The Elephant In The Room
Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:18 pm
This is a repeat of a post i have made on the Pistonheads 'Gassing' Forum.
A few points of clarification on the subject of Bluebird K7:
1) My name is Neil Sheppard, and I post under the name sheppane. I feel that all posts on these type of forums should be made in a transparent and clear fashion, so people are not able to deliver their diatribe behind the anonymity of a an unconnected user name. I am considered to be somewhat of an expert on the life and works of Donald Campbell and wrote the critically acclaimed account of his final record attempt, in order to put the record straight about that tragic event. My one aim in this regard is to ensure that Donald Campbell and his achievements continue to live on in the public's conscientiousness. If you need further information, please see www.bluebirdk7.com
2) I do not post under the name NeilDra which appears to be a somewhat mischievous combination of mine and my wife's Sandra's names (on the other hand it may be coincidental, although that does seem a stretch...).
3) There are a number of seriously misinformed individuals on both sides of the argument here. There are also a significant number of contributions that lack basic good taste and manners, particularly regarding the question of Donald Campbell's remains. Grow up, engage brain and think of others before hitting the keyboard. Imagine you were addressing individuals face to face.
4) Where Donald Campbell and his legacy is concerned, I believe there are two people in the world whose wishes are paramount, and should be considered above all others. Those two people are Gina Campbell and Tonia Campbell. The wishes of anyone else should be totally secondary, and that includes The Ruskin Museum, The Bluebird Project and any Donald Campbell enthusiasts.
5) Gina has stated that it is her preference that Bluebird K7 should not be run at high speed at any time in the future. So far, The Bluebird Project has remained silent on this stated wish, in any communication channel it has with the outside world. I think an acknowledgement of this needs to be made by the BBP as soon as possible.
6) Other contributors to this forum, or any other, should have the courage to front up who they are, and what their position is. It gives their argument more validity and strength. It will also make their contribution to this debate more considered.
7) I do not buy and do not agree with the characterisations made on this or other forums about people who disagree with their point of view. Type III idiots or any other such pejorative labels are themselves quite idiotic and demean both parties.
8) Gina's stated wish is that Bluebird K7 should be returned to the Ruskin Museum as soon as possible and practical for public display. At no time has she deviated from that desire. She has also expressed a desire to try and seriously consider how the two Bluebird's CN7 and K7 can re reunited at some stage in 2014 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Donald Campbell's successful double of breaking the LSR and WSR in the same year. This seems a reasonable request to make, and would align with the interests of all parties in putting Campbell's achievements front and centre in the public domain.
9) A company has been set up 'Bluebird Project Ltd' the aims and intentions of which are not clear. If the Bluebird Project hopes to continue the goodwill that has existed for it since 2001, it is contingent upon them to be absolutely upfront about their plans, motivations and an approximate timescale for the restoration of Bluebird K7. To do anything less would be considered in some quarters churlish, and in other quarters, downright questionable. I'm fully aware that the project relies on the goodwill of volunteers and companies providing assistance and material in kind, but I consider that milestones along to Bluebird's restoration should be able to be mapped out in order that an approximate critical path to the completion of the restoration can be communicated to the wider world.
10) I have no wish to fall out with any contributors on this page, but feel that the time has come for a much more transparent dialogue about the future of Bluebird K7 and Donald Campbell's legacy.
Finally, in the interests of total transparency, my comments above will also be published on the Pistonheads 'Gassing' Forum
A few points of clarification on the subject of Bluebird K7:
1) My name is Neil Sheppard, and I post under the name sheppane. I feel that all posts on these type of forums should be made in a transparent and clear fashion, so people are not able to deliver their diatribe behind the anonymity of a an unconnected user name. I am considered to be somewhat of an expert on the life and works of Donald Campbell and wrote the critically acclaimed account of his final record attempt, in order to put the record straight about that tragic event. My one aim in this regard is to ensure that Donald Campbell and his achievements continue to live on in the public's conscientiousness. If you need further information, please see www.bluebirdk7.com
2) I do not post under the name NeilDra which appears to be a somewhat mischievous combination of mine and my wife's Sandra's names (on the other hand it may be coincidental, although that does seem a stretch...).
3) There are a number of seriously misinformed individuals on both sides of the argument here. There are also a significant number of contributions that lack basic good taste and manners, particularly regarding the question of Donald Campbell's remains. Grow up, engage brain and think of others before hitting the keyboard. Imagine you were addressing individuals face to face.
4) Where Donald Campbell and his legacy is concerned, I believe there are two people in the world whose wishes are paramount, and should be considered above all others. Those two people are Gina Campbell and Tonia Campbell. The wishes of anyone else should be totally secondary, and that includes The Ruskin Museum, The Bluebird Project and any Donald Campbell enthusiasts.
5) Gina has stated that it is her preference that Bluebird K7 should not be run at high speed at any time in the future. So far, The Bluebird Project has remained silent on this stated wish, in any communication channel it has with the outside world. I think an acknowledgement of this needs to be made by the BBP as soon as possible.
6) Other contributors to this forum, or any other, should have the courage to front up who they are, and what their position is. It gives their argument more validity and strength. It will also make their contribution to this debate more considered.
7) I do not buy and do not agree with the characterisations made on this or other forums about people who disagree with their point of view. Type III idiots or any other such pejorative labels are themselves quite idiotic and demean both parties.
8) Gina's stated wish is that Bluebird K7 should be returned to the Ruskin Museum as soon as possible and practical for public display. At no time has she deviated from that desire. She has also expressed a desire to try and seriously consider how the two Bluebird's CN7 and K7 can re reunited at some stage in 2014 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Donald Campbell's successful double of breaking the LSR and WSR in the same year. This seems a reasonable request to make, and would align with the interests of all parties in putting Campbell's achievements front and centre in the public domain.
9) A company has been set up 'Bluebird Project Ltd' the aims and intentions of which are not clear. If the Bluebird Project hopes to continue the goodwill that has existed for it since 2001, it is contingent upon them to be absolutely upfront about their plans, motivations and an approximate timescale for the restoration of Bluebird K7. To do anything less would be considered in some quarters churlish, and in other quarters, downright questionable. I'm fully aware that the project relies on the goodwill of volunteers and companies providing assistance and material in kind, but I consider that milestones along to Bluebird's restoration should be able to be mapped out in order that an approximate critical path to the completion of the restoration can be communicated to the wider world.
10) I have no wish to fall out with any contributors on this page, but feel that the time has come for a much more transparent dialogue about the future of Bluebird K7 and Donald Campbell's legacy.
Finally, in the interests of total transparency, my comments above will also be published on the Pistonheads 'Gassing' Forum