Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
From a total of 450 entries submitted for this year’s Royal Automobile Club/Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran car run, 49% were of French manufacture. Starting from Hyde Park at 7:02 am (sunrise) 405 cars headed off to Brighton to celebrate the 121st Anniversary run of the passing of the light locomotives on the highway act of 1896. This act of Parliament raised the speed limit for light locomotives weighing less than 3 tons from 4 to 14 mph, and also abolished the requirement for the vehicle to be proceeded by a person on foot carrying a red flag.
Due to major roadworks on the normal route through South London, this year’s event had to be rerouted through Reigate in Surrey before rejoining its traditional route south to Brighton. Tragically a major accident involving a 1902 Benz and three modern cars occurred on Reigate hill resulting in the loss of life of one of the occupants of the Benz.
To qualify as a finisher the entrants must make it to Brighton by 4.30 pm. Of the 405 Veterans that left Hyde Park 315 made it to Brighton before the cutoff time. This year rather than just heading into the center of Brighton to catch the cars as they arrive, I decided to head slightly inland to catch the cars as they arrived at Clayton Hill which is the last major challenge for the cars before they join the main road into Brighton. It was a beautiful bright sunny autumn day but very cold especially if you happen to be sitting out in the open in a Veteran car without a heater. As the weather was nice the Veterans were joined on the route by many other classics vehicles; hot rods, custom cars, Mods on scooters and even three Vintage Bedford Buses taking part in the run to raise funds for the BBC Television’s Children in Need appeal. BBC Radio 2 DJ and petrol-head Chris Evans was driving one, and BBC TV The One Show presenter Miss Alex Jones was at the wheel of another. After spending a few hours out in the country I headed back into Brighton and joined the crowd applauding the Veterans as they arrived at the finish.
Half the fun of watching the Brighton Run is in observing the participants and drivers. Jonathan Sharp captured a wide range of interesting emotions this year, and we featured a special section devoted to the people of the Brighton Run. Click here to see miles of smiles.
On the road
Bergmann 1897, Mr Ron Mellowship
Panhard Et Levassor Omnibus 1896, Thomas Sommer
Panhard Et Levassor racer, 40 hp circa 1901, Robert Kauffman
Benz circa 1898, Mr Peter Martin
Daimler 1899, Mr Robert Abrey
De Dion Bouton 1900 Entrant, Dr Shaun Crofton Driver, Ms Mary Crofton
De Dion Bouton 1900, Entrant, Mr Clive Pettit, Driver Miss Sophie Pettit
George Richard 1902, Entrant Mr Jordan Bird OBE, Driver Mr Rupert Banner
Leon Bollee 1898, Entrant Master Vyvyan Bewley, Driver Mr Philip Bewley
MMC 1901, Entrant Christopher Clapham, Driver Simon Tattersall
Mors 1902, Entrant Mr Richard Moore, Driver Ms Charlotte Lowe
Peugeot 1898, Colin Clarke and Clayton Jones
Peugeot 1899, Mr Karl Georg Behlau
Pick 1901, Mr Robert Hadfield
On the beach at the finish
Arrol Johnston 1902, Entrant Ms Micki Hacking, Driver Mr Alistair Hacking
CGV 1904, Mr John Breslow
Clement circa 1903, Mr Najeeb Khan
Dennis 1902, Mr John Dennis, OBE
Darracq 1904, Mr Mark Snowden, Driver Andrew Jackson
De Dion Bouton 1901, Mr Uno Levinsson
Delahaye 1902, Entrant Mr Tim Dickson, Driver Michael Williams
Delaugere Et Clayette 1904, Mr Daniel Ghose
Georges Richard circa 1901, Emtrant Mr Tim Summers, Driver Mr Shaun Lynn and a circa 1904 Covert, Mr Wolgang Presinger
Humberette 1903, Henry Brooks
Lambert 1902, Dr David Collier
Martini 1903, Viscont Randal Dunluce
Mercedes Simplex 1904, Entrant Mr Ulrich Knapp Driver Heidrun Knapp with damage.
Mercedes Simplex passes the Brighton Pavillion with only about a quarter of a mile to go to the ceremonial finishing line.
Panhard Et Levassor 1902, Entrant Sarah Tunnicliffe, Driver Adrian Godin
Panhard Et Levassor racer 40 hp circa 1901, Robert Kauffman
Renault circa 1900, Mr Peter Briggs
Renault circa 1904, Paris Vienna, Mr Alan Tribe
Sunbeam 1903, The Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie
White steam car 1903, Mr and Mrs Mitch and Wendy Gross
Wolsley 1904, Mr Ken Goddard
Wonderful run – one of my bucket list items! Being from the US, but having worked in Oxford as a summer apprentice in 1966 at F.J.Payne & Sons Ltd, I always dreamed of being a participant in this historic event. Fortunately, in 2013 I was able to become the breakdown car driver for Tim Payne, now Managing Director of his Grandfather’s firm started in 1914. Tim and his son piloted a 1904 Lagonda “Nere-a-car”in that L-B run, with Tim’s son bravely riding in the “bumper” front seat. Cold it was, but luckily it only drizzled a bit.
Not being in the best of condition, the Nere-a-car, which at that time seemed to be the only one in the world in running condition, only seized up on Tim about 8 times, necessitating frequent pushing by all three of us, occasionally assisted by the RAC on steep hills. Apparently the splash lubrication system on the aircooled V-twin was not up to snuff for long enuff, so we threw in the towel about 12 miles from Brighton, stashed the car in a very kind family’s driveway along the route for later recovery. Still, it was such a thrill to take part in this marvelous event
By the way, being a longtime Francophile, starting with a Citroen DS, along with Panhards, Jowett Jupiters, Hillman Minxes and now Bristols and Humber Snipes, it was gratifying to see so many French cars, especially Panhards, participating. Oh, to ever have the opportunity to see an 1891 Panhard et Levassor on the run –
” Is there any poor benighted soul who has not seen the wonderful 1953 British movie ” Genevieve ” ?
An absolute delight for any car person as well as movie lover. “Genevieve” is a Darracq pitted against a Spyker in a “friendly race ” within the run.
The movie is available on Amazon as well as a book about the car and the movie.”
Comment from Don Toms