“DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD” The World Water Speed Record The only original full colour documentary film of Donald Campbell’s final World Water Speed Record attempt. “Campbell at Coniston”, running time approximately 23 minutes. Includes the silent tribute one year later: “The Epilogue”. All digitally enhanced with menus and chapters. Copyright John Lomax Film Archive 1966-1967, 2004. Additional still photographs Copyright Keith G. Medley 1966.

 

Order online now!: High-quality mutli-chapter DVDs with glossy colour sleeve and glossy colour 8-page booklet, including "The Making of a Movie" story by John Lomax.

Available only on DVD (all regions). PAL & NTSC versions available.

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This documentary film, made in 1966-1967 documents the final attempt by Donald Campbell & Bluebird to raise the World Water Speed Record over and above his own record of 276.33 mph. This film follows the final weeks of his life, and covers Donald Campbell’s last record attempt, and shows the fateful crash. The author of this film, John Lomax, was only 30 years old at the time and filming his hero. Also featured, is John’s silent tribute, “The Epilogue”, showing the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by his mother, Lady Campbell, at Coniston, one year after the fatal accident.

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The K7 was to prove a very successful boat that was destined to set 7 World Water-Speed records between 1955 and 1964. The first record run was at Ullswater where Donald set a record of 202Mph. In the same year this was raised to 216mph at Lake Mead. There followed a sequence of record raising runs at Lake Coniston where he attained 248mph in 1958 and on each successful attempt Donald collected the £5,000 prize money offered to anyone who broke the record by Billy Butlin, of holiday camp fame.  The prize money was a good way to finance the project and may explain so many incremental records.  Donald finally raised the water speed record to 276mph at Lake Dumbleyung, Australia in 1964, having earned a theoretical £35,000 prize money.  

Three years later in January of 1967, Donald was trying to raise his own record to 300Mph on water, when the K7 flipped spectacularly at Coniston water. He had achieved a one way run of 297Mph, but he turned K7 around without refueling and without waiting for his wake to settle, he set off on the return run. The boat lifted out of the water after exceeding a speed of over 300Mph, somersaulted and nose dived into the water disintegrating on entry. Donald's body was only recovered in May 0f 2001.

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