I went to what's left of
Brooklands, near Weybridge.
Since racing stopped there at the outbreak of the Second World
War, most of the cars there are of the sort I find more interesting
than the modern stuff – from the days when you could still start with
something like a production car, soup it up, and have a credible
racer; sure, you still needed money, but it was something a reasonably
wealthy individual could have a go at for fun, rather than needing
dedicated teams and sponsorship.
Sunbeam "Light Tourer" from 1927.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_114643.jpg)
Austin Seven "Ulster" from 1930.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_114656.jpg)
Sunbeam Silver, I think.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_115050.jpg)
Peugeot Type 172, Wolseley "Moth", Morgan Model F.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120347.jpg)
Singer Works Team car, Peugeot Type 172, Wolseley "Moth".
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120454.jpg)
Wolseley "Moth".
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120506.jpg)
MG M Type Midget, Singer Works Team car.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120521.jpg)
The MG's dashboard. (One can't get in, but one can hold a camera over
the vehicles, and the phone is light enough to do this effectively.)
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120647.jpg)
Cuthbert Riley 9hp Special, Railton Terraplane.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120751_HDR.jpg)
Hillman Aero-Minx Streamliner. (Love that badge.)
![](tn_IMG_20191230_120940.jpg)
MG K3.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121043.jpg)
Salmson Gran Sport and Morris Eight Saloon.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121107.jpg)
Salmson Gran Sport.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121120.jpg)
Another Morris Eight Saloon.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121153_HDR.jpg)
Recreated workshop of the 1930s.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121225_NR.jpg)
Alvis FWD Tourist Trophy, Marendaz Special.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121245_HDR.jpg)
Marendaz Special.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121306.jpg)
A penny-farthing (alas, nothing for scale, but the handlebars were
about chest-high on me).
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121421_HDR.jpg)
Peugeot Voiture.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121428.jpg)
Humber motorcycle.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121457.jpg)
AC Sociable three-wheeler. Love that lamp!
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121802.jpg)
"Daisy", a Siddeley 2-seater tourer; Austin Seven Speedy "Le Mans".
![](tn_IMG_20191230_121952.jpg)
Napier-Railton. Need an unreasonably complicated engine to develop
vastly more power than anyone thought was sensible? Go to Napier's,
they'll see you right. I love that heavy-duty suspension and bare
cockpit.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_122416.jpg)
Ridley Special.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_122546.jpg)
Harper Runabout. (We reckoned that with only slight modification to
the rear it would have a convenient vertical parking mode.)
![](tn_IMG_20191230_122656.jpg)
Rytecraft Scootacar. Said to be able to reach 15mph.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_122920.jpg)
⅓ scale model of the 1933 Bluebird.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_123002.jpg)
"Nanette", Brooklands Special.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_123913.jpg)
Unknown card game. Probably terrible, but it would be nice to know.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_124021.jpg)
Various arrangements of the track. (No curve radii; I'll have to
measure those on the map if I'm going to turn this into gameable
track.)
![](tn_IMG_20191230_124509.jpg)
Into the motorcycle separtment. I didn't try to keep track of these,
just took a look at the features I found interesting.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_125301_0.jpg)
The Old Bicycles room, various things that happened just before the
Safety took over.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_125944.jpg)
And some newer bicycles. This BSA's from 1901 but all the key features
of a modern fixie, at least, are there.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_130757.jpg)
More bicycles, ancient and modern.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_132554.jpg)
Probably a carbide lamp…
![](tn_IMG_20191230_132934.jpg)
Doesn't seem quite right to put a C5 among the bicycles, but then,
where else would it go?
![](tn_IMG_20191230_133306.jpg)
What "bicycle" tended to mean when I were a lad. No wonder I didn't
get into them.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_133659.jpg)
Yes, the 1980s really were like that. This seems to have a
speedo/time/distance counter, an AM radio, and a sound generator.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_135044.jpg)
Even the gents' is a bit vintage.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_141444.jpg)
Outside, and over to the aircraft. Well, this was the site of Hawker
and Vickers works. Some of a VC10…
![](tn_IMG_20191230_144241.jpg)
Still IMO the most beautiful civil aircraft ever built.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_144618.jpg)
The VC10 bought by the Sultan of Oman.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_150215.jpg)
Vickers Viscount.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_150541.jpg)
What's left of the track, the Members' Banking with the railway line
on the far side.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_151039.jpg)
Vickers Viking.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_151139_HDR.jpg)
Vickers Vanguard.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_151248_HDR.jpg)
Inside to the aircraft factory, including the reconstructed Wellington.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_153846.jpg)
And the annexe to that.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_155446.jpg)
Including a Wellington fuselage.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_154607.jpg)
On the way out, some of the businesses that used to have a presence here.
![](tn_IMG_20191230_160808.jpg)
While there was some attempt to push extras on me when I bought my
ticket, the place mostly runs on the usual system of volunteers who are
enthusiastic, and well-informed enough for the amateur. This would
definitely repay another visit.
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