CAMPBELL DONALD: (1921-1967) British car & motorboat racer, World land and water speed ...

CAMPBELL DONALD: (1921-1967) British car & motorboat racer, World land and water speed record holder in the 1950s and 1960s. A good T.L.S., Donald, with holograph salutation and subscription, one page, 4to, Horley, Surrey, 4th December 1950, to Wing Commander D. A. de S. Young-James of the Royal Air Force. Campbell thanks his correspondent for their letter and invitation although regrets that he will not be able to accept it, and further writes concerning the Bluebird, 'Our activities with "Blue-Bird" this year were, to say the least, severely hampered by the most appalling weather conditions that it was possible to imagine. We actually spent seventy-two days on the Lake, during which time we experienced over 60" of rain. Negotiations are at present going on for us to visit Italy next year and, frankly, I rather hope they are successfully concluded, for at least there is the prospect of blue skies and calm water'. One small file hole to the upper left corner, VG

Donald Campbell began his speed record attempts in the summer of 1949, using his father's old boat, renamed Bluebird K4. Initial attempts were unsuccessful, although he did come close to raising his father's existing record. The team returned to Coniston Water in 1950 for further trials at which time they learnt that an American, Stanley Sayres, had set a record of 160 mph, beyond the capabilities of K4 without extensive modification. Improvements were made to the Bluebird in late 1950 and 1951 and the boat now had a chance of exceeding Sayre's record, although the American again raised the record to 178 mph. The improved Bluebird K4 also found success as a circuit racer, winning the Oltranza Cup in Italy in the spring of 1951.