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History Sir Malcolm

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Sep 9, 2010.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
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  2. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
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    and, like so many things of historical importance, they go through a period where they are just considered scrap. Some are lost forever and some are found and can be enjoyed again.
    This photo was taken when the car sat in a junk yard in England...:(

    [​IMG]
     
  3. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,516

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    Just amazing. Imagine 300 mph in those cars? And that tire looked pretty freaky,but I would think wet sand would be pretty abrasive at those speeds.

    I like the part about the "world's fastest wizz". Obviously something lost in the British translation there.

    A great story. Thank you for posting it.
     
  4. Slim Pickens
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 3,343

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  5. fur biscuit
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
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    hmmm...going to have to do some archiving digging, as Mr. Campbell and his family (and the "Bluebirds") have a very very very long history of record breaking.
     
  6. Vintageride
    Joined: Jul 15, 2009
    Posts: 204

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    Would love to hear more about Campbell.

    Here is another shot of the car.

    Vintageride
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Ryan - Cool post! ... that 2nd video IS absolutely incredible!

    I've always dug Jack Vettriano’s painting entitled "Bluebird At Bonneville":

    Jack_Vettriano_Bluebird_@_Bonneville.jpg

    ... and my son digs this version:

    LEGO_Bluebird_@_Bonneville.jpg :)
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2010
  8. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
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    from California

    that car must have been some big deal back then, they made a pressed steel toy version. it's about 15" long.
     
  9. Big T
    Joined: Aug 29, 2006
    Posts: 638

    Big T
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    from Florida

    Read all about SMC in a little book I have called 'Speed on Sand'. Picked it up from a small museum that used to exist in Ormond Beach called The Birthplace of Speed. Awesome...

    http://[​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 1, 2014
  10. baby loves chrome
    Joined: Jul 23, 2009
    Posts: 348

    baby loves chrome
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  11. scottybaccus
    Joined: Mar 13, 2006
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    scottybaccus
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    I just hate when faster traffic passes me in my plane!
     
  12. Steve Hedke
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 74

    Steve Hedke
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    The dubbed sound on the first newsreel sure sounds like an Offy to me. Typical Hollywood.

    It's definitely different than the 'raw' footage.

    Newsreel companies used biplanes for aerial shots before helicopters: I remember one many years ago at a boat race on Salton Sea. Bluebird was twice as fast!
     
  13. shmoozo
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 671

    shmoozo
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    from Media, PA

    The sound of that thing roaring by in the second video was a joy to the ears. It sounded like a pre-war fighter plane going by at low altitude and the amount of Dopler shift as it passed made it perfectly clear that he was moving very, very quickly.
     
  14. reefer
    Joined: Oct 17, 2001
    Posts: 787

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    Last edited: Sep 9, 2010
  15. Steve 38
    Joined: Jan 5, 2007
    Posts: 500

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    Its true, they don't make 'em like they used to. And I'm not just referring to the car.

    His son Donald was very similar.
     
  16. so did the blue bird get saved ( car ) and if si where is it.
     
  17. Steve Hedke
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 74

    Steve Hedke
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    Blue Bird is in a museum in Talledega. There's also a replica in the UK.

    The sound in the second video is from the Rolls Royce V12 aircraft engine (pre-Merlin).
     
  18. The later Bluebirds were simply stunning looking vehicles....

    On 17th July 1964, Donald Campbell (1921-1967) claimed the world land speed record at Lake Eyre, Australia, driving this gas turbine-powered Bluebird-Proteus car. Averaging a speed of 403.1 mph (648.8 kph), he achieved the only such record to be set outside the United States in recent times. Bluebird cost £1 million to build and was powered by a 4250 bhp Bristol-Siddeley Proteus gas turbine engine. In 1967, Campbell was killed on Coniston Water in Cumbria attempting to become the first to reach 300 mph on water.
     

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  19. Rem
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,257

    Rem
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    That is beautiful.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. As a kid in Australia in the early 1960s Donald Campbell was my hero and the same for most other kids at school. He was in the news often enough. Pretty much a household name in Australia then. I had a plastic model of the above Bluebird that could be bought at the BP gas stations at that time. The model was about 16 inches long.

    BTW the Bluebird - Proteus was driven by power to the 4 wheels .
     
  21. fur biscuit
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
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    Here is his '12 GP Peugot (in 1923):

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  22. fur biscuit
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
    Posts: 7,828

    fur biscuit
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    His 1924 Sunbeam:



    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2010
  23. Donald Campbells body was found and recovered when they were salvaging the boat. He finally had a proper burial, I´m glad to say.
     
  24. fur biscuit
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
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    fur biscuit
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    1927 Bluebird:

    [​IMG]

    at Pendine:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2010
  25. fur biscuit
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
    Posts: 7,828

    fur biscuit
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    1935 Bluebird at Daytona Beach:

    [​IMG]

    At Bonneville:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2010
  26. bowtiemyk
    Joined: Feb 3, 2005
    Posts: 175

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    What gets me is the "safety equipment" I love the coverall firesuit, leather helmet and goggles! I wonder what kind of restraints if any were used in the cockpit?
     
  27. hugh m
    Joined: Jul 18, 2007
    Posts: 2,143

    hugh m
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    from ct.

    We were lucky enough to tour Joe Gertler's shop on Long Island years ago, and his son Joe Jr. showed us scrapbook photos of his dad enclosing the wheels on the Bluebird for Malcom's next attempt, which again broke the record. Joe is on here from time to time, I think. Would be neat to hear his storys...
     
  28. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,175

    Gotgas
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    from DFW USA

  29. reefer
    Joined: Oct 17, 2001
    Posts: 787

    reefer
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    Got the same picture right here sitting on the wall over the computer...Jack Vettriano is a very talented artist and has a real eye for the female form, he has got another couple of car pictures and they capture the moment perfectly...take a browse at some of his work here;... http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1I7GGIC_en&ndsp=20&tbs=isch:1
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2010
  30. chicagoboy
    Joined: Sep 8, 2010
    Posts: 4

    chicagoboy
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    from uk

    The Campbells, father & son, were real heroes In eras where thir exploits were appreciated. They made headline news. How many people today know Andy Green is the fastest man on earth?
     

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