Australian Trivia Only

[BruceS]

Yep, that's the one! Some say -15.1m.
I presume that is the LOWEST bit and refers to below AHD.
Yachties & boaties probably know what THAT means!
https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics ... /ahdgm/ahd
Over you you Ray........

[Greynomad]

Thanks Bruce.
Not bad for a stab in the dark!

OK... Brain cells engaged, everyone?

Prior to his unfortunate experience on Lake (Loch?) Coniston in Scotland, in 1967, Donald Campbell set a World Water Speed Record in Australia on 31 December 1964.

WHERE?

BONUS POINT if you can tell me what the speed was (it was in mph in them days).

...and make sure you spell it correctly.

[BruceS]

You better research that a bit more Ray. He failed on that try.
But, yep, he did attempt it.
I remember it well.

[BruceS]

A little trivia while Ray gets organised.
I went to Bordertown school & our class saw this.

bluebird1.jpg

I'm the one looking from behind the school teacher.

[Greynomad]

OK, an AUSTRALIAN Water Speed Record.

What speed did he reach?
...and you still have not named the place

[BruceS]

Looks like only us 2 playing Ray?
Lake Bonney .... Barmera in SA.
Not sure of the speed but around 216mph? (yeah I cheated on that bit!)

[Macca]

Been to various parts of Eyre Including Haligans Bay But only saw the one sign. Bowing to my seniors!

[Greynomad]

Not Lake Bonney, Bruce. Wrong state... try a bigger one (ie. not Tasmania. )
And 216 mph is selling the old boy a bit short... Coulda done almost that in a Quintrex in '64...

When we visited this spot, the 'Lake' was a series of muddy, salty puddles. You might have set a World Gumboot Running record, but there wasn't a straight run of water to try getting the Bluebird up to any decent speed. Even a duck punt would have been bottoming out (keel dragging if they'd had a keel)!

[El Gringo]

I seem to recall it being Blowering Dam, but that's all I remember without Mr Google's help...

Cheers,

[Greynomad]

Bernie,

Campbell might have done some working-up trials on Blowering Dam, it's not recorded in my sources, but the plaque marking his actual 1964 run at the record is a fair distance from there.

Perhaps you're confusing him with the Aussie speedster, Ken Warby??
He did a run there in 1978 to take the record (successfully): 317.58 mph or 511.1km/h.

Bruce,

I have consulted another source, and Campbell DID take the record in 1964. Between 1955 and 1964, driving Bluebird K7, he increased the record six times, the final one at the site you're yet to name. My source says he is still the most prolific water speed record breaker of all time.