London to Brighton Emancipation Run
The first practical steam vehicle was demonstrated in 1801 by Richard Trevithick and by 1834 Walter Hancock was carrying passengers within London at speeds of 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 km/h) in steam coaches.
Walter Hancock's steam carriage "The Infant" first ran on the turnpike road to Brighton on the 31st October 1832. They arrived from Stratford via the City at Blackfriars Road ready to start the trial at just after six o'clock. Supplies of quality coke were to cause the main problems on the journey, in fact they had to stop overnight at Hazledean due to lack of coke. A friend was dispatched the 15 miles (24 km) to Brighton by horse coach to arrange for further coke supplies. The return journey was again interrupted at Hazledean, A problem with a cast-iron flange 22 miles (35 km) outside London meant "The Infant" had to be left in a yard for repair. See The First London to Brighton Run for more information.
At this time most of the main roads in the country were owned by Turnpike Trusts and they charged excessive tolls and by 1840 there were no longer any steam coaches on the roads.
The self-propelled steam traction engine followed, which was a development of the horse-drawn steam engine. Most of these were intended for agricultural use and never traveled far on the public highway.
The Locomotive Act of 1861 reduced the tolls but restricted the speed to 10 mph (16 km/h) or 5 mph (8 km/h) in towns. It also required a crew of two, but as most such engines operated with a steersman at the front and a driver on the rear footplate this was not a problem.
The Red Flag Act (so called) of 1865 introduced the third man that was to be the cause of future problems. Section 3 of the Act required "at least three persons shall be employed to drive or conduct such a locomotive . . . . . one of such persons . . . . . shall precede such locomotives on foot by not less than sixty yards and shall carry a red flag constantly displayed and shall warn drivers and riders of horses of such locomotives." The Act also reduced the speed limit to 4 mph (6 km/h) or 2 mph (3 km/h) in towns. There was no distinction made between heavy or light locomotives and therefore severely constricted the car (light locomotive) in the United Kingdom.
A Parliamentary Select Committee set up in 1873 to look at the Acts found that they were not working well. On busy roads a man walking 60 yards (55 metres) ahead could be "lost" in the traffic. Some said that the waving red flag distracted horses.
The Highways And Locomotive Amendment Act of 1878 still required three men, one of which had to precede the vehicle by 20 yards (18 metres). No mention was made of a red flag but a £10 (UK Pounds) licence had to be purchased for each County passed through and some Counties restricted the hours during which a locomotive could travel.
In the years that followed there were many court cases brought against motorists for not having a person preceding on foot, but with no mention of red flags as this was not a requirement of the law.
In 1895 the Locomotives On The Highway Act was put before Parliament only to fail when the government fell. The Act was reintroduced the following year and did away for need of three persons and the requirement for a man to walk in front of the vehicle. The speed limit was set at 14 mph (22 km/h), although most Local Government Boards had the authority to reduce it to 12 mph (19 km/h). Self-propelled vehicles weighing under 2 tons no longer needed to have a licence.
The Emancipation Run of Saturday 14th November 1896, when over thirty motorists drove to Brighton, celebrates this Act although the "Red Flag" myth still lives on. Many cars did not travel the whole route and the electric cars traveled most of the way by train. On the Sunday an informal parade took place on Brighton front.
The Motor Car Club held re-enactments each year until 1902 but did not go to Brighton, but chose places where a return journey could be undertaken in one day. A big event for the tenth anniversary in 1906 was planned but became a luncheon only.
The Daily Sketch and The Sunday Graphic sponsored re-enactments of the first run in 1927 to 1929, assisted by The Autocar in 1928. From 1930 to the present day the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has been responsible for the organisation of the event. In the early years cars had to be 25 years old to enter until the RAC set the eligibility for cars built up to the 31st December 1904. It was not until 1934 that the Veteran Car Club issued certificates of eligibility.
Although described by the press of the times as a "race" or "The Old Crocks Race" this was never the intention. In 1929 prize money was offered and by 1930 the RAC was issuing certificates of finishing. In 1931 a modern car led the event at 30 mph (48 km/h) to prevent any attempts at racing.
The Emancipation Run now takes place on the first Sunday in November each year.
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