08.11.2005
All Opel veteran cars reach finishing line at London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

The traditional London to Brighton Veteran Car Run took place last weekend. All three Opel veteran cars that started to the race in London crossed the finishing line in Brighton after several hours of driving on a rainy day.

“This run shows us once more what incredible progress has taken place in the automotive technology over the last 100 years. It was such a pleasure to see how enthusiastic the crowd welcomed our cars.” said Carl-Peter Forster, President GM Europe.

Carl-Peter Forster drove a 1902 one-cylinder Opel Darracq with 9 horsepower. The other Opel models participating in the run were two “System Lutzmann” cars, built in 1899 and 1900, respectively.

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run has its roots back in 1896. In 1896, England passed a law raising the speed limit from 4 to 14 mph and abolished the requirement for automobiles to be preceded by a man on foot carrying a red flag. Since then, around 500 owners of classic cars built before 1905, gather every year to celebrate the liberation from supervised driving.