Third R.A.C. Summer Run sees pioneering motor cars take to the highways

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Press release

The welcome arrival of blue skies and sunshine greeted participants on this year’s Summer Veteran Car Run on Tursday, July 18th. Established by the Royal Automobile Club as a warm-up for the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the third running of the much-loved Summer Run attracted a full entry of sparkling pioneers, all dating back to before 1905. In total, 35 venerable machines from the dawn of motoring gathered in the warm morning air on the Cedar Lawn at Woodcote Park, the Club’s tranquil country estate in Surrey, which spreads out towards the rolling Epsom Downs.

Showcasing the innovative ambitions of the period, more than 20 fledging marques were represented—some such as Cadillac, Mercédès and Renault have survived to become major global manufacturers; others, including Aster, Gladiator, Mors and Napier have fallen by the wayside. De Dion-Bouton, another erstwhile enterprise, was the best represented, with five Summer Run entries.

With the sun shining, the colourful cavalcade set out from the gates of the Clubhouse on a jolly 54-mile jaunt through the largely traffic-free highways and byways of rural Surrey and Sussex. They were warmly welcomed by numerous local residents who savoured the spectacle running past their doors. Ensuring smooth progress through the leafy lanes, volunteer marshals were positioned at key points along the route, which took crews on a leisurely drive through the verdant Surrey Hills and the picturesque Mole Valley, towards a convivial lunch stop at Gildings Barns near Newdigate.

Suitably fortified by their pit-stop, participants savoured a gentle return run through the villages of Charlwood, Irons Bottom, Leigh and Brockham to the seclusion of Woodcote Park for afternoon tea, an informal concours, and prize-giving in the glorious grounds. For many, the day’s proceedings concluded with a memorable dinner in the historic Motor House, surrounded by the Club’s heritage vehicle collection.

With the vast majority of these primitive motor cars offering very little protection from the elements, crews on the Summer Run donned caps and sunglasses rather than the coats and goggles required on the hallowed trip from London's famous Hyde Park to Madeira Drive on the Sussex coast. Whatever the weather on Sunday, November 3rd, this year’s London to Brighton promises to be a very special occasion. It will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Ladies’ Automobile Club, which staged its first ever event in 1904, as well as 125 years of those two grand marques, Renault and Fiat.

More than 330 cars have already registered for the revered celebration and cost-saving Advance entries are still open until August 13th. Standard entries are available thereafter until September 18th. Full details are available on the official www.veterancarrun.com website.

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