Conference terri::cars_uk

    There's a modest collection of cars at the Brooklands race track in
    Weybridge, Surrey.  Best of all - you can walk part of the heavily
    banked track that occurs in those old film clips that often get
    screened on TV.
    
    Apart from cars, the old workshops still exist and there are some
    aviation exhibits (including a WW2 bomber recently recovered from Loch
    Ness).
    
    The entrance from the main road also leads to a tobacco firm, so look out 
    for signs saying "Gallaher".
    
    Greg.

A few years ago as I was driving past the entrance to Brooklands I noticed that
the entrance was not blocked and that there was no one around to stop people
from entering so I drove in. I had a good look around and saw Panther Cars,
British Aero Space and a helicopter factory.

 We ( I had a freind with me ) then found an accessible part of the remains of
the banked track. The track was in a bad state with huge cracks in the concrete
surface and vegitation growing through. One thing that did strike me was that
top of the banking was very steep, I could just imagine those Bugattis whistling
by at speeds up to 140 m.p.h.

 Well having been for a walk on the sacred track and seeing as the car was with
me I couldnt resist going for a quick drive on the first purpose built racing
circuit in the world. to begin with I was very coutious and only travelled at
5 m.p.h on the flat past of the track, then I got more adventurous and increased
my speed to @10 mph and rode up the banking a small distance.

 Unfortunately once I rode up the bank the car was visible to the security
guards who came and chased us away ( they were quite understanding about my urge
to see and drive on the oldest and most famous race track in the world )

 I know that I was wrong to sneak in but I did enjoy it and I can probably say
quite truthfully that I own the only V registation Renault 5 that has driven
on the banked section of brooklands.

	Barrie.

    
    A friend of mine owns a Bugatti type 35.  Every year, during the last
    weekend in June, he takes it to Brooklands where a large get-together
    takes place.  All sorts of vintage sports cars arrive from all the
    country.  Some of the car 'drag race'/'blast' along the remaining
    section of the bank, along the runway, or up the short hill climb.  The
    museum stays open all day and there's lots to do and see.  Its a great
    day out.
    
    Steven 

When was Brooklands built???

    
    Re.-1
    
    I believe it was at the event I described a couple of notes ago that
    they were celebrating 80 years of racing three summers ago.
    
    Regards
    
    Steven

    For those that havn't and are intrested in single seater racing cars
    the Donington Collection is well worth a visit. The exhibition is at
    the main gate to the circuit.
    
    
    

    In the glossy "AUTOMOBILES CLASSIQUES" there is a beautiful report with
    a few photos of BROCKET HALL and its collection of ... Ferraris.

    Anyone know where-abouts Brocket Hall is - sounds well worth a visit.
    
    Thanks
    Sue

    Brocket Hall is near Welwyn Garden City, on the road to Wheathampstead
    and Luton.
    
    Nice little place.
    
    Steve

        We had a sales recognition dinner at Brockett a couple of 
        years back and had a guided tour of the Ferrari's given by 
        Lord Brockett himself. He has over 40 of them, almost all red! 
        He hadn't got his F40 then, but the collection was wonderful. 
        
        I don't know whether the collection is open to the public 
        tho'.
        
        Paul

Brooklands: 1906.  Apparently it was completed in rather a hurry and raced
on before the concrete was fully hardened. This resulted in deep cracks and
a notoriously bumpy surface, with faster cars becoming frequently airborne, 
as shown by many contemporary photos.

    I just got back from holiday in Britain and have a brochure from the
    Yorkshire Car collection at TWO locations, one at The Yorkshire Car
    Collection, Grange Street, Keighley, near the Peter Black Mill Shop
    and The Yorkshire Car Collection, Hornsea Pottery, Hornsea.
    
    There are 70 cars at Keighley and 30 cars at Hornsea.
    
    I didn't get to either museum on this trip, but my ancestors are from
    Yorkshire so I'll make it a point to go to the museum next trip as I'll
    be in Yorkshire to research family history.

 
    On my holiday, I went to Coventry in hopes of getting a tour. I had called 
ahead, but got a response that the factory was closed on the day I'd be in the 
area. It seems that they shut production down for one week for fit up and 
tooling changes so the rest of the facility including manufacturing goes on
holiday. Naturally, that was the week I was in the area.

    I took a chance and drove to Coventry to see if there was any chance of a 
tour or a museum that was open.

    When I got to the outskirts of Coventry on A45, I took A46 into Coventry 
and noticed a sign for Jaguar Engineering Facility, near the intersection of
A45 and A46. I followed the signs to the facility and came upon a very large
complex. I went to the security building at the entrance and asked the guard 
if I could tour the Jaguar factory at Brown's Lane. He called Brown's Lane on
the interplant telephone system and made arrangements for me. He also gave me 
a map and directions on how to get to the factory at Brown's Lane.

    The factory is off A4114 which is exit 8 off the ring road around 
Coventry. Brown's Lane is no longer the entrance to the factory complex; 
there's a round about with a new 4 lane road, paid for by Ford at 2 million 
pounds so the back of the factory is now the entrance.

    The guard at the entrance welcomed my wife and I. He called another guard 
who came to the gate in a Ford courtesy van and said even though the factory 
and museum was closed, he would give us a tour. 

    He escorted us for two hours through the museum, turning on lights as we 
went. His name is Phil Cobourne and he was security for the Jaguar park at 
Lemans in 1990 as well as being an eight year employee. He was most helpful, 
well informed, and very courteous to us. Under normal circumstances, tours are 
conducted by retired Jaguar employees who volunteer their services, not the 
security personnel.

    The museum is two floors with cars on the first floor, and a second floor
balcony with sculpture, painting, trophies. awards, etc. 

    The cars, all Jaguars, are not a permanent display, change from time to 
time; some are exchanged with the Coventry Transportation Museum.

    On display, was:

    1. A Swallow side car

    2. A 1938 SS100

    3. A MK IV or MK V sedan, LHD...the bumpers were different than the 1949 
    MK V that I owned some years back so I think it was a MK IV

    4. A XK120 1953 roadster

    5. A XKE 1974 roadster, V12

    6. A 1954 C Jag

    7. A XJ220 

    8. Two XJR 5 factory racers that won the 1991 manufacturer's trophy, # 44
    the Silk Cut car and #2

    All the cars are in top notch condition and well presented. Because there
was no one there except for the guard, myself, and my wife I was allowed to
scrutinize very closely and take all the pictures I wanted, even moving ropes,
etc, that would mess up a clean view of the cars.

    The facility at Brown's Lane is the assembly plant for all Jaguar cars. 
Because Jaguar bought out Daimler, the Daimler plant at Radford has been 
converted to a axles, engines, and transmissions. Bodies are made in Castle 
Bromwich.

    At Brown's Lane, there is a facility for customizing cars from royalty 
to add bullet proofing, bomb protection, special air conditioning and other 
features to standard production cars. Brown's Lane also has a paint 
refinishing line to redo cars that have damaged paint from the production 
process. Brown's Lane also does the the leather matching, cutting and sewing 
along with all the walnut veneer matching, processing and finishing.

    I believe that Phil Cobourne said that the XJ220 is being assembled at 
Abbey Panels where the bodies are made, but I could have be mistaken.

    I believe that Jaguar Cars bought BSA (motorcycles) which had previously 
bought Coventry Climax of 50's and 60's F1 engine fame. I don't know if there's
a facility somewhere that has that business housed in it.

    The Jaguar Engineering facility, outside of Coventry, is actually in 
Whitley and is a former Peugeout facility.

    The contact at Jaguar is Val King at 0203-402121 to get a full tour. She 
is at the reception center which is adjacent to the museum. The reception
center is like a new car showroom and has a new Jaguar with all the brochures,
upholstery samples, paint color panels, and video presentations of Jaguar Cars

    There's also a gift shop with jackets, shirts, etc with various Jaguar car
logo's. It was closed when I was there so I didn't get to see it.

    All in all, it was a most enjoyable 1/2 day for me. I wish the factory had
been open as well as the gift shop. the next time I'm back in Britain, I'll 
make it a point to plan to go to Coventry when the facility is open.

    There's an article in Classic Cars, August 1992 about Beaulieu, the
    National Motor Museum in the New Forest. It seems that ther was a
    buildiong programme started in 1972 to enlarge the display area. The
    pictures show a variety of cars, land speed record cars, 500cc racers,
    etc. They admitted that prior to 1972 the display was  "the best
    collection of radiators in the business, but crammed together"
    
    A new National Motor Museum Trust Centre building was added in 1989 for
    three libraries, the Reference Library, Photographic Library, and Film
    and Video Library. These are open 364 days a year.
    
    I would guess that the Museum is also open 364 days a year.
    
    I'm planning to visit Beau on my next U.K. trip
     

    In addition to the car collection, the Peter Black group of companies
    are one of the main suppliers to Marks & Spencers amongst others. So in
    addition to the car museum at Hornsea, North Humberside you can also
    buy the M&S soft/hard furnishings, toiletries, clothing all at cost
    prices. The Peter Black Group of companies also number Dash, Alexon and
    a few other household names in the clothing sector... Again items
    carrying these labels are available for purchase at cost prices at
    Hornsea Potteries.
    
    Hornsea Potteries also supply M&S with most of their dinner sets again
    available at cost at Hornsea.
    
    
    Reargards,
    
    Stephen
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    
    Hi,
    
    Does anyone know where the Schlumph (sp!) Collection is located? It's a
    very large collection (loads of Bugatti's etc.) somewhere in France, or
    near the Swiss border? (I believe the Brothers who built the collection
    did a runner when the Tax man came after them...)
    
    I'll be in France llater this month and have always wanted to give this
    collection a look!
    
    Ideas anyone?
    
    Regards.
    
    Reggie.
    -------

Hi Reg,
	It is near Mulhouse - from where it is well signposted. I could come 
up for the day and meet you - look around it together...

Cheers

-Steve

    
    I was down in the new forest at the weekend and decided to make a trip
    to Beaulie.It was great! I hadn't been for a few years and was pleased
    with the changes.One of the best things there was the Vauxhall
    simualtor,this consists of a small moving pod with 3 rows of seats,enough 
    for about 10 people,a large screen and a lot of fun.It starts with a
    trip as a passenger in one of Vauxhalls earliest cars and progresses to
    the Victor,the Senator (this was great) and the Nova Rally.I've driven
    a Senator and the kickdown effect that's included with the motion of
    the pod is first rate.                    
    
    	There's also a Jaguar XJ220,Ferrari dino,AC cobra,GT40 and many
    other classics.
    
    A great day out!
    
    Andy