Yes folks I know that Seldom Seen Slim is running a Landspeed site but many of you will have speed interests (I hope) beyond the salt flats and deserts.
After crashing during a speed bid to go over 300 mph through the measured kilo two ways in 1967 the remains of Donald and his boat lay on the bottom of Coniston Water for 34 years. In 2001 both boat and the remains of Donald were recovered for his daughter, Gina.
Donald now has a grave in the cemetery in Coniston (a small village in the English Lake District) and the recovery diver has headed a team to rebuild (from most of the recovered parts - about 98% less the engine) the jet powered hydroplane K7. The boat is being returned to the working order that it was in on the morning of the 4th January 1967.
To demostrate that the restoration has been truly faithfull the team of engineers wish to run the craft on Coniston Water in 2010. Just fast enough, after build up runs, to get onto the 'plane' - about 100 mph. To achieve this aspiration the project operations team (of which I am a part) need to get the Park Authority to write a special local bye law. This bye law will permit this boat to exceed the 10 mph speed limit for powered craft under certain safety standards.
Should you appreciate what we are doing and take an interest in speed - even when on water - then please visit the website of the project
www.bluebirdproject.comIf you then feel that our bid for a new bye law is sound, please answer the Lake District National Park Authority questionnaire before 31st March at
www.lake-district.gov.uk/bluebirdconsultation Just one response per person please.
If you can pass word around the world please do so. Maybe we will see one or two lake side in 2010 if we get the new bye law.
Thanks for taking an interest.
Malcolm Pittwood (aka 'Malcolm UK') for The Bluebird Project Operations, England