For the first time in its 117-year history, the 2013 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run will have a competitive element.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is not a race, but is certainly a challenge.
For the hundreds of hardy drivers at the wheel—or sometimes the tiller—of their pioneering motorcars, the only aim is to cover the 60 miles from London’s Hyde Park to Brighton’s Madeira Drive without mishap. For most participants, merely arriving at Brighton is sufficient reward.
This year, however, for the first time on the Run—jointly sponsored by Tindle Newspapers and Bonhams—there will be winners. The Royal Automobile Club is delighted to announce that a Regularity Trial will be included in the world’s greatest celebration of the first pioneering motorists.
A Regularity Trial demands that entrants maintain a specific average speed over the event, with penalties for arriving at the finish, or at one of the secret intermediate time control points, too early or too late.
Competitors can choose a specific time to aim for, i.e. three hours equates to a 20 mph average, but they can opt to take four, five or even six hours, with the latter time equating to a 10 mph average speed.
For each minute under the target time, two penalty points will be imposed, with one point imposed for each minute over the nominated time. Winners will be the cars with the fewest penalty points in each of the four time classes.
Ben Cussons, Chairman of the VCR Steering Group, said: “The Steering Group is committed to evolving the event and adding value and involvement for the participants. We are restricting the Trial to 150 entries for the first year as it is a new initiative.”
The 2013 Veteran Car Run, which takes places on Sunday November 3, will attract as many as 500 automobiles from the dawn of motoring. As the longest running motoring event in the world, it is no surprise that 500,000 onlookers turn out to enjoy a genuine and free-to-view spectacle. For more information visit: www.veterancarrun.com
