The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

Ah, the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. It’s not just an event; it’s a moving museum of motoring eccentricity, a rolling exhibition of how far we’ve come-or how far we haven’t. This, dear reader, is the oldest motoring event in the world. That’s right. While most of the world was still figuring out what an internal combustion engine actually did, a group of plucky pioneers were already careering down to Brighton in what can only be described as motorised bathtubs.
The inaugural run happened in 1896, back when speed limits were something like 4 mph, and you needed a chap with a red flag to amble ahead of you. After a bit of a hiatus, the event was revived in 1927 and has been a staple of British eccentricity ever since. To qualify, your car must have been built before 1905. So, we’re talking about vehicles that were on the roads when Queen Victoria was just getting comfortable in her coffin.
It’s also the largest gathering of these ancient contraptions anywhere in the world. Back in 1927, a modest 37 cars set off. By 2005, there were 443. In 2009, 484 brave souls took part. For context, these aren’t just cars-they’re basically horse-drawn carriages that someone had the bright idea of strapping an engine to.
The event takes place on the first Sunday in November-because what’s better than driving 54 miles (87 km) in a draughty old death trap in the British autumn? It starts at sunrise in Hyde Park, London, and mostly sticks to the old A23, finishing at Brighton. Along the way, there are two official stops: Crawley, for a much-needed coffee, and Preston Park, just outside Brighton, which is the official finishing point. After that, the cars totter down to Madeira Drive on the seafront, the same spot where the Brighton Speed Trials are held. But make no mistake-this isn’t about speed.
Oh no, the organisers are very clear: this is not a race. In fact, they don’t even bother to tell anyone who finished first. The rules cap participants at a blistering 20 mph (32 km/h). That’s not a speed limit; that’s a challenge. Most of these cars are lucky if they can go that fast downhill with a following wind. And here’s the kicker: many don’t make it at all. But for those that do, as long as you cross the line before 4:30 pm, you get a medal.
So there you have it: the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. It’s slow, it’s noisy, it’s unreliable-and yet it’s absolutely glorious. A testament to British determination and the sheer madness of anyone who thought putting an engine on a cart was a good idea. God bless them all.
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