Profession: Motor Racer
Biography: Malcolm Campbell was a British racing motorist known for having held at various times the world speed record on both land and water. He called all of the vehicles with which he achieved these records 'Blue Bird.'
In 1924, Campbell first broke the land speed record in Wales on the Pendine Sands in a 350HP V12 Sunbeam. He achieved a top speed of 146.16 mph (235.22 km/h). He would break the land speed record nine times in the years following until 1935.
Campbell's final land speed record was set in 1935 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, in which he was the first person to drive an automobile at a speed exceeding 300 mph.
His son, Donald Campbell, continued the family tradition including with a vehicle named Bluebird.
Born: March 11, 1885
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Pisces
Died: December 31, 1948 (aged 63)
Cause of Death: A stroke
Historical Events
- 1924-09-25 Malcolm Campbell sets world auto speed record at 146.16 miles per hour
- 1931-02-05 Malcolm Campbell sets world land speed record speed of 246.08 mph driving his famous Blue Bird car at Daytona Beach, Florida
- 1932-02-24 Malcolm Campbell sets world land speed record speed of 253.96 mph driving his famous Blue Bird car at Daytona Beach, Florida
- 1933-02-22 Malcolm Campbell sets a world land speed record of 272.46 mph driving his famous Blue Bird car at Daytona Beach, Florida
- 1935-03-07 Malcolm Campbell sets world land speed record speed of 276.71 mph driving his famous Blue Bird car; last record set at Daytona Beach, Florida
- 1935-09-03 First automobile to exceed 300cmph, Malcolm Campbell powers Bluebird to 301.129mph at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
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