More stops and better viewing for everyone at this years London To Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Subtle route revisions will make it even easier for spectators to enjoy the splendour of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

As many as half a million spectators will line the route of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run this November, when the longest running motoring event in the world sets off on its annual adventure from London to Brighton (Sunday 1 November).

Like the hardy teams piloting their amazing horseless carriages from the capital to the coast, the spectators brave whatever the weather conjures up to salute motoring’s pioneers: every car taking part was built before 1905.

Best of all, every vantage point along the 60-mile route offers completely free viewing allowing everyone to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of more than 400 veterans as they ‘put-put’ their way to Brighton.

Although the Run follows more or less the same route as last year, there have been a few changes to make it even better for participants and spectators alike. The first cars will start at Hyde Park Corner at first light (6.54am) where the route takes them through Wellington Arch and down Constitution Hill to pass Buckingham Palace before they head down The Mall.

From The Mall, the cars will turn right onto Horse Guards Road before turning left onto Birdcage Walk, heading towards the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge. Once south of the river, the cars will turn right onto Lambeth Palace Road before turning left by the Palace towards the Imperial War Museum where they join the A23 to head south towards Croydon, Purley, Redhill, Crawley and on to Brighton.

One popular viewing point just south of Redhill is at the A23 Brighton Road crossroads with Hooley Lane. This is a long incline that really tests the cars’ stamina: the first cars are expected here from 7.50am until around 11.30am.

Like last year, the participants will benefit from a pit stop in Crawley, courtesy of Harrods and Gatwick Honda. The dealer will clear its forecourt and service bays of modern cars to allow drivers and mechanics to fettle their steeds while passengers enjoy a warming drink. Due to lack of spectator viewing points, the time control checkpoint has been reintroduced into nearby Crawley High Street to allow fans to get up close to the cars. This will be the vantage point for spectators.

A knowledgeable commentary team will be on-hand in the High Street to give spectators some background on each car as it passes through. The first cars are expected to head off from 8.15am with the last leaving at about 1.45pm.

As the journey continues, the next popular vantage point is the village of Cuckfield where the pubs open early – for teas, coffees and soft drinks. Cars will be passing through here between 8.45am and 2.30pm before heading through Burgess Hill  between 8.55am and 3pm and reaching their destination at Brighton.

Another change this year sees the official finish moving to Madeira Drive, the site of the traditional ceremonial finish. The first cars are expected from 9.54am and all will be able to use bus lanes on Brighton’s Grand Parade to ease their passage to the sea front.

The event also attracts owners of classic cars who head out in support of the Run. MGs, Morgans, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys gather outside The Jolly Tanners and The Victory Inn by the village green in Staplefield as their owners cheer the veterans through. Members of the Panhard Club GB and Lotus 7 Club do the same at Handcross, just south of Crawley.

“Interest in the Veteran Car Run is higher than ever and the minor changes we have made to the route are designed not just to make life easier for the participants – you’ve got to remember these cars are all over 110 years old ­– but also to make it even more inviting to spectators,” said Clerk of the Course, Neil Carr-Jones.

“For anyone interested in the history of motoring and how the invention of the horseless carriage has shaped our lives, this is the greatest show on earth.”

There will be even greater spectator involvement on the Run this year. A social media campaign on the day will encourage spectators to vote for the crew dressed in the best period costume. The crew with the most nominations will win the Best Period Dress award!

For anyone that owns an eligible veteran car and is thinking about taking part this year, entries will be open until midnight on Friday 25 September, with registrations possible via the event website at:http://www.veterancarrun.com/register.

More information on the Run can be found at www.veterancarrun.com.

The Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the pinnacle event in a week of motoring in the capital during ‘London Motor Week’ – a series of events hosted by the world famous Royal Automobile Club which also includes a Literary Festival, Motoring Forum and the Regent Street Motor Show.

This years London to Brighton will stop once again in Crawley High Street for a public photo opportunity.

London to Brighton veterans will return to town’s High Street enabling local residents to see the cars close-up

An innovative change to the route taken by the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run last year was a hit with the hundreds of participants in the world’s longest-running motoring event when, rather than taking their traditional mid-Run stop in Crawley High Street on their way to the coast, the intrepid drivers benefited from a new stop with the Harrods Stop at Crawley held at Honda Gatwick. 

The dealership had generously cleared its workshops of modern cars to allow running repairs to be carried out on the old-timers, the youngest of which is 111 years old.

The warm and dry surroundings were especially welcome given that few of the cars have any weather protection at all and for most of last year’s Run the weather was cold, wet and windy.

While the participants were happy with the warm and dry environment from which to enjoy their well-earned refreshments, the local community felt rather short-changed. For them, their High Street had long been a fabulous vantage point from which to enjoy the spectacle of these pioneering horseless carriages from the dawn of motoring in action.

This year however, Crawley Borough Council and some members of the local business community have collaborated with organisers to ensure that spectators in Crawley have the chance to enjoy watching the Run up-close once again. 

Following their discussions with Crawley Borough Council, the organisers have changed the route so that once the cars have made their halfway stop at Honda Gatwick, they will then continue with their pilgrimage to Brighton via Crawley High Street where an official mid-way check-point will take place. 

This will be the official location for local Run supporters in Crawley and there will not be provision for spectators at the Honda dealership – the focus for spectators is firmly focused on the High Street, in recognition of last year’s feedback.

“Every November these veterans are one year older and almost all need some sort of fettling between Hyde Park and Madeira Drive. The ‘halfway halt’ at Honda Gatwick was warmly welcomed – literally – by the drivers and their passengers as it gave them a chance to make running repairs in the dry, while enjoying a hot drink and pastries courtesy of Harrods.

“Last year they then continued straight to Brighton, missing out the traditional trip down Crawley High Street, which disappointed a number of hardy spectators,” said Clerk of the Course Neil Carr-Jones.

“This year we are addressing that by re-routing the Run through the High Street and installing a time control check point. This means every car will stop for a few moments giving spectators the perfect opportunity to marvel at these incredible machines, take photos and converse with the veteran car drivers and their passengers, many in period costume.”

Councillor Peter Smith, Cabinet member for Planning and Economic Development, added: “We have worked hard with the Royal Automobile Club and the event organisers, Goose Live Events, to bring the Veteran Car Run back to the High Street. 

This has been a joint effort following feedback received after last year’s event and aims to give Crawley residents, businesses and visitors greater involvement with the Run. We are pleased that we have been able to improve the arrangements for this year’s event and will continue to work with the event organisers to maintain Crawley’s vibrant and exciting involvement with the Run.”

The change of route does have cost implications, with crowd barriers and extra marshals needed to ensure the smooth running of the event. In addition to the support from Crawley Borough Council, a number of local businesses, including Taylor Wimpey and Elekta, have also stepped forward to generously provide support of the checkpoint. However, the opportunity exists for others to help with sponsorship in support of this community event and in doing so enjoy a number of benefits through a local association.

“The stop in Crawley High Street is an ideal chance for local residents and visitors to enjoy the spectacle, and it’s a perfect opportunity for enterprising local companies to become part of this long-running event,” said Michelle Warner, Sponsorship and Marketing Manager, Goose Live Events, which organises the Run on behalf of the Royal Automobile Club.

More information on the Run can be found at www.veterancarrun.com.

The Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the pinnacle event in a week of motoring in the capital during ‘London Motor Week’ – a series of events hosted by the world famous Royal Automobile Club which also includes a Literary Festival, Motoring Forum and the Regent Street Motor Show.

Renault to Become Patron of the London to Brighton veteran car rally for the next two years.

Pioneering French motor manufacturer acts as Patron to the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the world’s longest-running motoring event

At the dawn of motoring, when the earliest horseless carriages first spluttered into life, far-sighted engineers across the world turned their hands to creating this wonder of the modern world.

While their innovative machines revolutionised our lives, few were businessmen… and the history of the automobile is littered with now largely forgotten carmakers: who remembers Locomobile, Clement, Norfolk or Gladiator, for example?

But there are exceptions. Société Renault Frères was founded in France in 1898, and headed by three brothers, Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault. Louis was the engineer while Marcel and Fernand were the businessmen.

It was a combination that clearly worked, for Renault is still with us today.

As a manufacturer of advanced cars like the all-electric Renault ZOE, and as the powerhouse behind the multi-title winning Formula 1 teams, Renault spends most of its time looking ahead.

But at least once a year it remembers its heritage. The French firm is, once again, a patron of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, where a number of early Renaults, all built at the start of the 20^thcentury, will be making the annual pilgrimage from Hyde Park in London to Madeira Drive, Brighton.

Renault has pledged to support not just the Veteran Car Run for the next two years, but also the Regent Street Motor Show, the UK’s largest free-to-view motor show.

Running the length of London’s busiest shopping street, the Show will be held on Saturday 31 October, the day before the Run, showcasing 125 years of motoring history.

Speaking on behalf of Renault UK, Mark Waller said: “Life for Renault began back in 1898, just two years after the Emancipation Run, which the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run continues to commemorate today.

“We are proud of the evolution that Renault has enjoyed since those earliest days and the Regent Street Motor Show, taking place the day before the Veteran Car Run, provides us with a wonderful opportunity to bring to life the journey Renault has been on from its earliest beginnings to the present day.”

Organisers of the Regent Street Motor Show and the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, have created a Manufacturer Patron Sponsorship package which is exclusively offered to those ‘pioneer-to-present’ marques. They are delighted to announce this partnership with Renault for 2015 and 2016.

The Regent Street Motor Show will take place on Saturday 31 October followed by the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on Sunday 1 November. The early bird discount on entry fees for the Veteran Car Run will apply until midnight on Friday 29 May.

TV Chef takes controls of historic car for London to Brighton run.

Great British Bake-Off celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood, will be officially starting the 2014 Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run this Sunday, alongside Olympic legends Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Steve Redgrave and multiple world-championship wining F1 team boss Ross Brawn. They will be tearing up the red flag on the start line of the run, commemorating the day that motorists could drive without a man walking ahead of them with a red flag and the raising of the speed limit from 4 to 14mph.

Paul will be driving a two-seater 1904 De Dion Bouton powered by a single-cylinder 6hp engine kindly loaned by the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. “It’s going to be great fun,” commented Paul, “I’ve always wanted to do the Run ever since my granddad used to talk about it, so I’m really looking forward to the journey. I’ve got a real passion for cars and taking this trip with lots of other people who also clearly have a similar passion is going to be something really, really special.”

Paul was delighted to have an opportunity to get to grips with the unusual controls on the De Dion under the expert guidance of Ian Stanfield, Senior Engineer at the National Motor Museum’s restoration workshop. “It’s very different from today’s cars,” said Paul. “You control just about everything with your hands and that takes a bit of getting used to.”

For more details of the Veteran Car Run, visit www.veterancarrun.com.