Vintage trials and other Brooklands based fun

I decided once again my first motorsport hit of the year had to be the VSCC Winter Trials at Brooklands, tagging along with me for the day was Brooklands virgin Malcolm. After a brief history lesson on the way in we headed straight for the test hill via the coffee stand! There are five trails, all involve circumnavigating a series of cones set out in the various arenas. The test hill is a slope stretching up to the members hill. Starting at 1:8 and increasing through 1:5 to 1:4 at the top its a challenge for pre war cars.





From the test hill you can wander over to the Members Bridge which offers amazing views up and down the banked track.









On route to the next trial we popped into the vast hanger that houses the aircraft display. Dominated by the crashed Wellington bomber that was puilled from Loch Ness.





As well as the trials cars there were lots of other pre 1930s cars parked around the museum grounds.







Moving up on to the banking we watched a few of the cars through their trials as they slid on the damp concrete and wet leaves.







After a bite to eat we wandered round the other buildings of the museum, I've seen the cars before, but its still amazing to see vehicles from the dawn of the sport as well as those from the 60s and 70s.





Then it was time to warm up with chips!



Back on the banking we saw the last of the trials, the temperature was nippy to say the least so we moved round them quickly.











A new addition to the museum is the relocated Chobham Bus collection, being a fan of anything motorised and the fact it was in doors meant we stopped of for a bit.







With the trails almost over we decided to head off home via the next door Mercedes World. For Malcolm a BMW employee it was an uneasy trip! As well as the modern cars in the showroom there are several older classics.











And with that we headed home, warmed by the heated seats of a BMW and having experienced some superb driving by hardy drivers. The rest of the photos are here

Steve.

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Great start to the VW year

This time last year I was blogging about a really disappointing Bracknell, our Passat was the only car in the carpark and we left early after a quick cuppa with some friends. The rest of 2011 went down hill and by the summer we’d pretty much given up on it. An influx of new team members and a new chairman at the end of the year saw the meets gaining popularity via good advertising. This has carried across to 2012. On first glance it looked like it would just be two Bays, but within minutes of us arriving the party started. Lily was snoozing in the front so I took the opportunity to snap away as I was there on my own.



A trio of Type 3s drove in, two Squarebacks and a Notch. This Square was riding on air and there was mere mms between beam and tarmac.





Beetles were well represented as well.



As were Campers.





Infact I think short of a Type 4 we had everything covered from air and water cooled with the 25 cars that turned out.



And if you haven’t got a VW that’s running…..improvise like Andy.



My photography assistant had awoken so after a walk around she took to the buggy for some snapping.







Getting chilly and with the light beginning to fade we all headed off, once again Lily enjoying every minute of being up front, she leapt at the chance to get behind the wheel again when we got home.



It was a brilliant start to the year, if we can keep this up the club is on the up once more. The rest of the photos can be found here.

Steve.

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Classics on the A30

I’m nothing if not predictable, its New Years Day and I’m at the Phoenix Inn on the A30 for the massive classic car meet, I say massive as its now stretching further down the A30 than ever before, both sides of the road, up the middle and along the dual carriage way as well. I must be half a mile of road taken over now and the variety keeps on coming. We took a two pronged approach with Kim, Lily and Emma heading down in the push started Passat (new battery for a new year!) and me in the Camper, after a couple of passes we eventually found a space and parked, setting off on the long walk.







The main carpark wasn’t as full as usual and the VSCC cars were very thin on the ground, I suspect they have all uprooted to Brooklands who have a bigger area to contain the cars and the added bonus of the museum and track to look round. I’ll keep with the A30 as its £30 cheaper for our little group than Brooklands would be.



We bumped into Alan looking round, back for more after his first year in 2011, the variety and mini Wheels Day feel drawing him in, where else could you see an Austin Maxi and Rolls Royce side by side!









Back out on the road the spaces were limited and the owner of this Moke enlisted some friends to lift it into a slot on the pavement!





Biggest vehicle of the day went to this mammoth Peterbilt that set car alarms off at 20 paces. With Kim nattering to the Kennedys I set off down the centre of the A30 for some snapping.











With the Passat push started again (new battery was collected on the way home and fitted, fingers crossed for a fix) I took one last wander around. I didn’t count but there must have been several hundred cars and a thousand people.








And with that it was off home> I really enjoy this varied classic start each year, lets hope 2012 brings more automotive fun.

Steve.

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