The Down Under London to Brighton Run
for Veteran Cars and Motorcycles
Held on the last Sunday in October since 1988 The Vintage Sports Car Club of SA Inc (the VSCC) has conducted The Down Under London to Brighton Run for Veteran Cars and Motorcycles based on the historic annual London to Brighton Run held on the first Sunday in November in the UK.
Owners of veteran cars in the VSCC at the time came up with the idea and as we have a Brighton in Adelaide they searched and found a “London” in the Adelaide Suburb of Mile End South, being London Road. The suburb of Mile End South is in the local council area of West Torrens and the Mayor of West Torrens Council acted as the “Lord Mayor of London” for the event. The Mayor of Brighton Council (now Holdfast Council), responsible for the local council area of the suburb of Brighton, presided over the assemblage of vehicles at Brighton. Thus began a tradition which has prevailed ever since.
Invitations are issued to known veteran car owners in SA; not just VSCC members but owners from other clubs as well, such as The Veteran Car Club of SA, The Gawler Veteran, Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club, The Model T Ford Club and the Sporting Car Club, to name a few. The “Mayors” are also on the invitation list so their calendars can be marked.
Hire of the reserve on the foreshore at Brighton is negotiated, and Club members are cajoled into undertaking various roles for the event, such as preparation and serving of morning tea and acting as traffic marshals at strategic places and on corners to give guidance and direction the drivers.
So, on the last Sunday in October vehicles assemble in London Road and after a short welcoming ceremony they are flagged off by the “Lord Mayor of London”. Vehicles travel in loose convoy for about 30 minutes on local roads then gather at the VSCC clubrooms in Glandore for morning tea, which consists of a London Bun and a hot or cold beverage, served by the ladies of our club.
After a short period of rest and recouperation (for the drivers) the whole procession again sets off in the direction of the finish where the “Mayor of Brighton” greets the participants and congratulates them on completing the Run. Vehicles are arranged and displayed for the benefit of the locals.
The 2024 Run will be held on Sunday 27th October beginning at 9.30am.