OVER 141 M.P.H.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 14

OVER 141 M.P.H.

SPEEDBOAT RECORD SET PACE OP BLUEBIRD SECOND SIR M. CAMPBELL’S FEAT HALF-CHOKED BY FUMES (Else. Tel Copyright — United Press Assn.) (Reccl. Aug. 21, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. Sir Malcolm Campbell established a sipeed-boat world* record of 141.74 miles an hour in ithe Bluebird II on Lake Coniston, Lancashire. Hundreds of holiday-makers lined the lake at dawn. Conditions were perfect and there was no incident throughout the attempt. Sir Malcolm Campbell said the Bluebird’s performance was a credit to the designer and: British engineering. “There is a devil of a lot more

speed in her yet,” he added. “We are only on the fringe of her capacity. I hope to try again after modifications have been made to the hull.” Sir Malcolm revealed that he was hialf-choked by the fumes from the exhaust on the return run and had to stand up several times with his head out of the cockpit struggling for air. This reduced the speed by several miles an hour. He finished with a scarlet face and gasping for breath.

The Bluebird’s engines are 12 years old. The designer, Commander Peter Du Cane, said the lessons of the Bluebird should be of the greatest value in the future design of flying-boat hulls.

The average speed for the first of the runs over a measured mile was 140 miles an hour, and that for the return run 142 miles an hour.