Saturday, March 20, 2021

Why didn't anyone ever have the guts to fix that damn track?



https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-shots-from-days-gone-by.428585/page-5335#post-12662667

7 comments:

  1. I always understood that to be Brooklands.

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    1. I got the bottom image from http://edouardcabayatelier.blogspot.com/2013/03/abandoned-territories-autodromo-de.html and he made the mistake.
      I noticed the same road to the infield in all photos

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  2. Actually that's Brooklands, the world's first purpose built race track in 1907, by the late 30s when these pics were taken the surface had deteriorated badly, mainly due to skimped costs in the construction. As it was, creator Hugh Locke King almost went broke building it. In later years encroaching housing forced more and more restrictions in the use of the track which didn't help its finances (all competitors had to use special silencers, 'Brooklands cans', to keep noise down).
    The first two pictures show the all time lap record holder, John Cobb, in his Napier Railton Special, 24 litres, 580 hp, 143.44mph lap. I've no idea who's driving the Bugatti in the third pic.

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    1. Jesse,
      With all the postings you make about stuff I've never even heard of, I don't think you need to worry about the odd teeeny weeny error.
      You could probably tell me that Ford once considered naming a car 'The Intelligent Whale' and I'd believe you.
      Thanks as always for the eclectic mass of postings you produce.
      Tony

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    2. That would be nerve-wracking, going airborne like that when going well over 100mph.

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  3. The car behind the Bugatti looks like the Barnato-Hassan Bentley powered special.
    https://www.facebook.com/SalonPriveUK/photos/pcb.10157304145234204/10157304142444204/
    Brooklands cans were required for both cars and bikes.
    https://simanaitissays.com/2014/05/24/brooklands-and-its-silencers/

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  4. Photo 3 is Earl Howe in his 3.3 litre Bugatti Type 59. An interesting 'then and now' photo:

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/gordoncalder/4506467476

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