brooklands bulletin
Royalty at Brooklands
brooklands bulletin
Brooklands is a museum, but it could equally be described as a hotbed of change, development, and innovation. This doesn’t just apply to the history of Brooklands, where it has played a significant role in so many areas, but also to the present and future. This became apparent while putting this issue together as I read stories about Brooklands Innovation Academy and HILDA, the supercomputer underpinning aviation progress at Cranfield University.
These important steps in the progress of undeerstanding for those starting out and already in science and technology careers is vital, and they are inspired by those who came before at Brooklands. Few embody the pioneering spirit of Brooklands more than Percy Lambert, the first person to drive 100 miles in an hour. Equally, Henry Holden, who designed the Track, was another insatiable innovator, and you can read more about him on page 50.
Royal visitors have always taken a keen interest in the events and developments at Brooklands, as we see in two of the features in this issue. Both articles make for entertaining and fascinating reading, but there is always more to do, of course, and the new Tree-V carbon scheme the Museum has in place is another example of Brooklands stepping forward to lead the field. It just proves that Brooklands Museum is ever evolving.
Alisdair Suttie Editor
Brooklands Bulletin
Front Cover photo: Brooklands Museum Collection
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.
Hundreds take part in Brooklands British Science Week
More than 250 young people got hands-on with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) during Brooklands Museum’s participation in British Science Week, which ran from 13-17 March 2023. Students raced cars down Test Hill, fired Risby’s Rockets from the Finishing Straight, and tested STEM workshops based around levels and pulleys, and the mathematics of Concorde’s wing.
Learning Tour guides led a new tour based around drawing connections between Brooklands’ planes to demonstrate how forces play a vital part in moving vehicles, getting planes off the ground, and even flying at supersonic speeds. Brooklands Volunteers also played a key part in the week’s activities. The Risby’s Rockets team led by Keith Barry inspired youngsters to learn more about STEM, despite the high winds during the week.
This is the first year Brooklands has provided a downloadable STEM activity for 12-15-year olds on the National Science Week website to reach a UK-wide audience. One delighted teacher said: ‘Our students learnt about the race track, how early planes were made, the improvement of buses over time, how fast Concorde went, and what it would have been like to travel on one. They also learned to work as a team, why some racers went faster than others, and how rockets are made. All the staff were so friendly and great with the kids. It’s always so well organised. We’ll be back next year.’
Brooklands shortlisted for learning award
Brooklands Museum has been shortlisted for the Learning Programme of the Year in the Museums + Heritage Awards 2023. This is for Brooklands’ Learning Without Borders programme that was created in partnership with Bourne Education Trust, which includes Brooklands Innovation Academy.
Learning Without Borders looks to create opportunities beyond the normal school curriculum and classroom. Brooklands Museum Director Tamalie Newbery said: ‘Rethinking our learning programme started in the midst of Covid knowing that it is key to delivering our vision, “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 and local and national businesses, is truly remarkable and the Brooklands Innovation Academy is, of course, the most high-profile element of that. We are truly delighted to have our innovative approach recognised by such a prestigious awards programme.’
Penny Alford, Chief Education Officer at Bourne Education Trust, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated for 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.’
Learning and Engagement Officer Laura Barclay said: ‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the British Science Association for another year. This week has the most interactive activities going on at any one time, apart from Brooklands Innovation Academy day. We’re looking forward to doing it all again next year.’
Kate Shrewsday
New Barnes Wallis exhibition opens
With the 16 May 2023 marking the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, Brooklands Museum is exploring the broader story of Sir Barnes Wallis and his inventions with a brand-new permanent display in the Stratosphere Chamber. The exhibition delves into the world of engineering and learns what it takes to be an innovator.
Barnes Wallis is famous for Operation Chastise and the ‘Bouncing Bomb,’ but his achievements were so much more remarkable than this. His career lasted more than 60 years and saw the development of British aviation from airships to aerospace, predominantly from his base here at Brooklands.
The new exhibitions, which tie in with the anniversary, will be open to the public from Wednesday 17 May.
Beatrice Meecham
Message from Members’ Chairman
It was good to meet many of you at Mini Day, the opening event of the 2023 season, which despite the weather was a very enjoyable day. Our Fast Track and Outreach Teams braved the elements once again, and both appreciated that so many Members stopped to chat with them. It is worth pointing out again that all team members are volunteers, giving up their time to support the Museum and make you feel welcome whatever the weather, and making your membership more enjoyable and rewarding.
Following our February Committee Meeting, there are a few developments to report. As many of you are aware, David Brockington-Hill has taken on responsibility for our Events, including the Driving Group, after heading up Fast Track very successfully. Derek March has agreed to take on this role as he is an existing member of the Fast Track team and at our meeting we voted to co-opt him onto the Committee.
several long-standing members will be stepping down. Brooklands Trust Members was started in 2008, and there are still founder members of the original committee serving 15 years later. In 2018, Brooklands Trust Members became Brooklands Members and a new constitution was introduced after lengthy discussions with the Trustees. This established a term limit of nine years for committee members. Although I understood and supported that change, I was concerned we would lose too much experience all at once. I negotiated transitional arrangements with the Trustees that allowed those serving prior to the new 2018 constitution to apply to remain on the committee for a further time-limited period of up to three years, which would expire in 2021. Then Covid intervened, so 2021 became 2023 and those affected will be leaving the Committee this September.
Staying with Events, the perennially popular Llanerchindda weekend will be on 13-16 October this year and is now open for bookings. New events for 2023 are ‘GeeGees, Gliders and Gardens’ on Saturday 24 June, and a trip to the Isle of Man Festival of Motoring from 13-18 September. I do urge you to consider participating in one or all of these events. They are always enjoyable and give you the opportunity to meet fellow Members in a very convivial environment.
We have agreed to create a Members Facebook Group, which became available at the end of March. For those of you already on Facebook, just search for ‘Brooklands Members’ and submit a request to join the group and provide your membership number. As this will be a group exclusively available to current Members, your membership details will need to be validated before you are allowed to join, and all that is required is your name and membership number. Used sensibly and in a controlled way, Facebook will encourage more interaction among the membership. It can also provide lively and interesting comments and discussions, and the chance to share your photographs. There are a few ‘house rules’ that you have to agree to before asking to join, but I am sure if you take the time to read through them you will appreciate they are for the benefit of all.
This year, our AGM will be held on 20 September and we are keen to recruit new members to the Committee. Online voting will open in early June, and every year I put out a call for members to put themselves forward for election to broaden the range of views on the Committee. This year it is even more important because
Fortunately, since 2018, we have succeeded in recruiting a raft of new members to the committee who have brought fresh ideas and forward thinking, but the need for fresh blood remains. We welcome applications from all Members and are particularly keen to recruit those with an understanding of, and experience in, digital channels including social media. We are very fortunate to have Mark Jarman on the committee, who has created Brooklands Members TV and works tirelessly at producing all our digital content, but we need additional support to help in this increasingly important area. Mark has produced a short video in order to encourage new recruits, and you can view it here: www. vimeo.com/813652141. If you wish to be considered for election, please contact either Kevin Lee, our Secretary, or myself.
Finally, a personal note. I was a member of the Brooklands Society, but in 2008 I joined Brooklands Trust Members. I was elected to the Committee in 2012, principally to deal with International Relationships, and in 2014 was elected as your Chairman. This means that by the time of the 2023 AGM, I will have served as your Chairman for nine years and I have decided not to stand for re-election. A recruitment process is currently underway to appoint a new Chairman, who will serve alongside me as Chairman-elect until immediately after the AGM. The next edition of the Bulletin will include my Chairman’s Report for 2022, as is customary. As it will be my valedictory report, I hope you will indulge me and allow me to reflect on the changes I have witnessed over my time on the Committee.
Neil Bailey
Brooklands offsets carbon emissions
Brooklands is working with Tree-V to offset more than 120-tonnes of carbon. This new initiative is the first time Tree-V has offset the staff commuter journeys of a business, which will capture almost 117-tonnes of carbon produced by Brooklands staff and volunteers by planting 351 trees.
A further four tonnes of carbon produced by the vehicles in the Museum Collection and commercial vehicles used at Brooklands will also be offset with a further 13 trees planted.
There are also plans to offer Members and visitors to the Museum the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions by signing up to the Tree-V scheme.
Carbon capture by Tree-V is part of the Federation of British Historic Vehicles Clubs’ initiative and is accredited by the UK government’s Woodland Carbon Code. The tree planting is carried out by Forest Carbon.
Luke Cumper
Vantage World Tour begins
Phil Churchill together with his son and Brooklands Museum Volunteer Will have started their epic Vantage World Tour. They plan to drive at least 24,901 miles around the world in their 2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to raise money for the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
The pair began their adventure at the RAC Club on Pall Mall, London before heading to Liverpool. From there, the Aston Martin was shipped to the US where the real driving started in New York. The first leg has seen them drive south through the US and on to Cancun in Mexico.
The tour has been organised in separate legs to fit in with Will’s schooling, so the pair will return to Mexico in October for the next drive to the Panama Canal. By then, they will have driven 10,800 miles.
Seeing them off at the start in London was Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM, who said: ‘We’re honoured that Phil and Will have taken on a challenge of a lifetime to support CALM. The lengths our supporters go to in order to raise funds and awareness for our cause is staggering, and enables us to continue to be there for whoever is struggling. We wish them the best of luck with their monumental challenge.’
Working it at Brooklands
A brand new event joins the Brooklands calendar this year with Working Vehicles Day taking place on Saturday 8 July. Visitors will be able to see every type of vehicle that has to earn its keep, from vintage tractors to the latest construction kit.
There will be experts on hand to tell visitors all about the machinery attending Working Vehicles Day, making this the perfect chance to get up close to some very specialist equipment. You can also learn about the working lives of the people who use these machines.
As well as the displays, there will be live demonstrations from recovery vehicles and construction plant. This great family day will also have traditional games in the Paddock for children, bubblemakers, face painters, and plenty of food and drinks stalls.
Sam Hart
Brooklands Museum Director Tamalie Newbery has been appointed a Trustee of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT).
The voluntary position is in addition to Tamalie’s role at Brooklands Museum, which is currently home to three historically important Aston Martins. This includes Razor Blade, the Halford Special, and a 1924 Side Valve Tourer. All three are kindly on loan from owner James Cheyne.
Tamalie said: ‘It is a great honour to become a member of the Board of Trustees. Brooklands has a long association with Aston Martin and I look forward to helping with the fantastic work AMHT does in preservation and education for this amazing British car name.’
Joining Tamalie as a newly appointed Trustee for AMHT is Steve Waddingham, historian for Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
Lady Susie Moss 1953-2023
Lady Susie Moss, who was the wife and driving force behind former Brooklands Members President Sir Stirling Moss, has passed away aged 69-years old. Her sister Tina said Lady Susie died of a broken heart following Sir Stirling’s death in 2020.
The two married in 1980 and Lady Susie was always by her husband’s side, although she preferred to leave the limelight to Sir Stirling. He described Lady Susie in his autobiography Stirling Moss My Racing Life: ‘I simply could not operate without Susie. She looks after me and never loses her sense of humour, even if I lose mine. Susie has never stopped being the best thing that ever happened to me.’
Mini Day is big fun
Every type and age of Mini turned up for Mini Day on 26 March. There was a vast array of classic Minis on display, including some of the rarer types such as the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet, as well as a pick-up variant.
Modern Minis were also present in large numbers, demonstrating the evergreen appeal of this classic regardless of age.
While the weather was not the best, it did mean plenty of the Mini brigade took the time to investigate further into the Museum buildings. In the afternoon, the Aircraft Factory was very busy as families enjoyed letting children have a fun with the various activities on offer.
Martin Chandler
Stemax ltd Performance engineers GEOFF HARRIS
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MUSEUM updates
Chief Executive’s Message
It has been a busy start to the year, with the completion of the Clubhouse renovation works, and design and planning for the new Barnes Wallis exhibition in the Stratosphere Chamber. Both of these have been supported by the proceeds from the Members’ raffle and other fundraising activities. They will make such a difference to the Museum, its Members and visitors, so thank you for your contributions and support. We are looking forward to opening the Barnes Wallis exhibition on 16 May, on the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, for which Wallis invented the Bouncing Bomb. We are honoured that members of Barnes Wallis’ family will be joining us to commemorate the historic event.
We are also immensely proud that Brooklands Museum has been shortlisted for Best Learning Programme at the prestigious
Lagonda M45
I wrote in the January-February 2023 Bulletin about our adventures with the Lagonda and its roadside recovery by the AA. After replacement of the battery failed to resolve matters, our attention turned to the SU fuel pump. As mentioned previously, the pump seemed to be struggling to maintain an adequate level in both carburettors. Mike Lay and Tony Bantick from the Motoring Team removed from the pump from the car (twice!), checked and tested it. All seemed to perform well on the bench, but the pump struggled when put back in the car. A blockage in the fuel line from the tank was suspected, so this was blown through with an air line.
Museum + Heritage Awards. The nomination recognises the transformational effect our partnership with Bourne Education Trust has had on our schools learning programme, making it one of the best in the country. For more than a year, one of their science teachers, Tom Corry, has been seconded to Brooklands Museum part-time, helping us develop and improve our learning programme. The partnership was also instrumental to the success of the first year of Brooklands Innovation Academy which inspires and supports people to take up careers in science and engineering. During Science Week in March, we announced Brooklands Innovation Academy will continue in 2023, with a key event hosted in person by Professor Brian Cox in October, and reaching well over 1000 secondary school students during the year. You can read more about this on page 14.
During the winter, we have been thinking about how Brooklands Museum can play its part in addressing the climate emergency. We have a number of initiatives planned for 2023, and I am delighted that we have implemented the first, which is to offset the carbon used when we run the vehicles in our Collection through the scheme run by Tree-V. Not only this, we are also offsetting all the carbon used by our staff and volunteers when they travel to the Museum, making Brooklands the first organisation in Tree-V’s scheme to take this step. In the future, we will be looking at offering Members and visitors the opportunity to offset their carbon as well.
As I write this, the sun has come out and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors over the coming weeks. With this year’s events now well under way, there are so many opportunities to use your membership this Spring and Summer, and we look forward to seeing you.
Tamalie
Newbery
Filters were dismantled and cleaned, and rubber hoses were renewed.
The problem wouldn’t go away, so we turned our attention to the electrical feed to the pump. Ominously, a multi-meter indicated that there was only about nine volts at the supply. An inspection under the dashboard revealed some burnt insulation, where cables to and from the main switch had been overloaded. The principal culprit was suspected to be the large electric radiator fan, so this was rewired via a relay and all damaged cables were replaced. Fortunately, the original Lucas switch was salvageable, but was dismantled, cleaned and lubricated to avoid future problems.
Even after all this work, the problem persisted. The car would start but would soon splutter to a halt. The fuel pump was removed and replaced yet again before Mike had a ‘lightbulb moment’. He removed the element from the fuel filter, put it to his mouth and tried blowing through it. To his amazement, despite appearing to be spotlessly clean, it was completely blocked. Our conclusion is, although we always use premium fuel, modern additives have reacted with the white plastic and sealed up all the openings in the mesh. For now, we’ve removed the filter element completely and the car is running perfectly. Anyone who has this type of filter fitted to their classic vehicle might want to check whether they are about to suffer the same problem.
Chris Bound
Motoring Team
Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans
Many Members will be familiar with the fabulous Bentley that is on long-term loan to the Museum. Having been raced at Brooklands and driven by ‘Bentley Boy’ Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin, it has an impeccable provenance. In the Spring of 2022, the car was taken for an MoT test, in accordance with the Museum’s desire to have its most prominent cars subjected to external scrutiny. The car passed without issue, save for an advisory that the rear wheel bearings were noisy and showing signs of wear.
Once safely back in the ERA Shed, the owner was consulted and the decision taken that members of the Motoring Team would make a detailed inspection and carry out any necessary work. The first step was to remove the hubs. This required a special tool, but we were fortunate in being able to call upon Bentley-owning Brooklands Members who happened to have the said piece of equipment in their toolboxes.
After careful study of the Bentley Drivers’ Club guidance notes, we made a tentative start. As usual, when working on old cars, we quickly encountered our first challenge. The thread on the outside of the left-hand hub had been damaged at some time in the car’s history and this prevented us from screwing on the hub puller. Two more pullers were borrowed but neither proved any more willing to screw onto the hub. At that point, we were advised the car was going to be needed for several high-profile events during the spring and summer and we decided to defer any further work until later in the year.
In November, Chris Bound and Roger Horsfield got cracking with the task. The right-hand hub was removed quite easily,
using the correct puller, revealing the threaded bearing caps inside. Improvisation was called for with the left-hand side and we eventually managed to remove the hub by screwing the wheel spinner back on and using a substantial 3-legged hydraulic puller. It put up an epic fight, which we only won with help from a two-foot breaker bar and a length of scaffold tube. Eventually, there was an almighty crack and the hub came free.
Dismantling confirmed the bearings on both sides were severely pitted. There were signs that water had contaminated the grease in the bearings, possibly when the River Wey last burst its banks and flooded the Motoring Village. With the half shafts removed, Chris and Roger set about pulling the old bearing shells off, with assistance from fellow volunteer John Corden.
As one might expect from something designed by the great WO Bentley, the rear axle has a few unusual features. Most axles of that era have the outer bearing shell driven into a recess in the axle casting and the smaller inner shell slipped over the half shaft and retained with a bolton bearing cap. Bearing adjustment is generally achieved by means of shims. On the Bentley, the bearings are reversed, with the inner bearing shell pressed onto the half shaft and the outer shell retained with a threaded cap which screws onto the end of the axle.
Also unusual is the design of the differential housing, which allows the two half shafts to pass right through and meet in the middle. When you adjust the float in either wheel bearing, you are also adjusting the other. Consequently, when the car is cornering, the lateral forces from the outer wheel are transmitted all the way through the differential to the bearing of the inner wheel at the other end of the axle.
Bearing adjustment is made very simple, as the threaded cap is screwed in just far enough to achieve the desired end float and then a locking pin is inserted to secure it. We sourced new bearings from William Medcalf Limited, one of the leading suppliers of parts for the Cricklewood Bentleys. When Chris went to collect the new parts, he was treated to a VIP tour of the showroom and workshops. Proprietor William kindly offered the use of his equipment to press the new items onto the shafts. He also suggested this was a good opportunity to consider modifying the original Timken bearing caps to accept modern oil seals. He quite rightly pointed out that our tendency to park on the Members’ Banking or the Finishing Straight could result in oil leaking from the differential along the inside of the axle and into the brake drums. Although not a problem we have previously encountered with the Bentley, it has happened to several other cars in the collection, notably the Railton Terraplane, the rear axle of which we had to rebuild last year.
The proposed modifications were approved and, once the new parts had been gathered, reassembly was straightforward. Both half shafts were refitted, outer bearing shells installed, and bearing caps screwed on. Once adjusted, the hub and brake drums were refitted and their castellated nuts secured with new split pins. Our thanks go to resident experts Allan Winn and Julian Grimwade for their support and encouragement.
Chris Bound
No licence. No problem.
Anyone over 1.5m tall can drive at Mercedes-Benz World.
Search Mercedes-Benz World to find out more.
Image with an Edge
Dear Sir,
On a recent visit to Brooklands, I spotted the attached artwork of SF Edge setting the 24 hours record of 1581 miles 1310 yards on 28 and 29 June, 1907 at Brooklands. This was only 11 days after the circuit was officially opened and before the first race meeting on 6 July. It looks like this artwork was a Shell promotion, bearing
LSR 25 years on
Dear Sir,
The article about the Brooklands watch in the November-December 2022 Bulletin and the photo of Andy Green made me realise that in Thrust SSC Wing Commander Green set the current Land Speed Record a quarter of a century ago, on 15 October 1997.
in mind the fuel cans in the top left and bottom right of the image and quote from SF in the bottom left. As the corners are missing from the image, we cannot identify the artist but it is definitely not Autocar’s Gordon F Crosby, who also produced an artwork of the event.
Members may recall that I reviewed Simon Fisher’s book on SF Edge in the January-February 2023 Bulletin (and some may have also read the book) and you will find a fuller version of the story in the book. In that review, I mistakenly stated that Edge’s record attempt was on 17 June, 1907, but then again the caption in the bottom right hand corner next to the artwork says 1906 and it is lightly crossed out and changed to 1907. It just shows that you can’t win them all. We also interviewed the book’s author for Brooklands TV which you watch by scanning the attached QR code with your smart device. The artwork can be found downstairs in the Clubhouse, just outside the gents toilets.
Kind regards, Gareth Tarr
This is, I think, the longest period for which a LSR has stood, and despite various challengers being mentioned, looks like standing for some time to come. The record, 763.035mph over the mile, was the first supersonic record and not 714.144mph as stated in the July-August Bulletin as this was an intermediate record set in 1997.
It is a great pity the Bloodhound SSC project has foundered, but at least it would be a great memorial to Richard Noble and his team if the Thrust SSC’s record stood for all time.
Apart from a period in the 1960s when the Americans started using pure jet propulsion, the LSR has rather been the preserve of British challengers. The Thrust SSC team was based at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough where I worked, so as a member of the ‘Mach 1 Club’ I was able to keep an eye on progress. I also went to a celebratory event at the RAE after the record was broken. SSC was sat on its trailer which had a sign on the rear stating ‘Maximum Speed 760mph!’
Thank you for an excellent magazine.
Best regards, Ian Moir
Undercarriage challenge
Dear Sir, I was very interested in this article and especially intrigued by the Hawker Hurricane blueprint on the cover of the January-February 2023 Bulletin.
My father, John Goode, worked for Hawker during the development of the Hurricane in the 1930s. He would have been in his mid-twenties at that time and working as a qualified mechanical engineer following apprenticeship.
One of his claims was that he designed the locking mechanism for the undercarriage and he told the story of how, during testing, challenges with the ‘wheels up’ operation were eventually identified as being caused by pilots racing to get the gear up and operating the function whilst still speeding along the runway!
Somewhere there may be a blueprint with my dad’s name to it.
Best wishes, David Goode
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, car rides and engine runs are subject to operational conditions.
7 May
Best of British. Whatever make of British car, motorcycle, van, truck or other type of vehicle, you’re likely to see one at this event on the same weekend as King Charles III’s Coronation. There will be a special display of MG cars, and Paddington Bear is coming to meet and greet visitors of all ages!
May
7 Best of British. A celebration of all British makes on two, three, four and more wheels.
28 Mopar Muscle. Everything with a potent Mopar engine in it is welcome at this UScentred day.
June
4 London to Brighton Classic Car Rally. Come and see off these amazing classic cars as they start their run to the coast from Brooklands.
17-18 June
17-18 Brooklands Relived featuring the Double Twelve. Just as with the original Double Twelve races, this magnificent event is spread across two days full of competition, music, food, and entertainment.
25 London Bus Museum On the Buses. A fun day out for all the family with rare buses and taxis.
Brooklands Relived featuring the Double Twelve. Just as with the original Double Twelve races, this magnificent event is spread across two days full of competition and entertainment. Immerse yourself in Brooklands’ motoring and motorsport history, and enjoy watching the competition at the Mercedes-Benz World in timed trials. There’s also live music, car club displays and food.
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.
8 Working Vehicles Day. A brand new event to honour every type and age of vehicle that earns its living.
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.
August
13 French Day. Whether it’s très vitesse or très chic, if it’s French it will be at Brooklands.
2 July
Motorcycle Day. A highlight of the Brooklands year as every conceivable type of two-wheeler converges on the Museum. MaNy of the motorcycles from the Museum collection will be demonstrated by the Motorcycle Team, and there will be runs up Test Hill, as well as other entertainment and food available.
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.
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.
April
28-1 May Brooklands Members Driving Group Exclusive Classic Tours of Wales. Llanerchindda Farm. An ever-popular romp around Welsh lanes to visit historic landmarks. Fabulous cooking and hospitality from the Hadley family. Still some limited availability.
June
8-12 Brooklands Members Driving Group Exclusive Dutch Lakes Tour. In collaboration with Scenic Car Tours, this five-day trip is based in Loosdrecht, near Amsterdam, with driving around the Dutch lakes and a visit to the Louwman Motor Museum. Some availability still left.
24 GeeGees, Gliders and Gardens. Beginning with breakfast at Sandown Racecourse, the route takes in Lasham Heritage Glider Centre, West Green Gardens, and finishes with afternoon tea at Ramster. Limited to 40 cars.
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.
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.
Brooklands Members Talks: update
Our next talk is on 16 May to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise that became known as the Dambusters Raid. Presented by the Talks Team, this evening will look at the development of the technology and how effective the raids were. Note that this event is on Tuesday and not our normal Thursday.
Following this on 15 June, Dr Kate Vigurs will give a talk about the Women of SOE. Formed in 1940, the Special Operations Executive employed many women as agents, 39 of whom were deployed in France. Dr Vigurs is an historian and author of Mission France – the true story of the women of SOE, and her talk is about the journeys of these women from initial recruitment, training, working in the field, and evasion from or capture by the enemy.
On Monday 10 July, Richard Jenkins is launching his new book The Story of the Tyrrell Racing Organisation about this much-admired team whose drivers included Jackie Stewart, Jody Scheckter, and Martin Brundle. Following a private launch event, there will be a Q&A session with former Tyrrell team members from 7pm which Members can attend.
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/brooklandsmembers/Members-Area/member-events The Talks email address is: talks@brooklandsmembers.co.uk
Harry Sherrard and The Talks Team
Brooklands Innovation Academy encourages students to be hands-on during workshops and experiments to help them learn through experience.
BROOKLANDS GETS HANDS-ON
Brooklands Innovation Academy is back for 2023 and will offer even more students hands-on learning to inspire them into careers in vital STEM areas.
Brooklands’ long history of inspiring scientists and engineers continues in 2023 with Brooklands Innovation Academy. The main event of the 2023 programme will take place on 3 October at the Museum when Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS will be present to guide and inspire students, and encourage them to consider a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.
Following on from the tremendous success of the 2022 event where more than 400 students took part in Brooklands Innovation Academy, this year’s event is intended to light the spark of curiosity and provide practical, hands-on experience for Britain’s future engineers and scientists. This will be delivered by using Brooklands amazing history of inspiring tales alongside contemporary innovators, international businesses, and STEM leaders.
Professor Brian Cox said: ‘Last year, the first Brooklands Innovation Academy was a resounding success with over 400 students from across the region getting hands-on experience and insight into the challenges facing humanity. This year, the programme has been expanded and we are preparing to inspire and support hundreds more future STEM innovators. Brooklands Museum is the perfect place to host these events with a rich history of daring engineering. The people who worked here truly shaped the future of both aviation and automotive industries. I’m very much looking forward to meeting and engaging with the students and teachers in October.’
The programme has received an incredible support as one of the nation’s leading student STEM events, with Haleon continuing as a major supporter in 2023 alongside significant local employers, including the NHS. Adam Sisson, Vice President and Head of Oral Health Research and Development at Haleon, commented: ‘STEM education and guidance are critical in preparing and inspiring students for a potential future in the exciting world of STEM. Here in the UK, significant strides have been made to increase STEM engagement and programmes like Brooklands Innovation Academy are at the heart of encouraging all young people to feel that they can pursue a fulfilling career within STEM. We are thrilled to see the programme expanded for 2023 and look forward to taking an active role in the programme throughout the year.’
Brooklands is an inspiring backdrop as the endeavour and entrepreneurship that has been demonstrated by so many in the
past, provide inspiration and important lessons for the future.
In addition to the main event in October, Brooklands Innovation Academy will include a number of lead-in events throughout the summer supported by Airbus and McLaren Automotive, engaging students with new ideas, great challenges, and the possibilities of careers in critical sectors. This will include events such as Jobs of the Future With McLaren Automotive, Lightbulb Moments with Airbus, and Civil Engineering Changes Lives with Wilmot Dixon and Balfour Beatty. Each of these three precursor events features a specific industry theme and sponsorship, with company representatives supporting students to solve hands-on problems while learning about some of the greatest challenges of our time.
Brooklands Innovation Academy is part of the National Science Summer School programme, co-founded by Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS and Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, and managed by Well North Enterprises. The Academy brings together hundreds of students to take
part in workshops run by some of the world’s top STEM businesses and enjoy guest presentations focusing on STEM skills and future industry challenges such as advanced medicine, transportation, sustainable manufacturing, and the climate crisis.
Lord Mawson, Co-Founder of the Science Summer School and Chair of Well North Enterprises, commented: ‘Scientists at Cern do it including Professor Brian Cox. As do engineers at McLaren; astronauts in space; surgeons, doctors and nurses in our hospitals and clinics; business entrepreneurs; musicians on stage and in recording studios; school students and their teachers. They all learn by doing. Brooklands Innovation Academy is also an important catalyst for Well North Enterprises and Brooklands Museum to set up a longer-term Innovation Platform in Surrey connecting the career pipeline between young people and the myriad of local career opportunities across education, health, and business. This fantastic programme is helping to equip these young people with a practical toolkit which will
More than 400 students will attend the main event of the 2023 Brooklands Innovation Academy at the Museum on 3 October.
There are a number of lead-in events taking place ahead of the main Brooklands Innovation Academy in October and McLaren Automotive is supporting this, along with Airbus.
help them start to navigate the modern world of work.’
It is also delivered in close partnership with the Bourne Education Trust, a relationship that was formed simultaneously with Science Summer School and has accelerated the magnitude of the programme. The collaboration of partners with a shared vision to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers through impactful, out-of-classroom experiences, has won Brooklands Museum and Bourne Education Trust a place on the shortlist of Museums + Heritage Awards ‘Learning Programme of the Year’.
Penny Alford, Chief Education Officer at Bourne Education Trust, said: ‘It is so important for young people from underrepresented groups to be able to access this hands-on experience and see the opportunities that are out there. We are eager to continue building relationships between Brooklands Museum and some of our families that may not experience or have immediate access to events like this. As part of our role, we are committed to reaching even more students this year via Brooklands Innovation Academy.’
Director and CEO of Brooklands Museum Tamalie Newbery concluded:
Professor Brian Cox will be there in person at Brooklands Innovation Academy to meet the students and inspire them to learn more about STEM subjects and future careers.
‘Programmes like Brooklands Innovation Academy are helping to make Britain the best place in the world to do science and develop new technologies. Last year, we saw an immensely positive impact on students thanks to the involvement of leading businesses and inspiring guest speakers. It was a phenomenal success and we are very pleased to be expanding the programme this year to help even more students.’
Haleon is one of the main supporters of Brooklands Innovation Academy and will take an active role in the workshops that students can participate in.
Guest speakers make the Brooklands Innovation Academy a fascinating time for students. The speakers come from all corners of STEM careers.
When Brooklands opened in June 1907, King Edward VII was the reigning monarch, the first of four who sat on the throne during the circuit’s 32 years of active life. Although the son of Queen Victoria never visited the Weybridge
track, his three successors had significant connections to Brooklands.
The circuit was less than a year old when it received its first royal visit. The Prince of Wales, later King George V, attended the Easter 1908 meeting, no doubt curious to find out what this
new-fangled racing circuit was all about. Whether the bitterly cold weather of that two-day meeting had any influence we shall never know. It even snowed on the Monday, but it was to be his only Brooklands visit. Just over two years later, he became king, the death of Edward VII
CROWNING MOMENTS AT BROOKLANDS
On the occasion of King Charles III’s Coronation, we reflect on the members of the Royal Family who have visited Brooklands.
Words: Gareth Tarr Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection
The Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI, with Lindsay Lloyd at Brooklands. The Duke was a regular visitor to the Track.
on 6 May resulting in the postponement of Brookland’s Whitsun meeting. Among those attending King George V’s coronation in June 1911 were the Sultans of Perak and Kedah, who took the opportunity of visiting England to attend the summer meeting at Brooklands, seeing Ligurd G ‘Cupid’ Hornstead win two races in his Benz. The following month the inaugural Circuit of Britain aerial race took place for a first prize of £10,000 from the Daily Mail. Amid the 50,000 spectators at the Brooklands start was Prince Henry of Prussia, the Kaiser’s brother.
By June 1914, war clouds were looming and six weeks before the outbreak of the First World War, Brooklands hosted a spectacular Army Field Day to raise funds
for the Chertsey division of the British Red Cross Society whose vice-president was Ethel Locke-King. The Red Cross’s patron was Queen Alexandra, widow of the late King Edward VII, and she attended the event with her sister Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia. The event featured a mock battle in which ‘British forces’ retreated over a temporary bridge across the River Wey while military bands provided entertainment. The Queen expressed a wish to see fast cars in action, but unfortunately
as the displays filled the circuit the request was left unfulfilled.
With the First World War causing the cessation of racing at the track, it would be eight more years before the next royal visit. In June 1922, the Duke of York, at that time only second in line to the throne, visited the Weybridge track and this Essex Motorcycle Club’s event was given the title ‘Brooklands Royal Meeting’. The Duke was greeted by the Earl of Athlone and a Persian carpet was laid on the track
Princess Margaret visiting the Vickers-Armstrongs factory and being shown around by Sir George Edwards.
Prince George, later the Duke of Kent, strolling through Brooklands with Percy Bradley, Clerk of the Course, in May 1929.
Workers on the Vickers VC10 take a break to watch Princess Margaret being given a tour of the factory by Sir George Edwards.
when he arrived. The meeting was jointly run by the British Motorcycle Racing Club and in two of the nine races the Duke entered his chauffeur SE Wood on a 350cc Douglas. Wearing the Duke’s colours of a scarlet jersey with blue stripes and sleeves, Wood was unplaced. More notable results included Parry Thomas finishing third in his Leyland in the Earl of Athlone Handicap. The Brooklands Automobile Racing Club (BARC) banned women in races at the time, but the Essex MC were more enlightened and Ivy Cummings won the Duke of York’s Long Handicap in a 1912 Coupe de l’Auto Sunbeam averaging 83.5mph. The Duke’s presence seemed to inspire many competitors, with Kenelm Lee Guinness, fresh from having taken the World Land Speed Record at the track, recording 122.67mph in the V12 Sunbeam, the car’s fastest race lap to date. Successful drivers received special medals from the Duke.
Ten years later, the Duke and Duchess of York attended the Guys Hospital Gala meeting organised by the Junior Car Club to raise funds for the famous hospital. In keeping with the theme, this was more than a race meeting. There were society debutantes selling programmes and attractions included a driving skills competition, a Tzingane orchestra playing Hungarian music, and an aerobatics display. Some of the morning track activity was of the novelty variety with a race for medical students and another for London taxis. The royal party arrived after lunch in two Humber Snipes and after formalities were to witness more serious competition. Tim Birkin won the Gala Long Handicap at an average of 124.33mph in his single-seater Blower Bentley, catching Chetwynd’s MG Midget late in the race and winning by 300 yards. The Duchess of York’s ladiesonly race was won by Miss Eileen Ellison in a white Bugatti Type 37, finishing just five yards ahead of Mrs Kay Petre in her red Wolseley Hornet. Entries for the six-lap Duke of York’s race were restricted to cars capable of lapping Brooklands at more than 100mph, guaranteeing a fine spectacle. AF Ashby’s orange Riley Nine was the winner despite challenges from John Cobb in his V12 Delage and Birkin in the Bentley. After a flying display by Flight Lieutenant Bulman in a Hawker Hart biplane, the Guy’s Mountain Handicap closed the racing. There followed a Concours of Elegance and a Graf Zeppelin flew over on its way from Germany to Hanworth, hovering for a while over the Paddock.
The Duke of York’s elder brother Edward, the Prince of Wales, was less of a racing enthusiast. Despite this, in 1930 he agreed to become the BARC’s President.
Rider SE Wood on the 996cc Trump Anzani was chauffeur to the Duke Of York, who is standing next to his motorcycle and chatting with Wood at Brooklands.
King George VI inspecting aircraft in the hangar at Brooklands in 1938. Here he’s seen looking into the cockpit of a Vickers Long Range Wellesley.
This photo was taken on 19 April, 1917 when King George VI and Queen Mary visited the Sopwith works. Tom Sopwith is seen second from the left, with Pups and Triplanes being built behind.
Aviation was closer to the Duke’s heart and he flew over the aerodrome at Brooklands that year. Two years later, the new Aero Clubhouse was opened at the southern end of the Brooklands site, a building that still stands today. This prompted the Royal Aero Club to base its King’s Cup race at the new facility. The race took place over two days with the courses being BrooklandsPortsmouth-Bristol- Chester- LeicesterIpswich-Northampton-Brooklands (747 miles), then on the second day BrooklandsPortsmouth- Bristol-NorthamptonBrooklands (493 miles). The second-placed plane was a Compton Swift entered by the Prince of Wales and flown by his personal pilot, Flight Lieutenant Edward Fielden. Later that year, the Prince entered another Swift in the popular London to Newcastle race that started at Brooklands. Fielden was again the pilot and won at an average speed of 162.25mph.
In 1933, a book about Brooklands called Wheels take Wings written by Michael Burn in collaboration with Percy Bradley was published by Foulis with a foreword by the Prince of Wales. Meanwhile, since 1930, the Duke’s younger brother Prince George, the Duke of Kent, had become a frequent visitor to the racing track as a member of the public and
King George V died on 20 January, 1936. When a new monarch ascends the throne, all existing royal patronages lapse.
The BARC was therefore much relieved to receive on 31 March a communication stating that the new king had consented to again become the club’s Patron. Brooklands therefore became the first organisation
became an honorary member of the Aero Club.
Prince Michael of Kent in a Bentley at Brooklands Museum. The Prince has been a strong supporter of the Museum and frequent guest.
Princess Margaret is shown some of the manufacturing techniques during her visit to the Vickers-Armstrongs factory. Sir George Edwards is stood to right of the Princess.
Royalty from abroad also visited Brooklands, such as Queen Alexandra and the Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia for Red Cross Field Day in 1914.
solely devoted to motorsport to have a reigning monarch as Patron. The joy was to be short-lived as in December King Edward VIII abdicated due to his affair with Wallis Simpson. Within a fortnight, the BARC was informed the new King George VI would become their Patron. On 8 December, 1937 King George visited Brooklands to inspect the aircraft factories. Having seen Wellington and Wellesley production at Vickers, he was driven over to Hawkers where he was shown the Hurricane production line.
After the Second World War, the Vickers factory had two royal visits. In April 1958, the Duke of Edinburgh toured the factories at Weybridge and Wisley. Pathé News footage shows him inspecting the Stratosphere Chamber, which forms part of Brooklands Museum today, as well as various aircraft including the Viscount 810 and Valiant V-bomber. Four Viscounts had been bought in the late 1940s for the King’s Flight. Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowden visited the Vickers factory in April 1962 where they were shown the VC10.
The Brooklands Museum Trust was founded in the spring of 1987 and the first Patron, Sir George Edwards, received a communication from Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and George VI’s widow, wishing the Trust every success. Brooklands Museum was opened in April 1991 by its new Royal Patron, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, a patronage he retains to this day. The son of Prince George who visited the circuit in the 1930s, Prince Michael has regularly visited the Museum and opened the Aircraft Factory and Flight shed in November 2017.
The Duke and Duchess of York arrive at Brooklands for Guys Gala Day in 1932.
Allan Winn, then Director of the Museum, talks with Prince Michael of Kent.
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PEARLY SPEED KING
Percy ‘Pearly’ Lambert was the first driver ever to drive 100 miles in one hour. We look at the achievements of this modest man and what led up to this impressive record run.
Words: Al Suttie Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection, Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Percy Lambert high on the Banking in February 1913 as he attempts to become the first driver to achieve 100 miles in one hour.
One of the early pioneers of high-speed driving at Brooklands was Percy Lambert, who was often referred to by his nickname ‘Pearly’. This name was also attached to his very quick and streamlined Austin, which was called Pearly III. He drove other cars too, notably the Talbot in which Percy became the first person to achieve 100 miles in one hour, setting a world record. When not driving his car, Percy was regarded as a modest and loyal man, so not the flamboyant figure that many recordsetters that followed were.
Percy Edgar Lambert was born in Pimlico, London on 3 October, 1880 to Charles and Sarah Lambert who moved to London from Bath with their eldest child
Annie. Charles was a Master Builder. Two of Percy’s other elder siblings, Kate and Walter, were born in Chelsea, while Harold, three years older than Percy, was born in Pimlico, as was his younger sister Eva Millicent who was known as Milly. Both Harold and Percy are described in later Census Returns as Motor Engineers. This is where Percy first came into contact with Austin cars, which the Lambert brothers sold as well as Singer cars.
Percy’s interest in cars went beyond just selling them and he made his first appearance at Brooklands as a racing driver in 1910.
Fittingly, this was in an Austin that soon became familiar to race-goers as Pearly III While some claim the car gave Percy his nickname, it seems more likely the ‘Pearly’ sobriquet had been given to him during his school days as a consequence of his white teeth. As someone who enjoyed sport and keeping fit, he was in better shape than many of his contemporaries on the track who perhaps indulged more in postrace celebrations.
His dedication to motorsport soon paid dividends with race wins and podium finishes. In 1911, at the wheel of Pearly III, Percy recorded one second place finish and six third place results. The streamlined Austin’s shape followed that of the likes of the 60hp Grand Prix Benz and 16hp Vauxhall, but Percy developed the car throughout the 1911 season to keep the car competitive and the results coming. The 19.6hp Austin set its first fastest lap with Percy driving at 77mph, but that rose to 82mph at the following meeting. By the end of the year, the Austin was lapping at 90mph.
Towards the end of 1911, Percy and Pearly III took on the new flying mile and kilometre records for the 21hp class of car. Prior to the record attempt itself, Percy had carried out some tests with his car and found the Austin could accelerate from 0-30mph in 51.1 yards and to 45mph from a standing start in 129.9 yards. These figures would become important for records made from a standard start. When it came to the record attempt, the first run was thwarted by a burst oil pipe, while a failed ignition coil curtailed the second try. However, it all came good on the third run when Percy and his Austin completed the kilometre at 93.79mph and then the mile at 91.09mph. It’s likely the lower speed for the mile record was a result of a shock absorber coming adrift and causing the car to swerve violently, which nearly sent Percy tumbling out of the cockpit. He held on, though, to complete the runs and set the benchmark for this new category. It proved a short-lived record for Percy as RA Witchell raised the kilometre and mile records to 96.67mph and 95.54mph, respectively, only two weeks later. This was a clear indication of the rate of progress and intensity of competition at Brooklands at this point.
For 1912, Percy was back racing and record-breaking, with the latter activity at the wheel of Lord Shrewsbury’s pareddown 4½-litre Talbot in the Class F and 26hp categories. Percy took on the flying start half-mile, kilometre, and mile and ended the day with record-setting speeds of 113.28mph, 112.81mph, and 111.73mph, respectively. It gave Percy a
real taste for this sort of speed and record run, especially when the previous half-mile record had stood at a much lower 88mph. It set the stage for the following year, when Percy was to make his biggest mark on record-breaking at Brooklands and seal his place in the history books.
Lambert and crew with the streamlined Talbot before setting out on to the Track. The narrow body of the car is easily seen from this angle.
As well as streamlining the main body of the Talbot, its rear differential and axle were encased to improve air flow and reduce aerodynamic drag
This image was taken on 16 November, 1912 when Percy set new records in the 4½-litre Talbot for the flying start half-mile, kilometre, and mile.
There was no holding Percy back and the date for his next and most famous record attempt was set early in the year on 8 February. For this, he was back in the 25hp Talbot that was faster and more streamlined than Pearly III. There was familiarity for Percy with the Talbot as it was the same car he’d used to set the half-mile, kilometre, and mile records the previous November. Another point was this car had been designed by George WA Brown of Talbot and he had also been responsible for the design of the Pearly series of cars. However, the Talbot was much slimmer and more aerodynamic thanks to its faired-in chassis, the pointed nose, and torpedo-shaped tail section. With all of this in their favour, Talbot, Percy Lambert, and the Brooklands organisers were confident the one-hour record would be achieved. Because of this, the event was promoted ahead of the date and a large crowd gathered at the Track to witness this popular driver take on such a feat.
Heading out on to the circuit at 2.45pm, Percy quickly settled into a rhythm of more than 100mph per lap and was looking set to take the record at his first attempt. However, on lap 31 the car suffered a burst tyre and Percy had to dive into the pits for a wheel change, which cost three minutes and the record run was ruined. However, there was the consolation
of setting a new 50-mile record at a speed of 102.83mph. He also set a new one-hour record with a speed of 97.13mph, which must have felt agonizingly close to the magic 100 miles in an hour he had set his sights on.
Undeterred, Percy and the Talbot team were back at Brooklands on 15 February, after Percy had driven the fearsome-looking 4½-litre Talbot from London without wings, windscreen or lights. As well as warming the car up for what lay ahead, Talbot had also been practicing tyre changes and its hottest crew were selected to be on hand should the car suffer a similar incident to the previous week. Final preparations for the car consisted of changing the spoked artillery-type rear wheels for disc ones that were more aerodynamic. The front wheels were left alone as it was felt disc wheels would affect the steering if there was a crosswind.
As the clock showed 12.43pm, Percy headed out on to the track to start the record run. As he came past the start line at the end of his first lap, the speed recorded was 87.24mph. Worryingly, this was slower than the speed for the same lap on the previous week’s attempt, but Percy soon dispelled any concerns when the following three laps saw his speed increase to 103.94mph, 104.66mph, and 105.10mph. What makes these speeds even more
Percy Lambert being congratulated by Lord Shrewsbury after he set the record and became the first person to drive 100 miles in one hour.
On the podium at Brooklands, Percy relaxes as Lord Shrewsbury addresses the gathered crowds. Percy was a modest man but fearless driver.
A replica of the racing silks worn by Percy Lambert. The originals are in the National Motor Museum collection.
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sensational is Percy later reported he could see very little through his goggle due to the inside of the lenses misting up. In a bid to keep Percy informed of how he and the car were performing, his team held up large boards with numbers painted in black or red to show his speed. If the signs were in black script, he was on target, while red denoted he needed to increase the speed. As it turned out, the red numbers were never needed as Percy consistently lapped at more than 100mph despite sometimes driving closer to the edge of the track than was necessary, and thus making the lap slightly longer in distance.
Everyone watching this daring record run that was pushing driver, machine, and tyres to their very limits was in awe. The car was fitted with Palmer tyres and they all seemed to be coping with the strains of these high speeds and the cornering forces. On lap 20, Percy and the Talbot set their fastest lap of the whole run at 106.42mph and crowds were astonished at such speed. After this point, perhaps aware of the need to preserve the car and tyres, Percy began to turn in laps of just over 104mph average speed until the last handful of the 38 laps
needed for the record when he slowed to between 102- and 103mph to protect the Talbot and its fragile tyres.
As the hour cut-off ticked to a close, Percy put in a final lap flourish of 104.72mph as he came over the timing strip and he was shown the flag to tell him the time was up. With the assembled crowds cheering, Percy came to a halt and, if anything, the Talbot looked like it could easily have carried on for many more laps. Its engine had consistently revved at 2500rpm and the Palmer tyres were in good condition. It was a superb achievement for all those involved in preparing the car and for Percy Lambert, particularly when this British team had done what many of the large-engined racing cars from the Continent had been unable to master. When Major Lloyd announced the officially calculated average speed for the One Hour
record, Percy and the team were thrilled to find it was 103.84mph. They had not just succeeded in driving 100 miles in one hour, they had beaten it handsomely. Just as emphatic was the consistency of Percy’s driving, which did not vary more than 2.2 seconds from the average lap time required. It’s also worth noting that Percy’s run set a number of other records. They included the World 50-mile record at 103.30mph, World 100-mile at 103.76mph, World hour at 103.84mph, and three other class records.
Following such a high, there was something of a low for Percy and the
This plaque was made to commemorate Percy setting his sensational record in 1913. It was saved from a bonfire by Charles Mortimer just after the Second World War.
Percy in his racing silks flanked by Clement-Talbot’s manager Frank Shorland, on his right. To his left are Lord Shrewsbury and George WA Brown, the designer of the successful Talbot record car.
This photo was taken at the 1912 French Grand Prix at Dieppe. Percy is at the wheel of a Vauxhall, which completed 18 laps but retired with a damaged radiator.
A letter heading from The Lambert Light Car Company, which was run by Percy and his brother Harold.
Talbot team when the car was scratched from every race at the Easter Meeting of 1913. The Singer car that Lambert was supposed to have driven in this season-opener failed to start due to a broken engine. It left the crowds feeling disappointed as they didn’t get to see the hero of the Hour Record in action.
By April, others were intent on taking the record away from Lambert and Talbot, and on the 13 April Jules Goux did just that in his Peugeot. The French pairing set a new one-hour record of 106.22mph, going 2.44mph quicker than the British team had achieved only two months before. However, Percy and his Talbot team were not to be put off so easily and they arrived at the Track on the Saturday before the Whitsun Meeting. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be on this occasion as the rough track was throwing the car around high on the Banking and then the engine developed a misfire that resulted in it being trailered back to its London garage.
Still determined to take back his record, Percy and the Talbot returned to Brooklands for a record run on 27 October. Things started well as he set a new Class F 10-lap record at 107.81mph. The Talbot’s new and more powerful engine was up to the job and there was much anticipation ahead of the hour record attempt the following Thursday 30 October. Wet and windy weather put paid to any serious driving on that day and the team reconvened on Friday 31 October. Heading on to the track in near-perfect weather conditions, Percy soon set new records for the 10-lap mark at 110.31mph and he also took the 50km record with ease. It was all looking good until, on lap 21, the Talbot disappeared behind the Members’ Banking and did not reappear. Percy was taken to Weybridge Cottage Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
The cause of the crash that killed Percy Lambert was never established, but it seems a tyre burst on one of the rear wheels, pitching the car down the banked track before it then swerved back up, when the car rolled. Percy had been averaging 110.4mph throughout this run and was set retake the record by some margin.
It’s a measure of how popular Percy Lambert was that his death was mourned across the whole motoring world. At the subsequent inquest, Major Lloyd said: ‘The Club has lost a modest friend, a fine gentleman, and a thorough sportsman.’ These words were used on the 33-year old Percy’s gravestone in Brompton Cemetery, which was marked with a spoked wheel and incomplete column to show a life cut short in its prime. Poignantly, Percy had
apparently promised his fiancée that he would give up racing after that final record attempt as they were due to be married shortly afterwards.
Today, Percy is remembered at Brooklands Museum with the replicas of his coloured racing silks. His niece Mary donated the originals to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu prior to Brooklands Museum being established and the NMM kindly made copies to display at Brooklands. They are the only known surviving set of Brooklands racing colours. The NMM also donated back to Brooklands the plaque recording Percy’s 100 mile record that used to be attached
to the Clubhouse wall. Charles Mortimer rescued it from a bonfire behind the BP Pagoda when the Clubhouse was being cleared out during or just after the Second World War. Percy’s brother Charles continued to run Lambert Motors at the bottom of Kingston Hill until the early 1970s.
Thanks to Andy Lambert and John Pulford for their help with this article. You can see footage of Percy Lambert’s recordbreaking run on the AndysVideo channel on YouTube:
His slight build made Percy an ideal racing driver and he was a keen sportsman away from race tracks. He was a good skier and enjoyed bobsleigh competition, too.
Percy with a picture of his fiancée, Margaret Morten. The pair were due to marry shortly after Percy’s final record attempt.
A PENNY FOR GUY’S
A Bentley 8 Litre similar to this one took part in the Guy’s Gala Concours d’Elegance, showing the variety of cars taking part.
An unusual meeting was held at Brooklands to raise funds for Guy’s Hospital. Here’s the story of that event and its royal patronage.
Words: Tim Morris Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection, Secret London
Today, Brooklands Museum is a charitable trust and a good deal of fundraising takes place in aid of the Museum itself, particularly from the Brooklands Members. However, other charitable organisations have held occasional fundraising activities at Brooklands in the past.
During the interwar racing period, there were only two such fundraising events held at Brooklands. The first was on 28 April, 1928 and was in aid of the Westminster Hospital, while the second was an event organised by the Junior Car Club (JCC) on 2 July, 1932 in aid of Guys Hospital in London and was called the Guy’s Gala Meeting. It has to be remembered that this was an era before the National Health Service and hospitals were independently funded. Consequently, they were often trying to find unique ways to raise funds. This was the first time that a motor sport meeting had been used in such a way for the hospital.
The Guy’s Gala was a JCC race meet like many others at Brooklands. However, there were different events other than the actual races which took place. As Motor Sport magazine put it, there was ‘an air of gaiety and fashion that pervaded the Paddock, due, perhaps, to the presence of a Royal Enclosure, and the array of beautiful dresses in the best Ascot and Goodwood tradition.’ The special atmosphere in the Paddock was also enhanced by the green-clad ‘Tzigane Orchestra’ playing soft Hungarian music to the race-goers, as well as the presence of the Duke and Duchess of York.
The festivities began with highly polished cars assembling on the old tennis courts for a Concours d’Elegance, and they would later end the meeting with a parade lap along the Finishing Straight. The cars remained on the tennis courts during the morning and were judged at lunchtime. They included a white 1922 Morris Cowley Bullnose, an 8 Litre Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Delage cars. Several Brooklands drivers were amongst the entries including Sir Ronald Gunter and RGJ Nash. The winner of the prize for ‘smartest combination of car and driver’ was Mrs AG Gripper, who was dressed in green to compliment her gorgeous Delage two-door fixed head coupe.
There were several short races during the morning and a driving skills contest, which took place on the Finishing Straight, similar to the modern autotest. Cars were described as ‘heeling over at a sickening angle, with screaming, bending tyres, the wretched cars twisted and writhed in their efforts to turn quickly on the concrete.’
It all sounds rather exciting with the cars slaloming around wooden tubs placed on the Finishing Straight, with the overall winner being RS Pook driving a Riley 1100 in a time of 1min 26sec.
Medical students, as befits an event in aid of Guy’s Hospital, took to the track for a one lap race which was won by JM Lees in a supercharged Lea Francis. This was followed by a short Ladies Race organised under the auspices of the Women’s Automobile and Sports Association (WASA). This club was set up
in 1927 and members ranged from Amy Johnson to their President, the Marchioness of Carisbroke, Irene Mountbatten, with the intention of promoting women in motorsport. The one lap handicap race was won by Joan Chetwynd in a Lea Francis, followed by Florence Scudamore in a Triumph. Two of their members, Iris Capell and Morna Vaughan, also sat on the Gala committee and several WASA drivers took part in the later Duchess of York Ladies Race. The Guy’s Summer Handicap followed that with a two-lap race in which
Wilson’s Talbot 90 beat the dominant Lea Francis which was entered for its third race of the morning.
A novelty race for London Taxi drivers also took place and was won by London’s oldest taxi driver, who was rewarded by shaking hands with Tim Birkin. If you wanted to try some pre-First World War motoring, for a small donation you could be driven around the Paddock in an 1898 Daimler during the breaks between races.
The Duke and Duchess of York were the Royal patrons of the Gala, and just
DM
Miss A Lorenzo with her Morris Cowley Bullnose that was part of the Concours d’Elegance competition at the Guy’s Gala meeting.
The Duke and Duchess of York arriving at Brooklands to lend the Guy’s Gala meeting the royal seal of approval.
Visitors to the Guy’s Gala meeting could contribute to the donation fund by taking a ride in this 1898 Daimler.
over four years later the Duke would be crowned King George VI. On this occasion, the royal party arrived to much anticipation just after the lunch break and were led by a police motorcycle escort and in two Humber Snipes with the Royal standards flapping on their bonnets. They were greeted by Colonel Lindsay Lloyd and Percy Bradley from Brooklands, and Mr LF Dyer of the Junior Car Club, which was organising the event. The royal party was shown around the Paddock and inspected the cars preparing for the next race on the Finishing Straight, which was a 6.5 mile Ladies Race competing for the Duchess of York’s Trophy. All 14 competitors were presented to the Duke and Duchess prior to the race commencing. The field included most of the well-known lady racers of the time, including Kay Petre, Elsie Wisdom, Eileen Ellison, Fay Taylour, and Victoria Worsley.
Having been introduced to the field, the Duke and Duchess watched the racing from the Grandstand. The preceding races were some of the highlights of the day. The Gala Short Handicap (6.5 miles) and Gala Long Handicap (9 miles) were run consecutively, with Tim Rose-Richards winning the short handicap in Eric Burt’s Talbot 90 and Kenneth Evans coming in second in Rayson’s Riley, followed by John Cobb in the large V12 Delage.
The Duke and Duchess were able to watch a splendid race in the Gala Long Handicap when Sir Henry Birkin roared
Dr Roth, in the Talbot on the right of this image, became more lurid in his driving during the Guy’s Mountain Handicap race and demolished a barrier.
The Graf Zeppelin airship LZ127 hovered above Brooklands as part of the spectacle before heading on to its destination at Hanworth.
RGJ Nash was one of the competitors in the Concours d’Elegance during the Guy’s Gala meeting.
away in the 4.5 Litre Bentley to set the fastest speed of that year at an average of 124.33mph. While hurtling around the track, he also managed to equal his own lap record of 137.96mph. Birkin was followed across the finish line by the Honourable Adam Chetwynd in a much smaller MG Midget, with Rose-Richards coming third in the Talbot 90 again.
The Duchess of York’s Trophy race followed and was won by Eileen Ellison in a Bugatti Type 57 just five yards ahead of Kay Petre in her Wolseley Hornet Daytona special. It was a race of attrition, with many cars dropping out, including Fay Taylour who broke her Talbot’s gear lever.
The Duke of York’s Trophy was a longer race held over six laps and was around 20 miles in distance. It featured a field of cars all more than capable of speeds in excess of 100mph. Birkin was entered again in the 4.5 Litre Bentley with John Cobb’s V12 Delage just slightly ahead on the handicap. AF Ashby in a ‘flat-iron’ Riley 9 led the field, with the 1100cc unsupercharged car averaging 102.69mph, a remarkable feat which meant it kept ahead of Cobb and Birkin. Birkin’s race ended when his Bentley shredded its tyres on the rough surface by the Byfleet Bridge, shooting bits of severed tread over the heads of the spectators. Cobb was still powering away and broke the Class A record at 133.88mph, but he was slowed by other cars on the track as the finish line approached and was unable to put enough speed on to catch Ashby in the final throes of the race.
More diversions were on offer following this race when Flight Lieutenant Bulman took to the air in a Hawker Hart to perform death defying feats of aerobatics to the heart-stopping delight of the crowd. His efforts were described in Motor Sport as a ‘series of dives, followed by rolls as he climbed almost vertically, he gave a very neat display of slow flying, both inverted and in the normal position. Then in long, slow sideslips the machine was brought down to a perfect landing.’
The final race of the day was the Guy’s Mountain Handicap over 15 laps and featuring 19 entrants, including George
Eyston in scratch position, with Kaye Don’s 4.9-litre Bugatti ‘Tiger II’ also entered. It was an exciting and fast race around the shorter circuit and particularly enthralling for those at the Fork bend when New Zealander Thomas Pitt CholmondeleyTapper in Eileen Ellison’s white Bugatti took the corner too wide, having suffered from ‘inadequate’ brakes, and ended up behind the barriers. Dr Roth was described as ‘becoming more lurid’ at the wheel and on the same bend demolished one barrier with his Talbot and then jamming one wheel of the car on another, when he could be seen trying frantically trying to pull the barrier away from the cockpit of his car. Jazz saxophonist Buddy Featherstonhaugh was next around the corner and, finding the Talbot in his way, slammed the brakes on to bring his Alfa Romeo safely by in a spectacular broadside skid. George Eyston suffered from some terrible brake judder due to ‘over-zealous adjustment’ by his mechanic but still managed to lap at a fast 76.03mph. However, he was not able to catch JC Elwes in his tiny Austin 750 who took the final prize of the day.
Once the race had finished, the concours entrants drove along the Finishing Straight and a dark shadow appeared over Brooklands as the massive bulk of the Graf Zeppelin airship LZ127 hove into view. The giant craft was on its way to the Hanworth Air Park but made several sweeps over the Track and hovered over the Paddock with one engine idly turning over to keep it in position before the other engines burst into life and it gracefully slid away to Hanworth. LZ127 was a phenomenally successful craft carrying out 590 flights between 1928 and 1937, and it travelled more than a million miles. In 1932, it would be about to go into a permanent long-distance route between Germany and Brazil, and the Gala event may have been one of the last chances to actually see it in flight in the UK. At 776ft long and 100ft wide, it would certainly have been a very impressive sight to end the day and a great memory for the spectators at this charity fund-raiser to take home with them.
It is not known how much the event raised, but it was certainly a very high profile meeting with the patronage of the future King and Queen in attendance. However, it would also have had to compete with the rowing finals at Henley, a high point in the social calendar and not too far away from Brooklands, which took place on the same day. This may have contributed to some contemporary reports saying the attendance was not quite what you would expect for such a prestigious charity event, but it was certainly a very different day in the life of Brooklands.
AF Ashby in a ‘flat iron’ Riley 9 averaged 102.69mph to win the Duke of York’s Trophy and beat rivals such as Birkin and Cobb.
Guy’s Hospital Courtyard today. The Brooklands meeting was vital to raise funds for the hospital before the National Health Service was established.
HILDA STILL FLYING HIGH
Cranfield University has named its aviation supercomputer in honour of Hilda Hewlett, who founded the first flying school at Brooklands. We learn how this pioneering aviator continues to inspire cutting edge technology.
The future of aviation, its operations, and evolution will be dependent on digital environments: immersed in digital communications, data sharing, analysis and simulations that will make a faster-growing and even more complex airspace, filled with ever-changing technology, a sustainable proposition.
Words: George Yazigi Photos: Cranfield University, Brooklands Museum Collection
None of this will be possible without high performance computing. At Cranfield University, the UK’s research
airport, we have HILDA (Hypercomputing Integrated Layer for Digital Aviation). It’s a supercomputer named after local hero
Hilda Hewlett, an aviation pioneer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hewlett was the first woman to gain a pilot’s licence in the UK and was a partner in setting up the country’s first flying school at Brooklands. She was also involved in the early manufacturing industry, building more than 900 aircraft at a factory in Luton.
HILDA provides a digital aviation ecosystem for researchers and Cranfield’s industry collaborators working with DARTeC, the university’s new Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre. DARTeC’s HILDA is a layer of digital support filled with readymade building blocks of data and software tools for breakthrough research and innovation, working as an integrated part of activities at the Centre. Researchers are able to plug into existing stores of knowledge and simulations without the need to start from scratch on projects.
In general terms, HILDA means accurate and reliable digital models of physical realities, and for the digital and material worlds to work more effectively together. The supercomputer runs hugely detailed simulations in real time, processing complex algorithms and Big Data from sensors and other sources of data needed for machine learning and deep learning around the performance of aircraft and the environments they operate in.
The engine to HILDA is made up of NVIDIA A100 Graphic Processing Units and Intel multicore Central Processing Units: 4576 computing cores, 110,592 CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) cores, and 6912 TensorFlow cores to support machine learning, which is the way in which Artificial Intelligence is used to allow systems to ‘learn’ for themselves. In addition, there are 24,576 dedicated CUDA cores for more demanding graphics rendering tasks. There are 15 terabytes of available RAM, backed up by 2.7 petabytes of storage. To put that in context, a terabyte is equal to 1024 gigabytes, and a petabyte is made up of 1024 gigabytes.
Since the 1960s, there has been an ongoing race to design ever more powerful supercomputers. Until the 1980s, the competition was all around achieving megaflops (millions of flops, as in floating point operations or calculations, every second). By 1989, gigaflops had become possible, then by 1997, teraflops. The first ever petaflop speed, which is a thousand trillion calculations per second, was achieved by IBM’s Roadrunner supercomputer in 2008 and developed at a cost of $133 million (£82.5 million). The power of Roadrunner was explained at the time like this: ‘If all six billion people on
George Yazigi standing next to HILDA, the supercomputer named in honour of pioneering pilot and aircraft builder Hilda Hewlett.
HILDA is helping develop new air traffic control systems to cope with the number of manned and, increasingly, unmanned aircraft in our skies. It will also help with speeding up passport checks at airports.
Earth used hand calculators and performed calculations 24 hours a day and seven days a week, it would take them 46 years to do what the Roadrunner can do in one day.’
Using a 200 gigabytes Infiniband fabric coupled together with the abovementioned specifications, the processing power of HILDA is estimated to be 10.2 petaflops artificial intelligence (theoretical combined). To put this into perspective, and taking into considerations a few assumptions, this is six trillion times faster than the first computer designed at the University of Cambridge in 1949. If HILDA was submitted, for example, it would most likely rank in the top ten of the
Green500 list of supercomputers owing to its architecture, software stack, and low power use.
For Cranfield and its partners, the vast algorithms and simulations which may have taken anything from 40 to 60 days to run, take only a matter of 16 hours now. For the aviation sector, this kind of digital ecosystem is critical for the future of aviation research.
on performance and fuel consumption, environmental analysis, and tracking optimisations for aircraft maintenance are running on HILDA’s environment. There has also been the creation of ‘digital twins’ of aircraft, virtual replicas that allow for modelling and prediction of performance in all kinds of different situations and act as the basis for improvements.
The UK’s aviation market is one of the largest in the world. It involves industries that are currently under huge pressures to transform themselves in order to meet net zero carbon emissions targets, which means innovation across every area of aviation is critical. HILDA will be playing an important part in the coming years of transformation and, for the UK as a whole, will also help towards meeting the Government’s ambition for the nation to be a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) research superpower, leading on innovations in engineering and technology.
George Yazigi is Digital Systems Architect and Manager, DARTeC (Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre) at Cranfield University (www.cranfield.ac.uk)
HILDA is currently working on an array of research projects that are essential to the future development of global airspace and aviation operations. This includes testing next generation air traffic control systems able to deal with the complexity of an airspace made up of both conventional manned aircraft and different forms of unmanned aerial vehicles or ‘drones’. There is also a facial recognition technology for airport gates that will mean the end of queuing through check-in and passport gates. Another is the testing of elements of aircraft engineering and their impact
Hilda Hewlett with an early biplane. At the peak of aircraft production, her company employed around 700 workers
Hilda Hewlett would surely be proud to know her name lives on at the cutting edge of aviation technology.
As well as being the first female pilot in the UK to gain a licence, Hilda Hewlett built aircraft at Brooklands before relocating production to Luton.
members’ matters
Another day in paradise
On the 29 March, Brooklands Members Vintage Motor Cycle Club visited Sammy Miller, who owns one of the finest collections of motorcycles in Britain and probably the world. These are to be found in his museum near New Milton in the New Forest.
Sammy was born in Belfast in 1933. At the age of 16, he attended his first motorcycle race. This must have struck a chord because after that he took up motorcycle racing and trials. He was British Trials Champion 11 times and European Trials Champion twice, and was the winner of more 1300 trials. He won the Scottish Six Day Trial twice on an Ariel and four times on a Bultaco
Sammy was no slouch at racing either. He competed in the Isle of Man TT, the North West 200 and many other Grand Prix races. In 1964, he formed a partnership with Spanish firm, Bultaco, developing their trials bikes. He became their leading designer of two-stroke motorcycles and went on to design the Sherpa T which he used in trials to great effect. In 2007, he was inducted into the American Motorcyclists’ Hall of Fame, which is no mean achievement. A remarkable man, so when we had the opportunity to visit Sammy’s museum, it was not to be missed.
The first treat was a visit to his workshop. There were three bikes on work benches, the first of which was a Montgomery that was coming to the end of an immaculate restoration. It was obvious
In Memory of…
this was done to a very exacting standard, as was every machine in the museum. Behind the Montgomery was a 1960 Moto Rumi 461cc four-cylinder prototype, which was next to a 1937 DKW 250cc Split Single twostroke with supercharger. Elsewhere was the engine of an AJS 7R in strip-down. This one had been raced because the cylinder head was drilled to take a second spark plug. The machine may have been used by Mike Hailwood at some point, but Sammy was very scathing about the Matchbox float chamber that had been attached to the carburettor, which starved the engine of fuel at high speed.
After a break for lunch, the group assembled outside the workshop for a special treat. The 1937 DKW was wheeled out together with the 1953 Norton Kneeler, known by some as the ‘Silver Fish’. This experimental machine made its first appearance in 1953 in the hands of Ray Amm in the North West 200 where it had to retire with fuel pump problems. Later, it was used by Amm and Eric Oliver at Montlhéry in France to set numerous records.
The Brooklands team had brought two of the bikes in their charge, including the 172cc Francis Barnett with long range tanks used by TG Meeten to achieve a record of running for 6 hours at 50mph. The other was the 350cc Big Port AJS that was gifted in pieces to Terry Gardiner, who rebuilt it and raced it at Brooklands.
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.
Mr Peter Fellowes-Freeman, a Club Level Member of six years with his wife who continues the membership with us.
Mr Cliff Butler, an Individual Member for three years, who sadly passed away in December.
Sammy suddenly appeared with a PA system and started to tell us about the DKW. He warned us that it would be very noisy. It was raucous! The only thing louder might have been the 350cc version but Sammy did not have one of those. It was said it could be heard five miles away when it was at speed. That didn’t stop Sammy giving it a run round the courtyard. Next it was the turn of the Kneeler. Once started, Sammy climbed on board and took it for a run up and down the car park.
Now it was turn of the Brooklands machines. These were started but not run. The Fanny-B sounded pretty much like all other Fanny-Bs, but the AJS was another raucous beast typical of its era. It was fabulous! It certainly was a noisy time with sights and sounds we are unlikely to see or hear again. It was a once in a lifetime event. Seeing Sammy on those machines, it was hard to believe that he is pushing 90. He is remarkably fit, with a strong interest and huge knowledge of motorcycles and long may it remain so. As he says, getting into the workshop is ‘another day in Paradise!’ Thank you, Sammy, for a wonderful day.
Martin Chandler
Mrs Anne Rowe, who passed away recently. Her husband John continues the Double membership with us.
Maisie Roberts, a long-standing Member with her daughter Sandra, who continues membership with us.
Mrs Julia Cooper, a long-standing Double Member with her husband John, who continues the membership with us.
Mr Richard Bowden, who sadly passed away in December.
Mrs Doreen Harris, who died recently, a long-standing Double Member of 23 years with her husband Peter.
Sign up for the BMDG
Members’ Talks and BM.tv
Some will know Gordon Bennett as an exclamation and others will know of his background as an American millionaire, but Patrick Lynch’s superb talk gave a wonderfully full picture of this early motorsport pioneer on 30 March. Lynch, the author of At the Greatest Speed: the Story of Gordon Bennett, had the audience in the room and online rapt with how Bennett founded the race that bore his name and how it inspired closed-circuit motor racing that led to the creation of Brooklands.
I am delighted that we can start the season by sharing our new Brooklands Members Driving Group logo, as illustrated. This takes full advantage of the new Brooklands Museum branding, and I hope you will agree that this is a modern and fresh design while embodying the classic look and feel of Brooklands’ past, and won’t it look good as a car sticker!
For those who may not be familiar with the Brooklands Members Driving Group (BMDG), it was founded about 15 years ago. The aim was to provide additional events for the then Brooklands Trust Members, as Brooklands Members were previously known, and to generate charitable donations and income for the Museum by connecting likeminded Brooklands supporters to have some fun and spend time with wonderful classic cars and a great group of people.
Following the review of Crispin Besley’s book Driven to Crime in the Bulletin, Gareth Tarr interviewed the author for BM.tv. This superb conversation on 15 February covers everything from Crispin’s early racing exploits and James Hunt connections, to the many interviews he conducted to complete his brilliant book about the seamier side of motor racing.
If you missed these superb 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 London Classic Car Show, Mini Day, and the Easter Classic Gathering at Brooklands. 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.
Outreach volunteers needed
The BDMG has run many types of events over the years. Most of these are organised by our own team of volunteers and are exclusive to Members and their families. These include one day and weekend tours, European tours, track days, coach visits, the Christmas Luncheon, and the Members Annual Dinner with our President, Damon Hill OBE.
As an avid participator at many of these events, I am delighted to have the honour of recently taking on the coordination of the BMDG team. This is not a large team of people. However, we are committed to continuing these events. We will also get a better understanding of Members’ expectations and ideas for the future. Then, as we expand our team, we can enhance our offering, and provide more opportunities for you, your family, and your friends to have fun while supporting our favourite museum. The sooner we grow the team, the more numerous and varied the events.
These events only run when we have enough people to organise them and enough people to sign up for them. We need to at least break even, and hopefully make enough margin for a donation to the Museum. It is only with your support that this is possible and can continue, so many thanks for your previous donations and in advance for your ongoing contributions. I look forward to seeing you on one of our trips soon.
If you want to enquire about joining our BMDG organising team, do please feel free to contact me directly on: dbh@brooklandsmembers.co.uk
David ‘Biggin’ Brockington-Hill
The Outreach Team wants to recruit more volunteers. We’re looking for people who can be both flexible with time and have a good knowledge of Brooklands’ attractions and history as talking to the public is our main objective.
We are involved in on-site and off-site events which can involve some physical input, such as erecting gazebos and tables. We also need help at both ends of the day, so the work can be long but very rewarding.
The aim of the Outreach Team is to sign up new Members and spread the Brooklands message. Importantly, we are a happy group and would welcome any extra help. Please contact David Norfolk on: 01372 373929 or 07496501157. Alternatively, please email David on: david.norfolk@outlook.com
Brooklands Motorcycle Heritage films 1907-1939
Over the summer, we are making several films about the motorcycles in the Museum that raced on the Track. We are telling their story through the descendants of the people who raced them.
Our first films relate to the 1927 Douglas and its Douglas race transporter. Malcolm Brown, son of GD Brown, joined us to tell his story and memories of his father, the bikes, and the motorcycle business in Godalming that he ran, which shipped Douglas spares around the world from the 1960s to the 1980s.
I am looking for anyone who may have a genuine Brooklands race bike and or any family connections to original riders. Making these films is great fun and very revealing about the life of people who were early pioneer racers.
For the films, we recreated the journey the motorcycle combination undertook to come to Brooklands. For those who would like to relive these events or were unable to make it along, you can now see both parts 1 and 2 on the BM.tv channel.
Also, I’m interested in finding any film of society events that were staged post-war at the Track as all of this adds to the heritage story of the evolution of Brooklands after it closed. If you can help and would like to be involved, please send an email to: johnbottomley@int-elect.co.uk
John Bottomley
MOTORCYCLES
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 am particularly interested in purchasing prestige, sports, classic, vintage, racing and competition cars and motorcycles, as well as any interesting or unusual models.
Complete collections purchased and all conditions considered, from barn-finds to concours. I will travel any distance for the right vehicle/s, and discretion is always assured. I am a cash buyer not an agent.
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?
CALL DIRECT ON: 07787 528131
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A reckless passion
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to buy, own and run a rare and desirable classic car, this is the book for you. Kevin Shilling has been through the whole process, from the excitement of buying a car with great looks to the almost inevitable pain of finding it needs way more work than initially thought to restore its full glory.
Along the way, Brooklands Member Kevin happily explains his thought processes and why he ended up spending a considerable sum on an AC Aceca. As the reader quickly learns, Kevin is not someone put off by a challenge or writing some hefty cheques. We also learn he’s the perfect custodian for this unique car.
Reckless is a very personal account of classic car ownership and the book is produced to a commendably high standard. There are many images of the AC in its earlier life, when it was used by Donald Campbell regularly, and there are also lots of photos of Kevin with the car, culminating in an entry to the Mille Miglia.
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Reckless is Kevin’s determination to use the car as intended and enjoy it for what it is rather than seeing it wrapped in cotton wool. The book is being sold in aid of Dementia Support and you can order a copy from: www. acbluebird.com. It’s great value for such an interesting insight into the car, its history, and how ownership of such a machine leads to
An extraordinary woman
The rapid development of motorsport and aviation during the first decade of the 20th century was male dominated, but in Britainthere were exceptions such as Dorothy Levitt. Now her story is told in Michael Barton’s biography Fast Lady: The Extraordinary Adventures of Miss Dorothy Levitt. Her groundbreaking achievements began in May 1903 when she completed the 400-mile London to Glasgow and back trial in a Gladiator. She soon added success in a speedboat named Napier, resulting in her meeting the King and Queen at Cowes Week. In 1905, she drove a De Dion Bouton from London to Liverpool and back that was subject of a 2019 BBC programme starring Penelope Keith. In July of that year, she set the Woman’s Land Speed Record at 79.75mph driving a Napier at the Brighton Speed Trials. In 1902, Levitt was employed by SF Edge as his secretary and it was through this position she was able to facilitate her activities. Edge was well aware of the value of publicity and Dorothy was to prove more than a novelty. She never competed at Brooklands, but her book The Woman and the Car was published in 1909 and helped fund her next venture into aviation, although she didn’t realise her ambition to buy a Farman biplane. Her time in the public limelight was coming to an end and little is known of her after 1912 until her death in 1922 at the age of 40.
Throughout his 115-page biography author Michael Barton has tried to piece together Dorothy’s story away from the record books, but frustratingly we can only speculate on what the facts tell us. For example, were Levitt and Edge involved romantically? In the absence of clear evidence, Barton leaves the question open, just as Simon Fisher does in his recent SF Edge biography reviewed in the January-February 2023 Bulletin. We are, however, left with an impression of a determined woman who chose her own
adventures and friendships. Far from being reckless,
approach to his AC seems like common sense to this
– The Fall and Rise of AC ‘Bluebird’ by
path in life and who absconded when her parents arranged a marriage. Although no feminist in the mould of the contemporary Suffragette movement, she did things that ladies were not expected to do at the time, breaking down barriers in her own way. The pages of this book reflect how little we really know of Levitt, but it’s very worthwhile and produced to a high standard.
978-1-9996325-4-0
Reckless
Kevin Shilling is priced £35. Published by Shilling 2018 Ltd: ISBN 978-1-3999-3225-7
Fast Lady: The Extraordinary Adventures of Miss Dorothy Levitt by Michael W Barton is priced £40. Published by Butterfield Press: ISBN
many
Kevin’s
reader.
Al Suttie
Gareth Tarr
Joined up writing
I have just finished reading a splendid book called Joined up writing this time, please! by the artist Martin Tomlinson, in conjunction with Andrew Marriott. It’s a 74-page softback containing copies of many rare autographs from the 1950s and ‘60s in addition to beautifully reproduced period programme covers and many of Martin’s paintings of that era.
There are stories about how he obtained the autographs as a young lad, including Fangio, Clark, Graham Hill, and a few rarities such as Chris Bristow, Alan Stacey, and Taffy von Trips, which are all valuable collection pieces these days.
The highlight of the book is, of course, the author’s superb artwork. A couple of my favourites are Roy Salvadori at Crystal Palace in 1961, and Tony Brooks at Spa in 1958 rounding Burnenville, with the pub on the apex of the corner which I subsequently visited a few times during the 1978 Spa 24 Hours.
The book is a bargain at £25, especially as it includes so many of Martin’s paintings. It can be bought direct from Martin Tomlinson’s website at: www.motor-racing-art.co.uk. This book is a real nostalgia trip for those of us who started watching racing in the 1950s and ‘60s.
Julian Nowell
Museum road map
With such a rich motoring history, Italy has several must visit museums. Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Mille Miglia are some of the more obvious examples, but there are many other interesting collections to be enjoyed and the Automotoclub Storico Italia’s (ASI) guide La Strada dei Musei (Museum Road) lists more than 250 places to visit.
With text in both Italian and English, the book is usefully organised by region. Each museum has a page dedicated to it with a description, photos, address, contact details, and mini maps of the location. The museums included are not exclusively motoring based, with other transport interests covered. At €30, this book represents good value for any enthusiast looking to get more from a visit to the country.
The Louis Chiron and Italian museums’ books are also published by the ASI, which represents historic vehicle interests in Italy, and are available from: www.asilibri.it. This website is in Italian only so Members may prefer to try Italian motoring book specialists with websites in English, such as Gilena (www.gilena.it/en/) or Libreria
Brooklands hosted the first ever British Grand Prix, yet the Track had fallen out of use by the time the modern Formula One era took hold after the Second World War. However, Tony Dodgins book Formula One – The Rivals still contains plenty to interest Members, as well as motorsport fans in general.
The first of the rival pairs the book explores is Fangio and Ascari, who both competed in the pre- and post-war eras. There’s a more direct connection with Brooklands in the chapter about the rivalry between Mike Hawthorn and former Members’ President Sir Stirling Moss. Dodgins’ affection for both drivers is clear, and both of these pairings are also a reminder of a period when drivers were fierce adversaries on track yet convivial away from it. As the book progresses into the modern age, the rivalries can seem more divisive and entrenched.
dell’ Automobile (www. libreriadellautomobile. it/). Alternatively, visit their shops in Brescia and Milan, respectively. Gilena are also represented at shows such as Rétromobile and Techno Classica Essen. Some of the British specialist book shops might also have copies.
For anyone hoping for detailed biographies of the drivers featured in this book, they might be a little disappointed. What Dodgins offers is a look at the dynamic that existed between key rivals of each period of Formula One. This different approach makes it worth the cover price alone, and there are plenty of well reproduced images throughout to add to the appeal of this book.
Dodgins’ writing is also concise and well researched, so while this is not a definitive history of Formula One, it is a book that gives greater context to a sport that can often focus solely on results or the technical aspects that underpin it.
Bryan Robertson
La Strada dei Musei by Danilo Castellarin is priced €30. Published by ASI: ISBN 978-8-898344-84-0
Formula One – The Rivals by Tony Dodgins
Joined up writing this time, please! by Martin Tomlinson, with Andrew Marriot, is priced £25 plus £4.99 p&p. Published by Motor Racing Art:
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
Clifford Bolton, Chris Bound, John Burch, Martin Chandler, Sarah Dover, Martin Gegg, Andy Lambert, Andrew Lewis, Julian Nowell, John Pulford, Harry Sherrard, Gareth Tarr, Mike Venables, Allan Winn, George Yazigi
Advertising, Design and Production:
Hine Marketing, Tel: 01452 730770
Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Gloucestershire GL2 9LN
E-mail: nick@hinemarketing.co.uk
Address change and Bulletin distribution queries
01932 857381 ext 226 members@brooklandsmuseum.co.uk
Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0QN 01932 857381 Fax: 01932 855465 www.brooklandsmuseum.com
Brooklands Museum
Chairman Sir Gerald Acher CBE LVO gerryacher@brooklandsmuseum.com
CEO Tamalie Newbery ext 243
Executive Director, Engagement, Heritage and Operations
Alex Patterson ext 247
Visitor Experience Manager
Jenny Pettit ext 302
HR & Volunteering Manager
Samantha Mitchell ext 303
Learning Officer
Laura Barclay ext 257
Curatorial and Archive Enquiries
Andrew Lewis ext 246
Head of Track and Air Events
Steve Castle ext 244
Concorde Bookings ext 266
flyconcorde@brooklandsmuseum.com
Hospitality Sales Manager
Andrew Webber ext 251 hospitality@brooklandsmuseum.com
Marketing Director
Sam Hart ext 225
Email addresses are available on the Museum website www.brooklandsmuseum.com/about/ contact-us
Henry Capel Lofft Holden designed the Brooklands Track and had an insatiable appetite for innovation. While there is no doubt he had a privileged upbringing, he used his enquiring mind to develop some ground breaking inventions.
Born in Cheltenham on 23 January 1856, he was the eldest son of the Reverend Hubert Ashton Holden, LL.D., Litt.D. and Laetitia, daughter of Robert Emlyn Lofft. After leaving school in Ipswich, Henry passed into the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, obtaining a commission in the Royal Artillery at the age of 19 in 1875. Two years later, he was in India and developing an interest in electricity. He carried out experiments to develop a light bulb but was unable to create the necessary vacuum.
On returning to England, he was appointed Captain Inspector of the Woolwich Arsenal, where he made himself indispensable by reorganising the inspection department, improving the instruments used for calculating muzzle velocities, and developing new electrical means of firing guns. These developments resulted in him being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He even found time to design the first British motorcycle, which was also the first four-cylinder motorcycle in the world.
His interests in pioneer motoring led him to become the first President of the Circle of 19th Century Motorists, Chair of the Royal Automobile Club, and he was involved in the cancelled Clacton Race Circuit Project and design of the Brooklands Track. Using his knowledge of trajectories and gravity, he designed the appropriate banking to keep vehicles on the track at speed. His expert knowledge of electronic measurement of shell velocities also resulted in the incredibly accurate timing apparatus which was in place for the first races and records at Brooklands.
Parking arrangements
Holden’s career at Woolwich ended in 1912, but as Assistant Director, later Director of the War Office’s Mechanical Transport Committee, he was responsible for developing and overseeing tests for assessing Motor Transport and its suitability for military use. This included using the Brooklands Track and Test Hill to run lorries and motorcycles over measured distances. Ironically, in 1912-14, the lorries were not to take men to war but to service the Cavalry with stores and provisions. The motorcycles, initially rejected, soon found a use for Dispatch Riders, transport of pigeons, and managing convoys.
Holden died on 20 March, 1937. His Royal Society obituary ends: ‘General Holden was one of a small band of devoted naval and military officers who in the generation before the War fought hard and successfully, sometimes without any very enthusiastic support, to introduce scientific methods into the Services. English gunnery owes him a debt of gratitude for his unselfish services. He was the last surviving gunner to be a Fellow of the Royal Society.’ Martin Gegg Photograph © National Portrait Gallery
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.
Period style seat belts for pre-1973 vehicles, not forgetting your modern classic post-1973
• Seat belts and harnesses supplied and fitted
• Bespoke service • Original belts refurbished
• New original equipment available on certain vehicles
