23 November 2006

DIESELMAX meets Bluebird

The amazing landmark achievements of the entire JCB DIESELMAX team were toasted at a special celebration party held at London’s fashionable Bluebird restaurant on Wednesday 22 November. As its legendary name evokes, in a former life Malcolm Campbell, one of Britain’s foremost speed pioneers, owned the Kings Road venue.

The glittering evening – compered by former F1 racer turned TV presenter Tiff Needell – was a fitting tribute to all those involved in the successful JCB DIESELMAX project. Those present included the entire Bonneville team plus many of those who had worked tirelessly on the programme behind the scenes back home in Britain. There were some famous faces, too, including ex-GP team boss Eddie Jordan and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.

Sir Anthony Bamford, JCB Chairman, hosted the formal proceedings and he was quick to praise all those involved in the setting of a new land speed record for diesel cars at Bonneville back in August.

“When I made the suggestion that we should develop a car using our own JCB Diesel engines to attempt the diesel land speed record, I have no doubt that most people at JCB thought I had gone mad.

“Growing up in Britain in the 1950s and 60s I was enthused by the spirit of the land speed record breakers – men such as Stirling Moss, Goldie Gardner and Donald Campbell.

“It was a passion that was rekindled when we developed our diesel engine, the JCB444. This was a landmark moment in the history of our company.

“It is impossible to thank everybody personally who contributed to the success of JCB Dieselmax. It was a great team effort. But I must mention Richard Noble, John Piper at Visioneering, Ricardo, Andy Green, and, of course, the exceptional team at JCB. It was a privilege to see the coming together of such a talented group of people.

“It was thrilling to be at Bonneville with all my family and we watched with pride and excitement as the JCB DIESELMAX was put through its paces again and again. When we smashed the record we were europhoric. And we are delighted to be here this evening to celebrate with all of you.

“I am very proud of our achievement. We are a British company and the JCB Dieselmax is a great British record breaker. Our record is a great statement for British engineering and demonstrates yet again that we are capable of world-class performance,” said Sir Anthony who concluded, tantalisingly, by admitting: “there may still be some more life in JCB DIESELMAX.”

Watch this space!