PH Takes On The London To Brighton
Something else for the weekend? Watch PHer Stuart harness the raw power of a 1901 Wolselely...
Maybe we should bring back the flag man...
He'll be driving one of over 500 cars taking part in this annual bash which commemorates the end of the rule (in 1896) which required motorists to have a flag man preceding their vehicle, and which raised the speed limit from 4 to 14mph.
Team PH will be piloting car number 127, a 1901 Wolseley 10 hp Tonneau belonging to the Heritage Motor Centre. It has two cylinders, a maximum speed of 20mph and braking abilities which might be considered insufficient on a push bike, let alone four-up on over a tonne of iron, brass and cart wheels. Sounds like fun...
The route, which leaves from Hyde Park at sun rise, takes in some terrific countryside and spectators are welcome all along the route. The cars will arrive at Brighton's Madeira Drive from around 10:30am through to 4:30pm. For more details click here.
h, and I spanked it. Etc.Actually I was probably in real fear that I'd:
a) Topple over at 15mph
b) Stall. At 15mph.
c) Forget, in all the confusion of changing down without doing a) or b) to steer and pile straight on into the Heritage Motor Centre.
d) All of the above.
Still, it should be good fun. Certainly older than anything I've driven yet.
h, and I spanked it. Etc.Actually I was probably in real fear that I'd:
a) Topple over at 15mph
b) Stall. At 15mph.
c) Forget, in all the confusion of changing down without doing a) or b) to steer and pile straight on into the Heritage Motor Centre.
d) All of the above.
Still, it should be good fun. Certainly older than anything I've driven yet.
Unsurprisingly there's definitely a strategy for success on the L2B, and both Nick's and "my" cars are well placed. The two critical factors are performance, and how early up the line-up (cars start in order of age, oldest first) you start - the earlier the better. Many of the very early cars are also very primitive and so struggle with the hills and are prone to mechanical failure. As the car advanced very quickly during this period (there were more cars produced in 1904 than in all the years which preceded it) at the other end of the grid you'll see far more modern machinery with more conventional pedal layouts, more power and pneumatic tyres. The problem is, because there are so many more cars at this end, the traffic can be terrible and can really hinder progress.
So Nick's car and our Wolseley are good because they're both fairly early in the running order, but are also both big, powerful and reliable enough to make it to Brighton in good time. That's the theory at least - I'll let you know how I get on this Sunday!
Sadly not participating this year so will instead be spectating near the esso garage as you come down into Redhill. Listen for the horn
Enjoy!
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