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minormatt
Joined: 03 Aug 2015 Posts: 48
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Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:27 pm Post subject: Veteran Car Club London to Brighton |
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Just a reminder guys
Its the Veteran Car Club London to Brighton run this weekend... all sorts of interesting cars turn on the route in support so its well worth driving a bit of it, finding somewhere to park up and watching for a while! |
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Ray White

Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:29 am Post subject: |
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I would love to take a Veteran on the Brighton Run. It's something I have always fancied doing.
Has anyone here participated? |
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goneps
Joined: 18 Jun 2013 Posts: 601 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:40 am Post subject: |
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Not in the London to Brighton, but I did once in its South African equivalent, which involved 150 miles over two days from Ladysmith to Durban. The event was held in the middle of winter, which has the advantage of guaranteed dry weather (summer rainfall area) but a decent frost for the start at 7am when 4,000ft above sea level.
We drove a 1913 Renault AX, 1300cc twin cylinder. My partner's family fielded three AXs that year. Marvellous experience, wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Richard
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 4170 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:46 am Post subject: |
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Would love to own / drive a veteran car... _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Ronniej
Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 239 Location: Blackwood, by Lanark, Scotland
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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I would greatly enjoy participating in this run but I doubt if this will ever happen.
I have attended as a spectator several times and I can confirm that it is enormous fun.
All the official entries are now at least 110 years old and I regard it as remarkable that they are still capable of doing what they were built to do all these years ago.
As well as the official entries there are numerous interesting cars that drive along the route.
Many people turn up in period dress, some genuine, others in theatrical pastiches of Edwardian attire with ridiculous handlebar moustaches etc.
A most enjoyable day for anyone with the slightest interest in our motoring heritage. |
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Ray White

Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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A 1900 "Milot" vis -a - vis attracted my attention. Cars have to be pre 1905. It was advertised for €35,000 which for a restored Veteran in good condition seemed reasonable. A single cylinder car with solid tyres, it looked genuine enough.
I checked with the Veteran Car Club of GB as to eligibility and they said no. Apparently the car was originally built as a mobile saw bench and according to Georgiano's encyclopaedia there are at least three survivors which have been made into cars, of which this is one. Without a LBR dating certificate or the more recently introduced "Passport", you can't enter the event. It costs several hundred pounds to get the dating committee to establish a date. Even more difficulty could be experienced trying to import a vehicle of such antiquity and what the DVLA would put one through to get an age related number is anyone's guess. There is legislation preventing cars over 75 years old from being exported from the U.K. but if such laws exist in France, I couldn't say.
Another Veteran that I took an interest in was a 1904 Brennan. This rare American car was imported about 10 years ago with a view to restoration but ill health had forced the owner to sell. I sent some photos of the unrestored and dismantled car to George Albright, an American veteran car expert in the States. He told me that there was so much "wrong" that I should " run from the project.
I am presently considering a 1902 steam car which is both dated and has a V5c and before being dismantled had participated in several London to Brighton runs. Fingers crossed.
Update Well that's another one slipped through my butter fingers. It's been sold right under my nose.  |
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Minxy
Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 273 Location: West Northants
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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I went down to London today to see them in Regent Street. The event was both good and bad. It was a reel treat to see so many of them parked up along with their, often eccentric, owners...........but the rest of the 'show' was a bit lacking. There was more than enough room to have allowed some regular old cars park up. There was a trio of old coaches all from the same company, a old removal van, a show of modern Aston's, some electric cars and a kit car being built against the clock but that was it. I recon with a few dozen carefully chosen older cars the experience would have been a better one.
One thing that did strike me, and I don't know why it should have, was the amount of vintage cars that were very 'oily rag' scratched and battered with split seats and horse hair hanging out.....lovely  |
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Ray White

Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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I expect the entry fee for the Regent Street concours - which I have been told was about £200 - puts off mere mortals.
The Brighton Run has become an expensive affair - some might even call it a rip-off - but demand keeps growing year on year.
Someone I know who has been on a few Brighton Runs has been informed that his dating certificate which was issued by the British Museum many years ago will no longer be accepted and in order to qualify he must have a VCC inspection and be issued with one of their dating certificates instead. As this will cost some £600 and the entry fee for the run a further £350; a £200 fee for the Saturday concours, exorbitant secure parking fees plus all the other associated costs; petrol, extra entry passes at £20 a time etc. etc. one can see a different side to the event. Fortunately for this individual, another car is available so the Run will be done again this year but he described it all as "a bit over rated".
The VCC, veteran car club has a company which deals with the Run. Confusingly, it is also called the VCC, or Veteran Car Company.
It's all become a bit too commercial really. |
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Rich5ltr

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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Planning to go down to Brighton tomorrow to watch the car arriving. Haven;t done this for many years so my idea is to drive down via a different route to the cars and park in Hove or as close to Brighton as I can get then walk to the promenade/front or whatever it's called.
Anyone get a better plan or thoughts on where to park?
p.s. I displayed my car in Regent Street a couple of years ago and it was free. What is the £200 charge for?
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Ronniej
Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 239 Location: Blackwood, by Lanark, Scotland
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:00 am Post subject: |
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One thing that did strike me, and I don't know why it should have, was the amount of vintage cars that were very 'oily rag' scratched and battered with split seats and horse hair hanging out.....lovely [/quote]
I agree completely.
By definition, any official entry must be at least 110 years old.
I have no problem with fully restored cars and I applaud the efforts taken to return them to this condition but I also like seeing examples that show evidence of the life they have led.
Our local car club has a senior member who has campaigned a wonderful "oily rag"1926 Delage all over Europe. He often remarks that he may write a book "Restoring a Delage; the first 50 years".
I suspect his decision to keep it original must have been taken at a time when the expectation was to fully restore and the term "oily rag" had still to be invented.
Anyway, the run is underway as I write this and I would like to be there to enjoy the spectacle.
I wish everyone, be they oily rag or full restoration, a great day and thank them for sharing their piece of motoring history with us. |
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Ray White

Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:27 am Post subject: |
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I don't know anything about charges except what I was told the other day. Some people like to play the martyr - it may well be free for all I know. I hope you have a great time. I was planning on travelling down from Derby this morning but there was thick fog here so to stop my wife from worrying, I gave it a miss this year. |
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1763 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Rich5ltr wrote: |
p.s. I displayed my car in Regent Street a couple of years ago and it was free. What is the £200 charge for?
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Boris's retirement fund, possibly? |
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Phil - Nottingham

Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Genevieve was my favorite film - I liked to watch a VHS tape I had of the film and although I still have 3-4 working VHS plavers cannot find the tape!
It does not seem to be U Tube either like a lot of films  _________________ Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2 |
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Ashley
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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Genevieve is on Amazon new for £499 and second hand from £1.32 as a DVD |
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Ray White

Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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One of the lesser known facts about Genevieve is that she sports a later type radiator but she is so well known that it is unlikely that the car will ever be returned to it's original factory appearance.
The other car featured in the film, a magnificent Spyker, is in fact a 1905 car. I presume she has "grandfather's rights" because if a similar car of the same age wanted to participate it would be denied entry to the event.
Some owners of Veterans ( just a few) take part in the Run without official sanction. It is, after all, held on public roads. |
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