Ken
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Bluebird K7 1966
Returning to slipway after testing
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WITH CAMPBELL AT CONISTON (First
Edition)
Arthur Knowles
- William Kimber
Foreword by Leo Villa, chief engineer and racing mechanic
to Donald Campbell. The book centers around Donald's ill fated
attempt to raise the world water speed record to 300+ mph
at Coniston Water, very well written with superb photos. Reprinted
in 2001 as "The Bluebird Years" with different
pictures, nothing is as good as this first edition. An absolutely
fantastic book.
160 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, Black & White Photos
First Published 1967 by William Kimber, London
Printed by Furnell & Sons Ltd, England
Availability:
Difficult, 1st Edition is the one you want.
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BOOK OF THE RACING CAMPBELLS
Richard Hough -
Stanley Paul
The story of the famous Bluebirds, of the men who created
them, and of Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell, who have driven
their brilliant machines over land and water to achieve an unparalleled
series of speed records for England. The first half of the book
deals with Malcolm Campbell and racing at Brooklands,
followed by Sunbeam and the land speed record for the first
time. The second part of the story deals with the Bluebird
boats. This book is intended as a tribute to a gallant father
and son, who together had done so much for British engineering.
127 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, Black & White Photos
First published in 1960 by Stanley Paul.
Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London
Availability: Reasonable,
Hard to find very good copies. |
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THE WORLD WATER SPEED RECORD
Leo Villa and Kevin Desmond
- Batsford Books
A chronicle of speedboat development from
the 1870s onwards, it traces each stage of development from
the first petrol launches of the 1890s to the takeover of
the jet from propeller propulsion in the 1950s.
It follows the successes of the Napier, Dixie, Maple Leaf
and Miss Americas, challenged by the Miss England's of Sir
Henry Segrave and Kaye Don. The following chapters follow
the development of the Bluebird and the world records
of Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell from 1937 to 1967.
232 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, Black & White Photos, Line
drawings
ISBN 0 7134 3065 6 First Published 1976 by Batsford Books
Printed by The Pitman Press Ltd, Bath
Availability: Rare & Expensive,
expect to pay $100US or more.
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THE RECORD BREAKERS
Leo Villa
- Hamlyn
The Record Breakers is the thrilling account of fifty years
of record breaking written by the man who was always there -
Leo Villa, chief engineer, racing mechanic and family friend
to the Campbell's
160 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, Black & White Photos, Line drawings
First Published 1969 by Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited
Printed by The Continental Printing Company Limited, Hong Kong
Availability: Reasonable,
Hard to find very good copies. |
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BLUEBIRD AND THE DEAD LAKE
(Original Release)
John Pearson
- Collins
The story of Donald Campbell's Land Speed Record at Lake Eyre,
a salt lake in the heart of the south Australian desert, in
1964. John Pearson, a young journalist invited to write a book
on the record attempt, watched Campbell with an unerring eye,
seeing the tensions and conundrums that drove the man with the
need for speed. Things went wrong from the start, unseasonable
rains left the saltpan sodden under its dazzling crust. Money
ran short, deep divisions emerged in the camp, and even the
most loyal wondered whether Campbell had lost his nerve.
188 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, 21 plates
First Published 1965 by Collins Books, London
Printed by Collins Clear-Type Press, London & Glasglow
Availability: Reasonable,
Very hard to find good clean copies.
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INTO THE WATER BARRIER
Donald Malcolm Campbell
- Odhams Press Limited
This book tells of Donald's childhood with his famous father
and of his own ambitions. Initially his purpose was to win both
the World Land & Water speed record's for British Prestige.
The book concentrates on his quest on water, he details the
interest in the scientific research needed before a hydroplane
could travel at the very high speed required. Donald concludes
that such ventures are worth the work, expense and the physical
risk so that success can make a definite contribution to British
prestige.
239 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, Illustrations & Black &
White Photos
First Published 1955 by Odhams Press Limited, London
Printed by Unknown, England
Availability: Rare,
Hard to find copies with dust jacket. |
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DONALD CAMPBELL C.B.E
Arthur Knowles / Dorothy, Lady
Campbell - Allen and Unwin
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThis book tells of Donald's
childhood with his famous father and of his own ambitions.
Initially his purpose was to win both the world Land &
Water speed record's for British Prestige. The book concentrates
on his quest on Water, he details the interest in the scientific
research needed before a hydroplane could travel at the very
high speed required. Donald concludes that such ventures are
worth the work and expense-and the physical risk
134 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, Black & White Photos
First Published 1969 by Allen and Unwin
Printed by Unknown, England
Availability:
Reasonable, Moderate Price.
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LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
Phil Drackett - Clifton Books
Biography of Malcolm & Donald Campbell.
118 Pages, Hardcover Cloth, 8 Black & White Photos
First Published 1969 by Clifton Books
Printed by Unknown, England
Availability: Reasonable,
Hard to find very good copies. |
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LEAP INTO LEGEND
Steve Holter - Sigma Press
Here are the life stories of the most famous British record
breakers on land and water: Donald Campbell and his father,
Sir Malcolm. It is also a story of the triumphs of British engineering
between the two world wars - when huge and powerful aeroengines
were being developed for the war effort, and ultimately used
in peacetime to propel record-breaking cars and boats. While
the Campbell's take pride of place, the successes and failures
of many others are also chronicled here - the dates, times and
places - plus the official and unofficial speed records on land,
water and even in space. Includes details of the tragic death
of Donald Campbell in 1967, and reliable details of the many
Bluebird cars, boats and planes built and raced during
the 20th century.
200 Pages, Hardcover - ISBN: 1 85058 794 9
Publishers Website: www.sigmapress.co.uk |
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BLUEBIRD AND THE DEAD LAKE (Republished)
John Pearson
- Aurum Press
Republished, originally released in 1965,
it has been reprinted with different pictures from the original.
John Pearson, a young journalist invited to write a book on
the record attempt, watched Campbell with an unerring eye,
seeing the tensions and conundrums that drove the man with
the need for speed. Breaking records should not be a blood
sport, but in Campbell's case it was. Things went wrong from
the start, unseasonable rains had left the saltpan sodden
under its dazzling crust. Money ran short, deep divisions
emerged in the camp, and even the most loyal wondered whether
Campbell had lost his nerve.
195 Pages, Paperback - ISBN: 1 877008
15 X Australia
195 Pages, Paperback - ISBN: 1 85410 836 0 UK
Publishers Website: http://www.aurumpress.co.uk
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THE BLUEBIRD YEARS
Arthur Knowles and Graham Beech
- Sigma Press
The main section of this book is Arthur Knowles' original work,
called
"With Campbell at Coniston", written at the
time of the tragic water speed record attempt. All the setbacks,
highs and lows that took place are all recorded here as well
as the superstitions that haunted Campbell, the emotions of
his colleagues after the disaster, the desperate search for
his body and the speculations and theories that surrounded the
accident. The first part of the book, written by Graham Beech,
details the background to the original book, the Campbell dynasty
and the history of land and water speed records. Part three
is about the aftermath of the accident. Ken Norris, the designer
of Bluebird K7, puts forward his theory into what caused
the fatal accident.
198 Pages, Paperback - ISBN: 1 85058 766 3
Publishers Website: www.sigmapress.co.uk
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MY SPEED KING - LIFE WITH DONALD
CAMPBELL
Tonia Bern-Campbell
- Sutton Publishing
In this intimate portrait of her love affair and marriage to
Campbell, Tonia tells the inside story of her heady lifestyle
with Britain's national land and water speed hero. The collision
between the two worlds of 1960s 'jet set' and 'show biz' promised
a fast and furious ride, but their volcanic marriage and the
pressures of trying to combine two high-profile careers took
a toll on their relationship. MY SPEED KING was written soon
after Donald's death but never made public. Tonia turned her
tremendous sense of loss into a vivid evocation of what it was
really like to be married to a man with great lust for lovemaking
and high-speed record-breaking. The result is a tale of deep
love, passion, speed, fast cars, high living and finally tragedy.
235 Pages, Hardcover - ISBN: 0 7509 2931 6
Publishers Website: http://www.suttonpublishing.co.uk |
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SPEED KING - THE DONALD CAMPBELL STORY
Narrated by Nigel Davenport
- Castle Home Video
Donald Campbell's relentless pursuit of the world water speed
record sent him through the 200 mph barrier in his hydroplane,
Bluebird, in 1955. This wrote his name in the history
books in his own right.
Featuring footage from Britain, America
and rarely before seen footage from Australia, Speed King
follows the triumph and tragedy of the Donald Campbell story,
including his difficult relationship with his father, Sir
Malcolm, and of course, the horrific fatal crash at speeds
of almost 300 mph on Coniston Water in January 1967.
Castle Home Video / ITN Co-Production
Running Time 60 minutes / VHS Colour PAL
Product Code: CHV 2041
Released By: Castle Home
Video
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ACROSS THE LAKE
Starring Anthony Hopkins
- BBC 1988
The story of Donald Campbell who in 1967 whilst trying to
become the first person to go over 300Mph on water he crashed
his famous 'Bluebird' at Coniston water, in the Lake
District. He had achieved a run of 297Mph on the first leg,
but turning around without refueling and not waiting for his
wake to settle, he set off on the second leg. The boat lifted
out of the water after exceeding a speed of over 320Mph, somersaulted
and disintegrated on landing on the surface.
Not available on video, and unlikely
to be seen on television in the foreseeable future. Believed
to be in the ownership of the British Film Institute.
Main Players:
Anthony Hopkins, Phyllis Calvert, Rosemary Leach
Director: Tony Maylam
Producer: Innes Lloyd
Teleplay: Roger Milner
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