Eighty years ago today, October 7, 1935, John Cobb climbed aboard the Napier-Railton Special and lapped the famous banked circuit at Brooklands in just 69 seconds, leaving the lap record at a never-to-be-beaten average of 143.44mph. Now Brooklands Museum is commemorating the anniversary with a day of celebration, allowing visitors to experience what this wonderful car was like to race.
The car itself, however, will be half a world away from the Museum on the date of the anniversary, its very first appearance in Asia as the centerpiece at the Hong Kong Classic from October 9-11, as it spreads the story of Brooklands around the world. Instead, the museum will mark the anniversary with free rides on the Napier-Railton Race Experience for visitors (subject to availability, and standard Museum entrance charges still apply), and in the 4D Theatre visitors can see, hear and feel what it would have been like to drive this incredible car around the Brooklands banking.
