Brooklands

Brooklands was a 2.75mi motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfields, which also became Britain's largest aircraft manufacturing centre by 1918, producing military aircraft such as the Wellington and civil airliners like the VC-10.The circuit hosted its last race in 1939 and today part of it forms the Brooklands Museum, a major aviation and motoring museum, as well as a venue for vintage car, motorcycle and other transport-related events.HistoryBrooklands motor circuitThe Brooklands motor circuit was the brainchild of Hugh F. Locke King, and was the first purpose-built banked motor race circuit in the world. Following the Motor Car Act 1903, Britain was subject to a blanket 20 mph speed limit on public roads: at a time when nearly 50% of the world's new cars were produced in France, there was concern that Britain's infant auto-industry would be hampered by the inability to undertake sustained high speed testing.Apparently drawing inspiration from the development at Brooklands, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built soon afterwards, and held its inaugural race in August 1909.Requirements of speed and spectator visibility led to the Brooklands track being built as a 100ft wide, 2.75mi long, banked oval. The banking was nearly 30ft high in places. In addition to the oval, a bisecting "Finishing Straight" was built, increasing the track length to 3.25mi, of which 1.25mi was banked. It could host up to 287,000 spectators in its heyday.