Children coming along to the St James's International Concours on Saturday 4 November can occupy themselves with a special activity booklet themed around the veteran cars on display. The booklet was the brainchild of two youngsters who are already seasoned participants in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run - 10-year-old Maggie Brooks and her eight-year-old brother William. We asked them how it came about. 

The activity booklet is a great idea, and one we’re sure many children will really enjoy at the Concours. How did you think of it?

Well, at the start of the year, we thought about the Concours and we thought we could make an activity sheet so that children (and some grownups) could learn more about the cars. Whenever we go to museums, we always love doing the activity sheets that are handed out so we thought why not do one for the London to Brighton?  

Once you had the idea, how did you go about telling the Royal Automobile Club about it? We hear you came to the Club and made a presentation?

We asked to meet with the Club because we had a good idea for the Concours that we wanted to tell them about. We went to the Club a few weeks later and made a presentation about our idea. 

And did you design the layout as well?

We did, and we came up with quite a few layouts as options, and the Club helped us narrow the options down.  

What has it been like working with the Club over this?

We were so happy that they liked our idea, and they were so encouraging and helpful. The best bit was meeting at the clubhouse, especially the hot chocolate! 

There’s a terrific range of activities in the booklet - tell us how you decided what it should include.

We went to loads of museums and got loads of booklets from there and we looked at them for ideas and that's how our booklet came together.

Are you looking forward to seeing children at the Concours with the activity booklet?

Yes, absolutely! We have heard some of our friends are coming along too. 

Generations of your family have taken part in the Veteran Car Run many times. How often have you yourselves done it?

Maggie : this is my 4th time (twice on an Oldsmobile, twice on a Peugeot)

William: this is my 3rd time (once on an Oldsmobile, twice on a Peugeot)

What do you most like about veteran cars?

Being able to see all the parts of the cars, and learning what they do. And it's fun waving to people as we go past.  

Do you have a favourite veteran car?

We both love all the cars and our favourite is an Oldsmobile because it was the first car we did the London to Brighton Run on.

Do you hope to drive a car on the Run yourself one day?

We would both love to drive one of the cars one day on the car run and both think we would like to drive an Oldsmobile first.

Our thanks to Maggie and William for their terrific idea and hard work! Children visiting the St James's International Concours can pick up their copy of the activity booklet on the day, just ask one of the organisers in a high vis jacket. There will be pencils available too!