By RAY MASSEY
The Government's war on the motorist was at its height: drivers' fury with hidden speed traps – policemen hiding in bushes with stopwatches – and unrealistically slow speed limits were stoking up a rebellious spirit.
Sound familiar? Well, this particular revolution came about on November 14, 1896, when Queen Victoria was still on the throne and the last vestiges of draconian laws requiring a man with a red flag to walk in front of new-fangled self-propelled vehicles were swept away, and the speed limit raised from a brisk walking pace of 4mph to 14mph.
To celebrate this liberation, pioneering motorists took part with their cutting-edge vehicles in what became known as the Emancipation Run – a 60-mile drive from London to Brighton.
That historic event is celebrated tomorrow in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, organised by the Royal Automobile Club and sponsored by auctioneers RM Sotheby's.
It is the highlight of a weekend of automotive fun that begins today with the free St James's Motoring Spectacle in Pall Mall, London, which includes a special display for the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship.
This year's event also celebrates the 125th anniversary of the 1,000 Mile Trial, which was organised in 1900 by the Royal Automobile Club and proved decisively that motorcars were here to stay.
And they're off! The annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run crossing Westminster Bridge
Starting in London, the trial's route covered Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds and Nottingham – including speed tests and hill climbs – before returning to the capital. For many spectators it was their first encounter with the motorcar.
The club's secretary Claude Johnson was a good friend of Alfred Harmsworth, later Viscount Northcliffe, who on May 4, 1896, had founded the Daily Mail which, like its owner, became a staunch supporter of the liberating motorcar.
Royal Automobile Club vice president Ben Cussons said Harmsworth helped 'remove feelings of distrust and dislike' for cars noting: 'The Daily Mail ran a series of articles extolling motors as 'vehicles of the future'.
'He not only guaranteed the 1,000 Mile Trial financially, but also offered some £450 in prizes.'
He added: 'Of any event at the turn of the last century, the Trial was probably the most important in promoting the motorcar as a practical form of transport.'
Sky News presenter Anna Botting picked up a special award for services to journalism and charity at the recent London Press Club Awards at the historic Stationers’ Hall in London.
She also tried out a £48,000 Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore motorbike on static display outside the venue, courtesy of awards’ sponsor Vertu Motors.
In the fast lane: Anna Botting pictured with Ducati UK managing director Fabrizio Cazzoli
Vertu’s chief executive Robert Forrester warned about the Government’s ‘crazy’ motoring tax plans and ‘tax-raising gimmicks’, including a Blue Badge tax on Motability vehicles.
He said: ‘Instead of tackling the real problem of who qualifies for the subsidised cars for disabled people, we are hearing about an extraordinary policy to levy VAT on the vehicles – a Blue Badge tax which could increase what the car costs by an average of £6,500.’
Mail journalists scooped three major awards.
