Back to Brooklands

Many cars raced at Brooklands between 1907 and 1939, but few genuine ones still exist. At this year’s Brooklands Society’s Reunion 29 took part. Of these, only the AstonMartin ‘Green Pea’ was deemed unsuitable for the Test Hill ascent, while the 1922 Akela GN, the exMichael May Alvis Silver Eagle, a 1932 500 Mile Race Aston Martin, the ex-Earl Howe/Hartwell and Whitney Straight/Dick Seaman K3 MGs and the Horsfall Aston Martin funked the banking cavalcade.

Keith Schellenberg brought the Bamato-Hassan, the second-fastest Brooklands’ car, at 142.6 mph, and seemed to enjoy himself. At the recent Napier Heritage

Brooklands Rally successful ascents of the Test Hill were made by the Napier-Railton, driven by Chris Williams, Tony Jones in the wellknown 1908 Napier Sixty, the NMM’s Sixty, Lord Montagu present, and the 1904 TT Hutton. Among the distinguished guests were Mrs Kilvinton, youngest daughter of the late SF Edge, and David Napier, the grandson of Montague Napier.

Meanwhile, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Peter Briggs had the marvellous replica of the famous racing Napier ‘Samson’, the work of the late Bob Chamberlain. The great car was brought from Australia for the occasion and ascended the hill in about 87sec.