The History Channel: Bluebird The Curse of Campbell

[Mike Bull]

More tabloid claptrap, this time from The Daily Mail-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2009828/Was-Donald-Campbell-driven-terrifying-death-wish.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

I have to disagree with statements like this-

‘Bluebird had almost flipped on the first run and Donald knew it.

So, how do we know that Donald knew that, then?

[Renegadenemo]

So, how do we know that Donald knew that, then?

Hmm, this isn't looking good. It's shaping up as a rehash of Speed King only with half the contributors replaced by people who weren't around at the time and an unhealthy splash of sensationalism stirred in. Hope I'm completely wrong.

[Renegadenemo]

Well I was half wrong - some interesting contributors.
I met 'Buddy' Hulme at Donald's funeral, a charming gentleman if ever there was one, a tradition perpetuated by his sons. I was disappointed that at lake Mead, Bluebird's engines were flooded though - there's only one! you'd think they'd get that right by now, and I was frankly appalled at the suggestion that Donald purposely drowned out Leo's chance to comment at the end of the first run because he knew that the boat had gone light at the front end. That was pure speculation and very naughty, I thought. Still, that's telly.
I couldn't get away with watching footage projected onto a propane tank or a stretch of gravel either. I'd have liked to have just watched the footage, much of which I'd not seen before but that was art, I suppose, and art is a very subjective thing.
All in all I found it watchable enough and, hey, you'll not hear me complain about the spike in our visitor numbers to the website tonight or the sales from our shop, which is after all the mainstay of our meagre income stream. What is it Donald used to say? 'There's no such thing as bad publicity...'

[Corp]

Hi to all,

I urgently need to get hold of a copy of the Curse of Campbell (horrible name), my mother is devastated as the guy who filmed my father "The Corp" promised her that he would send a copy before it aired ! we found out yesterday it was to be shown last night on the history channel, none of our family or freinds have this channel and after many calls to Virgin media we were told that they could not have it on our cable till tonight,

I am willing to pay for the copy and all post and packing and also for your time, if someone can send it to me, i would be very greatful as the footage of my dad was only taken a few months before he died...

Regards Mark.Evans

[sheppane]

Hi to all,

I urgently need to get hold of a copy of the Curse of Campbell (horrible name), my mother is devastated as the guy who filmed my father "The Corp" promised her that he would send a copy before it aired ! we found out yesterday it was to be shown last night on the history channel, none of our family or freinds have this channel and after many calls to Virgin media we were told that they could not have it on our cable till tonight,

I am willing to pay for the copy and all post and packing and also for your time, if someone can send it to me, i would be very greatful as the footage of my dad was only taken a few months before he died...

Regards Mark.Evans

Mark,

I have sent you a PM with the production teams contact details. The film is a fine tribute to your late fathers work with DMC.

all the best,

Neil

[ace_chris]

Hi Mark, If you send us a pm with your details I will make sure you get a copy. Chris

[Corp]

Thanks Neil , much appreciated.

[Corp]

Have just got of the phone to SKY and they are sending me a copy in the post !

Thanks for the replys ! i have not seen it yet as i am working away !! i have been told that they have put a small dedeication to my dads memory at the end, they did not have to do this ! i am absolutely over the moon i am not sure i will be able to watch it for quite a while as its a little hard at the moment, my Dad always spoke about Donald in the higest regard, he got on so well with him, we still have the christmas present Donald bought him in 66, a parker pen set which Donald had engraved for him ! He enjoyed meeting everyone from the speedrecord group, he never spoke a bad word about any of the guys and girls he met, in his later days he was unable to do a lot mainly staying in the house, he made such an effort to come to Coniston to see everyone ! everyone he met made him happy because he loved to talk and for the last 11 years this was all he could do, every time he got to talk to members of the various groups it made his day even week..

regards Mark

[malcolm uk]

The dedication to Paul was the better part of the programme, which was hardly as 'punchy' as the papers had made out it would be.

Had Donald ever flown a single sponson before the penultimate run? The whole boat took off crossing a wake on an earlier bid. To extrapolate that the pressing of the radio key was to avoid talking with Leo, because he knew he had been unstable, was a leap of great imagination.

As for the arty projection of images onto objects .............. just appalling, as most were of no relevance to the Donald Campbell story. You needed the anorak to tell why these objects were chosen. In fact they were a distraction as you spent seconds working out what those surfaces were.

Malcolm

[Renegadenemo]

As for the arty projection of images onto objects .............. just appalling, as most were of no relevance to the Donald Campbell story. You needed the anorak to tell why these objects were chosen.

I thought I was just being thick. I saw a propane tank, a box trailer, a rock, some gravel and a Portaloo and I haven't worked out yet what any of them signified. Any clues, anyone?