Test Hill Challenge, Brooklands Museum Sunday 22nd March

[V Mad]

A date for your diary, this should be a really good day out for you and the family or just you and SWMBO

I do hope some of you can make it and support the museum. If you are coming, let me know and I will look out for you. I will be with the driving team giving rides up the test hill, so just ask for Chris.


Sunday 22nd March
The Test Hill Challenge
A spectacular family-oriented event celebrating the
Centenary of the opening of the Brooklands Test Hill
+ Demonstrations by original Brooklands vehicles
+ Bicycle and running races up the (steep!) Test Hill
+ Spectacular demonstrations and competitions
+ Spectator rides up the Test Hill...
+ ...and much, much more

http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/

[redstag]

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We had a really good day there a couple of years ago, it's an enjoyable day out for everyone, even if the hill isn't open for all.

I did manage to drive a bit higher round the banking after the photoshoot at the end of the day - a strange feeling when you are not going fast enough.

We had a few runs up the test hill as well - good fun.

Pete


video attached

[polly]

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hi pete, you got insomnia as well??

[redstag]

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Alcohol has worn off.

[Russell]

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Car's sounding great, loved the clip!

[V Mad]

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Hi Pete
Thats a great video clip (thanks for posting it) and your Stag made easy work of the test hill didnt it? Which event was that, was it a Triumph day?

I noticed that your arrival at the hill top seemed to be somewhat 'enthusiastic'. You gave the marshals a slight scare there didnt you? At last year's Double 12 festival a Mustang did a similar thing, and after taking off at the top, his landing resulted in contact between the diff and the deck. We lost a bit of Tarmac there!

When we do the rides (normally school holidays and half terms) we usually do the members banking in the morning, and test hill in the afternoon. For the banking ride the speed limit is 45 mph and we use the top of the banking, as the middle section is too bumpy. But even at 45 mph you can feel the car slipping sideways! But the public love it and come back again and again.

I often use the Tiger, but as I can only take one passenger it is more useful if I drive one of the four-seater cars otherwise the queues of riders can build up.

[redstag]

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Hi Chris,

It was the Standard Triumph at Brooklands (STAB) day in April 2007.

Yes you are right,a touch late on the brakes at the top of the hill. You can't see it on the clip but the lady marshall at the top looked distinctly nervous. Do you draw straws for that marshalling position, I'm not sure I would want to stand there?

Pete

[Russell]

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I chuckled at that too, same thing happened to me at another circuit a few years ago!!

I think they must draw straws to be honest!!

[grahamb]

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redstag wrote:

Hi Chris,

It was the Standard Triumph at Brooklands (STAB) day in April 2007.

Yes you are right,a touch late on the brakes at the top of the hill. You can't see it on the clip but the lady marshall at the top looked distinctly nervous. Do you draw straws for that marshalling position, I'm not sure I would want to stand there?

Pete

Hi Pete,

I remember seeing your car doing that run, it was a good day out.

[stoutgoose]

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Will there be paddock parking for Stags/classic/old cars, or will we be using the public car-park?

[V Mad]

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The weather forecast is looking really good for the test hill challenge on Sunday. I am looking forward to this special event too.

We have been preparing and driving some of the pre-war museum cars for the event, and one of them is a nice 1935 Lagonda Rapide replica. The car has a central throttle pedal, and no synchro on any gears, so a double declutch was needed for each change of gear. I think I would need a bit more practice before driving it up test hill on Sunday!!

It's a good excuse to get the Stag out and top down, so I hope some of you can make it. Parking only in the Heights, but there should be quite a few other classics parked there too.

Here is a similar car to our Lagond (some proper pics to follow soon):
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Lagonda_Le_Mans_Rapide,_4000_ccm,_Bj._1935_(17.06. 2007).jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagonda_Le_Mans_Rapide,_4000_ccm,_Bj._1935_(1 7.06.2007).jpg&usg=__44x546zm6Mu4xL8QyWn1g9i2Q CY=&h=2304&w=3456&sz=1688&hl=en&am p;start=17&um=1&tbnid=sGLT3NNqcH_BqM:& tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1935%2Blagonda%26hl%3Den%26client%3Df irefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GBfficial%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

[stoutgoose]

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What an excellent day!

Did anyone else witness the lunatic ageing rock-star look-a-like Chris Williams (I think) wearing a bowler hat and goggles, riding a 24 litre Napier aero-engined Bentley, lighting up the tyres at full chat as he took off up the hill; awesome!

[V Mad]

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stoutgoose wrote:

What an excellent day!

Did anyone else witness the lunatic ageing rock-star look-a-like Chris Williams (I think) wearing a bowler hat and goggles, riding a 24 litre Napier aero-engined Bentley, lighting up the tyres at full chat as he took off up the hill; awesome!

Totally awesome. Not only lighting up the tyres, there were flames from the open exhausts too, and you could feel the exhaust blast as he passed by, quite exhilarating.