The History Channel: Bluebird The Curse of Campbell

[Renegadenemo]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/253 ... inal-hours

[Renegadenemo]

Just saw the trailer on History Channel - it looks very good but I hope they're not going to try pushing history down a certain road for the sake of good telly.
I mean, we all know Donald was a bit fed up by the time it all went wrong, that much is plain to see in his last interviews, so what else is there to tell? The Speed King video made a nice job of documenting his life and achievements so where is this new doco going? Anyone know?

And here's another thing... There's an overlooked snippet in Speed King that I suspect may have had more relevance than anyone has ever given it credit for. When Jean Wales was asked about her brother's return run she said he was trying to stay ahead of the weather, that it could change so fast that he'd not dare risk it by hanging around. At the time I thought she was bonkers. How could it possibly change that fast? But she wasn't kidding! We've been sat becalmed in the middle watching a squall hurtling up the lake from the south tearing at the water surface until it hit us and sent us running for our lives ahead of a gale. So maybe the doco makers, rather than alluding to poor Donald losing his marbles, should listen to his sister and go film the weather until it blows them off the lake, as it's done to us many a time, and ponder whether in actual fact Donald essentially made an informed and intelligent decision.

[Mike Bull]

Well, does anyone have any recollection of the weather turning a bit iffy as the morning of the 4th wore on? Robbie maybe?

They can say what they like about old Donald, but no matter what, he was brave enough to keep his foot well and truly planted here-

PC302687.jpg

- and that'll do for me.

[Renegadenemo]

Well, does anyone have any recollection of the weather turning a bit iffy as the morning of the 4th wore on? Robbie maybe?

I think the point is that it can change with such rapidity that you'd be foolish to hang about any longer then absolutely necessary.

Nice shot of the pedal there, Mike and for anyone who's just joined us, that footwell is pretty much all original.

[sheppane]

We spoke to Robbie Robinson about the conditions that morning. While not quite as good as Christmas day, he said they were very good in the measured kilo for both runs, with no water or wind disturbance. The photographic evidence tends to support this. Post impact, the lake soon returned to flat calm.

Donald knew exactly what he was doing, and as far as we could make out intended to come right back after the first run. It was not a spur of the moment thing. He knew that the wash from the first run would not impact the measured kilo, nor the course immediately south and north of the kilo.

With regards, DMC's state of mind, only he would know, but I tend to think he was optimistic that with the boat performing well at last, a record of >300mph was well insight.

[Renegadenemo]

With regards, DMC's state of mind, only he would know, but I tend to think he was optimistic that with the boat performing well at last, a record of >300mph was well in sight.

I've always thought that pretty much sums it up. He thought he had it in the bag...

[terrybakeruk]

HISTORY / HD: SUN 3 JUL, 10PM

http://tv.sky.com/bluebird-the-curse-of-campbell

Merged with existing thread- Mike

[Jordangbr]

Neil
was it a sunny/partly cloudy/overcast day?

[sheppane]

Neil
was it a sunny/partly cloudy/overcast day?

The weather was partly sunny, with thin cloud, so you would not describe it as a totally bright sunlit morning but remember that sunrise would only have been at about 8.35. Keith Harrison at the southern end of the KM reported visibility as 'quite good however', and certainly the colour film shows that conditions were not in anyway dark. The fact that so many B&W images exist of a very fast boat, in what could have been challenging lighting conditions, is also down to the reasonably light morning.

Here is an image of K7 in the measured kilo on the first run.

bluebird_crash 0987.jpg

[Renegadenemo]

Bit of a light breeze going on too - most probably out of the south.