May Newsletter - Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox

New Route Maps   In acknowledgement of feedback from participants, clearer route maps have now been produced for both those taking part in the Run and the many hundreds of spectators that line the route from London to Brighton. These give greater detail of the route locations and time periods when best to view. These can be found on the event website: Participant and Tender: www.veterancarrun.com/register and Spectator: www.veterancarrun.com/event-info.            Veteran Car Dating   The VCC Dating Committee were pleased to inspect two candidate veteran cars for this year’s Run at the April Creepy Crawly Rally. The committee remains keen to encourage as many German-owned cars as possible to enter this year to acknowledge the 2016 theme of ‘Celebrating German Motoring’. Consideration will be made for the holding of a dating inspection in Germany later in the year, depending on a sufficient number of cars requiring inspection. To register your interest in such an inspection please contact dac.vcc@gmail.com with details of the car and its location. 1879 Steam Car This due de dame type carriage steam car built in Tuscany in 1879 is undergoing a complete restoration by Davide Lorenzone in Italy with the aim of entering this year’s Run. We hope we can welcome this fantastic car into the Run this year and will keep you posted on developments.    2016 Run Registrations   In the first month since entries opened the organisers are pleased to report that they already have 231 cars registered from as far afield as Australia, North America and across Europe. This level of entries is up on previous years at the same point and includes twelve new participants. A reminder that Early Bird entries will close Friday 27 May. When making your entry don’t forget to also enter the Regularity Time Trial operated over the section of route from Crawley to Burgess Hill. Bonhams Now entering its 13th year, Bonhams invite consignments for the annual London to Brighton Run auction, taking place on Friday 4 November at their flagship New Bond Street salerooms. Each year the Bonhams sale exclusively features pre-1905 cars, many eligible for the Run, as well as a varied selection of fascinating automobilia. The 2015 auction saw great success, with a packed saleroom, 95% sold and a total of £1.5 million, led by starring lot, the 1903 Clement Model AC4R four-cylinder, rear-entrance Tonneau, sold to a British bidder in the room for £415,900.  Elsewhere, the 1904 Napier Model D45 12hp four-cylinder, five-seater, side-entrance Tourer sold for £326,333. One of the few Napier models that were assembled in period in America, the exceptionally rare Napier boasts inclusion in three major international car collections and comes with an enviable record of completed London to Brighton Runs. For further information on Bonhams London to Brighton Sale, contact Bonhams at ukcars@bonhams.com.   Concours d'Elegance   The Veteran Car Concours d’Elegance will again be a main feature of the Regent Street Motor Show scheduled for the day before the Run, Saturday 5 November. We have a capacity for 100 Veteran Car Run eligible cars that can take part, so ensure your place by booking in now as we are already half full for this year.                                               Wellington Arch & The Mall   English Heritage and London’s Royal Parks have again, for the 3rd consecutive year, granted the Run organisers permission to use Wellington Arch and The Mall in St James’s Park as the first part of the route out of London from the Serpentine Road, Hyde Park start line. The Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox joins only Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Royal Horseguards in being permitted to drive under the Wellington Arch.            BBC Children in Need The team of Chris Evans, Alex Jones and Ken Bruce will again be joining the Run this year driving the 2015 BBC Children in Need auction winners in vintage buses along the 60 mile route. Since the association between the Run and the charity was forged in November 2014, over £500,000 has been raised.