breakers If you are any type of motoring enthusiast, I cant stress about visiting the Lakeland Motor Museum in the Lake District enough if you are that way or nearby. Lakeland Motor Museum in the Lake District

I found some older photos from a visit many years back that I had forgotten about and the cars are different and the exhibits and themese definitely do change which keep it a fresh expierience for sure. Without a doubt I will be visiting there again next time I'm that side of the country!

(images used from Gina Campbell's page , Donald Campbell CBE left hand side and Sir Mlacolm Campbell Right Hand side)