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October opened with a fine Saturday and a packed Brooklands to pay their respects to Britain’s longest serving editor, William Boddy of Motor Sport magazine.

Usually known by just the initials ‘W.B.’, William Boddy MBE died at 98 having edited the quirky magazine from 1936-1991 and carried on writing as editor-at-large until his death.

Boddy was a lifelong campaigner for motor sports from the grassroots up – especially vintage cars – editing Motor Sport and writing frequently acerbic road tests.

Bill Boddy also churned out books which remain references, worldwide. He was, and remains, the world's unchallenged expert on Brooklands, the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit in 1907 at Weybridge, Surrey, on which he was a human encyclopaedia. His first visit was as a school boy of 15 and he was writing road tests before he was able to drive.

Boddy was especially influential — and controversial in postwar UK — for his support of the VW Beetle and he was also behind the formation of motor clubs like the 750 MC, vital to Britain’s current strong position in motor sports. He was president of the Vintage & Veteran Sports Car Club (VSCC) until his death.

Former Motor Sport assistant editor Clive Richardson, current holder of that role Gordon Cruickshank, Allan Winn and many more created a memorable pre-event reunion before the day which featured the glorious selection of machinery in our pictures.