Wake at quarter to six, just before the alarm to head over to Hyde Park for the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. As we walk down the Bayswater Road in the half-light we're passed by at least a dozen and a half vintage cars, easily identified as they come up behind us, puttering bravely on one or two cylinders, most of them with no headlights. We help an older couple push back tjeir car, which has nosed out from a side street and died. But we're replaced by three young men walking past, so there's plenty of muscle available for the crank restart. The cars are lined up along the Serpentine, where swans and ducks are swimming. Last minute repairs and coffees.
Curious as to the dividing line between a motorcycle and a car - some of the vehicles that seem to be straddling it. The cars without roofs or windscreens are often more engaging, but pretty exposed. Fortunately it's not raining, although it's increasingly foggy. In fact the heavy mist has mixed with the exhaust fumes into a pretty toxic smelling smog. As always, there are a couple of heartbreakers - cars that made it this far (and many are brought in from other continents for the race, especially this year, when the theme is American) and then in the end wouldn't start. We only pass two, one with engine running but drive train not engaged.
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