RENAULT TURNS BACK THE CLOCK
Pioneering
French motor manufacturer acts as patron to the Bonhams London to
Brighton Veteran Car Run, the world’s longest-running motoring event
At the dawn
of motoring, when the earliest horseless carriages first spluttered
into life, far-sighted engineers across the world turned their hands to
creating this wonder of the modern world.
While their innovative machines revolutionised our lives, few were
businessmen… and the history of the automobile is littered with now
largely forgotten carmakers: who remembers Locomobile, Clement, Norfolk
or Gladiator, for example?
But there are exceptions. Société Renault Frères was founded in France
in 1898, and headed by three brothers, Louis, Marcel and Fernand
Renault. Louis was the engineer while Marcel and Fernand were the
businessmen.
It was a combination that clearly worked, for Renault is still with us today.
As a manufacturer of advanced cars like the all-electric Renault ZOE,
and as the powerhouse behind the multi-title winning Formula 1 teams,
Renault spends most of its time looking ahead.
But at least once a year it remembers its heritage. The French firm is,
once again, a patron of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run,
where a number of early Renaults, all built at the start of the 20th
century, will be making the annual pilgrimage from Hyde Park in London
to Madeira Drive, Brighton.
Renault has pledged to support not just the Veteran Car Run for the next
two years, but also the Regent Street Motor Show, the UK’s largest
free-to-view motor show.
Running the length of London’s busiest shopping street, the Show will be
held on Saturday 31 October, the day before the Run, showcasing 125
years of motoring history.
Speaking on behalf of Renault UK, Mark Waller said: “Life for Renault
began back in 1898, just two years after the Emancipation Run, which the
Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run continues to commemorate
today.”
“We are proud of the evolution that Renault has enjoyed since those
earliest days and the Regent Street Motor Show, taking place the day
before the Veteran Car Run, provides us with a wonderful opportunity to
bring to life the journey Renault has been on from its earliest
beginnings to the present day.”
Organisers of the Regent Street Motor Show and the Bonhams London to
Brighton Veteran Car Run, have created a Manufacturer Patron Sponsorship
package which is exclusively offered to those ‘pioneer-to-present’
marques. They are delighted to announce this partnership with Renault
for 2015 and 2016.
The Regent Street Motor Show will take place on Saturday 31 October
followed by the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on Sunday 1
November. The early bird discount on entry fees for the Veteran Car Run
will apply until midnight on Friday 29 May.
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