Old Cumbria Gazetteer |
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| Campbell memorial, Coniston | ||
| site name:- | Coniston Water | |
| locality:- | Coniston | |
| civil parish:- | Coniston (formerly Lancashire) | |
| county:- | Cumbria | |
| locality type:- | memorial | |
| coordinates:- | SD30809701 | |
| 1Km square:- | SD3097 | |
| 10Km square:- | SD39 | |
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 BLZ60.jpg (taken 28.4.2006) |
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| hearsay:- |
From 1939 the world water speed record was held by Sir Malcolm Campbell, 141.74 mph,
August 1939. In the face of further attempts, mostly by Americans, his son, Sir Donald
Campbell decided to keep the record for Britain. |
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| He first trialled his father's boat, Bluebird; propellor driver; 2500 hp Rolls Royce
areo engine; hydroplane. It became obvious that a new design was needed. |
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| The new Bluebird was jet powered, and its first success was a record of 202.32 mph
on Ullswater, 1955. Later in 1955 he reached 216.2 mph on Lake Mead, Nevada, United
States. By 1959 he had raised the record to 260.35 mph, then 276.3 mph on Lake Dumbleyung,
Autralia, 1964. Several attempts to reach 300 mph were made on Coniston Water 1966-67:
then, 4 January 1967, having reached 300 mph he turned for a second run in which the
boat somersaulted and was wrecked, perhaps because the water was still unsetteled
from the first run. His body was never found. |
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