2015 London to Brighton Run

This year, the traditional London to Brighton Run will take place on Sunday 1 November. The more than 500 very old cars from before 1905 will set off one by one from 07:02 from Hyde Park, in the center of London.

A few hours later, the first cars arrive in Brighton, on the south coast of England, after a drive of about 100 kilometers.

Just like in previous years, the Louwman Museum is represented with a number of cars: the Peugeot Type 9 3.75HP from 1895, the 1904 Darracq 12HP 'Genevieve' from the film of the same name, and a Winton 22HP from 1903.

In England, according to the law, the first cars were allowed to drive at no more than six kilometers per hour in built up areas. There also had to be a man walking in front with a red flag as a warning of the approaching danger. In 1896 this so called Red Flag Act was abolished and the speed limit was raised to 20 kilometers per hour.

To celebrate this, a ride from London to the coastal town of Brighton was organized that year. Since 1927, this so called 'London to Brighton Run' has been held annually.

Incidentally, a ride like the one described above is no walk in the park. The weather at this time of year is, to put it mildly, unpredictable. In addition, the route is hilly, which demands great skill from the drivers to ensure that on downhill sections enough speed is built up to tackle the inevitable climbs successfully. Nevertheless, getting soaked and feeling exhausted (pushing!) are no obstacle to an unforgettable experience (or so they say!)

Phil Seed