The Campbells and Sir Henry Segrave: A Celebration of Land and Water Speed Record Breaking

Photo: powerboatarchive2.co.uk

The event is organised by The Atkinson’s Development Trust, in order to launch next year’s celebrations of the 90th anniversary of Sir Henry Segrave’s world land speed record.

In March 1926, Segrave captured the land speed record on Southport sands in his four-litre Sunbeam TigerLadybird.

Throughout the latter part of the 1920s, until Segrave’s untimely death in 1930 aged just 33, a great struggle for speed developed between the pair. Segrave, a former fighter pilot set three land speed and one water speed record, was the first person to hold both simultaneously, and was the first to travel at over 200 mph (320 km/h) in a land vehicle.

Rival Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the world land speed record on nine occasions between 1924 and 1935, was the first person to drive at over 300 mph and set the water speed record four times.

There’s no better place in the north west  to celebrate a motor-racing milestone, as The Atkinson’s permanent museum displays, Between Land and Sea-10,000 years of Sefton’s Coast, strongly features the early years of motor racing.

Treasures on show include 1920s medals and trophies won on Southport beach by motorcycle racer William ‘Sax’ Pearce, a model of the Hudlass car from  the 1903 speed trials on Southport promenade, and  a 1920s racing car wheel similar to those used on Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Bluebird.

Emma Anderson, director, The Atkinson, said: “The heyday of motor racing in Southport was the 1920s and 30s, when record times were being set and broken in magnificently crafted machines which were themselves lovingly tended by the finest mechanics in the land.”

In addition to three inspiring talks, the fundraising event will also include drinks and refreshments, a chance to handle some of the museum’s objects and related displays of pictures and memorabilia.

Tickets for The Campbells and Sir Henry Segrave: A Celebration of Land and Water Speed Record Breaking Fundraising event are on sale and are priced at £25 (price includes refreshments and a signed print).

To book your place please contact the box office on 01704 533333 or book online >> http://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/the-campbells-and-sir-henry-segrave/

The Campbells and Sir Henry Segrave: A Celebration of Land and Water Speed Record Breaking
The Atkinson,

Lord Street,

Southport

PR8 1DB T

01704 533333
Thursday 23 July 2015, 7pm
£25 (price includes refreshments and a signed print)