FREEdom for spectators on London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR), the world's longest running motoring event, offers a great day out for the whole family and is completely free for the general public to spectate on Saturday 1 November in Regent Street and on Sunday 2 November between Hyde Park, London and Madeira Drive in Brighton.

The LBVCR International Concours takes place in Regent Street on Saturday 2 November and offers the chance for the general public to come along and see some of the best examples of late 19th and early 20th Century motoring history in one of the grandest settings London has to offer. Spectators can get up close to the cars on display, speak to the participants many of whom dress in period costume, watch the cars complete demonstration runs and even vote for their favourite veteran vehicle as they compete for the Spectators Special Award, one of seven awards presented on the day.

With the 2008 event celebrating France as the period manufacturing nation, dancers from the Moulin Rouge in Paris will perform that most Gallic of dances the French Cancan on stage in the centre of Regent Street. The dancers will perform live at around 11:15 and 13:50 on Saturday.

The maximum entry of 550 pre 1905 veteran vehicles, including 126 entries from overseas, will set off from Hyde Park at sunrise (6:58am) and travel the 60 miles to Brighton on the majority of the A23 via Croydon and Crawley, finishing on Brighton seafront. Tens of thousands of spectators line the route and take the opportunity to see the cars up close at the official stop in Crawley old town centre and at many of the unofficial stops that line the traditional route. The dancers from the Moulin Rouge will also be on hand to wave the first cars away from the start line before travelling to Brighton to welcome the participants on Brighton seafront as they complete the world’s longest running, and most famous, motoring event.

“The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is one of the largest free events for spectators in the UK,” said LBVCR Event Director Roger Etcell. “The International Concours in Regent Street gives the general public unrivalled access to some of the best examples of early motoring. Last year an estimated 250,000 witnessed the event and we invite everyone attending to vote in the special Spectators Award, where they can support their favourite car and win a prize themselves in the special free draw.”

“The main event on Sunday gives everyone a great opportunity to see many of the 550 entries on the road between London and Brighton,” Mr. Etcell continued. “The Run is very popular with spectators, especially at the Croydon drive through, the official stop in Crawley centre, the country roads south of Crawley and at the finish in Brighton, where tens of thousands of people gather. Spectators can enter the LBVCR Photographer of the Year Competition where they can send in their photographs taken on the day to win special prizes, with the overall winner receiving a passenger seat on a veteran car for the 2009 LBVCR. We've even got a special Mobile Phone category, so you don't have to be David Bailey to stand a chance of winning. Everyone can enter by downloading the entry form on the event website at lbvcr.com. This year is the 112th Anniversary of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run so we would like to celebrate with as many people as possible.”

Timetable of Free Spectator Events

Saturday 1 November - LBVCR International Concours
11am to 3pm Regent Street
Sunday 2 November - 2008 LBVCR
06:58 to 08:30 Hyde Park, London
07:30 to 10:50 Croydon
08:10 to 13:30 Crawley, (Official Coffee Stop, George Hotel)
10:05 to 16:30 Brighton, Madeira Drive

Background to the 2008 LBVCR
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Run takes place on Sunday 2 November and is preceded by a period related auction at Bonhams London New Bond Street Salerooms on Friday 31 October and the LBVCR International Concours in London’s Regent Street on Saturday 1 November.

This year the LBVCR is celebrating French manufacturers of the pre 1905 period, with over 270 of the 550 cars entered for this year’s event being made in France over 104 years ago. There are entries travelling from France and, to keep the French theme, Dancers from the Moulin Rouge in Paris will be performing at the International Concours in Regent Street on Saturday 1 November and then appearing at the start line in Hyde Park on Sunday 2 November before travelling down to Madeira Drive in Brighton to welcome the finishers at the end of their 60-mile journey.

Further details on the event can be found on the official website at lbvcr.com