Malcolm Campbell (Speed record holder) by Britain Unlimited
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Who was Malcolm Campbell?

Malcolm Campbell was a 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/Biography of Malcolm Campbell:

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: Malcolm Campbell 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: Malcolm Campbell 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 Malcolm Campbell 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.

Written Works:

• 1931: "My Great Adventure Speed".
• 1936 : "The Romance of Motor racing".

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. (272.46 m.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, Switzerland. (130.93 m.p.h.)
August 1939: Coniston Water, Cumbria. (141.74 m.p.h)

Marriage:

1. Unknown.
2. To Dorothy (Dolly) mother of Donald.
3. 1945 to Mrs Betty Hicory (separated after three months, divorced after two years).

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.

Places of Interest:

CARMARTHENSHIRE: WALES:

Museum of Speed.
Pendine Sands.

CUMBRIA:

Coniston Water.
Ruskin Museum, Coniston.

HAMPSHIRE:

National Motor Museum, Bealieu.

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