Sunday, November 7th, marked the triumphant return of the famed London Brighton Veteran Car Run after a two-year absence due to COVID-19.
This year’s entry included cars from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland as well as 10 from the United States. In total, 87 different marques ranging from Albion and Alldays to Winton and Wolseley were represented on this year’s entry – some, like Cadillac, Renault, Vauxhall and Mercedes, still well-known today, but the vast majority lost to history.
The first batch of the pre-1905 horseless carriages – the earliest of the Victorian ‘light locomotive’ vehicles – led the 286-strong cavalcade as they passed through Wellington Arch, down Constitution Hill, past Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch and Whitehall into Parliament Square. Half of the participants followed the traditional A23 route past Big Ben and over Westminster Bridge via Kennington, Brixton and Streatham Common; the other half journeyed via Lambeth Bridge and then through Vauxhall, Clapham Common and Tooting. The two routes then merged on the A236 just north of Croydon with the entire cavalcade reunited within the South Downs before finishing at Madeira Drive on the seafront in Brighton.
Of 286 starters, 235 cars crossed the finishing line and collected a coveted finishers’ medal. Amongst them was a 1903 Knox, entered by Hagerty’s, an American ‘car’ with a single-cylinder engine and tiller for steering,
Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International. Roper would give up his seat to Paul Cowland, television presenter and Hagerty columnist, at the halfway stopover point at Crawley College.
Speaking about the experience of taking part in the Veteran Car Run for the first time, Mark Roper said: “As someone who hasn’t experienced the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run before, I was struck by the spirit of the car community, the passion amongst the supporters and volunteers surrounding the event and the joy it brought to spectators, who seemed to take delight in cheering entrants on from London all the way to Brighton. The Royal Automobile Club is a great custodian of the event – and somehow even managed to arrange for unseasonably pleasant weather – and Hagerty is proud to support the efforts of all involved.”
Paul Cowland was another novice to take part and declared himself over the moon to get involved. “It has been a wonderful experience. Sitting alongside James Wood and winding our way through the South East of England in the Knox was a moment I will treasure. Seeing the joy this event brough to the local communities, and how it reminded people that the freedom of the open road had to be won by campaigners and motoring pioneers, who we are proud to celebrate.”
James Wood, driver for the duration of the event, was full of admiration for the 118-year-old Knox. “The Hagerty team and the Knox completed the 60-mile journey without missing a beat, testament to the ongoing maintenance and specific event preparation that is performed by the team at Autohistoric, led by Gregg May. It is also a pleasure to drive and always a joy to share with the community. And having observant passengers – Mark Roper and Paul Cowland – makes all the difference to a smooth, safe and enjoyable run from London to Brighton.”
The Knox Automobile Company was established in 1900, building 15 cars in its first year. When new the ‘Knoxmobile’ sold for $1350 in contrast to the Ford Model F which sold for $2000. It features a single cylinder of some 2575cc, encased within an ingenious heatsink resembling a huge metal hedgehog, created by the precision drilling and tapping of some 1750 threaded studs.
The Hagerty Knox was piloted by James Wood, racing driver and Hagerty ambassador, and Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty International. Roper would give up his seat to Paul Cowland, television presenter and Hagerty columnist, at the halfway stopover point at Crawley College.
Speaking about the experience of taking part in the Veteran Car Run for the first time, Mark Roper said: “As someone who hasn’t experienced the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run before, I was struck by the spirit of the car community, the passion amongst the supporters and volunteers surrounding the event and the joy it brought to spectators, who seemed to take delight in cheering entrants on from London all the way to Brighton. The Royal Automobile Club is a great custodian of the event – and somehow even managed to arrange for unseasonably pleasant weather – and Hagerty is proud to support the efforts of all involved.”
Paul Cowland was another novice to take part and declared himself over the moon to get involved. “It has been a wonderful experience. Sitting alongside James Wood and winding our way through the South East of England in the Knox was a moment I will treasure. Seeing the joy this event brough to the local communities, and how it reminded people that the freedom of the open road had to be won by campaigners and motoring pioneers, who we are proud to celebrate.”
James Wood, driver for the duration of the event, was full of admiration for the 118-year-old Knox. “The Hagerty team and the Knox completed the 60-mile journey without missing a beat, testament to the ongoing maintenance and specific event preparation that is performed by the team at Autohistoric, led by Gregg May. It is also a pleasure to drive and always a joy to share with the community. And having observant passengers – Mark Roper and Paul Cowland – makes all the difference to a smooth, safe and enjoyable run from London to Brighton.”
