London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

[a] The first edition, "The Emancipation Run" in 1896, celebrated the recently passed Locomotives on Highways Act 1896, which liberalised motor vehicle laws in the United Kingdom.

It currently takes place on the first Sunday in November, starting at sunrise, about 7:00 AM,[3] in Hyde Park, London, and mostly following the old A23 road to the finish at Brighton – a distance of 54 mi (87 km).

The event started with a breakfast at the Charing Cross Hotel, which included the symbolic tearing in two by Lord Winchelsea of a red flag.

[10] Louise Bazalgette, one of the earliest women motorists in Britain, was photographed at the start of the event on an Arnold motor car, with her friend Henry Hewetson.

Many racing drivers and celebrities have taken part in the event, including Richard Shuttleworth (1928–1934; 1936–1938),[13] S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis, Sir Malcolm Campbell,[14] Prince Bira,[15] George Eyston, Richard Seaman, Kaye Don,[16] George Formby, Phil Hill,[17] Stirling Moss, Jochen Mass,[18] Nigel Mansell[19] and Damon Hill[20] The 72nd anniversary run took place in 1968 and was joined by celebrity participants Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, in a 1903 De Dion-Bouton.

The event is intended to showcase low energy impact vehicles of various technologies – Electric, Hybrid and Low-Emission ICE (internal combustion engine).

Participants compete to minimise energy consumption using "road legal" vehicles in "real world" conditions.