The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2026 takes place on Sunday 1 November, covering approximately 60 miles from Hyde Park to Madeira Drive. At Peter James Insurance, our enthusiasm for historic motoring extends well beyond the office. This Sunday, our PR man Wayne Scott will be putting that passion into practice as he tackles the run aboard a remarkable 1904 Lanchester.
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2026: Wayne Scott Takes on the Challenge
Wayne Scott (right) receiving guidance from James ‘Jock’ Howe at the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust
Wayne, who also edits Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine, will join the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club’s Classic XK Model Section Coordinator Michael Ballard in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust’s Lanchester 20 HP Tourer, registration O 1230.
The pair will form part of a three-car Trust team celebrating 130 years of Daimler, with Jaguar Enthusiast columnist Michael Quinn also taking part aboard a Daimler.
Ahead lies approximately 60 miles from Hyde Park to Brighton, in the company of more than 400 pre-1905 vehicles. With a November start before sunrise and machinery from the earliest days of motoring, simply reaching the coast will be an achievement worth celebrating.
Meet O 1230: The Lanchester 20HP
Although the Lanchester 20hp made its public debut in January 1905, a small batch of pre-production cars had already been built. Among them was chassis number 578, dating O 1230 to 1904 and making it eligible for the Run.
Believed to be the oldest surviving Lanchester 20hp, the car joined the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust collection during the 1980s. Its engineering offers a fascinating glimpse into a period when manufacturers were still exploring what a motor car should look like and how it should work.
The 20hp was Lanchester’s first four-cylinder model, with its vertical in-line engine positioned ahead of the front seat, between the driver and passenger footwells. Cantilever springing and tiller steering add to its distinctive character, and promise Wayne and Michael a rather different experience from the Jaguars they know so well.
There is an appropriate family connection, too. Lanchester became part of Daimler in 1931, while Jaguar acquired Daimler in 1960. Today, the Trust preserves the heritage of all three marques.
The London to Brighton Route: From Hyde Park to the Sussex coast
This year’s Run marks 130 years since the famous Emancipation Run of 1896, which celebrated the easing of restrictions on early motorists.
Following the traditional ceremonial tearing-up of a red flag in Hyde Park, the first veteran cars are scheduled to depart at 6.53am. Their journey takes in Buckingham Palace, The Mall, Whitehall and Westminster Bridge before the route divides through South London, reuniting north of Croydon.
From there, the cars continue through Surrey and West Sussex, passing through communities including Redhill, Crawley, Handcross, Staplefield and Cuckfield before heading towards Brighton and the finish on Madeira Drive.
The earliest arrivals are expected shortly after 10am, but crews have until 4.30pm to reach the finish and qualify for a coveted finisher’s medal. For Wayne and Michael, keeping their 122-year-old charge running happily throughout the journey will be the priority.
Where to watch the Veteran Car Run
For spectators, the Run offers a wonderful opportunity to see motoring history in motion. Expect petrol, steam and electric vehicles, exposed mechanicals and an extraordinary variety of pioneering designs, accompanied by plenty of enthusiastic encouragement from the roadside.
Early risers can enjoy the London landmarks. While the towns and villages farther south offer opportunities to watch throughout the morning and into the afternoon. Madeira Drive provides the chance to welcome the finishers and share their sense of achievement.
The following are suggested viewing windows for the passing cars. They are approximate and do not indicate when Wayne and Michael’s Lanchester will arrive…
| Approximate viewing time | Location |
| 6.45am | Ceremonial tearing of the red flag, Hyde Park |
| 6.53am | First cars depart Hyde Park |
| 7.00–8.45am | Constitution Hill and The Mall |
| 7.10–9.00am | Whitehall, Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Palace |
| 7.20–9.20am | Clapham Common |
| 7.25–9.50am | Mitcham |
| 7.35–11.05am | Coulsdon High Street |
| 7.40–11.05am | Merstham |
| 7.55–11.35am | Redhill |
| 8.10am–2.00pm | Three Bridges and Crawley |
| 8.25am–2.10pm | Handcross High Street |
| 8.30am–2.25pm | Staplefield |
| 8.50am–2.35pm | Cuckfield High Street |
| 10.00am–4.30pm | Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex |
If you’re heading out on Sunday 1 November, wrap up warm, take your camera and look out for O 1230. We would love to see Peter James customers, club members and fellow enthusiasts giving Wayne and Michael a wave as they make their way towards Brighton.
Keeping historic vehicles like these early classic cars on the road takes care, knowledge and commitment, but days like this remind us why it is so rewarding. We wish the whole Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust team a successful and thoroughly enjoyable Run.
Good luck, Wayne and Michael. Brighton or bust!
