The Brooklands Motor Racing circuit in Surrey turned 110 in 2017.
Here are ten amazing facts about the birthplace of the British Grand Prix – so on your marks, get set, go…
1. Measuring up
The original concrete track was 2.75miles long, 100 feet wide with banking at either end reaching 30 feet in places, that’s as tall as two giraffes stood on top of each other!
2. One man’s dream
The track was the idea of local land owner Hugh Locke King. A huge feat of engineering, the track was finished in nine months and swallowed all his personal fortune the equivalent of around £16million today. Once completed it was the world’s first purpose built motor racing circuit.
3. The fun never ends
In 1907 Brooklands played host to the world’s first ever 24 motor event just after it had opened. 300 railway lamps were used to light the track. Selwyn Edge covered a distance of 1,581 miles at an average speed of 65.91mph which is equivalent of travelling from London to the Ukraine!
4. Legendary Ladies
In 1929 British Racing Driver Violette Cordery and her younger sister Evelyn drove her 4.5 litre four-seat Invicta for 30,000 miles in less than 30,000 minutes taking her around 20 days and 20 hours.
5. World Records and Disaster
In 1913 Percy Lambert became the first man ever to drive over 100 mph. Tragically he was killed later in the year trying to beat his own record when his car rolled over along the banking lip. He was buried in a streamlined coffin to match his car. In 1934 the all-time lap record was set by John Cobb at 143.44mph.
6. Not just motor cars
Brooklands also played host to mass cycling events and many motorcycle records were set there. This included George E. Stanley who broke the one-hour record on a Singer motorcycle in 1912, becoming the first ever rider of a 350 cc motorcycle to cover over 60 miles in an hour.
7. Taking to the skies
On Friday, 29 October 1909 the first official powered flight in Britain was made by Frenchman Louis Paulhan and his Farman biplane: this special event attracted 20,000 people and was the first public flying display at Brooklands.
8. Assisting through the wars
During WW1 the site was requisitioned for the war office and hosted flying training centres as well as the production of aircraft. In WWII it was exclusively used for military aircraft production by two companies Vickers and Hawker. In total 3,012 Hawker Hurricanes, Britain’s most successful fighter aircraft, were built at Brooklands.
9. Facing Enemy fire
In WWII both factories were bombed. The Vickers Factory was extensively damaged on 4 September 1940 with nearly 90 aircraft workers killed and at least 419 injured. On 21 September 1940, Lt John MacMillan Stevenson Patton of the Royal Canadian Engineers risked his life when he and five others manhandled an unexploded bomb away from the Hawker aircraft factory rolling it into an existing bomb crater where it later exploded harmlessly – he was later awarded the George Cross for bravery.
10. Still setting records today
In 2009, BBC Top Gear presenter James May announced plans to recreate the full length of Brooklands using Scalextric track. 350 volunteers built the track, navigating ponds and roads, closely following the route of the old circuit. At the time this event broke the Guinness World Record for the longest ever Scalextric track.
The Finish line?
In 2017, Historic England supported an event with the Brooklands Heritage Partnership in a project to safeguard the future of this amazing place. Parts of the circuit, which has multiple owners and stakeholders, are on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register. Whilst some areas are in reasonable condition others are being damaged by trees and scrub, a lack of maintenance and a need for repairs.
By bringing together owners, guardians and neighbours we hope we will be able to foster new relationships and take practical steps to improve the condition of the site to ensure Brooklands is protected and cherished for another 110 years.
Written by Stephanie Dance-Groom.
Further Reading
- You can find out more on Brooklands at the Brooklands Museum and see the newly restored finishing straight.
- Places where sporting history happened
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
My Great Grandfather used to design and race his own race cars on this track. He claimed he was the first to go over 100 mph. Is he in any records at Brooklands? His name was Charles Monroe Guy.
Hi Susan – that sounds amazing! You could get in touch with Brooklands Museum, they might be able to help https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/about/contact-us
Many thanks!
My grandmothers second husband was one Walter Smithson who was a mechanic with RJ Mitchells (not sure if he was THE RJ Mitchell} motor racing team at Brooklands in the late 20’s early 30’s. I have an Ashtry which was given to me by him with an aero engine engraved on the front, with the words ” BROOKLANDS MOTORS LTD MAY 28th 1904-1954″
on the back.
Anybody ever hear of Walter.There was a Brooklands Motors in Huddersfield but not the same one l think!
sorry,should have read Brooks Motors
again apologies should read Brook Motors