Bluebird en Route for Lake Eyre The jet powered " Bluebird " in which British speed ace Donald Campbell is to make an attack on the world land speed record , pictured as it left here this morning for the Lake Eyre Salt Flats , where the attempt will be made . Checking the trailer coupling before departure is chief mechanic , Leo Villa ( Left ) On arrival in Sydney Mr Campbell said he expected to set a new mark around 420 miles per hour . Official record is held by the late John Cobb with 394 .196 mph A similar attempt by Campbell at Lake Eyre last year was abandoned when the salt flats were flooded by storm swollen rivers hundreds of miles north of the lake . 20 th April 1964