28 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

Funny how things develop. I'm off on the London-to-Brighton Run this weekend as part of the Mercedes Museum team, co-driving their 1904 Simplex...and one team-mate, driving their 1902 car, is Nigel Mansell. Now there's a surprise.

But if any TNFer sees us forlorn by the roadside, don't hesitate to say hello...and if you have a full set of Snap-Ons there, so much the better!

DCN

[ensign14]

/makes note for trivia question

"What do Mario Andretti, Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg, Alain Prost and Doug Nye have in common?"

[RTH]

Funny how things develop. I'm off on the London-to-Brighton Run this weekend as part of the Mercedes Museum team, co-driving their 1904 Simplex...and one team-mate, driving their 1902 car, is Nigel Mansell. Now there's a surprise.

But if any TNFer sees us forlorn by the roadside, don't hesitate to say hello...and if you have a full set of Snap-Ons there, so much the better!

DCN

Now that will be fun, let's have plenty of photos and a very full report, always wanted to do that myself.
We used to do the Morris Eight Tourer Club London to Brighton in the late 60s in a 1937 example but in a pre 1904 car that will be a very different experience.........a lack of stopping power most likely. Good luck.......how about making a movie for a future Motorfilms !!

[D-Type]

Hmmmm! As I live in Coulsdon which is on the route, it might even get me out of bed to come and watch.

Doug, you must take a look at the covers of the December Motor Sports 'back in the day' to see the correct demeanour and dress code according to WB. Enjoy the experience.

PS Can we expect a thread on the origin of brass monkeys (I have my own theory!)

Edited by D-Type, 04 November 2011 - 23:06.

[delta44]

A good friend of mine is marshaling at the start"up at 3.30 am. Must say as the years go by this event is starting too appeal to me. If I was not committed to the Walter Heyes meeting I would of joined him.Hope you have fun Doug.

[RTH]

This was last year. 100 points if you can tell me who the interviewer is, quite surprised me I knew him well about 16 years ago when he was starting out in motor racing.

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Clue: his sister is a well known face on a TV motoring programme

[ensign14]

Tom Butler-Henderson?

[John Ginger]

This was last year. 100 points if you can tell me who the interviewer is, quite surprised me I knew him well about 16 years ago when he was starting out in motor racing.

Clue: his sister is a well known face on a TV motoring programme

Would his initials be CBH?

[Allan Lupton]

Well he doesn't look old enough to have been racing 16 years ago, but I expect it's someone called Charlie Butler-Henderson.
Must be some connection with the man after whom the GCR named the first of its Improved Director class locomotives like this model:

Edited by Allan Lupton, 05 November 2011 - 09:03.

[AJB]

Funny how things develop. I'm off on the London-to-Brighton Run this weekend as part of the Mercedes Museum team, co-driving their 1904 Simplex...and one team-mate, driving their 1902 car, is Nigel Mansell. Now there's a surprise.

But if any TNFer sees us forlorn by the roadside, don't hesitate to say hello...and if you have a full set of Snap-Ons there, so much the better!

DCN

Doug,
The Lotus 7 Club meets at Handcross (just past Pease Pottage services) every year. Give us a wave, or even stop off for a cuppa and a sausage butty.
Alan

[RTH]

Would his initials be CBH?

Yes indeed Charlie Butler-Henderson Vauxhall Junior in 1995. Then GTs last I heard he was a full time instructor at Silverstone. older sister Vicki of course ex- Auto Express magazine journalist and former Top Gear laterly Fifth Gear TV presenter

If you see him Doug, give him my regards, nice bloke.



London to Brighton in 1972

Edited by RTH, 05 November 2011 - 10:41.

[delta44]

He has also been racing in FJ this year.

[RTH]

Well he doesn't look old enough to have been racing 16 years ago, but I expect it's someone called Charlie Butler-Henderson.
Must be some connection with the man after whom the GCR named the first of its Improved Director class locomotives like this model:

Yes quite right Charlie was 16 in 1995 I was involved in running their car that year, father Guy and grandparents in farming.
What do you know about railway connection with the name then Allan ?
Didn't know about doing formula junior either, what do we know about that ?

[Allan Lupton]

Yes quite right Charlie was 16 in 1995 I was involved in running their car that year, father Guy and grandparents in farming.
What do you know about railway connection with the name then Allan ?

No idea and I've been wrong about assuming distinctive double-barrelled names are a clue. It may be that the parents of Charlie were called Butler and Henderson and either joined their names on marriage (as a couple I knew had done) or just gave the offspring both names which is often done nowadays.

The Great Central Railway (GCR) named the first Improved Director "Butler-Henderson" in 1919 and that was to honour one Eric of that name who was a Director (Improved or not) of the GCR and son of Alexander Henderson, 1st Baron Faringdon who was Chairman of GCR. Eric had changed his surname to Butler-Henderson shortly after his marriage in 1910.

[Geoff E]

1st Baron Faringdon

That explains the existence of two locomotives called "Lord Faringdon"

http://www.lner.info/locos/B/b3.shtml
http://tinyurl.com/65nyfjq

[Macca]

Vicky and Charlie are indeed descendants of the chap after whom the loco in the NRM is named - when it was put in running order and lent/hired to the preserve Great Central steam railway in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was a photo of the two of them with the loco in a railway magazine.

Paul M

[johnwilliamdavies]

A number of the London to Brighton cars were displayed on Regent Street this Afternoon.



De Dion Bouton



Barre



Oldsmobile



along with some Jaguar E Types



Mini Coopers



and electric cars, including Gordon Murray's T27



and the Bluebird Electric 97/1.

[RTH]

Well, they have got a perfect day for it , bright sunny not too cold, a little breezy but a nice November Sunday.......

[southcoast]

a few from the finish line..

[Tuboscocca]

Doug, Nige and others

http://blog.mercedes...nen-aus-london/

Official MB photos...


Regards Michael

[RTH]

Sure those chaps from Stuttgart will not mind if we put up a translated version.

whilst we await an eye witness account direct from the driving seat from our favourite motoring writer.

Brighton Veteran Car Run" 2011 - Impressions of Sunday »

"London to Brighton Veteran Car Run" 2011 - Impressions of London
by Mark Jordan | November 6, 2011

First impressions of London from "London to Brighton Veteran Car Run" in 2011, where Mercedes-Benz takes part in England with two vehicles as the main sponsor.



Symbolically, the event is by Jutta Benz, great granddaughter of the automobile inventor Karl Benz, was opened on a replica of the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886 and provides for Mercedes-Benz, which is a regular participant at the Veteran Car Run in Classic Calendar quite a highlight dar.

Mercedes-Benz Classic itself takes part in the run with two Mercedes Simplex cars, which by today's professional world as the first modern day cars be viewed - in addition to a low center of gravity, these vehicles also have a honeycomb radiator and an inclined steering column. Piloted vehicles are including quite prominently by former F1 world champion of 1992, Nigel Mansell and by Doug Nye, a well-known British motoring journalists - and by the chief editor of "ams" - the auto-motor-und-sport, Bernd Ostmann - both of which are also happy to participate in the annual Mille Miglia.

During the actual "London to Brighton Veteran Car Run" are exclusively licensed vehicles, which were built later than in 1904. The event celebrates the "Emancipation Run" of 14 November 1896. Organised by Harry J. Lawson then ride celebrates a new law that removes the restriction in the UK the maximum speed for vehicles with internal combustion engine of the walking speed of 6.4 km / h (4 mph) and to 22.4 km / h ( 16 miles per hour set up). In addition, the vehicle must not now go ahead to secure a man of other road users, as it the "Locomotive Act" from 1865, also called "Red Flag Act" referred to previously prescribed. The first event will start with the symbolic breaking of a red flag, because until the year 1878, the man going in front of the car in addition to these "Red Flag" warning for wear.

Further details on the event itself, we have here provided. The race itself starts at 6.11. in the morning - we deliver images to the Monday following morning.

Edited by RTH, 07 November 2011 - 11:44.

[BRG]

Some nice shots of Doug Nye, einen bekannten britischen Motorjournalisten on the Merc blog as well as our Nige with full (greying) beard looking rather different.

[AJB]

Funny how things develop. I'm off on the London-to-Brighton Run this weekend as part of the Mercedes Museum team, co-driving their 1904 Simplex...and one team-mate, driving their 1902 car, is Nigel Mansell. Now there's a surprise.

But if any TNFer sees us forlorn by the roadside, don't hesitate to say hello...and if you have a full set of Snap-Ons there, so much the better!

DCN

Doug,
You have mail.
Alan

[Alan Cox]

Sure those chaps from Stuttgart will not mind if we put up a translated version.

Not quite sure you would have passed your German 'O' level with that piece of translation, Richard ;)
Especially as it says "...During the actual "London to Brighton Veteran Car Run" are exclusively licensed vehicles, which were built later than in 1904..."

[fuzzi]

Good to see Doug is wearing his poppy.

[RTH]

Not quite sure you would have passed your German 'O' level with that piece of translation, Richard ;)
Especially as it says "...During the actual "London to Brighton Veteran Car Run" are exclusively licensed vehicles, which were built later than in 1904..."

I was forced to do German at school Alan for 5 years and did not get on with it and you are right I did not pass it at o level.
I merely clicked the translate button on this , because I rather liked the 'Ello ello' version put in English, left it as it was .

Edited by RTH, 09 November 2011 - 08:19.

[Tuboscocca]

No language problems here:

http://www.ukpix.com...2011/index.html

900+ pictures...

Regards Michael

[smarjoram]

Looks like a great event - I must go again some time. Here's a picture from the last time I went - 1972 I think - I'm the one in the red coat with the toy car...

[RTH]

Arrival anything like this I wonder ?

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related