26 replies to this topic

[Tim Murray]

I've just heard about this, courtesy of an item on BBC Radio 4's PM programme. The Brooklands Museum has been awarded a lottery grant which it will use to move the Wellington Hangar and restore the Finishing Straight:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/n...surrey-31491554

[Vitesse2]

Looks like it's going to be a major move-round. I found this on the Classic cars for sale site.

 

 

Compared to the view on Google Earth, it's quite a change. They're even moving Concorde and turning it round!

 

Google Earth's timeline view also has an immediately post-war aerial picture. I'd invite anyone interested to compare what they can see to Bill Boddy's obituary for Brooklands in Motor Sport in early 1946. There's also some newsreel on Pathe, featuring Earl Howe.

[Gary C]

it's been in the pipeline for some while, Brooklands themselves had to source a fair bit of money before the Lottery Funding was given the OK, which they've now got. I'm personally looking forward to the re-instatement of the Finishing Straight.

[Gary C]

er, Vitesse, Concorde has been in the position it's in in the drawing for at least the last 2 years!

[Vitesse2]

I bow to local knowledge! It wasn't facing that way the last time I was there!

[john ruston]

Would have thought Concorde is the easiest thing to move.

Seem to remember we moved one of them from Heathrow to Edinburgh.

By road and barge.

Sure Alan Wynn will shout if he needs help.

[Gary C]

The Concorde won't be moved. The VC10 fuselage will be though, to make room for the Wellington Hangar's new position.

[jonpollak]

Hooray...my local track makes a lottery funded comeback.

I am going to Daytona tomorrow to talk to Brian France about this.

 

Jp

[garyfrogeye]

Concord is currently in that location but facing the other way. Well at least it was on New Year's day.

So what's happening to the workshop/Hangar that's currently just to left of the test hill?

[Glengavel]

Would have thought Concorde is the easiest thing to move.

Seem to remember we moved one of them from Heathrow to Edinburgh.

By road and barge.

Sure Alan Wynn will shout if he needs help.

 

Road, barge and cross-country!

 

http://news.bbc.co.u...and/3635535.stm

 

[Gary C]

The Wellington Hangar will be moved to where the VC10 fuselage is currently. So it'll be on the side of the Clubhouse, don't know which way it will face though.

[Odseybod]

The Wellington Hangar will be moved to where the VC10 fuselage is currently. So it'll be on the side of the Clubhouse, don't know which way it will face though.

 

Alan Wynn was saying a couple of months ago that the Wellington Hangar was originally designed to be a portable structure and they'd soon be putting that to the test.

 

I'm really looking forward to the refurb, which sounds ambitious but very sympathetic.  Then remains just to knock down that supermarket and a few houses, fill in the gaps in the banking, maybe a slight resurfacing in places and ....

 

In the meantime, well worth visiting if you haven't been for some time for the 4D Napier-Railton experience and to see the incredible Barnes Wallis climate chamber for testing aircraft fuselages at altitude.  No, I'm not on commission. 

[DogEarred]

About 4 or 5 years ago I contributed a few bob to the Hurricane restoration.

 

The website today said it is currently being restored to taxying condition. Does anybody know it's up to date story, Please?

Edited by DogEarred, 19 February 2015 - 10:10.

[Vitesse2]

I think rebuilding the Hennebique Bridge might be a bit of a challenge, Tony!

[Vitesse2]

Google Earth's timeline view also has an immediately post-war aerial picture. I'd invite anyone interested to compare what they can see to Bill Boddy's obituary for Brooklands in Motor Sport in early 1946. There's also some newsreel on Pathe, featuring Earl Howe.

Oops - it's actually Movietone! The opening shots show the Wellington Hangar and what remained of the Finishing Straight, panning round to the Clubhouse. Notice the scoreboard still in situ!

 

http://www.movietone...sultsPerPage=10

 

Earl Howe's piece - while it was the argument used at the time - ignores the fact that the SMMT and the newly-established MIRA were already looking for an alternative along the lines of Dearborn, the Opelbahn or Milford and which eventually resulted in the establishment of the MIRA testing facility on the former RAF Lindley.

[Odseybod]

I think rebuilding the Hennebique Bridge might be a bit of a challenge, Tony!

 

Expect they're already mixing the concrete (in their mind).

[BRG]

Then remains just to knock down that supermarket and a few houses, fill in the gaps in the banking, maybe a slight resurfacing in places and ....

Not to mention the UK HQs of Sony and Kia Motors and some other companies.  I'm sure they wouldn't mind.  Of course, Tesco and M & S can stay as they are inside the track.  

 

The pity of the last upgrade of Brooklands - courtesy of Mercedes - is that it killed off the kart track that had just been developed to host major events and bring back racing to the area..

[Tim Murray]

It’s just been announced that the Brooklands Museum is on a shortlist of five for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018. The winner will receive £100,000, which is claimed to be the biggest museum prize in the world. Each finalist receives £10,000. The winner will be announced at the V & A on 5th July.

https://www.artfund....eum-of-the-year

Here’s wishing them the best of luck.

[Cirrus]

Hear Hear! The Brooklands Museum is brilliant in a very understated way. It's not "The Brooklands Experience", it's just a great, atmospheric place in which to immerse yourself for a few hours.

 

Good luck to everyone involved!

[Tim Murray]

Sadly for the Brooklands Museum, the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018 award has gone to Tate St Ives:

https://www.artfund....f-the-year-2018

[Vitesse2]

Sadly for the Brooklands Museum, the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018 award has gone to Tate St Ives:

https://www.artfund....f-the-year-2018

Hmmph!

 

Still, I suppose the metropolitan luvvies with holiday homes in Cornwall will appreciate it.

[Pullman99]

Sadly for the Brooklands Museum, the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018 award has gone to Tate St Ives:

 

Not too sad.   This is the largest single museum award in the world and each of the five finalist - Brooklands included - will have received £10,000 so well done to the team at Weybridge for, at least, making it that far.    Tate St Ives has had a considerable impact on tourism levels in Cornwall and their £20M extension that gained the main prize of £100,000 is well deserved in such context as it will help both the local economy as well as ensuring future conservation and display of highly important and internationally renowned artworks.

 

There is, however, a major gap in funding between what are seen as primarily arts orientated schemes and the often crisis led heritage of our industries and transport.   The two Titians bought for the nation for £100M from The Duke of Sutherland a couple of years ago through primary funding from the UK government and its agencies is a case in point.  Not sure if, at the same time, the National Museum of Scotland had considered - or were even aware of - the opportunity to acquire any of the artefacts from the Dick Skipworth Ecurie Ecosse sale that, for TNFrs at any rate, would have a greater connection with Edinburgh.    And, anyway, Titian's cars were rubbish...

 

Many collections, especially those in local authority control, are struggling for funds and the effects of whatever Brexit the good folks of Westminster come up with are more likely to have an even greater negative influence on future funding.     The National Motor Museum, for instance still needs money to pay for the rebuild of the V16 engine in the BRM P15 and other projects including the 1,000HP Sunbeam.     The opportunity for other current transport projects to benefit from the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award may be limited but at least the debate has attracted comment.

[Tim Murray]

Not too sad. This is the largest single museum award in the world and each of the five finalist - Brooklands included - will have received £10,000 so well done to the team at Weybridge for, at least, making it that far. Tate St Ives has had a considerable impact on tourism levels in Cornwall and their £20M extension that gained the main prize of £100,000 is well deserved in such context as it will help both the local economy as well as ensuring future conservation and display of highly important and internationally renowned artworks.

Absolutely, and although I’m naturally disappointed that Brooklands didn’t win, I was pleasantly surprised that they’d even made it onto the short list. I certainly don’t begrudge the main award going to Tate St Ives, and in addition to the £10,000 the Brooklands Museum will have gained a bit of useful media exposure.

[Glengavel]

Not too sad. This is the largest single museum award in the world and each of the five finalist - Brooklands included - will have received £10,000 so well done to the team at Weybridge for, at least, making it that far. Tate St Ives has had a considerable impact on tourism levels in Cornwall and their £20M extension that gained the main prize of £100,000 is well deserved in such context as it will help both the local economy as well as ensuring future conservation and display of highly important and internationally renowned artworks.

There is, however, a major gap in funding between what are seen as primarily arts orientated schemes and the often crisis led heritage of our industries and transport. The two Titians bought for the nation for £100M from The Duke of Sutherland a couple of years ago through primary funding from the UK government and its agencies is a case in point. Not sure if, at the same time, the National Museum of Scotland had considered - or were even aware of - the opportunity to acquire any of the artefacts from the Dick Skipworth Ecurie Ecosse sale that, for TNFrs at any rate, would have a greater connection with Edinburgh. And, anyway, Titian's cars were rubbish...

My thoughts of the nation giving the Duke of Sutherland anything more than a brass farthing had better go unspoken...

[BRG]

Since when was Brooklands an art museum?  Cars, yes, aeroplanes, yes, buses even, but wonderful as these may be, they are not art*.   I imagine that TNF would be unhappy if it heard that the Tate St Ives was in the running for Motor Museum of the Year.

 

* "I may not know much about art, but i know what I like"

[Tim Murray]

The award is for Museum of the Year, as determined by the Art Fund, not for Art Museum of the Year. Only two of the five museums on this year’s shortlist are art museums.

[2F-001]

A little off topic, but...

Whilst it has no particular relevance to the destination of that Award, I do know that the director of Art Fund is very much a car, and driving, enthusiast, with an interest in motorsport.