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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VSCC Winter Tests

Following last years introduction to the world of the Vintage Sports Car Club at Brooklands, I decided to give it another try. Unlike last years snowed out January date this year things went ahead as normal, the sky was blue and cloudless and the temperature, in the sun at least, was quite pleasant. As its always more fun to have a car full on these trips the whole family and my brother jumped in for the drive over, through the ticket gate at the old banked circuit we were soon amongst the pre war rides.



Winner of the “best radiator cap mascot” this MG was sporting a very nifty Schneider Trophy Supermarine Spitfire model with turning prop.



Dressed for the weather!



The first test we headed for was the infamous “Test Hill” a mighty stretch of concrete that climbs from the flat to a staggering 1:4 at the top, pushing the pram up the track alongside was a bit of a struggle, but worth it for the views at the end.







Walking on to the Members Bridge we got a birdseye view of the banking based tests, cars on skinny tyres skittering along on the damp surface.





Easing our way down the slope, the thought of a runaway baby hurtling into the carpark below, I was thankful for hiking boots today! Back on the flat we watched one of the many salmon style auto tests, each laid out in cones to confuse the drivers.



One of our cars of the day, the 1911 Scat Racer, 9.5lts of thundering engine hurling a couple of wicker chairs strapped to the chassis along.



We took a wander round the paddock, marvelling at the variety of cars on show, each one showing signs of heavy use in the mud and leaves of the tests.









While the last of the morning tests was run we nabbed a table for lunch and then had a walk round the museum, there is far more to look at than is possible in a day, but I’ve been a few times now so selected my favourite sections to peruse, before heading back up to the banking for the afternoon tests.





We ended up following this 1932 Morgan three wheeler round a few tests, its driver running a hand throttle to ease the 990cc engined car round.







I took to the banking myself, but chickened out mid way up as the slope got steeper.









With the sun going down the temperature was dropping too, so we took a last wander round before heading for home. A fantastic day out and a great introduction for Lily to the high octane world of motorsport.





The rest of the photos can be seen here

Steve.


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