View source for Brooklands

{{Short description|Defunct motorsport venue in England}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

{{Motorsport venue
| name          = Brooklands 
| location      = [[Surrey]], England, UK 
| coordinates   = {{coord|51|20|56|N|0|28|21|W|type:landmark_scale:20000_region:GB|display=it}}
| image         = [[File:Brooklands Circuit Layout.svg|class=skin-invert|250px]]
| image_caption = Brooklands circuit layout
| capacity      = 287,000
| broke_ground  = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1906|10}}
| opened        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1907|06|17}}
| closed        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1939|08}}
| events        = [[British Grand Prix]] (1926–1927)
| layout       = Outer Circuit (1907–1939)
| surface       = Concrete 
| banking       = 30°
| length_mi     = 2.767
| length_km     = 4.453
| turns         = 3 
| record_time   = 
| record_driver = 
| record_car    = 
| record_year   = 
| record_class  = 
| layout2       = Grand Prix Circuit (1926–1939)
| length2_mi    = 2.616
| length2_km    = 4.210
| turns2        = 3 
| record_time2  = 
| record_driver2= 
| record_car2   = 
| record_year2  = 
| record_class2 = 
| layout3       = Mountain Circuit (1930–1935)
| length3_mi    = 1.168
| length3_km    = 1.880
| turns3        = 3 
| record_time3  = 
| record_driver3= 
| record_car3   = 
| record_year3  = 
| record_class3 = 
| layout4       = International Trophy Circuit (1937–1939)
| length4_mi    = 3.369
| length4_km    = 5.422
| turns4        = 8
| record_time4  = 
| record_driver4= 
| record_car4   = 
| record_year4  = 
| record_class4 = 
| layout5       = Campbell Circuit (1937–1939)
| length5_mi    = 2.267
| length5_km    = 3.648
| turns5        = 8
| record_time5  = 
| record_driver5= 
| record_car5   = 
| record_year5  = 
| record_class5 = 
}}

'''Brooklands''' was a {{convert|2.767|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Auto racing|motor racing]] circuit and [[aerodrome]] built near [[Weybridge]] in [[Surrey]], England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built 'banked' motor racing circuit{{refn|group=n|Several venues hosted auto races prior to the opening of Brooklands, but all were originally built for purposes other than motorsport. The [[Milwaukee Mile]] (1903), [[Fairgrounds Speedway]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] (1904), and [[Aspendale Racecourse]] near [[Melbourne]] (1906) were all originally built as horse racing tracks. Prior to the opening of Brooklands, [[Crystal Palace, London]] built a cycle track which was also used for motorcycle racing.}} as well as one of Britain's first airfields, which also became Britain's largest aircraft manufacturing centre by 1918, producing military aircraft such as the [[Vickers Wellington|Wellington]] and civil airliners like the [[Vickers Viscount|Viscount]] and [[Vickers VC10|VC10]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/our-history/aviation-industry|title=Brooklands Museum Aviation Industry|website=www.brooklandsmuseum.com|access-date=7 December 2019|archive-date=6 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206014230/https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/our-history/aviation-industry|url-status=live}}</ref>

The circuit hosted its last race in August 1939 and today part of it forms the [[Brooklands Museum]], a major aviation and motoring museum, as well as a venue for vintage car, motorcycle and other transport-related events.

==History==

===Beginnings===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:BrooklandsPoster.jpg|thumb|250px|A 1937 poster.{{ffdc|1=BrooklandsPoster.jpg|log=2016 March 30}}]] -->

The Brooklands motor circuit was the brainchild of [[Hugh F. Locke King|Hugh Fortescue Locke King]], and was the first purpose-built banked motor race circuit in the world. Following the [[Motor Car Act 1903]], Britain was subject to a blanket {{cvt|20|mph|km/h}} speed limit on public roads: at a time when nearly 50% of the world's new cars were produced in France, there was concern that Britain's infant auto-industry would be hampered by the inability to undertake sustained high-speed testing.<ref name=Autocar196708>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | volume = 127 | issue = 3731 |title = How Brooklands started| page =43| date = 17 August 1967}}</ref> King commissioned Colonel [[Capel Lofft Holden]] of the Royal Artillery to design the projected circuit and work began in 1906.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/our-history/birth-brooklands|title=Birth of Brooklands|publisher=Brooklands Museum|access-date=3 February 2019|archive-date=20 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820010639/https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/our-history/birth-brooklands|url-status=live}}</ref>

Requirements of speed and spectator visibility led to the Brooklands track being built as a {{convert|100|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} wide, {{convert|2.767|mi|km|abbr=on}} long, banked oval. The banking was nearly {{convert|30|ft|m}} high in places. In addition to the oval, a bisecting "Finishing Straight" was built, increasing the track length to {{convert|3.369|mi|km|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|1.250|mi|km|abbr=on}} was banked. It could host up to 287,000 spectators in its heyday.<ref>''[http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/books/surrey/industrialHistory/index.html A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of the Borough of Elmbridge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722005313/http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/books/surrey/industrialHistory/index.html |date=22 July 2011 }}'', [http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/ Molesey History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908213118/http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/ |date=8 September 2008 }}.</ref>

Owing to the complications of laying [[tarmacadam]] on banking, and the expense of laying [[Asphalt concrete|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.

The track was opened on 17 June 1907 with a luncheon attended by most of Britain's motor manufacturers. At the conclusion of the luncheon, Mr Locke King (on whose estate the track was built) named [[John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu|Lord Montagu of Beaulieu]], Messrs. Hugh Owen, Julian Walter Orde (secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland) and Colonel Holden as being the main people that enabled the track to be built.<ref>Opening of the Brooklands Race Track, The Motor Cycle, 26 June 1907, p522</ref> This was followed by an informal inauguration of the track by a procession of 43 cars, one driven by [[Charles Rolls]].<ref>The Brooklands Motor Track. ''The Times'' (London, England):Issue 38362, Tuesday, 18 June 1907, p. 4;</ref> The first competitive event was held on 28–29 June, with three cars competing to break the world record for distance covered in 24 hours, and the first race meeting was held on 6 July, attracting over 10,000 spectators.<ref>Automobilism. ''The Times'' (London, England): Issue 38379, Monday, 8 July 1907; p 6;</ref>

Apparently drawing inspiration from the development at Brooklands,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fisher|first1=Jerry M.|title=The Pacesetter: The Complete Story|date=Oct 2014|publisher=FriesenPress|isbn=9781460245378|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YhVNBQAAQBAJ&q=%22would%20net%20for%20one%20meet%22&pg=PA38|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019213013/https://books.google.com/books?id=YhVNBQAAQBAJ&q=%22would+net+for+one+meet%22&pg=PA38|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] was built soon afterwards, and held its inaugural race in August 1909.

===The Mountain Circuit===
The Brooklands Mountain Circuit was a small section of the track giving a lap {{convert|1.168|mi|km|abbr=on}} long, running from the Fork to the rear of Members' Hill and back. It was created in 1930 using movable barriers.<ref>page 15 Sam S Collins, ''Autodrome: The Lost Race Circuits of Europe'' , Veloce, 2005</ref>

===Motoring records===

====24-hour event====
On 28–29 June 1907, 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 [[D. Napier & Son|Napier]] cars around the circuit. A statement of intent had been made in 1906,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklands.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:selwyn-edges-24-hour-record&catid=38:earlydays&Itemid=2 |title=The Brooklands Society, Brooklands Race Track, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey, England KT13 0QN 01252 408877 |publisher=Brooklands.org.uk |date=27 June 2009 |access-date=29 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102005125/http://www.brooklands.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:selwyn-edges-24-hour-record&catid=38:earlydays&Itemid=2 |archive-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Selwyn Edge entered into a physical training program to prepare for the event. His car, "804" was extensively modified, having a special fuel tank, bodywork removed, and a special windscreen. 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 (Henry C. Tryon/[[A. F. Browning]] and [[F. Draper]]/Frank Newton) taking the more familiar shift approach. During the event Edge covered a distance of {{convert|1581.74|mi|km|abbr=on}} at an average speed of {{convert|65.91|mph|kph|abbr=on}}, comfortably beating the existing record of {{convert|1096.187|mi|km|abbr=on}} set at Indianapolis in 1905.<ref>Record Motor Drive At Brooklands. ''The Times'' (London, England): Issue 38373 Monday, 1 July 1907; p. 6</ref>

Women were not allowed to compete for several years. [[Dorothy Levitt]], S. F. Edge's leading driver, was refused entry despite having been the 'first English-woman to compete in a motor race' in 1903, and holding the 'Ladies World Land Speed Record'. Edge completed 2,545&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1907_Brooklands_24_Hour_Motor_Event |title=1907 Brooklands 24 Hour Motor Event |publisher=Gracesguide.co.uk |access-date=29 December 2012 |archive-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226200345/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1907_Brooklands_24_Hour_Motor_Event |url-status=live }}</ref> at an average 106.06&nbsp;km/h, a record which stood for 17 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/index.php?/history/motoring-history-1907-1914/ |title=Motoring History 1907-1914 |publisher=Brooklands Museum |access-date=29 December 2012 |archive-date=11 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111003546/http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/index.php?%2Fhistory%2Fmotoring-history-1907-1914%2F |url-status=live }}</ref> The first standard race meeting would be held the next week, on 6 July.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Brooklands |title=Brooklands |publisher=Gracesguide.co.uk |access-date=29 December 2012 |archive-date=27 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227123112/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Brooklands |url-status=live }}</ref>

====One-hour records====
[[George E. Stanley]] broke the one-hour record at Brooklands race track on a Singer motorcycle in 1912, becoming the first ever rider of a 350 cc motorcycle to cover over {{convert|60|mi|-1}} in an hour.

The world record for the first person to cover 100 miles in 1 hour was set by [[Percy E. Lambert]] at Brooklands, on 15 February 1913 when driving his 4.5 litre sidevalve [[Talbot (automobile)|Talbot]]. He actually covered 103 miles, 1470 yards (167.1&nbsp;km) in 60 minutes. A contemporary film of his exploits on that day can be viewed at the [[Brooklands Museum]].

'''Youngest person to drive a lap at Brooklands'''

[[Ivy Cummings]] is thought to be the youngest person to complete a lap when in 1913, (aged 11/12) she started her father Sydney Cummings' car whilst he was watching aircraft and drove around the course.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ivy Cummings - Graces Guide|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ivy_Cummings|access-date=2020-06-12|website=www.gracesguide.co.uk|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610115450/https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ivy_Cummings|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Commercial Times » The World's Largest Collection of Automotive Art|url=http://commercial.ge/ka/the-world%e2%80%99s-largest-collection-of-automotive-art/|access-date=2020-06-12|language=ka|archive-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612142323/http://commercial.ge/ka/the-world%E2%80%99s-largest-collection-of-automotive-art/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Distance records====
In July and August 1929, [[Violette Cordery]] and her younger sister Evelyn drove her 4.5 litre four-seater [[Invicta (car)|Invicta]] for 30,000 miles in less than 30,000 minutes (approximately 20 days, 20 hours), averaging 61.57&nbsp;mph and earning her second [[Dewar Trophy]] from the [[Royal Automobile Club]].<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB|id=101214|first1=Jean|last1=Williams|first2=Simon|last2=Williams|title=Cordery, Violette}}</ref>

===World War One===
Brooklands closed to motor racing during [[World War I]], was requisitioned by the War Office and continued its pre-war role as a flying training centre although it was now under military control. Brooklands soon became a major location for the construction, testing and supply of military aeroplanes.

=== Inter-war years ===
[[File:Count Zborowski With Chitty Bang Bang 1 At Brooklands.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Louis Zborowski|Count Zborowski]] with ''[[Chitty Bang Bang|Chitty Bang Bang 1]]'' at Brooklands, 1921]]

Motor racing resumed in 1920 after extensive track repairs and [[Grand Prix motor racing]] was established at Brooklands in 1926 by [[Henry Segrave]], after his victories in the [[1923 French Grand Prix]] and the [[San Sebastián Grand Prix]] (all won on [[Sunbeam Motor Car Company|Sunbeam Racing Cars]] which in various hands had significant success in Brooklands) the following year raised interest in the sport in Britain. This first British Grand Prix was won by [[Louis Wagner (driver)|Louis Wagner]] and [[Robert Sénéchal]], 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.

In 1930, the ''[[Daily Herald (UK newspaper)|Daily Herald]]'' offered a trophy for the fastest driver at an event at Brooklands. The first year, Birkin and Kaye Don competed, the former in a [[Bentley Blower]] tourer, the latter in the Sunbeam 'Tigress' 4 litre, Don winning with a speed of {{convert|137.58|mph}}. In 1932, Birkin won driving his red "Monoposto" [[Bentley Blower No.1]], clocking {{convert|137.96|mph}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/index.php?/history/record-breaking-at-brooklands-1920-1939/#axzz0wwl5kmOG|title=Record Breaking at Brooklands 1920-1939|work=Brooklands Museum|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-date=23 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723125622/http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/index.php?%2Fhistory%2Frecord-breaking-at-brooklands-1920-1939%2F#axzz0wwl5kmOG|url-status=live}}</ref> The track record stood for two years, before being beaten by [[John Cobb (racing driver)|John Cobb]] driving the 24 litre [[Napier-Railton]], which holds the all-time lap record at {{convert|143.44|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.

In 1932, the Junior Car Club organised the British 1000 Miles Race, which was held in two parts on 3 and 4 June.<ref name=classiccarcatalogue>{{cite web|url=https://classiccarcatalogue.com/sport/BROOKLANDS_1000_1932.html|title=J.C.C. British 1000 Miles Race 1932|website=classiccarcatalogue.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204182231/https://classiccarcatalogue.com/sport/BROOKLANDS_1000_1932.html |archive-date=4 December 2020| access-date=27 November 2020}}</ref> The race was won by [[Elsie Mary Wisdom|Mrs E. Wisdom]] and Miss [[Joan Richmond]]<ref name=classiccarcatalogue/> driving a [[Riley Brooklands 9]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Brooklands-1932-06-04-7626.html|title=1000 mile Brooklands|website=racingsportscars.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206043709/https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Brooklands-1932-06-04-7626.html |archive-date=6 December 2020| access-date=27 November 2020}}</ref>

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). In 1939, it was used as a location for the [[Will Hay]] film ''[[Ask a Policeman]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031058/ |title=Ask A Policeman |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=29 June 2018 |archive-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211010236/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031058/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
An episode in [[Johannes V. Jensen]]'s 1936 novel ''[[Gudrun (Johannes V. Jensen)|Gudrun]]'' takes place at the race track.<ref>{{Cite Q | Q97019463 }} Pages 126&ndash;129.</ref>

Racing stopped upon the outbreak of [[World War II]] in 1939. The site was turned over to wartime production of military aircraft. Enemy bombs damaged the track and a new access road to the Hawker factory was cut through from Oyster Lane. Temporary dispersal hangars covered other sections.

==Brooklands Aerodrome==

=== 1909–1914 ===
[[File:Brooklands Aero-Club car badge.JPG|thumb|Brooklands Aero-Club car badge]]
Brooklands was also one of Britain's first airfields. In 1908, [[Alliott Verdon-Roe]] was based at Brooklands and carried out the first taxiing and towed flight trials of a British full-size powered aircraft by a British pilot. On Friday, 29 October 1909 the first official powered flight at Brooklands was made by Frenchman [[Louis Paulhan]] and his [[Farman III|Farman biplane]]: this special event attracted 20,000 people and was the first public flying display at Brooklands. Operating from specially prepared land inside the Race Track and given his own aeroplane shed, Paulhan made a series of flights on the following days, flying to a height of some {{convert|720|ft|m|abbr=on}} on the Saturday and setting a new British endurance record of 2&nbsp;hr 49&nbsp;min 20&nbsp;s on the Monday.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1909/1909%20-%200703.html Flying at Brooklands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182631/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1909/1909%20-%200703.html |date=3 March 2016 }}[[Flight International|''Flight'']] 6 November 1090, pp.705-6</ref>

During 1910, Brooklands rapidly became a major centre of flying in Britain and that summer, [[Hilda Hewlett]] and [[Gustave Blondeau]] opened Britain's first flying school at Brooklands. Hewlett and Blondeau also started their aircraft manufacturing company, [[Hewlett & Blondeau|Hewlett&nbsp;&&nbsp;Blondeau Limited]] there before moving to larger premises in [[Clapham]] in London.  Later in 1910 the [[Bristol Aeroplane Company]] also established a flying school, its first instructor and test pilot was [[Archibald Reith Low|Archie Low]]; Roe also started a flying school there.
[[Vickers]] opened a flying school on 20 January 1912, and among its first instructors was [[R. Harold Barnwell]]; 77 pupils including [[Hugh Dowding]] were taught to fly until the school closed in August 1914.

In February 1912, [[Thomas Sopwith]] opened his flying school and in June, with several others, he set up the [[Sopwith Aviation Company]] there, although their manufacturing premises were at [[Kingston upon Thames]]. Other aviation pioneers came to Brooklands before World War One including Prince Serge de Bolotoff who tried to build a large tandem triplane in a shed there in 1913. [[Blériot Aéronautique|Blériot]], [[Martinsyde]] and [[Vickers]] also later produced military aeroplanes at Brooklands which became Britain's largest aircraft manufacturing centre by 1918. Many flying schools operated here before 1914 and the aerodrome became a major flying training centre between the wars.

=== World War I ===
During [[World War I]] 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. Civilian flying schools closed down or were merged into one Military Training School and flying training continued until at least the end of 1915. Several Royal Flying Corps squadrons including numbers 1, 8, 9 and 10 (plus No. 2 and 23 Reserve Squadrons) were formed (or reformed) and based briefly at Brooklands during the war years. Continuing significant pioneering air-ground wireless trials pioneered by a [[Marconi]] team at Brooklands from 1912, the aerodrome also housed various RFC units testing and training with airborne wireless communications equipment and the World's first voice to ground wireless message was successfully transmitted over Brooklands in 1915.

Major changes were made to the Flying Village with the construction in late 1917 of three large 'Belfast-truss' General Service Sheds for a new Aircraft Acceptance Park (later No. 10 AAP). This handled the assembly and testing of large numbers of new aeroplanes and finally closed in early 1920.

=== Inter-war years ===
'''Brooklands Aviation Ltd''' was formed in 1931 - with Percy Bradley, Duncan Davis, [[Frederick Sigrist|Fred Sigrist]] and Ted Jones as Directors - to operate the aerodrome, and commissioned British airport architect [[Graham Dawbarn]] to design the [[Art Deco]] Brooklands Aero Clubhouse, which opened in May 1932. The company also operated the resident Brooklands School of Flying which was registered as a limited company in 1931 with Duncan Davis and Ted Jones as Directors, as well as those at [[Lympne Airport|Lympne]], [[Shoreham Airport|Shoreham]] and [[Sywell Aerodrome]]s in the later 1930s. The original pre-WWI Brooklands Aero Club was re-formed by the [[British Automobile Racing Club|BARC]] in May 1930 with Percy Bradley as Manager and the Brooklands Flying Club was established by Brooklands Aviation in early 1933. Brooklands Aviation won a [[War Department (United Kingdom)|War Department]] contract for pilot training for the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklandsflyingclub.co.uk/history.php|title=History|publisher=Brooklands Flying Club|access-date=22 November 2010|archive-date=4 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404071023/http://www.brooklandsflyingclub.co.uk/history.php|url-status=live}}</ref> and opened No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School at Sywell on 10 June 1935, training pilots with a fleet of 20 [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]s, and in 1937 the RAF Volunteer Reserve School was set up at Sywell with a further 16 training aircraft. During WWII, Brooklands Aviation became a contractor to the [[Civilian Repair Organisation]], repairing various types of damaged aircraft, particularly Vickers Wellingtons. After ending its RAF flying training in 1946, the company diversified and built plywood and [[Glass-reinforced plastic|GRP]] [[cabin cruiser]] boats designed by Alan Eckford, until 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.horning.org.uk/stylegallery.php?page=brooklands|title=aft cockpit cruisers|publisher=Horning|access-date=22 November 2010|archive-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313004818/http://www.horning.org.uk/stylegallery.php?page=brooklands|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first flight of the [[Hawker Hurricane]], later a fighter aircraft in the [[Battle of Britain]], occurred at Brooklands on 6 November 1935.

=== World War II ===
In [[World War II]], the site was again used for military aircraft production, in particular the [[Vickers Wellington]], [[Vickers Warwick]] and [[Hawker Hurricane]] and was extensively camouflaged. Trees were also planted in some sections of the concrete track to help conceal the [[Hawker Siddeley|Hawker]] and [[Vickers]] aircraft factories there. Despite these efforts, the Vickers factory was successfully bombed by the Luftwaffe and extensively damaged on 4 September 1940 with nearly 90 aircraft workers killed and at least 419 injured. Five unidentified victims were buried in unmarked graves in Burvale Cemetery, [[Hersham]], on 9 September, one of whom was later confirmed to be 36-year-old William E Hunt. On 10 March 2016, thanks to the efforts of local residents, sponsors and supporters, permanent memorials to Mr Hunt and the other four civilians were dedicated by the Reverend Martin Fletcher and Elmbridge Borough Councillor Mary Sheldon. Attendees included relatives of Vickers factory worker Eric S Powell who also died on 4 September 1940 aged 26, and is now believed to be one of the remaining four unidentified casualties buried at Burvale.

The Hawker factory was also bombed and damaged two days later, but with no loss of life or serious disruption to Hurricane production. 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 German bomb away from the Hawker aircraft factory at Brooklands and rolled it into an existing bomb crater where it later exploded harmlessly. His bravery was recognised by the award of the [[George Cross]]. The crucial role of Brooklands in the Battle of Britain of 1940 is further explained in displays at Brooklands Museum.
[[File:Vickers factory.jpg|thumb|300px|The Vickers factory at Brooklands]]

After the bombing of Brooklands in September 1940, the [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] Design Department (including [[Rex Pierson]], [[Barnes Wallis]] and several hundred others) was dispersed to a secret location at the nearby Burhill Golf Course, just east of St George's Hill in [[Hersham]] and the Experimental Department led by [[George Edwards (aviation)|George Edwards]] was relocated to temporary premises at Foxwarren in Redhill Road, [[Cobham, Surrey|Cobham]]. These two facilities played a crucial part in the successful development of the [[Bouncing bomb#British bouncing bombs|'Upkeep' mine]]—better known today as the 'bouncing bomb'—conceived by Barnes Wallis and deployed to devastating effect by the [[Avro Lancaster]] raid by [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|No. 617 "Dambuster" Squadron RAF]] led by [[Guy Gibson]] against Germany's Ruhr Valley reservoirs on the night of 16–17 May 1943.

=== Post-1945 ===
After the war, the circuit was in poor condition and was sold to Vickers-Armstrongs in 1946 for continued use as an aircraft factory. New aircraft types, including the [[Vickers VC.1 Viking|Viking]], [[Vickers Valetta|Valetta]], [[Vickers Varsity|Varsity]], [[Vickers Viscount|Viscount]], [[Vickers Vanguard|Vanguard]], [[BAC One-Eleven|1-11]] and [[Vickers VC10|VC10]], were subsequently, designed, manufactured and delivered from there.

In 1951, construction of a new hard runway required a section of the motor circuit's Byfleet Banking to be removed to allow [[Vickers Valiant]] [[V bomber]]s to be flown out to nearby [[Wisley Airfield]], which offered a longer [[runway]] and less built-up surroundings than Brooklands. That airfield opened as a flight test centre for Vickers in 1944, and was used until 1972, latterly by [[British Aircraft Corporation|BAC]].

After considerable expansion, due to increasing commercial success in the 1950s, the Vickers factory achieved its peak size in the early 1960s, in preparation for the VC10 manufacturing programme, and became the headquarters of the new [[British Aircraft Corporation]] in 1960. Substantial investment in the site at that time saw many new buildings constructed and existing premises modified. First, in the mid-1950s, came a new assembly hall for the Vickers Viscount, known as 'B.1', presumably because it consisted of a number of repurposed standard wartime B.1-type hangars (together with some T.2 hangars), and was rebuilt as one long double-bay structure parallel to the runway.

By 1962, a large new {{convert|60,378|sqft|0|adj=on}} VC10 flight shed hangar was ready to house the prototype VC10 airliner, and a second, even larger, {{convert|98,989|sqft|0|adj=on}} flight shed was added alongside by 1964. The latter was probably the largest aircraft hangar in Europe at the time and became known locally as "The Cathedral", while the smaller shed was called "The Abbey". The huge factory at Brooklands went on to design and build the [[BAC TSR-2|BAC TSR.2]], [[BAC 1-11|One-Eleven]] and major assemblies for [[Concorde]].

The cancellation of the [[Vickers V-1000|V-1000]] transport in 1955, the Labour government's cancellation of the TSR-2 in 1965, and the disappointing lack of significant orders for VC10s and Concorde, saw the factory contract in the early 1970s. It became part of the newly formed [[British Aerospace]] in 1977, and focused on component manufacture for other aircraft. However, closure was announced on 29 July 1986, finally occurring on Christmas Day 1989. BAE's successor, [[BAE Systems]], retains a logistics centre at Brooklands.

In November 2009, Brooklands was featured in an episode of a BBC TV series ''[[James May's Toy Stories]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last= Talbot |first= Charlotte |date= 2 July 2013 |orig-date= 17 August 2009 |title= James May races to Scalextric world record |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/james-races-scalextric-world-record-4823100 |access-date= 5 April 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Portlock |first= Jonathan |date= 18 August 2009 |title= Thousands at Brooklands to see James May's Scalextric record attempt |work= Sutton & Croydon Guardian |url= https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4550055.thousands-at-brooklands-to-see-james-mays-scalextric-record-attempt/ |access-date= 5 April 2023 }}</ref> May undertook the task of recreating the original track using [[Scalextric]].  The show featured May's attempt to lay the plastic track through and around the variety of obstacles that have replaced the original track, including a pond, a four-lane road, several houses, fences, and [[Sony]] and [[Procter & Gamble]] corporate campuses.

==Brooklands Museum==
{{main|Brooklands Museum}}
In 1987, [[Brooklands Museum]] Trust was formed with Sir Peter G Masefield as Chairman, and began to record, research, preserving and interpret all aspects the site's heritage. The Museum project began after a highly successful temporary exhibition about Brooklands was staged in 1977 by Elmbridge Museum in Weybridge and, with support from British Aerospace, Elmbridge Borough Council, Gallaher Ltd and many dedicated individuals, this led to the selection of a 30-acre heritage site in the northeast corner of Brooklands, by the old Paddock and Finishing Straight. As well as organising numerous aviation, motoring and other events since the mid-1980s, the Museum also staged regular fly-ins for visiting light aircraft from 1991 to 2003 using the northern half of the original tarmac runway and staffed these events with an all-volunteer team.

Brooklands made a notable [[Television|TV]] appearance when it featured in the 1990 'The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim' episode of ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'', when [[Hercule Poirot]] investigates a crime committed involving a racing driver. The banking of Brooklands was also used as a 'road location' in an episode of ''[[The Bill]]'' where the CID foiled an armed robbery and resulted in a 'shoot out'. On 1 November 2015, Brooklands was featured in an episode of the British series ''[[Downton Abbey]]'', although the scenes were actually filmed at the [[Goodwood Circuit]]. American car enthusiast Barry Meguiar (President and CEO of Meguiar's) has featured the Brooklands on his [[Speed Channel]] show ''[[Car Crazy]]''.

[[File:Mercedes-Benz World 2007.jpg|thumb|300px|Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands]]
In early 2004 the central area of Brooklands including the hard runway and parts of the remaining circuit were sold to [[DaimlerChrysler]] UK Retail and [[Mercedes-Benz World]] opened to the public on 29 October 2006. This development incorporates a vehicle test tracks (including part of the original Campbell Circuit) and an off-road circuit. Also included is a conference centre and extensive Mercedes-Benz showrooms.

Following significant earlier work by The Brooklands Society (not part of Brooklands Museum), certain buildings (including the 1907 [[British Automobile Racing Club|BARC]] Clubhouse, the 1911 Flight Ticket Office and the 1932 Brooklands Aero Clubhouse), structures and remaining sections of the Track first became the subject of preservation orders from 1975 and this legal protection was reviewed by [[English Heritage]] and increased by the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport|DCMS]] in 2002). A draft Brooklands Conservation Plan was instigated by English Heritage and prepared in 2003 for DaimlerChrysler by DCUK consultants Terence O'Rourke. A Brooklands Heritage Partnership (BHP) was formed in 2010 as an informal partnership of Brooklands Museum, Elmbridge Borough Council, English Heritage and Surrey County Council, to address increasing conservation issues and concerns. In April 2013, a £32,540 grant was secured from English Heritage (now [[Historic England]]) to enable the BHP to appoint professional consultants to research and compile a comprehensive reference document on all aspects of Brooklands' heritage. A draft version of this new document was available for public consultation via Elmbridge Borough Council and Brooklands Museum from July to August 2017.

On 25 September 2013, the last flying VC10 - an RAF K.3 tanker, serial number ZA147 (originally built as a Super VC10 airliner) - made its final flight from RAF Brize Norton to Bruntingthorpe Airfield, this being the end of the type's remarkable 51-year career. Although this aeroplane is due to be scrapped, on the previous day its sister, ZA150, was acquired by Brooklands Museum for preservation at nearby Dunsfold Aerodrome and was delivered there by an RAF 101 Squadron crew. This was the last VC10 built - first flown from Brooklands on 16 February 1970, originally delivered to East African Airways and also one of the last complete aircraft manufactured at Brooklands - the last complete aircraft to be built there, BAC 1-11 D-ANNO, first flew on 19 December 1970. The retirement of these two VC10s also ended a 100-year period of Brooklands-built aeroplanes operated by the British armed forces.

==Centenary==
Brooklands motor course celebrated its centenary on 16/17 June 2007. Throughout 2007, various special events were organised by Brooklands Museum in order to celebrate its 100th birthday. Events included use of the Byfleet Banking for the first time in nearly 70 years, a Formula One car demonstration by McLaren-Mercedes, driven by [[Gary Paffett]] in conjunction with [[Mercedes-Benz]] World and a 24-hour slot car race to commemorate S.F. Edge's achievement of driving for 24 hours averaging over 60&nbsp;mph (100&nbsp;km/h).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklands100.org/info/events/index.htm |title=Brooklands Centenary |publisher=Brooklands100.org |access-date=21 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405223625/http://www.brooklands100.org/info/events/index.htm |archive-date=5 April 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Brooklands Members' Banking from bridge.jpg|thumb|Part of The Members' Banking, 2007]]

Brooklands Museum houses historic aircraft including a Vickers Wellington bomber recovered from Loch Ness in 1985, a [[British Airways]] [[Concorde]], [[G-BBDG]] (c/n 202), the UK's first production Concorde, and now also owns the 40% scale Concorde model "G-CONC" displayed for many years as a [[gate guardian]] at Heathrow Airport, until removed in 2007. After restoration and repainting, the model was relocated for similar duty at Brooklands Museum's public entrance off Brooklands Drive on 29 September 2012.

There are civil and military aircraft on display including a [[Vickers Vanguard]], [[Vickers Viscount|Viscount 800]] and [[Vickers VC10|Standard VC10]]. The majority of exhibits were built at Brooklands or have close associations with the site. The VC10 was built and first flown at Brooklands in 1964 and after airline service with British United as G-ASIX and later British Caledonian Airways, in 1974 it became a [[Air transports of heads of state and government|VIP aircraft]] for the then-[[Qaboos bin Said|Sultan Qaboos of Oman]] until retired on 6 July 1987 and donated to Brooklands Museum by the Sultan's Royal Flight.

Although the Circuit is no longer driveable, it can still be simulated in the 1999 released ''[[Spirit of Speed 1937]]'' game for the PC and [[Dreamcast]], in which it was re-created in detail. Several other video games also feature Brooklands and Brooklands Museum's Formula 1 simulator also features a detailed computer simulation of the pre-war race track.

In 2009, [[BBC]] ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' presenter [[James May]] announced plans to recreate the full length Brooklands using [[Scalextric]] track and cars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/surrey/8187656.stm|title=May to attempt Scalextric record|publisher=BBC|date=7 August 2009|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019213013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/surrey/8187656.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This was undertaken with a team of 350 volunteers building the track from an uncounted number of pieces of Scalextric track, navigating ponds and roads, closely following the route of the old Brooklands track. This event broke the Guinness World Record for the longest ever Scalextric track in the world, intended to measure the original {{convert|2.75|mi|km}} of the original Brooklands circuit but in reality recording {{convert|2.95|mi|km}} in length (due to the need to navigate modern features that block the original course). The episode was shown on BBC2 on 17 November 2009 as part of ''[[James May's Toy Stories]]''.

BBC TV's ''[[Antiques Roadshow]]'' was filmed at Brooklands Museum in July 2009<ref>{{cite news |last= Talbot |first= Charlotte |date= 2 July 2013 |orig-date= 1 June 2009 |title= Antiques Roadshow visits Brooklands |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/antiques-roadshow-visits-brooklands-4823676 |access-date= 5 April 2023 }}</ref> and subsequently produced as two programmes for its next series and first broadcast on 10 and 17 January 2010.

Apart from Brooklands Museum's displays and exhibits, today there are a number of memorials to Brooklands. The first of these is the 'Brooklands Memorial' built by Vickers-Armstrongs to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Motor Course and was unveiled by [[John Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara|Lord Brabazon of Tara]] in July 1957.{{sfn|Venables|2007|pp=252-253}} This impressive concrete faced monument featured a fine bronze letters, plaque and related inscription summarising the site's history from 1907–57 and was originally located at the North end of the aerodrome, was designated as a Scheduled Monument in 2002 then relocated and restored in a new position just east of the River Wey on the museum site to make way for the new Mercedes-Benz World complex, which opened in 2006. The original bronze fittings were stolen in the 1970s but the plaque was later found and is now displayed in the main entrance foyer of the former [[British Automobile Racing Club|BARC]] Clubhouse.

A memorial dedicated to Brooklands aircraft design and manufacturing heritage was specially designed and manufactured by British Aerospace in the late 1980s to mark the closing of its last factory there. This takes the form of a large engraved acrylic panel displayed at the southern end of the old runway close to the entrance to the Community Park and a children's nursery. Forgotten and overgrown until quite recently, this has now been rediscovered and is still in good condition.

Another initiative was taken in the early 1990s by the developers Trafalgar Brookmount Ltd who commissioned an artist to design and produce two large brown terracotta 'gate statements'; these are located at the east end of Wellington Way and the south end of Sopwith Drive and feature representative images of Brooklands' pre-1940 history namely the [[Napier-Railton]], [[Vickers Vimy]] and the two former Clubhouses.

In 1993, Prince Michael of Kent officially opened a new Garden of Memories at Brooklands Museum which features a growing number of commemorative plaques in memory of many people who have been associated with Brooklands for more than 100 years.

Much of the novel ''Kingdom Come'', published in 2006 by the author [[J. G. Ballard]], is set in Brooklands.<ref>{{cite news |last= Le Guin |first= Ursula |date= 9 September 2006 |title= Revolution in the aisles |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2006/sep/09/fiction.shopping |access-date= 5 April 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Baker |first= Simon |date= 23 September 2006 |title= Brooklands goes ballistic |work= The Spectator |url= https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/brooklands-goes-ballistic/ |access-date= 5 April 2023 }}</ref>

In February 2015, it was announced that Brooklands would receive a multimillion-pound facelift.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-31506646|title=Facelift for Brooklands, birthplace of UK motor racing|publisher=BBC|date=17 February 2015|access-date=17 February 2015|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217160512/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31506646|url-status=live}}</ref> The £4.68 million [[National Lottery Heritage Fund|Heritage Lottery Fund]] grant funded an £8.5 million ''Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project''. This resulted in the relocation and restoration of the Grade II Listed 1940 Bellman Hangar complete with a comprehensive new "Aircraft Factory" exhibition inside,<ref>[https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/about/latest-news/re-engineering-of-brooklands-gets-budget-boost Re-Engineering of Brooklands gets Budget Boost] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207233809/https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/about/latest-news/re-engineering-of-brooklands-gets-budget-boost |date=7 December 2019 }} ''www.brooklandsmuseum.com'' 01 April 2016, accessed 7 December 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/about/support-us/reengineeringBrooklands Re-Engineering Brooklands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421134200/https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/about/support-us/reengineeringBrooklands |date=21 April 2019 }} ''www.brooklandsmuseum.com'', accessed 7 December 2019</ref> as well as construction of a new two-storey Flight Shed housing archives and a workshop on the ground floor with another aircraft exhibition hall above. Restoration of the Northern section of the adjacent Finishing Straight was also part of the scheme and included revealing its largely intact 'lost' section under the hangar's post-war floor. The project was successfully completed and officially opened to the public by Prince Michael of Kent on 13 November 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BROOKLANDS MUSEUM|url=https://www.thomasford.co.uk/projects-6/brooklands-museum|access-date=2020-10-03|website=TFP|language=en|archive-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305222215/https://www.thomasford.co.uk/projects-6/brooklands-museum|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Brooklands Museum {{!}} Restoration {{!}} Crofton Consulting|url=https://crofton.consulting/case-study/brooklands-museum/|access-date=2020-10-03|website=crofton.consulting|language=en-GB|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019213019/https://crofton.consulting/case-study/historic-restoration-brooklands-museum/|url-status=live}}</ref>

2017 also saw the completion of a new Brooklands Conservation Management Plan (funded by English Heritage - now Historic England) for the Brooklands Heritage Partnership and among other things, this document set new standards for maintaining and, where practical or necessary, for repairing the surviving sections of the historic Race Track. Further grant aid from Historic England in 2018 enabled an experienced contractor to clear several extensive undergrowth from the largely and seriously neglected western section of the Byfleet Banking. In February 2020, the Byfleet Banking's central section was also successfully cleared of leaves, moss and weeds for its owners Marks & Spencer and Tesco.

==Notable people==
{{sources|section|date=November 2025}}
{{colbegin}}
*[[Woolf Barnato]] (racing driver)
*[[Diana Barnato Walker]] (pilot)
*[[R. Harold Barnwell]] (flying instructor and test pilot)
*[[Francis Beart]] (racing motorcyclist)
*[[Oliver Bertram]] (racing driver and Barrister-at-Law)
*[[Tim Birkin]] (racing driver)
*[[Florence Blenkiron]] (first woman to lap Brooklands at over 100&nbsp;mph, first person to cross Sahara desert on a motorbike)
*[[Bill Boddy]] (motoring journalist)
*Sir [[Redvers Buller]], on the first committee<ref name=committee>[http://ucapusa.com/brooklands.htm Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit, Weybridge, Surrey (1907–1939)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231094614/http://www.ucapusa.com/brooklands.htm |date=31 December 2011 }}, Unique Cars & Parts USA. Retrieved 20 January 2012.</ref>
*[[George Bulman (pilot)|P. W. S. 'George' Bulman]] (test pilot)
*[[Sydney Camm]] (aircraft designer)
*Sir [[Malcolm Campbell]] (racing driver) 
*[[Jean Chassagne]] (racing driver)
*[[John Cobb (racing driver)|John Cobb]] (racing driver)
*[[Samuel Franklin Cody]] (pioneer aviator)
*Sir [[Billy Cotton]] (big band leader, entertainer, racing driver and pilot)
*[[Bert Denley]] (racing motorcyclist)
*[[Freddie Dixon]] (racing driver)
*[[Kaye Don]] (racing driver)
*Sir [[George Edwards (aviation)|George R. F. Edwards]] (key figure in Vickers and later BAC)
*[[Eric Gordon England]] (pioneer aviator, aircraft designer/engineer and racing driver)
*[[Ernest Eldridge]] (racing driver)
*[[George Eyston]] (racing driver)
*[[Dudley Froy]] (racing driver and pilot)
*[[Claude Grahame-White]] (pioneer aviator)
*[[Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster|The Duke of Westminster]], on the first committee<ref name=committee/>
*[[Frank Halford]] (engineer)
*[[Edward Ramsden Hall]] (racing driver)
*[[Gustav Hamel]] (pioneer aviator)
*[[Harry Hawker]] (pioneer aviator, aircraft designer/engineer and test pilot)
*[[Hilda Hewlett]] (pioneer aviator, flying instructor and industrialist)
*[[Bernard Laurence Hieatt]] (racing motorcyclist)
*[[John Stuart Hindmarsh|Johnny Hindmarsh]] (test pilot and racing driver)
*[[Percy E. Lambert]] (racing driver)
*[[Hugh F. Locke King]] (founder)
*[[Archibald Reith Low|Archie Low]] (flying instructor, test pilot and aircraft designer)
*[[Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale|Lord Lonsdale]]
*Sir [[Peter G. Masefield]] (journalist, pilot, airline executive and industrialist)
*[[John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu|Lord Montagu]]
*[[Richard G. J. Nash]] (racing driver and pioneer transport preservationist)
*[[Kishichiro Okura]] (racing driver, competed in the first ever car race held at Brooklands)
*[[Ron R. Paine]] (aircraft engineer, pilot and airline executive)
*[[J. G. Parry-Thomas]] (engineer and racing driver)
*[[Louis Paulhan]] (pioneer aviator)
*[[Adolphe Pégoud]] (pioneer aviator)
*[[Henry Petre]] (flying instructor, aircraft designer and Australia's first military aviator)
*[[Kay Petre]] (racing driver)
*[[Rex Pierson]] (aircraft designer and engineer)
*[[Howard Pixton]] (test pilot)
*[[John Cyril Porte]] (pioneer aviator, flying boat designer and test pilot)
*[[James Radley]] (pioneer aviator and racing driver)
*[[Joan Richmond]] (Australian racing driver, winner of 1932 British 1000 Miles Race, held at Brooklands)
*[[Henry Segrave]] (racing driver)
*[[Beatrice Shilling]] (engineer and motorcyclist)
*[[Fred Sigrist]] (test pilot)
*[[Thomas Sopwith]] (pioneer aviator, aircraft designer and industrialist)
*[[George E. Stanley]] (racing motorcyclist)
*[[Dr Desmond Stanley Hayton-Williams]] (pioneering surgeon)
*[[Joseph 'Mutt' Summers]] (test pilot)
*[[Prince Francis of Teck]], on the first committee<ref name=committee/>
*[[Brian Trubshaw]] (test pilot)
*[[Bert le Vack]] (racing motorcyclist)
*[[Alliott Verdon-Roe]] (pioneer aviator, aircraft designer and industrialist) 
*Sir [[Barnes Wallis]] (engineer)
*[[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]] (actor, entertainer & racing driver)
*[[Ann Welch]] (née Douglas) (pilot)
*Count [[Louis Zborowski]] (racing driver)
*Count [[Theodore Zichy]] (pilot and racing driver)
{{colend}}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" heights="120" perrow="3" caption="Brooklands Museum exhibits">
File:Vickers Vanguard Brooklands.JPG|[[Vickers Vanguard]] - G-APEP
File:Vickers Viscount at Brooklands.JPG|[[Vickers Viscount]] 800 - G-APIM
File:@Brooklands Museum (8).JPG|Engine of a [[Morgan Motor Company#V-Twin three-wheelers (1911–1939)|Morgan]] three-wheeler
File:Napier Railton @ Brooklands Museum.JPG|The [[Napier-Railton|Napier Railton]]
File:Racing Bike @ Brooklands Museum.JPG|Record-breaking [[bicycle]]
File:Napier Lion W12 @ Brooklands Museum.JPG|A [[Napier Lion]]
File:G-BBDG at Brooklands (7999497690).jpg|Concorde [[BAC Concorde G-BBDG|G-BBDG]] on display
File:McLaren MP4 6 F1 Show Car (53105696123).jpg|Jackson Shed, hosting historic F1 cars including a [[McLaren MP4/6]] showcar
File:Bentley @ Brooklands Museum.JPG|1929 [[Bentley 4½ Litre]] with a Vanden Plas body. It was originally supplied with racing Le Mans bodywork and competed in the first Double 12 event driven by its owner, H. N. Holder, alongside [[Henry Birkin]]: perhaps the best-known British driver of the 1920s and early 1930s.
</gallery>

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Beauchamp |first=R. H. |year=1984 |title=25 Years at Brooklands Track |publisher=Regency Press, 1984 |location=London |isbn=0-7212-0619-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/twentyfiveyearsa0000beau }}
* {{cite book |last= Gardner |first= Charles |year= 1956 |title= Fifty Years of Brooklands |location= London |publisher= William Heinemann Ltd }}
* {{cite book |last= Lynch |first= Brendan |year= 2009 |title= Yesterday We Were in America - Alcock and Brown - First to fly the Atlantic non-stop |location= Yeovil, England |publisher= Haynes Publishing |isbn= 978-1-8442-5681-5}}
* McSwein, Donald R. ''Brooklands Aircraft'' (unpublished 1993 research paper - copy held in Brooklands Museum's library)
* {{cite book |last= Venables |first= David |year= 2007 |title= Brooklands - The Official Centenary History |location= Yeovil, England |publisher= Haynes Publishing |isbn= 978-1-8442-5329-6}}
* {{cite book |last= Spooner |first= Nigel |year= 2024 |title= A History of Aviation at Brooklands in 100 Objects |location= Barnsley, England |publisher= Pen & Sword Airworld |isbn= 978-1-52679-091-0}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Brooklands}}
* [http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/ Brooklands Museum]
* [http://www.brooklandsmembers.co.uk/ Brooklands Trust Members]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160117150954/http://www.brooklands.org.uk/ The Brooklands Society]
* [http://www.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk/mbw/home.html Mercedes-Benz World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411130258/http://www.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk/mbw/home.html |date=11 April 2006 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081110120723/http://www.theheightsbrooklands.com/ The Heights, Brooklands]
* [http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/01/temple-of-speed-brooklands/ Brooklands: The crucible of auto racing] - Speedhunters article
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111005090844/http://www.scientificamericanpast.com/Scientific%20American%201900%20to%201909/6/lg/sci7271907.htm 7/27/1907;The Opening Races And Speed Trials on the New Cement Track of the Brooklands Racing Club At Weybridge, England]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zAwYScNYWOgU.kLTiFm1izaH8 Historic Purpose Built Grand Prix Circuits on Google Maps]
* [http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/relation/2343564 Brooklands Circuit in Openstreetmap]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHHbQ-s_0pM An aerial view of the surviving parts of the Brooklands Race Track 2017]
*{{Exploring Surrey's Past |place=Brooklands |access-date=30 May 2017 |fewer-links=yes}}
*http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/brooklands-track.html

{{British motor racing circuits}}
{{Elmbridge}}
{{Motorcycle speedway tracks}}

[[Category:Brooklands| ]]
[[Category:British Grand Prix]]
[[Category:Pre-World Championship Grand Prix circuits|Brooklands]]
[[Category:Defunct motorsport venues in England]]
[[Category:Defunct speedway venues in England]]
[[Category:Defunct sports venues in Surrey]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1939 disestablishments in England]]
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[[Category:Defunct airports in England]]
[[Category:Airports in South East England]]