Brooklands Bulletin Issue 82 July/August 2023

Welcome

The Brooklands events calendar is something I refer to daily for work and my own interest. What struck me the other day was the sheer number and variety of what is going on at the Museum this year. There are all of the favourite staples and a host of new additions to make every visit a chance to discover something new.

As well as these fantastic days out, there are plenty of clubs making use of Brooklands as a place to gather and enjoy the convivial atmosphere. Again, variety is the spice here, and there are also the Talks and exhibitions like the new Barnes Wallis one to make the Museum a go-to destination time and again. Check out the events coming up on page 12.

You will also see in this issue of the Bulletin that we’re nearing the Members’ Annual General Meeting, and that means it’s your chance to take part in elections. You’ll find the biographies of all the candidates and more information about how to take part on page 17.

Finally, a thank you from me to all those Members who have contributed to the Bulletin in recent months. It is one of the great privileges of editing the magazine to read these articles and learn more about the people that have helped shape Brooklands and continue to do so. Please keep them coming as I know Bulletin readers enjoy them just as much as I do.

Alisdair Suttie

Editor

Brooklands Bulletin

Become a Member

Brooklands Members is the official support organisation for Brooklands Museum and is dedicated to raising funds for the preservation of the historic Brooklands site.

Members receive the Bulletin six times per year and enjoy free admission to the Museum, except when major events are taking place, in which case additional charges may apply. Club Level Members have access to the Clubhouse Bar on Thursday, Friday and Sunday lunchtimes.

For full details of membership benefits, contact the Members Administrator, Sarah Dover 01932 857381 ext 226; or wwwbrooklandsmembers.co.uk where you can find the latest news on Brooklands.

Front Cover photo: Mike Venables

Brooklands wins prestigious learning award

creative work of our extraordinary sector and are the ultimate stamp of approval.’

Tamalie Newbery, Director and CEO Brooklands Museum, was delighted to collect the award and commented: ‘Rethinking our learning programme started during Covid, knowing that it would be key to delivering our vision of inspiring people to shape the future, through Brooklands’ history of innovation and endeavour.

‘What we have built since then, in partnership with Bourne Education Trust, Well North Enterprises, and local and national businesses, is truly remarkable and the Brooklands Innovation Academy is the most high-profile element of that. We are truly delighted to have our innovative approach recognised by such a prestigious awards programme.’

Brooklands Museum has won the coveted Learning Programme of the Year in the Museums + Heritage Awards 2023. The win is for the Museum’s partnership with Bourne Education Trust and includes Brooklands Innovation Academy.

A seconded teacher, funded by the Federation Skills Trust, works with the Brooklands team to create opportunities beyond the curriculum and classroom

for pupils. It aims to give students better life outcomes and connect schools with industry, creating more opportunities for pupils and breaking the cycle of under-achievement in disadvantaged communities.

Anna Preedy, Director of Museums + Heritage Awards, said: ‘The Awards provide a rare opportunity to recognise and celebrate the determined, confident, and

Message from Members’ Chairman

The past year has been challenging but ultimately very successful for the Members as I make my Annual Report. Last year, I mentioned the difficult transition from Covid, especially over the New Year, which resulted in the cancellation of the ever-popular New Year’s Day Classic Gathering. Fortunately, we were able to return, albeit gradually, to normality and the New Year’s Day event became the Easter Classic Gathering, which was very successful, with the pent-up demand to get out and enjoy life again very evident. The Easter event was so successful that it returned this year and was again hugely popular with Members.

Those Members who had not felt able to renew their membership during Covid started to return and re-join, and membership numbers increased significantly and have continued to rise. Although precise figures will be reported at the Annual General Meeting on 20 September, we currently have more than 7000 Members, a quite remarkable figure that many of us on the Committee felt would not be reached in such a short time. The Museum, like every other organisation, has been hit by the inflationary pressures we have all experienced over the past year and it was necessary to increase subscription rates at the beginning of this year. Although this is never a popular decision to make, I think that most Members understand the situation and fortunately have continued to renew. The Museum has always

Penny Alford, Chief Education Officer at Bourne Education Trust, added: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award, which celebrates our partnership with Brooklands Museum. We are so proud to be part of this shared STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) work, which has such an impact both on our students and families, and the wider community of schools that take part.’

relied on the income generated by your subscriptions and this has never been more important in the current climate. I thank you all for continuing to support the Museum, thus ensuring that it can continue to thrive.

Club Level Members will be aware of the restrictions imposed in the Clubhouse as the refurbishment project, including the very welcome addition of a lift to the upper floor, has progressed over the past year. The well-publicised supply chain issues have had a serious impact on the timing of the work and, inevitably when working on such an old building, problems that could not have been anticipated unsurprisingly occur. However, I am pleased to report the Clubhouse and Members Bar have now fully re-opened, the lift is installed and working well, and an additional venue now named the Locke King Room (after the founder of the circuit) is an added benefit to all. I thank all those Members who have been inconvenienced by the construction work for their patience, but hopefully you will all appreciate that short term nuisance is now reaping long-term reward. The project relied on a number of grants in order to come to fruition and we can be proud that our raffle and fundraising activities in 2019-2020 enabled us to contribute £25k towards it.

Clubhouse reopens after refurbishment

Following a six-month refurbishment plan, the Clubhouse reopened at the beginning of June. To mark the occasion, Brooklands Museum Chief Executive Officer Tamalie Newbery hosted an afternoon tea in the new Locke King Room.

Attending the event were Dr Ben Spencer MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, on the right in the photo, and Elmbridge Mayor Councillor Richard Williams, seen standing to the left with Sir Gerald Acher, Chairman of the Brooklands Trust Members. In the middle is Museum CEO Tamalie Newbery, with Member John O’Dell in front.

Councillor Williams said: ‘It’s wonderful to see as iconic a building as the Brooklands Clubhouse brought back to such a fine condition. The work has made sure the Clubhouse can be used for many years to come, as well as preserving its wonderful original looks.’

During the refurbishment programme, the Clubhouse Tower was restored to make it watertight. Replacement windows for the Napier Room and new steel windows in the former Library also now keep the weather out of the building. Other work included a new bar balcony roof and balustrades, and the creation of the new room in the former Library. A secure bookstore has been added to the rear of the former Billiard Room.

Access within the Clubhouse has been increased with a new entry to the Napier Room, lift, and toilet on the first floor. You can see the changes in BM.tv’s video by scanning this QR code.

Brooklands hosted the start of the 2023 London to Brighton Classic Car, Modern Classics, and Kit & Sports Car Runs at the beginning of June. There was a great variety of cars of all ages and types taking part, and all the participants enjoyed the atmosphere at Brooklands before they headed on a scenic route to the south coast.

Julian Nowell

Heritage grant for Brooklands Stories Uncovered

Brooklands Museum has been awarded a £235,000 grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project will allow us to work with young people, neuro-diverse people, and the LGBTQ+ community to explore Brooklands’ stories and their relevance.

Two new members of staff will be recruited to run this project. One will be a Community Engagement Officer and the other a Research and Collections Officer. They will work with people who come to the Museum to shape how stories are collected in the future and made available.

The grant will also help to support a group of volunteers who will be trained to use a new Collections Management System that is being set up.

Kate Shrewsday

I remember very well my first Annual Dinner as your Chairman, when I greeted our then President, Sir Stirling Moss, and escorted him from the Paddock into the Clubhouse and up to the Napier Room. He was becoming quite infirm by that time and accepted the offer of a ride in the electrically powered chair that wound its way up and around the staircase at a very pedestrian pace. We gradually ended up at the U-turn halfway up the staircase, at which point Sir Stirling directed that we stop the chair and he said would get out and walk the rest of the way. Although I was a bit embarrassed by this, he made light of it and, with very choice language, commented that those installing the chair should have been told that Brooklands was a race circuit, not a retirement home. Regrettably, Sir Stirling is no longer with us, and our current President is very fit, but I am sure many hundreds of Members and visitors will appreciate the lift in years to come.

The 2022 Annual Dinner was as ever very enjoyable, and the auction the most successful we have ever had, no doubt in part driven by the ability to place bids online and, of course, by the inimitable auctioneer extraordinaire Clive Emson. It is always difficult to fix the date of the dinner, as Damon’s availability is dependent on his Formula 1 commitments with Sky TV, and I am not yet able to announce the 2023 Annual Dinner date, but obviously will let you know as soon I can.

Our programme of talks and events continue to go from strength to strength. Harry Sherrard of the Talks Team has set dates stretching into 2024, and David Brockington-Hill of the Brooklands Members Driving Group increasing the number and variety of events both in

the UK and overseas. We have streamlined booking and banking arrangements for all talks and events by using Eventbrite, which makes the management of these popular programmes far easier.

This year, we have actively encouraged Members to stand for election to the Committee, and I am delighted to say that we have a record number of candidates, so we will have a contested election for the first time. Details of the voting procedure and deadlines appear elsewhere in this edition of the Bulletin. The results will be announced at the AGM in September.

The Committee will look very different next year as there will be five new faces around the table. Angela Hume, David Norfolk, and Julian Grimwade, who are all founder Members and have served for 15 years on the Committee, are standing down. Nadine Coben-Porter has had to resign due to ill health. In addition, as I explained in my last Chairman’s Message, I have decided not to stand for re-election this year, and a process to identify and appoint my successor was commenced in mid-April. There was a contested election. Under our constitution, the Chairman is elected by the Committee after a consultation process involving the Trustees. The conclusion of that process was a secret ballot on 26 April, and the result was an overwhelming vote for Kevin Lee, currently our Honorary Secretary. I am working closely with Kevin to ensure a smooth transition and will formally hand over to him at the AGM on 20 September. I am sure Kevin will be an excellent Chairman, and I wish him the very best for the future.

Neil Bailey

Move over Indy, here comes Brooklands

Brooklands comes to London

Brooklands is joining Indiana Jones on cinema screens over the summer with a new advert that runs ahead of the fifth installment of the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

The 30-second advert uses the phrase ‘Be transported’ as it shows how Brooklands is able to take you to different times in history, as well as being about the Museum’s array of motorsport and aviation innovation.

Alongside the actors in the advert, one of the stars is Brooklands Member Julian Grimwade, who used his vintage Bentley for filming the advert. The other car used is the Lagonda M45 Le Mans Replica, which is on loan to the Museum by Mrs S Brock.

The new advert appears ahead of the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, which was released on 30 June.

Which? magazine was at the Museum recently to test a range of mobility scooters and e-bikes over the various facilities available at Brooklands. It was particularly interesting to see them assessing the electrically assisted bicycles up and down Test Hill in the same way it was used in its heyday.

Martin Gegg

New permanent Barnes Wallis exhibition opens

The Peninsula London, a new five-star hotel in the heart of Belgravia, is set to open this September with a rooftop restaurant and bar named in honour of Brooklands. A world-class culinary team, with Chef Director Claude Bosi at the helm, will serve Modern British cuisine in distinctive spaces inspired by the classic eras of British aviation and motorsports.

Diners will sit under a sculpture of Concorde as they enjoy the views over London’s skyline. We are excited to announce our partnership with The Peninsula London, as the hotel will be hosting classic vehicles from the Brooklands Collection in a rotating display. A number of The Peninsula team have already made visits to the museum, to learn about the history of our site and collection. The automotive-themed bar in the Brooklands restaurant will feature rare motoring memorabilia and hand-crafted, automotive design details. Guests at the hotel will also be able to make use of a fleet of Rolls-Royces, including a vintage 1934 RollsRoyce and a 1960 Austin taxi that has been converted to run on electric power, all liveried in Peninsula Brewster Green.

Members attended the event and thanks go to Brooklands Members for supporting the exhibition’s development. Also in attendance were Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, and Simon Waugh, Mayor of Elmbridge at his last official engagement of his year in office.

Beatrice Meecham, Interpretation and Programmes Officer at Brooklands Museum, said: ‘Although we are launching the exhibition to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, the interpretation concentrates on Barnes’ incredible innovations and how he built the Stratosphere Chamber. There’s also a real focus on the people who surrounded Barnes and supported him.

A new permanent exhibition called Inventing the Future: The Innovations of Sir Barnes Wallis opened in the Stratosphere Chamber on 16 May. It coincided with the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise, better known as the Dambusters Raid. Barnes Wallis was employed at Vickers’ Brooklands site where he came up with the Bouncing Bomb, the key to the Dambusters raid, and the Stratosphere Chamber is

another part of his legacy. It was fitting the exhibition opening was attended by three generations of the Wallis family, including his surviving daughter Elisabeth Gaunt, who recalled her father as a Christian man who was quite strict with his children but adored his grandchildren. She said: ‘My father would have found it wonderful and be delighted by the Museum’s innovation programme.’

‘The new exhibition will help young engineers to understand the process of being an engineer, how a small idea can turn into something enormous, and that’s the power of what an engineer can do.’

Later that evening Committee Member Harry Sherrard told the story of Operation Chastise to a sell-out audience in the Napier room. The talk attracted more than 1000 viewers watching via the online livestream, which is a record for the Talks Team.

Gareth Tarr

Image: Luke Whatley-Bigg

See the story of the new exhibition at BM.tv by scanning this code.

MUSEUM updates

Chief Executive’s Message

There has been so much to celebrate in the past two months, it’s hard to know where to start. We had a fantastic gathering on 16 May on the day of the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid to open our latest exhibition Inventing the Future: The Innovations of Sir Barnes Wallis in the Stratosphere Chamber. Brooklands was a site where innovators thrived and of many hugely influential and accomplished people, Barnes Wallis was pre-eminent.

This exciting exhibition looks at Wallis as a person and at the huge range of areas that interested him and in which he led the field as an engineer and innovator. It tries to help us understand more about the man behind those accomplishments, his wider interests, and his family, who were so important in supporting him to do what he did. We were honoured to have his daughter, Elisabeth Gaunt, and some of her family with us for the opening. The exhibition was supported by Brooklands Members through the annual raffle and other fundraising, and I very much hope you will all enjoy visiting it.

Three weeks later, we were again celebrating, this time the completion of the Clubhouse renovation works, which included the installation of a lift to the first floor and which was also supported by Brooklands Members. Our local MP, Dr Ben Spencer, and the Mayor of Elmbridge joined representatives from Brooklands Members Committee and others for afternoon tea. There was a tour of the refurbished areas, which included windows around most of the first floor that have been renovated or replaced, the opening up of the Locke King Room overlooking the Paddock, the renovation of the iconic Clubhouse Tower, and the restoration of the balcony on the south side of the building. Given that this time last year there was extensive water ingress to much of the building, the tower was unsafe to visit, and we only had a stair lift to assist people in getting to the first floor, these

were much needed improvements and we are delighted to see them completed.

Perhaps our most unexpected celebration, though, came earlier in May when we won the prestigious national award for Best Learning Programme at the Museum + Heritage Awards. We were up against much larger national organisations and so we are truly delighted that the strengths of our partnership with Bourne Education Trust and the innovative and effective collaboration with them, industry, and Well North Enterprises that created the Brooklands Innovation Academy has been recognised in this way. Every time a school visits, we see how much Brooklands can inspire young people, and a great deal of work has gone into rethinking and improving our offer to young people since we came out of the pandemic. Having it recognised as the best programme in the country is something we are very proud of.

During the past two months, we also heard that we have been successful in an application for funding for us to work with community groups on a new, two-year project called Brooklands Stories Uncovered. The community groups include neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ people, and young people with additional challenges in their lives. There is so much in Brooklands’ history to inspire us all, including these people, and the project will be an important step in helping us learn how to tell our stories in ways that are relevant to a wider range of people.

There is so much coming up this summer with new events including Working Vehicles Day and French Day, as well as some long-standing favourites such as Motorcycle Day and American Car Day, not to mention the Members’ Classic Gathering in July and a huge range of extra activities during the school holidays. We look forward to seeing you at some or all of these enjoyable events.

Tamalie Newbery

Sir Gerald Acher, Tamalie Newbery, and Dr Ben Spencer MP on the Clubhouse’s renovated south balcony. The work also included a new lift and replacement windows for much of the first floor.

Aston information

Dear Sir,

The recent issue of the Bulletin contained a really great article about the Guys Gala Day in 1932. The car that I’ve been researching,

Upkeep update

Dear Sir,

I’m a Volunteer in the Stratosphere Chamber three days a week. With the subject of the Barnes Wallis display at the forefront at the moment, my colleague David Gill brought in the March-April Bulletin.

For future reference, please may I point out a small error in the Barnes Wallis feature? It states that 20 Lancasters were modified to carry the Upkeep when in fact it was 23, the type 464 ‘provisioning’ Lancasters, so numbered after the Upkeep which was initially called the Vickers type 464 bomb.

Many thanks, Andy Jordan

Thank you for the information and correction, Andy - Editor

Aston Martin Team Car LM4, is believed to have been at the event in 1932. The Brooklands race card for LM4’s owner, RA Cookson, shows that this wife drove the car in one of the races and I believe it is a car that can be seen on the left side of the photo in one of the period magazine articles (see accompanying image).

I’ve been in touch with Andrew Lewis (Collections Manager) to see if there are any more photos from this event, and I am assuming the writer had a look through all of what was available. I just thought I would ask, on the off chance, if any Brooklands Member might be aware of more?

Any help on this would be gratefully received. I’m keeping my eyes peeled on auction sites, just in case anything should come to light.

Many thanks in advance and best wishes,

Steve Waddingham, Aston Martin Historian

Swift correction

Dear Sir,

Just reading the latest edition of the Bulletin and I noticed a couple of small errors regarding the Crowning moments at Brooklands article.

Firstly, on page 21, it is stated the Prince of Wales entered a Compton Swift into the Kings Cup Air Race. This, I believe, should have read as Comper Swift.

Secondly, on page 22 it says that four Vickers Viscounts had been purchased for the King’s Flight in the 1940’s. This should have read Vickers Vikings.

A great read and sorry to have been a bit pedantic.

Regards, Steve Boyce

Not pedantic at all, Steve, and thanks for pointing out the corrections - Editor

Clubhouse spotted in The Netherlands

Dear Sir,

Brooklands Members Chairman Neil Bailey and I recently visited the Louwman Car Museum in The Hague, Netherlands. It’s a fabulous museum with a wonderful collection of cars.

There is also a great art and ephemera collection there that includes many paintings and drawings by the great Autocar artist, F Gordon Crosby. Included in the collection is this wonderful image from the Clubhouse at Brooklands, very poignant considering the recent refurbishment.

The Louwman is well worth making a special visit to and allow yourself a full day to get the most from it.

Kind regards,

Gareth Tarr

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Vanden Plas style Open Tourer

Racing Green with Green hide upholstery. Excellent well maintained condition. Matching numbers example with the current coachwork fitted by Restor in 1972. Chassis number NH2727.

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1966 Touring Limousine by James Young

Black and Ivory with Champagne leather to front and Champagne cloth to rear. Excellent original condition with only 44,000 miles. One of only 14 left hand drive PV23 models made out of a total of 27 cars. Chassis number 5LVF65.

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forthcoming events

2023 Museum Events

The Events List is subject to change, so please check the website: www.brooklandsmuseum.com. Email events@brooklandsmuseum.com or telephone the Museum on: 01932 857381 for information. Test Hill and engine runs are subject to operational conditions.

8 July 13 August

Working Vehicles Day. A brand new event to mark every type of vehicle that has to work for its keep. From classics to modern machinery, it will all be at Brooklands to show the best from the worlds of construction, agriculture and more. There will also be traditional games in the Paddock for children, as well as food and drink stalls.

July

1 Morgan Owners Club: Mogfest. All Morgans are welcome and there’s an Autosolo, Concours, and rare models on display.

2 Motorcycle Day. A celebration of everything on two wheels with an engine will be at Brooklands for this popular event.

22 July-2 Sept

8 Working Vehicles Day. A brand new event to honour every type and age of vehicle that earns its living.

22-2 September Marvellous Inventions: Summer Holidays. Make the most of your summer at Brooklands with Family Workshops, magnificent machines, and the new Barnes Wallis exhibition.

23 Summer Classic Gathering and Auto Jumble. A highlight of the summer with classic vehicles, clubs, and a packed Auto Jumble with more than 100 stalls.

23 July

Marvellous Inventions: Summer Holidays. Schools out and it’s time to make the most of your summer at Brooklands. Join us to explore the secrets of the Museum on the new discovery trail and take part in the free Family Workshops. As always, there are magnificent machines, pedal planes and cars to inspire the under-5s, and we have the new Barnes Wallis exhibition to tell you all about this innovator and inventor.

French Day. From a Citroen 2CV to a Delage Grand Prix racer, every type, shape, and size of French machinery will be at Brooklands. On two, three, or four wheels, and even more, the best of French engineering will be here for everyone to enjoy, and there will be French-themed food, music, and memorabilia.

30 Wolseley Register. A wonderful gettogether for owners and fans of this historic British car maker.

August

5 Caterham and Lotus Seven Club 40th Anniversary. Expect more than 350 cars of all types of this iconic British sports car to mark 40 years since the club’s founding meet. 13 French Day. Whether it’s très vitesse or très chic, if it’s French it will be at Brooklands.

Summer Classic Gathering and Auto Jumble. A firm favourite in the Brooklands calendar, this is an opportunity to enjoy all sorts of classic vehicles alongside a huge Auto Jumble. There’s also plenty to keep everyone entertained with music and entertainment in the Paddock, and plenty of awards for those entering their classic car or motorcycle.

September

3 American Day. Brooklands dons the Stars and Stripes to enjoy US cars and motorcycles.

8 Cadets and Scouts: Twilight Opening. A hands-on experience to learn more about the Aircraft Factory.

17 Emergency Services Day. Every imaginable vehicle and bit of equipment will be on display to show how emergency responders keep us safe.

29 Night of Magic. Join host Danny Jurman to be amazed, perplexed and entertained with magic tricks and mystery.

October

1 German Day. From Audi to Wartburg, every type of German vehicle is welcome, and there’s German food, music and memorabilia.

8 Autumn Motorsport Day. Competition cars of all sizes and ages show their ability on the Mercedes-Benz World track and Test Hill.

13 Murder Mystery Dinner. Find out whodunnit when a 1920s gathering goes wrong, and enjoy a three course dinner along the way.

22 London Bus Museum Transportfest. Ding ding, it’s all aboard for a fantastic gathering of rare buses, taxis, military and emergency vehicles with fun for all the family.

2023 Members’ Events

For Members’ Tours and Trips information, please contact David Brockington-Hill on: dbh@brooklandsmembers.co.uk. Events at the National Motor Museum should be booked directly with Beaulieu. Brooklands Members are charged the Friends of the National Motor Museum rate for entry.

September

13-18 Isle of Man Festival of Motoring. Run with Scenic Car Tours, this six-day tour takes in parts of the famous TT circuit and gives Members exclusive access to paddock displays.

October

13-16 Brooklands Members Driving Group Exclusive Classic Tours of Wales. Another chance to enjoy the great driving roads of Wales and superb hospitality.

Brooklands Members Talks: update

Our next talk is on 10 July with Richard Jenkins, who is launching his new book The Story of the Tyrrell Racing Organisation at Brooklands at a private event. Following this, there will be a Q&A session with former Tyrrell team members from 7pm which Members can attend.

Then, on 25 July, we are delighted to host the Royal Air Force Presentation Team. This will be an exciting talk about the modern RAF delivered by current personnel with a broad range of experience, including recent active service.

Another high-speed adventure is promised when we have Blind Bloke Racing giving a talk on 17 August. Nigel Limb has defied the odds to overcome his blindness and set a British record for a partially sighted motorcyclist on an electric TT Zero. Along with his wife Julie, Nigel is sure to amaze and inspire the audience with how he has overcome the challenges of sight loss and recovering from an accident in 2015.

These Talks will all be on BM.tv Livestream for those who cannot attend in person. Previous talks can be viewed on our BM.tv channel. You can find a link on the BM.tv section of the Museum website. Talks can be booked online at: www.brooklandsmuseum. com/brooklands-members/Members-Area/member-events. The Talks email address is: talks@brooklandsmembers.co.uk

Harry Sherrard and The Talks Team

CROWNING GLORY

Brooklands marked the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla with a huge gathering of classic vehicles and a garden party atmosphere.

Coronation fever swept across Brooklands on Sunday 7 May with a celebration of the Best of British.

Children and adults were treated to a Punch and Judy show, as well as a guest appearance by none other than Paddington Bear, while a brass band and Morris dancers kept everyone entertained.

Many of the cars on display were part of club displays, including a large MG contingent in the marque’s centenary year. A couple of rare K3 Magnettes were in attendance. One of these was originally bought in 1933 by Whitney Straight, who had it bodied by Thompson and Taylor and raced it regularly at Brooklands, as did the next owner Dick Seaman. Motorcycle enthusiasts were delighted to see the 1925 MG 14/28 Bullnose originally owned by Eric Fernihough.

Other rarities to fly the flag were eight out of the original 100 Gordon Keebles built, and a strong showing from TVR owners. Elsewhere, a gathering of Land Rovers nestling underneath Concorde perfectly demonstrated the breadth of what Best of British means.

In a motoring sense, Best of British is apt for Rolls-Royce and the immaculately restored and presented 1908 Silver Ghost brought along by specialists P&A Wood was a delight. Or perhaps you preferred the vivid orange Bond Bug, which showed just how diverse the definition is.

You can see videos from the Best of British event at BM.tv or by scanning this QR code.

Words: Gareth Tarr Photos: Sam Hart, Gareth Tarr, Mike Venables

David Brockington-Hill props up a Bentley.

Clubhouse is an ideal backdrop for Coronation picnics.

Commemorative plate marks the Coronation.

Bond Bug is a leftfield Best of British entrant.

Soaking up the sun and admiring glances.

Afternoon tea in style in the back of a Rolls-Royce.

Plenty of MGs on display in the firm’s centenary year.

British two-wheelers were much in evidence.

Punch and Judy show was a popular attraction.

The Motorcycle Team cooling off in the shade.

Julie and Derek March in matching waistcoats.

Icons of British engineering: Land Rover and Concorde.

Paddington Bear delighted young (and old) visitors.

An MG TC puts up the bunting.

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THE FUTURE

THE FUTURE OF LOGISTICS IS ALREADY HERE*

MEMBERS AGM

We will again use electronic voting in advance of the Annual General Meeting in September. This is your opportunity to vote on Members Committee posts which are up for renewal (see the candidates’ biographies), plus the Minutes and the Accounts for 2022.

To vote and see all information including the Minutes and Treasurers reports, please visit the AGM voting site with your membership number to hand at: www.mi-vote.com/secure/ brooklands You can also scan the attached QR code with your smartphone to take you directly to the voting site.

The poll opens on 1 July, 2023 and closes at 5pm BST on 20 August, 2023. Please be sure to have your say before the poll closes as we value every Member’s input and comments.

The AGM and annual CEO’s presentation with Q&A session will be on 20 September in the Clubhouse and by Zoom-style virtual attendance. Full details will be published in the SeptemberOctober Bulletin and the Newsletter. Please note there will be no in-person voting at the meeting in September.

The Annual General Meeting of the Brooklands

Members will be held in September. Secretary Kevin Lee outlines the arrangements for this year’s AGM.

Nigel Abbott

I’ve been a Member of Brooklands for 30 years, starting as an enthusiastic dad bringing two small children along soon after the Museum opened in 1991. Two years ago, I became a Volunteer and have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Brooklands ‘special welcome.’

Being part of the Members Committee I’m sure will extend that, not only sharing some of the ideas from my past professional experience, but also representing views and ideas from other Volunteers.

From a career perspective, I was initially a BBC producer and then, after 10 years in the oil world, became Communications Director for a major FTSE company with businesses and employees right around the world.

A motoring and motor sport enthusiast, I’ve owned a Frogeye, a Morgan, and now an MGB, and together we’ve taken part in several Classic Car Rallies.

Brooklands is a unique place. I hope I can help in some way, staying on the right (banked) track for the future.

Christopher Bound

My first meaningful visit to Brooklands was in 1990, during the Museum’s formative years. I recall that the Clubhouse had been refurbished, but all the sheds were in a sorry state of disrepair. It was enough to pique my interest. I’ve been fascinated with the place ever since and became a Member about 10 years ago.

Since an early age, I have been passionate about cars. As a teenager, I learned basic maintenance on the family cars and, in my twenties, I carried out a four-year restoration of a 1969 Aston Martin – shiny on the outside but very rotten under the skin.

Since my retirement, I have been a Volunteer in the Motoring Team, where I maintain the Museum’s car collection.

Away from Brooklands, I am Treasurer for Thames Sailability, a charity which provides river trips for disabled children and young adults with special educational needs. At home, I’m squeezing a 3.9-litre V8 into an MGB.

I look forward to playing a greater role in the future of Brooklands.

Martin Deboo

I have been a Member of Brooklands for 20 years and a fan of motor sport for more than 50. I have a deep affection for Brooklands and want to play my part in preserving its unique character.

I think that a dynamic and supportive Members Trust is critical to the continued success of the institution. Neil Bailey has made an appeal for fresh blood on the committee and I believe that I represent just that.

Having recently retired from a demanding job in the City, I have time, energy, and a fresh perspective to bring to bear. However, at the same time I have respect and humility for Brooklands traditions and what has been achieved so far by the Members.

If elected, I will play my part in ensuring a rich programme of events - one capable of attracting a new generation of enthusiasts and making appropriate use of new communication channels.

What I can bring to the committee are proven skill in marketing, finance and fundraising, reflecting my career and long involvement with London Business School.

Giles Boothby

From a young age, I developed a passion for aviation and sports cars, inspiring me to study for an engineering degree at university.

I have subsequently worked in the aerospace and defence industry for more than 25 years, predominantly in engineering and project management roles relating to military aircraft, naval ships, and corporate head office.

With this background, I felt a strong connection with Brooklands from my first visit. I am privileged to have access to such an incredible collection, inspirational heritage, and an historic site.

I have been hugely impressed with the events and presentations I have experienced, in addition to the permanent exhibits that provide new and fascinating insights with every visit.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Museum and to play a part in helping visitors to appreciate the full value of their membership across the breadth of the Brooklands experience.

Jonathan Braim

I’d like to work with you in getting the most fun and enjoyment from your membership. I’ve been experiencing what Brooklands has to offer for a while and have indulged in the many motoring and aviation delights this very special place gives us.

I enjoy maintaining and driving classic cars and vintage motorbikes, and as a late starter to travelling abroad I’m finding ever more ways to combine the two.

For me, Brooklands is about bringing people together to build on the emotional attachment and interaction we all have with such a tremendously atmospheric place. I’ve enjoyed arranging and experiencing events at Brooklands, and would like to be able to do more on your behalf.

I am committed to preserving its past whilst developing its future, without losing its unique spirit and special qualities that is our shared passion. It would be a privilege to listen to and promote your views, helping the Committee stay informed about how you want to continue advancing the legacy of Brooklands.

Fiona Easterby

I’m best known for driving a 1969 Baja Beetle from the UK to Singapore, a journey which took me across the Middle East and over the Himalayas. I’ve also driven across the Sahara Desert in a £99 Beetle, to Mongolia in a Micra, and have filmed Formula 1 races and vintage car rallies around the world.

I have worked as a TV camera operator for 30 years and, after giving a talk at the Museum about my motoring travels, I was recruited by the team to help out with filming.

I’m also a member of the Goodwood Road Racing Club and the Drivers Union supercar club. I’d love to get them more involved with the Museum and also encourage some of the fascinating petrolhead women I know to get involved. I’ve already agreed to film a series featuring some of them for the BM.tv Youtube Channel. You can see a couple of films with me at the links below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cHhTOT90Yw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8yDvQw0YLM

William Haseldine

As a Brooklands Club Level Member, I have enjoyed many events and activities thanks to the efforts of BTM committee members. I now want to do my bit.

For the past eight years, I have been an active weekend Volunteer Steward. I also occasionally help at evening events in the Motoring Village or Aircraft Factory and was delighted to be a Guide at last year’s Innovations Academy. If my 40-year-old Citroen Dyane is in the classic parking, I’m somewhere to be found on the Museum site.

I have an engineering and business background, having led Finance and Marketing teams at various points. I currently run my own e-commerce business selling under-rug heaters in the UK and EU.

My motorsport highlight, which was more than 25 years ago was three class wins (and records) at the Brighton Speed Trials, which is an event even older than Brooklands!

Joining the Members Committee will be a welcome step-up in my contribution to the growing success of the Museum.

Jay Myles

I’m Jason Doig Myles but I’m known as Jay. I’ve been a classic car nut since childhood and I’m finishing a restoration of my 1972 Humber Sceptre Mk3 and a 1999 Nissan Vanette van since I’ve had to retire due to ill health.

I’ve got into going to more shows, including Brooklands events, plus arranging classic car events, which also includes for the past 10 years the classic car display for the Englefield Green Village Fair.

I’ve taken on the responsibility of Rally Organiser for the Post Vintage Car Club, and I feel that I can bring my experience to help at Brooklands if you are willing to vote for me.

The picture is myself on the left with my Humber Sceptre along with my friend Glenn on the ‘Barn Find’ stand at the 2019 Restoration Show at the NEC.

Derek March

I’ve been a Member for nine years, but my family connection goes all the way back to the 1940s when both my parents worked on the site for Vickers-Armstrongs, hence my passion to see Brooklands continue to improve and remain successful.

I am currently a co-opted member of the Members’ Committee with responsibility for the Members’ Fast Track Team, so if you have visited one of the many events held each year, you will probably have seen me at the Fast Track entrance. My experience on the committee to date has convinced me that I can make a positive contribution to the Museum’s future by bringing to bear my many years of experience in operational and programme management roles.

I hope to be able to continue to work on behalf of both you, the Members, and the Museum to ensure that Brooklands continues to live up to its mission statement to help Members and visitors learn and enjoy their time at this great attraction.

David Rees

When I look back, whether it was visiting the 1976 British International Motorshow or witnessing the Lombard RAC Rally competitors congregating in my hometown at the end of stages, I have had a passion for all things automotive for nearly five decades.

Now, I would now like to put this passion to good use as a Committee Member by using my professional skills in a way which complements other Members’ contributions.

I already have some ideas of areas where I can help, including engaging younger Members through science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills development to bring to life their interests in Brooklands.

I think we should be adopting technology to help drive up overall membership numbers and to support fundraising. For example, through social media data analytics. Also, I think we should be supporting the membership team to safeguard members’ information through the adoption of robust cyber security measures.

These are just initial thoughts and I would welcome the opportunity to support Members as deemed appropriate.

Mike Taylor

I have visited Brooklands on many occasions, becoming a Member to get more involved with the Museum.

Since childhood, sat at the family table, I would build and paint Airfix models, then as a teenager decoking or replacing flywheel ring gears on my father’s car. It was super fun to crawl around car scrapyards finding the right parts.

My first car was a 1965 Morris Minor, building to exotic sports and performance cars later on. My first restoration was a Daimler Dart 30 years ago, and I ran a garage in Leatherhead in the early 1990s, later moving into film and broadcast as a technical engineer, and progressing to technical direction.

I transferred to IT due to digitization, and I’m now an IT systems analyst designing large IT systems for a city-based company.

I’m currently two years into the restoration of a Mk2 Triumph Spitfire.

Michael West

I have always had a passion for motorsport and aviation since I was a child. Growing up, I used to enjoy tinkering with cars with my father. Living in Farnborough, a highlight used to be visiting the Farnborough Airshow and from my garden watching the different planes flying low overhead. I also remember visiting Brooklands and taking a keen interest in its history. In recent years, I have managed to make time to start some projects of my own. I am currently restoring 2 1960s Triumph Spitfires back to driveable condition, refurbishing their engines, correcting previous renovation shortcuts, and bringing them back to their former glory.

I have visited Brooklands many times over the years and have watched as the hard work of the Volunteers has developed the Museum into what it is today. I look forward to contributing to its future development.

I have worked in public sector emergency services IT roles for my entire career, where I currently lead a team maintaining London Ambulance’s Critical Systems.

Vauxhall’s OE 30-98 was born to go fast and became the first British production car capable of 100mph, which it proved at Brooklands. Annabel Jones was born into 30-98 driving and still owns the 1923 car her father bought and restored.

BORN TO IT

Words: Gareth Tarr Photos: Mike Venables

Annabel Jones was riding in her father’s Vauxhall OE 30-98 before she was even born when her pregnant mother would go out for drives in the car.

We all have memories of special family cars from our childhood but usually lose contact with them when the need for something better comes along. For Annabel Jones, her Vauxhall 30-98 has been with her all her life. Her father Tony Jones bought chassis OE19 for £80 in 1962 and, having restored the car, he competed in Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC) events the following year accompanied by his, wife, then pregnant with Annabel.

There followed many family outings to VSCC competitions, Annabel and her brother Tim in the back hunkering down under the tonneau cover to avoid the worst of the buffeting as the big Vauxhall glided to its destination. As she grew older, Annabel and Tony entered and won several VSCC rallies together while Annabel learned more about how the car worked. She would often sit in the passenger seat pumping the air-fuel pump to recover pressure as the fuel tank ran low. She later drove the car while still on ‘L’ plates. Annabel took over the car on her father’s death and is still running it in VSCC events, and you may have seen her at Brooklands in this year’s January Driving Tests competition.

These days we think of Vauxhall as a maker of worthy if unremarkable family cars, but in the early 1920s the company’s products were upmarket sports cars, an image enhanced by success at a certain motor racing track in a corner of Surrey. The Brooklands Test Hill opened in 1908 and the first certified climb was achieved by Percy Kidner in a 20hp Vauxhall, while two years later AJ Hancock became the first man in the world to exceed 100mph

in a 20hp car with a Vauxhall. In 1913, Joseph Higginson commissioned Vauxhall’s Technical Director Laurence Pomeroy to build a special for hill climbs at a price of £2000. The resulting car was hastily put together using a motorboat engine bored out to 4 ½ litres and with a modified chassis from the A-Type model. It was an immediate success.

A further 12 cars now designated 30-98, although the exact reason for this model name remains unknown, were sold before the First World War to selected customers including Lionel Martin who went on to establish his own sports car company called Aston Martin. Mostly, these were competition vehicles and a streamlined example lapped Brooklands at 108mph. There were many competition successes and on 3 August 1914 at the August Bank holiday meeting Holder in a 30-98 finished second in both the Lightning Long and Short Handicap races. The following day, Germany invaded Belgium, Britain issued an ultimatum that Germany withdraws and by midnight the two nations were at war.

At the cessation of hostilities, Vauxhall recommenced production with two models: the volume 25hp D-Type and the more glamourous 4½ litre E-type 30-98, now a road car. The latter now came into its own and between 1920 and 1923 it scored more than 70 outright wins and 52 second places in major hill climbs and speed trials. The 30-98 was very much the leading sports car of its day and many were exported, particularly to Australia and South Africa where the robust Vauxhall coped well with the rough roads.

In 1923, the significantly improved OE 30-98 was introduced. The top end of the engine was changed, introducing

overhead valves that gave the car the ‘O’ in its title and resulted in 112bhp at 3400rpm. This was almost certainly the first British production car capable of more than 100mph, attested by Brooklands’ Certificate Number 1409. When introduced, the OE 30-98 cost £1200 for the basic chassis or £1500 for a car with factory body at a time when you would pay around £150 for an Austin 7.

Annabel’s is the 19th of the first batch of 60 chassis built to works order 2506 and carries the four seater Velox tourer bodywork. An alternative factory body was the ‘boat-tailed’ Wensum which has no doors and Annabel’s brother owns a 30-98 in this configuration. Velox is the Latin for ‘swift’ while Wensum was the name of Works Manager AJ Hancock’s boat.

Chassis OE19 was delivered in April 1923 to Geoffrey Boston, who was already the owner of an E-Type 30-98 which he used to transport his motorcycles to

The strong, low-down pull from the 30-98’s engine makes it an ideal cruiser as well as an accomplished sports car for long distance events.

The 30-98 proved to be a very able car in competition and many were entered in races at Brooklands. It’s also a car that helped establish the Vintage Sports-Car Club.

races, carrying the bikes on the running boards of his car. On receipt of his new OE, Boston immediately took the car on a continental tour, exactly the type of role it was designed for. This ‘Flying the flag for England’ trip of 1500 miles included seeing the 1923 French Grand Prix at Tours, memorably won by Henry Segrave in a Sunbeam who became the first British driver to win a Grand Prix, also the first for a British car (see p36). In September, the Vauxhall was entered to race at Brooklands and qualified, but the race was cancelled due to bad weather. The following year, Boston took the car on a second continental tour, this time of 2268 miles over 16 days taking in Basle, Lausanne, the Grand and St Bernard passes, into Italy and the Col du Galibier before a visit to the European Grand Prix at Lyon. The car’s competition was mostly restricted to hill climbs such as Kop Hill near Princes Risborough. The 2023 running of the Kop Hill Climb takes place of 16-17 September for those who want to get a feel for what it was like in period.

Annabel’s father Tony Jones became the ninth owner of OE19, which he bought on the recommendation of John Rowley, the then President of the VSCC. The seller of the car, J Todd, had owned it for 15 years and said he was only selling the car because finally he could buy a car that could get him to the south of France as easily as the Vauxhall, which was understood to be a Jaguar E-Type. Incidentally, the 30-98 is memorably connected with the VSCC as it was exactly the type of car enthusiasts had in mind

when the club was formed in October 1934 at the Phoenix pub on the A30 in Hartley Whitney. Among Tony’s success with OE19 was winning the VSCC’s Lycett trophy several times. He once did a similar continental tour to Boston, taking the ferry to Santander and then returning by road.

Vauxhall publicised the vehicle as ‘a sporting car without equal’ and in his novel These Barren Leaves Aldous Huxley assigns the hero Lord Hovenden a 30-98 whose speed ‘intoxicated him out of his self-consciousness.’ Raymond Mays, who went on to found the ERA racing concern, recalled his father’s model as ‘a delightful car in every way’ and his partner in ERA, Humphrey Cook, raced a stripped-down two-seater named Rouge et Noir at Brooklands in the 1920s.

Vauxhall rivalled the likes of Bentley and Talbot as a maker of sporting cars and the 30-98 is widely recognised as the first 100mph production car.

Annabel describes driving her 30-98 as fabulous. She says: ‘The driver can be lazy because there is so much torque. At 2000 revs the car is doing 60mph. It will accelerate up hills and soaks up long-distance runs.’ Annabel says she can outrun a contemporary 3-litre Bentley. At slow speeds, on tight courses, the steering is heavy as those who saw Annabel at the Brooklands VSCC Driving Tests will confirm. On open roads and at higher speeds, the steering comes into its own, again attesting to that grand tourer role. The pedals have a central accelerator with brake on the right, the only car Annabel has with this configuration, but she finds it no problem when driving the Vauxhall as she is so used to it. She adds: ‘There is also a hand-throttle on the steering wheel along with the advance/retard lever, retard being used at idle and pulling away. The gearchange is inside the bodywork to the right of the driver and has a long travel. Getting the change right is very satisfying, getting it wrong… well

A fully stocked dashboard of instruments and controls. As a passenger, Annabel would work the air-fuel pump on the left to keep pressure in the tank as her father drove.

The 4½ litre four-cylinder engine of the OE model features overhead valves, hence the ‘O’ in its name. This helped increase engine power to 112bhp.

Adjustable shock absorbers on Annabel’s car, which was also fitted with the front axle from a Delage to gain hydraulic brakes during its 1960s restoration.

A central throttle pedal soon becomes second nature for the 30-98 driver. Note the 100mph maximum speed noted on the speedometer in the upper left of this photo.

The handsome Velox body of this 30-98 was one of two standard coachwork offerings from the Vauxhall factory. Velox is, appropriately, the Latin for ‘swift’.

An advert from Motor Sport in 1975 with Annabel’s 30-98 in front of the Brooklands Monument, and the same image recreated in 2023.

Outside handbrake on the Vauxhall 30-98 helped slow the car alongside the foot pedal, though the car’s brakes were reckoned to be the model’s one weak spot.

Annabel remains as hands-on with the maintenance and running of the family 30-98 as her father was. He restored the car in the 1960s to a fine condition.

No stranger to Brooklands, the Vauxhall 30-98 of Annabel Jones was entered in races at Brooklands when it was new and used for continental tours.

you soon learn to concentrate on getting it right. The handbrake sits outside the bodywork on the drivers right.’

And so to the brakes. The driver of a modern car has limited concept of the brakes on a vintage vehicle. During the 1920s,

brakes developed rapidly, but even compared to contemporaries of the Vauxhall, those on the 30-98 are noticeably weak, possibly

an exaggerated impression because of the overall excellence of the rest of the vehicle. In his 1995 book Vauxhall 30-98 The Finest of Sporting Cars, Nic Portway devotes a whole page to quotations about the issue. In a 1922 road test, Motor magazine showed how uncritical the press of the time was when it wrote ‘Both handbrake and footbrake are excellent in their application.’ This contrasts with Peter Wilke’s letter to Autocar stating ‘Footbrake on transmission was extremely powerful, but very treacherous.’ The last word must come from John Bolster writing in Motor Sport, who said ‘The 30-98 brakes were what started me drinking because on longer journeys they get hotter and hotter and feebler and feebler until you had to stop at a public house for them to cool down. Of course, after one has had enough of these stops for the brakes to cool, one achieved sufficient courage to complete the journey

The Vauxhall 30-98 is the archetypal vintage sporting car that could race on Sunday, commute on Monday, and tackle European driving holidays.

You can see Annabel Jones’ Vauxhall in action on BM.tv or by scanning this QR code.

without any brakes at all.’ An interesting excuse should the police stop you!

Like many cars of this age, 30-98 OE19 has a few substitute items from the original specification. When Tony Jones stripped the car down in 1962, he substituted the front axle with that from a Delage with hydraulic brakes, and the headlights were changed to Zeiss items from a Rolls-Royce. The front wings have a pointed end in contrast to the originals which had a rounder design. Apart from the braked front axle, the replacement items were not necessarily improvements, just what the owner could get his hands on at the time that would fit. When Annabel inherited the car in 2004, she stripped it down completely after discovering that it had a cracked front frame. at the time. Despite this, the car today has most of the main original parts, with matching numbers on chassis, back axle, gearbox and engine.

It is indicative of the trading difficulties of the time that 66 British car manufacturers exhibited at the 1919 Motor Show but by 1930 that number had shrunk to just 30, many of whom didn’t survive the following decade. Producing only a limited number of expensive cars, Vauxhall Motors had made big losses in the early 1920s and no new British investors could be enticed to provide much-needed funds. General Motors of America tried to buy Austin in 1925 but negotiations broke down, so they turned their attention to Vauxhall. On 21 October that year, The New York Times announced the take-over of Vauxhall by GM with the Americans injecting £300,000 of new capital. Vauxhall, which produced around 1500 vehicles annually, was a minnow compared to its new parent which sold 836,000 units in 1925, but GM President Alfred P Sloan was looking at potential rather than instant success. Naturally, the new owners were soon making significant changes and the 30-98 ceased production in 1927. Between 1919 and 1927, 270 E-Types and 312 OEs were made.

The Vauxhall 30-98 was an exceptional car in its period, even if today it rather passes under the radar. Each year around 20 owners compete at the VSCC’s Prescott Hill Climb, with many other cars gathering to spectate and socialise in an informal ‘club’ meeting for those in the know. To celebrate the centenary of the OE version, there will be a special display of Vauxhall 30-98s at this year’s Hampton Court Concours of Elegance to be held on 1-3 September. Thirty spaces have been allocated and it should be quite some display.

Annabel grew up with this Vauxhall 30-98, graduating from huddling under the tonneau on the rear seat to passengering with her father, and now as the car’s proud owner and driver.

The 30-98 is used by Annabel in Vintage Sports-Car Club competition events and is also driven regularly on the road, which keeps it in excellent fettle.

Brooklands Museum is constantly developing and improving, and it’s 20 years since Allan Winn became the Museum’s third Director. Here he looks back at the huge, and not so huge, changes that featured during his 15-year tenure.

Looking back over the last 20 years, it’s all too easy to concentrate on what now seems like the defining project of my time – the Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival. Important though it was, with an order of magnitude bigger and more expensive than anything else the Museum has accomplished, there was a host of

changes, events and achievements which came before it in my time, and a few from after my formal retirement in which I’ve been heavily involved.

If we imagine someone who last visited in 2003 returning to the Museum today, they might recognise many of the exhibits and buildings. I am certain much else would be unrecognisable. Just getting onto the Museum site would underline the

scale of the transformation. Back in 2003, our 56,000 visitors were greeted by a giant illustrated sign on Brooklands Road and then arrived down the Campbell Circuit (as they still do as participants on big event days) and through the centre of the site to park where the post-war Vickers/BAC aircraft collection now sits. They would have ventured out only occasionally over the Vickers Bridge onto the old airfield, where the Vanguard and the Sultan of Oman’s VC10 sat.

The approach up Brooklands Drive to the car park didn’t appear until 2004, when Daimler-Chrysler bought the central airfield site and began building MercedesBenz World. In that year Daimler-Chrysler donated to the Museum the half acre of land which embraced the Pratts Petrol

ALL FEATURES GREAT AND SMALL

Words: Allan Winn Photos: Allan Winn

The 1957 Brooklands Monument was relocated brick by brick to the Museum site.

Pagoda (restored to its pre-war condition in 2009) and an earth embankment which covered the site of the current shop and half of what is now the Campbell Car Park. At the same time, the Vanguard and VC10 made the rather perilous journey over the Vickers Bridge. They were accompanied by the 1957 Brooklands Monument, dismantled piece-by-piece and re-erected close to the bridge, complete with restored bronze lettering and plaques.

A temporary new entrance building nicknamed the ‘Wendy House’ was the first new building to be erected on my watch, followed by the now-familiar Shop and entrance building, opened in 2008. The next new building to appear was the giant fabric-covered London Bus Museum, completed in 2011. That project saw the first inroads into the old aircraft factory ‘dump’ of contaminated soil.

Building restorations occupied much of our time in the ‘noughties’ and 2010s. Among the first was the Competitors’ Tunnel, temporarily re-opened in 2007 for pedestrian access from Weybridge station to two concerts by Elton John at MB World, and then cleaned up to connect with the new Railton Close housing development in 2014. The Stratosphere Chamber had a huge makeover in 2013-14, with the machinery space cleaned up, the upstairs control room restored, the 65-tonne rolling Chamber door and the big outer door both returned to working order, the aeroengine collection redisplayed, and a spare Vanguard forward fuselage installed in the restored chamber itself.

Next door, the previously near-derelict supersonic wind tunnel building became the new Vickers Suite function space, and the Balloon Hangar, complete with a new inflated inner roof to invoke the memory of the original canvas half-balloon, came back into use with the new 4D Theatre and ticket office for the Concorde Experience. While that was going on, Steve Gray’s Brooklands Motor Company was restoring the long-disused Members’ Restaurant Building at the top of Test Hill.

All that was a precursor to the biggest building project of them all, the Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival.

Ten years in the planning and fund-raising, this literally transformed the site. First, 9000 cubic metres of the remainder of that troublesome, contaminated Vickers dump had to be removed at vast expense to make room for the new Flight Shed and the relocated Bellman Hangar. Then came the Vimy Hangar with its inflated roof and enormous fabric curtain door, along with a temporary tent to house the Wellington.

The Flight Shed building incorporated the new air-conditioned archive and a training workshop on the ground floor.

The Hangar’s lightweight steel frame went off to Cardiff to be repaired, and when re-erected received a new double-skinned corrugated cladding. The amazing displays and exhibits, and their interpretation, inside the Aircraft Factory and the Flight Shed set new standards, and deservedly won numerous plaudits and awards, including a runners-up position in the 2018 Art Fund Museum of the Year competition.

It’s not a building in the conventional sense, but the 1907 Race Track is a pioneering concrete structure that, unfortunately for us in the 21st Century, is made from a thin layer of low-grade, unreinforced concrete. Luckily, however, we discovered when we dismantled the Hangar that the original concrete surface of the Finishing Straight underneath it had been

protected for most of the previous 70 years by a layer of rubble. We still had to replace several badly damaged sections of the Finishing Straight, but we ended up with a driveable stretch of track almost 400m long which was host to a spectacular re-opening celebration on 17 June 2017, exactly 110 years after the original Track opening.

The final structure to be built was the replica of the Paddock Scoreboard, recreated from photographs in its 1937 form with challenges ranging from getting the main towers rivetted (not welded) and its giant counterweights cast. Fortunately, the Members, with help from Aston Martin, raised the cost of more than £100,000 to pay for this iconic structure.

Having taken in the changes to the built environment of the site, the next thing that our time-traveller from 2003 would notice about 2023 Brooklands would be the exhibits, starting with Concorde (well, actually, two Concordes). First, the 40% scale model of Concorde which for decades graced the roundabout at the entrance to London Heathrow Airport is now Brooklands’ own gate guardian.

Inside the Museum, the Aircraft Park is dominated by Concorde G-BBDG. The story is well known of how an amazing team of Museum volunteers rescued this stripped-out, derelict hulk from Filton in 2004 by cutting it into five major sections and trucking it to Brooklands, along with 26 truckloads of parts and servicing equipment, and reconstructing it to form an exceptional new Concorde Experience. Soon after it was opened by the Museum’s Royal Patron HRH Prince Michael of Kent in 2006, visitor numbers overshot our predicted 10% increase to show a 40% rise over their pre-Concorde equivalents. The commercial impact was only increased by the opening three years later of the restored Concorde Simulator.

While Concorde was being restored, we acquired the Vickers Vimy replica NX71MY, which Peter McMillan generously donated to us in 2006. We managed to

The Pratts Pagoda was restored to its pre-war appearance in 2009.

The Vickers Vanguard makes its way over the river in 2004 to its new home.

Daimler-Chrysler donated half an acre of land to the Museum in 2004.

including the wonderful achievement of having her circling over the bog at Clifden on the west coast of Ireland, 90 years to the hour from when Alcock and Brown had crash-landed there in 1919. By the end of 2009, the Vimy was safely installed in the Bellman Hangar at the Museum. These days it lives in its own hangar alongside the Hawker Siddeley Harrier XV741 which won the 1969 Transatlantic Air Race, as part of the First to Fastest exhibition, and comes out occasionally for engine runs.

One aircraft which didn’t so much arrive as just change ownership was the magnificent replica of the 1913 Sopwith Tabloid floatplane built on-site by Volunteer Steve Green and team who had already built an operational replica of AV Roe’s Roe 1 biplane for the centenary of Brooklands aviation in 2008. The Tabloid was originally commissioned by a Kingston aviation centenary project, but when that group failed to find a willing host for the aeroplane, it generously donated it to the Museum.

On the motoring side, the big permanent arrival of the last 20 years is actually quite small in the shape of the 1927 Delage 15-S-8 Grand Prix car which was bequeathed to the Museum by the late Alan Burnard. Had our notional 2003

intervening years, they might have seen some amazing temporary residents in the motoring sheds, such as the 22½-litre 200HP ‘Blitzen’ Benz, the Mercedes-Benz W154 GP car, the twin-engined 1000HP Sunbeam Land Speed Record car, JG Parry Thomas’ 27-litre race and record car ‘Babs’ (the biggest-engined car ever to race at Brooklands), the Pacey-Hassan Bentley special, and today’s Barnato-Hassan special and the Leyland-Thomas Special No 1 recreation to name just a few.

If that visitor had stayed away for the full 20 years, they would have missed some extraordinary events, too. New Year’s Day opening started before my time, but opening between Christmas and New Year from 2005 onwards helped boost those days, with a record 7900 people turning up on 1 January 2019. The Track Centenary celebrations in 2007 included a two-day festival held in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz, and a 24-hour slot-car

record run on a 60HP Napier. There was also a sprint 100 years to the day after the first race meeting, and the centenary of the UK’s first legal massed-start bicycle race. The centenary celebrations went international, too, with a special class at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California including the Napier-Railton, specially flown there for the event courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.

The following year we celebrated the centenary of aviation at Brooklands with what turned out to be the last major flying display here. The motorcycle-racing centenary saw a huge turnout of period and more modern bikes, and some very spirited riding within the limited space available. In 2013, we marked the centenary of Percy Lambert being the first human being in history, by any means of locomotion, to travel 100 miles in an hour. Following that in 2017, with the De Dion-Bouton Club, we celebrated the

A recreation event to mark the centenary of the 1907 opening parade.

James May celebrates a slot car Guinness World Record in 2009.

The Napier-Railton makes a return to Montlhéry in France in 2011.

Allan Winn’s key moments

2003

New caterer – Alexanders; Concorde acquisition; Ladies Driving Challenge

2004

Concorde delivered; seven-day opening

MBWorld donates Pratts’ Pagoda and land

Relocation of Vanguard and VC10

New car park and Wendy House entrance opened

1957 Monument relocated and restored

2005

First opening between Christmas and New Year

First Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold

2006

Concorde opening

Vimy acquired, flies at Farnborough

Air Show

Gravity Race run from top of Test Hill

2007

Track Centenary celebrations

Centenary Sprint

S F Edge 24-hour Centenary slot car race

Elton John concerts at MB World, Competitors Tunnel used

Napier-Railton at Pebble Beach

Mini Concorde acquired

Bicycle racing centenary

2008

Motorcycle Centenary

Aviation Centenary

Roe 1 Replica built

New Shop and entrance building opened

First Double 12 Motorsport Festival

F1 Simulator opened

2009

Bus Museum agreement

Brooklands Trust Members formed

James May’s Toy Stories Scalextric track and race

Vimy in Ireland for Alcock & Brown 90th anniversary

Vimy farewell flying displays at Goodwood

Vimy retired to Museum

Concorde simulator opened

Restoration of Members’ Restaurant

Building begins

Pratts’ Pagoda restored

Antiques Road Show filmed

2010

Freehold of Museum site donated by JTI

Banking on Brooklands launched

Outsourcing of catering

Re-roofing of Blue Bird Room

Wedding licence for site Antiques Roadshow Brooklands episodes shown

Bus Museum site works begin

First Historics at Brooklands auction

2011

Bus Museum opens

Napier-Railton returns to Montlhéry

Wellington 75th Anniversary

Brooklands Motor Company opens, top of Test Hill

VC10 fuselage G-ARVM and buses acquired from Cosford

2012

First Concorde wedding held

Mini Concorde installed at MB World entrance

VC10 50th Anniversary

Clubhouse: Napier/Blue Bird/Bar refurbished Delage GP car bequeathed by Alan Burnard

First John Surtees charity kart race held at MB World

Mini Concorde erected at MB World entrance

2013

Christmas and Boxing Day flood

Centenary of Percy Lambert’s 100 miles in the hour

Sopwith Tabloid replica handed over to Museum

Balloon flight around the circuit for The One Show

Brooklands Museum Race Team Talbot 105s at Le Mans Classic

2014

Stratosphere Chamber restoration completed

Vickers Suite opened

4-D Theatre opened in restored Balloon

Hangar

Competitors Tunnel restored and connected to Railton Close

VC10 ZA150 acquired and flown into Dunsfold

2015

Napier-Railton in Hong Kong

VC10 simulators purchased and removed from Brize Norton

Napier-Railton runs on Pendine Sands with Sunbeam 350HP

2016

Opening of Vimy hangar and temporary

Wellington hangar

Flight Shed built

Bellman Hangar dismantled and restored off-site

2017

Re-opening of Finishing Straight

Opening of new Scoreboard

Opening of the Brooklands Aircraft Factory exhibition

120th anniversary of the first British motor race with de Dion tricycles

2018

Sopwith Camel and SE5a at RAF100 dinner at The Guildhall, London

2021

100 years of Bentley racing success celebrated

2022

Centenary of K Lee Guinness’ Land Speed Record with 350HP Sunbeam

Marking the 120th anniversary of the first ever British motor race with 19th-century motor-tricycles on the Finishing Straight.

Fine entries include 2000 FERRARI 360 MODENA £64,000-£74,000

the Finishing Straight.

I’ve been involved in organising two centenaries of significant Brooklands events even after my retirement. That of the first-ever Bentley race win of 16 May 1921 featured the actual race-winning 3-Litre, but was held, alas because of Covid-19 restrictions, behind closed doors. Much more public was the centenary of the last occasion on which the World Land Speed Record was set on a closed track with K Lee Guinness’ record of 133.75mph, set with the 350HP Sunbeam on 17 May 1922. On 17 May 2022, we had that very car running at Brooklands, courtesy of the National Motor Museum, and recreated the famous F Gordon Crosby painting of the 1922 record attempt with the current Sir Kenelm

Lee Guinness in the car as a steam-hauled train passed on the embankment above the Railway Straight.

Not all our major events were celebrations of centenaries or significant

anniversaries. In 2005, we worked with Dunsfold Park to run what was the first of 15 Wings & Wheels shows. We launched the first of a new-look Brooklands Double Twelve in 2008, featuring a sprint on the

A restored and re-interpreted Stratosphere Chamber opened in 2014.

The Brooklands Racing Team at the 2010 Le Mans Classic.

The Queen’s Award-winning Volunteers celebrate in 2016.

MB World track, and driving tests and a concours on the Museum site. The James May’s Toy Stories recreation of the entire 2¾-mile Brooklands Track in Scalextric in 2009 claimed a Guinness World Record that still stands for the longest-ever slot-car track. That year also saw filming for two episodes of The Antiques Road Show, screened in early 2010. In 2012, we worked with the late John Surtees and Daytona Raceway on the first of four highly successful charity kart races on the MB World circuit. Other notable filming included the series The Classic Car Show with hosts Quentin Willson and Jodie Kidd apparently filming in an underground bunker which bore a startling likeness to the Stratosphere Chamber.

Again, our 2003 visitor could have returned in the interim to countless special regular events like Italian Car Day, Mini Day, Brooklands Relived, and Military Vehicles Day, which helped boost visitor numbers in my last full year to 185,000, which was more than three times the number of 2003. Throughout my time as Director, we were constantly striving to develop the Museum in ways that increased its relevance, attracted more visitors, preserved its heritage, and were true to the spirit and legacy of Brooklands. These principles drove the dramatic changes during my time, and continue to underpin the approach of my successor, Tamalie Newbery, who has overseen many more

achievements since she took over in 2018. One thing I know Tamalie and I agree on, is that none of the successes could have happened without the extraordinary contributions of our wonderful Volunteers and the dedication of the selfless Museum staff. This might be my recollections of 20 years since I was lucky enough to become Director, but it is their story.

In 2011, the London Bus Museum opened on the Brooklands site.

The first true post-war race at Brooklands in 2013 with John Surtees waving the flag.

The Scoreboard was restored with funding from the Members and Aston Martin.

The Clubhouse refurbishment brought art deco back to Brooklands in 2013.

The ex-Heathrow scale model became Brooklands’ gate guardian in 2014.

The centenary of Kenelm Lee Guinness’ Land Speed Record at Brooklands was marked in 2022.

A VERY PRIZE GRAND

Words: Gareth Tarr Photos: Neil Bailey, Brooklands Museum Collection, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Le Miroir des Sports, National Motor Museum, Tres Sport

Henry Segrave crosses the line to win to the 1923 French Grand Prix, becoming the first British driver to win a GP and in the first British car to do so.

Brooklands regular and soon-to-be World Record

D’you think I shall ever win the Grand Prix, Bill?’ enquired Henry Segrave of Kenelm Lee Guinness. ‘Good god, man, don’t be a damned fool! No British driver has even finished in the Grand Prix’ was his friend’s abrupt reply. Later, after their dinner guest had left for home, de Hane remarked to his wife Doris: ‘Bill went off the deep end, didn’t he?’ to which she confirmed, ‘He certainly did’. De Hane reflected for a few seconds before adding ‘All the same D, I shall win the Grand Prix one day, you see.’

It was a somewhat presumptive remark. Henry O’Neal de Hane Segrave, known to his friends as de Hane, had just completed his first season in motor racing, winning three races at Brooklands in a 1914 Grand Prix Opel. That year - 1920 - was the first year after the First World War that competition had resumed at the Surrey circuit. Kenelm Lee Guinness, known as Bill, was a member of the Irish brewing family and works driver for top British team Sunbeam. Segrave had befriended Guinness at his first Brooklands meeting the previous Whitsun weekend and by the time of that dinner he had joined Bill’s KLG spark plug company as Competitions Manager.

The Grand Prix that the two friends had discussed was the French Grand Prix, the only Grand Prix scheduled for the next season. The Automobile Club de France had held the first Grand Epreuve at Le Mans in 1906 and the 1921 race would be

holder Henry Segrave became the first British driver to win a Grand Prix and in a British car. Here’s the story of how he achieved this feat 100 years ago.

Although still a relative newcomer to motorsport by the time of the 1923 French GP, Segrave had won three races at Brooklands in his first season in 1920.

the first since the conflict. The 1914 event, held in mid-summer when international relations all over Europe were collapsing, had been a humiliation for the hosts with a Mercedes 1-2-3 victory. It was no surprise that German entries would not be accepted for the new race, again to be held at Le Mans but on a different circuit to the south-east of the city.

Segrave had managed to obtain a drive with Sunbeam alongside Guinness in the Grand Prix which was run on 26 July to a new 3-litre formula. It was to be a difficult race for the Briton who was forced to change tyres 14 times on his Talbot.

Sunbeam, Talbot and Darracq (S-T-D) had merged in 1920 and the team cars raced under whichever brand was suitable for the local market. He was the last finisher in ninth place with a time of over five hours for the 322 miles, an hour behind the winning Duesenberg of Jimmy Murphy. De Hane had, however, demonstrated he was determined to be taken seriously and his future with the S-T-D team was secure.

The Sunbeam team was better prepared for the 1922 race held at Strasbourg, now to a 2-litre formula. This was to be in vain as all three Sunbeams suffered engine failures, Segrave’s

car lasting only 29 laps. The race was dominated by Fiat, the winning car being driven by Felice Nazzaro. Chastened by the experience and working on an ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ principle, S-T-D Competition Manager Louis Coatalen lured engineer Vincenzo Bertarione from the Turin team to design new Sunbeams for the 1923 season.

The design of today’s Formula 1 cars is highly regulated and many lament the similarity of design, but 100 years ago things were much freer. The V12 Delage and Rolland-Pilains with desmodromic valve gear were technically interesting while two other French entries were instantly recognisable. The Type 32 ‘Tank’ Bugattis had fully enclosed aerodynamic bodies over very short wheelbase chassis, while Gabriel Voisin’s light semi-monocoque cars demonstrated the aeronautical ideas of their patron. Unsurprisingly, the six-cylinder Sunbeams, showing their design heritage were dubbed ‘The British Racing Green Fiats’. And then there was the Torinese team. Arriving late, the Fiat 804-405s looked similar to the previous year’s cars but now with eight-cylinder engines. Once

Segrave with his riding mechanic, Paul Dutoit, as they inspect the track before the 1923 French GP gets underway.

Preparing for the 1922 French Grand Prix, Segrave is at the wheel of the Sunbeam in its 2-litre form. Unfortunately, the engine did not last the full distance.

A plaque in Semblançay commemorates the 1923 French GP circuit, which ran for 14.18 miles on closed public roads near the city of Tours.

practice began, their secret ingredient was revealed with the whining superchargers, the first time these had been used in Grand Prix racing. Giving 130bhp at 5500rpm, the Fiats’ power superiority made them the race favourites ahead of the Sunbeams.

De Hane had long been preparing for the race as he revealed in his biography The Lure of Speed: ‘During a fortnight of practicing, I had been devoting much care and attention to perfecting my driving and was concentrating on fast cornering work, and to carrying out those repairs which, with greater experience, I found to be inevitable in long-distance high-speed work.’ He also studied the cornering of his fellow competitors and data from previous big races, concluding ‘It was practically never the fastest car which won.’

Segrave devised a strategy contrary to usual practice and said: ‘After deep thought, I decided on this occasion I would do the opposite and start slow and finish

fast.’ Team manager Coatalen wasn’t particularly impressed by this idea but de Hane said ‘though he nevertheless issued me no contrary instructions.’ The other Sunbeams would be driven by Bill Guinness and Alberto Divo, while Segrave’s riding mechanic was Paul Dutoit.

The race started at 8am on Monday 2 July, with Pietro Bordino’s Fiat taking an immediate lead and being clocked at 122mph on that first lap of 35. The Bugattis were proving difficult to handle and de Vizcaya lost control of his ‘Tank’ at the Membrolle hairpin, leaving the track and injuring 16 spectators. After eight laps, Bordino had a healthy lead over Guinness. Meanwhile, de Hane ran as low as seventh, a slipping clutch enforcing his planned slow start. Then suddenly Bordino stopped. The 804-405s had been tested on the new tarmac-surfaced Monza circuit and took no account of the rough Touraine roads, the dust and small stones had been ingested by the supercharger to disastrous effect.

As KLG took a routine pitstop on lap 12, the two remaining Fiats passed him but his Sunbeam was also beginning to suffer a slipping clutch. Shortly afterwards, Giaconne’s Fiat suffered the same fate as Bordino’s, giving Divo the lead which he held before being passed by Salamano’s remaining Italian car three laps later. At a half-distance pit stop, Segrave had considered giving up, consulting with Dutoit about saving the car from further damage resulting from the slipping clutch but said: ‘Luckily we decided to continue.’ The problem was caused by a small plate fitted the day before the race whose purpose was to stop the clutch pedal falling on to the floorboards.

As Segrave was later to describe ‘the metal stop suddenly snapped off, the clutch went in with a bang, and I had a car in considerably better condition than anyone else’s, because it had never been driven fast and the engine had not been over-stressed.’ There were 70 miles to go and the Sunbeam

The 1923 French Grand Prix circuit today

Brooklands and Indianapolis apart, in 1923 there were few purpose-built racing circuits. Monza had opened in 1922 and Montlhéry in 1924. Thus, the 1923 French Grand Prix took place on a 14.18-mile circuit of closed public roads to the northwest of the city of Tours. These roads are still in place today and now with a proper tarmacadam surface.

The start line was on today’s D938 just west of the village of St Antoine-duRocher, with the cars heading in a southeasterly direction towards the city. After four miles, the drivers encountered a sharp right-hand hairpin just before the village of La Membrolle-sur-Choisille heading in a north-westerly direction on today’s D959 (then RN139).

After five miles, it was a 90-degree right turn towards and then through the village of Semblançay before turning right again to re-join the D938 with just over a mile to run to the start/finish line.

Today, there is little evidence of the race that took place 100 years ago. The D938 was formerly part of the Route Nationale 138 (the old French system of road-naming) and if you take this road north it eventually becomes the fabled Mulsanne Straight of the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit.

lay third behind Salamano and Divo. Could the ‘slow start, fast finish’ strategy pay off? Sensing the challenge from behind, Divo made a fateful pitstop. Turning the fuel cap the wrong way, he broke the thread and the only way to finish was to run on the reserve tank which meant a stop for re-fuelling every lap. He had lost nearly 20 minutes during which time Segrave passed him.

This left the number 12 Sunbeam in second place, but there was little prospect of it catching the lead car it was gaining on, the number 14 Fiat. At this stage, the Italian pit crew made a fundamental mistake, signalling to Salamano to go all out. Shortly after, the Fiat came to a halt, its crew believing it was out of fuel. The mechanic was despatched to the pits and after some disputes with officialdom was forced to return on foot with a bidon of fuel, but to no avail. Yes, the three Fiats had now all suffered supercharger-related failure.

Large crowds had gathered for the 1923 French Grand Prix with the expectation of win by the dominant, and supercharged, Fiats.

In Lure of Speed, Segrave says that at this stage he had no thought of winning, adding ‘Till suddenly – and I shall never forget the thrill – topping a rise in the road

at about 116mph I saw a low red car.’ He wondered if it could be Salamano and thought ‘Ridiculous even to imagine such a thing! He’s miles in front.’ As the Sunbeam

flashed passed, Dutoit looked over then shouted in the driver’s ear: ‘C’est le quatorze qui est on panne! Nous sommes on tete!’.

Segrave couldn’t believe their luck and commented afterwards that ‘my brain refused to work in complete co-ordination with my hands and feet.’ The final 27 miles seemed to last forever but after 6 hours, 35 minutes and 19.6 seconds, a British driver and a British car had won a Grand Prix for the first time. Divo was second and only a late problem prevented Guinness completing a Sunbeam 1-2-3. There were only five finishers from the 17 starters, three of which were built in Wolverhampton.

An immense crowd packed the city that evening to celebrate with the winners. A couple of days later as de Hane drove the Grand Prix car across Northern France to Le Harvre, every village en route seemed to turn out to greet him and gendarmes stopped the traffic to let the green car through. Finally, he made it back to the Hanover Square showroom in London where the car was put on display.

On the Monday evening, Reuters news agency in London had received a phone call from an address in St John’s Wood asking if there was any news of the motor race in Tours earlier that day. ‘Yes, madam, your husband, Major Segrave, was the winner’. Henry Segrave’s words rang true: ‘All the same D, I shall win the Grand Prix one day, you see.’

Having served in the Army and Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, Segrave was a natural when he took up motor racing in 1920.

This photo is from 1926 and shows Segrave with his Sunbeam road car, demonstrating his loyalty to the manufacturer.

Segrave went on to win the San Sebastian Grand Prix in 1924, but he retired from racing soon after to concentrate his efforts on land and water speed records.

This grainy image shows the relatively compact size of the Sunbeam, which helped when it was up against V12-powered competition from Delage and Rolland-Pilains.

Seen here at Daytona prior to a record run, Henry Segrave was a versatile driver with a determined will to push the limits of what was possible in a car.

members’ matters

BDMG tours wonderful Wales

The Brooklands Members Driving Group (BMDG) Tour to Llanerchindda Farm was a fabulous weekend of touring in Carmarthenshire.

Arriving on the Friday afternoon, we received our usual warm welcome from the Hadley family who own the farm, and who are the best of hosts. It wasn’t long before we were all nicely relaxed with afternoon tea. Some people attending for the first time were keen to get to know the lay of the land and how the weekend would pan out. After a quick freshen up, it was a Pimm’s reception before dinner and the opportunity to indulge in the lovely food the Hadleys provide.

Rising early on Saturday, and after a hearty farmhouse breakfast, we gathered for a quick briefing on the tour of the day from Martin and set off on our adventure. The tour of 108 miles took us west from the farm towards the Cardigan coast, taking in the little town of Llandysul for a coffee break and a chance to peruse several shops specialising in decorative stained glass, for which the town is renowned.

Lunch was in Aberporth, at the beautifully named Cwtch Glanmordy, which translates as the Cuddle Beach House. Aberporth village started in the 16th Century

In Memory of…

and was a fishing centre with 20 herring boats. Sadly only one remains. However, with two lovely beaches, it is now a popular tourist destination. With stunning views from either side of the bay, it’s also an ideal destination for walkers and the All-Wales Coast Path passes through it.

Our next stop was the seaside village of Llangrannog. This gave us one last chance for a leg stretch before setting off on the final leg back to the farm for afternoon tea and another glorious evening meal with recollections of the day’s adventures.

Day two’s driving was 98 miles in an easterly direction over the Epynt Ranges with a beautifully surfaced road sweeping over hills and valleys and down towards the Brecon Beacons. A real driver’s road. Since the road runs through an active military training zone, no stopping is allowed, which also means there are never any speed cameras, which I am sure many would find appealing…

Our route picked up the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal and we travelled alongside it through several villages, including Talybont to the quaint little town of Crickhowell on the River Usk, famous for game fishing.

Sadly, each issue we do lose some of our Members and we would like to pass on the condolences of the Brooklands Members, Chairman, and Committee to the families of the following who we have been notified have recently passed away.

Mrs Joan Smith, who passed away in March after enjoying many happy occasions with her husband Brian, who continues his membership with us.

After some caffeine, we set off for our lunch stop at Tretower Court and Castle. Entry to this venue was included in the price of the weekend tour. The Welsh heritage guides were superb in imparting the history of the place from its beginnings in the 11th Century to the execution of one of its owners in 1471 for supporting Edward IV in the War of the Roses! We then headed back to the farm, passing through the town of Brecon and short stops at various viewing points along the way. One last afternoon tea and dinner remained. Both were just right, with local fayre and great company and service.

The following morning during breakfast, we thanked the Hadley’s for their superb hospitality and as we checked out received a USB stick with various photos taken while out and about. Saying farewell is hard when it is time to leave, but we know we will be back.

The BMDG is booked in for October this year, and again for April and October in 2024. October 2023 is nearly sold out, but if you are interested in this or other trips, do look on the Brooklands Members Events webpages for more details and to book your place.

David ‘Biggin’ Brockington-Hill

Mr Russ Heasman, a Club Level Member of nine years, who passed away recently.

Mr Mike Webber, an Individual Member of some 35 years, who passed away recently.

Mr Bryan Robinson, a Club Level Member for 10 years, who passed away recently.

Mr Trevor Tarring, a Club Level Member of 20 years, who passed away in April.

Gordon Winstone 1930-2023

A most unusual race

therefore straightforward for me to make an application to the Board to use it in this year’s event. With my background at Brooklands and a few years of riding motorcycles under my belt, my request was granted. It also turned out the VMCC was happy for the bike to be displayed in the Museum at least from August until the event in November.

The Motorcycle Team is sad to record the passing of Gordon Winstone, who was one of our Members during the formative years of the Team. He was a long-term member of the Brooklands Society and a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who shared his pleasure of riding with his considerable engineering skills in renovating bikes.

Gordon’s wife suffered from Alzheimer’s and his sons encouraged him to join the Team after her condition became unmanageable in the home environment. Quiet and unassuming, Gordon enjoyed nothing more than working on engines and having the challenges of figuring out a problem, and always finding a solution.

Having an extensive engineering workshop at home, Brooklands often strayed home with him. This was usually a part that was needed to replace the timeexpired original.

Although not a ‘two stroke man’, one of Gordon’s more unusual contributions was to put the ‘Noddy Car’ back into operational use. The photo shows him road testing the Rytecraft Scootacar, which provided many children with a memorable day at Brooklands.

Gordon wore his Brooklands sweater on his final journey.

John Bottomley

Members’ Talks and BM.tv

This idea all started back in March at the Motoring Section reception of The Royal Automobile Club at Pall Mall, which my sonin-law Phil and I attended. We found, to our surprise, the range of entries for the London to Brighton Run had been extended in 2022 to allow a small number of both motorcycle and push bikes to take part.

We jokingly said it would be an interesting challenge that we could do together. Phil is a keen cyclist and, as anyone who knows me can testify, I have a passion for motorcycles. After sleeping on the idea, we concluded we were probably slightly deranged, but it would be a great challenge.

To be eligible, the machines had to be pre-1904, which neither of us possessed. Thankfully, there is no age criteria for riders. The first challenge was to obtain bikes that would meet the age restriction and offered us a fighting chance of completing the run. Initially, we thought the push bike would be the easiest to find and the motorcycle more challenging, but the opposite turned out to be true.

A few phone calls to Vintage Motor Cycle Club contacts soon identified the 1902 Dreadnought owned by the club had finished the event last year in the most appalling weather. The Dreadnought was left to the VMCC by the original owner on the understanding it would be used. It was

The golden age of air travel was remembered in Philip Hogge’s superb talk on 20 April as he recalled his time flying aircraft for BOAC. Philip is a born pilot and storyteller, which meant the audience at Brooklands was delighted with his tales from learning to fly in a Tiger Moth to piloting Boeing 747s. A question and answer session with Malcolm Turner added another enlightening element to the evening.

The 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid was in the minds of many and the Talks Team treated the audience to a fascinating look at the events leading up to this pivotal event in the Second World War. Harry Sherrard presented the Talk along with Dr Iain Murray on 16 May and the Talks Team was delighted to have Barnes Wallis’ daughter Elisabeth Gaunt in the audience.

If you’ve missed any Talks either in person or via video link, you can catch up with them on BM.tv. Also available on BM.tv now are videos from the Vickers Viking Celebration, Harry Sherrard’s excellent The Story of Goodwood, and the recent visit to Sammy Millar’s Motorcycle Museum. You can find these films at: www.youtube.com/c/BrooklandsMemberstv/videos or: www.podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brooklands-members-talks/id1449720627

You will also find a vast back catalogue of videos from Brooklands events to keep you amused, informed, and entertained. Whether you missed the original event or want to revisit a highlight at Brooklands, it’s all there to watch.

Images by Cliff Bolton

Having secured a motorcycle, we sought to identify a suitable push bike. What we quickly learned is there are not many around and those that exist are cherished by their owners. These bikes are only occasionally demonstrated but not subjected to long journeys on our potholed roads. We found one, that a colleague at Brooklands owned, but it turned out to be difficult to date, so it was doubtful it would meet the entry criteria.

We did identify that one of the bikes in the Museum’s Collection would qualify but was owned by Raleigh and we needed their permission to use the bike. Hopefully, we could convince them to allow us to use the bike. After a couple of weeks of intense activity, we tracked down both the Managing and Marketing Directors. Once in contact with the right person, approval was quickly obtained.

Our entries for both categories have been submitted to the organisers, who appraise their suitability and pick the best 15 for each class - we have our fingers crossed.

To promote our challenge, we are taking it on under the banner of Grandfather and Son-in-Law Tackle the London to Brighton Run. With our ages and that of the bikes, it would total more than 200 years for me, while Phil and the push bike would be a mere 170. I must stress the machines are very old! We have a lot of organising to put in place, but look out for our progress report in the next Bulletin.

John Bottomley

Remember Brooklands in your Will

Since 1907 extraordinary people have been making their mark at Brooklands in the fields of Motorsport, Aviation and Engineering, leaving legacies that still resonate today.

Brooklands Museum depends solely upon income from our visitors and the generosity of our supporters and sponsors to fund the restoration and interpretation of our objects and site.

If you have been inspired by the pioneers of Brooklands, please help us ensure the enjoyment of future generations at the museum by including a gift to Brooklands Museum in your Will.

If you would like to receive further information about making a charitable gift in your Will or other ways you can help support Brooklands Museum, please contact the Chief Executive’s O ce: call 01932 857381 ext 243, email tnewbery@brooklandsmuseum.com, or visit our website www.brooklandsmuseum.com

Porsche for the completist

Frazer Nash, and its subsequent Frazer Nash-BMW incarnation, was frequently seen in the race programmes at Brooklands, and the cars of Archie Frazer Nash proved to be fierce contenders. However, the AFN company was taken over by HJ Aldington in 1929 and he guided the firm through the 1930s and out the other side of the Second World War, while Archie concentrated on his engineering business.

Aldington spotted the opportunity presented by Porsche’s new sports car and struck a deal with the German company to become its British importer. Trading as AFN, it delivered its first right-hand drive customer car in 1954 and went on to become synonymous with Porsches from its Guildford showroom.

For those with an interest in Frazer Nash, the Porsche 356 rounds out the tale of the British name’s involvement in car production. As such, Grant Maltby’s excellent book Porsche 356 75th Anniversary is a fitting way to complete the story. Maltby is a recognised expert in these delightful small sports cars and his latest book works its way through the range from early prototypes to last of the line in detail.

There are many photographs to illustrate Porsche 356 75th Anniversary, many of them rare period images. While there’s a clear slant towards cars delivered to the US as Maltby is based there, the book also gives much coverage to 356-based race cars and other less obvious derivatives. This adds a good deal of value to the book and more than justifies its £60 price tag. Its clear design, quality paper, concise writing, and the overall sense this is a book with all the information any fan of these cars needs further adds to its merit.

Al Suttie

A rare insight

At the 1973 Monaco Grand Prix, a team with a patchy record in lower divisions and funded by a 22-year old aristocrat, made its debut with a rented March. Lord Hesketh had one of the largest yachts in the harbour and his entourage had come to party. Few took it seriously. James Page’s book Superbears tells the story of how the Hesketh team ruffled establishment feathers and punched above its weight.

Team Manager ‘Bubbles’ Horsley was tasked with pulling together a group of talented individuals, many of whom went on to greater things. Notable names included Harvey Postlethwaite, Frank Dernie, and James Hunt.

In 1974, the team moved to a new base in the stables at Easton Neston, Lord Hesketh’s stately home. The team also built its own car, the Cosworth V8-powered 308. Proudly shunning any advertising, the predominantly white with red and white strips livery was used to play the patriotic card and proved popular with the British public, many of whom signed up for the Racing Bears Club.

That first year with their own car was initially frustrating. The 308 was quick but unreliable, although a late run of strong finishes left the team sixth in the Constructors Championship and Hunt eighth in the drivers’ rankings.

Superbears rightly concentrates on the Hesketh team’s racing history and performances without ignoring the circus that was so much a part of the package that brought the team to the attention of the wider public. The author was able to interview Lord Hesketh, Bubbles and other team members, and this lavish book contains many family photos. Like the updated Vanwall book that was published by

Porter Press last year, Superbears will be the definitive work on the Hesketh team. The £89 price seems very fair for the insight it gives into the unique, sometimes unruly team of talented individuals.

Gareth Tarr

Porsche 356 75th Anniversary by Gordon Maltby is priced £60. Published by Quarto Publishing: ISBN 978-0-7603-7737-6

Superbears by James Page is priced £89. Published by Porter Press: ISBN 978-1-913089-33-7

If you are interested in selling your car or motorcycle and are looking for a prompt, hassle-free cash buyer! I am always very keen to add to my current stock, so please feel free to contact me for a no obligation discussion about your vehicle.

I

If you are looking for a specific vehicle then please also get in contact as I may have or could source what you are looking for?

Castrol Classic Oils

+44 (0)1954 231668 sales@classicoils.co.uk

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Classic Valvemaster™ +44 (0)1954 231668 sales@classicvalvemaster co uk

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Cynghordy Llandovery Carmarthenshire, SA20 0NB

Tel: 01550 750274

e-mail: info@cambrianway.com

www.cambrianway.com

Explore

some of the

best roads and scenery in the UK 2019 / 20 Club Tour Packages

2

Looking for a venue for your club or friends in 2019 or 2020 contact us to discuss packages and dates

We already have 18 clubs booked in 2019 & 7 for 2020 Tours include dinner, bed & breakfast, drinks reception on 1st night, a welcome pack containing a memento of the weekend, rally plate, window sticker, Ordnance Survey Mid & South Wales road map, road books containing the route for each day & entry to a local attraction

Prices from £252 50 per person for 3 night tour

2019 ALL MAKE TOUR DATES

Open to any Make & Age of Car 5th to 8th July – 11 cars booked, 2 rooms left 5th to 8th August – 4 cars booked, 7 rooms left

Racing on a wing and a prayer

Incredible as it seems now, the view of the organisers of the 1902 Paris-Vienna race was the motor car was nearly perfect, and their race would prove it. Held over four days in June of that year and across four countries, although the sections through Switzerland and Germany were neutralised, the race was far from straightforward. Author Ulrich observes: ‘It was a miracle that there were no really bad accidents with deaths.’

Despite the hazards, the race attracted around 200 entries, but only 138 started. In addition, there were 49 starters for a tour over the same course running a few days ahead of the competition.

The third Gordon Bennett event formed part of the race and finished at Innsbruck, though competitors in this race were encouraged to carry on to Vienna. The Gordon Bennett rules were very restrictive and only four cars started. This race within a race was won by SF Edge in a Napier by default as he was the only finisher. This doesn’t undermine his achievement, which led to the 1903 event being held in Ireland. You may have read Patrick Lynch’s book At Greatest Speed which was reviewed in the Bulletin last year, and the author gave a memorable talk in March (catch it on BM.tv).

Thomas Ulrich’s book does a good job of telling the difficulties of the Paris-Vienna race, not only for the participants but also the organisers. One gets a feeling that everything was done on a wing and a prayer. Particularly interesting are the drivers’ stories. Charles Jarrott’s description of the race from his autobiography is re-printed, and he tells how he and his mechanic demolished their Bregenz hotel room as they worked through the night to turn the legs of a stand into parts to repair their Panhard.

The De Dietrich of the book’s title is a bit of a diversion, this being a 1903 car similar to one of the Paris-Vienna entrants which is in a Dutch museum that sponsored the publication of the book. The car

Triumph in cars

It might be 40 years since the Triumph name disappeared from car showrooms, but it still lives large in the minds of car enthusiasts. As the marque celebrates its centenary in 2023, it’s an ideal time to publish a history of the company and run through many of its most popular models. This is exactly what author Ross Alkureishi does with Triumph

Cars – 100 Years

In a similar manner to his recent MG book, Alkureishi separates the story in a chronological order and covers all of the bases you’d expect, as well as providing sidebars with additional information about key figures in the company’s history. What it doesn’t do is go into any depth about the company’s motorcycle or bicycle manufacture. In fairness, the title of the book states it’s about the cars from Triumph, but a bit more context would have been welcome.

Those who are immersed in Triumph history will also find the book adds little more to the subject, but Alkureishi has an easy, conversational tone that makes this weighty book easy to get through. It’s also very well produced and packed with plenty of period and contemporary images, so you will go back to it.

One small point that irritated was the Americanisation of some words and phrases. For instance, a Triumph Herald was a saloon, never a sedan. Overlook this, though, and there’s a good deal about Triumph during the period that Brooklands would have been active in the interwar years, so it’s a useful addition to your library at a reasonable cost for a book printed to such a high standard that is also enjoyable to read or dip in and out of.

Al Suttie

was originally owned by Rupert Guinness, uncle of Kenelm Lee and Algernon who raced at Brooklands. Bill Boddy later had a hand in its preservation.

The book ends with pen portraits of the cars and drivers involved, and it has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to add detail to the race story. For anyone interested in the early motor races, it is worth seeking out, though finding a copy may require a bit of determination.

De Dietrich and the Paris Vienna Race by Thomas Ulrich is priced £25. Published by CeAuto: ISBN 978-3-200-08708-8

Triumph Cars – 100 Years by Ross Alkureishi is priced £45. Published by Quarto Publishing: ISBN 978-0-7603-7649-2

Gareth Tarr

AROUND THE COLLECTION

Brooklands Members

Members’ Administrator

Sarah Dover 01932 857381 ext 226 Tues-Fri 9am-2pm members@brooklandsmuseum.com

Chairman

Neil Bailey 07970 206778 chairman@brooklandsmembers.co.uk

Vice Chairman

Julian Grimwade 07971 831084 juliangrimwade@brooklandsmembers.com

Secretary Kevin Lee 01932 562246 kevin@abbeywalls.com

Tours and Trips

David Brockington-Hill 07766 198735 dbh@brooklandsmembers.co.uk

Outreach

David Norfolk 01372 373929 david.norfolk@outlook.com

Talks

Harry Sherrard 07899 984535 harrysherrard@brooklandsmembers.co.uk

BM.tv

Mark Jarman 07710 783536 nonesuche@gmail.com

Bulletin Editor

Alisdair Suttie 07768 372440 brooklandsbulletineditor@gmail.com

Contributors

Dickon Armstrong, Clifford Bolton, John Bottomley, David Brockington-Hill, Sarah Dover, Martin Gegg, Kevin Lee, Julian Nowell, Harry Sherrard, Gareth Tarr, Mike Venables, Allan Winni

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Thomson & Taylor is a company name that crops up regularly in conversations surrounding many cars and other machinery related to Brooklands. This engineering firm emerged out of the Thomas Inventions Development Company, which was set up by JG Parry-Thomas and Major Ken Thomson. This duo set up business within the Brooklands site to be on hand for their racing clientele.

After the death of Parry-Thomas while driving his Land Speed Record car Babs at Pendine Sands in Wales in 1927, Major Thomson continued the business before going into partnership with Ken Taylor. With the new company up and running, they were soon working on a wide range of racing cars and gaining a reputation for top drawer work.

In 1931, Thomson & Taylor moved premises into the Campbell Shed, which allowed them more space. From here, many of the most famous cars they had a hand in developing were built. This included more than one Blue Bird, the

Parking arrangements

Napier-Railton, the Railton Special, and 17 ERA racing cars designed by Reid Railton.

After the Second World War, the company did not work on so many racing cars and the company diversified. By the 1950s, Thomson & Taylor (Russian Cars) Ltd was the sole UK concessionaire for Moskvitch and Volga makes of car, neither of which made much impression on the buying public. More in keeping with the company’s illustrious past, it was also the Alfa Romeo concessionaire and remained an agent for this make at its Cobham premises when Alfa Romeo set up its own importer to the UK.

Please note that for all events marked ‘Parking in The Heights’, designated vehicles only can enter via the Campbell Gate, off Brookland’s Road. All other Members including Club level and visitors please park in The Heights or main public car park unless otherwise specified. Members with a Blue Badge may park on-site using the Campbell Gate entrance.

Parking arrnagements for other weekend events are:

Club Level Members: entry via Campbell Gate. Period and classic vehicles may park outside the Paddock. Other vehicles to park in the Campbell Car Park adjacent to the Race Bays. Please abide by staff directions..

All other Members and visitors: entry via main public entrance off Brooklands Drive.

This issue of the Brooklands Bulletin (incorporating The Spirit) is published on behalf of Brooklands Members, supporters of Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd, by Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton, Gloucestershire GL2 9LN. The statements and opinions expressed in the Bulletin are not necessarily those of the Brooklands Members’ Committee or Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd.

While every effort has been made by the Publishers to include correct information, they are unable to accept responsibility for errors or omissions. The Publishers, Brooklands Members and Brooklands Museum Trust Limited cannot accept responsibility in the event of misinformation or lack of source relating to images supplied by a third party by electronic or other means.

Charity number 296661. Please quote this if making donations or requesting them via a funeral director.