Antique Cars steam up Hyde Park

Post by R.M. team, images by Lin Vitali.

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Veteran Sunday steams up Hyde Park

It is 7:30am and a terribly cold morning, the coldest yet to have set in this autumn. Hyde Park, much like a chessboard, is veiled in small pockets of white, what initially seemed to be the morning mist. The road paralleling the Serpentine simply looks divine.

…Wait a second, that’s not mist! That’s what happens when a 1904 Grout (steam) Tonneau wobbles by! These are pockets of steam!

This is an early start for the antique car lovers. More than 500 antique cars built before 1905 take part lining up on the Serpentine Road in Hyde Park with the last of the four and three wheelers leaving Hyde Park at about 8:30am for the 60-mile route to Brighton.

The annual Veteran Car Run

Every year on the first Sunday of November this traditional event celebrates the removal in 1896 of the law, which forced drivers to have an escort on foot walking in front of the car. (Traditionally a man on foot waving a red flag would precede the car!) This was also the time when the speed limit was increased from 4 miles per hour to 14mph. Jai ho!

The first run took place in 1896 with over 30 pioneering motorists setting out with only 14 of the starters actually making the journey. The next run was staged in 1927 and continued to take place every November thereafter, with the exception of the war years and 1947 when petrol rationing was in force.

The Veteran Car Run 2010 participants and their antique cars

Many antique car lovers from various corners of the world flocked together to express their love for antique cars. Antique car owners came from as far as China, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the USA to participate in this year’s incredible London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2010.

Click for more London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2010 photos.

The route: London – Crawley – Brighton

Many of the cars have been on display in London’s Regent Street on Saturday – the day before the run – a good solution for the late owls for whom it is unthinkable to get up at sunrise. But lets face it, a static display is never as much fun as the real thing!

For those who were not able to catch the start of the Veteran Car Run in central London, it was possible to observe the endurance of man and machine event at Croydon or in front of the George Hotel in Crawley, as well as anywhere along the route.

The antique cars started arriving at the finish at Madeira Drive in Brighton from about 10:00am and continued to arrive thereafter. Many of the antique cars remained on display until late afternoon.

For those who didn’t catch the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run this year, watch out for it next November!

See more photos from London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2010 event.