The world's longest running motoring event will take place this Saturday (September 2) at Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront.
With a range of cars - from road going and rally/hill climb cars to single seaters - spectators can get up close to the cars and their drivers in the paddock area on Madeira Drive and watch cars achieving speeds of up to 160mph over a ¼ mile course from a standing start.
This year there will also be a low fly past by a Lancaster Bomber on behalf of the Battle of Britain Memorial Fund at 13.27.
Madeira Drive will be closed to all traffic from Friday, September 1 until Sunday, September 3 and organisers warn of possible abnormal loads heading to Madeira Drive on Friday 1st of September with equipment to set up the circuit, together with multiple competitors, making their way with trailers.
About the Brighton Speed Trials
The event started in 1905 when local Brighton hotelier Sir Harry Preston persuaded the Town Corporation to lay a motor racing track in Brighton - it was the first of its kind to use Tarmac to surface a track and the event, titled Brighton Motor Week ran from July 19 - 22, 1905, organised in collaboration with The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland.
The first event ran westwards, from Black Rock to the aquarium - the opposite direction to which the event runs now - and attracted 400 entries.
During this first event three world records were broken, two by French motorcyclist Henri Cissac. Henri set a new record for the flying kilometre, with a time of 26 seconds, and a top speed of 86mph. He also lowered the standing mile time to 53.2 seconds. The other record was set by Harry Rignold who lowered the flying mile record from 64 seconds to 46.2 seconds.
This first event was entered by The Hon. Charles Rolls (later of Rolls Royce fame). He took part in an enormous four-cylinder 26.5-litre Dufauls.
Unfortunately, it started belching flames and smoke while making horrendous moaning noises terrorising the crowds as it did so! it is alleged that the car was still being built on the channel crossing on its way to Brighton.
The last day of the week was essentially a “Ladies Day” and the best performance by a driver was by Dorothy Levitt in an 80hp Napier.
This first event drew huge crowds to Brighton and also included several concerts throughout the city and a pre-race banquet.
The history of the event makes fascinating reading - more details https://bhmc.club/
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