Water Speed Record
The Definitive History
Published on 9. January 2020
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-84425-473-6 (ISBN)
Description
Written by the world's leading expert on the history of the Water Speed Record, this authoritative book describes the evolution of this thrilling but intensely dangerous and under-chronicled area of heroic endeavour, from the earliest records in 1897 as racing motorists turned their attention to the pursuit of marine speed, through to UK and US challengers for the current record of 317mph set by Australian Ken Warby in 1978. The insightful narrative and dramatic photography capture everything about a remarkable tale of man's daring and courage in tackling the more dangerous of the two big records, from the sheer narcotic of speed, through to the frequent tragedies and the technological advancements.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Somerset
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Haynes Publishing Group
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 230 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84425-473-6 (9781844254736)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
David Tremayne's passion for the history of the water speed record was fired by Donald Campbell's last effort, and since then he has interviewed many of the leading proponents. A respected author and world-recognised expert on record breaking, he is the biographer of Donald Campbell and Richard Noble.
Content
How high-speed boats developed from the slim toothpick displacement hull and the skimming hydroplane of the early days. Action and anecdotes; the daring, ruthless and prolific competitors, successful and otherwise. British heroes such as Sir Henry Segrave, Sir Malcolm Campbell, Kaye Don, John Cobb and Donald Campbell. Ken Warby, the only man to have designed, built and driven his own boat to the record and who, aged 70, nurtures the appetite for challenge so that he has the excuse to go out to play againA". Speed record tables and boat specifications.