|
This coming Sunday (5th November)
sees Nick Mason taking part in the 73rd annual London to Brighton
Veteran Car Run, the world's longest running motoring event.
It attracts vintage cars and
drivers from all over the world, to celebrate the introduction of the
Highway Act. This permitted "light locomotives" to increase their top
speed from 4mph (miles per hour)to 14mph and abolished the requirement
to be preceded by a man on foot carrying a red flag!
Whilst Nick can normally be seen
behind the wheel of faster cars, he has, for a number of years, entered
his 1901 Panhard et Levassor into the event, and most years, has done
all the driving himself - whatever the weather may bring!
 The car (number 117, with
registration DS6670), a four cylinder, 24 brake horsepower, open topped
vehicle, is the one remaining example of this make and model, making
its appearance amidst the other rarities, even more special. This year,
he will be co-driving with Charles Knill-Jones.
The rare times he hasn't
participated in the event have tended to coincide with activities
relating to Pink Floyd tours and such-like!
Eligibility for the event covers
pre-1905 four-wheel cars, tricars and motor tricycles, - with the
youngest vehicles being just 102 years of age. This year, there are 492
entries representing 21 nations.
The run starts in London's Hyde
Park, at 7:30am, and finishes along Madeira Drive in Brighton, with the
drivers met by the city's Mayor. The first cars to make the 60 mile
journey normally start to arrive from around 10:30am. In keeping with
the spirit of the event, speeding is frowned upon, and a maximum of 20
miles per hour is kept to by most drivers!
As with the other cars and trikes
taking part, Nick's car is in immaculate condition, and it is a tribute
to the owners and mechanics that all the wonderful examples of
automotive design and development, look so fine, and take the journey
(which includes some rather testing hills!) in their stride.
It is a unique opportunity to see Nick indulge one of his passions, in a car that many will be surprised to see him in.
The route for the event can be seen over at the event's website - www.lbvcr.com
- and spectators are encouraged to cheer on the drivers. Despite there
being no cost to view the event, additional activities are being laid
on to make attendance even more attractive - the skies over Brighton's
Madeira Drive, during the mid-day arrival of the Veteran cars at the
end of their run, will this year see (subject to weather conditions) an
aerial display of vintage bi-planes courtesy of Renault UK.
Thousands
normally attend the finish, and with the weather forecast promising
mild temperatures and sunshine, what better way to spend a Sunday in
November?
|
Older News Archive 
