Tyro mechanic Ethan polishes the mighty 24-litre Napier-Railton prior to its outing at the Brooklands Museum yesterday. This is the car, driven by John Cobb in 1935, that is featured as the winner on the newly constructed scoreboard alongside the famous finishing straight (12-60mm Leica DG Vario-Elmarit)
"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen": The officers of the Brooklands Museum and the boss of Aston Martin unveil the newly reconstructed scoreboard. Fittingly, the board shows the finishing line of the 1935 British Racing Drivers' Club 500-mile race which was won by John Cobb, driving the very Napier-Railton car seen in the top photograph. (12-60mm Leica DG Vario-Elmarit)The famous finishing straight, scene of countless victories between 1907 and 1939, is now rescued after 77 years hosting a massive and very ugly wartime aircraft hangar. The smart new hangar can be seen to the left and, in the distance, is a section of the banked circuit (42.5mm Leica DG Nocticron)
The scoreboard, situated at the edge of the paddock on the finishing straight, was constructed originally after the opening of the track in 1907. Since this was the first purpose-built motor racing circuit in the world there was no template to follow. Instead, the contractors turned to horse-racing convention and borrowed the distinctive design lock, stock and rivet. It wasn’t the only hint of an equestrian precedent. Drivers were originally decked out in jockey colours until the numbering of cars took over.
Full marks to the visitors who entered into the spirit of the event by dressing in pre-war style. I could have kicked myself for leaving the trilby at home..... (42.5mm Leica DG Nocticron)
Hangar eyesore
The circuit’s finishing straight, too, has been refurbished for the occasion. Over 75 years ago, when the circuit was taken over for wartime aircraft production, an ugly corrugated hangar was plopped dead centre on the finishing straight. It has now been removed — and a new aircraft hangar constructed nearby — so that the finishing straight, which saw so many triumphs up to 1939, is once more intact and usable.
Motorbike to Go: 1930s Sunbeam with a thirsty owner. Motorcycle racing was a major part of the annual programme at Brooklands before the second world war put a stop to festivities (42.5mm Leica DG Nocticron)
Yesterday’s event was one of the most popular I’ve attended in recent years and the crowds were reminiscent of the old photographs of Brooklands on race days. Just the clothes have changed, although several brave souls went to great efforts to don period gear for the day. There was no doubting the heritage of the pre-war cars on display, however. Again, it was one of the largest gatherings I’ve seen, with some pristine examples of Rolls Royce, Lagonda and, of course Bentley which is almost synonymous with the name Brooklands. Not to be outdone, just in case we run away with the thought that everyone owned a Bentley, more humdrum names such as Austin, Morris and Ford were in evidence. One, the utilitarian Trojan, was the humdrumest of the lot, but wonderfully presented for all that.
Parasol: Where to take your bike for service, but it would have to be pre-1939 (12-60mm Leica DG Vario-Elmarit)Superchargers, toilets and a more modern sporting conveyance (12-60mm Leica DG Vario-Elmarit)
While Brooklands is known mainly for car racing, it was also a major venue for motorcycle racing during the 1920s and 1930s. It was also not the sole preserve of the rich playboy racers of the day. My old friend and colleague on “The Motor Cycle” magazine, Vic Willoughby (long since departed for the great workshop in the sky) used to tell me about his pre-war racing exploits at Brooklands.
Reversal
With little cash to spare, he transported his racing bike from his home in East London to Brooklands, south west of the capital, on a ramshackle wooden sidecar attached to an elderly 1920s Scott twin. These two-stroke Scott engines had a reputation for coughing during idling and reversing the crankshaft. On more than one occasion Willoughby found himself, and racing ensemble, careering backwards as he accelerated from traffic lights on the way over to Brooklands. Fortunately, as he told me, he usually managed to get his 350cc KTT Velocette moving in the desired direction round the banked circuit.
On another occasion, as recounted by Artrhur Bourne in his book “Behind the Scenes in the Vintage Years”, Willoughby— wearing his racing leathers — pushed the Velocette seven miles to Waterloo Station in London, took the train to Weybridge and then pushed the bike for another mile (up and down a couple of hills as I know from walking the stretch) before arriving at the track and competing. They don’t build ’em like that any more.
Bentley was almost synonymous with Brooklands in the 1920s and 1930s (42.5mm Leica DG Nocticron at f/1.2, a touch of bokeh from this fast micro four-thirds lens. It offers roughly the same depth of field as a full-frame 75mm Leica Apo Summicron)Above: The Handlye Special Rolls Royce. Below: Vintage Packhard Twin Six (42.5mm Leica DG Nocticron). Click to show full size.
John Cobb legacy
But without doubt the most famous vehicle to have mounted the Brooklands banked circuit was the monstrous 24-litre Napier-Railton. Commissioned by John Cobb and designed by Reid Railton, this car was built at Brooklands by Thompson and Taylor in 1933. In 1936 the car set a 24-hour record of 150.6 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA and, a year earlier, John Cobb established a lap record of 143.44mph on the Brooklands Outer Circuit. It has never been beaten. It was in this car that John Cobb won the 1935 BRDC 500-mile race which is featured on the new track scoreboard. In 1997 the museum trust was able to buy the Napier-Railton with the help of funding from the National Lottery. Yesterday, the legendary racing car was fired up and driven once again — it gets an outing several times a year. In the photograph you can see it being polished prior to the demonstration by young mechanic Ethan.
Above: Not everyone owned a Rolls or a Bentley. This Trojan convertible is totally frill-less, and, no doubt, thrill-less judging by the rivets and the utilitarian lamp bracket (12-60mm Leica DG Vario-Elmarit) Click to show full size.
The photographs in this article were taken with the Panasonic Lumix GX80 which I am currently reviewing. I also took along the 42.5mm f/1.2 Leica DG Nocticron and the 12-60mm Leica DG Vario-Elmarit. The monochrome post processing is a tribute to the marvellous legacy of the world’s first purpose-built banked motor racing circuit.
Super pictures Mike and I do wish I had gone but crowds bother me nowadays. One question though. I thought the old hanger was a listed building which was just going to be moved? Certainly the hanger which can be seen in the background of several of your pictures looks like it? Best wishes, Don
Thanks, Don. Now you mention it, I have something at the back of my mind about that old hangar, ugly bugger as it was. But they must have overcome that to get it moved. I thought originally they were going to dismantle it and re-erect it on the new site in the original form. But the new hangar (which I haven’t yet been able to visit) looks altogether smarter and prettier. Perhaps that’s just because it is new. It was very crowded, by the way, and this makes the cafe unbearable. I enjoy my weekday visits when there are few visitors. On the other hand, there are fewer things to see.
Mike, the new structure is the Flight Shed where active planes will be stored. This will be linked to the transplanted and refurbished old Hanger which will be called the Aircraft Factory and which will feature a mock production line with four of five aircraft in final assembly and demo workshops. Apparently refurbishment of the Hanger,in Wales,is nearly complete so soon it should be erected and open for visitors.
John, that all makes sense and I will look out for the refurbished structure and get some pictures. You are better I formed in Sydney than I am 20 miles away in London. Perhaps it’s the hospital food. Good to welcome you back to the land of the blogging!
Great to hear that THE MAN FROM DOWNUNDER is still of sound mind !
Super pictures Mike and I do wish I had gone but crowds bother me nowadays. One question though. I thought the old hanger was a listed building which was just going to be moved? Certainly the hanger which can be seen in the background of several of your pictures looks like it? Best wishes, Don
Thanks, Don. Now you mention it, I have something at the back of my mind about that old hangar, ugly bugger as it was. But they must have overcome that to get it moved. I thought originally they were going to dismantle it and re-erect it on the new site in the original form. But the new hangar (which I haven’t yet been able to visit) looks altogether smarter and prettier. Perhaps that’s just because it is new. It was very crowded, by the way, and this makes the cafe unbearable. I enjoy my weekday visits when there are few visitors. On the other hand, there are fewer things to see.
Mike, the new structure is the Flight Shed where active planes will be stored. This will be linked to the transplanted and refurbished old Hanger which will be called the Aircraft Factory and which will feature a mock production line with four of five aircraft in final assembly and demo workshops.
Apparently refurbishment of the Hanger,in Wales,is nearly complete so soon it should be erected and open for visitors.
John, that all makes sense and I will look out for the refurbished structure and get some pictures. You are better I formed in Sydney than I am 20 miles away in London. Perhaps it’s the hospital food. Good to welcome you back to the land of the blogging!
Mike