Brooklands and Mercedes Benz - What A Great Day Out!

by Riccardo Monza on Apr 28th, 2011

Badger's Riccardo Monza headed over to check out what all the fuss is about with Brooklands Museum and Mercedes Benz World and here's his report...

Fancy a day out this year with a taste of old and new? Then look no further than Brooklands! Constructed in 1907 at Weybridge in Surrey, Brooklands was the world's first purpose built racing circuit, and over the years became the site of many engineering and technological achievements.

The 2.75 miles (4.43 km) oval was the creation of Hugh Locke-King, who sensed a need for a high-speed testing environment, as Britain's national speed limit was just 20 mph (32 kph) on public roads at the time. The resulting concrete track sported mighty high banking on the Outer Circuit, which rose to 30 feet (9m) in places. Later an infield section was added, bisecting the oval, and zig-zagged its way across to form the Campbell Circuit, along with a short version known as the Mountain Circuit. Another section of track was also added called the Finishing Straight, which on occasion featured tricky chicanes, as was the trend at other European circuits. If that wasn't enough, the steep Test Hill was also built in order to put machinery through its paces for industry folk, or for hard-charging competitors.

Unfortunately motor racing shuddered to a halt with the outbreak of WWII, never to return again. The site was then used solely as a place for the production of military aircraft, which it had dabbled in for a long while as Vickers Aviation had maintained a factory there since 1915. When hostilities finally ceased, the race track's repair bill was sadly just too pricey, as it had sustained damaged from aerial bombardments, and so that was that. Most of the track is still there, but you'd struggle to do a whole lap as office-blocks, supermarkets and houses have sprung up here and there making any racing renaissance quite impossible. Having said that, James May recently managed a world-record-breaking Scalextric race, there rather amazingly!

The centre-piece of the Brooklands Museum is the Clubhouse, topped with its towering green dome. Within it you can find many of the rooms in their original period spec (even the toilets!), along with exhibits, memorabilia and a cafe. Surrounding the Clubhouse is the "Motoring Village", incorporating various sheds housing some incredible racing machines from yesteryear. One of the museum's most treasured cars, the Napier-Railton, stands proudly within the company of Morgans, Talbots, and Bentleys, some of which look not much more than a bath tub on wheels, but ooze plenty of charm and character. The bravery of the racers who thundered around the banked oval in these things at 135mph (217kph) is admirable. Drivers such as Selwyn Edge, Louis Wagner, and Percy E Lambert, who took part in the first ever British Grand Prix, 500 mile races, 24 hour races and speed record attempts. It was not all cars though, as motorcycles and even bicycles raced in the heyday at Brooklands and these two wheeled beasts are also on display.

A Grand Prix Exhibition houses more vintage racing vehicles along with some more modern ones, including a bright yellow Jordan, and a Marlboro McLaren which was once driven by triple champ Ayrton Senna. Walk a bit further down the shed and your appetite for racing will increase dramatically! A rather splendid F1 simulator sits invitingly in the guise of Mika Hakkinen's McLaren! Kick your shoes off and climb into the cockpit for a 2 lap blast around the banked oval -terrific stuff!

The second half of the museum is devoted to high speed machines of the flying kind. Aviation has a rich heritage at Brooklands, where pioneering flight trials were conducted, and later the production of jet airliners. The sleek and beautiful Concorde takes its place proudly amongst the other planes on show, though an additional fee is required to climb aboard and experience supersonic luxury at very low speed and altitude!

Being the school holidays when I visited, Brooklands had laid on a bit of family entertainment by offering rides up the Test Hill and round onto the oval, for a quick blast on the banking! Hang on to your hats kids, this was like riding a roller-coaster and not to be missed! A choice of vintage and modern cars were available to suit all tastes, driven by very friendly volunteers. Throughout the year many historic car and aviation events are laid on, so check the events diary before planning your trip.

Just a 5 minute walk from Brooklands Museum and well worth a visit is Mercedes-Benz World. Rising out of the landscape like a spaceport from a science-fiction film, M-B World contrasts sharply with the vintage green look of the Brooklands Museum. Indeed, plenty of chrome and silver paint has been daubed generously around the spectacular multi-storey showroom that houses many of the German brand's wunder-cars. Ride the escalator to the top level to enjoy views over the purpose built track that fits within the Brooklands oval. If you can't afford to buy the latest road car, why not treat yourself to hiring one for the day to test your driving skills around the twisty Handling Circuit or Wet Skid Circle?

The F1 fan is not overlooked at M-B World, as a clutch of modern cars are on display - two McLarens, a Force India and of course the Mercedes GP car. In an adjacent room another Mercedes GP car has been dismantled and hung bit by bit from the ceiling, in the name of art - it's impressive! Later if you fancy a moment's relaxation from looking at all the exhibits, you can step into the cinema and watch a 20 minute film explaining where on earth all these silver cars came from!

Come lunchtime, you may want to try a bite from the cafe or restaurant, and in between mouthfuls glance out the window to enjoy the daily show from the Silver Arrows Display team, burning rubber around the track in their AMGs. Sometimes during the off-season F1 drivers such as Lewis Hamilton can be seen having a darn good go themselves!

So, what are you waiting for? There's plenty going on down at Brooklands, that's for sure! Check their websites for forthcoming events!

• Brooklands Museum
• Mercedes Benz World

And while you are working out when you can go, here's a gallery of pictures to enjoy...