London to Brighton UK by Geoff Wheatley

London to Brighton UK by Geoff Wheatley. Photos and Stories.

Mark J. Willison Photo

London to Brighton UK by Geoff Wheatley

Every year in London, England, a special auto event is held ending up some fifty miles away in the coastal town of Brighton. It’s known as the “Veteran Car Run” but in reality none of the cars that are entered run very fast, in fact most usually have a top speed of around twenty five miles an hour. To qualify for entering this event you must have two important things...The first, a car that was registered before 1906 and a co driver who can be your wife, girlfriend etc.

The latter is as important as the car, for at the end of the event you will enjoy a top style Dinner Dance at a five star hotel. The date 1896 is important in respect to Motoring in the UK. Until that year all motor driven vehicles enjoyed a maximum speed limit of first four, then eight miles an hour. When Kind Edward obtained a motor vehicle and agreed to become the Hon President of the Royal Motor Club, formed by enthusiasts in 1905, Parliament decided to throw caution to the wind and increase the speed limit to an incredible perhaps even dangerous twenty miles an hour. (Later during the First World War this was increased to thirty which prompted the national media to predict a massive increase in road accidents.)

Decauville Vis-a-vis 1899
Mark J. Willison Photo

The ability to enter your car in the London to Brighton event is rather demanding. First, the car must be in original condition, no modifications to anything from the breaks to the lights, the engine or the interior. If it left the factory with silk upholstery or a generous refreshment bar, or both, it must still feature that facility. As many of these entry cars were made to private specification for the owner by some small, make that very small, local engineering establishment it is not always feasible to obtain the original production details so as you can imagine an owner can take years to find the exact details of the car when it took to the road some time before 1907. As the Royal Auto Club is the sponsor of this annual event and have a large library of information on the early production models, they can usually be of valuable assistance.

Locomobile Vanderbilt racer 1906

I personally know of one such car that was discovered in a shed on a Yorkshire (UK) farm when the farm was sold and the new owner required a brick built shed to be removed to reveal a 1905 “Locomobile”. An American vehicle built between 1899 and 1929, then like other manufacturers became a victim of the depression and simply faded away into history. The car was designed to exploit the steam car design of the Stanley Brothers. How this American delight ever ended up in Yorkshire is another question? The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the earliest motor event in the world. The original 1896 run attracted a total of thirty two cars mostly from Europe and a few from the USA.

Mercedes Roi-des-Belges 1904
Mark J. Willison Photo

The latest figure of participation recorded was in 2012 when a total of 492 vehicles took part in this run. (Again may I say that it is not a race or even a rally, no prizes are awarded for performance and the top speed allowed is twenty miles per hour.) It commences at the famous Charring Cross Hotel where most of the participants enjoy breakfast. The first departure is around 10.30 AM with each car leaving at three minute intervals (Give or take a little!) On average about 80% of the cars finish the run on time, the finish time being 4.30 PM, Some taking longer and others miss the evening celebrations stuck in some local garage trying to get their pride and joy back on the road. In the early days of motoring in England if you had a horseless carriage as they were called, you were required to have a man walk thirty feet in front of you with a red flag as a warning to any individual foolish enough to try and cross the path of the vehicle. With the increase in the speed limit this facility was ended but at the start of the London/Brighton run the Chief Marshal will tear up a token red flag indicating the revision of the old motoring laws and the reason why this gathering takes place.

If you ever get the chance to view a movie made in 1953 called “Genevieve” watch it, as the story is about the London/Brighton run and much of the content was filmed during the 1952 event. It’s both enjoyable and informative.

Mark J. Willison Photo

I have seen three Vintage Runs at the starting point in London and at the end in Brighton, As to be expected in early November, the official date each year, the British weather leaves something to be desired. It usually rains and has done on all of my three visits. However, as weather equipment was never a strong feature for pre 1907 cars no one seems to mind. Furthermore, despite the threat of rain, some participants’ even dress in period cloths which certainly adds to the event.

Would I participate? You bet, even as a working passenger. (The term working simply means that if we break down I would be the one pushing). The route is planned through the countryside to avoid the horror of Highway traffic and there is a half way stop provided for coffee, and the call of nature.

Hope to see you next November in London, and remember to bring your umbrella.
GEOFF WHEATLEY