Brighton part one .....
It is hard to write this other than from a very personal viewpoint . It was such a huge event that whilst participating it was difficult - impossible in fact - to know what else was going on around. I can only attempt to give a taster. Suffice to say that it was one of the best day's motoring I have known. The atmosphere at the Crystal Palace start, at the Pease Pottage control, and then at Brighton was electric and wonderful. The only spoiler on the day was the traffic. I certainly had not expected it to be quite so heavy, and whilst we coped with it I understand that it did cause severe problems to several others. I think it was a function of when you hit particular bits of road. It was slow but moving for us through Horley for instance, though a jamb that built up later caused some overheating problems to others. Sadly at least one car even had to abandon the run as a result. I had never realised just what trauma the early stages must be to the Veterans in November. Well then - from a personal point of view it went something like this. An entry was sent off in mid October, having heard of the event quite a while previously. A study of the logistics suggested that the round trip from Andover in the day was a bridge too far if one was to enjoy oneself; it would be some two hundred and several miles. The cost of overnight accommodation in Crystal Palace area would pay for a new back seat (which it did). With thoughts of July Cofton Park at the back of my mind I started drawing plans for trailers. Around November a suitable chassis fell into my hands, and this was built into a very usable transporter during the ensuing weeks (see full saga elsewhere). I decided that the time had come to change the rear springs on the Chummy, and these were collected from Bradford-on-Avon during January. The aforementioned back seat was commissioned to replace the existing 'object' which probably started life in a Triumph Herald. Much servicing, checking and adjusting was completed, and Veronica was pronounced ready for the fray. A trial loading onto the trailer was thought advisable, was carried out, and a trial journey to nearby Thruxton successfully completed. (We have a pair of young ginger cats which were born under the grandstand. Whilst they are Tom and Sam now, they came to us as Morgan and Jensen - what provenance!. I wanted to see their mother). So the great day dawned - rather cold at five in the morning. The trailer was hooked on, everything was loaded into the BMW along with wife, daughter, and son-in-law, and off we swept. A comfortable journey to London ensued and found us unloading the Seven in Thornton Heath at around eight-thirty. The crew took the car and trailer on down to Pease Pottage, and Chris and I drove up to Crystal Palace. Until you have seen four hundred odd Austin Sevens you cannot believe what a stiring spectacle it is. We signed in, and received our rally plate, program, and the tea vouchers. Very welcome was a hot drink since the weather was still on the ominous side. The official start was at nine, but this was all very informal. The controlling factor was exiting the Palace grounds onto Anerley Hill. We were only able to emerge in dribs and drabs because of the traffic, and thus there was a distinct filtering effect. We finally got under way at around ten o'clock, and travelled down through the Southern suburbs in company with half a dozen others. Even at this stage the traffic was extensive. We went past the old Croydon Airport, then through Purley and along that miserable stretch to Coulsdon, and finally a brisk couple of miles to the road works at Merstham; scheduled to be an extension to the M23 I expect. The Redhill Grand Prix was much more exciting than the awful Horley which followed. Then away with a spirited dash around Gatwick and Crawley . This was the first time that we achieved any significant speed as is evidenced by the fact that it was not until this point that I became aware that the offside bonnet catch was not engaged. It does not start to lift in these circumstances until thirty-five is reached! A very brief pit stop in a lay-by put matters right, and on to to the halfway halt at Pease Pottage. Here we had a reception committee. Firstly there was Graham awaiting us on the verge with his camera (is he ever without it?). Then there was the 'crew' who had successfully made it with the trailer. and then out of the blue came my brother and his wife. Much coffee was drunk, along with the last of the Christmas cake which Christine had brought with us. Here we saw briefly the Burrows twins (who incidentally had camped the night beneath the Crystal Palace wireless mast!), the Hugh Wright contingent with two Sevens, but unfortunately not John Pyke (briefly under the doctor but now thankfully mended). Then it was onward and Southward towards Brighton. This next fifteen miles was the best part of the run so far as I was concerned. The traffic had abated as we travelled along pleasant Sussex roads, the weather had improved by this time to be a splendid Spring day, and all was good with life. We were in company, on and off, with several other Sevens, some of whom seemed to be having a bit of trouble with the navigation. We passed through such renowned 'Brighton Run' places as Handcross, Ansty, and Hassocks. Eventually the dreaded Pycombe Hill hove into view. In fact it was designed for Austin Sevens, and we romped up with just enough incline to make second gear work for its living without loosing revs. In my excitement I quite forgot that we were passing the famous entrance to Clayton Railway Tunnel with it's castle-like folly over the entrance. Just after Pycombe we joined the main A23 dual carriageway for the final run into Brighton. To say that the traffic was back with us would be an understatement, though now it was all happening in quick time. We passed between the Pylons, and technically we were in Brighton, though it still need another five miles to reach Maderia Drive. Veronica had behaved like the little lady that she is, and had not missed a beat. We were greeted at the final control on the Front by a kind lady who presented us with a commemorative plaque, and a fine china mug. I think someone took a picture, and then we found a space to park, backed onto the sea. The band was playing, the sun was shining, the enhanced crew had arrived safely, the bottle of Champagne (which I had secreted under the back seat) popped with enthusiasm. and if God was in his Heaven then he was definitely missing out! VG 2331 April 2005
Click to enlarge .........
Oh!, and comment of the day must go to the very pleasant young man who asked me, quite seriously, at Crystal Palace 'I have become the main driver for today, can you explain to me how you do this double-declutch, and what do those two levers in the middle of the steering wheel do? I do not say this to embarrass anyone, I just think it is wonderful that our fancy can encourage people to turn out like this. Needless to say I went into lecture mode, and I do so hope he got to Brighton and got his plaque. Well done him!
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