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EVENT REPORT<br />
THE LONDON TO<br />
BRIGHTON MINI RUN <strong>2018</strong><br />
The convoy of 2,100 <strong>Mini</strong>s taking<br />
part in the London to Brighton Run<br />
was once again a sight to behold.<br />
Words and Photography Neil Burgess<br />
Acornerstone of the<br />
<strong>Mini</strong> event calendar,<br />
the London to<br />
Brighton Run sees<br />
<strong>Mini</strong>s of all shapes and sizes<br />
leave Crystal Palace in South<br />
London and wind down the A23<br />
to regroup at Madeira Drive in<br />
Brighton. From a land speed<br />
record sofa, driven by TV’s Edd<br />
China, to sparkling MkIs.<br />
The London and Surrey<br />
<strong>Mini</strong> Owners Club puts a huge<br />
amount of effort into this event<br />
and making sure participants<br />
have a great time at both the<br />
start and end locations.<br />
In Brighton, arrivals were<br />
greeted with a wide range of<br />
trade stands which came in<br />
handy for those who needed<br />
replacement parts for their<br />
return journey. The Italian Job<br />
charity had a good display,<br />
including organiser Freddie St<br />
George’s white Innocenti.<br />
The show ’n’ shine always<br />
attracts a good turnout in<br />
Brighton, however this year the<br />
overall car of the show spotted<br />
from the main run. Kevin<br />
Webb is the proud owner of a<br />
1966 Morris, restored in tribute<br />
to his dad’s 1960s example.<br />
It was good to see a sizeable<br />
international contingent given<br />
that the IMM was happening<br />
on the same weekend. As<br />
always there was a contingent<br />
from France, but I think the<br />
furthest travelled must have<br />
been Darek Bednarz who drove<br />
his Rover Cooper from Poland!<br />
The story which captured<br />
the spirit of <strong>Mini</strong> ownership<br />
was that of Tom Petts, whose<br />
car was almost written off<br />
following a run-in with a<br />
slippery drain cover. He was<br />
ready to give up his ticket, but<br />
the <strong>Mini</strong> community pulled<br />
together and the front end was<br />
rebuilt in time for the run. Tom<br />
made it to Crystal Palace and to<br />
Brighton. Taking pride of place<br />
on the London and Surrey<br />
<strong>Mini</strong> Owners Club stand, the<br />
car was soon covered in notes<br />
of congratulations. That’s what<br />
owning a <strong>Mini</strong> is all about!<br />
Parked up on<br />
Madeira Drive.<br />
All shapes and sizes<br />
were welcome.<br />
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