Bravo, Mrs Bennett

The VCC’S most ambitious event this year must be the replay of the 1900 Thousand Miles Trial. I could not follow it as no map of the route was sent to me, but I can say that it boasted 55 veterans, half a dozen of which were pre-1900, the oldest being John Bentley’s 1894 1.1/2hp Benz.

I also know that Lord Montagu of Beaulieu ran his 1899 Daimler, and that the most exciting car was the 1903 Mercedes 60 of Tim Scott, once owned by Peter Hampton.

Four entries came from America, one was from the Netherlands, and two were from Germany. The route covered 1063 miles in 10 days, for satisfaction rather than prizes.

Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, who wrote the book about the Trial (as reviewed last month), edited an equally superb official programme with colour pictures and brief histories of the vehicles taking part. Copies of this programme, priced £2 plus 75p postage, may be available from the author.

Mrs Bennett herself had an anxious moment when the four-cylinder Renault she had intended to drive on the Trial was not ready in time. Instead she hastily replaced it with her two-cylinder 10hp Renault. This machine went on to average 22mph and 20mpg, after completing the equivalent of 18.1/2 Brighton Runs.