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31 Mar 2020

An Interesting Read: The Secrets of Success on the Run

For most, a successful Run from London to Brighton means crossing the finish line on Madeira Drive in Brighton before it closes; it’s the ultimate goal. While there will inevitably be events outside of the control of those taking part each year that rule out the possibility of an arrival in Brighton prior to 16:30 (when the finish line closes), there are a number of ways in which the probability of this can be increased.

Nigel Parrott is a specialist mechanic (any car older than 1926 and he’s interested) who has worked on hundreds of veteran cars taking part in the Run over the years, and who’s spent over half his life actively involved in helping ensure the safe passage of these cars to Brighton. He’s got a pretty high success rate of getting his vehicles across the finish line, too.

Part of the challenge for many is getting to the start line in the first place, but Nigel has some sound advice on getting a car to Hyde Park for the start: “The cars taking part on the Run were the first cars created so they weren’t perfect. This means that they need a lot of TLC… and they can’t just be driven once a year, they need to be used, maintained and serviced.

“Every veteran car is very different so if the car is unfamiliar to its driver, plenty of practice is imperative before the day of the Run and, in particular, taking the car out in traffic. Sitting in traffic in a veteran car will quickly highlight any problems before the day of the event.”

Unsurprisingly, preparation – of not only the car but also the driver – is key. Nigel is a firm advocate of common sense and practical advice. Based on one of his good friend’s advice, he suggests: “Keep a checklist of all the spare parts and tools required to fix the car, as well as a starting procedure checklist – for example, turn on the fuels, retard the ignition, flood the carburettor, turn the engine over twice with the engine off, and then one final pull with the engine on. “It sounds obvious, but there are always lots of issues at Hyde Park when panic sets in and the basic tasks needed to start these cars are forgotten. Having a checklist helps to ensure all the necessary tasks are completed to make the car start.”


Over the years, Nigel has seen a subtle shift in veteran car ownership that makes his sound advice all the more per tinent: “Previously, cars have been handed down through the generations with the owners knowing every nut, bolt and screw on the car. While that still happens, there are increasingly many new owners, often from overseas, acquiring veteran cars with a desire to take par t in the Run but without the experience of the car that has a massive impact on their success on, and enjoyment of, the Run. Familiarisation is critical.”

Nigel doesn’t specialise in any particular marque but has a good, solid overview of all veteran cars and their idiosyncrasies. Around 20 percent of the cars in this year’s Run will have been worked on by him at some stage. Each year in Hyde Park for the start, he can be found loitering at the back of all the veteran cars and bringing up the rear; he’s a reassuring sight to his clients. They know that, once their car is over the start line, he will do his level best to get them to the finish line. 

Other advice from Nigel? “Never give up!” The late Sir Freddie Sowrey was one of his good friends. Freddie tenaciously drove his Darracq on the Run each year and would never give up.

“One year, Freddie’s car stopped with a broken propshaft,” recalls Nigel. “It should have ended the Run for him that year but another Darracq had broken down near him with engine failure, so Freddie swapped the propshaft from the car with engine failure to his, then towed the other car all the way to Brighton. He was in his 80s at the time!”

Another beautiful example of the pioneering spirit for which the Run is so celebrated. And has Nigel ever experienced an irrecoverable breakdown of his own? He’d rather not say…
 

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