Mathew Keller

Saturday, 31st October, 2009

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

This weekend sees the return of one of Britain’s longest running motoring events to Brighton. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2009.

The run will start at sun-rise from Hyde Park in London and the first cars should reach Brighton by approximately 10.00am.

What I love about this event is that it both captures and celebrates a particular moment in history: the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act, raising the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4 mph to 14 mph and abolishing the requirement for vehicles to be preceded by a man on foot carrying a red flag. However it also captures and distills a particular period in history, the transition from the Victorian era to the Edwardian era, by only allowing cars built before 1st January 1905 to take part. That fact these cars still exist let alone still run and can make such a long journey brings joy to my heart.

What particularly caught my eye this year is the rather lovely illustration that features prominently on the events website: http://www.lbvcr.com.

The site was built by MSO.net and i can only assume the illustration was done by one of their designers as there are no other credits visible anywhere.