Brighton Run Aftermath

Brighton Run Aftermath

LOOKING back on the 1989 Veteran Car Run, 66 entries were withdrawn and nine more failed to turn up. This left 377 pre-1905 “Kenco cars” as starters. Of these, those who failed to complete the Journey within the specified time of approximately eight hours were, for the record: The oldest of them all, Moore’s 1894 De Dion, Mitchell’s 1897 Daimler, Mrs Redmond’s 1898 Clement, Soderstrom’s 1899 Hurtu, Dr Cosson’s 1899 Locomobile, Edney’s 1899 SFA, Goodman’s 1900 Benz, de Pol’s 1900 De Dion, Rendle’s 1900 Georges Richard, Hounslow’s 1900 Mobile, Smith’s 1900 Napier, Le Rolland’s 1900 Panhard, Jonker’s 1900 Renault, Willis’ 1900 Renault, Waind’s 1901 Arrol-Johnston, Welch’s 1901 Decauville, Wilson’s 1901 De Dion, Hancock’s 1901 De Dion, Ott’s 1901 Hurtu, Mrs Moore’s 1901 Stanley, Large’s 1902 Albion, Brydon’s 1902 Cadillac, Home’s 1902 James & Browne, Passey’s 1902 National Electric, Mrs Morley’s 1902 Oldsmobile, de Barres’ 1902 Oldsmobile, Mrs Clayton’s 1903 Clement, Dr Valles 1903 De Dion, Brown’s 1903 De Dion, Jaye’s 1903 Ford, Cmdr Chapman’s 1903 Lagonda, Pollock’s 1903 Mors, Carr’s 1903 Northern, Landlass’ 1903 Panhard, Middleton’s 1903 Wolseley, Graham’s

1904 Cadillac, Mason’s 1904 Cadillac, Ward’s 1904 Cadillac, Mrs Knight’s 1904 Darracq, Robbin’s 1904 Darracq, Miss Thompson’s 1904 De Dion, Dr Pickering’s 1904 De Dion, Darlow’s 1904 Ford, Boella’s 1904 Franklin, Hon’s 1904 Mercedes, Sir Rogers’ 1904 Orient, Sharpe’s 1904 Pope Tribune, Inston’s 1904 Rambler, Estler’s 1904 Siddeley, Brandt’s 1904 Turner-Miesse and Jones’ 1904 Turner-Miesse. Which goes to show that even in these enlightened days, the Run is still quite a difficult proposition; moreover, cars entered by the Daimler/Jaguar Heritage Trust, the Science Museum, Renault (UK) Ltd, and the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust had their failures. An unhappy note was sounded by the RAC this time, when it excluded eleven cars for contravening regulations and has refused entry to their owners for 1990. It also reprimanded four other entrants for breaches of the rules about retrieving broken down veterans. The latter may be commended if in future it prevents obstruction by following tender-cars and trailers; although it is difficult to conceive how otherwise many of the veterans are to be helped on their way. But to disqualify drivers who finish ahead of time is less acceptable. Once upon a time the RACJVCC awarded much prized Certificates to all who finished the Run and these were inscribed with the individual average speeds attained. There may have been fewer entries then, and clearer roads; against which today’s modern cars have better brakes and the A23 has been much modernised. Having been a passenger on three veterans which were ahead of schedule, one of them arriving before any other entrant, I can vouch for the fact that not once, in my view, was anyone endangered or inconvenienced. So while the Run should be well-publicised for not being a race, to so penalise heavily those who find irksome a 20 mph speed stipulation on roads over which mostly 60 mph, even 70 mph, is legal seems a sadly spoilsport attitude. Careless driving of any veteran is another matter entirely. WB