Two of the participants on the 2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR) have a strong family connection with the world's longest running motoring event.  Douglas Lawson is a direct descendant of Harry J Lawson, who was central to the organisation of the 1896 Emancipation Run, and Keith Salvesen will be a passenger on the car built by his great-grandfather in 1896.   

At 17-years-old Douglas Lawson from West Sussex is the youngest driver on the event and while he has been a regular LBVCR participant as a passenger, 2008 will mark his first as a driver. As well as being heavily involved with the Motor Car Club that organised the original Run in November 1896, Harry J Lawson also founded the Motor Manufacturing Company (MMC) which produced the 1902 MMC Tonneau (start no 206) that Douglas will be driving and the 1903 MMC (no 360) that his mother Lindsay will be taking on the Run once again.  The Lawson family still has a strong connection in the organisation of the annual London to Brighton as Henry Lawson is a member of the LBVCR Steering Group and will be joining his son on the 1902 MMC for the event on Sunday 2 November.    

John Brydon's 1896 Salvesen Steam Cart is one of the most photographed vehicles on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in recent years.  The Salvesen steamer was built 112 years ago by Henry Adolph Salvesen as a working vehicle on the family estate in Polmont, Scotland and the car, which is the same age as the London to Brighton event, was bought by John Brydon from Nottinghamshire in 2004 at Bonhams auction of the Milligen Collection.  Earlier this year John was contacted by Keith Salvesen from London who was researching his family history only to discover the car built by his Great Grandfather not only still existed by was still being used on British roads. On Sunday 2 November the Salvesen Steam Cart will once again carry a member of the Salvesen family when Keith Salvesen will travel from Hyde Park to Westminster Bridge.