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BROOKLANDS: Steeped in
history, Brooklands is a captivating 'Aged in Place Museum', there's not too
much glamour and precious little chrome. There is however, total dedication to
preserving vehicles, buildings and competitive events in keeping with the era of
the cars, motorcycles and aviation that appear at events throughout the year.
The main event at Brooklands each year is the Double Twelve
when a magnificent
collection of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles take part in driving
tests and a Concours D'Elegance over two days, the Double Twelve
Driving Concours and a
Double Twelve Sprint for pre-war
cars on the adjoining 'Mercedes Benz World' circuit. The 'Double
Twelve' borrows it's name from meetings organised by the UK Junior Car Club
(JCC) at Brooklands from 1929 and takes it's inspiration from rallies organised
by the JCC and the RAC in the late 1930's in which the elegance of the competing
car was as important as the skill of the drivers performing tricky manoeuvres.
I make no apologies about
starting my records of recent visits to Brooklands with the Napier Lion, Packard
and Merlin engined Cars, absolutely intoxicating presence and the sounds they
all make, outrageous!
Please click on the heading or associated image to be taken to
the dedicated page covering the event.....
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NAPIER LION W12 POWER:
This page is
dedicated to the Napier Lion Engine and it's use in motor vehicles. It is a
massive aero
engine designed and manufactured by Napier from 1917 until the late 1930s.
The engine incorporates a unique design with three separate banks of four
cylinder engines offset at 60 degrees from one another offering an overall
displacement of twenty four (24) litres. Each four cylinder DOHC block is
interconnected to the one common crankshaft and each crankshaft main bearing has
three connecting rods. Various power outputs are claimed ranging from 336~671kW,
(450~900bhp) normally aspirated.
The 'clickable' image depicts
John Cobb's record breaking Napier Lion powered 'Napier-Railton'.
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PACKARD AND MERLIN POWER:
Obvious really,
take one giant Aero Engine of the day and slot it into a decent car chassis! Of
course one imagines that there are limits, not here! This page is devoted to two
massively over powered but nevertheless magnificent cars, a 42 Litre Packard
powered Bentley and a somewhat smaller capacity
27 Litre Merlin powered Rolls Royce.
The 'clickable' image depicts
the fire breathing
42 Litre V12 Packard-Bentley,
at idle!
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BROOKLANDS
CARS:
In addition to the
Napier Lion, Merlin and Packard powered marvels, Brooklands has a permanent
display of many race and land speed record cars. During annual events like the
Double 12 there is an enormous gathering of Veteran, Vintage, Concours
d'Elegance, Club and Special Anniversary cars on display.
The 'clickable' image depicts
a 1914 Stanley Steamer. |
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BROOKLANDS
MOTORCYCLES:
Brooklands has a
limited number of motorcycles on permanent display, nevertheless the original
circuit hosted some astounding attempts at land speed records.
The 'clickable' image depicts
a 1933 International 350cc Norton fitted with a 500cc engine. |
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BROOKLANDS RACING:
Racing at the
Brooklands Double 12 includes
driving tests and a Concours d'Elegance over two days, seemingly every type of
car, motorcycle and even a pair of Segway's had a go at the Hill Climb, then
there was the matter of hauling a car up the hill with ropes and a new record
time was set.
The 'clickable' image depicts
a Vintage Car about to tackle the Hill Climb.
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BROOKLANDS
AVIATION:
Sir Barnes Wallis,
the Concorde, Aircraft Displays, Brooklands has plenty to offer Aviation fans.
The Museum is actively rebuilding aircraft, recovering aviation relics and
includes a marvellous display of memorabilia and artefacts of Sir Barnes Wallis'
many design and engineering endeavours.
The 'clickable' image depicts
the Museums Sopwith F.1 Camel, during a static engine test. |
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BROOKLANDS
MUSEUM:
Brooklands, truly a magnificent place, not a sanitized Memorabilia
Display, entering Brooklands is like entering a Motor Sport and Aviation Time
Warp. There are some significant cars and motorcycles on permanent display
within the Museum Buildings, most displays are in original condition which is
most appropriate.
The 'clickable' image depicts
the appropriately named 'Malcolm Campbell' Service Depot. |
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BROOKLANDS
ATMOSPHERE:
The two words are
synonymous with one another. Irrespective of the marvellous cars, motorcycles
and aircraft it is the Entrants and Competitors that take Brooklands to another
level.
Their friendliness
and their desire to 'look the part' is all great stuff. Brooklands, a low
pressure enjoyable place to be.
The 'clickable'
image depicts a driver and navigator dressed appropriately in the staging area
for the Hill Climb event.
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BROOKLANDS
AND DEEJAY51:
I am very proud to now own a
'square yard' of the Brooklands Banked Track, to clarify I have purchased a
'square yard' to assist the Brooklands Museum to raise much needed funds to
secure the future of the world's first purpose built motor racing circuit which
dates back to 1907.
The 'clickable' image depicts
the approximate location of my 'square yard', forward of the bridge. |
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