Filton Airfield was created in 1911 and was the home of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Overs the years planes such as the WW I Bristol Fighter, the WW2 Blenheim & Beaufighter, the Britannia airliner, and Concorde, have been built at the factories on the airfield site (today known as BAe Systems and Rolls-Royce).
During WW II it also housed an RAF squadron, and tarmac runways were constructed. On the 27th October 1945 the Bristol Aeroplane Company Motor Sports Club (club membership being restricted to company employees) ran a 0.5 mile sprint on the taxiways at the north-eastern end of the airfield. The course included one fast right hand bend between the control tower and some hangars. This was only the second competitive speed event to held in the UK under an RAC permit following the end of WWII, and the first on a sealed surface. No spectators were admitted, but 100 cars and motorcycles were entered. Fastest time of the day was set by Bob Gerard, ERA (68.5 mph), & fastest motorcycle was St John Horsfall, 998 Vincent. No other motor sport events have since been held on the airfield.
Thanks to Peter Stowe of BA Motor Club for this information
Sports Motorcycles under 250cc 1 T.Wood 30.4s 2 J.A.McLachlan 32.8 3 J.F.Saunders 32.9 Sports Motorcycles unlimited 1 St.J.Horsfall 27.6s 2 I.G.McLeod 32.2 3 F.Whitehouse 33.1 Racing Motorcycles under 350cc 1 T.Wood29.4s 2 C.A.Dickens 29.5 3 R.Good 31.5 Racing Motorcycles unlimited 1 St.J.Horsfall 27.4s 2 T.Wood 27.5 3 J.Mountford 28.6 Sportscars under 1100cc 1 A.W.Morrish MG 847cc 36.2s 2 D.F.Allen Austin 747cc 46.8 3 Flt Lt A.R.Mallock Austin 747cc 48.0 Sportscars under 1500cc 1 F.R.Gerard Riley Sprite 1496cc 33.0s 2 K.V.Baillie-Hill HRG 1496cc 33.2 3 R.E.Richards Rover 1496cc 35.0 ? Singer Le Mans ? McCormack Frazer-Nash Sportscars unlimited 1 L.Parker Jaguar 100 3485cc 31.6s 2 K.V.Baillie-Hill HRG 1496cc 32.6 3 F.R.Gerard Riley Sprite 1496cc 33.1 ? H.Rowson Invicta 4500cc ? Northway Jaguar Coupe ? S.Allard Ford V8 Racing Cars 1100cc 1 J.M.Dowson 32s 2 W.O.Watkins Watkins-Nash 996cc 32.7 3 D.Poore MG R-Type 746cc 34.2 Racing Cars 1500cc 1 F.R.Gerard ERA 26.3 2 W.O.Watkins Watkins-Nash 996cc 32.7 3 D.Poore MG R-Type 746cc 34.3 Racing Cars unlimited 1 F.R.Gerard ERA 27.1 2 J.M.Bolster Bloody Mary 1962cc 29.9 3 S.Allard Allard 3622cc 31.0 4 K.Burgess 31 Sources: Bristol Evening Post, Saturday 27th October 1945 Motor Sport, December 1945