End of the road for museum of motor-racing
DONINGTON GRAND PRIX COLLECTION IS TO CLOSE
Closing the museum after 45 years has been a really difficult decision
Kevin Wheatcroft
THE owners of Donington Park’s famous collection of Grand Prix cars have announced the museum’s closure.
The collection of cars, which is housed in a museum at the Donington Park race circuit, dates back 45 years.
While a reason for the decision to close has not been given by the owners, they say it has not been taken lightly.
The collection, which also includes a number of motorcycles, was amassed by builder Tom Wheatcroft.
Since Mr Wheatcroft’s death in October 2009, the museum - which includes vintage and modern Mercedes-benz, Mclaren, Williams, BRM and Lotus models - has been run by his son Kevin.
He said today: “Closing the museum after 45 years has been a really difficult decision, but family responsibilities simply make it the right thing to do.”
Its doors will close to the public on Monday, November 5, Mr Wheatcroft said.
Mr Wheatcroft said his father was a lifelong motor sports enthusiast who first visited Donington Park in 1935 to watch motorcycle racing. Tom previously said: “From then on I was a confirmed enthusiast.
“I saw most of the bike and car meetings that followed, and in 1937 and 1938 I was hanging on the fence with the best of them, watching those giant German cars running in the Donington Grand Prix.”
After six years of Army service during the war, Mr Wheatcroft launched his building business in 1946. With the business thriving, he bought his first racing car, a 13-year-old Formula 1 Ferrari single-seater, in 1964. He later recalled the purchase was “just for fun - and I caught the collecting bug”.
Over the following six years he acquired more historic Formula 1 machines, observing ‘There’s nought so cheap as last year’s racing car.’ Initially the cars were housed in a cramped garage building at his Leicester home.
But in September, 1971, he bought the space for the museum at Donington Park, opening the collection in March 1973.