Alfa at brooklands

Brooklands Italian Car Day

October 25, 2021 By pete

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

A huge thank you to our friends at Auto Italia magazine for making the Brooklands Italian Car Day happen, and for the loan of a hi viz tabard (high level photo pass) to allow me to take shots during the lunch time demo sessions on the Mercedes Benz World test track.

As the Editor pointed out last week, there are three or events that attract rare Italian cars; Concorso Italiano in the US, Milano AutoClassica in Italy, the even larger Auto Moto d Epoca in Padua, and the Brooklands Italian Car Day in the UK. I have covered the UK event now for many years, and it is always a joy.

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Brooklands Italian Car Day, 2019

May 14, 2019 By pete

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

May 4, 2019 Brooklands

Driving into the designated Alfa Romeo parking zone at the Brooklands circuit brought to my mind the long-term car park at Turin airport, except that the Turin long term car park nowadays is full of Kias and Volkswagens, not Fiats and Alfas.

Passing through the gate at Brooklands into the museum, this year we Alfa drivers had our own entrance, which avoided the queue at the Campbell gate. The Alfa section was 360 degrees of Alfas, so I placed my creaky old GT Blackline next to another GT. [Read more…] about Brooklands Italian Car Day, 2019

Brooklands Museum Double Twelve Trackside

July 4, 2017 By pete

The Naper Railton belongs to the Brooklands Museum.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Jonathan Sharp again hit the road on June 17th for the VSCC/Brooklands Museum Double Twelve Motorsport Festival. And this time it was truly a special event as it was the 110th anniversary of the opening of the famous track in 1907. In addition, Lord March cut the ribbon to open the restored Main Straight, previously blocked by WWII structure. The re-enactment of the opening parade of 17th June 1907 was led by David Ayre’s 40HP Itala – the same model as was used by Ethel Locke King to lead the original parade.

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Brooklands Double Twelve: In the Paddock

July 4, 2017 By pete

P-3 in the paddock.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

VSCC/Brooklands Double Twelve programme took place the weekend of June 17-18 2017. Everyone is familiar with the Le Mans 24 hour race, first run in 1923. Less well-known is the British equivalent, the Brooklands Double Twelve race. Vintage Alfa Romeo fans may recall the event, however, as the first running of the Double Twelve was in 1929, the winner being Giulio Ramponi driving a 1500cc Alfa Romeo at an average speed of 76 mph.

So why was it called the Double Twelve, rather than the Brooklands 24 hour race? In an effort to appease the local residents of nearby Weybridge, nighttime racing was banned at Brooklands, so the race was run in two 12 hour heats on consecutive days. [Read more…] about Brooklands Double Twelve: In the Paddock

Italian Car Day at Brooklands

May 10, 2016 By pete

This 1965 Fiat 850 Coupe benefited from spending the first 50 years of her life enjoying Italian sunshine. Behind on the banking is a rather more recent baby performance Fiat, a 100 HP Panda.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

On Saturday April 30, the gates to the Brooklands circuit were opened at 8am to let in the first arrivals for the annual Italian Car day. I am told those early arrivals had started to queue at around 6.30 am. Such is the popularity of this annual event which is now in its 31st year.

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Italian Car Day at Brooklands, 2015

May 5, 2015 By pete

This is billed as a 1905 Fiat with an Isotta Fraschini 250 hp engine. Apparently Fiat drew plans to create record car in 1905 but aborted the effort. The drawings were picked up by Mike Vardy who recreated the monster using a Gar Wood supplied I-F aero engine.

Probably the most appropriate Fiat for Brooklands Italian Car Day. This is billed as a 1905 Fiat with an Isotta Fraschini 250 hp engine. Apparently Fiat drew plans to create record car in 1905 but aborted the effort. The drawings were picked up by Mike Vardy who recreated the monster using a Gar Wood supplied I-F aero engine.

Story and 40 Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Having just returned from the annual Italian Car Day at Brooklands in Surrey (May 2-3 2015) I think they will need to come up with a new cliché to fit the event. It’s still the right crowd but as to crowding, I do not think I have seen the old place so full…Italian cars everywhere. Lamborghini’s under Concordes, Fiat 500s around the Vickers Vanguard, Alfas not just in their main display area but also spilling out along the old banking as well.

Probably the most appropriate Fiat for Brooklands Italian Car Day. Note the chain drive which is an unusual reverse drive set up. Whichever direction, one does not wish to have the chain break at speed, which is limited to 120 mph though no doubt would go faster with a brave man.

Note the chain drive which is an unusual reverse drive set up. Whichever direction, one does not wish to have the chain break at speed, which is limited to 120 mph though no doubt would go faster with a brave man.

I think I have mentioned before but this event is not just about the exotics, of which there are plenty. It’s the stuff you just do not see any more. Immaculate Mk1 Fiat Pandas rub shoulders with 850 Coupes. Fulvias behind a line of Fiat X19s. New Giuliettas next to the original models. Abarths old and new. I felt like a kid in a sweet shop, these were the cars I wanted to own back in the 1980s but could not afford them then, and with certain cars still can’t.

Brooklands is also about aircraft, so you will see some photos of significant WWII aircraft interspersed with the Fiats; we hope you don’t mind. In fact, we’ll begin with a Loch Ness Legend…

Vickers 290 Wellington MK1A N2980 R. 11,461 Vickers Wellingtons were built, 2515 of which were constructed at Brooklands. Only two Wellingtons remain and this is the only Brooklands-built example. First flown on the 16th November 1939 by Vickers chief test Pilot Mutt Summers the aircraft was then issued to 149 Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. The aircraft took part in the infamous Heligoland Bight raid on the 18th December 1939. 22 Wellingtons took part, 11 returned. During a training flight on the 31st December 1940 she developed engine trouble and the pilot was forced ditched into Loch Ness. All of the crew managed to escape but alas the rear gunner was killed when his parachute failed to deploy. In 1976 a group of American divers searching for the Loch Ness Monster found her and she was finally returned to the surface on the 21st September 1985. After 45 years under the water she had remained in a remarkable state of preservation-even the tail lights worked when connected to a new battery.

The annual Italian car day at Brooklands just seems to make people smile!

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