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Post by imec on Sept 20, 2009 4:35:36 GMT
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Post by imec on Sept 20, 2009 4:36:40 GMT
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Post by imec on Sept 20, 2009 4:38:00 GMT
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Post by imec on Sept 20, 2009 4:38:50 GMT
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Post by imec on Sept 20, 2009 4:39:34 GMT
fter our visit, we strolled next door to "Mercedes Benz World" - a showcase of sorts for all things Mercedes. All sorts of exotic (and expensive machinery is on show. I offered to buy her this one but she didn't like the colour. And so ends our day at Brooklands and MB World.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 5:14:34 GMT
Fascinating! However, it got me thinking to how much more exotic all of that will look when we have completely moved into the post-petroleum world and people will have difficulty believing that each person was using an individual combustion device just to move around on the roads.
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Post by fumobici on Sept 20, 2009 5:37:51 GMT
Don't hold your breath, it'll take awhile!
The abandoned high banking (always wanted to visit Brooklands) is very reminiscent of the old disused oval at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza- though they still have a modern working track there. I do love car and aircraft museums, if you are nearby and interested you must visit the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello. Lots and lots of classic road (and especially) racing cars that can be seen very up close and personal. And if you are a general petrol head, the Ducati works is maybe an hour away just outside Bologna in Borgo Panagale (hope I have that right)- just be sure to call ahead to make reservations for the excellent Museo Ducati you can't show up cold and take the tour. I'll resist the urge to post photos of exotic Titanium and carbon fiber bits that I photographed- just looks like scrapheap material to most people.
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Post by auntieannie on Sept 20, 2009 8:44:11 GMT
Hey, that's a fab way to spend a day!
Fumobici, 20-30 years isn't long.
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Post by imec on Sept 20, 2009 13:52:35 GMT
fumo, both of those museums sound cool. (anyone who takes pics of ducs while walking around London is a bit of a petrol head I suppose). And speaking of interesting tracks, I've always wanted to take my Alfa for a spin on the test track on top of the old Fiat factory (no longer a factory)... (not my pic)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 14:00:10 GMT
This car commercial consistently amuses me.
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Post by lagatta on Sept 20, 2009 22:49:22 GMT
Lovely museum. How did you get from Paris to England - did you take the train, and have a rental car upon arrival? I have an uncle who would utterly ADORE Brooklands. You can stay at the hotel at the old Lingotto plant in Turin. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingotto If you like spectacular views, you should also take in the Cinema Museum at the old Mole Antonelliana (originally built as a synagogue to celebrate the official freedom of religion for non-Catholics, but the architect's huge tower was far beyond the means of Turin's storied but relatively small Jewish community), a symbol of the city. it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_Antonelliana or in English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_Antonelliana
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Post by imec on Sept 21, 2009 0:45:59 GMT
Thanks lagatta. Everyone has these great ideas about places to go which we will undoubtedly love! Does anyone have any great ideas about how we can pay for it all? ;D
OK, now don't laugh - from Paris we flew to London via (wait for it) Frankfurt! Don't ask.
At Heathrow, my cousin's wife and her daughter in law picked us up and drove us to my cousin's house in Woking (a 25 minute train ride from Waterloo - a 10 minute drive from Brooklands).
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Post by fumobici on Sept 21, 2009 2:57:03 GMT
Is there a public tour of McLaren's center in Woking similar to Ferrari's in Maranello?
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Post by imec on Sept 21, 2009 3:28:35 GMT
I'm not sure. I've driven by the gate a number of times. The whole centre has just been rebuilt I believe so I'm not even sure that all of the programs (if there are any for the likes o' me) are in place. Drove by there on the way to Heathrow for our flight home and saw two McLaren Mercedes (just like the ones we saw at MB World)tearing out of the driveway. Perhaps next time i"m there without the family (or with less of them) I might check it out. I believe they have some special programs for those who buy a MM - as they likely did for the F1.
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Post by joanne28 on Mar 30, 2010 14:42:42 GMT
Imec, great photos of Brooklands - they brought back lovely memories. My husband & I spent a full day there in Oct 2008, as he's a plane nut. He was on the last flight of the Concorde out of Canada - from Toronto to NY. To this day I regret not going with him - I worked at a horrible place then and couldn't face the hassle of getting a day off.
We've also been to the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune, Scotland where they have another Concorde. His plan is for us to see every Concorde left.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 30, 2010 15:36:31 GMT
Just to add a bit of detail, if I may - the cars with the faces are Morris Minors. It is strange to see things in a museum that I grew up with. It makes me feel old. The blue "Moggy" is from 1963, the white one from 1969/70. Further pictures are of the blue Bedford van which pre-dates 1963 and the smaller red Bedford from 1978/79. I remember riding round in both of these types.
The motorcycle, the Brough Superior ('bruff' superior) was made in my home city of Nottingham and to quote - They were dubbed the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles". Brough Superior motorcycles have always been rare and expensive. Because of their connection with Lawrence of Arabia, their high quality of fit and finish, and their reputation for reliability and race victories, they are among the most collectible motorised vehicles. In 2007, prices ranged from $40,000 to more than $3,000,000 USD
Also, the bikes are Raleigh which also were made in Nottingham.
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Post by fumobici on Mar 31, 2010 0:03:55 GMT
The most exotic Raleighs were actually made in Ilkeston but that's another story.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 31, 2010 6:56:29 GMT
Pronounced "Illson" by the locals.
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Post by gertie on Apr 14, 2010 0:07:25 GMT
I love the planes! Thanks, imec, for posting these.
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