It started with a text from Steve Cropley: "How are you placed for Brighton Run Nov6? Interesting piece of Autocar history." I was free, and I was in - although not yet had I realised exactly what co-pilot Will Rimell, who Steve had already recruited to sit next to me, and I had let ourselves in for...
MT Being involved in the legendary run, an event that Autocar reported on from its very beginning in 1896 and which was set up following the legislative removal of the infamous 'red flag man', was something of an unfulfilled dream. Will and I would be in one of 330-ish pre-1905 cars to set off from Hyde Park. But first, we needed to find out what we would be driving. Steve had got us in with a 1904 Rover 8 Horsepower, the world's oldest Rover and one belonging to the British Motor Museum, where Steve is a trustee.
We needed driving lessons in it ahead of the run, because it's a whole world away from the modern machines we road test today.
WR Jumping aboard the Rover for the first time, I saw what looked like a conventional three-pedal set-up, only to be told about its unconventional arrangement: brake on the right, clutch in the middle and the decompressor on the left. A steering wheel mounted twistable throttle control next caught my eye, followed by the raw three-speed 'box, which needed a good yanking to get into gear. This was paired to a single-cylinder 1.3-litre engine giving a top speed of 24mph, depending on the gradient.
Incredibly, though, after just 10 minutes at the wheel, it was almost intuitive to use.
MT Yes, that's what my main takeaway was, too: it was much more straightforward to drive than it first appeared.
WR After looking at the weather for the day itself, waterproofs were packed and I met Tish in London near Earl's Court, from where we drove to Hyde Park.
Bu hikaye Autocar UK dergisinin December 07 - 14, 2022 (Double Issue) sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Autocar UK dergisinin December 07 - 14, 2022 (Double Issue) sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
When the Huracán bowed out, the curtain fell forever on Lambo's V10
HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH
Manufacturers are honing every detail to close in on big efficiency goal
MASERATI MC20
We bid a sad farewell to a handsome supercar that was easy to live with
The quickening
Instant acceleration is part of the appeal of an EV, but is it all getting a bit much for unwary and inexperienced drivers? JOHN EVANS investigates
Inside track
Watching an F1 race with live access to engineers and telemetry is the stuff of dreams for racing fans. ALEX WOLSTENHOLME makes a day of it
WHOLE IN ONE
The Volkswagen Golf has been all things to all motorists for half a century. At the wheel of a classic Mk1, VICKY PARROTT charts the eight-generation history of one of the world's most successful cars
DACIA DUSTER
Mk3 model gains digital tech, ADAS, slicker looks... Is this mission creep?
MAZDA CX-80 PHEV
Another look at Mazda's hefty SUV, this time in plug-in hybrid form
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC
Newcomer looks to ease the average family SUV driver into EV motoring
BMW X3 20 XDRIVE
Fourth generation of brand's best-seller arrives with base petrol engine