Brooklands Trust Members Forum

Tatra 603 in the Paddock

2011-08-01T20:03:25Z

This Tatra 603 arrived unexpectedly today in the Paddock.
What a fantastic car and a very rare example of a luxury Czech vehicle from the 1960’s
These were only issued to high ranking political or industry figures.
2.5litre rear mounted engine hence the stylish air scoops on the side and the long swooping rear window.
I’ve certainly never seen anything like it at Brooklands or anywhere else !

I thinik it’s one of those love it or loathe it vehicles - personally I’d go for the former and it atracted attention when it swooped down the Campbell Circuit.

Vieux Charles Trois at Crystal Palace.

2011-04-24T09:21:17Z

In the May Motor Sport it recalls the day in 1937 when the 1912 Lorraine Dietrich was demonstrated at the Crystal Palace circuit. That’s the Lorraine Dietrich that’s in the Jackson Shed for those readers who may not know that it still exists, by the way! I’m fascinated by this car and stand and stare at it when I’m volunteering and love talkiing about it to visitors. I long for the day when it runs again which, I hope, won’t be long. I hope we’ll be told when it’s going to be started up.

I’d like to drone on a bit longer if you don’t mind. At Crystal Palace that day, in front a crowd of 30,000, the first ever car race was held ten years after the first motor-cycle meeting. One of the races of the day was for the Coronation Trophy which was held in two heats the first won by Pat Fairfield in an ERA and the second by Raymond Mays also in an ERA. The final was won by Fairfield and there is a picture of him holding the fabulous (in my opinion) Coronation Trophy. What happened to that trophy, I wonder? Anyone know? Of course, the link between ERA’s and Brooklands doesn’t need repeating here. Did Farfield’s and Mays’ cars set off for Crystal Palace from Brooklands that morning, I wonder.

Cyrstal Palace was a fabulous little track (some of it is still there) fast, undulating and spectacular (just like race tracks use to be) but rather narrow which, I suppose, finished it off as racing drivers these days seem to need run off areas as big as Sainsbury’s car park. In 1972 I saw one of the last if not the last international race meeting on the Palace circuit. It was a F2 race for top drivers of the day like Stewart, Regazzoni, Rindt etc. I remember it was a fast and exciting race on a tremendous circuit - just like they use to be.

All the best,

NickB

Napier Railton back at Brooklands

2011-04-19T23:02:18Z

Yes the NR returned to Brooklands last week after a lengthy stay at P&A Woods in Essex for somework to its engine. It’s back now with a gorgeous looking clean engine that sounds brilliant !

Here it so on its first day back with us.

the ex-Whitney Straight Duesenberg.

2011-05-02T16:36:23Z

Hi Tim,

Do you have any news about the Duesenberg? I was told ages ago that the engine is being re-built. Is that still the case? I’d love to see it running and wondered if there is a time-frame for it to be finished.

Thanks,

Nick.

Triple Headlight Austin

2009-09-14T22:11:15Z

Spotted this on the way home the other day parked in front of the clubhouse. Loved the unusual middle headlamp. It’s a rare Austin A90 Atlantic convertible. The middle light is a spotlight but gives it a distinctive and unusal appearance.

Fire Fire !

2011-03-22T21:38:38Z

Managed to get this shot of the Thornycroft fire engine running today in front of the VC10

NIce Lagonda today

2011-03-22T21:18:26Z

Spotted this nice Lagonda today outside the Clubhouse - one of Staines’s finest !

One for the Cortina Fans

2011-02-16T22:33:55Z

Came across this little photoshoot by the Shell pagoda today . It featured a rather nice Mk4 Cortina (Or is it a Mk 5 Dave ?) which I am told is the last one made. It has only 2000 miles on the clock and is from the Ford Heritage Collection.

The other car is the modern Ford equivalent - don’t ask me which one it is as they all look the same now !

The shoot was for Which? magazine and the pictures were toi illustrate an article on petrolprices then and now.

Interesting cars in the news - 3

2010-12-31T18:38:16Z

January 2011 will be the 50th anniversary of the production of the one millionth Morris Minor. So,what do we know about this car? Senior car enthusiasts (like me) may identify it as being a favourite of the District Nurse, a Dinky Toy dark green GPO van and an estate car with “wood along the side”. All correct, but such associations do not do this car justice in any way. It was an Issigonis design (younger readers (if there are any) please note: Alec Issigonis designed the Mini which says it all - and I mean the BMC Mini - not the BMW MINI). It was a design that was years ahead of its time as you’d expect from Issigonis; a wheel at each corner for great handling and road holding, a comfortable interior, good visibility, light controls and ease of driving. I never owned one but I drove many and it was always great fun; the handling and cornering levels were high, it had a good turn of speed, it was stable, it had good brakes, you could hang the tail out on roundabouts, it had a rasping exhaust note and it was cheap to run. What more coud you want? Maybe they should make one now. Anyway, there were two and four door saloons, an Estate car, a convertible, pick-ups and vans. They’ve been raced and rallied. It sold by the million. Even now there are specialist Morris Minor dealers, restorers, spare part manufacturers and owners clubs. It was and still is one of those cars that people love and cherish and want to maintain and keep running. A great little car and one I still appreciate to this day. If I ever get hard-up and can no longer afford to run a “eurobox” I’d buy a Morris Minor 1000 two door saloon!

Best wishes,

NickB

p.s.Come on you Morris Minor fans out there (and I know you’re there) let’s hear your views and thoughts on this great British classic!

Interesting cars in the news - 4

2011-02-22T22:01:48Z

The Renault 4L.
In the early 1960’s a school friend’s father had one. He had the local newspaper concession and used this car to transport piles of newspapers all over NE Essex, where I was living at the time. When I first saw it I thought it was a bit of a joke; an estate-car, very tinny, pale blue (they all seemed to be), nose-heavy stance, skinny wheels, Michelin X tyres, weird canvas seats, dash mounted gearlever, front wheel drive and an impression that it would be blown away by the next gust of wind. But when I rode in it I was pleasantly surprised. Admittedly, my friend’s father was a nut behind the wheel, but, blimey, did that thing go - or it seemed to. Especially round corners. It would lean at incredible angles as it stuck to the road while we clung on by our fingernails (no seatbelts in those days). Whilst the suspension was soft the road-holding was terrific. My friend’s Dad said you could drive it across a ploughed field as the suspension was so pliable. He was an expert with the dash mounted gear lever; snicking it in and out while revving the engine for dear life – flat out in every gear. It was a pretty good car, actually, and my first real introduction (at close quarters) to a French car. It was quirky, for those days. I’ll never forget those blasts up to Snetterton.

NickB