Showing posts with label 1933. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1933. Show all posts

Friday, 31 July 2015

The Blue Bird Sunbeam Returns to Pendine Sands

The 350HP Sunbeam was built in 1920 as a record car, powered by the enormous 18.3-litre V12 Sunbeam Manitou engine.

By 1922, it had already broken 3 land speed records in the hands of various drivers.

In 1923, it was purchased by Sir Malcolm Campbell who had it repainted blue and re-christened “Blue Bird”.

On July 21st, 1925, racing Blue Bird on Pendine Sands in Wales, Sir Malcolm set a new land speed record of 150.766 mph (242.628 km/h).

© Paul Chenard 2015

Exactly 90 years later, the Blue Bird Sunbeam was returned to Pendine Sands to celebrate and honour this historic achievement.

© Paul Chenard 2015

The event was made that much more special with Sir Malcolm’s grandson Donald Wales, a land speed record holder in his own right, taking the wheel of this very beautiful record car.

© Paul Chenard 2015


© Paul Chenard 2015


© Paul Chenard 2015




The Blue Bird was joined on the beach by the powerful 1933 Napier Railton.

© Paul Chenard 2015

© Paul Chenard 2015

The sight of these 2 record-breakers on the beach was nothing short of stunning, a very fitting tribute the bravery of those drivers of the past, and of British technological history.

Thursday, 21 August 2008

Fire and Ice: the 1933 Monaco Grand Prix



Pen & ink and Prismacolor pencils on archival white stock
© Paul Chenard 2008

The 1933 Monaco Grand Prix was fought with passion and coolness. The fiery Tazio Nuvolari squared off against the cool, reserved Achille Varzi in a race-long battle to win.

Nuvolari raced a Scuderia Ferrari team Alfa Romeo 8C Monza, swapping first place with Varzi's Bugatti Type 51 during 97 of the 100 laps of the race.

On the last lap, Nuvolari's over-heating racer finally broke down just ahead of the finish line and Varzi took the checkered flag. Nuvolari pushed his car across the line, but was disqualified because he was helped by a mechanic.