VETERANS BRAVE THE ELEMENTS

The red flags were torn up once again for the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run at the end of the Royal Automobile Club's Motoring Week, 31 October 6 November.

As always, it was a busy week for the RAC leading up to Sunday's famous Emancipation Run revival, beginning with its Art of Motoring Exhibition.

Now in its ninth year, the weeklong showcase was held at a new venue, the RM Sotheby's Conduit Gallery in Westminster, affording more space than previous years at the RAC's Pall Mall clubhouse.

On Tuesday the Dewar Trophy Technical Committee presented its award to Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains, a specialist factory in Northampton, for its remarkable production of the F1-engined, roadgoing Mercedes-AMG One hypercar. Meanwhile, the Simms Medal, recognising outstanding motoring innovations by individuals and small businesses, was awarded to McMurtry Automotive.

Thursday's series of motoring lectures turned from low-carbon fuels and advanced oils to a talk on veteran cars in the afternoon, including a history of Rolls-Royce and the Alpine Trials with marque specialist James Black. Into the weekend, the RM Sotheby's London Auction kicked off on Friday (p166), and the St James's International Concours, judging 75 veterans, was held on Saturday ahead of the main event.