June 2008
Jeremy Hall's 40ft long Lancaster fueselage mock up, which was originally built at Pinewood studios for a TV series and also used for the 2003 TV program on the Dambusters raid, is being kindly loaned to the museum for the Aviation Centenary event on 7th June.
It was transported to the museum thanks to Anthony Hunt, Paul Swift and the Langley Vale Service Station of Epsom.
May 2008
A flying replica of the first successful A.V.Roe triplane, also the first successful all-British aeroplane (built by a group of volunteer aeronautical engineers based at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester) has now arrived at the museum to take part in the Aviation Centenary celebrations on the 7th June along with the museums own biplane project.
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The following 2 aerial photos of the Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World sites were taken recently by Gary Savage at Alan Mann Helicopters Ltd, Fairoaks Airport. (Click on an image to view a larger version.)
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Photo © 2008 Gary Savage, Alan Mann Helicopters Ltd, Fairoaks Airport. | Photo © 2008 Gary Savage, Alan Mann Helicopters Ltd, Fairoaks Airport. |
May 2008
TUESDAY 20 May: The Viking was extracted from the hangar to make way for the Roe1 & Roe Triplane replicas prior to the arrival of the marquee for 7 June. It turned out to be an all-day event with some 'shuffles' on skates to position it correctly for moving out of the hangar & then beside the VC10 fuselage. Some of the other aircraft had to be moved out temporarily and looked great beside the Concorde!
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WEDNESDAY 21 May: An ex-RAF Jetstream was delivered and re-assembly begun. This is being stored at Brooklands on behalf of the Brooklands College. The work was being undertaken by college staff and pros!
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March 2008
The Camel ran its engine twice on the 18th (the first time in some 5 years) after engine repairs and receiving a new propellor.
Saturday 26th May 2007
A 4/10 scale model of Concorde which has had pride of place at London's Heathrow Airport entrance for 16 years has found a new home at Brooklands Museum.
Passengers travelling by road to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 passed the site where the model was previously located and is thought to have been seen by more than 400 million people in the last 16 years.
The model has now been re-assembled in a temporary position at the museum until a new permanent located is ready.
April 2007
Search for Top Poodle to Celebrate Motoring Centenary
HOT on the paws of Crufts, Brooklands Museum in Surrey is looking for a new dog star to make the headlines. But the specification of the canine required by the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation is very specific. It must be a white, male, standard poodle with a utility or lamb cut that is benign of nature yet ready to ‘turn it on’ for the cameras.
Brooklands, the first purpose built motor racing circuit in the World, celebrates the centenary of its opening this June and one of the high points will be a grand charity ball on Friday, June 15.
The connections between a handsome dog and a charity ball may seem remote but Hugh Locke King who gave up his own land and his fortune to build Brooklands in 1907 had another passion other than motoring and that was his succession of pet poodles – all called John. Hugh and his wife Ethel were never seen without John loyally at their heels, riding in the family cars or curled up at their master’s feet in family portraits.
When found, the 21st century equivalent of John will be temporarily re-christened and join the actors that play Hugh and Ethel Locke King at the Centenary Charity Ball being held at Brooklands Museum’s neighbour Mercedes-Benz World. He will greet guests at a lavish drinks reception and then settle down with his own dish of specially prepared tasty treats. Of course his proud owners will also be able to sip wine and mix with the great and good of Surrey and personalities of the motorsport world.
Click here to view the full press release
Thursday 8th March 2007
After 2 years off the road, the museum's Merryweather Airfield Fire/CrashTender has now had the brakes attended to and is operational again thanks to the efforts of Tony and Martin (pictured right). It was driven around the museum with the bell being rang much to the delight of some school children who were visiting the museum at the time.
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Saturday 3rd March 2007
Students from the University of Surrey had a one-day volunteering blitz at Brooklands Museum on Saturday March 3.
A group of 26 students helped with various maintenance tasks across the 30 acre Museum site, including cleaning museum vehicles and aircraft exhibits as well as repainting the Museum's hands-on gallery Discovery@Brooklands and parts of the Museum's Jackson Shed Grand Prix Exhibition building.
Student volunteers were recruited for the one-day tasks along with a group of students who regularly volunteer at Brooklands on the Concorde project. The day was a great opportunity for the students participating on the Concorde project to showcase their progress on the supersonic aircraft to other students & for both to help out at the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation.
This activity was organised as part of national student volunteering week.
23rd January 2007
Arrival of the AEC/Swift Sparshatts B36D airport bus from the RAF Museum at Cosford.
This unusual bus was built in 1972 for use at the airport in Bangladesh. It was modified for use in conjunction with covered walkways to aircraft in the monsoon season. It was, however, never delivered and used by British Airways in and around Heathrow Airport. The front-loading door is an unusual feature and this prohibits its use on British public roads.
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Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. | Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. |
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Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. | Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. |
January 2007
Formula 1 Williams Joins the Brooklands Museum Collection
An important Formula 1 Williams race car that provided victories for Australian driver Alan Jones has joined the Brooklands Museum collection and has pride of place in the Museum's Grand Prix Exhibition.
The impressive Cosworth engined car in Saudia Airline livery dates from 1980 and is designated a Williams FW07B .
The car was designed by Patrick Head and Neil Oatley and took the ground effect principles of the 1978 World Championship winning Lotus 79 several steps further with aerodynamic input from Frank Dennis.
With the financial backing to run a two car team in 1979 Frank Williams chose the late Clay Regazzoni to partner Alan Jones and it was the Swiss driver who scored the first Grand Prix win in the new car at Silverstone.
Jones then went on to win a further four races in the car ending up with third place in the 1979 World Championship.
By the end of 1980 Jones was World Champion with a further five wins to his name driving the FW07B that is on display in the Museum.
Jones' last run in the car was the non-championship Australian Grand Prix at Calder Park Raceway in 1981 when he emulated his father Stan's victories in the 1950s.
The car now belongs to Tony Smith, Chairman of the Thoroughbred Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
Click here to view the full press release
Thursday 4th January 2007
VC10 front fuselage movement
The front fuselage section of Vickers VC10 G-ARVM was successfully craned into position ready for the two halves to be joined together again.
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Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. | Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. |
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Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. | Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. |
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Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. | Photo © 2007 J.Temple. All rights reserved. |
January 2007
Gwenda Hawkes: Memorabilia Recalls A Great Brooklands Woman Driver
The importance of competitive women racing drivers in the Brooklands glory years of the 20s and 30s is evidenced by a collection of personal effects and memorabilia that has been donated to the Brooklands Museum and is on display in the Ladies Reading Room in the 1907 Clubhouse.
The selection of items belonged to Gwenda Hawkes and reveals her life as a highly accomplished driver achieving world and class records often on equal terms with men.
Thrice married Gwenda raced at Brooklands as Gwenda Janson and Gwenda Stewart but married her third husband, Douglas Hawkes, in the late 1920s. Born Gwenda Glubb in Preston in 1884 she was the sister of Glubb Pasha who built up and commanded the Arab Legion between 1930 and 1956.
Coming from an adventurous family in World War 1 she drove ambulances on the Russian and Romanian fronts and in World War 2 served in the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service. Between the two World wars she raced giant cars on the great banked Surrey circuit that was the birthplace of British motorsport. She is particularly remembered for competing in the Museum's 1933 single seater Duesenberg in the 1936 BRDC 500 miles race sharing the drive with its then owner, Jack Duller.
The items now on display include a number of presentation cigarette cases, the plaque presented to her for participating in the 500 miles race and more personal items such as her wartime national registration identity card. A short walk to the Motoring Village from the Clubhouse will give visitors the chance of seeing the Ferrari red Duesenberg she drove in the famous race.
With Douglas she ran the Brooklands Engineering Company in the 1940s. Gwenda Hawkes died in 1990 aged 95.
John Pulford, Curator of Collections at Brooklands Museum, said: "These items help us to remember the bravery and skill of women drivers at Brooklands. Gwenda's name sits alongside those of others such as Doreen Evans, Jill Scott, Margaret Allen, Kay Petre, 'Flying Fay' Taylor and Elsie 'Bill' Wisdom who are all remembered in the Ladies Reading Room."
Click here to view the full press release
28th December 2006
Prototype Pedal Car Brings 'Joy' to Brooklands Museum
JOY1 is a true one-off having been produced in strict secrecy at the Austin Longbridge factory in 1947. It was intended to go into production being built by disabled miners but the elegant prototype turned out to be the only one ever created although the deserving miners did go on to produce a single seater model race car and then the more famous Austin Devon pedal car.
The Austin 8 was conceived by head of Austin Motors Sir Leonard Lord and was designed and subsequently built by two skilled metalworkers.
The pedal car, owned by Ian Nelson, is on loan to Brooklands Museum for several months from the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon which is undergoing an extensive programme of refitting.
Click here to view the full press release
