Hopping in the car for a drive to the coast may not seem much of a challenge – but the trip is not so straightforward when your motor is over a century old.
And motoring enthusiast Rosie Battye will take on the challenge on Sunday when she takes part famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
First held 116 years ago, it is the world’s oldest motoring event and Rosie, of Batley, is one of very few women to have entered this year’s event as a driver.
Rosie is a regular competitor and has only failed to finish once in the 30 times she has taken part.
Her vehicle is a 1902 Panhard et Levassor Tonneau, which has five seats, a powerful – for the time – 20 horsepower four-cylinder engine and is the only one of its kind still in existence.
It was bought by her late father, Stephen, 15 years ago and can average about 30mph.
She said: “He was a car enthusiast as well but wouldn’t let me do the run when I was young. The first time I took part was in a borrowed car.
“We spent about six hours polishing so that it looks its best. Driving such an old car is very much a mental challenge. It is very much about anticipation at things like traffic lights because it takes so long to stop and get started but that’s why I think it is so much fun.
“We are though open to the elements so we will be hoping for a dry day. When it rains you always get even when you are wearing waterproofs.
“We will be one of the faster cars in the run and should be one of the first cars in Brighton, although it’s not a race. We could arrive about 10.30am, depending on how many coffee stops we have.
“We have towed it down to London in the past but this time it is going on a transporter with some cars from Yorkshire that are taking part.”
Rosie will be joined on the journey to Brighton by her brother, Joseph, and aunt and uncle making their way from Hyde Park to Madeira Drive.
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