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The Bluebird Years:
Donald Campbell and the Pursuit of Speed
Arthur Knowles with Graham Beech
The definitive story of Donald Campbell’s attempts
to raise the world water-speed record in his "Bluebird" jet-propelled
boat to 300mph. Includes the gripping account of the 10 weeks that ended
in tragedy. Features dramatic photographs, including close-ups of "Bluebird"
and shots of record attempts at full speed. There's also a link from here
to a video clip of the accident. Now includes full coverage of the recovery
of Bluebird, the funeral of Donald Campbell and the rebuild of his historic craft.
Go to Updates
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| See press release
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Visit our links page
for More Campbell and Bluebird sites
| Publication Date |
ISBN |
Pages |
Price |
| March 2000 |
1 85058 766 3 |
300pp |
£9.95 |
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Updates for The Bluebird Years:
Donald Campbell and the pursuit of speed
This is a new service in which we can keep our
publications as up-to-date as possible. We would appreciate your comments,
additions to walk instructions etc, and after consultation with the author
will add any appropriate amendements to the site as soon as possible.
If you would like to send us comments or alterations, please use the mail
address below or e-mail us.
Please check the latest updates below and feel free to print off and keep
with your book.
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Page
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Update information
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Date
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| p.11 |
Postcard caption now visible |
First reprint, May 2001 |
| p.31 |
"hydrofoil" corrected to "hydroplane" at foot of page |
May 2001 |
| p.121 |
Map changed to show correct location of crash site roughly
one-third of the way through the measured kilometre; K4 symbol removed -
not relevant. |
May 2001 |
| p.168 |
Paragraph beginning "Thoughts of making…" now reads: "Thoughts
of making this crumpled heap of metal into a macabre tourist attraction
could surely not be entertained by anybody with respect for Donald Campbell.
But stranger things have happened. After the wreck had been recovered, it
was sprayed with wax, wrapped in polythene and transported to Tyneside where
restoration began. But to what stage? A cleaned-up wreck with its missing
bits, including the sponsons, replaced by wooden prostheses? And as a tourist
attraction?" |
May 2001 |
| p.179 |
Footnote taken into main text. Conclusions by Ken Norris added,
as follows: "Ken Norris concluded his analysis with these words: "When Donald
met disaster in K7 on 4 January 1967 he was 2 to 3 seconds away from gaining
a new record at around 320 mph. His courage and determination to achieve
this objective failed due to water surface conditions coupled with inherent
stability limitations of K7 itself. It is ironic that the water brake (fitted
to save him from overshooting the lake onto the shore) which created havoc
with water conditions on his first run, could have been his life saver had
he used it before he throttled back on the fatal run. "Donald has left a
vast legacy of knowledge which benefits dramatically all those who wish
to challenge nature and break speed records: We must thank him sincerely
and make good use of this knowledge. One thing is for certain: Donald was
not on a mission to end his life. He was too full of life. He gave colour
to life. He was after a record and he is missed by all of us." p.188: Quicksilver
web site address corrected. Should be www.quicksilver-wsr.co.uk "Reader
Offer" page - page number reference at foot of page corrected. |
May 2001 |
| p.188 |
Quicksilver web site address corrected. Should be www.quicksilver-wsr.co.uk
"Reader Offer" page - page number reference at foot of page corrected. |
May 2001 |
| p.159 |
Updated information on BBC TV documentary: "…a full-scale
BBC TV documentary, initially thought to be in a series called 'The Mission'
but eventually broadcast on 7th June, 2001 as 'A British Legend: The Search
for Bluebird'." |
Second reprint, July 2001 |
| p.160 |
Footnote added: "On 16th May 2001 it was reported that a High
Court order had been brought on behalf of Donald Campbell's estate to establish
ownership." |
July 2001 |
| p.170 & 171 |
"The Missing Body" section slightly abbreviated and resequenced,
though content and meaning unaltered; "The Search Continues" sub-heading
changed to "The Body is Found" together with brief details of recovery and
probable identification of remain, as follows: "Hopes were raised in the
final week of February, 2001, when rumours circulated about the discovery
of a skeleton. Though these were premature, the search continued, with attention
being directed at the fragments of Bluebird strewn along the lakebed after
the first point of impact. "Success came on Saturday 26th May with an announcement
the following Monday by Inspector Paul Coulson, of Cumbria Police: "At approximately
1pm today, partial remains of what is believed to be a human body were recovered
from the bed of Coniston Water." A source said to be close to the search
team reported the remains to be in 'good condition', though adding that
there appeared to be some doubt about their completeness. Divers recovered
personal effects including a Dunhill lighter inscribed "DC Bluebird 403.1mph,
July 17, 1964", a gold St Christopher pendant with the words "To Donald
from Daddy, November 1940", a St Christopher keyring, and some coins. He
was still wearing his right glove, overalls bearing Union Jacks and a black
leather belt. Gina Campbell, in the presence of Mike Rossiter's BBC TV camera
team, expressed her relief, saying: "He can now rest in peace in the right
place". She placed two black tulips on a casket that had been draped with
a Union Flag, and the remains were taken to Barrow-in-Furness general hospital
for a post-mortem and DNA testing. "As might have been expected, not all
of the family welcomed the news. Campbell's sister, 77-year-old Jean Wales,
said: "This is the last thing I wanted … they should let him rest there",
while Tonia Bern-Campbell was said by friends to be "too upset" to comment.
Many would agree, however, with Robin Brown, of the K7 Club: "He deserves
a proper funeral and burial … he was a very brave man who deserves a proper
and lasting memorial." |
July 2001 |
| p.178 |
Further abbreviation of first two paragraphs and of "Calculations"
section |
July 2001 |
| p.179 |
Footnote added regarding the front engine mounting: "examination
of the wreck in the summer of 2001 revealed that the front engine mounting
had broken. If this occurred before the crash, instability might have ensued
- but Campbell's words gave no hint of any sudden structural failure and
it may equally well have snapped as Bluebird cartwheeled down the lake.
Ken Norris stands by his original analysis, however." |
July 2001 |
| p.188 |
Minor update on Quicksilver project: "Water tank tests of
models have been completed and, by June 2001, both hull fabrication and
engine testing were reported to be progressing satisfactorily." |
July 2001 |
| Facing "Part One" and p.16 |
spelling of Lake Canandaigua corrected |
Third reprint, September 2001 |
| pp.24/25 |
involvement of Ken Norris in White Hawk project briefly mentioned.
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Sept 2001 |
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| p.31 |
End of 3rd paragraph - "Cranfield" not "Cranford" |
Sept 2001 |
| p.47 |
penultimate paragraph - 1936 corrected to 1935 |
Sept 2001 |
| p.168 |
Paragraph starting "Thoughts of making …" may be expanded
to reflect current opinions on restoration (or otherwise) and exhibiting
(or otherwise) |
Sept 2001 |
| p.169 |
Final paragraph may need rewriting in the light of current
funding applications |
Sept 2001 |
| p.170-171 |
Reinstatement of text (from May 2001 reprint) describing saponification
and preservation of bodies due to adipocere formation. Possible additional
material on the location and recovery of remains. Additional pages (after
p.171): Coverage of funeral service. Page numbers thereafter will be incorrect.
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Sept 2001 |
| (current) p.177 |
page number will change: Omit incorrect caption starting
"Bluebird CN7" (correct caption is already in place!). Also: possible changes
to commentary in diagram and in text. GB has contacted Ken Norris about
this. |
Sept 2001 |
| (current) p.184 |
First paragraph - Yewdale Road (not Hewdale) |
Sept 2001 |
| (current) p. 186 |
Authorship of "Donald Campbell CBE", Arthur (not David) Knowles.
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Sept 2001 |
  
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