Young drivers take to the road in some of the oldest cars in the world
On Sunday 1 November 557 entries from all over the world will take part in the 113th Anniversary London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR), with cars that are at least 105 years old.  While the cars may have a combined age in excess of 58,000 years, the average of the drivers on this years run is 54, with the youngest just 17 and the oldest 90. 

17-year-old Rowan Lawson from Henfield in West Sussex is officially the youngest driver on the 2009 LBVCR, and will be driving the family 1902 M.M.C.  The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is in the Lawson family blood, with three cars entered on the Run with the 1904 M.M.C. driven by Mum Lindsay and a Belgian made 1899 Dechamps Tricycle will be driven by older brother Douglas.  Father Henry will also be taking part in the Run as a passenger, keeping a watchful eye on Rowan, and is also a member of the events Steering Group.  Henry Lawson can also trace his family history back to the original 1896 Emancipation Run, which was promoted by his distant relative Harry J Lawson.  Harry Lawson also set up the Motor Manufacturing Company that built the two M.M.C. cars that the family use on the London to Brighton.   In total there are eleven drivers under the age of 20 and nearly 10% of the entrants are under 30-years-old.

“It is great to see so many young people taking an interest in these vehicles,” said Roger Etcell, LBVCR Event Director. “Many of these cars have been in the same family for generations.  They are usually owned by their fathers or grandfathers and now it is time for them to take the wheel.  In some cases it has almost become a generational relay, handing the cars over to the next generation of the family like a baton in a relay race.  There is also a lot of interest from younger people who are looking for an investment or just enjoy the style of motoring that these cars offer and the last few events has seen the average age of participants moving downwards.”

Starting at Sunrise (06:54am) in Hyde Park, London, the oldest cars in the event will begin their 60-mile journey to Brighton, with the last cars leaving around 08:15am.  The 557 participants and their passengers will take in some of the most famous sights in the Capital as they head down Constitution Hill to pass in front of Buckingham Palace.  Travelling along Birdcage Walk the veteran cars pass through Parliament Square and cross Westminster Bridge, with the Houses of Parliament providing a dramatic backdrop.  After passing through Croydon and taking a coffee stop in Crawley old town, the cars will head to Brighton where they will finish on Madeira Drive on the seafront.