Campbell family scion prepares for new EV land speed record
Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, will attempt breaking the electric vehicle land speed record next month in his car BluebirdIt’s a little over a decade since British speedster Don Wales set the UK land speed record for an electric car at 137mph, in 2000, at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire in south Wales. In a stark pointer to how far EVs and other green vehicles have come in a relatively short time, he will return there in early July to begin on another tilt at it – this time at more than 500mph (800km/h).
Back in 2000, Wales set the new bar at 137mph (221km/h). In preparation for for the new pitch in 2013, he will run speed trials at Pendine Sands, during which he’s aiming to set new UK electric car records.
Wales's relationship with Pendine dates back 80 years, to when his grandfather, Malcolm Campbell, set his first world land speed record of 146mph (235km/h) in the specially designed Bluebird. Campbell’s son Donald, Wales’s uncle, turned it into a family specialty, breaking eight world speed records on land and water before coming to grief in his bid for a new water record on Coniston Water in 1967.
In accordance with family heritage, Wales names his cars Bluebird. Despite the veneration given the name, however, he’s been running the project on a shoestring budget, virtually all of which is going into the car. He’s now calling for sponsorship and for volunteer help on the coming weekend. Back in the day, grandfather Malcolm’s effort attracted considerable assistance from locals at Pendine; now Wales is looking for help billetting several dozen team members, marshalling and removing debris from the sands.
Wales started his record-breaking career in 1998 when he first broke the UK land speed record for an electric car. He holds a world land speed record of his own, plus two American national records and eight UK speed records -- the most recent being on a ride-on lawnmower – 138km/h at Pendine in May, 2010.
For more information on the latest EV land speed record attempt visit www.bluebirdspeedrecords.com
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
