Campbell-Railton Bluebird
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| Campbell-Railton Bluebird | |
|---|---|
| Production | one-off (1933) |
| Body style(s) | front-engined land speed record car. |
| Engine(s) | 2,300hp 36.5litre supercharged Rolls-Royce R V12 |
| Wheelbase | 13ft 8in, Track front 5ft 3in, rear 5ft |
| Length | 27ft |
| Curb weight | 95cwt (4.75tons) |
| Related | Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird |
| Designer | Reid Railton |
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The Campbell-Railton Bluebird was Sir Malcolm Campbell's final land speed record car.
His previous Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird of 1931 was rebuilt significantly. The overall layout and the simple twin deep chassis rails remained, but little else. The bodywork remained similar, with the narrow body, the tombstone radiator grille and the semi-spatted wheels, but the mechanics were new. Most significantly, a larger, heavier and considerably more powerful Rolls-Royce R V12 engine replaced the old Napier Lion, again with supercharger.[1] This required two prominent "knuckles" atop the bodywork, to cover the V-12 engine's camboxes.[2][3][4]
Bluebird's first run was back at Daytona, setting a record of 272mph on 22nd February 1933.
Campbell now had a car with all the power that he could want, but no way to use all of it. Wheelspin was a problem, losing perhaps 50mph from the top speed. [1]
[edit] 1935
Visually the car was quite different. The bodywork was now rectangular in cross section and spanned the full width over the wheels. Although actually higher, this increased width gave the impression of a much lower and sleeker car, accentuated by the long stabilising tailfin and the purposeful raised ridges over the engine camboxes.[5] This Bluebird was clearly a design of the Modernist '30s, not the brute heroism of the '20s.[6][7]
Mechanically the changes to the car had focussed on improving the traction, rather than increasing the already generous power. Double wheels and tyres were fitted to the rear axle, to improve grip.[8] The final drive was also split into separate drives to each side. This reduced the load on each drive, allowed the driver position to be lowered, but required the wheelbase to be shortened asymmetrically on one side by 1½".[9] Airbrakes were fitted, actuated by a large air cylinder. For extra streamlining the radiator air intake could be closed by a movable flap, for a brief period during the record itself. [10]
'Bluebird' made its first record runs back on Daytona Beach in early 1935. On 7 March 1935 Campbell improved his record to 276.82 mph, but the unevenness of the beach sand still caused a loss of grip and he knew the car was capable of more.[11]
The faster car needed a bigger and smoother arena, and this led to the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. This time the young Donald Campbell accompanied his father. On 3rd September 1935, the 300mph barrier fell by a bare mile-per-hour, crowning Sir Malcolm Campbell's record-breaking career. [12][13]
[edit] Survival today
Alabama Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, Talladega, Alabama, USA
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bluebird 1933. Bluebird team racing.
- ^ 1933 Bluebird. Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ 1933 Bluebird from the rear. Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ Bluebird, 1933. many period photos
- ^ Bluebird 1935. Bluebird team racing.
- ^ On the banking at Brooklands (photo). Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ Running at Brooklands (photo). Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ Cockpit, showing the double wheels and also the airbrake flaps (photo). Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ Engine and chassis in the workshops, bodywork removed. Note the airbrake actuating cylinder. (photo). Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ Bluebird, 1935. Racing Campbells.
- ^ Bluebird at Daytona, 1935. many period photos
- ^ Holthusen, Peter J.R. (1986). The Land Speed Record. ISBN 0854294996.
- ^ Bluebird at Bonneville, 1935. many period photos
- record-breaking Pendine Sands (photos). Sand Speed Wales. Many rare period photos.
