The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time
There were 9 vehicles in my class today, 5 Caterhams, an Ariel Atom, an MK Sports Car, a Roadcraft Cobra and a dual-drive Westfield.
Tyre warming was allowed, but only for one burnout.
1st in Class was Carole Torkington in her SBD Westfield SE-1-W with a final time of 11.52s.
I was 4th in Class 5 - Road-Going Series/Specialist Production Cars, the 3rd fastest Caterham and 38th out of 136 competitors overall.
The fastest run of the day after the Top 10 Run-Off was an Audi R8 V10+ (1200 bhp) driven by Alex
Collins with 1.68s (0-64ft), 164.4mph terminal speed across the line and a final time of 8.99s
breaking his own previous course record from last year.
Lots of spectators view from Marine Parade above Madeira Drive
Chris with our friends Bob & Steve
Chris with our neighbours David & Olivia
H&S rules require a fireman alongside when refuelling
Nissan Skyline R33 GTR
'Insane' badge on the Nissan Skyline
Roadcraft Cobra
Ariel Atom 4
Triumph TR7-V8
When all else fails...
Fiat 500 Special Saloon
Legend Ford Coupe 1934
Ford GT40 1966
Madeira Drive as it was in 1938, with two cars racing alongside each other over, what was then, a 1/2 mile distance
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time. * = timing failure
I was really pleased with with 13.05s as this beat my record of 13.20s going back to 2012. The second timed run
was shaping up to be better after a fantastic 2.12s start but a missed gearchange (2nd to 3rd) ruined the chance
of a sub 13s run!
There were 15 vehicles in my class today, 8 Caterhams, an MK Indy, a Davrian Mk7, a Roadcraft Cobra,
two Fisher Furys, an Alpha Romeo V6 and a Marcos Mantis.
Tyre warming was allowed, but only for one burnout.
1st in Class was Graham Hill (!) in his Caterham 620R with a final time of 11.49s.
I was 6th out of the 15 competitors in my class and 40th out of 130 entrants overall.
The fastest run of the day after the Top 10 Run-Off was an Audi R8 V10+ (1200 bhp) driven by Alex
Collins with 1.68s (0-64ft), 164.4mph terminal speed across the line and a final time of 8.99s
breaking his own previous course record from last year.
Bob Appleby's beautiful Lotus 7 Series 1
Jaguar E-Type
Ferrari California
Ford Mustang
Stinson Special
BMW 327/28
Caterhams ready to go, led by Simon Ockenden in his 420R
Where all the power comes from in the winning Audi R8!
Brighton Pier
A more tranquil scene on the other side of the beach wall
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
There were 7 vehicles in my class today including an Ariel Atom 4, Caterham 7 Roadsport,
Ford Escort RS2000, Alpha Romeo V6, Suffolk Jaguar C Type and a Turner Mk1.
Tyre warming was allowed, but only for one burnout.
1st in Class was Chris Lees in his Ariel Atom 4 with a final time of 12.03s.
I was 2nd out of the 7 competitors in my class and 41st out of 110 entrants overall.
The fastest run of the day was an Audi R8 V10+ (1200 bhp) with 1.98s (0-64ft), 158.6mph terminal speed
across the line and a final time of 9.68s.
Porsche 9115 driven by a friend of ours, Bob Appleby,
whose family have owned it since 1967
'2nd in Class' trophy won by Chris
September 2018
Brighton and Hove Motor Club
Times
P1 - 2.39s - 105.0mph - 13.55s - Dry & warm conditions
T1 - 2.35s - 106.5mph - 13.34s - Best run of the day
T2 - 2.35s - 106.0mph - 13.60s - Still can't beat PB of 13.20s set in 2012!
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
There were 17 vehicles in my class today, including 7 Caterhams, a Lotus 7, 2 Westfields, Sylva Phoenix, Roadcraft
Cobra, Replica AC Cobra, Tiger Racing Avon, TVR Tuscan V8, Maserati Monza Special and a Koenigsegg. Tyre warming was
allowed, but only enough room for one burnout (shorter than previous years).
1st in Class was Dave Edmands in his Sylva Phoenix with 2.20s off the line, 147.1mph and a final time of 10.93s.
I was 9th out of the 17 in my class and 31st out of 83 entrants overall.
The overall results of the Top Six Run Off were:
Cars: Brent Crooks - SMD Garage Bomber R32 SkylineGTR (1100 bhp) - 1.86s - 143.3mph - 10.20s
(The fastest speed over the line was a TVR Tuscan V8 at 153.2mph.
Bob Appleby's Lotus 7 dwarfed by a 1930 Rolls Royce Handlye Special
The 1930 Roll Royce Handlye Special in all its glory
A 1971 Triumph Morados SC
An ex-RSM is one of the marshals and he can't half shout!
September 2017
Brighton and Hove Motor Club
Times
P1 - 2.45s - 98.5mph - 14.05s - Going from 2nd to 5th definitely wasn't going to help!
T1 - 2.40s - 104.5mph - 13.62s - Best run of the day
T2 - 2.39s - 104.0mph - 13.63s - Consistent at least!
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
There were 16 vehicles in my class today, including 7 Caterhams, a Lotus 7, Lotus 2 Eleven, 2 Westfields, Sylva Phoenix, Roadcraft
Cobra, Marcos Mantis, MG SV and a Porsche 964 RS Clubsport. Conditions were dry, sunny and warm, so we all had a great time.
1st in Class was Derek Hodder in his Westfield Type R-SC with 2.08s off the line, 135.5mph and a final time of 10.88s.
In this year's programme there was an article on 'The Birth of the Lotus Seven' and the entry of Edward Lewis into the 1957 Brighton
Speed Trial in his "Lotus of 1100cc".
You can read the full article here.
When we arrived at 6.45am it was misty out to sea...
...but it soon turned into a lovely sunny day
A wonderful 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom 2
together with a Napier Bentley
Robert Appleby's beautiful Lotus 7
7s lined up ready for the first run
A 1930 Rudge Sprinter
This was a 'Herbie' imposter, the real 53 was a Porsche 911!
If you zoom into the horizon...
...you can see the wind farm recently installed off Brighton
September 2016
Brighton and Hove Motor Club
Times
P1 - 2.32s - 106.2mph - 13.53s
T1 - 2.33s - 106.5mph - 13.34s - My first timed run gave me 2nd in Class today
T2 - 2.31s - 101.6mph - 13.41s
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
There were 16 vehicles in my class today, including 5 Caterhams. Conditions were dry and warm, so a good time was had by all. The winner was Neil Masters in
his Westfield Sei, which I understand was powered by a 280bhp Vauxhall engine and running on slicks. He managed 2.34s - 117.7mph - 11.92s to take 1st in class.
Times
P1 - 2.24s - 103mph - 13.65s - 1st run, cloudy & dry
T1 - 2.31s - 105mph - 13.46s - A nice little improvement
T2 - 2.28s - 104mph - 13.77s - Held onto 1st gear too long
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
This year the class was dominated by the 3 Caterhams from the L7C. Matthew Aves (231bhp VX) was 1st in class with 13.29s, I managed a 2nd in Class (190bhp Zetec) and
Andy Couchman (150bhp X/Flow on TBs) was 3rd in Class with 13.55s. A mere 0.26s separating 81bhp. I can only speculate what the result might have been had I set my rear
dampers to fully soft as opposed to fully hard!
September 2012
Brighton and Hove Motor Club
Times
P1 - 2.30s - 103mph - 13.28s - 1st run, Sunny, warm and dry
T1 - 2.23s - 103mph - 13.37s - Warmer, great start but hit the limiter in 3rd
T2 - 2.29s - 104mph - 13.20s - Very warm, new PB by 0.36s
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
This year the Road-Going Class and Modified Production Class were merged pitting me against much faster machinery.
The winning time was a really quick 11.03s by Matt Hillam in the SBD Westfield (2.12s - 125mph).
With the above in mind I was pleased to come 4th in Class, beaten by another SBD Westfied and a turbo-charged Lotus Elise.
Class 2 being Roadgoing & Modified Production Cars over 1401cc and upto 2000cc.
September 2011
Brighton and Hove Motor Club
Times
P1 - 2.31s - 100mph - 13.76s - 1st run, cloudy, warm and dry
T1 - 2.27s - 102mph - 13.56s - Warmer and a better start
T2 - 2.94s - 101mph - 14.81s - Slower all round due to heavy rain shower
The above information represents: 0-64ft time - terminal speed across the line - final time.
2nd - Andy Couchman 13.56s (Although Andy's time was identical to mine, as was his terminal speed of 102mph.
I just shaved it by being 6/100ths quicker on the 0-64ft time!)
I was really pleased to find that on my first attempt at the Brighton Speed Trials I actually came away with the
Class 2 FTD. Class 2 being Roadgoing & Modified Production Cars Over 1401cc and upto 2000cc.
The Presidents Trophy - Class 2 FTD
Commemorative print of 1st Speed Trial in 1905
Both photos above...
...courtesy of LazerBrain
Dave Edmands'...
...Black Brick
Fellow seveners Jason Rankin & Andy Couchman
Riley - ERA TT Sprite
Monaco 500cc
Orient Buckboard
Cooper Mk VI
MG Metro 6R4
GSM Delta
Mini Cooper S
Lotus 7 1012cc
Westfield Megablade
VW Golf
Honda CR 350cc
Bayley Cole Douglas 600cc
Vincent Comet 500cc
Suzuki GSXR
LCR Yamaha F1
On the start line (for the winning run)...
...and returning to the paddock (Courtesy of Paul Abrahams)
