Donald Campbell

Author: David Tremayne
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 144643849X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 524

Book Description
Generations are familiar with the haunting black and white television footage of Donald Campbell somersaulting to his death in his famous Bluebird boat on Coniston Water in January, 1967. It has become an iconic image of the decade. His towering achievements, and the drama of his passing, are thus part of the national psyche. But what of the man himself? The son of the legendary Sir Malcolm Campbell who was famous for being the ultimate record-breaker of the inter-war years - he broke the land speed record nine times and the water speed record four times with his Bluebird cars and boats - Donald Campbell was born to speed. He was outgoing and flamboyant, yet carefully orchestrated the image he presented to the world. Some saw him as a playboy adventurer; others, such as the radio producer on the twenty-first anniversary of his death, as a reckless daredevil with a death wish. He was known to take solace in extra-marital dalliances, and was obsessed with spiritualism. And in his final years, battered by a 360-mph accident while attempting the land record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and his prolonged and anti-climactic subsequent effort on the treacherous Lake Eyre in Australia, Campbell appeared a haggard and often frightened man. He had become trapped on his record-breaker's treadmill as he continually sought to prove himself to his illustrious father, in whose long shadow he felt forever trapped. DONALD CAMPBELL: THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK paints a fascinating portrait of an intense, complex, superstitious yet abnormally brave man who was driven not only by the desire to prove that he was worthy of the mantle of his father, but also by his fervent and unswerving desire to keep Britain at the forefront of international speed endeavour. This book generates a unique insight into how his desperate fear of failure finally lured him into taking one risk too many.

The Bluebird and the Dead Lake

Author: John Pearson
Publisher: Aurum
ISBN: 184513852X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 204

Book Description
In 1964, in Australia's remote outback, on the dazzling saltpan of Lake Eyre, Donald Campbell set out to drive his Bluebird car at over 400 miles an hour - faster than any man in history. Things went wrong from the start: unseasonal rains, a sodden lake bed in which every high-speed run slewed dangerously, money running short...even an Aboriginal curse. WIth death shimmering on the horizon before him, the lonely Campbell tried to hold his nerve until he broke the record. Campbell would lose his life eventually on Coniston Water, with over thirty years passing before his body was recovered in 2001, but this strangest - and greatest - of all his world record attempts was witnessed by a young reporter. John Pearson's classic book about Donald Campbell is an extraordinarily compelling and moving portrait of a modern tragic hero, fighting a battle with inhospitable elements and the outer limits of technology - and, above all, with himself.

Men of Power

Author: Robert Jackson
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1783409428
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 406

Book Description
The story begins in 1940 when Harvey Heyworth was leading No. 79 Squadron RAF defending north-eastern England from Luftwaffe raids made by bombers based in Norway and Denmark and then later in the Battle of Britain when the unit moved south. During late 1940 and up to June 1941 Heyworth led his squadron in defense of Bristol and Swansea operating by night and day. By 1942 he had amassed 4,000 flying hours. Harvey then joined Rolls-Royce test flying early British jet aircraft including the famous Gloster-Whittle and test-bed Wellington bombers powered by the new jet engines.In 1944 Harvey's brother Jim also joined Rolls, having flown with No. 12 Squadron in Bomber Command. The story then unfolds into the development of the Trent turboprop and the Avon jet engines. Development work on a variety of test-bed aircraft was ongoing and included some weird combinations of airframe and engine.Jim succeeded his brother as chief test pilot in 1958 and flew 82 different aircraft types. He recounts his experiences of piloting the Vulcan bomber, Lightning and the 'Flying Bedstead' VTOL test rig.

Leo Villa's Bluebird Album

Author: Coterie Press
Publisher: Coterie Press Limited
ISBN: 9780851840710
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Book Description
This is the definitive photographic record of Donald Campbell’s legendary Bluebirds, captured through the twin lenses of Leo Villa’s Stereo Realist Camera, and other images of the time. An amazing body of photojournalism in color, 3D and black & white, that captures the life-and-death drama that was played out against the barren landscapes of salt beds and the magnificent backdrop of Coniston Water. It also puts the story in its historic background, showing the fashions and styles of the day. In 1964 Donald Campbell and his team went to Australia with the intention of breaking the land and water speed records in the same year. The Double. An adventure unsurpassed in record breaking history, complicated by difficulty and obstacles. A constant fight against the elements and the technicalities of high speed vehicles. For 12 years Donald Campbell dominated the record breaking scene on both sides of the Atlantic and throughout this period he was aided and advised by Leo Villa, his friend and chef d’équipe, who had known him since childhood. Leo played a unique part in record breaking history and helped break 10 land speed records and 11 water speed records with Donald and Malcolm Campbell and their legendary Bluebirds.

Land Speed Records

Author: Don Wales
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1784422525
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 65

Book Description
The Land Speed Record is a fascinating story of human endeavour – of man and machine battling time to be the fastest. Since 1898 many have dreamed of being the fastest on earth, first with electric, then steam, then petrol, moving forward to the jet car, and into the present and future with rocket power. The glory years of the record are studded with iconic names such as Malcolm and Donald Campbell, Henry Segrave, John Cobb, George Eyston, and more recently Craig Breedlove and Richard Noble. The next race is on for 1,000mph with the latest British attempt by Bloodhound SSC. In this colourfully illustrated introduction, using many photographs from the Motoring Picture Library at Beaulieu, Malcolm Campbell's grandson tells of the brave drivers and powerful machines that have propelled themselves into the record books.

My Speed King

Author: Tonia Bern-Campbell
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780750929318
Category : Speed record holders
Languages : en
Pages : 235

Book Description
The love affair between British speed king Donald Campbell and vivacious singer Tonia Bern was one of the great romances of the 20th century. But passion turned to tragedy with the dramatic death of Campbell on Lake Coniston in January 1967, as he attempted to break the world water speed record in his famous jet boat, Bluebird. In this portrait of her love affair and marriage to Campbell, Tonia tells the inside story of her heady lifestyle with Britain's national land and water speed hero. The collision between the two worlds of 1960s jet-set and show-biz promised a fast and furious ride, but their volcanic marriage and the pressures of trying to combine two high-profile careers sometimes took their toll on the relationship. Writing soon after Donald's death, Tonia turned her tremendous sense of personal loss into a vivid evocation of what it was really like to be married to a man with a great lust for love-making and high-speed record-breaking. But it has taken her until now to choose to tell the whole story.

Race Cars

Author: Ian Graham
Publisher: Heinemann-Raintree Library
ISBN: 9781410920850
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 40

Book Description
Race Cars have the ability to be the world's greatest, if we want to build them in such a way. Find out why these machines are considered the greatest in the world. This title is filled with detailed facts and stunning color photography.

MGF and TF

Author: Tim Morris
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
ISBN: 1398118109
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 166

Book Description
The last British built two-seater MG sports car. This is an essential guide to the MGF and TF sports cars.

A Long Time in Making

Author: James Nye
Publisher:
ISBN: 0198717253
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 438

Book Description
Smiths Group (formerly Smiths Industries), part of the UK FTSE 100 index, is a global engineering company with a market capitalisation over L5bn. Evolving from beginnings in the Victorian jewellery trade, to significant market presences in the twentieth century motor accessory, clock and watch industries, it has reinvented itself again as a diversified international company, operating in the medical, communications, security and engineered components sectors. Its narrative history, illuminating the reasons for its survival and adaptability, offers useful data and information to aid wider research into questions such as the legitimacy of conglomerates as a business model, the creation and maintenance of corporate culture, issues of succession, the effects of mergers and the questionable value placed upon targeted synergies-even the role of serendipity. The story begins with several generations of the Smith family amassing a fortune in retail, and then, following a 1914 stock-market flotation, describes the transition from family run business to the development of a professionally-run managerial enterprise. Since the 1970s it has had to face the decline of major markets and competitive pressures, leading to the adoption of new business lines, globalisation, and the internationalisation of its workforce. It now has 23,000 employees across more than 50 countries-along the way shocking the markets by abandoning core businesses and undergoing a controversial merger. Unfettered access to company records, and interviews with former staff members, provide insights into the strategy and management of the firm, illuminating the rich culture of Smiths, characterised by the frequent fostering of technical brilliance and a cast of larger than life characters.

Megafast Cars

Author: John Farndon
Publisher: Hungry Tomato ®
ISBN: 1512406791
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 36

Book Description
Jump behind the wheel of the sleekest, swiftest automobiles, both on and off the race track. Prepare to burn up the tarmac in the Bugatti Veyron—the latest version of the first supercar reaches 269 mph (433 km/h)! Race in the Ultimate Aero, whose carbon-fiber body weighs less than its driver. Get an adrenaline rush in the jet-powered Thrust SSC, it carries the world land speed record of 760.343 mph (1,223.65 km/h)! These streamlined supercars blast off the page in true-to-life illustrations alongside facts about top design technology, such as wind-tunnel testing and scissor doors.