Bluebird Electric to Take On UK Land Speed Record in August

The official date of Bluebird Electric’s speed attempts at the Pendine Sands, South Wales, has been set of the weekend of August 13th to the 14th. Last month the attempt was aborted when a vital bespoke component that was being manufactured in Europe was not delivered on time, but things are looking good now for the attempt.

In typical dramatic fashion, with the clock ticking, the Bluebird team were searching for a UK engineering manufacturer, and were delighted when Dorset-based Transdev stepped in to the gap to rescue the whole project.

“Don Wales and Bluebird Electric would also like to extend their thanks to the MSA and RAC, plus their sponsors Castrol, Aggreko, Ford, Goodyear, Dura, Bluestone and the Prince of Wales Hotel Pembrokeshire whose support and services have been invaluable throughout,” Bluebird states.

During the August attempts, driver Don Wales will be testing and development vehicle to try different battery technologies and drive units.  His goal is to eventually set an electric record of more than 500 mph (804 km/h) in 2013. The speed trials at Pendine Sands this August are actually part of the development program. However, timekeepers and race officials will be present and the team hopes to establish new UK land speed records for an electric car. During the trials Wales also hopes to best his grandfather’s 146 mph land speed record set with a combustion engine on the same beach in 1924.

This is not the first time a Bluebird has set Land Speed records at Pendine. Don Wales is actually following in a family tradition started by his grandfather, Sir Malcolm Campbell and continued by his Uncle, Donald Campbell CBE.