The 1978 Historic Commercial Vehicle Run from Battersea Park to
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Brighton is being sponsored by Fodens Ltd. Not surprisingly, therefore, there will be a record entry of steam wagons trundling through Surrey and Sussex over, or round, the South Downs to the coast on Sunday, May 7.
For sheer enthusiasm, dedication and' patience, the historic vehicle owners take a lot of beating. The early start to the rally is evidence enough of their enthusiasm—they will be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed long before dawn. Weather permitting, they will be polishing up their charges before setting off on a gruelling —for them — 53-mile run all the way to the salt-impregnated atmosphere of Prince Albert's watering place.
Once considered the juggernauts of their day, these oldies will be cheered and admired by thousands of spectators along the way. At Brighton their owners will be envied again by many thousands of spectators. Then will come the culmination of many months and, in some cases, years of hard work—the judging.
With luck there will be a number of transport operators in the rally and luck is an important ingredient. It would be imprudent to state who will start from Battersea and almost irresponsible to predict who will reach Brighton even 10 days before the event. We do know, however, that a number of operators plan to be at the start.
This is not to suggest that they will be entering a vehicle specified on their 0 licence for the run. They could very well be entering a vehicle which, in prewar days, was used by "Dad" to deliver flour, move furniture or take a company of day trippers to the coast or country for a picnic or pub crawl.
The charabanc owned in 1929 by Glenton Tours still does the odd run into the country for its new owner M. Saxton, and still has all its original parts. The No. 53 bus owned by B. Weatherhead, of Woburn Sands, is also in regular use after being recovered from a chicken run.
Commercials will be out in force too and, although the regular vans, platforms and hand-operated tippers will take a trick, the steamers are likely to steal the show. Fodens are trying to arrange for an NCB maximum capacity tipper to be around the route with 20 tons of Welsh steam coal to feed these first world war "puffers". Should they run out of steam, however, one of today's low loaders will not be far away to take them on board and help them on their way.
For months and, in many cases, years, the proud owners —they sometimes work as a group—have been ferreting around in scrap yards looking for original parts. Where the task has proved impossible, they have been making plates, bushes, and unions, often by hand from brass. Upholstery has been carefully matched and stitched, floor covering replaced with as near to original material as possible, and woodwork rubbed down, treated and varnished to give it a new lease of life. Owning a historic commer vehicle is not an inexpenE hobby initially, but the ent siast will say that it is N.. rewarding. If you enjoy envious or admiring glances others, this is certainly for y If you hanker for the limeli now and then there is no be way; if you have an unfulfi esire to give love and affection ) something, why not an old ehicle?
Vehicles will leave Battersea ark, London between 6.30 and a.m. on May 7 and follow the mite to Brighton via Clapham ommon, Streatham and the A23, but passing through Redhill and Crawley town centre where there will be a break.
Entries for the run are confined by rally regulations to 180, but there will be 40 noncompeting vehicles following the competitors and 20 special exhibits at Brighton. Brian Johnson, the rally organiser, received twice as many applications than he could accommodate. There must be something symptomatic about people of all ages hankering after things of the past. This year's rally is to be onsored by Fodens Ltd and oresentatives of the third, irth and fifth generation of the nily, some of them crewing ;tone vehicles, will be making air way from Battersea to ghton.
Lord Montagu will be at the leel of a 1913 solid tyred :on sugar delivery van and a le-year-old boy will be acting fireman on a 50-year-old amer.
Filmgoers who saw Ryan's rughter may well recognise 9 1915 Crossley bus. How 3ny will recognise a 1922 acker that spent over 30 years a summer house with a tiled of?
At the end of the journey dens Motor Works band will entertaining the thousands who are expected to watch the judging and the award presentation which takes place at 3.15 pm.
Historic commercial vehicle enthusiasts are never reticent about their interests and we have been supplied with the
names, addresses and telephone numbers of the entrants and their entries, with the invitation that "if any further information is required contact should be made direct with the owner who will be able to provide details of his vehicle and possibly even make them available for photography."
The photographs on this page, taken at earlier rallies, capture the atmosphere which, weather permitting, should prevail at Brighton next week.