London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

Before the 1880s road vehicles were either horse-drawn or steam powered. With the development of the internal combustion engine many engineers and inventors, in both Britain and Europe, began to consider how to create a petrol driven vehicle. 

In Great Britain there was a general mistrust of motorised methods of travel. The 1865 Locomotive Act (the ‘Red Flag Act’) required all non horse-drawn vehicles to be attended by a crew of three; two on the vehicle and one walking some sixty yards in front with a red flag as a warning to other road users. Maximum speed was restricted to 4mph/6kph in the country and 2mph/3kph in towns, not in itself a major problem whilst the legislation was still aimed at heavy steam road locomotives. The Highways & Locomotives (Amendment) Act of 1878 altered the requirements; the third person was now required to be just twenty yards in front and no longer needed to carry the red flag. The speed restrictions remained and vehicles were now also required to stop when passing horses.

From the mid 1880s onwards the first practical petrol engined motor vehicles became available in Europe. The early efforts of engineers such as Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler soon gave birth to a fledgling motor industry in Germany which was soon followed by developments in France. In Britain the legal situation did little to encourage similar progress and motor car building was undertaken largely by a few individual engineers in small private workshops. Men such as Frederick William Bremmer, James D. Roots, John Henry Knight and Charles and Walter Santler were all developing their own motor vehicles by the mid 1890s. Others such as Henry Hewetson and the Honourable Evelyn Ellis imported cars built on the continent by Benz and Panhard et Levassor.

By the end of 1895 there were probably some 14 or 15 motor cars in Britain. There were a number of cases where motorists were penalised for non compliance with the Highways & Locomotives (Amendment) Act. Campaigning from supporters of the motor car led to the passing of the 1896 Light Locomotives on Highways Act (the Emancipation Act) which effectively repealed the previous two pieces of legislation. Motorists were now permitted to travel at 14mph (although many local authorities stipulated 12mph) and no longer required the presence of a man walking in front. 

The Act became law on the 14th November and to mark the occasion, motoring entrepreneur, businessman and Motor Car Club founder Harry J. Lawson, who had been a major player in the campaign, organised a celebratory ‘Emancipation Run’ from London to Brighton. Some 58 entries were received although it is thought only 33 were actually present for the start. Steam and electrically powered vehicles took part as well as the petrol engined machines. The majority of the electric cars had to complete the journey to Brighton by train; then as now the range of electric vehicles being limited by battery charge. It is believed that some 22 of the entrants made it to Brighton, although how many of those were actually at the start is not known. Amongst the notable motoring personalities that took part either as drivers or passengers were Harry J. Lawson, Frederick Simms, Gottleib Daimler, Leon & Amedee Bollee and Edward Joel Pennington.

The Motor Car Club commemorated the event over the next few years with day trips from London to various locations. However in 1927 the Daily Sketch newspaper sponsored a re-enactment of the 1896 London to Brighton Run. This proved so popular that, with the exception of the war years and petrol rationing, it has been repeated every year since. The Royal Automobile Club have been the organisers since 1930.

Vehicles built before 1st January 1905 are eligible, occasionally joined by slightly younger invited guests. Entrants come from all over the world, with 500 or more vehicles regularly taking part. Cars from the National Motor Museum’s collection are regular entrants.