The welcome arrival of blue skies and sunshine greeted participants on this year’s magical Summer Veteran Car Run (Thursday 18 July). 
 
Established by the Royal Automobile Club as the perfect warm-up for the annual RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the third running of the much-loved Summer Run attracted a full entry of sparkling pioneers all dating back to pre-1905.
 
In total, 35 early automotive icons from the dawn of motoring gathered in the warm morning air on the Cedar Lawn at Woodcote Park, the Club’s tranquil country setting adjacent to the Epsom Downs in Surrey.
 
Showcasing the innovative ambitions of the period, more than 20 fledging marques were represented – some such as Cadillac, Mercedes and Renault have survived to become major global manufacturers; others including Aster, Gladiator, Mors and Napier have fallen by the wayside. De Dion Bouton, another erstwhile enterprise, was best represented with five Summer Run entries. 
 
With the sun shining, the colourful cavalcade set out from the gates of the Clubhouse on a jolly 54-mile jaunt through the largely traffic-free highways and byways of rural Surrey and Sussex. They were warmly welcomed by numerous local residents who savoured the spectacle running past their doors.
 
Ensuring smooth progress through the leafy lanes, volunteer marshals were positioned at key points along the pre-described route which took crews on a leisurely drive through the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty and the picturesque Mole Valley towards a leisurely lunch stop at Gildings Barns near Newdigate. 
 
Suitably fortified by their pit-stop, participants savoured a gentle return run through the villages of Charlwood, Irons Bottom, Leigh and Brockham back to the seclusion of Woodcote Park for afternoon tea, an informal concours, and prize-giving in the glorious grounds. For many the day’s proceedings then concluded with a memorable dinner in the historic Motor House, surrounded by the Club’s heritage vehicle collection.
 
“The annual Summer Run is now firmly established as one of the highlights on the motoring calendar… this year’s was undoubtedly the best yet,” said a delighted Ben Cussons, Vice President of the Royal Automobile Club. “It gives owners of these extraordinary, ground-breaking machines a truly wonderful opportunity to really enjoy themselves in rather less challenging conditions than sometimes experienced on the historic London to Brighton Veteran Car Run which, as tradition dictates, always takes place in early November. It was so rewarding to see so many local residents enjoying the automotive history passing by.”
 
Indeed, with the vast majority of these primitively powered trend-setters offering very little protection from the elements, crews on the Summer Run donned caps and sunglasses rather than the coats and goggles required on the hallowed trip from the capital city’s central Hyde Park to Madeira Drive on the Sussex coast. 
 
Whatever the weather on Sunday 3 November, this year’s London to Brighton promises to be a very special occasion. It is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Ladies’ Automobile Club which staged its first ever event in 1904 as well as 125 years of both grand marques Renault and Fiat. 
      
More than 330 cars have already registered for the revered celebration and cost-saving Advanced entries are still open until 13 August. Standard entries are available thereafter until 18 September.