LONDON, HYDE PARK, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7, 1982 Page 2
You must pass the Pylons before four o'clock in the afternoon or you don't get credit for the run. We could see the Pylons when the fire went out. The boiler was full of steam so we decided to creep forward and use whatever steam we had left and hope to get past the Pylons in time. It was pouring rain, freezing cold and we came to a dead stop about 10 car lengths from the Pylons. Hundreds of people gathered at the Pylons to watch the cars go by and we were stuck. The crowds were pouring through the Pylons and there were at least 20 British "Bobby's" at the entrance. Two of them walked over to our car because we were obstructing traffic behind us. One of the Bobby’s said, "Move on Governor, move on". I told him we were out of fuel, out of fire and out of steam and could not move. He said "Well now, that just won't do," turned to the crowd, gathered 8 or 10 strong young men and said “All of you, get this old crock moving and get it out of here.” They pushed us through the Pylons and on down to the line of cars parked at the finish line. We were grateful that we finished even though we needed a bit of help at the end. Someone handed us a glass of champagne and a bottle of milk. We sat down in the rain and collapsed.
We cleaned up, put on tuxedos and went to the banquet. The 43rd annual banquet was held at the Brighton Metropole Hotel and a festive occasion it was. It started with a toast to "Her Majesty the Queen" followed by several other toasts. The menu was quite continental: Crème d’Asperges; Vol-au-Vent aux Fruit d'Mer Normandie; Selle d’Agneau aux Herbes de Provence; Haricots Verts au Beurre; Pommes Rissolées ; Cassata Denise, Café, Brandy and Cigars !!! The drinking and dancing continued into the early hours of the morning. It was a night to remember and cherish.
The most interesting feature of the entire event, as far as I'm concerned, is the tiny little medallion that you receive for finishing the run. It's no larger than a $.25 piece, and has the words inscribed around it "For Punctual Arrival in Brighton". And that's it!!
There is another interesting twist to my experiences with the London Brighton run. In 1996 the 100-year anniversary of the run was announced. It was advertised as being the antique auto event of the century. I entered a 1902 Geneva Steamer, was accepted as a participant and was given the car number 419. I made plans to send the car to London and participate in what I felt would be the most prestigious antique auto run of my lifetime. Critical business situations developed that were beyond my control and I was unable to make the run. The irony is that a picture of my automobile is listed in the catalog of the event. I'm sure that as time passes historians will look at the catalogs and the clippings from various newspapers and magazines and be convinced that I was there with my 1902 Geneva Seam car. A picture of it is in the magazine that was published for the event. It looks great but, alas, I wasn't there.
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