A Glimpse into Motoring History
In the early hours of Sunday, November 5th, London's Hyde Park will come alive with the sights, sounds, and scents of the dawn of motoring as 400 adventurous drivers prepare themselves and their pioneering vehicles for the annual RM Sotheby's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
This historic event kicks off with the symbolic tearing of the red flag just as the sun rises at 7:00 am. From that moment, participants embark on a remarkable 60-mile journey to the Sussex coast. What makes this year particularly special are the movie star cars leading the way. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the BAFTA-winning film "Genevieve," the Darracq and the Spyker, featured in the beloved comedy caper, are reunited for this year's run.
The field is an evocative mix of two-, three-, and four-wheelers, most of which are powered by petrol but also includes a few steam and early electric vehicles. Notably, a growing number of veterans now run on sustainable biofuels, emphasizing the importance of environmental consciousness.
Over 100 makes, including familiar names like Chevrolet, Ford, Renault, Peugeot, and Mercedes, will be present, alongside some long-forgotten marques like Mors, De Dion Bouton, Covert, Alldays, and Gladiator.
The oldest vehicle in Hyde Park is a plucky Peugeot dating back to around 1892, courtesy of The National Automobile Museum in Turin, Italy. With more than 50 entries from Europe and participants from America, Hong Kong, and Australia, this event truly lives up to its world-famous status.
The event has also expanded to include veteran cycles and motorcycles, with eye-catching penny-farthings and the legendary 1903 Dreadnought among the participants. The entire procession begins in Hyde Park and passes through iconic London landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Westminster.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run pays homage to the 127-year-old Locomotives on the Highway Act, which raised the speed limit for 'light locomotives' and abolished the need for the vehicles to be preceded by a man carrying a red flag. It was celebrated with the first 'Emancipation Run' in 1896, an event that continues to be honored today.
As the route splits into two directions outside London, half of the participants take the traditional A23 route via Kennington, Brixton, and Streatham, while the other half travels along Albert Embankment before heading through Clapham Common and on to Tooting and Mitcham. The two routes merge north of Croydon before heading south through Surrey toward Crawley for the halfway halt at The Hawth Theatre.
Although there's no public access to the Pit Stop at The Hawth, spectators in Crawley can still get close to the veterans along the town's Boulevard.
After this refreshment stop, the crews and cars continue their journey over the scenic South Downs towards the finishing line on Brighton's Madeira Drive, with the first vehicles expected to arrive shortly after 10:00 am.
It's worth noting that this event is not a race; instead, it's a celebration of motoring history and the freedoms brought by the introduction of motorized transport. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in the A. Lange & Söhne Timepiece Trail between Croydon and Redhill, with prizes for the most correct answers spotted along the way.
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All photos by VCR Media
