Veteran Car Run 2011–London to Brighton
This weekend, the 5th and 6th of November 2011, saw the 115th anniversary of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. A true motorists dream to be taking part, with proper fuel stops and a range of good places for cars to stop. The weather held for what turned out to be a rather special day. I had the honour of travelling with ‘Genevieve’, made famous by the 1953 film named after this Darracq model and ‘Spyker’, the race rival in the film.
At precisely 7.02 am (official sunrise), Oliver Wright, aged just 17, led 496 pre-1905 vehicles away from the 75th anniversary start at Hyde Park, driving an 1894 Benz owned by the Ward Collection, to celebrate 125 years of Mercedes Benz. One of Britain’s best loved racing drivers and 1992 Formula One World Champion, Nigel Mansell OBE headlined the celebrity contingent with passenger Mike Penning MP (under-secretary of state for transport) being cheered off by the Hyde Park crowds at 07.36. See the BBC website for more on this story with my photos….
Car number 227 Mr Paul and Mrs Gail Noon: have taken part in the veteran car run 16 times, this 1902 Westfield has made it 10 out of the 16 times. It Goes up to 50mph, it is very technically advanced, powerful and a very beautiful car. Robert Lester in Cleveland Ohio restored it at a cost of $400,000. This is one of 6 veteran cars in Paul’s collection.
Car number 492 Jochen Mass with owner Alexander Schroder-Frerkes. This car which was bought in 2007 was an undertakers car. It always needs a good push up the hill…. “3 people have to step out and give it a good push up the hill” Says Alexander, “we are Germans, we will finish”.
On asking Jochen mass what his favourite part of the car run is; “driving these cars is like an exercise in aesthetics” he said the best parts are leaving Hyde park and finally arriving at the sea.
Robert Llewellyn drove from Brighton to London in the Future Car Challenge in a British Gas Toyota Prius plug in hybrid. “Love the fact the Regent Street has been closed to cars and buses, to cars and that everyone who is not normally involved with cars is now starting to look at these new vehicles and asking questions” he goes on to say “ I usually drive a Leaf and manage 4000 miles on £20.00 that’s £5.00 every 100 miles”.
Genevieve (1904 Darracq) and Spyker are owned by the Louwman Museum in the Hague. James Wood and Ms Quirina Louwman on Genevieve and (Mr Evert Louwman on Spyker). The Louwman Museum also holds the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 used in Goldfinger. Genevieve has travelled down to Brighton 17 times and Spyker 2 times since being in the Museum. Genevieve has been on the run in 1950, 51, 52, and 53 and the film was made in 1953. The two cars have always made it. When you spend a day with these cars you realise that everyone is called Genevieve, (the little girl on her daddies’ shoulders is called Genevieve). Everyone standing out on the streets look out for the famous cars… where many more are called Genevieve.
Car number 86 a 1903 Panhard Lavasser has been on the London to Brighton run 24 times but Mr ken Barley (flat cap and Castrol oil can) has owned the car for the past 22 years. Initially his dear friend 86 year old Mr Bryan Firth drove the Panhard, then when Kath Barley was old enough she started to drive it and has done so for the past 14 years. (Kath in fur hat with partner). Mr Firth’s yellow leather long coat was made especially for the veteran car run 22 years ago, so he could keep warm and dry. It has a double leather button system so the wind will stay out and the warmth in for these very open cars.
Kath, although works outside usually, has on today 7 layers on top and 3 layers on the bottom. She says “Luckily this French 10 horse power 4 cylinder engine does not need to be pushed up those hills”. She continues, “It is so lovely to be part of this run and we always seem to end up near Genevieve, we take her out though on local runs around Yorkshire and see other veteran cars.” The lamps were filled with paraffin for this morning’s 7.02 am start.
Spyker and Genevieve toot their way along the route and jest with each other at traffic lights as to who will go first. Everyone is very excited to see these two cars on the route today. Spyker and Genevieve arrive at the final check point in Brighton together before they head down to Meridian drive on the sea front. Genevieve usually arrives in Brighton at 10.30am but today they both arrived at 1.00pm just in time for a good old fashioned picnic lunch on the front.
See you next year Genevieve.
La
x
See the BBC website for more on this story with my photos…..
