Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013
Posts: 4175
Location: The Somerset Levels
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7141
Location: Derby
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 Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 11:39 am Post subject: |
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The lesson that attempting to start Bluebird after being stationary for 30 years is a salient one. It is, however, lost on many of today's young enthusiasts. How often do we see on TV programmes, the first thing they do with a barn find car is to "get it running" with no thought given to the state of the engine.
I would like to have been at Pendine Sands to see the Centenary of the Bluebird L.S.R. Sunbeam.
As it happens, I see Donald's restored Bluebird has returned to Coniston Water.... |
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Rusty
Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 280
Location: Bunbury, Western Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2025 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| Ray White wrote: |
As it happens, I see Donald's restored Bluebird has returned to Coniston Water.... |
I was reading about that only a week or so ago, and it brought back a "lot" of memories. When I was a child "Sir Donald" was out here in "Bluebird" the boat, at a place called "lake Dumblyung", in the south of Western Australia where he set a new world water speed record on the last day of 1963. At the time my grandparents lived in Perth not far from the swan river, and Donald and his entourage did a publicity run down the swan river across "Matilda bay" heading towards the narrows bridge and then back in "Bluebird", but because conditions weren't ideal, he only ran her up to about 90MPH. When we got to the area they were launching her, they said they were short handed and got some of the locals to assist, and I was proud as punch, when their chief engineer (whose name escapes me) asked "my dad" if he would help, which he did. I was only nine, but I remember well, "dad" being included in the discussions with the "actual crew". They were a good bunch of blokes, and it's a story dad dined out on for quite a while. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7141
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2025 8:55 am Post subject: |
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| Rusty wrote: | | Ray White wrote: |
As it happens, I see Donald's restored Bluebird has returned to Coniston Water.... |
I was reading about that only a week or so ago, and it brought back a "lot" of memories. When I was a child "Sir Donald" was out here in "Bluebird" the boat, at a place called "lake Dumblyung", in the south of Western Australia where he set a new world water speed record on the last day of 1963. At the time my grandparents lived in Perth not far from the swan river, and Donald and his entourage did a publicity run down the swan river across "Matilda bay" heading towards the narrows bridge and then back in "Bluebird", but because conditions weren't ideal, he only ran her up to about 90MPH. When we got to the area they were launching her, they said they were short handed and got some of the locals to assist, and I was proud as punch, when their chief engineer (whose name escapes me) asked "my dad" if he would help, which he did. I was only nine, but I remember well, "dad" being included in the discussions with the "actual crew". They were a good bunch of blokes, and it's a story dad dined out on for quite a while. |
That must have been a very special time and a memory you will never forget. |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22790
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2025 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Rusty wrote: | | Ray White wrote: |
As it happens, I see Donald's restored Bluebird has returned to Coniston Water.... |
I was reading about that only a week or so ago, and it brought back a "lot" of memories. When I was a child "Sir Donald" was out here in "Bluebird" the boat, at a place called "lake Dumblyung", in the south of Western Australia where he set a new world water speed record on the last day of 1963. At the time my grandparents lived in Perth not far from the swan river, and Donald and his entourage did a publicity run down the swan river across "Matilda bay" heading towards the narrows bridge and then back in "Bluebird", but because conditions weren't ideal, he only ran her up to about 90MPH. When we got to the area they were launching her, they said they were short handed and got some of the locals to assist, and I was proud as punch, when their chief engineer (whose name escapes me) asked "my dad" if he would help, which he did. I was only nine, but I remember well, "dad" being included in the discussions with the "actual crew". They were a good bunch of blokes, and it's a story dad dined out on for quite a while. |
Excellent, in the right place at the right time eh!!
RJ
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Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7141
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2025 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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I was interested to see why they had chosen Pendine Sands. It was because the long straight at Brooklands lacked sufficient distance...
.... I would have thought it was because Booklands was too bumpy. 
(Incidentally, my Dad recalled seeing cars going over the top of the banking at Brooklands!) |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7215
Location: Edinburgh
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2025 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Did the original have chain cases fitted?
Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7141
Location: Derby
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