It’s just over a week now until Bluebird Electric attempts to surpass its own U.K. electric land speed record, which was set 11 years ago. The target speed is 160 mph, with the aim to one day secure the world land speed record for an electric vehicle.
The venue is Pendine Sands in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Here my great grandfather Sir Malcolm Campbell became the world’s fastest man in 1924, which remains the spiritual home of record breaking in the U.K. My father Don Wales also broke the U.K. electric car record and lawnmower world land speed record at Pendine. It is a real privilege to be following in their footsteps.
Testing begins next week, before the attempt takes place on the weekend of July 2nd and 3rd . My father, Don the current record holder, will be targeting the land speed record over a measured mile and kilometre, whilst I will be trying to achieve the record over a quarter mile and 500 metres.
My preparations began a couple of weeks ago when I was given the opportunity to drive a Porsche Cayman and single seater at Thruxton race circuit. I was also given tuition at Merecedes-Benz World in an SL 500, where I experienced how to handle a car on low grip surfaces with ARDS Instructor Lee Cunningham. I started working part time as a marshal at Daytona Sandown Park in August 2008. I was then promoted to senior marshal in 2009. I now work during the holidays whilst I read Business Studies at Bournemouth University.
This Guest Blog was provided by Joe Wales, a part-time Race Marshal at Daytona Sandown Park and proud member of the Campbell Clan.
Good luck Joe!
Team Daytona