Bluebird leaves water at 240 mph on Lake Canandagua
Published in the New York Times, August 17th 1957, writer unknown

Canandaigua, New York, August 16 [1957] (U. P.)
Donald Campbell, a 37-year-old British speed boat racer, narrowly avoided tragedy today in his fifth and final unsuccessful attempt on Canandaigua Lake to smash his own world record.

"I was lucky to come through alive," Campbell said.

He then left for Toronto for a two-week appearance at the Canadian National Exposition.

Though Campbell average 209.25 mph on the combined morning runs, he said he was "afraid I was going to flip" midway through the south run. His 26 foot jet propelled hydroplane, Bluebird II, had reached 240 mph when he hit a swell that lifted the 2 1/2 ton craft out of the water for 200 feet.

Campbell blamed the swell on a small pleasure craft which across the lake before his run.

Campbell slowed as rapidly as possible to avoid over turning it still finished the run and average speed of 220.83 mph on return run, he averaged only 198.67 mph because of rough water caused by north headwind.

Today's average speed fell short of his record of 225 mph established last year over Lake Coniston in England. Campbell said it was possible he would make further record attempts this year on Lake Coniston, Lake Mead, Nevada, or Lake Picton, Ontario. He ruled out chop the Lake Ontario, which borders on the Canadian Exposition grounds.

Campbell had hoped to make further runs today and tomorrow. First, all Saturday attempts were declared out because too many pleasure boats would be on the lake in this Central New York State resort area. Then Leo Villa, Campbell's chief engineer, said that changing damage would prevent another try later today.

Villa said the damage, partly the result of so many high-speed record runs, would cost $40,000 to repair. He explained that the engine must be torn down and completely rebuilt.