[Donald Campbell's Bluebird : world speed attempt, Lake Eyre, 1964] [picture] /

Condition: Good.; Title devised by cataloguer based on information from acquisition file number 204/04/00122. Caption accompanying the photograph: "The Blue Bird -- Lake Eyre South 1964 - Donald Campbell's attempt on the world land speed record in a vehicle through the wheels (not jet propelled), dragged on for almost two years during the winters of 1963 and 1964. Fluctuating dampness of the dry saltpan that is Lake Eyre was a major problem, making it difficult to maintain a perfectly smooth, hard dry surface for the many necessary practice runs and the final attempt. Sponsors grew impatient with the endless delays and withdrew support. New sponsors had to be found. Campbell's unpredictable temperament was a factor in splitting the large support group of sponsors, technicians, caterers, time-keepers etc. (some 60 or more people) into two camps"."Eventually, in the late winter of 1964, the 4,500 horse-power jet engined Bluebird attained a new world land speed record of 403 miles per hour (an average) of its top speeds on two immediately consequetive [sic] runs, north and south). NB: Craig Breedlove, driving a jet-propelled vehicle on a salt lake in the USA, achieved a considerably higher speed circa 1964. His vehicle was NOT driven through the wheels. In this photo, technicians, time keepers and photographers play football between practice runs"