X-Nico

9 unusual facts about Malcolm Campbell


Bentley 3.5 Litre

Sir Malcolm Campbell, nine times World Land Speed Record holder (B141AE, B206GA, B22GA)

Bonneville Speedway

The salt flats were first used for motor sports in 1912, but did not become truly popular until the 1930s when Ab Jenkins and Sir Malcolm Campbell competed to set land speed records.

Canbury School

Formerly a domestic residence, Canbury was once owned by Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald Campbell was born there.

Innes Lloyd

Collaborating with authors such as Roger Milner and Don Shaw, he brought to the screen biographies from a diverse range of, often flawed, heroes ranging from Orde Wingate and Arthur "Bomber" Harris, the Campbells Donald and Malcolm, through to the first Director General of the BBC John Reith.

Malcolm Campbell

An English Heritage blue plaque commemorates Campbell and his son at Canbury School, Kingston Hill, Kingston-upon Thames, where they lived.

He christened his car Blue Bird, painting it blue, after seeing the play The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck at the Haymarket Theatre.

He gained the world speed record on land and on water at various times during the 1920s and 1930s using vehicles called Blue Bird.

Malcolm Campbell-Johnston

Born in Crowthorne, Berkshire, England he was the son of Alexander Robert Campbell-Johnston and his wife Frances Ellen Bury Campbell-Johnston (née Paliser).

St Clears

The exhibition contains some photographs of famous people including the aviator Amy Johnson, World War I flying ace Wing Commander Ira Jones, and racing drivers Sir Malcolm Campbell and J. G. Parry-Thomas, who both attempted world land speed records at Pendine Sands.


Ab Jenkins

He was instrumental in establishing Bonneville as a location for such events, and in attracting overseas drivers such as George Eyston and Sir Malcolm Campbell to compete there.

Giuseppe Campari

The following year he repeated as champion at the Mille Miglia and along with top drivers such as Malcolm Campbell and Rudolf Caracciola, he traveled to Ireland to compete in the inaugural Irish International Grand Prix at Phoenix Park in Dublin.

Hercules Cycle and Motor Company

Hercules exported a significant percentage of production – by the time Sir Malcolm Campbell was invited to see the three millionth bicycle in 1933, over half the production had been sent overseas, earning £6 million and letters of congratulation from the King and Prince of Wales.


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