news BTM rides at Montlhéry
Daisy’s prize-winning Hurricane
In May, members of the Motorcycle Team were in action on the Montlhéry Circuit south west of Paris. The banked oval track dating from 1924 was inspired by Brooklands and was the location of many record-breaking runs as restrictions on night running and noise began to have an impact on Brooklands. Twenty Team members took 10 bikes
to the 5th Vintage Revival. The preparation was particularly challenging, taking place against an impending Brexit. As we all know, Brexit did not happen in March, but we will now be much better prepared for any future trips to France. After good weather for Friday’s scrutineering, we experienced monsoon conditions overnight that resulted in a collapsed gazebo. Luckily none of the bikes were damaged and we were kindly supplied with a replacement gazebo and additional storage by the organisers. The Team lost two sessions on Saturday
Rocks and road roller
morning, but with a bit of creative accounting we managed to catch up during the weekend. It meant riders and bikes were seen on this historic track, while friends and family handed out French versions of Museum leaflets. The Team are indebted to the Curatorial Department for assistance with motorcycle transport. All other transport, accommodation and entry fees were picked up by those attending. Martin Gegg
Daisy Fulcher is the 11-year old grand- daughter of member Nick Worth. She was inspired by his love of aircraft to create a project about Brooklands as part of her school’s history work on World War Two. Daisy researched by visiting the Museum and talking to the volunteers. She brought the finished work into the Members’ office with her proud grandad and we were delighted to learn she had won her school’s history prize for it.
Daisy says: ‘I first went to Brooklands with my grandparents when I was four. We saw Father Christmas on the VC10, which was much more exciting than a grotto. ‘I especially like looking around the planes and the old hanger. Brooklands has so much history which made it perfect for my project. The volunteers are brilliant and helped by telling me lots of information. They made me really believe in the project. I made a massive Hawker Hurricane out of cardboard to accompany my project. Brooklands’ own teddy, Bertie, flew it.’ We say well done Daisy and we hope that you enjoy many more visits to Brooklands with your grandparents.
Tim Morris
Some essential tarmac repairs were made in July by contractors and trainees working for Kier who have a major contract with Surrey Highways and this includes a responsibility to help young local people find jobs in the highways sector. We have hosted a number of fortnightly training schemes in recent years and in return benefitted from professional repairs to various tarmac roads and paths around the Museum.
8 BROOKLANDS BULLETIN | SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2019
Potential recruits are introduced by experienced staff to team work, safety procedures and relevant tools and machinery. Under careful supervision, trainees repair hard surfaces around the Museum. This latest course saw 10 trainees repair many potholes and fully resurface several large areas south of the Paddock before successfully completing their course here. They then went on to start a 12-week paid placement with Kier before hopefully securing full-time employment. In May, the Campbell Lawn was extended closer to the rear of the Racing Lock-ups with contractors removing a neglected and overgrown border. Regular site work parties continue to tackle a variety of maintenance jobs on Wednesday afternoons. On 3 July another corporate work party from local company GSK cleared vegetation encroaching on Test Hill. They enjoyed the challenge of improving access to the east side of the Aircraft Park by laying several tons of ballast and then compressing it with our classic 1960s road roller!
Julian Temple
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