Editing Brooklands (section)

===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.