Editing Brooklands (section)

==History==

===Brooklands motor circuit===
<!-- 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>[https://classiccarcatalogue.com/sport/BROOKLANDS_1000_1932.html J.C.C. British 1000 Miles Race 1932, classiccarcatalogue.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204182231/https://classiccarcatalogue.com/sport/BROOKLANDS_1000_1932.html |date=4 December 2020 }} Retrieved 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>[https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Brooklands-1932-06-04-7626.html 1000 mile Brooklands, www.racingsportscars.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206043709/https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Brooklands-1932-06-04-7626.html |date=6 December 2020 }} Retrieved 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 novelle ''[[Gudrun (Johannes V. Jensen)|Gudrun]]'' from [[1936]] takes place at the race track.<ref>{{Cite Q | Q97019463 }} Pages 126&ndash;129.</ref>

Racing stopped when [[World War II]] started in 1939. The site was turned over to war-time 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.