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 RM SOTHEBY'S
LONDON TO BRIGHTON
VETERAN CAR RUN

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The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain


 
Runs' History

Research is still on going.
The maps are to be used only as a guide as they too are still being researched.

 

 
Click on a set of years for more information
1896~1929 1930~1945 1946~1959 1960~1969 1970~1979 1980~1989 1990~1999 2000~2009 2010~2019 2020~?

General Items of each Run
The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) is the governing body for motor sport in Britain.
The "Number of Cars" is taken from the Programmes of the time or in the case of 1896 taken from various sources hence two or more figures. The number that started on the day may be different to that shown.
Where it states a route or another type of change it was the first year of that change.
(Click on a year for a Start & Finish route map).

 

Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1896 0 1 Saturday
14th		 54/58 Don't
know!		 10:30 Metropole Hotel, London Preston Park
Parade to the
Metropole Hotel, Brighton		 The Emancipation Day Run
Only 33, 37 or 39 started.
It was reported 13 finished with 9 more arriving in time for the banquet.		 Route was straight to and via Reigate where lunch was taken.
1897
to
1926		 1~30 No Runs It has been reported that some motoring events took place to mark the Emancipation Day of 1896.  
1927 31 2 13th 51 Yes 09:00 Victoria Embankment Patcham Toll House
Preston Park
With a parade		 First official re-enactment of the Emancipation Day Run.
Entry was open to all cars over 21 years old.
Maps and route information was by The Automobile Association.		 Route was straight to and via Reigate. The route used the A23 Croydon By-pass (Purley Way).
1928 32 3 18th 44 No 08:15 from Garage (Lex Reservoir Garage,
Kensington Place,
Kensington)
Westminster Bridge 		Brittain's Garage,
Patcham
Preston Park
With a parade		 Closing date for cars was 18th. November 1903 - i.e. each car had to be 25 years old.
Maps and route information was now by the RAC.		 Westminster Bridge was the official timing start (For this year).
Route was via Redhill then to Reigate.
1929 33 4 October
20th		 45 No 08:45 (Auto Auctions,
Horseferry Road)
The Mall 		Preston Park
With a procession.		 Closing date for cars was 20th. November 1904 - i.e. each car had to be 25 years old.  

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1930 34 5 23rd 58 No 09:00 Henly's Garage,
Glasgow Terrace,
Grosvenor Road,
Pimlico.		 Aquarium Garage,
Marine Parade.		 RAC took over the running of the Event.
Closing date for cars was 31st. December 1904. The start of the closing date of 31/12/04
- The VCC was formed following the Run		  
1931 35 6 15th 57 Yes 09:00 Moon's Garage,
Buckingham Palace Road,
Victoria.		 Aquarium Garage, Marine Parade.    
1932 36 7 20th 74 Yes 09:30 Moon's Garage,
Buckingham Palace Road,
Victoria.		 Aquarium Garage, Marine Parade.    
1933 37 8 12th 80 No 09:30 Moon's Garage,
Buckingham Palace Road,
Victoria.		 Aquarium Garage, Marine Parade.    
1934 38 9 18th 93 No 09:00 City Of London Garage,
Wilson Street.		 Madeira Drive    
1935 39 10 17th 99 No 09:00 City Of London Garage,
Wilson Street.		 Madeira Drive    
1936 40 11 15th 93 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive   Compulsory stop at the Southdown Motor Services Station, Crawley.
1937 41 12 21st 116 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive    
1938 42 13 20th 122 No 08:00 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a procession.		 An extra car was added in the list using an "A" Compulsory stop at the Embassy Picture House, Crawley.
1939
to
1945		 43~49 No Runs
Due to the 2nd World War

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1946 50 14 17th 137 Yes 08:00 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a procession.		   Compulsory stop at the Embassy Picture House, Crawley.
1947 51 No Run
Cancelled due to Petrol rationing
1948 52 15 14th 120 No 08:00 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Preston Park
With a parade		   First year to use the Crawley by-pass.
No compulsory stop.
1949 53 16 13th 130 No 08:00 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive    
1950 54 17 19th 163 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a parade		   Route change, for only this year, in London due to a rehearsal of a State Visit.
1951 55 18 18th 166 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a parade		    
1952 56 19 2nd 163 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a parade		    
1953 57 20 1st 181 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a parade		   The parade was canceled due to bad weather.
1954 58 21 14th 223 No 08:30 The Powder Magazine, Hyde Park Madeira Drive
With a parade		    
1955 59 22 13th 213 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route change - missing out Reigate to keep to the A23.
1956 60 23 4th 231 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		 Possibly the start of the fixed date
   - 1st Sunday in November.		  
1957 61 24 3rd 236 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		    
1958 62 25 2nd 206 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		    
1959 63 26 1st 249 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		    

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1960 64 27 6th 264 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		 Two extra cars were added in the list using "A's" Last mention, in the programme, of The Mall being part of the route.
1961 65 28 5th 250 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		    
1962 66 29 4th 250 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive
With a parade		   Route changed to a drive through Croydon Town Centre.
The last parade.
1963 67 30 3rd 245 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive An extra car was added in the list using an "A"  
1964 68 31 1st 257 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1965 69 32 7th 274 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1966 70 33 6th 265 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1967 71 34 5th 282 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1968 72 35 3rd 281 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1969 73 36 2nd 294 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1970 74 37 1st 302 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1971 75 38 7th 316 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1972 76 39 5th 320 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1973 77 40 4th 339 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1974 78 41 3rd 295 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1975 79 42 2nd 284 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1976 80 43 7th 290 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route change in London, missing out Buckingham Palace, The Mall.
1977 81 44 6th 278 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1978 82 45 5th 296 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1979 83 46 4th 321 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1980 84 47 2nd 320 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1981 85 48 1st 342 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1982 86 49 7th 353 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1983 87 50 6th 367 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1984 88 51 4th 404 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1985 89 52 3rd 392 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1986 90 53 2nd 416 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1987 91 54 1st 418 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive The Run is organised by the RAC Motor Sports Association Ltd.  
1988 92 55 6th 427 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1989 93 56 5th 451 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
1990 94 57 4th 477 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1991 95 58 3rd 496 No 08:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1992 96 59 1st 472 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Official coffee stop at Crest Hotel, Gatwick.
A route change after the official coffee stop due to the A23 becoming a fast duel carriageway.
1993 97 60 7th 461 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Official coffee stop at Gatwick Manor Inn, Gatwick.
1994 98 61 6th 460 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route changed to pass through Crawley for a official coffee stop at the George Hotel.
1995 99 62 5th 469 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1996 100 63 3rd 680 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive A 1884 De Dion Bouton, Trepardoux had the number "0".
Largest number of cars to date.		 Route change for only this year.
Route passed through Wellington Arch and pass Buckingham Palace.
Exit from Hyde Park was via The Grand Entrance (Apsley Arch).
1997 101 64 2nd 449 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route in London was back to the 1976~95 route.
1998 102 65 1st 476 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
1999 103 66 7th 452 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive The RAC Motor Sports Association (RACMSA) is now known as Motor Sports Association Ltd. (MSA).  

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
2000 104 67 5th 432 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
2001 105 68 4th 412 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive International Motor Sports (IMS) takes on the organisation for the RAC  
2002 106 69 3rd 422 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive    
2003 107 70 2nd 414 No 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive Preview of a small number of the cars on Saturday. Route returned to passing Buckingham Palace.
2004 108 71 7th 464 Yes 07:30 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		 Motion Works takes on the organisation for the RAC. Exit from Hyde Park was via The Grand Entrance (Apsley Arch)
Route change after crossing Westminster Bridge and reverting back to the Gatwick by-pass.
2005 109 72 6th 485 Yes 07:15 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		 Saturday preview of the cars moves to Regent Street.  
2006 110 73 5th 493 Yes 07:07 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		   Route changed to use Brighton's bus only roads and lanes.
2007 111 74 4th 528 Yes 07:01 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		    
2008 112 75 2nd 558 Yes 06:58 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		   The cars can now use London's bus lanes.
2009 113 76 1st 563 Yes 06:54 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		    

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
2010 114 77 7th 570 Yes 07:04 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		   Route change through Croydon to miss the Town Centre.
2011 115 78 6th 549 Yes 07:02 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		   There was a route detour from the established route due to an incident at Streatham in the early hours of Sunday morning.
2012 116 79 4th 506 Yes 07:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		 Goose Communications Ltd. takes on the organisation for the RAC. Route passed through Wellington Arch and pass Buckingham Palace.
Route change after Westminster Bridge.
2013 117 80 3rd 422 Yes 06:58 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		    
2014 118 81 2nd 438 Yes 06:56 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Preston Park,
Madeira Drive		 Name change to:-
Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run		 Once passed Buckingham Palace the route continues down The Mall.
More bus lanes open in London & Brighton
2015 119 82 1st 427 Yes 06:54 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   The route after Westminster Bridge returns to the route as 2011.
The cars now pass Peston Park and drive direct to the sea front at Madeira Drive
2016 120 83 6th 419 Yes 07:02 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive Name change to: -
Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox		  
2017 121 84 5th 446 Yes 07:02 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route changed to avoid Brixton's planned road works. The new route after Kennington: - A3, A24, A297, A217, A25 to Redhill and back on the 2016 route.
2018 122 85 4th 431 Yes 06:59 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route change - Through Admiralty Arch to Trafalgar Square down Whitehall to Parliament Square. Red route crossed Westminster Bridge to Croydon via A23. The Blue route carried on to Lambeth Bridge, then on to Mitcham and Croydon. At Croydon the two routes join.
2019 123 86 3rd 425 Yes 06:56 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive Name change to:-
Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run		 Route change - Route as 2018 to Parliament Square then due to roadworks both routes continued to Lambeth Bridge. After the crossing both routes continued their own way as in 2018.

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Year Anniversary Run Number Date
Sundays & Novembers except where shown.		 Number
of cars
only		 No. 13 Start time Start in London Finish in Brighton General Comments Route Comments
2020 124 -- 1st No Run
Cancelled due to Covid-19
For the first time a virtual run took place.		 Name change to:-
RM Sotheby's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run		  
2021 125 87 7th 306 Yes 07:06 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Routes as 2018. The official stop is at Crawley College.
2022 126 88 6th 337 No 07:02 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive The Royal Automobile Club retakes on the organisation of the run. The official stop is at Hawth Theatre, Crawley.
2023 127 89 5th 385 No 07:00 Serpentine Road,
Hyde Park		 Madeira Drive   Route change- The route crosses Westminster Bridge and then the Red route continues on to the A23 and the Blue route turns right just after crossing the bridge and continues on to Mitcham and Croydon. At Croydon the two routes rejoin together.
2024 128 90 3rd     06:56
Approx		        

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