Donald Campbell - The Bluebird - Speed King - BBC Story - Unseen Footage

Donald Campbell set the world water speed record on my hometown's lake (Lake Dambeling) in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia, 250km's South East of the capital city of Western Australia, Perth.
Dambeling Lake received world recognition when Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record on it on 31 December 1964, travelling at 444.66 km/h (276.3 mph) in his boat Bluebird K7. A granite memorial to Campbell can be seen at Pussy Cat Hill, a prominent feature and vantage point to view the entire lake area
en.wikipedia.or...
Donald Malcolm Campbell CBE (23 March 1921 -- 4 January 1967) was a British speed record breaker who broke eight absolute world speed records on water and on land in the 1950s and 1960s. He remains the only person to set both world land and water speed records in the same year (1964). en.wikipedia.or...
Billy
www.losttreasur...

[@GoodnessMee]

A lovely snippet, I remember going out to see the boat pass by on the highway near where I lived at the time. The lake in question is Lake Dumbleyung.

[@tomfromoz8527]

Thanks Bill, he was a childhood hero to many.

[@philliphopkins6903]

One word ........ LEGEND. 💙

[@detectingthedales4829]

A true legend. His final resting place was 40 miles away from here at Lake Coniston.

[@WildWarriorBill]

wow, thanks mate, he was a legend, pity he was never Knighted

[@Retroscoop]

@@WildWarriorBill The current fastest man on Earth in a "car", another British subject has been knighted.

[@Retroscoop]

Beautiful car, great performance. However, I just saw a docu about one of Campbell's competitors; the American Art(hur) Alfons, and I was struck by how well Campbell was supported by British industry, while Alfons more or less made his "plane without wings" or "missile with wheels", the Green Monster in his backyard, mainly with salvaged parts. Two figures: the price of Campbell's car was 3 million dollar, and 70 British companies somehow sponsored the British driver. Alfons record breaking car: only 10 000 $ (including 5000 $ for an old jet engine from anF 4 Phantom), and 1 main sponsor, Firestone, who provided the tires... That too is an interesting angle. When it comes to "looks", no discussion, the Blue Bird was the most handsome of the speed record cars from that era, and in fact, even till today...

[@ericgeorge5483]

Marvellous footage, the guy was a genuine hero.

[@dinkididigger2205]

I remember this well mate and the day he died. He, like you and me was or still is a legend. LOL.

[@WildWarriorBill]

cheers Dinki

[@lachlan1580]

I live in Wagin which is very close to Dumbleyung and my Uncle was telling me about how grandad (who died of a heart attack 20 years ago) was living in Arthur River at the time, got to go and watch this event.

[@WildWarriorBill]

Donald Campbell's Bluebird Replica - Dumbleyung - Western Australia - 1964 World Water Speed Record kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4q0i5WEa5t7m80

[@admiralcraddock464]

They're not white lab coats they're overalls and white is the best colour the wear in very hot temperatures. Typical lazy BBC reporting

[@Retroscoop]

And typical arrogant Admiral Haddock commenting. You're correct of course, but there's really no need to display such negative condescendant attitude, that has zil added value.

[@MUDSWAT]

He looks like Tom Hanks...

[@Retroscoop]

It's the other way around. And Anthony Hopkins too looked somewhat like the older Campbell....

[@WildWarriorBill]

See Full Hour Long Documentary here: Donald Campbell Documentary - The Heroic World Land & Water Speed Record Breaker kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqTFcpSImJaBkKc

[@MegaBeforeandafter]

+Adventures With Wild Kooda Bill no.

[@Retroscoop]

And the movie "Across the lake" with Anthony Hopkins too is highly recommended, it can be viewerd here on KZbin