As part of London Motor Week, the longest-running motorsports event, the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, takes place every year on the first Sunday in November.
On November 1, 2015, it will be the 119th time that around 500 participants will set off on a 60-mile (not quite 100 km) adventure from Hyde Park in central London to the coast of the seaside resort of Brighton in Sussex in their most beautiful cars built in 1905 and earlier.
119-year tradition
The "Emancipations Run" on November 14, 1986 is now considered the origin of the London to Brighton Run. From 1927 onwards, such a run was held every year, with the exception of the war years and 1947, the year in which petrol was rationed.
While the first carriage without horses came from Benz in Germany, the Americans were also an inventive force among the early automobile pioneers. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, they not only produced gasoline-powered cars, but also vehicles that ran on steam or electricity.
The groundbreaking automobiles and tricycles that are also competing in this year's Run date back to this pioneering era. The fact that the youngest vehicles are 111 years old means that a moving piece of history can be seen at this event, as the participants include well-known brands such as Vauxhall, Renault and Peugeot, as well as very rare vehicles from Delahaye and Panhard.
For the general public
Even today, there are few events in the international motorsport calendar that have so much individuality, personality and character. That's why the event, which is open to the general public and free of charge, attracts around half a million spectators every year, who line up along the entire route from London to Brighton.
To make the race even more enjoyable for both participants and spectators, the route has been changed slightly this year. All vehicles must make a stopover on Crawley High Street. This gives spectators the opportunity to view the vehicles at close range, take photographs and also chat to the vintage drivers and their passengers, who often wear period costumes.
Start at dawn
In any case, the London to Brighton Run is not an event for late risers, as this historic motorsport event starts at sunrise at 6:54 am in Hyde Park in the center of London. The last vehicles are then expected to arrive in Brighton at 4:30 p.m., provided everything goes smoothly en route.
From there, the route takes participants under the Wellington Arch, over Constitution Hill, past Buckingham Palace and through the Mall. The route then continues to the Houses of Parliament in London and over Westminster Bridge. At the Imperial War Museum, the route then continued south of the river along the A23 towards Croydon, Purley, Redhill and Crawkley until the vehicles finally arrived in Brighton.
Further information can be found on the Bonhams London to Brighton Vintage Car Run 2015 website.
