World's first 150mph car returns to beach where it broke record

Almost a century ago, a car called the Blue Bird changed the world of racing forever. In 1925, Malcolm Campbell, a car dealer with a passion for speed, brought his 350-horsepower Sunbeam car to Pendine Sands, a seven-mile stretch of flat beach in southwest Wales. His goal was to break the 150 miles per hour barrier, something no one had ever done before. The Blue Bird was a striking car, painted blue with a silver stripe, and designed to be as fast as possible. On July 21, 1925, Campbell made two runs across the sand, reaching an average speed of 150. 766 miles per hour. This incredible achievement made him an international celebrity, with newspapers around the world reporting on his success and even the King sending his congratulations.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of this historic event, the Blue Bird is returning to Pendine Sands. Malcolm Campbell's grandson, Don Wales, will be present for the ceremony. The Campbell family has a long history of breaking speed records. Donald Campbell, Malcolm's son, was the only person to hold both the land and water speed records at the same time, although he tragically died during a record attempt in 1967. Gina Campbell, Donald's daughter, set the women's world water speed record, and Don Wales himself has broken records with electric cars, steam-powered cars, and even the fastest lawnmower. Don says that racing is in their family's genes, and when they are behind the wheel, nothing matters more than pushing the limits of speed and bravery.

Pendine Sands was the center of land speed records in the 1920s. Its long, flat surface allowed cars to accelerate to high speeds and then slow down safely, something that was impossible on regular racetracks. Malcolm Campbell and his rival, Parry Thomas, competed to set new records, raising the top speed from 140 to 176 miles per hour. Parry Thomas built his own car, Babs, specifically for breaking records, but he died in a crash while trying to go even faster. After Campbell's success at Pendine, longer beaches like Daytona in Florida became the new sites for record attempts. The Blue Bird was eventually retired and kept at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England. At one point, it was found in poor condition in a barn, but it was restored and is now carefully maintained. The museum's chief engineer, Ian Stanfield, worries about finding new experts to care for these historic vehicles in the future. Today, the land speed record is held by the Thrust SSC, which reached over 763 miles per hour. Don Wales believes that with enough interest and support, people could one day build a car that goes even faster than 1,000 miles per hour. The biggest challenge, he says, is finding a place long enough to attempt such a feat. The story of the Blue Bird and its return to Pendine Sands reminds us of the excitement and determination that drive people to achieve the impossible.