Talbots centre stage at Track

This year the 36th Brooklands Society annual reunion at the old Track had a very good attendance and celebrated the centenaries of Vauxhall, Lea-Francis, Talbot and Ford, with a good showing of each, especially Talbots, with competition cars such as BGH23, PL2, 3 and 4, etc. Another Talbot now properly rejuvenated is DXW3, which was successful at Brooklands before the war, driven by Geoffrey Wooding. Michael Woodcock had it restored by Arthur Archers about 14 years ago.

The Robbie Hewitt Award for best Lagonda went to Neil Edwards (1939 V12 saloon). Best pre-1920 vehicle: Brian Dinsley (1914 Dennis limousine). The Mercedes-Benz Award: Bernard Harding (1927 Amilcar Six). The programme tells the history of these makes, with lots of pictures of the racing versions, and the surprisingly outspoken speech Lord Brabazon made at the Vickers-Armstrong party to remember 50 years of Brooklands, in which he called the Memorial V-A had erected (which Mercedes wants to resite) a tombstone to a place so well loved, but destroyed by the aircraft industry! Well worth reading. If you missed it in Motor Sport in 1957 or in my recent Brooklands book, you will find it in the BS programme, £4.00 (post free) from Linda Tinsley, 38, Coxheath Road, Church Crookham, Hants GU52 6QG.