Every other year when we’ve been in London on the first Sunday in November we’ve gone down to Hyde Park to see the dawn start of the London to Brighton veteran car rally. It’s superb. All cars pre 1905, mostly petrol but a few steam or even very early electric. Even a penny farthing or two. Chilly, but sleepiness soon replaced by the thrill of the event. Even helped push start a car on Bayswater Road on our way to the event one year. Had been looking forward to it this year but the forecast is for heavy rain and that is indeed how the morning starts so we don’t head out. Will be tough for the car owners as well, some of whom dress in period costume. Most of the vehicles don’t have roofs and they’ll be thoroughly soaked, to say nothing of the difficulty of antique cars struggling in heavy weather. Three hundred fifty-three cars entered this year. Sadly, the motor show on Regent Street, normally the day before the run was cancelled at the last minute yesterday or we would have had a preview of some of the cars in the run as well as some concept cars. Next year.
Weather hard on the Sunday only marketers at our end of the road as well. Mostly upscale, artisanal, organic, many etceteras. Some beautiful products - could probably have put together a stunning lunch for around £50 - but definitely reliant on aspirational sun-day shoppers. By two most are dismantling their stalls.
And this year’s London stay nearly over. Essentially one weekday left, as Tuesday we check out of our market flat and move much nearer to Heathrow, a cautious decision made a month ago in the light of intermittent industrial action by transport workers. Morning flight on Wednesday and want to guarantee getting there in time. Errands tomorrow, rain or shine.
*Photo FB post, RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
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