Martin Gegg looks at contemporary reports for the first official
Brooklands race meeting after World War One and reports on the highlights.
Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection I
n August 1914, the roar of racing was replaced by the sound of aircraft after Brooklands was taken over by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for the duration of World War One. The track fell into some disrepair and contemporary reports blame RFC lorries for the damage. However, there were already some issues with the track, possibly related to the speed and novel nature of the building project. Pictures published in January 1920 show large cracks to some of the slabs and grass growing from the joints. The newly formed Royal Air Force handed back Brooklands and undertook repairs to the track, but it was not until March 1920 that repairs were complete and the circuit was ready for racing. Those attending would have noticed some changes since 1914. The original Itala Motor Works close to the Fork had been replaced by the Vickers sheds which were soon to become an iconic focus for so many photos. The Old Blue Bird café, used as an Officers’ Mess, was no more, having burnt down in 1917. Lindsay Lloyd, now a Colonel, was back as Clerk of the Course.
Jack Emerson on the 398cc ABC. He went on to win the Victory Handicap on this bike at Brooklands that
was run over 8 miles and 842 yards.
Racing resumes In March 1920, the British Motorcycle Racing Club (BMCRC) opened entries to the Easter Monday Meeting to be held on Bank Holiday Monday, 5 April, with practice available from Thursday 1 April. This was to be the first racing on track since two small events open to Service Personnel and a Royal Aircraft Factory meeting in 1915. It was significant that from 1920, motorcycles were no longer included in Brooklands Automobile Racing Club (BARC) events, although this first event was to include the Essex Handicap which was a car event run by the Essex Motor Club. The premier race was to be the Victory Handicap open to all classes of motorcycles followed by seven other races. On the day, people queued for half a mile in the pouring rain only to be told the racing
MARCH - APRIL 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
