A boating runabout with links to land and water speed racing ace Sir Malcolm Campbell, and his son, Donald, goes on sale at Harrogate this week.

The boat, a Dowty turbocraft MkIII, was built in 1962 and used as a tender for Donald Campbell's Bluebird hydroplane.

It was also a tender for Bluebird II, in which the hero was killed on Coniston Water while attempting to break the world water speed record.

It was designed by Fred Cooper, also responsible for the racing boats Miss England I and II, and more importantly designer of Sir Malcolm's first Bluebird.

Donald Campbell, whose ill-fated speedboat, Bluebird II, was recovered this year from the bottom of Coniston Water, drove and demonstrated the boat to the press, and also became involved in its marketing.

The Dowty, given the name Karen, is one of the many items to go under the hammer at the sale of collectors' cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, being held by Bonhams & Brooks at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Thursday. An auction-estimated-price of £1,000 to £1,500 is suggested.

Karen is made of glass-reinforced plastic, and powered by a Raymond Mays modified Ford Zephyr six-cylinder engine.

Updated: 11:46 Monday, June 11, 2001