Coniston Water, England – The jet-powered boat in which British adventurer Donald Campbell died attempting to break the world water speed record is to be allowed a trial run on the lake on which he was killed in 1967.
Since the days when men were men, women were women and lakes were there to be enjoyed by all, a new, rather insipid mentality has evolved which seeks to protect the environment from people and people from themselves.
In 2009, we find that the Lake District National Park Authority has imposed a ten mph speed limit on the lake to ensure that no one enjoys themselves any more. But in a small triumph for normality, the authority has – reluctantly – agreed to allow the rebuilt Bluebird which took Campbell to his death at more than 300mph to be allowed a proving trial on Coniston Water, provided it keeps below one hundred miles an hour.
But the park authority says the trial will be a one-off event and that regular running of the 4,500 lb thrust boat would be ‘a step too far’.
But the team which salvaged and rebuilt the sleek craft is pleased to have the chance to run it for one last time on the lake before it finds a permanent home in a museum.
“We need to prove that it works and is in the condition that it was just before the crash all those years ago, said a spokesman. “We hope to have Bluebird ready for its trial at the end of next year or the beginning of 2011.”
But one final hurdle remains: a formal consultation will now take place and a public inquiry could be ordered if there are any objections.
Between them, Donald Campbell and his father set eleven speed records on water and ten on land.
