Always makes me smile when I see Brooklands.
I grew up in Weybridge and the Brooklands banking was my playground, I used to watch the new VC10's taking off, every morning the engine tests would happen for half an hour, and of course the first mock up of Concorde was built at Vickers which was based on the Brooklands site and my Father was the Police escort when they brought in the components such as wings, fuselage and so on.
Some of the other aircraft that used to take off and land were interesting, despite it being a short runway.
When the first VC10 was due to depart, they evacuated houses for a about 3 miles beyond the runway as they were not sure it would get off the ground in time because of its size for the time. I still remember it now. But anyway, they went for it and by the time they were halfway down the runway she was airborne and flying.
After that, they never bothered with evacuation again, but I am convinced that the pine tree at the end of my garden ended up being several feet shorter
I even got to meet Barnes Wallace on several ccasions through my Father who knew him well as Wallace had his office at Vickers with a Bouncing bomb and a tallboy standing outside his office.
I go back these days and it has changed (obviously) beyond all recognition to the Brooklands I knew and grew up with as a kid.
Happy days
