Brooklands Museum Talks

A hilarious 75 mins of anecdotal conversation between Mick and Steve. Mick Grant was active from 1970 until 1984 and mainly raced Yamahas and Kawasakis. He achieved three GP wins and 7 TT victories amongst his 16 podium positions at the Isle of Man.

Steve Cropley - Editor in Chief Autocar Magazine Paul McNamara - Tech Director Williams Advanced Engineering Will Nightingale - Chief Road Tester What Car magazine Tom Callow - BP Chargemaster Ben Fletcher - former marketing director Renault Electric A year ago we invited Steve Cropley and industry experts to discuss the development of the electric car. On that occasion we learnt that sales were r...

Paul Griffiths talks about the Transatlantic air race and the restoration of his Harrier XV741 - the plane that won the 1969 Transatlantic Air Race with Capt Tom Leckie Thompson piloting. The aircraft is currently on display in the Museum's First to Fastest exhibition.

Malcolm Campbell, Henry Segrave, Kaye Don and John Cobb. These four illustrious racing-drivers, synonymous with Brooklands, are also central to the story of the World Water Speed Record. Their exploits form part of a multimedia presentation with speed at its heart, from author and publisher Nigel Macknight. Nigel is leading the ‘Quicksilver’ team, which is building a turbofan-propelled, 400-mph su...

Simon Taylor and Richard Williams discuss the character and legacy of Ayrton Senna, considered by many to be the greatest F1 driver of all time, marking 25 years since his death at Imola. Richard wrote The Death of Ayrton Senna, thought to be the most definitive and compelling book about the legendary racing driver, now a BAFTA award-winning documentary.

Harry Sherrard presents the Apollo 11 story on the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 mission to the moon and Man's first steps on it.

Simon Taylor talks with Steve Cropley about his book John, George and The HWMs, and the history of the marque.

Cyril Mannion presents the remarkable story of the first direct trans Atlantic flight by Alcock and Brown on Saturday 14th June - Sunday 15th June 1919. Learn about two magnificent pioneering men who overcame all obstacles to become the first to fly the Atlantic nonstop in 1919. Learn how Brown hacked ice from a vital fuel gauge and hear about Alcock’s recovery from a loss of control while disorie...

Local privateers, Connaught Engineering, entered the world of Formula 1 beginning in a small workshop in Send and peaking on the track at Syracuse in 1955 with young driver Tony Brooks driving the first British car since 1923 to win a Grand Prix. Publisher Guy Loveridge and one of the books authors, Graham Rabagliati, discuss the story.

Matthew Field talks with Michael Deeley, Hazel Collinson and David Salamone about the making of the iconic film in 1969.

Phil Read is a true legend - seven times World Champion at 125cc, 250cc and 500cc and the first man to win championships in all those three categories. He raced from 1961 to 1976 on circuits and TT races with his first TT race in 1961 and last in 1977. He won 8 Isle of Man TT races and also owned a Honda dealership in Hersham!

BTCC commentator Alan Hyde talks to Matt James about the Championship and his book about the BTCC. Long-time touring car journalist Matt James, has compiled a great book on the BTCC with a chapter for each year featuring a summary of the season, 10 photos showing all the top cars and drivers in action, key statistics and a profile of the champion driver. Anyone who has ever enjoyed touring car rac...

A different perspective on our “Finest Hour”, the Battle of Britain. Whilst the courage, skill and sacrifice of the pilots of Fighter Command is unquestionable, were German forces in fact capable of achieving a successful seaborne invasion of Britain in 1940? Has the contribution of both the Royal Navy and Britain’s land forces (as portrayed by Dad’s Army) in preventing an invasion been underestim...

"Shakey" Byrne has won six British Superbike Championships, the only person to win that many. He has also competed in Moto GP and the World Superbike Championship. In May 2018 he suffered a serious crash in practice at Snetterton resulting in multiple fractures to his upper body from which he is still recovering. "Shakey" talks candidly about that and his highly successful motor cycling career in...

Steve Nichols, Richard West and Matthew Jeffreys join Simon Taylor on stage for this look back at statistically the most successful F1 car of all time and led McLaren to the 1988 Constructor Championship and Ayrton Senna to World Championship wins, with Prost and Senna winning 15 out of the season’s 16 Grands Prix.

A special event to commemorate Armistice and the end of the Great War. We look at the effect on Brooklands and the surrounding Surrey area as hostilities came to an end and the country prepared for peace. We consider all aspects of the war with some personal reminiscences by Brooklands Members about their ancestor's role in the war. Jenny Lockyer and Vern Griffiths will be performing short prose a...

Steve Cropley, Don Wales and Allan Winn present a discussion on land speed records from the early 1900s to the 1950s. A fascinating conversation recording the characters and cars of the period.

Stephen Archer tells the story of Aston Martin Ulster CMC 314. one of 28 Ulsters built by the company and the most raced Aston Martin. It has been restored to 1935 Le Mans spec. In addition to this Ulster, Stephen also describes Aston Martin's first 20 years in general. A fascinating account delivered with some exuberance and panache!

Hicky" currently holds the record for the fastest lap of the TT circuit at 135.452mph aboard his Superstock Smiths Racing BMW. Here he talks with Steve Parrish about his life on two wheels. A fascinating insight into a top bike racer.

Squadron Leader Graham Laurie MVO was a pilot on the Queens Flight for 26 years. In this presentation he recalls anecdotes from that time involving the Royal Family and VIPs. He also looks at the history of the squadrons serving the Royal Family and of the Queen's Flight itself.

John Barnard was the designer responsible for two major steps forward in F1, design - the carbon composite chassis for McLaren in the 1981 MP4/1 and the semi automatic gearbox for Ferrari in 1989. Here he is talking with the author of "The Perfect Car", Nick Skeens, published by EVRO Publishing.

Eric Verdon-Roe talks about his grandfather's life and times, how his 1908 Triplane within 6 years developed into the Avro 504, leading through to the development of the Avro Lancaster and Vulcan. In addition the Saunders-Roe company of sea-planes is discussed.

Freddie Spencer talks with Steve Parrish about his life on two wheels and his love for motorcycle racing. "Fast Freddie" was one of the greatest racers of he 1980's winning three World Championships on 500cc and 250cc bikes.

Karl Ludvigsen talks about the life of Reid Railton. A fascinating account mirroring his book on this talented designer and engineer, his involvement in world land and water speed records and automotive design and technology from the 1920s through to the 1950s.

World record holder for Fastest Speed Flown in a Wingsuit shares his experiences of jumping out of aircraft at 42,000ft and travelling at 249mph. Simply astonishing!