Austins to Brighton Anniversary run
1st April 2012
2012 sees the 90th anniversary of the now legendary Austin 7, which was launched in 1922. It is not widely known, that this diminutive little car was the saviour of the Austin, as the firm was in imminent danger of folding. Faced with a limited market for the Motor Car made up mainly of the wealthy classes, it was a bold move by Herbert Austin to launch a small car for “the millions”, but it worked, and the rest as they say is history. So, back to 2012, and a number of celebrations will take place this year, including this one, “Austins to Brighton” organised by the London branch of the Austin 7 Owners Club. So, on a crisp cold morning, six 7’s and their respective owners and friends left Eastbourne and area headed for the Woodcote Green Garden Centre near Wallington in Surrey, where the owners had kindly agreed that we could use their extensive facilities as a starting point. So, it’s 5.30am and of course still dark as my Ruby emerges from its garage on sidelights only !, I don’t want to drain the 6v Battery, what time does it get light ?, please hurry up !!. After a few minutes Reg & Moira Brook arrive in their Box Saloon, so off we go to pick up with the others on route. Near Hailsham we join up with Ray Bazeley and friend, in Ray’s newly acquired Box Saloon plus Keith Unwin and friend in Keith’s Austin 7 Boat tail, then near Uckfield we are joined by Chris White plus friend and Gavin and Rose, both in their Box Saloons. Back on the road again, all is fine, then just south of Nutley, oh no !!, we are missing a car, so two of us turn back to find Ray stuck at the side of the road and right on a bend. No problem, just a blocked carburettor jet, which was soon sorted and we are on the move again.
Then apart from a brief break in a layby, we are on the road again and after taking a wrong turn in the Purley one way system, which saw us heading back towards home, we get back on track and arrive at the Garden Centre at 8.40, where we are advised that we are scheduled to leave again at nine o’clock, so a quick check in, just time to grab a much needed cup of coffee, and off we go again.
The Intrepid Senlac 6 !!
The run itself certainly took us through some splendid countryside, through Westerham, Edenbridge and Lingfield eventually arriving for our scheduled stop at Tulleys Farm near Crawley, for more coffee !!, and the chance to eat !!. So after a much needed break, the final leg south to Brighton. From conversations that I had later on, I believe that a lot of people took different routes as the early start began to take its toll, and the instructions started to become a hazy blur. But all six Senlac cars arrived safely and successfully and without mishap on Madeira Drive between 2 and 3pm. I believe somewhere in the region of 300+ Austins took part in the run, and what a wonderful sight they made lined up at Brighton, and not a Morris Minor in sight !!. All in all an excellent day, superbly organised. Roll on 2022, when we all celebrate 100 years of the Austin 7.
Below are a few examples of the beautiful cars on show on Madiera Drive.
2 Senlac cars
Woody Austin dwarfs a 7 box Saloon
Rapid response Unit ?
What a beauty
Austintatious