Brooklands the World's First Motor Racing Circuit - 1907

As a Sports fan and a Follower of British Motor Racing I thought I would write about Brooklands - the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit constructed at Weybridge, Surrey in 1907 and Britain's first airfield in 1908. Brooklands was the birthplace of British motor sport and aviation, home of Concorde and the site of many engineering and technological achievements throughout the 20th century and beyond.

The Brooklands circuit was the brainchild of Hugh Locke-King and was opened on 17th June 1907 as the first purpose-built banked motor race circuit in the world. Following the Motor Car Act of 1903. Britain was subject to a blanket 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limit on public roads: at a time when nearly 50% of the planet's new cars were produced in France, there was a concern that Britain's infant auto-industry would be hampered by the inability to undertake sustained high speed testing.

Apparently drawing inspiration from the development at Brooklands, the Indianapolis Speedway was built soon afterwards and held its inaugural race in August 1909.

Requirements of speed and spectator visibility led to the Brooklands track being built as a 100 ft (30 m) wide, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) long, banked oval. The banking was nearly 30 feet (9 m) high in places. In addition to the oval, a bisecting "Finishing Straight" was built, increasing the track length to 3.25 miles (5.23 km), of which 1.25 miles (2.01 km) was banked. It could host up to 287,000 spectators in its heyday.

Owing to the complications of laying tarmacadam on banking, and the expense of laying asphalt the track was built in uncoated concrete. This led in later years to a somewhat bumpy ride, as the surface suffered differential settlement over time.

Along the centre of the track ran a dotted black line, known as the Fifty Foot Line. By driving over the line, a driver could theoretically take the banked corners without having to use the steering wheel.

Eleven days after the circuit opened, it played host to the world's first 24 hour motor event, with Selwyn Edge leading three specially converted Napier cars around the circuit. Over 300 red railway lamps were used to light the track during the night. Flares were used to mark the upper boundary of the track. Edge drove his car for the full duration, with the drivers of the other two cars taking the more familiar shift approach. One of S. F. Edge's leading drivers, Miss Dorothy Levitt was refused entry despite having been the 'first woman to compete in a motor race' in 1903 and holding the 'Ladies World Land Speed Record'. This led to Women not being allowed to compete for several years.

The world record for the first person to cover 100 miles (160 km) in 1 hour was set by Percy E. Lambert at Brooklands, on 15 February 1913 when driving his 4.5 litre sidevalve Talbot. He actually covered 103 miles, 1470 yards (167.1 km) in 60 minutes.

During World War 1, Brooklands closed to motor racing and was requisitioned by the War Office. Vickers Aviation Ltd set up a factory in 1915, and Brooklands soon became a major centre for the construction, testing and supply of military aeroplanes.

Motor racing resumed in 1920 after extensive track repairs and Grand Prix Motor Racing was established at Brooklands in 1926 by Henry Segrave

This first British Grand Prix was won by Louis Wagner and Robert Senechal sharing the drive in a Delage 155B. The second British Grand Prix was staged there in 1927 and these two events resulted in improved facilities at Brooklands.

During the late 1930s Brooklands also hosted massed start Cycle Racing events organised by the National Cyclists Union (as the sport's governing body, the NCU banned such events from public roads).

When World War II broke out in 1939, motor racing ceased and the site was turned over to war-time production of military aircraft. Some of the track was damaged during this time by enemy bombing and a new access road to the Hawker factory was cut through from Oyster Lane. Other sections were also covered by temporary dispersal hangars. Racing never returned to Brooklands. In 1912, George E. Stanley broke the hour record on his Singer motorcycle going at 97km p/h.

The Chinese call Britain 'The Island of Hero's' which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright © 2011 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.