Forgotten Race Tracks - Brooklands Race Circuit - The Dangerous Banked Oval

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

A rare example of a racetrack being turned into an airfield rather than the other way round.

[@Wahian1]

Back in the mid 70s during the year of the long heatwave--1976-I was passing by here one Sunday there was a load of old cars arriving here so I thought I’d follow them to see what was going on. It was a large waste land then with virtually nothing there but a big car show and driving around. You were free to drive on part of the banking so I did with my MK 1 Escort; it’s then claim to fame as having been driven on Brookland’s race track. The steepness of the banking put you off going too high into it!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'd love to drive what remains of Booklands,, thanks for sharing.

[@tnetroP]

Brooklands Museum is a thoroughly entertaining day for anyone interested in motor or aircraft history. Those banks are surprisingly steep to climb up or down too.

[@marionbloom1218]

Brooklands is a really, really good day out. Not only a fantastic motor museum but a great aircraft museum, lots of Vickers aircraft especially early jets you can walk through, a great bus museum, a huge "stratosphere chamber" to walk in, a superb display of jet engines, many cross sectioned, and a lot of history of Barnes Wallace and his work as well, including a replica of the test rig he used to study the physics of the bouncing bomb. Not many venues can boast BOTH a world class motoring history AND a world class aero history as well! If in doubt, just GO! But get there early - there is SO much to see! If you have any interest in anything to do with technology, a day at Brooklands will light your candle. Marion

[@AutoShenanigans]

I concur... It's a wonderful place

[@georgeoliver8300]

This track did have one race event in recent years when James may connected the entire full track for a race with Scalextric cars.

[@AutoShenanigans]

James Mays Toy Stories... an excellent series I thought.

[@sirhum]

Please could you do a video on Crystal Palace circuit which was an amazing track in south London. I believe there are still remains clearly visible and accessible to the public.

[@lushlover2023]

Visited Brooklands recently. Absolutely loved it. Couldn't get over the scale of the old race track.... Can't believe they built a housing estate and a huge tesco inside it

[@spitfire1962]

I watched this yesterday and strangely enough I ended up working next to the old track today!

[@bigsarge8795]

It's sad to see race tracks like this go away, but thank you for keeping the memories alive.

[@PondersEndModelRailway]

Last time I visited Brooklands was in 92, bit of a passing visit as opposed to actually visiting. Such a shame governments never saved it as a tribute to the motor-racing genius of the UK. Still we have the museum and part of it left. Great video

[@dw7920]

Am fortunate to be relatively local to Brooklands and have held yearly membership of the museum for years. There is so much hidden away in there that just when you think you've seen it all you stumble upon another hidden bit. It's an awesome place and your video does it justice. (Nice use of the Thames ident at the end too btw).

[@Oliver-l1c]

A small disagreement...ah, the British art of understatement!

[@BludgeonedGuitarist]

I hate the fact that we destroy historical race tracks for new roads and buildings. As a race driver myself it actually hurts seeing this disrespect towards our race history

[@FJx36]

Fun fact about Brooklands Racetrack. It is STILL the longest oval ever. Even longer than Daytona and Talladega

[@davidlewis6464]

I have driven (illegally) my late MGB GT on the Members’ Banking. It was at an MG Owners’ Club meet in ‘92. When your speed hits the ‘sweet spot’ for the angle of inclination,(which was at my MG’s flat-out speed of all of 103mph!) it suddenly feels as if the car is going in a straight line on a flat and straight road, the only difference is that the horizon is suddenly skew whiff! The next challenge is to get down off the banking before you meet the fence across it! And that banking is a lot steeper than it looks towards the top!

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's really steep!! Sod driving on that!

[@MattWhiteMattWPBS]

Ha! I work just down from there on The Heights business park. You missed the old pits in the middle of the car park. 🙂 If you go down the park you can get to the old bridge across the river too.

[@davidlewis6464]

Way back in 1991, the MG Owners’ Club held a rally at Brooklands. Long story short, the Members’ Banking was used as the car park and towards the end of the day, a number of us decided to drive along it. Very naughty but great fun. The banking is a LOT steeper than it looks on camera. I did find that when my battered old MGB GT hit the ‘sweet speed’ for the angle of the banking (well north of 90mph, the old girl was giving it her all), it suddenly felt like I was driving in a straight line on a level road, except that the horizon was suddenly at a crazy angle!

[@Mewhen12369]

i remember watching a James May program on this like 13 years ago,

[@rayward43]

You should do the Crystal Palace race track. It used to hold F1 grands prix, and it was also where Charlie Croker’s boys blew the bloody doors off.

[@gordonwillis2215]

Also suggested that. Shame London council never preserved that either.

[@dimosk7389]

i watched some of your videos. judging by the quality of the script, the presentation, the editing, the filming, the music, you really deserve much more subs and views. amazing work. subbed and watching more of your great vids!!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks, it's been a massive learning curve and we're getting better as we go!

[@PiousMoltar]

Loving the piano renditions of F1 music, thought I was watching The Tim Traveller for a sec :P Another great video. This channel is going to blow up at some point, I'm sure. It's nuts you don't even have 500 subs yet!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Love Tim Traveller and the guys got piano skills for sure! Thanks for your feedback... It's getting there and building nicely.

[@bobblebardsley]

Later the same year... 37,500+ subs 👍

[@woodencoasterfan]

Henry Segrave set a few land speed records over here on the sands of Daytona Beach, Florida. He became the first person to break the 200 mph barrier by setting the record at 203 mph. He then set a new record at just over 231 mph in his Golden Arrow car in March of 1929. That record still stands as the fastest speed on the measured mile on Daytona Beach.

[@BeavisPits]

Wonderful! My grandfather used to race here in the 1920s.

[@peteryoung4957]

It's lovely to see that so much has survived of the track into 2020's

[@andykilvington1651]

Excellent! It is a great place for a day out though, have to agree.

[@lolno3641]

very underrated content! I love these videos :)

[@AutoShenanigans]

Many thanks for watching! :)

[@rhodesi6]

Love the sarcastic satire througout your videos, great to watch!

[@mikeythefish46]

Good work, love the outtakes too 🤣

[@AutoShenanigans]

haha, I try not to be too serious. thanks for watching!

[@Wahian1]

Great channel that appeared on my recommended videos listing. One racing driver that often raced there in his early years was Jack Warner. Decades later he became a household name as Dixon of Dock Green. When Cliff Richard used to do his UK tours, his helicopter would arrive at Brooklands when he arrived to go to his home nearby.

[@TheLifeEvents]

7:50 Tesco in the background! My Son and I just got back from a trip to Brooklands and Mercedes, we live in Wakefield. Had a great time, and noticed how the circuit was still present in many locations. Thanks so much for this great video.

[@nickbarber2080]

My Gt-uncle raced at Brooklands as a side-car pilot before the war.

[@hiball890]

Had a walk around the old track a few year ago, was out that way for work on an overnighter. Could only get a good scale of the angle when i was stood on the top of a corner. stunning if not a bit quiet Had a walk around the Mercedes museum too, lovely Gull-wing in there.

[@skithewhitestuff]

What a great video. I love the way you put the old music theme’s in, takes me back. Thanks

[@nigel9843]

Great video John, really interesting, with the great quality of your videos you should have more subscribers.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate. We're getting there!

[@anthonygodsell]

Just come across your channel, great content, absolutely love the history of race circuits in Britain.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Welcome to the shenanigans. It's all a bit strange but I hope you enjoy your stay. Thanks for watching!

[@MrGreatplum]

My kids have been there on school trips and I’m very jealous - I’ll take myself there one day!

[@Ralnon]

Came here off the 100000 subscribers video. To show the Forgotten Race Tracks vids some love.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot mate!

[@asciimation]

Magical place if you are into the history there. And thanks for showing the Byfleet banking. Shame so little is left. I am building a car named after it as it was designed and raced there back in the day.

[@rogerstone3068]

The museum is a wonderful testimonial to British racing and engineering, and the aircraft connections are even more impressive. That Concorde is there for a reason. They also have the only surviving Wellington bomber. There's Malcolm Campbell's car showroom, motorcycle workshops, and the Napier-Railton, track record-holder. Just trying to walk up the banking is an experience in itself. Also, a bus museum, if you're into those.

[@AutoShenanigans]

You can only appreciate the steep banks after a visit in person.

[@marcwaller3657]

There's a Wellington at the RAF museum at Cosford too but it's under restoration and not currently viewable.

[@Jacob-vf2wt]

It took me way too long to realize what the small disagreements were lol

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

keep up the good work with the videos, theyre alot more, than the title implies, you fill them full of interesting content, cheers

[@moominpapa1980]

That Holiday music ❤❤❤

[@namugriff]

Always said I would visit this old track. Go past it all the time on the train.

[@AutoShenanigans]

A great day out and worth the trip.

[@neilsmith2047]

Thank you for the video. Very informative and intriguing. Much appreciated. Another place to visit I think.

[@MrKpsuk84]

Three theme tunes for the price of one in this video - Coronation Street, BBC Holiday programme (c.1990s) and the Thames Television jingle to finish

[@cool110]

You missed that the first part of the background music is a piano cover of the F1 theme

[@MrKpsuk84]

@@cool110 having rewatched it I didn't hear the F1 theme but I did miss the background music in the middle being the TV theme to Man In A Suitcase/TFI Friday

[@cerneuffington2656]

It's the BBC's Holiday theme tune 🌞

[@bobblebardsley]

Explains why my phone couldn't recognise the 'Spanish-sounding' music at the end, I knew I recognised it from somewhere and was convinced it was the intro to a Geri Halliwell song (although the 'sting' at the end of it registered in my head as a TV theme but I couldn't remember what).

[@chebal2939]

Brilliant place, thoroughly recommended you visit 👍🏻

[@nickbarber2080]

Family legend relates that Gt Uncle Walter raced at Brooklands as a side-car pilot in the inter-war period.

[@tristanpage6805]

Great video

[@bryan3550]

Ta for the realistic exposé .👍

[@Your__maker]

I’m excited to binge this playlist today! Great video mate.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Lovely, I hope you enjoy the series! There might be another episode coming out soon ;)

[@Your__maker]

@@AutoShenanigans notifications on in that case 👍🏼

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Awesome..

[@johnwinters4201]

I don't think anyone could reasonably describe Brooklands as forgotten.

[@crazykittenvideos855]

Great video, found myself thinking of TFI Friday

[@doctorwalex]

Wow. absolutely excellent episode. Cheers.

[@BikerStuff]

When we visited brooklands in 1988 we asked a security looking guy if we could take pictures of the track and was told no, you cannot damage it. We said, we won't walk on it, just take a few pic, but was still told no.

[@PurityVendetta]

I rode my classic Norton cafe racer there on an owners club day. We were allowed to ride as fast as we dared up the test hill. We were allowed to ride back to the bottom of the hill via the Members Banking and back down the start finish straight. The condition of what's left of the track is appalling but at least I can say I rode on Brooklands. And yes, that banking is bloody steeper than it looks!

[@davidbarlow350]

Did you know the BSA Gold Star was named after the award for a 100mph lap at Brooklands?

[@PurityVendetta]

@@davidbarlow350 Yes, Brooklands Club awarded a series of star awards for various endurance and speed records set on the track. BSA did get a little gung ho with the Gold Star monica. Calling models designed and built long after the track had closed including the famous DB34 model.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great video as always, always a place I want to visit at some point just for the experience of saying I have been to brooklands!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching mate... Yeah for sure, it's totally worth a day out, there's so much to look at! Even if you don't fancy paying the £18 entrance fee, the surrounding area has enough to keep you busy.

[@ivorjones6618]

i went many years ago to deliver a porta cabin to the indusrial est did get to walk on the banked track or what was left off it

[@TalesFromTheBlahSide]

First sighting of the top of your head.

[@peterwsanders]

It's a great museum. You don't get any impression from pictures or videos just how high or wide the track is.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

There was, btw , no speed limit on the M1 when first opened.

[@derkultvontrump]

First time I went, they had a Barnes-Wallace bouncing bomb outside and an amazing anechoic chamber(a room that completely deadens sound). I went back a few years later and the chamber had been removed and the staff didn’t even know the bomb was there, covered in grass and moss☹️ Still a great place to go for the day🔆👍

[@davidacseager]

The museum now has a full set of Barnes Wallis's bombs including both the Upkeep and Highball bouncing bombs and Grand Slam and Tallboy earthquake bombs.

[@gordonwillis2215]

Hiya how about crystal palace race circuit in London. It last ran 50 years ago in 1972.

[@pauldevenish]

Good suggestion! Some great racing there back in the day.

[@deaks25]

Finished binging my way through the Secrets of the Motorway and All The Service Station series', so guess I'll binge my way through the channels back catalogue...

[@still_guns]

You neglected to mention that the last race held on the circuit was in 2009, when James May and a group of local volunteers built a scalextric track around the circuit and raced a pair of cars all the way around it.

[@AutoShenanigans]

The toy stories series... what a great show.

[@thewanderercourier]

There’s a Concorde at brooklands?

[@AL_THOMAS]

Yes and it's wonderful. If you ever go, get the Concorde experience. It's amazing. The banked curve is seriously steep!

[@jollyrogererVF84]

Yes there is 😀

[@christopherdwyer9496]

Yes parts of concord were developed and buiilt on the site. My Grandad was part of the design team. I have several early memories of wandering around there as a child.

[@georgef822]

Not sure if you're aware but you can go on car rides on the bit of the old race track for £1 per head inside the Meuseum. It's quite an experience. You'd still have to pay the entry fee though so don't go there specifically.

[@TNT-projects]

We took sot triumph TR’s there in the 1980s , we backed up the banking and most of the cars leaked oil out the gearboxes

[@delboy7039]

Do they still use the 'hill climb' part of the area/circuit.?

[@a11oge]

yes they do, and I have driven my Morgan up there a few times, on open days.

[@zarrow50]

Brooklands is mentioned in Rising Damp

[@krispugsley5704]

nice, my old stomping ground

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Went to an Italian car event here 15 years ago, fantastic place. Got to drive on the banking👍👍👍

[@chrimbo90]

Each video is worth a look purely for its opening music 😂

[@justinress2782]

No,sleep,till Brooklands 😂

[@stephencooper1307]

Very good video, not the Coronation street music, it sounds like old people .

[@dionwilkinson3028]

top gear used this didnt they for the buggati veyron and some other cars? may of been a different track actually

[@AutoShenanigans]

James May did an episode of "Toy Stories" here and I think top gear have probably done various bits.

[@Woodie-xq1ew]

I believe it was VW’s test facility in Germany where they drove the veyron

[@gordonwillis2215]

@@AutoShenanigans have you looked at doing crystal palace circuit?

[@shashanksaikumar]

It’s heartbreaking to see the first purpose built in the world look like this today. If I had the money, I’d buy it in a heartbeat and reopen it to everyone who want to come and race and be silly.

[@AdeReeves]

Considered many times nipping over there myself...don't need to now 😄

[@AutoShenanigans]

Definitely worth a look if you're into this sort of thing. There's also Mercedes next door where you can thrash one of their cars for a while ;)

[@AdeReeves]

@@AutoShenanigans Sold :)

[@AldershotDave]

5:32 - Brooklands is FAMOUS, NOT infamous!!

[@petrolhead28]

Parking for mb World is on the track.

[@andysmith5997]

I wish Albert Tatlock and the Ogdens were still in Coronation Street

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

And Ena Sharples and Minnie Caldwell getting pissed on Milk Stout in the snug with Uncle Albert.

[@e28forever30]

Don’t mention the war! 😁

[@96Decibels]

The sadness is that if this was in the USA it would be a national heritage site (or something), but hey, we're British, so it's fine to just carve chunks out of it and sell parts of it off, then realise in hindsight that we made a huge mistake in doing so, then attempt to save what's left. It's just what we do.

[@gordonwillis2215]

I totally agree. It should have been preserved 80 years ago

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Did you not watch the video, it was bombed during the war so was never going to be a race track again, plus there are plenty of abandoned race tracks in the States that have just been left to rot, so 🤷‍♂️

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

It’s ironic that Mercedes have a facility there considering the little argument in ‘39-45🤷‍♂️

[@JohnAdams-kc8wx]

The man with a plan and the money. And a pipe…

[@surfblue63]

Not been for a few years. Used to go to the annual Mini show kzbin.info/www/bejne/poeog2OViMilr5I

[@jasonharding9490]

How the devil are you? Have you had a good week?

[@dannygroom3327]

Hey I didn't see ken or deardry, what gives?

[@GazMoby]

Button to show appreciation has been depressed 👍

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Not sure I’d class Brooklands as forgotten.

[@HROM1908]

Bollocks. It was NOT a dangerous banked oval. No one has died there since the racing stopped ! Ergo, it is the cars and drivers that contribute to any danger.

[@runlarryrun77]

IRREFUTABLE LOGIC.

[@alanvt1]

Useless! I want to see the overall the track as it was: and what remains! , I l see bits here , what has been lost? In essence: then and now!

[@DrewWithington]

Why are you so judgemental? I think the video gives a very good idea of what the track is like now, definitely shows the best bits. I know the area very well, used to work in Byfleet. You can easily look on Google Maps/Earth to see where the track used to go, and what has been built on. There is a lot more history to Brooklands than just the race track, for example VC10 airliners used to be built by Vickers at a factory here and took their first flight from the Brooklands runway.