Mason will race for glory in a 1901 Panhard et Levassor
The 2006 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (LBVCR) has attracted the largest entry for 10 years for the 110th Anniversary of the world’s longest running motoring event. On Sunday 5th November two of the entries will be driven by two well known names – Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and former Coronation Street actor Jonathan Wrather (Joe Carter). A third well known name is also on the entry sheet but it isn’t a person, it’s the four wheeled star of the 1953 film “Genevieve.”
Nick Mason, who is well known for his interest in classic cars, is entered to drive the Ten-Tenths Limited owned 1901 Panhard et Levassor Roi-des-Belges (Start No 117), and is due to leave Hyde Park on Sunday morning at 07:25am. The previous owner of the Panhard et Levassor was Bill Harrah, one of North America’s leading car collectors.
Jonathan Wrather has participated on the LBVCR many times in the past and this year will be driving a 1900 De Dion Bouton Double Phaeton (Start no 46) that was originally owned by Lord Ivor and believed to been used by King Edward VII.
The 1904 Darracq Two-seater (Start number 450) is probably the most famous car on the LBVCR following its starring role in the 1953 film ‘Genevieve’ carrying John Gregson and Dinah Sheridan from London to Brighton on the big screen. The Ealing Comedy, which also starred Kenneth More and Kay Kendall and directed by Henry Cornelius, was a big hit and the film is still associated with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run today. Genevieve has been owned since 1990 by The Louwman Collection in the Netherlands and will be driven by Quirina Louwman.
However, every one of the 492 participants on the 2006 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run are stars, with many getting into the spirit of the event by dressing in period costume and enjoying taking part in the world’s longest running motoring event.