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London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Report and Photos

1904 Mercedes unknown
1904 Mercedes

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 was held Sunday, 3rd November in London, with nearly 400 pre-1905 vehicles celebrating the 117th anniversary of the original November 1896 Emancipation Run.

For the first time, the field of entrants was headed by a trio of legendary racing Napiers. Although examples of these early competition cars have participated in the past, never have three lined up together, thus recreating the pioneering British team that contested the famous Gordon Bennett Cup ­races held at the start of the last century.

The olive green, 6.5-litre Napier that won the 1902 race between Paris and Innsbruck driven by S. F. Edge headed the trio. It was the first British car to win an international motor race and its distinctive colour was the origin of British Racing Green. The other two Napiers lining up in Hyde Park London for the 2013 Veteran Car Run – one powered by a 7.7-litre engine the other by an even more potent 11.1-litre unit – competed in the Gordon Bennett Cup races in 1903 and 1904.

“Napier’s competition cars from this period are among the most significant cars in the history of British motor sport. They were not only the first to wear British Racing Green, but also the first cars built in this country to win major races overseas thus paving the way for today’s UK-based world championship winning F1 teams such as McLaren and Red Bull,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee. “To have three of these incredible machines on this year’s Veteran Car Run was very, very special.”

The 2013 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run also attracted a number of equally exceptional entries all enjoying some unseasonably good weather en route to the coast. Built in Indianapolis in the USA, the 1901 electrically powered Waverley driven by Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods, made its debut. Meanwhile, having had the honour of flagging off the early starters, Sir Ray Tindle embarked on his 50th journey to Brighton driving his faithful single-cylinder 1904 Speedwell Dogcart.

Although not a race, this year’s Veteran Car Run included a competitive event for the very first time in its lengthy 117-year history. A regularity test where contestants have to average a precise speed between two controls has been introduced in 2013 with the 1902 Mors of Philip Oldman taking the inaugural trophy.

The first car to cross the ceremonial finish on Madeira Drive on the seafront in Brighton was the 1902 Darracq of Allan White. In total 341 of the 385 starters completed the symbolic 60-mile journey from Hyde Park to the sunny Sussex coast before the 4:30pm deadline thus receiving coveted finisher medal.

Photographer Pavel Novitski documented the 2013 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run with a wonderful selection of images that highlight the pre-1905 vehicles set against the unique backdrop of London and Brighton Beach. We split up the pictures Pavel captured into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Pavel, visit pavelnovitski.com/.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

1903 Napier 50HP
1902 Napier 50HP and 1904 Napier 100HP
1903 Autocar
1903 Autocar
1903 Cadillac
1903 Cadillac
1905 Renault 30HP
1905 Renault 30HP

 

 

1903 Eldredge
1903 Eldredge
1902 Cadillac
1902 Cadillac
1900 Napier
1900 Napier
1902 Oldsmobile
1902 Oldsmobile

 

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London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

1902 Napier 40HP
1902 Napier 40HP
1902 Westfield
1902 Westfield
1904 Gardner-Serpollet (steam)
1904 Gardner-Serpollet (steam)
Aston Martin Display at 2013 Regent St Motor Show
Aston Martin Display at 2013 Regent St Motor Show

 

 

2013 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
2013 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
1904 Darracq
1904 Darracq
1904 Franklin
1904 Franklin
1904 FIAT 40HP
1904 FIAT 40HP

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

1904 Mercedes
1904 Mercedes
1904 CGV
1904 CGV
1904 Delaugere et Clayette
1904 Delaugere et Clayette
1904 Darracq
1904 Darracq

 

 

1904 Talbot
1904 Talbot
1904 Norfolk
1904 Norfolk
1904 Cadillac
1904 Cadillac
1904 DeDion Bouton
1904 DeDion Bouton

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

1904 Oldsmobile
1904 Oldsmobile
1904 Swift
1904 Swift
1902 Napier 50HP and 1904 Napier 100HP
1902 Napier 50HP and 1904 Napier 100HP
1904 Franklin
1904 Franklin

 

 

1904 Star
1904 Star
1904 Star
1904 Star
1904 Humberette
1904 Humberette
1904 Humberette
1904 Humberette

 

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London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

1904 DeDion Bouton
1904 DeDion Bouton
1904 Rexette
1904 Rexette
1903 De Dietrich
1903 De Dietrich
1903 Renault
1903 Renault

 

 

1904 Star
1904 Star
1904 Napier 100HP
1904 Napier 100HP
1902 Westfield
1902 Westfield
Madeira Drive in Brighton
Madeira Drive in Brighton

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2013 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=632 images=15]

 

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

[Source: LBVCR; photos: Pavel Novitski]