As the sun rises this Sunday (4 November) more than 400 intrepid drivers and their hardy passengers will set out on the world famous Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox.
The first of the remarkable, pioneering horseless carriages dating back to pre-1905 will leave Hyde Park as dawn breaks at 06.59 am and for the next couple of hours a huge variety of remarkable vehicles will stream down Constitution Hill, past Buckingham Palace on to The Mall.
2018 Route :
This year the route will then split in Parliament Square thus minimising traffic delays and congestion in south London. Half of the plucky participants will travel over Westminster Bridge and then follow the traditional A23 route via Kennington, Brixton and Streatham Common; the other half will leave over Lambeth Bridge then journey via Vauxhall, Clapham Common and Tooting. The two routes merge on the A236 just north of Croydon with the entire magical cavalcade reunited as it heads to the spectator-friendly halfway halt in Crawley High Street.
Crawley High Street also marks an important stage on the Run as it’s the start of the Regularity Time Trial, the only competitive element of the event. Finishing 13 miles away in Burgess Hill, the Regularity Time Trial requires drivers to get as close to a chosen average speed as possible.
After Burgess Hill, the cavalcade tackles yet more scenic but demanding Sussex roads over the rolling South Downs, passing through Hassocks and Clayton before re-joining the A23 for the run into Brighton and the seaside finish on Madeira Drive. Adding to this year’s spectacle, many of the busy pubs along the 60-mile route will be opening early and supporting the event’s charity partner The Movember Foundation.
The cars:
While some of these extraordinary early cars bear model names still familiar today – for example: Renault, Mercedes and Oldsmobile – the vast majority are relics from a host of bygone innovators that did not survive the test of time: long-lost marques such as Warwick, Darracq, Lambert, Knox, Mors, Gladiator, Achilles and Flint. Intriguingly, two new little-known names – Premier and Vabis – will be joining that list when making their somewhat belated debuts this year.
Open to cars built before 1905, Vauxhall have two entries; the 1903 ‘5HP’ will be taking on the 60-mile long Run for the first time since 2015, co-driven by Vauxhall’s Managing Director, Steve Norman, and former Communications Director, Denis Chick.
Vauxhall’s 5HP is the 45th vehicle built by the company. It’s a rare four-seat model, with passengers sitting over the engine, in front of the driver. Vauxhall Heritage purchased and restored the car, registered BS8213, 20 years ago and it has completed the Run on many occasions since. Originally bought for £154 3s 3d by as Scottish shipbuilder, 5HP has a water-cooled 983cc engine powering its rear wheels through an epicyclic gearbox and chain drive. Top speed is 20mph and fuel consumption around 38mpg.
Joining 5hp is Vauxhall’s 6HP model. Registered JNM 400, it was one of 70 cars produced in 1904 at Vauxhall’s original factory in South London. Making its 56th appearance on the Run, 6HP also features a one-litre, water-cooled single-cylinder engine, along with tiller steering and similar performance and economy to the 5HP. Vauxhall Heritage has owned the car for more than 40 years. Journalist, Steve Fowler, will co-drive 6HP with Vauxhall PR’s Simon Hucknall.
The stars:
Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner and his singer-songwriter wife Geri –former Spice Girl – will be helping with the ceremonial pre-start ripping up of the symbolic Red Flag before the pair jump aboard Lord (Irvine) Laidlaw’s 1904 Panhard-Levassor.
Supermodel Yasmin Le Bon will drive a 1901 Wolseley propelled by a 10 horsepower, twin-cylinder Austin engine giving it a top speed of around 20mph. When new it came with a £360 price tag. Today, the Wolseley is exhibited at the British Motor Museum.
Yasmin Le Bon said, “It’s been a true honour to have a chance to drive the Wolseley as part of the Veteran Car Run. It’s made me realise we have so many creature comforts that we take for granted when driving around in such modern, technological cars today, that it’s easy to forget what a huge challenge motoring was back at the start of the last century. I’m now relishing my drive from London to Brighton on the famous Veteran Car Run and even more so, as I’m helping to raise awareness for the Movember Foundation, a great organisation addressing male health issues and to help stop men dying too young.”
Television presenter Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs is another of the famous faces taking part this year.
The timing:
Aside from the start all timings are approximate. As the guide below indicates, the first cars are expected at the Crawley halt from 8.15am with the last leaving by 2.00pm. The first car is due at the Madeira Drive finish at shortly after 10 am while, to be sure of a coveted finishers’ medal, participants need to make it to the finish before sunset at 4.30pm.
6.59 am – 8.15 am: Constitution Hill, London
6.59 am – 8.15 am: The Mall, London
6.59 am – 8.15 am: Horse Guards Parade, London
7.05 am – 8.20 am: Westminster Bridge, London
7.10 am – 9.15 am: Clapham Common, London
7.35 am – 11.00 am: Croydon – A236, A235 and A23
7.50 am – 11.30 am: Redhill – A23
8.00 am – 12.15 pm: Gatwick – A23
8.20 am – 2.00 pm: Crawley High Street
8.45 am – 2.30 pm: Cuckfield High Street, B2114
8:55 am – 3.00 pm: Burgess Hill – B2036
9:00 am – 3.30 pm: Clayton Hill – A273
10.04 am – 4.30 pm: Brighton – Madeira Drive
Further details of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and ways to support the charity can be found via the event’s official website: www.veterancarrun.com. For more information on the Movember
