The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

The Royal Automobile Club's annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is celebrating its 112th anniversary this November 1st and 2nd which makes it the world's longest running motoring event. It attracts highly valuable Antique pre-1905 cars from all over the globe. For the spectators, it’s a rare opportunity see these extraordinary automobiles on the 60 mile run from Hyde Park in central London to the seafront on the Sussex resort of Brighton.

The Emancipation Run, as it was called at its initiation on November 14th, 1896, celebrated the passing into law of the "Locomotives on the Highway Act" which raised the speed limit for "Light Locomotives" from 4 miles per hour to 14 mph. The event was considered to be a red-letter day in the history of British motoring, demonstrating that the automobile was here to stay -- even though only 14 of the 33 starters reached Brighton. Since then - with the exception of the war years, when gas rationing was in force - the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run has been an annual event.

Today, royalty and personalities from the worlds of television, stage, music and sport often participate in the annual run, which takes place on the first Sunday in November. Few events on the international motoring calendar can claim the individuality, personality and character of the 500 fine examples of early automotive engineering that now participate in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Spectator Information

Photo: 1902 Murray Runabout