Generations are familiar with the haunting black and white television footage of Donald Campbell somersaulting to his death in his famous Bluebird boat in January 1967. His towering achievements, and the drama of his passing, are thus part of the national psyche. But what of the man himself? The son of the legendary Sir Malcolm Campbell, who was famous for being the ultimate record-breaker of the interwar years, Donald broke the land speed record 9 times and the water speed record 4 times with his Bluebird cars and boats. This book paints a fascinating portrait of an intense, complex, superstitious, yet abnormally brave man.
Donald Campbell
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Editorial Reviews
Review
This is a thorough life of the famous record breaker who came to grief on Coniston Water in January 1967, and it is surprising that the story has not been done before. Donald Campbell is such a fascinating figure, clearly driven by some marvellous obsessions, not least a fear of failure (there is a dark father too, impossible to please, lurking in the background). Well, he failed in the end, in spectacular fashion, and TV footage of Bluebird flipping over is impossible to forget, iconographic Sixties imagery on a par with the moon landings and the Kennedy shootings. This is the book for anyone curious as to how Campbell ended up strapped into a fast boat on that cold day in January. Will be widely reviewed and bought by people interested in cars, speed and the winter before the Summer of Love.
From the Inside Flap
In this fascinating portrait of a man trapped on his record-breaker?s treadmill as he continually sought to prove himself to his father -- himself a land and water speed marvel -- Donald Campbell?s desperate fear of failure finally lured him into taking one risk too many.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book yet on Donald Campbell,
This review is from: Donald Campbell: The Man Behind the Mask (Paperback)
This is the best book out there on the life of water and land speed record holder Donald Campbell--the definitive account to date. Renowned motorsport historian David Tremayne has dug deeper into the subject than any previous writer, interviewing Campbell's family and associates, friends and lovers, crew members and backers and, yes, even the medium that the highly superstitious and private speed king chose to confide in. Tremayne is no garden-variety interviewer either--he gets his subjects to open up completely--and he writes in a compelling style that will keep readers turning the page. "Donald Campbell: The Man Behind the Mask" is a triumph of research and writing, sure to satisfy connoisseurs of water and land speed racing history and general readers alike.
Samuel Hawley, author of "Speed Duel: The Inside Story of the Land Speed Record in the Sixties" [[ASIN:1554076331 Speed Duel: The Inside Story of the Land Speed Record in the Sixties] [...]
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive biography of the life of Donald Campbell,
By
This review is from: Donald Campbell (Kindle Edition)
Donald Campbell was the most courageous sportsman of his generation.
With a deeply held patriotic desire to keep Britain on top, he bravely captured 8 outright world speed records for his country in the 1950's and 60's. He was a product of an extraordinary upbringing, the only son of Britain's pre war record breaker, Sir Malcolm Campbell, and he led an extraordinary life. David Tremayne has spent more than a dozen years researching this book. It shows. The level of detail, and the accuracy of that detail shines through. This is not a sensationalist volume, nor a sycophantic one. It tell's the story of a truly great man using one simple maxim. This is how he was. Any reader, including those not normally interested in things automotive, will not be disappointed when they have finished reading David Tremayne's story of this very brave English man. Neil Sheppard, author of "Donald Campbell, Bluebird And The Final Record Attempt" [0752459732]
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