| Who
was Malcolm Campbell? Land and Water Speed Record Holder.

Date and Place of
Birth: 11th March 1885, Chislehurst, Kent, England.
Family Background:
Son of William Campbell, a watchmaker and jeweler.
Education: Prep
School near Guildford, Surrey. Uppingham Public School, Rutland.
Chronology:
After leaving school Campbell went into the
insurance industry at Lloyds of London which enabled him to take
up the expensive sports of bike and later motor racing.
1906: Achieved
a Gold Medal in the London to Edinburgh motorcycle trails.
1907: Achieved
a Gold Medal in the London to Edinburgh motorcycle trails.
1908: Achieved
a Gold Medal in the London to Edinburgh motorcycle trails.
1909: First became
interested in flying aeroplanes.
1910: Began racing
cars at Brooklands racing circuit.
1912: After seeing
the play "L'Oiseau Bleu", written by the Belgian dramatist
Maurice Maeterlinck, Sir Malcolm (and afterwards his son Donald
and later his granddaughter Gina) named all his cars and boats
Bluebird and felt his lucky colour was blue.
1914-18: Period
of the First World War during which he served in the Royal Flying
Corp of the British armed forces.
1921: (23rd March)
Birth of his son Donald.
1923: Bought his
first record breaking car.
1924: Set his
first land speed record.
1927: Introduction
of the second "Bluebird" Car, specifically built for
achieving records with a Napier 450 h.p. broad arrow engine.
1931: Received
his Knighthood from King George the Fifth.
1935: "Bluebird"
was fitted with a Napier aircraft engine for the first time. Campbell
stood as a parliamentary candidate in the elections for the Deptford
constituency but was unelected.
1937: Turned his
attention to Water Speed Records.
1939-45: During
the period of the Second World War he served on the staff of Combined
Operations.
1946: Sells his
house (Headley Grove) to the Maharaja of Baroda and bought a house
on the outskirts of Reigate from Sax Rohmer, the author of the
novels featuring Fu Manchu.
Speed Records:
LAND:
September 1924:
Pendine Sands,Wales. (146.16 m.p.h.)
July 1925: Pendine Sands, Wales.
(150.86 m.p.h)
February 1927: Pendine Sands, Wales. (174.88 m.p.h)
February 1928: Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A. (206.95 m.p.h)
February 1931: Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A. (246.09 m.p.h.)
February 1932: Daytona Beach, Florida,
U.S.A. (253.97 m.p.h)
February 1933: Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A. (272.46m.p.h.)
February 1935: Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A. (276.88 (m.p.h.)
September 1935: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, U.S.A. (301.13
m.p.h)
WATER:
September 1937: Lake
Maggiore, Switzerland. (126.33 m.p.h.)
September 1937: Lake Maggiore, Switzerland. (129.5 m.p.h.)
July 1938: Halwill, Switerland. (130.93 m.p.h.)
August 1939: Coniston Water, Cumbria. (141.74 m.p.h.)
Written Works:
- 1931:
"My Great Adventure Speed".
- 1936 :
"The Romance of Motor racing".
Marriage: 1.
Unknown.
2. To Dorothy (Dolly) mother of Donald.
3. 1945 to Mrs Betty Hicory (separated after three months, divorced
after two years.).
Places of Interest:
CARMARTHENSHIRE: WALES:
Museum of Speed.
Pendine Sands.
CUMBRIA:
Coniston Water.
Ruskin Museum, Coniston.
HAMPSHIRE:
National Motor Museum, Bealieu.
Date and Place of
Death: 31st December 1948, Little Gatton House, Reigate,
Surrey, England.
Age at Death:
63.
Site of Grave:
St. Nicholas Parish Church, Chislehurst, Greater London, next
to his parents. |