I always look forward to the first weekend in November, when RM Sotheby’s head to London for an action packed auction ahead of the annual Veteran Car Run, which sees almost 400 cars venture from London to Brighton — all of which date back to 1905 or earlier! Typically, I head down to watch the auction with my dad and wave all the veteran cars off in Hyde Park as they depart on the Sunday morning. This year however, a friend kindly offered me to drive his 1903 British Duryea on the run, and I’m pleased to report we made it to the finish line (almost) without hitch.
The weekend kicked off with a Friday night sale preview at The Peninsula London, the prestigious new venue for the RM Sotheby’s auction which followed on the Saturday. With everything from NSX to F40 achieving excellent results, auctioneer Sholto put on a great show and the room was packed full of anticipation. After a lovely meal we had an early night ahead of our 5:30 am alarm on Sunday to go and retrieve Miranda, our wooden-wheeled steed, from the underground car park on Park Lane. Armed with a multitude of warm layers, pockets full of snacks and plenty of tools we set off on the most memorable 60-mile trip down to Madeira Drive in Brighton! The atmosphere in Hyde Park was electric as ever, and the veteran cars were anything but!
With everything from a penny farthing to a £9.7m Mercedes, there was an amazing variety on show and Miranda got a lot of attention as we set off through London. After standing on the other side of those metal barriers for so many years it felt surreal to pass Buckingham Palace and Big Ben with police cars dotted either side blocking ‘pedestrian’ traffic just for us. The miles were ticking on as we made it out of the city and headed towards Crawley, stopping for petrol and a leg stretch along the way. I underestimated quite how many crowds would be dotted along the entirety of the route taking photos of us, waving flags and cheering everybody on as we continued South — it was really special to see. After a brunch stop, the journey continued and we began to encounter some rather difficult hills. With four passengers and a total of 12bhp we unsurprisingly conked out mid climb of the renowned Clayton Hill which was slightly scary, but we engaged the handbrake and breathed calmly. It made sense to lose some weight, so my loved ones jumped off and Miranda chugged on up to Clayton without difficulty!
I guess now is a good time to explain what Miranda, the 1903 Duryea was actually like to drive. It has two gears, which must be aligned with the level of advance/retard you give the engine as you gain speed, which requires constant monitoring. The brake pedal doesn’t do anything, so you must use the handbrake to stop but the handbrake lever is the same as reverse, so if you panic and pull said lever too hard it’s game over. Oh, and did I mention it doesn’t have a steering wheel? You turn using a tiller, which is essentially a sensitive, yet pretty heavy, metal beam attached to the front axle. So lots to get used to, but I was thankfully joined by an incredibly mechanically minded friend who could keep an eye on things throughout the day and keep cleaning the clutch/brake with various oil sprays. Tim, the owner, was also partaking on the run with a slightly less mechanically minded passenger — Supercar Driver Founder Adam Thorby — but with more power than Miranda, his car managed to make it to Brighton by 1pm in comparison to our 3pm finish.
Here’s what Adam had to say about his first experience of the Veteran Car Run:
“This is one of those events I had always wanted to go on but never thought I would get the chance. Although I’m used to fast, modern supercars with all the drama, speed, and engineering they bring, nothing would ever feel quite as exhilarating as this. Perched on the open seat of a 1903 Wolseley 10hp, with no seat belts and brakes that were more than a century old, would make for a far more memorable day than I had expected. Tim, our driver with 15 years of London to Brighton under his belt, had the Wolseley under masterful control. Alongside him were his wife Jayne, their son Mac, my partner Suze, and myself, each of us wrapped up against the November chill and eager for the adventure to come.
Tim drove like a hero, expertly navigating the roads along the route and hustling the Wolseley, from busy A roads in the suburbs of London to quiet countryside lanes, thrilling us with speeds of up to 40mph on the downhill stretches — a feat that felt far faster in this century-old car than any supercar I’ve been in. The sensation was heightened by the simple, open-air design of the vehicle, with every bump and road camber adding to the excitement of the journey.
The South Downs countryside unfolded before us, revealing charming villages and rolling fields, each filled with eager faces cheering us on. Their enthusiasm brought warmth to the cold morning and reminded us just how special this journey was, not only for us but for the crowds who came to share in the event. The camaraderie and warmth of these onlookers made each mile more meaningful for us, especially as we started to get closer to Brighton, and gave the journey a celebratory feel that modern-day races simply can’t capture.
After four and a half hours on the road, we arrived at Brighton seafront to the sight of the sea glinting in the sun. Crossing the finish line felt like a true achievement, shared not only with Tim and his family but also with the Wolseley itself — a loyal companion that had braved the miles with us. It is so easy to overlook the charm of these veteran cars, but having taken part, we certainly have the bug even though we have only just thawed out. The day had been filled with laughter, thrills, and a sense of nostalgia that will linger long after, and as with all these things, it is even more about the people than it is the cars, and it is a day I will never forget.”
Brighton, like Hyde Park, was lined with local enthusiasts clapping us in and it was great to spot a couple of friends and family members in the ‘audience’ as such!
I loved every second of our trip and hope to do it again sometime! If you ever get chance, go for it and I hope you’re as lucky with the weather as us. Huge thanks to Tim and his family for the kind loan, and RM Sotheby’s for putting on another incredible weekend.
