Bluebird Memories
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Above: The Bluebird crew at Wendover, NV 1960... Richard is 4th from the right
In 1960 Donald Campbell was to make an attempt ton the Worlds Land Speed Record at Bonneville Salt Flats, supporting the Blue Bird were a number of Rover cars and Land Rovers, representing the Rover Motor Company? Your guessed it, Richard Green.
In September Richard headed for the Bonneville Salt Flats, where Donald Campbell and his Bluebird would make an attempt on the Worlds Land Speed Record, Richard is 4th from the right.
The Bluebrid was powered by a
Bristol-Siddeley "Proteus" jet engine, in order to start the record breaker
five special Land Rovers were required. One was an 88" Minimax fire truck,
capable of extinguishing jet fuel fires. Two 109s truck cabs carried special
equipment in the form of extra HD 24-volt batteries, an 8-kilowatt generator
(driven from the pto), and a 100 psi compressor to feed portable high output
fans, in addition to numerous instruments for start-up.
Since Bluebird had no on-board starter, one of these vehicles was stationed
at each end of the 11-mile course. Another 109" would carry electronic
measuring instruments, by which it was possible to record speed and air
temperature, both in and out of the jet engine. Campbell would not break the
speed record at Bonneville, but would go on to set one Down-Under.