Bluebird K7 1955 and onwards

by Tremayne, David

• ISBN13: 9781785211072
• ISBN10: 1785211072
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2021-09-21
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing UK

Summary

The Bluebird K7 is the turbojet-powered hydroplane with which Donald Campbell set seven World Water Speed records in 1950s and 60s. Campbell lost his life in the much-modified K7 on 4 January 1967 on Coniston Water during an attempt to raise the record above 300mph. Both K7 and Campbell's body remained at the bottom of Coniston Water for 34 years, until a recovery operation began in October 2000. Campbell's remains are now buried at a church in Coniston, while the wreckage of K7 was donated to the Ruskin Museum by Campbell's daughter, with the intention of restoring the craft to running order. This heavily illustrated book provides a unique insight into the design, construction and operation of the original hydroplane, and the ongoing processes involved in its restoration today.

Author Biography

David Tremayne has spent his career in motorsport journalism, with such notable roles as executive editor of Motoring News, long-time Grand Prix correspondent for The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, and co-founder of GrandPrix+, the sport’s first and fastest e-magazine. He has written over 50 books, including the award-winning Donald Campbell: The Man behind the Mask, a major biography of the speed king. He is a three-times winner of the Guild of Motoring Writers’ ‘Journalist of the Year’ award. In August 2017 he averaged 275mph during a test run prior to challenging the 301mph UK land-speed record, walking away with just a cut knuckle after a crash at 250mph, and vowing to try again.