Dream yourself back to 1937. Brooklands is buzzing with excitement. The Campbell Circuit is about to open. This new track promised thrills never before seen in British motorsport.
The Campbell Circuit at Brooklands was born of necessity. Until 1933 Brooklands stood alone. It was the only motor racing circuit in mainland Britain. Donington Park then opened challenging Brooklands’ dominance. Crystal Palace followed with its own road-racing circuit. Brooklands needed to adapt to survive.
Sir Malcolm Campbell designed this new circuit. It was named in his honour. The Campbell Circuit cleverly snaked across the Brooklands motor course. It avoided the Outer and Mountain Circuits. It also steered clear of the aerodrome and even the sewage farm.
The new design incorporated the old banked track. This gave drivers a unique challenge. They experienced both road racing and banked corners. Spectators loved it because they could see most of the action.
Hugh Locke King built the original Brooklands circuit. He wanted British cars tested and raced at speed. British roads had a 20 mph speed limit. This put the British auto industry at a disadvantage. France made nearly half the world’s cars back then. Locke King wanted Britain to compete.
The Brooklands track opened in 1907. It quickly became famous for high speeds. Its motto was simple. “The right crowd and no crowding.” Brooklands hosted speed record attempts and the first British Grand Prix.
The Campbell Circuit added a new dimension to Brooklands. It was a more traditional road course. It featured tighter turns and more technical sections. This tested drivers’ skills and the improvements in tyres and brakes.
The first race on the Campbell Circuit was the Campbell Trophy. Lord Howe’s ERA battled Prince Bira of Siam’s Maserati. Howe crashed into the River Wey bridge parapet. He broke his ribs but survived. Bira went on to win.
War ended racing at Brooklands. The Air Ministry took over the site. Vickers and Hawker factories expanded. They built Hurricanes and Wellington Bombers. Trees were planted on the track to hide it from German bombers.
After the war Brooklands never returned to racing. The damage was too great. In 1946 Vickers Armstrong bought the circuit. The Brooklands Owners Club moved to Silverstone. This was another wartime airfield.
Today the Brooklands Museum stands as a testament to this history. It tells the stories of motoring and aviation. The London Bus Museum is also on site. It displays historic London buses.
The remaining sections of the Campbell Circuit are under a Preservation Order. This protects them from further destruction. Mercedes-Benz World now occupies part of the site. It includes a test course that uses part of the original Campbell Circuit.
Think of Sir Malcolm Campbell. He not only designed the Campbell Circuit, but he also raced at Brooklands. He was a shareholder and active in the venue’s management. He understood the need for Brooklands to evolve. The Campbell Circuit helped Brooklands stay relevant in a changing world.