Thirty years after the BRM company was wound up, interest in the achievements of this unique organisation was still high and a club was therefore formed to perpetuate the work that was done in the world of international motor racing which brought such fame to Bourne. It is known as the BRM Association.

From small beginnings and powered with an enthusiasm and a will to succeed, the enterprise founded by the late international racing car driver and designer Raymond Mays (1899-1980) at makeshift premises behind his family’s home in Eastgate in 1934 progressed to modern workshops on the Spalding Road employing 120 people where the BRM car was produced which won the world championship in 1962 with Graham Hill at the wheel.

The town has not forgotten this achievement with a stone memorial in South Street, a permanent display at the nearby Heritage Centre and a BRM Celebration Day last October that attracted some 20,000 people from around the world to watch a cavalcade of historic cars with grandstands full and the pavements lined with onlookers enjoying the spectacle of our motor racing past.

The association was formed in the summer of 2013 to promote the history and legacy of the BRM and to provide a forum for the owners of BRM cars, enthusiasts and former employees, including Eric Biggadike, John Burt and Anthony Delaine-Smith with the support and co-operation of David Owen OBE, Rubery Owen Holdings Ltd and Rick Hall of Hall and Hall. The declared aim is to promote the history and unique legacy of BRM and provide a forum for BRM car owners, former employees and enthusiasts.

Membership includes an annual newsletter and members’ evening, access to BRM track days and details of the current locations of BRM cars on public display.

A comprehensive web site is also available giving a history of this famous car together with a list of the people who worked for and were involved with the company at the Bourne workshops.

In the history of Formula 1 Grand Prix Motor Racing, BRM and Ferrari are the only constructors to have won the World Championship with a car they built completely themselves including the chassis, engine and gearbox.

The vision of Raymond Mays of a British Grand Prix car capable of beating the continental factory teams was achieved, with the backing of Sir Alfred Owen and the Rubery Owen organisation. Graham Hill's 1962 victory was the first time a British driver had won the World Championship in a British car. Peter Gethin's 1971 Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza was the fastest Grand Prix of the 20th century at an average speed of 151mph.

Drivers of the BRM included Juan Manuel Fangio, Froilan Gonzalez, Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Jo Bonnier, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Pedro Rodriguez, John Surtees, Jo Siffert, Peter Gethin, Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Niki Lauda.

BRM designed, built, developed and raced 4, 8, 12 & 16 cylinder engines, opting for 16 cylinders on two occasions. The 1940s designed 1.5-litre V16 produced more than 600 bhp and was the first engine in history to rev above 10,000 rpm. Drivers could spin its wheels effortlessly at speeds in excess of the maximum of many other cars.

The ear shattering exhaust notes have ensured its reputation as arguably the most audibly iconic Grand Prix car of all time. The 1960s 3.0-litre H16 which proved over complex and suffered from a poor power to weight ratio, has since become to be regarded as a remarkable engineering achievement, particularly as it was designed, built, developed and raced by such a small company.

In addition to the Grand Prix programme, BRM built a gas turbine car in conjunction with Rover which ran at Le Mans in 1963and 1965 and completed the 24 hours on both occasions. In 1970-71, BRM built and entered 8-litre prototype sports cars for the North American Can-Am series and European Interseria series.

NOTE: Additional reporting and logo reproduced from
the BRM Association web site.