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A soap star’s car broke down on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Simon Gregson, Coronation Street actor, participated in the annual event, involving a 60-mile journey from Hyde Park in London to Madeira Drive in Brighton, with TV presenter and car expert Paul Cowland. The pair set off from London on Sunday but were forced to stop when their car broke down.
In a video on Simon’s Instagram account, Paul said: “We have broken down. “The guy said as we left Hyde Park the car was very very smoky and it is normally very clean. “We did as far as we could go but we did not want to damage the car.
” The pair planned to hitch a ride with another driver to complete the run to Brighton, but Simon was unable to continue due to illness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Simon Gregson (@fat_dracula) On Saturday evening, he shared a video on Instagram in which he said: “I am full of man flu, I thought I could make it, I couldn’t. “I am tucked up in a very nice hotel where I am going to sleep.
“Massive thanks to the British Motor Museum for lending us the car. Hopefully go again next year. “What an amazing event.
” Over 350 cars took part in the annual event commemorating the famous Emancipation Run of November 1896, which celebrated the removal of “draconian restrictions” against motor vehicles, including a four mile per hour speed limit and the requirement for someone to walk ahead of a vehicle. READ MORE: Famous broadcaster among motorists taking part in historic car run The motoring enthusiasts set off at 7am from Hyde Park, driving through the Wellington Arch, down Constitution Hill, past Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch and Whitehall, into Parliament Square and over Westminster Bridge. Participants near the finish line on Brighton seafront (Image: Simon Dack) The group then split in half with one portion following the traditional A23 route via Kennington, Brixton and Streatham Common.
The other drove across Lambeth Bridge and then through Vauxhall, Clapham Common and Tooting. The two routes then merged on the A236 just north of Croydon, with the cars reunited as they headed towards the South Downs and finally to Brighton seafront. The first to arrive at Madeira Drive shortly before 10am was an 1899 Panhard et Levassor, owned by Shane Houilhan.
Motorists wave from a 1900 Daimler (Image: Simon Dack) Upon arrival, the driver said: “We had a great run down, the weather was very favourable. “It was a wonderful run down. We had a clear road ahead and we just kept going.
“Breakfast next.” The Mayor of Brighton and Hove , Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman, also welcomed the driver and his three passengers to the city. Alan Titchmarsh also participated in the run (Image: Simon Dack) Another famous face to participate in the run was gardener and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh.
This year the car run also celebrated 120 years since the formation of the Ladies’ Automobile Club. The 60-mile journey has been taking place every year since 1939, with the exception of disruption caused by the Second World War and the petrol rationing of 1947..
