Thruxton Aerodrome, home to award winning Aerofab Restorations, has an interesting history. It was first opened in 1942 as RAF Thruxton, with missions including an attack on the radar station an Bruneval, and later in 1947, was reopened by the Wiltshire School of Flying. Motorbike racing took place for a number of years around the perimeter road until 1967, when the site was taken over by Western Air and its sister company British Racing Circuits. The first major race event took place in 1968. In 1998, Western Air and British Racing Circuits merged and the entire site has been managed by Western Air ever since. That is until today...

It’s a glorious day for racing or flying, with few clouds at 2000ft and a moderate breeze from the south. As I sit here in the Jackaroo cafe (more on how this on-site eatery got its name in another post) a number of Formula 4 racing cars are zooming round the fast circuit, a few aircraft are braving the wind gusts and a tall, down to earth chap, with a navy blue jumper and chinos sits down to join me, apologetic that the cafe has finished serving for the afternoon, and that he’s a bit flustered having had a bit of a manic day. You see this is hand-over day, because after almost 60 years, Thruxton Motor Racing Circuit and Aerodrome has been sold, and this unassuming bloke you might have just met in the pub, is Alex Thistlethwayte, the new owner.

Alex is not unfamiliar with Thruxton, he grew up just 15 minutes away has family roots going almost 400 years. He was born in Winchester Hospital and studied in his early years at Bedales School, before a short stay in the Middle East while his father was working there. He returned to his UK education and attended Millfield School in Street, which he confesses was quite a sporty establishment, and he was the least sporty boy there, preferring other pursuits. After attending Exeter university, he started work as a stockbroker in the city, before moving to BP to trade oil, and then onto investment banking. 

For some years, the community that uses the airfield and racing circuit were concerned for its future. With rumours of bulldozers and Amazon distribution hubs, housing estates and other projects that would see the end to the site running rife through the mill. Thankfully, and we can all sigh with relief, this will not be the case. Alex, is a petrol head and is coming round to the idea of aviation too. “Racers and Pilots are very similar in their passions” Alex comments, “They’re all a bit geeky like me and hugely passionate about what they do”. 

His love for motor racing began over 100 years ago, strange that at the age of just 57 this love of speed and sliding a car round bends began before he was even born, but thick runs the blood that contains petrol. It all started with his Grandfather Thomas “Scrap” Thistlethwayte. Scrap, was known as The Lost Bentley Boy, having bought a 3-Litre racing car out of his own pocket, to join the official Bentley Team and drive in the Le Mans 24-hour race. 

“It’s only been the last 10 years or so, that I’ve really got into racing” Alex tells me as the sleek Formula 4 cars scream past the pit lane. “I like older racing, the classic stuff. I have a few V8’s including a Mustang a Cobra, a coupe of Aston Martins and there’s an old Camaro somewhere too”. It’s clear that Alex is passionate about all motor sports and we continue talking about the bikes and trucks, to the touring cars and classic race weekends at Thruxton and how the future could see more car events, like drive in’s and meets, in addition to the racing the community has come to love. 

I asked Alex what his vision for Thruxton was, and I don’t want to disappoint, but his plans are big. “It’s going to take a while, but I want to build a really strong community here” he tells me. “This isn’t a buy-it and sell-it project for me, I want something I can leave to my children and my grandchildren. I’d love my great-grandchildren and generations to come to enjoy this place. I want to see events here that are really high quality and provide the kind of service the aerodrome and motorsport community can be proud to be part of” I asked him if it was like a giant playground and he replied with a huge grin “It is really, I love the bones of this place, it’s got so much potential!”. 

The bigger picture, which I get the impression is growing every day, includes ideas of a museum which will celebrate the heritage of the site, along with prestige vehicle storage, to include on-site maintenance and restoration services. There’s talk about how to extend the runway a little to allow some larger aircraft, like the Pilatus PC-12 to be based at the aerodrome and talk of providing more hangarage for light aviation and encouraging War-birds to be based at EGHO too.

I know it’s a cliche to say “watch this space” but for the first time in a long while, the vibe around Thruxton is rousing. We're on the cusp of some very exciting changes and I for one, can't wait to see what happens next. I wonder as I sit here craning my neck to see the track and runway, whether the cafe will get an update in the coming months too…

Why not fly or drive into Thruxton soon. The kettle is always on at Aerofab and there’s always an interesting project to see in the works. Did you know, if you upload fuel, the landing fee is half price and there’s free circuits at certain times of the month too! Find Aerofab Restorations in Hangar 6, through the tunnel, right in the middle of it all. Thruxton Aerodrome, is just west of Andover, off the A303.

Aerofab Reporter : Grant Francis