After the winter rain that fell on the International Concours in Regent Street, the participants on the 2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 
(LBVCR) were greeted by warm autumn sunshine as they crossed the finish line in front of large crowds on Brighton’s seafront on Sunday, November 2nd.
The first cars left Hyde Park at sunrise, flagged off in the presence of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent and to the waves of the dancers from the Moulin Rouge. Just over three hours later the 1900 Napier Double Phaeton of Christopher Thomas was the first car across the finish line on Madeira Drive, greeted by the Mayor of the City of Hove and Brighton, Councilor Garry Peltzer Dunn. The 2008 event marked Christopher’s 22nd London to Brighton and the car’s 54th.
“It went very well, the roads were very clear,” said Mr. Thomas from Cambridgeshire. “The police were excellent and I was very lucky as all the traffic lights were green.”
The Napier was ten minutes ahead of the second car, Tim Scott’s 1903 Mercedes Two-seat racing and 25 minutes ahead of the 1902 Opel Track Racer of Rene Kreis.
An amazing 87%, or 420 of 483, of the pre-1905 veteran vehicles reached the final destination in Brighton, the last crossing the line at 4pm.
“It has been a fantastic day and probably the best Run ever,” said LBVCR Event Director Roger Etcell. “Once again we’ve had good weather and the road conditions along the route have been very helpful in getting the cars to Brighton in record time. My thanks go to the councils, the police, the marshals and the RAC recovery teams for all their hard work. I must also thank all the participants and owners of the veteran vehicles, our sponsors, especially our title sponsors the Daily Mail and Tindle Newspapers, for their continued support and to the thousands of people who came out to watch along the 60-mile route and help make the London to Brighton such a great event. Next year the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run will be on Sunday, November 1st, so make a note now.”
For more information, visit www.lbvcr.com.
[Source: LBVCR]
