ISLANDER Tim Scott led the Jersey charge at this year’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which was held on Sunday.

He and his wife Pat crossed the line in second place in their 1903 Mercedes two-seat racing car that he drove in the Peking to Paris rally. Their success was followed by five other Jersey cars which all finished in glorious autumn sunshine.

The run began in Hyde Park, with the first car being flagged off in the presence of HRH the Duke of Kent at sunrise. In all, 483 pre-1905 veteran cars started the run, with 420 reaching Brighton. The last car got to the finish line at 4 pm.

Islander John Boothman was in his 1902 Napier. ‘It went very well,’ he said. ‘The International Concours in Regent Street on Saturday was very wet, which was a shame, but there were some can-can dancers from the Moulin Rouge because the event had a French theme this year.

‘Sunday was a totally different day and it brightened up more and more as the day went on. There was no rain, despite the forecast.’

This year, John had a couple of very distinguished guests riding with him for the journey to Madeira Drive on Brighton’s seafront. One was a family friend and the former Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Stuttard, and the other was the former Tory chief whip in the House of Lords, Lord Cope.

‘We all have a mutual interest in old cars,’ explained John. ‘I met Lord Cope at an old car event and we became friendly.’

The fourth member of the party was Islander Michael Pinchard. ‘The Napier went very well,’ said John. ‘Every member of the crew had a try at the wheel and they all did well. There were no untoward incidents. It went very smoothly.’

The Scott family were again out in force this year. Tim and Pat were joined by their elder son, Andy (26), and daughter Sam (28), and friends were also in a 1903 Mercedes, while the youngest of the clan, Chris, was at the controls on the family’s 1898 Leon Bollee. This year, Chris managed to steer her all the way to the finish line, having a rather more successful day than he did last year, when he didn’t manage to get far from the start before suffering serious mechanical trouble.

Pat said: ‘After two years of fantastic weather, we were all expecting rain and feared that the traffic would be a problem, but the weather was great and the traffic wasn’t too bad. Everyone had a great time.’

Barry Clayden also completed the run in his 1904 curved-dash Olds-mobile. He was with local friends Paul and Sarah Rayson. ‘It was perfect,’ said Barry. ‘The weather was good on Sunday, but Saturday was very much like the weather that hit Jersey. We were all wondering what it would be like for the run, but it was fantastic.’

The other Islanders who took their cars across were Geoffrey Grime, who drove his 1902 Gladiator rear-entrance Tonneau, and Ian Strang, who was in his 1903 Maxim rear-entrance Tonneau.
Geoffrey was joined this year by Islanders Simon and Angie Slaffer and friends from England.

He said: ‘We got down to Hyde Park at about 6.45 am on Sunday, just before first light. It was dull and grey, but 90 minutes later the sun had come out — and by the time we got to Brighton it was brilliant. We had a really super day.’

• Picture: John Boothman crosses Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament soon after the start of the 2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.  Picture: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire