Roadster 100's enter The
London to Brighton
Sunday 6th
June 2021
On
the 6th of June we traditionally celebrate the 'D' Day Invasion of
WW2, however, for Terry Seymour and Frank Lomax of the Roadster 100 Register it
was ‘Deliverance Day’ as we broke out of our year and a half of Covid
restrictions to join the GE Classic Motor Events 'London to Brighton Classic
Car Run', organised by Stephen & Sandra Smith.
“Our own London to Brighton Classic Car Run commenced in 1988 and gives owners of vintage and classic cars the chance to take part in their own run on a usually warmer day in June, complete with a self-guided scenic tour to Brighton which changes each year and attracts many regular participants.”
It was back in February that Terry decided to book a place, but covid sceptical Frank held off and just signed to receive the Event News Letters. It was while reading the first of these that the Caption Competition caught the eye. An entry was made and then forgotten.
The Caption Competition Entry
“Don’t talk to me about Classic Cars!
This one’s got the steering wheel on the wrong side”
Imagine
the surprise when Event Organiser, Stephen Smith contacted Frank to say that his
caption competition entry had been pulled from a hat providing a free entry for
one car and two occupants to take part on the run. Scepticism over, it was time
to consider the reality.
“The
event this year would be starting from the familiar Brooklands Museum, near
Weybridge, Surrey and both of our allocated start times were 11.04 and 11.05
am. Covid restrictions required that we did not arrive at Brooklands earlier
than 10.15, meaning that many of the entrants would have already left before
our arrival, evidenced by Classics going in all directions around the
Brooklands site as we approached the Campbell Gate entrance.
We
would all be receiving an information pack a few days before the event which
handily would contain a copy of our Tulip Type Route Map, normally not
presented until the start time.
Page one of the instructions
Having
never used a Tulip Route I took the opportunity to map out the route, realising
that over 90% of the Scenic Route would be new to us. Preplanning was handy,
allowing our navigator, my son Robin, to check out the plan and the period
timings between instructions. Google Maps and Street View came into its own
once again.
Booking delays, due to Covid Restrictions, prevented on time delivery of our Rally Plaques so some nifty work with some card, my Scanner & Laminator.
Approaching Brooklands
Entering Brooklands via The Campbell Gate
Terry and I were able to fit quite respectable versions carrying each of our event numbers. Terry arrived from Lymington along with friend Phil driving his very smart Rover P5B.
The
event involved three separate groups, each with different Scenic Routes and
Rest Stops. These were, Classics, Modern Classics and our group, Kit &
Sports Cars.
Our group included a total of 86 cars ranging from Our Morgans down to the home made ‘Cushmo’ navigated by its 81-year-old builder. There were Kit Cars and Replicas, Ferraris, Porches Jags and Astons, young and old.
Various other Group entrants preparing to leave.
Sandra and Helper preparing to leave to be at Brighton before the first Cars arrive.
Where we would have stopped for our Photo.
What our photo should have looked like.
The
first leg of our journey of just 29 miles, using only A & B Roads, would
take us west from Brooklands via the Mercedes World exit before heading south.
Passing the Concorde Model on leaving the Brooklands Estate.
Roof Up - It was raining hard as we started the tour.
'The Cushmo' just ahead of us.
On route to Chobham we would pass Fairoaks Airport, originally built on farmland in 1931 before being requisitioned by the Air Ministry in 1936 and developed into a Pilot Training Base where, during WW2, some 6000 pilots were trained, and aircraft maintenance and repair took place.
The route took in unknown places such as Perry Hill, Normandy, Warnborough and Elstead.
Four Miles to subtract from each instruction Trip Mileage, for the rest of this leg.
Being close to Farnham, we turn East and head in the direction of Frensham and its famous ponds before veering away towards the Rural Life Museum located in Reeds Road where we would make our rest stop for lunch.
Just one wrong direction caused by yours truly ignoring my navigator instruction.
Looking over the closed gate at The Rural Life Museum.
We arrived last at the Rural Life Museum, only to find the gate locked, marshals missing, and everyone nicely presented inside the museum. It was to be the public car park for us tail enders.
The Museum is interesting with plenty to see and enjoy in the museum and around the location, if only we could take more time. A ride on the Narrow-Gauge Industrial Railway System would have been great to experience.
A location
certainly worthy of a second visit.
One of the Exhibition Barns
Cars of every type and size in our group.
The Cushmo again, seen here on the right. How did it get in before the gates closed?
Some of the early arrivals leaving ahead of us again.
Once again some of the early arrivals left before us but we would catch up as we did not need to queue to leave our car park
A Fine Replica.
We can just see the Little Train passing beneath the trees.
The Porsche 386 Replica.
Another Rover P5B but this time it's not Phil's.
A very Norwegian Styled Chapel.
Part of the Water Pumping Display.
The Narrow Gauge Industrial Railway.
Suitably refreshed and relieved we
reset the Trip Meter to Zero and set off on the second half of the journey to Brighton via The Devil's Dyke and
Hove Seafront.
Initially we needed to make our way along the B roads to our A3 crossing at Hindhead via Churt. Hindhead apparently is the highest village in Surrey and famous for the Devil's Punchbowl, a large geological depression which used to be circumnavigated by the A3.
That main South/North Road to London is now routed through a pair of deep tunnels and was totally hidden from our route to Haslemere.
Hindhead was also notorious for its Highwaymen. In 1736 a convicted
Stephen Phillips admitted to stealing 150 guineas in gold. There are several
memorials in the area commemorating such deeds.
From Haslemere our route towards Billingshurst would eventually find that well known southern cross-country route along the A272.
This route would maintain our heading towards Haywards Heath via Coolham, West Grinstead and Cowfold.
The next turn South would take us onto the A281 towards Henfield and Woodmancote heading for Saddlecome and the climb over the South Downs towards the Devil's Dyke.
My Coffee at The Rural Life causing a welcome if unscheduled rest break.
Other of our group go racing by as we pull away again.
The views from the top were magnificent as we were blessed with fine views and one of the famous Pycombe windmills.
Crossing over the busy A27 the A2023 took us on its winding route down through
Hove to find the Coast Road into Brighton.
The West Blatchington Windmill in Hove is below is to the left.
Tally Ho for Brighton!
The Angel of Peace in Hove.
The British Airways i360 Viewing Tower
Its platform is high up in the low clouds.
First view of Brighton and its East Palace Pier.
Almost at the Finish as we wait for pedestrians.
At 50.6 miles we make our final turn onto the iconic place of Motoring Displays, Cycle Rides and Speed Trials.
Brighton's Madeira drive is where we meet our missing photographer for those special arrival snaps before being directed to our display location further along the drive.
Making our way on foot to find the 'rest room' and refreshments we notice that we are far from last to arrive this time.
Those 'oh so posh' Madeira Drive Foot Bath Loos
During the remainder of the afternoon, it was a pleasure to be able to view the other entrant’s cars before too many of the early arrivals were leaving for home.
Terry Seymour & Frank Lomax
