HALF-CENTURY
For many participants , this year ’ s Run is by no means their first , nor their tenth , nor even their thirtieth . James Page meets the hardy few who have received a VCR Gold Medal , for having participated in the Run more than 50 times .
Team Bo ’ are one of few that can say they ’ ve been taking part on the Run for over 50 years .
The Veteran Car Run is an event that inspires people to return year after year , and those who reach the milestone of participating in 50 of them are presented with a Gold Medal to honour their achievement . It ’ s a very select group , and in one particular case , the award has been presented not to an individual but to an organisation . In 1934 , Imperial College London bought a 1902 James & Browne and has been using it on the Run ever since , although records show that it hasn ’ t always been plain sailing . In 1949 , for example , it was ‘ disqualified for speeding ’!
Nickname Boanerges – or Bo ’ – the car is maintained by the City and Guilds College Motor Club and there ’ s always a good turnout of alumni to support the crew , which this year will be led by Dana Gadd . After finishing a rebuild at 3am on the day of last year ’ s Run only to retire at Clapham , they will be keen to reach Brighton in 2023 and claim yet another Finishers ’ Medal . To read more about Team Bo ’, see page 30 .
In addition to Imperial College , there are just four people who have so far been awarded Gold Medals : Neil Lucas , John Kensley , John Dennis and John Newens . Neil earned his on a 1903 Tony Huber that his father bought , his first outing being in 1968 as a passenger . A family friend did the driving on that occasion , but Lucas took over as soon as he was old enough and the car has only once failed to reach Brighton .
He modestly admits that his finishing record is “ probably more by luck than anything else ” and reflects that there have been times when the car has “ packed in ” pretty much as they crossed the finish line .
John Kemsley did his first Run as a driver in 1967 and his outings have been shared between two Renaults , a 1901 model having been replaced with a 1902 four-seater rear-entrance tonneau . He can recall the occasion on which the traffic in Brighton was so bad that Finishers ’ Medals were awarded to those who reached the Patcham Pylon on the outskirts of the city rather than Madeira Drive .
As for the other Johns , Dennis and Newens , they ’ ve now topped 60 Runs . John Dennis did his first as a driver in 1959 , when he was still at school – he had to get the headmaster ’ s permission to be away for the weekend . His singlecylinder car was built in 1902 by the eponymous
John Kemsley in his 1902 Renault on the 2017 Run .
24 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run