On November 14th 1896 the British Parliament passed the Locomotive Act. This raised the speed that "light locomotives" could be driven from 4mph to 14 mph. The requirement for them to be preceeded by a person on foot with a red flag was also abolished.
Although the red flag rule was actually abolished in 1878, the ceremonial destruction of a red flag on the first London to Brighton run at Madeira Drive in 1896 kicked off an annual tradition that has run almost without exception to the present day.
The Lancia London to Brighton run at Madeira Drive Delta London to Brighton run at Madeira Drive retraces some of the historic route but also includes a surprise cross-country section.
All drivers receive a "tulip" map of the entire route on arrival at Dulwich College. The route is well researched to verify the accuracy of the instructions!
JULY 18, 2004
The first London to Brighton Delta Integrale run sees a worldwide unmatched turnout of 107 cars growling from Dulwich to the famous seaside town
Official sponsors:
Tanc Barratt, Blaupunkt, Meguiars
Click for links to pictures taken by the drivers. If you were there and have pictures to share, mail me here
Just what do you call 107 Integrales on the run - a swarm, a hive, a storm?A convoy seems hardly right for the mass of cars that gathered at Dulwich College on the drizzly morning of July 18th 2004. Perhaps surreal is the best I've heard it described.
In fact, the architectural setting of Dulwich College provided a fitting setting for a reunion of classmates with a heritage of 6 consecutive World Rally Championship titles as their achievement.
As the clouds dispersed and the first glimpses of sunshine broke through, it was becoming apparent that all present were witnessing the largest assembly of Delta Integrales since production ceased...
From an idea spawned on an internet chat room, the inaugural Lancia London to Brighton run at Madeira Drive Delta London to Brighton HF run was very much a reality and well on the way.
You could see the expressions of disbelief on many drivers as they crept around the login station where Diego was issuing the attendees with their welcome packs: Mamma Mia - there really is una festa sui prati going on here!
Deltas were everywhere and in amongst them all a fabulous Hyena to greet the arrivals.
Diego actually flew in from Milan as he could not believe so many cars would really make the effort.
He's now back in Italy and is writing to the local car magazines about the event: This is how to celebrate one of the finest ever rally cars made!
It was now 10:00 and the previously empty car park was still filling fast. People were exchanging experiences, looking at their colleagues cars or and some even walking their dogs in the grounds. The dining hall also saw over 130 breakfasting afficionados getting ready for a jolly down to the seaside.Suitably refreshed, it was now coming up to 11:00 and time for the kick-off photo and partenza for Pease Pottage.
I had the pleasure of seeing off every car as they turned infront of me to leave the school. It was "Italian music" as the now ubiquitous 2-litre twin cam engine roared past me 107 times.
Whilst the weather at Dulwich challenged the cleanly polished bodywork, water from a burst watermain in the middle of south London was to force an unexpected detour. It was a reminder that map reading skills would also need to be polished very quickly!
Tanc Barratt and the AA ensured that this gentlemen and his family all the way from Derby managed to fix his Integrale and fully take part in the run. We were determined to leave noone behind!
Whilst life got back to normal at Dulwich, the roads of South London were soon to be lit up with a convoy of cars trailing down to Pease Pottage.
Sunday strollers gawped at the fleet with many younger spectators jumping around at seeing the cars that they normally only see in arcade games before their very eyes.
Pease Pottage was soon the venue for another car park full of magnifiche macchine.
The sun was now well and truly out and I could hear many drivers and passengers agreeing on improved mapping skills as well as using the stop for a bit of polishing.
It was now 1:30pm and the car driven by Mark Serne - the first person to suggest the L2B idea on the chatroom - was the fitting choice to lead the convoy of cross country travellers on the route down to Brighton.
The glorious roads of Sussex provided many a tale for each driver as 3-point turns and back-tracking together with photo opportunities provided the afternoons entertainment.
At the time I thought it would have been better to have been in the throng of the cars. However, had I have done, I would have missed the priceless face of Derrick and the broken gear lever.
Normally a job for a recovery truck, Lancia London to Brighton run at Madeira Drive Delta determination and help from others on the run ensured that this "mild" inconvenience was sorted. Soon he and his visibly happier passenger were on their way to the seaside after all. Next year we'll have to have a prize for tenacity in the face of adversity! So keen were some of the drivers, that they forgot all about the route through the countryside and went straight for Brighton - unfortunately beating the arrival team to the finish at Brighton Marina! Next year we will have the "Lancia London to Brighton run at Madeira Drive HF run Police" and a welcome tent to ensure your hasty arrival doesn't end in a bit of confusion...By 4:00pm everyone had arrived at Brighton Marina and the scale of the event was starting to dawn on everyone. Totals were being confirmed and soon the staggering number of 107 Deltas spread amongst the drivers.
Sunshine, cameras, chamois and enjoyment were the order of the afternoon.
At 6:00pm it was judgement hour and all the drivers came to find out if the polishing had all paid off!
From right to left: J-P Lihou, Mark Serne, Tanc Barratt
The Bosch Pressure Washer and 4 Blaupunkt Brighton prizes were awarded for:
- Car of the show
- Best daily driver
- Best lady owned car
- Longest distance travelled
- Lucky dip draw from Tanc Barratt
and finally the Meguiars car care products prize for runner-up best car
Car of the show went to Chris Sinclair with his immaculate "N" Dealer Collection. The prize of the Bosch Aquatak 1500Si pressure washer will make the competition that much harder next year! Next was the longest distance travelled which went to Scott Hibbert from Durham who took away one of the Blaupunkt "Brighton" MP3 players and speakers. The best daily driver (over 12,000km per annum) car went to the Monza Evo of David Kelly from Rotherham who also celebrated his birthday on the 18th July with another "Brighton" and speakers as a prize. The best lady-owned car went to Fiona Coombs with a very shiny Lord Blue Evo. Fiona then drew the final prize coordinated by Tanc Barratt of another "Brighton" and speakers - this time the lucky winner was Mark Palmer from Plaistow w
ho managed to fox his ticket to the top of the draw bag.
Finally, the most astonished face was seen when the runner-up "best car" was announced.
A bewildered Nick Bartlett walked away with a clutch of car care products from Meguiars!
Glorious sunshine ensured that the afternoon would be one to remember for everyone - not just the drivers. Comments like "look son, always bring your camera as you never know what you'll see here" were heard many times.
Best of all was that we all were part of it. We'll be back bigger and better in 2005. In the meantime thanks for coming - or should we say Grazie per essere venuti.
Jean-Pierre Lihou
Right Product Management Ltd