Sport: Assault on the Summit

Shortly after Sir Malcolm Campbell died in 1948, his son Donald learned that a U.S. sportsman was preparing an assault on Sir Malcolm's world water-speed record of 141.74 m.p.h. "By God, they won't have that record," vowed Donald, "not without a fight they won't have it."

Then 27, Donald Campbell was not well prepared to make a fight of it ("I'd never traveled at more than 70 m.p.h. on water, and not much more on land"). But he learned. The U.S.'s Stanley Sayres duly broke Sir Malcolm's record in 1950. but by T955 Donald had...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!