The Car Rides story
by Chris Cuss
The car line-up in 2008 – Chris Cuss’s Riley, Roger Chamberlain’s NG, Chris Ralls’ ‘GA’, Barry Grimsey’s NG, Graham Appleyard’s hot-rod, Fred Davis’s ‘number seven’ and Anthony Saunders’ Humber (Chris Ralls).
T
he opportunity for visitors to have a car ride up the Test Hill and onto the historic
banked Track is now such a part of the Brooklands experience that it is difficult to remember how it all began.
Back in the late 1980s members of local vintage and classic car clubs were invited to come along on special occasions, usually for fund-raising, to give rides to invited guests. These were quite formal occasions. Henry Brooks recalls asking Nick Mason if he could use his Aston Martin that was then on display in the Museum. Having secured Nick’s agreement the Museum told Henry that he would have to wear a jacket and tie as Prince Michael would be attending. Henry argued that if white overalls were good enough for Goodwood, then they should be for Brooklands. Since then ‘whites’ have almost become de rigueur for the Car Rides team.
Later on Henry brought along his 1934 Morgan
three-wheeler and the Museum allowed several cars on display to be used, driven by staff members. The vehicles usually used were the M-type MG Midget, the Railton Terraplane and an Alvis 12/50 that was on loan from a vicar. About this time rides for general admission visitors began as there had often been disappoint- ment when they were told that rides were only for certain groups.
Due to the wear and tear caused to ‘proper’ old cars, after some discussion the Museum agreed that period-style kit-cars could be used. Because of the need for four seats, to allow families to be accommodated, the choice was quite limited. Several kit-cars were suitable, including the NG
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The early days, left to right Henry Brooks, Graham Appleyard, Roger Chamberlain and Barry Grimsey in 2006 (Chris Ralls).
based on an MGB or the Spartan based on a Triumph Herald. Henry purchased one of the latter which became the famous ‘number seven’ and was subsequently owned by Graham Appleyard and Fred Davies, before finally suffer- ing terminal mechanical problems and moving to an honourable retirement.
Graham has done more for Car Rides than anyone else. He responded to an appeal in the Friends’ newsletter for owners of interesting cars to help with rides and brought along a two-seater special based on a Land Rover that he had constructed. Realising that it was not family- friendly, he then constructed an Edwardian ‘Mr
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