Hugh F. Locke-King

Sir Hugh Fortescue Locke-King (1848 - 1926) was a British entrepreneur who founded and financed (solely) the creation of Brooklands.

Located in Surrey, Brooklands was the site of many aeronautical and motoring milestones during the first half of the 20th century; it was a predecessor of the Formula One. Brooklands took its name from Robert del Brok, who, in the 12th century, was Lord of the local Manor, and prior to becoming a racetrack had been bought in 1830 by Locke-King’s father, Peter King, from the then-Duke of York.

The Wey Navigation was excavated a mile to the west of Brooklands effectively making the site an island. An airfield was constructed on Weybridge Heath at the beginning of Britain’s adventure into flight, and was central to the birth of the British aviation industry.

Locke-King devised and built the world’s first banked motor racing circuit here in 1906 and it became the home of British motor racing until 1939. He was inspired to build the 3.25 mile-long oval banked racetrack after experiencing the Targa Florio in Italy and the French Grand Prix, both raced on public roads with the approval of the authorities.

Frustrated by the lack of opportunity for British drivers to gain experience because of the strictly imposed 20 mph speed limit he devised the track initially as a testing ground to enable vehicles to be safely driven at speed. The banking provided the camber to keep the cars on the track without having to slow at the end of each turn. At 100 feet wide and 30 feet high it attracted many spectators.

Locke-King was spurred on by Selwyn Edge (1868 - 1940), an experienced racing driver and car dealer, to complete the project with his highly publicised challenge that he would drive the course in a Napier single-handedly at a constant 60 mph for 24 hours without a rest break. Edge was to complete his remarkable challenge on the finished track without mishap.

Family

Hugh Locke-King was married to the former Ethel Gore-Browne. They each supported the other's endeavors; she in spirit and he financially. They had no children.

External links

* [http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/motoring_history.cfm Motoring History at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey ] at www.brooklandsmuseum.com
* [http://www.brooklands.org.uk/stories/Stories%20archive/STORY1.HTM]
* [http://www.brooklands.ac.uk/common/history.asp]
* [http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/places_6_brooklands.htm River Wey & Navigations : All about the Brooklands racing circuit and historic airfield ] at www.weyriver.co.uk