excitement surrounding the Brooklands race. Even so, there was a lots of criticism of the track’s surface and French former sprint champion Edmond Jacquelin said: ‘If a rider took to the centre of the track, he would find it remarkably harsh. If he took to the inner edge, the tyres would not last 10 laps.’ In the end, the winner was JH Bishop from the Beaumont Cycling club in a time of 4hrs 51mins 27secs.
Growing popularity Cycle racing became a regular feature at Brooklands, but its heyday came in the 1930s. Between 1933 and 1939, there was an increased number of races each year. In that final year before the outbreak of the Second World War, there were 19 cycle race meets and the last was held on 27 August just days before war was declared. This was a 100km points road Race that was won by JT Manning of the Charlotteville Cycling Club in 2hrs 37mins 50secs. Before that, Brooklands was the site of
SF Edge remained a keen cyclist when he became better known as a racing driver. Here he is with a Rudge-Whitworth bicycle.
a 100km World Championship Trial race on 17 June, 1933. The World Cycling Road Race was due to be held at Montlhéry, France later that year, so it seemed a good idea to hold a race at Brooklands to select a British team. Organised by AV Jenner for the Charlotteville Cycling Club, the track took in the Outer Circuit and Test Hill on each lap to make a very challenging course.
The wet weather conditions made this race even harder for the competitors and the finish was fought between three riders. At the end, JJ Salt won in a time of 2hrs 55mins 53secs from WF Burl in second who was three lengths behind. Third placed H Sutton was only five lengths adrift of the leading pair.
An early Rudge using the ‘safety bicycle’ design that replaced the Ordinary ‘Penny Farthing’ to make cycling easier and faster.
Post-war cycling While motor racing didn’t resume at Brooklands after the Second World War, cycle racing did make a return. It took until 1969 before it did reappear and this was down to Wallie Stimson of the Weybridge Wheelers cycling club. He approached Sir George Edwards of British Aerospace to ask if Brooklands would host a race as part of the annual Byfleet Parish Day with any profits going to charity. Sir George agreed and this 30-mile race was open to professionals. Reg Smith of the Carlton- Truwel-Campagnolo team won in 1hr 6mins 30secs. From 1971, the Brooklands race was opened up to amateurs alongside the professionals. By 1982, there were four races, comprising a Schoolboys 5.5-mile event, 4.5-mile Tricycle race that was won by a certain Bob French, a Ladies/Juniors/
MARCH - APRIL 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 35
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