Mechanical failure halts UK electric speed record bid

AN ATTEMPT to smash the UK electric land speed record was aborted yesterday following mechanical failure.

Don Wales, 50, and his Bluebird team was hoping this weekend to break the 137mph barrier, which Wales set in 2000, and reach 150mph.

His son Joe was also trying to set his own landspeed record in the electric-powered car, over a shorter distance.

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However, as the 19-year-old raced along Pendine Sands, in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, the right front wheel upright sheered off, causing the suspension to fail.

The teenager came to a halt after the front right tyre sank into the sand.

Joe, who was unhurt, and his father – the grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell who broke the world land speed record nine times –looked dejected as Bluebird was winched onto a trailer.

Later Don Wales explained that Bluebird was damaged after his son veered off the course due to poor visibility.

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“We still need to debrief Joe properly but first indications are that the visibility from the cockpit has always been a problem and when you’re that low and on a beach with severe vibrations, it is very easy to lose your way in any vehicle,” he said. “When you’ve got the speed and the vibrations Joe just lost his way and he ended up off the course in the potholes.

“When you can’t see the ground in front of you for 60 metres or 70 metres you’re in trouble before you’ve seen it.

“It’s just one of those unfortunate things. The safety of Joe is paramount.”

Don said that he hoped this was not the end of Bluebird and he hoped to be able to make further record attempts.

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“I hope it’s not the end of the story, we are a small team and severely struggling with finance,” he said.

“This is a severe knock to us but it’s immaterial to us because Joe is fine and that was always my worry.

“It’s his first go and it’s a hard learning process. Records aren’t broken every day or easily.”

He added: “We’re alive to fight another day. We’ll see what’s wrong with the car and see if we can fix it.

“In my heart I want to come back and fight another day. It’s still unfinished business but I’ve got to let my head do some thinking.

“The heart says, ‘Yes, let’s have another go’.”

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