One more take….
Ullswater was the proverbial mill pond on the morning of Thursday 24 July, the morning after the excitement of the 70th anniversary of Donald Campbell breaking the water speed record at over 202 miles per hour.
I found a quiet moment by the lake to reflect on the whole week. There were many high points, the Lakeland Motor Museum in particular; I’ve met some wonderful people, especially Graeme, a skipper on the Ullswater steamers. The low points I won’t mention, other than say that a couple of people can be very nasty for no reason, and you know who you are!
Most of Thursday was taken up with more filming of AC Bluebird. The film director asked me to drive along the road next to the lake, while a drone followed me in both directions and the film crew were strategically placed on the lake and behind bushes along the road. It was a big, well-co-ordinated process and I was asked to do it several times. On the final three runs I had to follow a van with a camera on the back, operated from inside, while I drove as close to it as possible without, obviously hitting it. It was dramatic scary stuff as we were on the open road with motorbikes and cars getting very close to see what was going on.
The day finished with us doing some more filming on the road known as the Struggle. It was while we were waiting in the car park above the Struggle that we encountered Derek and Valerie, a married couple who were returning from a trip to the Lakeland Motor Museum. They were thrilled to see the car and asked about the 70th anniversary roundel on the side of AC Bluebird. When we explained the 70th anniversary that we were celebrating Derek and Valerie were very excited because it was their 70th wedding anniversary on 23 July. They got married the same day as Donald Campbell broke the water speed record. They were thrilled to see the car and to be photographed with it. We all agreed to meet up again for their 75th wedding anniversary.
More filming was planned for the next day before returning AC Bluebird to the Lakeland Motor Museum. I never told the film director but my shoulders were very painful from all the driving I had been doing. I was ready to go home, but he wanted one more take.
Reckless!
The Fall and Rise of AC 'Bluebird'
By Kevin Shilling
The book about how a global star became a farmyard wreck – then, thanks to a full restoration, rose again onto the international stage.
AVAILABLE NOW
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