BLUEBIRD K7

Thanks everyone for the support and the reasoned discussion- so refreshing after some of the agenda-driven bile we’re being subjected to elsewhere. For what it’s worth, the little poll ended 70-30 in our favour- cheers!

Are not two factors at play here, the legal and emotional position. I understand that the laws relating to salvage only apply to tidal waters and therefore do not apply in this case. I do not think it is disputed now that ownership was originally with the family and that ownership now lies elsewhere in which case a clear understanding of the terms of the transfer for a consideration should have been understood by both parties at that time. With the terms of the transfer understood substantial money and time has been spent restoring K7 with the clear intention to make a run on Coniston Water. There are also the sponsors to consider.

Has not the moral position been fully considered with the family consulted and an agreement reached. Whilst no doubt everybody fully sympathises with the emotions in play here and how these can change with time especially as any “event” draws near these factors should have been taken into account at the time of the agreement. I believe that Miss. Campbell is a power boat racer and an astute business woman and therefore should clearly understand the implications of the original agreement and the complications of changing course now. This would tend to indicate, as has been said by others, that there is more to this than the emotional situation which has been brought into play.

As things stand now what amounts to “contractual” agreements should be completed with the intended run on Coniston Water.

Personally, I feel that another run is a very fitting and memorable tribute to one of Britain’s great heroes and should take place on the basis that the agreement of the relatives had been previously obtained. If the family had wanted to have the final say they should not have allowed ownership to have passed out of their control together with the financial implications that went with that.
It is unlikely that the media is going to see anything other than the emotional side of this and it is very necessary that the other side of the case be put wherever and whenever possible.

I fear that there may well be worse to come.

For what it is worth in what is now a public relations exercise I voted YES.

That’s my understanding of it as well, but I think maybe the reality that she will actually see the boat run, has stirred up feelings that she maybe had locked away for a long while; ask yourself this, if your own father had died in a craft that was destroyed, and lost, only to be found and restored and then run by someone, how would you feel, mixed emotions?

When it’s run I hope they put on a good show; old racing machines shouldn’t be paraded.

That seems to be a fair and balanced judgement. And I do not feel that those “mixed feelings” should prevent the project being fulfilled.

If i read it [the thread] properly I think the point was more that she had backed the project and with her blessing it had got to this point and now she has changed her mind after commitments were made financially and practically by alot of people,a bit of a kick in the teeth really.

That’s my understanding of it as well, but I think maybe the reality that she will actually see the boat run, has stirred up feelings that she maybe had locked away for a long while; ask yourself this, if your own father had died in a craft that was destroyed, and lost, only to be found and restored and then run by someone, how would you feel, mixed emotions?

When it’s run I hope they put on a good show; old racing machines shouldn’t be paraded.

Isn’t there another project under way involving a Buccaneer engine?

I`m not sure what happened to Quicksilver, but Miss Canada IV is almost ready to go, and fitted with a UK supplied Rolls-Royce Griffon engine and transmission:
http://www.woodyboater.com/communityweb/a-sneak-peek-at-miss-canada-iv-courtesy-of-harry-wilson-tom-adams/

I think it would be a crying shame if Bluebird was prevented from running again.

Pete

I said this back in 2005 on another thread, I think it still stands today only the year should change.
Hi.
Bluebird lifting off the water on 4th Jan 67 is something I’ll never forget.
I think it should be restored and taken to coniston water on the above
date in 2007 to complete its ill fated second run, and lay a wreath where
Donald Campbell lost his life. Then put it in a museum with the biggest
union flag as a backdrop to honour a truly great british hero.
Phil.

I would have thought Gina Cambell’s position was obvious; this boat killed her father, what more do you need to say?

.

If i read it [the thread] properly I think the point was more that she had backed the project and with her blessing it had got to this point and now she has changed her mind after commitments were made financially and practically by alot of people,a bit of a kick in the teeth really.

I would have thought Gina Cambell’s position was obvious; this boat killed her father, what more do you need to say?

I voted yes to see it run, pure nostalgia, but thats me.

I’m hugely impressed with the workmanship, and indeed the ethos, trying to save as much as possible, no matter how long it takes; that is restoration.

As a society we seem to becoming obsessed with seeing something recreated so we can see it ‘one last time’. I don’t subscribe to that – when Bluebird runs, it will be essentially for proving trials – to demonstrate that all the hard work has been done correctly, and then the boat can live out its retirement in peace.

Agreed, I’m not saying cane it up and down the lake, simply give it a outing thus proving it is both “lakeworthy” and back to its former glory before it takes its place in the Museum. That I feel would be apt and rather than simply stuck on show like some glorified mausoleum it would show its a living breathing machine again.

I just wonder if Gina Campbell sniffs some money somewhere. I hope I am wrong but at my age I have become very scepical about a lot of things. I wonder what Tonia Berns opionion is?

Isn’t there another project under way involving a Buccaneer engine?

No the Quicksinker project has long sunk

Having now again read through the comments here and had a good look at the website I am of the opinion that it should run again. There seems little or no rationale in Gina Campbell’s objections, or none that she has enunciated, and the fact that her approval is not required but is merely a courtesy, does not seem any justification for calling a halt to the immense amount of work and dedication thus far invested in the project.

As a society we seem to becoming obsessed with seeing something recreated so we can see it ‘one last time’. I don’t subscribe to that – when Bluebird runs, it will be essentially for proving trials – to demonstrate that all the hard work has been done correctly, and then the boat can live out its retirement in peace.

Isn’t there another project under way involving a Buccaneer engine?

To prove what, exactly?

Nothing to prove, she’s the last water speed record vehicle this country will EVER have & it’d be fantastic to show all us youngsters what this nation used to be capable of!!!!!!!

Some interesting comparisons here except the car was not abandoned or lost. Yes I was pleased to see her restored and run. The same way I would like to see Bluebird run. This is and would be a fitting tribute to a small band of men who gave their lives in pushing boundries in this island.
We are but transiant keepers of this nations heritage and do we really have the moral right to deny the following generations the chance to see the achievements of the past?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._G._Parry-Thomas

A lot of people donating would be on the understanding that it would run again, so what do you say to them Kev? Thanks for your cash, but we have changed our minds because 1 person who originally agreed has changed theirs?

As I see it, it has nothing really to do with her anymore as they relinquished ownership, in fact as it was abandoned on the lakebed, and they never recovered it, one would have thought they didn’t own it anymore anyway, it would be salvage.

Voting incidentally may not have been one sided in having multiple entries, who is to know. I certainly want to see her back in her element before she enters the museum.

It’s only a small online poll in some local media- not an absolute decider! But it’s nice to drum up the strong support that we know we have out there, just to show willing.

What do you mean by strong support? Richard Gray voting four times in favour? And yes I know that there will be others who have voted multiple times for the contrary position. And no, I haven’t voted either way. It just makes the poll nothing more than meaningless drivel.

The only way for this to be decided in favour of K7 running again is for the team to persuade Gina to reverse her decision. Very few of us (me included) know exactly what all this is about and we have no need to know. If the team have been determined enough (to their credit) to recreate K7 then I shouldn’t think it is beyond the bounds of their capabilities to get the opposition back on side.

I wish them well.

Regards,

kev35

It definitely should run on the water again, In my opinion there is no better way of honouring man and machine. I was born well after the tragic event but it seems like I have always known and been interested in the Bluebird story, I never thought I’d see the day when she was raised and rebuilt and to have found Donald’s remains after all those years and end a mystery of his whereabouts. The team deserve the chance to run Bluebird again after all the effort that has been put in to the project. The whole thing has been a big part of British history and how better to honour a mans achievements and something he dedicated his life to than to run that boat on the same piece of water and then place it in that museum building for all to see.

Well, I don’t often disagree with Mr. Mears (Kev 35) but on this occasion I’m afraid I’m going to.
My own view is that Gina Campbell doesn’t own K7 and therefore her opinion is largely irrelevant.
She may have emotional links to the boat but that’s all, and machines are just that–machines–people aren’t replaceable, machines are.
I’m also a believer in machines being machines and being made to do what they were designed to do.
I’ve never had a problem with reviving something which killed someone–in fact I owned and rode a Suzuki 380 for some years, which before I pulled it out of the back of a dealers store and put it back on the road, had killed the previous owner when he stuffed it under a Morris traveler pick up truck.
I can’t say I ever considered the thoughts of his family, after all, it was mine now.
If it isn’t going to function for what it was designed to do, I might question the need to spend all the time and money on rebuilding it.
I voted to run it–hopefully fast-ish.
And before someone asks, If it was close relation of mine, I’d be happy to see it running.
A