2019 - Brooklands

   Members examine a Concorde aircraft (photo: Nick Withers)                                                                                  

May 2019 -  Brooklands

Over 30 members and friends of the Oxted & District Society enjoyed their annual summer outing in May 2019 to Brooklands, aviation and motor museum at Weybridge, organised by the Society’s Chairman, Peter Jarvis.

They were shown round the legendary racetrack with its steep embankments on the bends which operated between 1907 and 1939.  Following the era when the law required someone to walk in front of each car with a red flag, the ensuing national speed limit was 12mph.  At Brooklands, cars soon reached speeds of over 100mph .  The visitors were able to see many early racing cars, as well as racing motorcycles, pedal cycles and the London Bus Museum.

Less well known is the tremendous contribution made at Brooklands to early and later aviation by Tommy Sopwith, AV Roe and Barnes Wallis.  Many aircraft were made at Brooklands, including the Sopwith Camel, the Wellington Bomber and Hawker Hurricane, as well as the VC-10 and the BAC 1-11.  Much of Concorde’s design and manufacture took place at Brooklands and the History Society’s visitors were able to tour some of the air-liners on display, including Concorde and enjoy the Concorde Experience.