South London & Surrey Land Rover Club

4th Annual
London to Brighton Land Rover Run

There are some events in the 4x4 calendar that have become "must attend" events. The London to Brighton Land Rover Run has become just that. This is just the fourth Run but already it's so well established and so well organised that you'd think it had been going for much, much longer.

I'm not sure Gary Gyles from the South London and Surrey Land Rover Club new what he was getting himself into when back in 1999 he raised the idea of organising an annual event for the club that would also involve a day out at the seaside, a good family event that the whole family could join in.

A Jeep Cherokee is quickly towed away before the 'Runners' arrive

That first 'Run' was attended by a handful of hardy Land Rover types in terrible weather conditions, this year it was attended by between 600 and 700 Land Rovers in glorious sunshine! Exact numbers are not available as there were too many to count! At the start - Crystal Palace in South London - there were Land Rovers of all types and variations as far as the eye could see and it took over an hour for them all to cross the start line.

As with many of these events they seem to be accompanied by a 'Fringe' event, the Brighton Run is no exception, the amount of Land Rovers Camping at Crystal Palace the night before is increasing every year and the Saturday night entertainment has become just as important as the main event. We don't have photos of this gathering in the interests of protecting people's embarassment from the enthusuastic, beer fuelled, activities they get up to. On Sunday there were more than a few people pearing through the early morning mist trying to remember what they were supposed to be doing on this chilly October day! All joking aside, the whole event is aimed at the family and everyone can join in.

A few local residents turn up to see what's going on

As kick-off arrived, Sunday, there were a couple of drivers wondering if it was such a good idea to take the roof off for the day, their passengers might be getting a better view but the air was rather bracing, to say the least. Luckily the sun quickly burnt through and it was fine for the rest of the day.

The first Land Rover crossed the finish line about 90 minutes later so there was almost an unbroken line of vehicles from start to finsh. It's a very straight forward route, avoiding most main roads but still people managed to get lost, a few others could be seen topping up various fluids and lubricants on garage forecourts along the way, that includes passengers and drivers too, not just the vehicles!

Land Rovers, Land Rovers and even More Land Rovers as far as you an see!

There wasn't a repeat of a very funny incident on the 2nd run where a Land Rover pulled over to check something under the bonnet and about 30 other vehicles pulled in behind him to offer assistance! I think without exception every vehicle made it to the finish line, and looking at some of those taking part that's a small miracle in itself!

On Madeira Drive there were more trade stalls than ever before, selling everything from used parts to complete vehicles. But there's much more to the day than just driving 60 miles to park up on the beach, the club organise many special events throughout the day including the very popular inter-club tug-a-Land Rover Challenge, which was won by the Series Two owners club this year. There's also a concourse event and displays of some rather special vehicles too. The Dunsfold Land Rover Trust always turn up with an Intriguing selection of vehicles, prototypes and one-off specials.

Many clubsa are represented, The Camel Trophy Club . . .

Throughout the day you can see people scurrying off to sample the many delights that Brighton has to offer, with only the true hardened Land Rover enthusiasts ignoring the noises of fun and frivolity taking place on the pier just as short distance away.

Luckily for the traffic in Brighton, Landrovers leave steadily over a period of a few hours rather than throwing an extra 700 vehicles onto the already congested roads.

The Series Two Club, The Series Three Club

The South London & Surry Land Rover Club put everything into organising this event with the numbers of participants increasing every year, they truly deserve medals all round for putting on such a fabulous days's entertainment that can be enjoyed by the whole family and that involves a nice drive without having to get stuck in the mud! the atmosphere is wonderful and the often bemused expressions from the local residents wondering why their sea front has suddenly become home to hundreds of Land Rovers just adds to the fun.

See you all again next year - Sunday 21st September 2003 - get your booking form in early, if the numbers keep increasing like they have done over the past couple of years, places will be limited in future - and don't even think of trying to sneak onto Madeira Drive without paying, Gary's stormtroopers will find you!

And probably the fasted growing club, The Freelander Owners club were also there