The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (Pre-1905) Antique Car Tour Starts November 5, 2023
November 5, 2023 @ 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the world’s longest-running motor car event, celebrating the dawn of the automobile era and the four-mile an-hour speed limit.
On Sunday, November 5, 2023, hundreds of pre-1905 cars will participate in this historic event, marking the emancipation of the motor car from the 1896 speed limit of 4 mph (6.4 km/h).
Drivers and antique cars from around the world will embark on a 60-mile journey from Hyde Park in London to Madeira Drive in Brighton, relishing the picturesque landscape and camaraderie of fellow aficionados. Every participating car, representing some of the most iconic brands ever crafted, must have been manufactured prior to 1905.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run commemorates the UK’s 1905 speed limit of 4 mph, featuring cars built before 1905 on a 60-mile journey
Among this year’s participants are a 1900 De Dion Bouton driven by Robert Goodwill, another 1900 De Dion Bouton owned by Dr. Shaun Crofton, a 1900 Daimler steered by John Worth, a 1900 De Dion Bouton with Jörn Scharlemann navigating, and a 1900 Darracq piloted by Tim Summers.
Do they break down, and how many actually finish the race?
Well, here are the results of last year’s 2022 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run:
- Cars Entered 364
- Withdrawn 12
- Did Not Start 22
- Retired 56
- Cars Finished Race 274
In this year’s veteran run, the 1892 Peugeot Type 3 Vis-à-vis stands out as the oldest car. A prized artifact from Italy’s Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile di Torino collection, it holds the distinction of being the first car ever driven on Italian roads.
This year’s special RM Sotheby’s Veteran Car Run promises to attract and entertain more than 400 entries from all over the world.
The participants departed from Hyde Park in London at 7:03 am and arrived at Madeira Drive in Brighton, a distance of about 60 miles (97 km), between 10:00 am and 4:30 pm.
The event is sponsored by RM Sotheby’s Auctions which is a dominant force in auctioning classic collectible cars.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is a historic event that specifically celebrates the early days of motoring. The celebration goal is to showcase the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the early pioneers, craftsmen, and inventors of the automobile industry.
As always, the car run features cars from countries around the world, provided they had produced a car prior to 1905. Some of the dominant countries developing cars at the time were the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, and Japan. The oldest car on the run was an 1892 Peugeot Type 3.
Two pre-1905 vehicles from the Veteran Car Run, an event that’s been held since 1927, journeying 60 miles from Hyde Park via London’s historic A23 road to Brighton.
The event attracts thousands of spectators along the route, who cheer and wave at the drivers and passengers of the vintage vehicles. Some of the participants dress up in period correct costumes that match the cars and era of their cars which adds to the festive atmosphere.
The event is not a race, but a leisurely drive of car collectors that allows the car lovers to enjoy the scenery and the company of like-minded enthusiasts.
The run is widely known and respected for its donations to various charities. Some of the charities that benefit from the event are the Royal British Legion and the Movember Foundation.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is traditionally held every year on the first Sunday of November in the UK. The car run starts at Hyde Park in London and ends at Madeira Drive in Brighton.
HISTORY OF THE VETERAN CAR RUN
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run originated in 1896 to celebrate a London law that increased the motor car speed limit from 4 mph to 14 mph. Initially termed “The Emancipation Run,” it symbolized the motor car’s newfound freedom from stringent regulations. The Veteran Car Run changed destinations until 1903, causing the event to lose popularity until it was rejuvenated and widely advertised in 1927 by two newspapers. The Veteran Car Run is now one of the most popular events in the world for classic car collectors.
Today, the Veteran Car Run is originally organized by Harry John Lawson, founder of the UK’s first motoring club: The Royal Automobile Club
Since then, it has taken place yearly, barring the war years and 1947.
. Click here for a full history of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
If you or somebody you know is interested in watching or joining next year’s The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run you can visit https://www.veterancarrun.com/.
You can also check out their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@veterancarruntv.
It is a unique and exciting experience for any car enthusiast or history lover.
History of The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run: https://www.veterancarrun.com/history-of-the-run
