FIRE UP THE ENGINES!
Record-breaking Bluebird turns on the power 50 years after notorious crash
ENGINEs roaring as she churns up the water, this is the moment that the world record-breaking Bluebird makes a comeback – 50 years after her notorious crash.
Donald Campbell was killed when the craft broke in two as he attempted to break a speed record in 1967.
But yesterday, the hydroplane Bluebird K7 was back on the water after being painstakingly restored.
The jet-powered craft was driven across Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute off the west coast of scotland as onlookers cheered from the shore.
The crowd included Mr Campbell’s daughter Gina, who was carrying a teddy bear that her father had used as a mascot on his final record attempt. The bear, called Mr Whoppit, was found floating among debris after the crash. The 45-year- old died at Coniston Water in the Lake District while trying to break his 276mph speed record.
It is estimated that he was travelling at more than 300mph when the hydroplane flipped and split in two. The wreckage lay on the bed of the lake until it was raised in 2001 by engineer Bill smith, who led the restoration. After the successful test run, Miss Campbell, 71, praised Mr smith’s hard work. she said: ‘I am absolutely elated.
‘she ran wonderfully well and looked beautiful out on the water. And it’s all down to one man: Bill. He’s boneheaded, arrogant, single-minded and tireless – just like my dad.’ Miss Campbell, a former powerboat racer, added that Bluebird could be a ‘grumpy old lady’ and it was ‘a relief’ to see her moving again.
Mr smith, 51, did a small jig as Bluebird returned. He said: ‘It’s an epic feeling to see it go at a clip after all these years of hard work. It was four years of finding it and then rebuilding took 17. I can’t wait to see how quick it can still go.’
Lead pilot Ted Walsh got the hydroplane going at 1.30pm before a round trip of nearly half a mile.
Mr Walsh, 52, said: ‘It was a cracking trip but there was a bit of panic with the steering at first. she wouldn’t respond on the first three turns. I was turning and turning but she wouldn’t budge. Finally I felt her start to move and breathed a sigh of relief.’