L. G. Hornsted making an attempt on the hour record in a 200 HP Benz at Brooklands racetrack, Surrey. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1914

A Peugeot reaches the finish-line of a twin race in Italy, circa 1895. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Racing driver Wagner rounds the Dieppe fork in a Fiat during the Dieppe circuit of the Automobile Grand Prix. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 1st June 1912

S. F. Edge driving at speed in his Spyker, attempting to break his previous record of 24 hrs, at Brooklands. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). Circa 1908

J. B. Marquis in a 1913 GP Sunbeam racing car overturns on “Death Curve” during the 35th lap of the International Grand Prix at Santa Monica. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 16th March 1914

Faroun and Rezaire Nanddin in their car at the Turin motor races. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1900

A rapid racer is refuelled at the petrol tanks at Brooklands. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 1907

Lee Guinness at speed on Quarter Bridge in his “Sunbeam I” during the Tourist Trophy Race for Cars, Isle of Man, June 1914. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 10th June 1914

British engineer the Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls (1877–1910) in his first racing car. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 1898

Competitors in the British RDC 500 mile motor race at Brooklands race track in Weybridge, Surrey. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 12th October 1929

Reliability tests at Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey. Joy Cummings in a Frazer – Nash is leading down the test hill. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 1926

Racing driver J. G. Parry Thomas tuning his car at the Brooklands racetrack in Weybridge, Surrey. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). August 1923

J. G. Parry Thomas prepares for a world speed record in 'Babs' at the Brooklands race track. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). April 1923

Welsh engineer and racing driver J. G. Parry-Thomas (1884–1927) at the Brooklands circuit in Surrey with three of the cars used in his attempts on the land speed record, 23rd February 1927. The cars are (left to right) “Babs”, “Leyland-Thomas No1” and “Thomas Special”. (Photo by E. Bacon/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Racing driver J. Gaal at the wheel of car number 26 at the RAC Tourist Trophy, run, for the first time, over the Four Inch Course on the Isle of Man, 17th September 1908. Gaal is racing in waterproofs. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)