Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. I agree that it should be preserved- it's kind of a mecca, for motorsport fans, after all. But the principal reason for it being hacked up, in this way, is that the brits needed more space for the Vickers aircraft company, who were building planes for the war effort. At the time, like so many things, it seemed like the right thing to do, and they didn't have a lot of time to consider options. After a chunk of it was removed, to allow a longer landing strip, it became fair game.
Great video Herman. On a trip to Goodwood, many years ago, we stopped at Brooklands to take some photos. I climbed up the members banking to take a drivers eye view of the track, but on descending the banking, I clumsily tripped over and literally flew down part of the banking, smashing up my knee and my old 35mm Olympus camera. Very painfull.! Still got the old camera, but 35mm film is a thing of the past just like Brooklands…. So sad.
Thank you. Yes it's a shame the worlds fisrt circuit was not preserved, but partly demolished. But as you said, it's because of WWII some parts are demolished.
Monza and Hockenheim were only damaged. At Brooklands they demolished a part of the track because they need space for the Vickers factory to build planes for the war. Quote from MrLargePig: "Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. I agree that it should be preserved- it's kind of a mecca, for motorsport fans, after all. But the principal reason for it being hacked up, in this way, is that the brits needed more space for the Vickers aircraft company, who were building planes for the war effort. At the time, like so many things, it seemed like the right thing to do, and they didn't have a lot of time to consider options. After a chunk of it was removed, to allow a longer landing strip, it became fair game."
You can imagine roaring engines, pre-war grand prix cars race there, a shame they demolished part of it, luckily others ancient tracks like Monza and Indianapolis still survive, although Monza's banked track is abandoned. Great video
Unfortunately, like a lot of personnel, it's life was cut short for the war effort. I agree it is a shame though, but there is something very haunting about an abandoned race circuit that always give it an amazing atmosphere. I wonder how many people drive past the Byfleet Banking on a daily basis and have no idea the history behind what they are looking at.
But Brooklands is in a busy surrounding area. The best abandoned circuit experience is when you're alone on a spooky track, like the Leyland Test Track, which I visited also this summer. You will see soon some footage of it. Also my first visit to Niveles, back in 1998 was a great experience. I even could enter the track by car. Now it's a business park. Another great spooky circuit is Morano Po in Italy, see this video ruclips.net/video/WGzntnAL1a0/видео.html
Circuits of the past If you believe in that sort of thing Brooklands do a Tour by Torchlight event once a month in the winter months where a guide takes you to parts of the circuit at night. They take place long after the museum closes for the day and a lot of people go in an attempt to have an encounter with the ghost of Percy Lambert, who at Brooklands, broke the first ever 100MPH average speed record. Unfortunately he was killed at the circuit trying to improve the record. I reckon it could be a very eerie place to be at that time. I remember seeing your Morano Po video and thinking exactly that :-)
I remember at the museum, they commented on how the aircraft hanger on the main straight was supposed to be a temporary structure but became more permanent when it became apparent that car racing wasn't going to return to Brooklands. Nonetheless, it's a track that is genesis, the first purpose built race track in the world. In some ways, the steepness of the banks of Brooklands remind me of Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama, the layout kind of reminds me of Daytona, and the original intention of the banks was to slow cars down before an accident (just like Darlington Raceway, South Carolina)
You missed the test hill, alongside the start straight and going up to the member's bridge. Brooklands museum is well worth a visit for anyone into racing or aero history.
Nope, I didn't missed the test hill. But it's not in this video ;) There are more Brooklands video's to come, from the Test Hill, Members Bridge, Mercedes-Benz World and a tour through the Brooklands Museum.
Maybe also some circuits in the USA. I visited Phoenix International Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Long Beach, and the sites of the lost circuits Ceasars Palace LV, Ontario Motor Speedway & Riverside International Raceway.
Circuits of the past I was gonna reply and say you should go there haha. I drive right by the speedway every time I drive to my university. It’s literally right across from the highway. I was able to go inside one time luckily, but I hear it’s tougher to do now and I haven’t tried in years. There is a man who still lives at the track though and cuts the grass to this day, and I hear he will give tours to people if you approach him. I hear they don’t like when people just show up and try to get in unannounced.
Y'know it's sad because my great great grandpa used to race on that track. I guess they had to demolish parts to make way for extra railroad... The track didn't deserve this #Bringbackthebrooklandsracetrack
As far as I know there are no parts demolished for a railroad. Parts were demolished first for an extension of the Vickers plane factory during WWII. Later to clear flight paths for the airbase inside the track. Here the full history: www.circuitsofthepast.com/brooklands-circuit/
That would be very cool. One problem, I don't have footage from the active years of Brooklands. I can take it from the internet with the risk of a copyright claim. Or buy it which will cost a lot of money. And I think I better spend my money to visit new circuit ruins :)
@@Circuitsofthepast- I don't mean video footage. Only pictures from then fading in the todays view. You can make a short break in your video in this position, fade in the old photo and fade back. That would be great :)
Sau cool das Du dir die Zeit nimmst (Freizeit?) und all diese Strecken besuchst und hier einstellst. Vieleicht kannste manche ja auch mit einer Onboardkamera abfahren.(soweit es geht) Des besseren Feelings wegen. ;-) Danke nochmals für diese hervorragende Arbeit. Hoffe Du machst noch lange weiter. Is traurig genug das all diese herrlichen Strecken schon in Vergessenheit geraten sind oder wegen dem lächerlichen Verein FIA "Verboten" wurden weil zu Gefährlich oder zu lang. (s.Hockenheim)
Wenn möchlich mache ich auch Onboard-Aufnahmen, sehe ruclips.net/video/Tlb0JRiiA_Y/видео.html Seit kurzem mache ich auch Luftaufnahmen von alten Rennstrecken mit einer Drohne. ruclips.net/video/wZVOZfsNRPs/видео.html
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
World's first purpose-built track, and we left it to rot. This is why we don't deserve to have nice things.
They should have preserved the whole track, instead of demolish parts.
Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. I agree that it should be preserved- it's kind of a mecca, for motorsport fans, after all. But the principal reason for it being hacked up, in this way, is that the brits needed more space for the Vickers aircraft company, who were building planes for the war effort. At the time, like so many things, it seemed like the right thing to do, and they didn't have a lot of time to consider options. After a chunk of it was removed, to allow a longer landing strip, it became fair game.
Thank you for this background information! And so the fate of the circuit was determined by history.
Try to destroy monument in the city - you'll go to jail for it.
Be responsible for demolish historic racetrack - nothing.
😢
Great video Herman. On a trip to Goodwood, many years ago, we stopped at Brooklands to take some photos. I climbed up the members banking to take a drivers eye view of the track, but on descending the banking, I clumsily tripped over and literally flew down part of the banking, smashing up my knee and my old 35mm Olympus camera. Very painfull.! Still got the old camera, but 35mm film is a thing of the past just like Brooklands…. So sad.
It's surprising how such an old track is still around for the most part and is memorialized.
Unfortunately, parts of the track are demolished. But great there are surviving parts to visit.
Well done, Hermann, and a damned shame. Glad the museum has hung onto a least a small portion of it.
Thank you. Yes it's a shame the worlds fisrt circuit was not preserved, but partly demolished. But as you said, it's because of WWII some parts are demolished.
@@Circuitsofthepast Monza, Hockenheim also were hurt during WWII but was killed later by stupid people, the same here
Monza and Hockenheim were only damaged. At Brooklands they demolished a part of the track because they need space for the Vickers factory to build planes for the war.
Quote from MrLargePig:
"Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. I agree that it should be preserved- it's kind of a mecca, for motorsport fans, after all. But the principal reason for it being hacked up, in this way, is that the brits needed more space for the Vickers aircraft company, who were building planes for the war effort. At the time, like so many things, it seemed like the right thing to do, and they didn't have a lot of time to consider options. After a chunk of it was removed, to allow a longer landing strip, it became fair game."
You can imagine roaring engines, pre-war grand prix cars race there, a shame they demolished part of it, luckily others ancient tracks like Monza and Indianapolis still survive, although Monza's banked track is abandoned. Great video
Thank you. I totaly agree, it's a shame what they did with the worlds first permanent circuit. They should preserved it.
Unfortunately, like a lot of personnel, it's life was cut short for the war effort. I agree it is a shame though, but there is something very haunting about an abandoned race circuit that always give it an amazing atmosphere.
I wonder how many people drive past the Byfleet Banking on a daily basis and have no idea the history behind what they are looking at.
Gavin Mills yeah, the atmosphere is unique, at least there is something left.
But Brooklands is in a busy surrounding area. The best abandoned circuit experience is when you're alone on a spooky track, like the Leyland Test Track, which I visited also this summer. You will see soon some footage of it. Also my first visit to Niveles, back in 1998 was a great experience. I even could enter the track by car. Now it's a business park. Another great spooky circuit is Morano Po in Italy, see this video ruclips.net/video/WGzntnAL1a0/видео.html
Circuits of the past If you believe in that sort of thing Brooklands do a Tour by Torchlight event once a month in the winter months where a guide takes you to parts of the circuit at night. They take place long after the museum closes for the day and a lot of people go in an attempt to have an encounter with the ghost of Percy Lambert, who at Brooklands, broke the first ever 100MPH average speed record. Unfortunately he was killed at the circuit trying to improve the record. I reckon it could be a very eerie place to be at that time.
I remember seeing your Morano Po video and thinking exactly that :-)
I remember at the museum, they commented on how the aircraft hanger on the main straight was supposed to be a temporary structure but became more permanent when it became apparent that car racing wasn't going to return to Brooklands. Nonetheless, it's a track that is genesis, the first purpose built race track in the world. In some ways, the steepness of the banks of Brooklands remind me of Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama, the layout kind of reminds me of Daytona, and the original intention of the banks was to slow cars down before an accident (just like Darlington Raceway, South Carolina)
You missed the test hill, alongside the start straight and going up to the member's bridge.
Brooklands museum is well worth a visit for anyone into racing or aero history.
Nope, I didn't missed the test hill. But it's not in this video ;) There are more Brooklands video's to come, from the Test Hill, Members Bridge, Mercedes-Benz World and a tour through the Brooklands Museum.
This must be the first video you’ve made where I’ve actually been to the place before!
Pretty rare for an American 😅
Maybe also some circuits in the USA. I visited Phoenix International Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Long Beach, and the sites of the lost circuits Ceasars Palace LV, Ontario Motor Speedway & Riverside International Raceway.
Circuits of the past
I live on the east coast so sadly no.
Love all your videos!
Thank you. I want to go to the east coast too, and visit North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Circuits of the past
I was gonna reply and say you should go there haha.
I drive right by the speedway every time I drive to my university. It’s literally right across from the highway.
I was able to go inside one time luckily, but I hear it’s tougher to do now and I haven’t tried in years.
There is a man who still lives at the track though and cuts the grass to this day, and I hear he will give tours to people if you approach him. I hear they don’t like when people just show up and try to get in unannounced.
I saw a documentary with this man. Have you any idea how I can contact him?
So sad that it wasn't rebuilt after the WW2, although I doubt with current regulations that the Banking would have been reused.
incredible
Y'know it's sad because my great great grandpa used to race on that track. I guess they had to demolish parts to make way for extra railroad...
The track didn't deserve this #Bringbackthebrooklandsracetrack
As far as I know there are no parts demolished for a railroad. Parts were demolished first for an extension of the Vickers plane factory during WWII. Later to clear flight paths for the airbase inside the track. Here the full history: www.circuitsofthepast.com/brooklands-circuit/
@@Circuitsofthepast oh when I saw the railroad I thought those were parts of the track lol.
Hi! I have an Idea. It would be amazing if you include then and now scenes in your Videos.
That would be very cool. One problem, I don't have footage from the active years of Brooklands. I can take it from the internet with the risk of a copyright claim. Or buy it which will cost a lot of money. And I think I better spend my money to visit new circuit ruins :)
@@Circuitsofthepast- I don't mean video footage. Only pictures from then fading in the todays view. You can make a short break in your video in this position, fade in the old photo and fade back. That would be great :)
Also on photos are copyrights.
How long is the Track??
Good question, I forgot to put it in the description. The oval was 4.45 Km, the Campbell Circuit 3.6 Km.
Sau cool das Du dir die Zeit nimmst (Freizeit?) und all diese Strecken besuchst und hier einstellst.
Vieleicht kannste manche ja auch mit einer Onboardkamera abfahren.(soweit es geht)
Des besseren Feelings wegen. ;-)
Danke nochmals für diese hervorragende Arbeit.
Hoffe Du machst noch lange weiter.
Is traurig genug das all diese herrlichen Strecken schon in Vergessenheit geraten sind oder wegen dem lächerlichen Verein FIA "Verboten" wurden weil zu Gefährlich oder zu lang. (s.Hockenheim)
Wenn möchlich mache ich auch Onboard-Aufnahmen, sehe ruclips.net/video/Tlb0JRiiA_Y/видео.html
Seit kurzem mache ich auch Luftaufnahmen von alten Rennstrecken mit einer Drohne. ruclips.net/video/wZVOZfsNRPs/видео.html
Inappropriate modern synthetic music... the drum machine snare sound is particularly awful...