Brooklands — The Official Centenary History by David Venables is a stunning book to look at. It’s also the definitive account of this magical and historic place. Anyone who knows about motor racing will have heard of Brooklands in southern England.

The author, though, goes beyond the glories of its competitive past and looks at all aspects of Brooklands’ activities. This is a large subject, for it includes motocycle racing, land speed records, manufacturing and aircraft testing, stunts and scandals. It was a hotbed of engineering skills and innovation in its day.

A glance at the appendices tells it all : Outer Circuit lap records, long-distance race winners, maps of how Brooklands evolved over time, aircraft made there.

At the recent Brooklands Centenary Festival, more than 20,000 people visited, demonstrating its perennial appeal.