DFLer's: Yesterday (Saturday, August 22, 1998) we again took in the
kickoff of the New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run, this one the
12th Annual. This event occurs in Minnesota and New London is a small
town about 100 miles away from where we live. To quote their motto:
"turn of the century cars traveling through 120 miles of beautiful
Minnesota countryside".
Their rules are: any 1908 or earlier car and/or any 1-2 cylinder car up
to 1915. This year there were 99 cars attempting to participate with
the oldest being 1903 - of which there were 4 examples: 2 curved-dash
Oldsmobiles, a Winton and a Knox.
Of course, what is being replicated is the British London to Brighton
Run that started in 1896 and the event has a decidedly British theme
with a bobby, a grenadier, a British toll gate and the mayor dressed in
British formal morning attire. Bagpipes are also a part of the
activities. If you are so fortunate at to finish the Run, you receive a
very nice brass medallion.
The kickoff is usually at 7:00 am, but this year it was pouring rain
and that kept up until about 8:00 am. A few cars got too wet to even
run.
Over the years there have been very few British cars involved in this
event and never a Morgan. Last year a woman from this area now living
in England brought over a 1911 Kelsey, which was a three-wheeled car.
It was chain-driven and looked much like a horseless carriage from the
previous decade. It was a brass car, however, but rather crude in
construction compared to almost any 1911-12 American car. It also did
not finish the run and it didn't come back this year.
In looking at the Morgan Registry, I see the oldest Morgan listed is a
1928. I think I can tell from my reference books that there were no
"brass" Morgans, but does anyone know of any really early Morgans
residing in this country? Certainly from the pictures a 1911 Morgan is
much more sophisticated looking than a 1911 Kelsey and I think it would
be fun to have someone "campaigning" such a car in these Runs.
There even is a "London to Brighton" Illinois Run that is held. I don't
know much more about that one, however.
I might add here that, in our local car club of which I am the
president, we have a 1909 Maytag and it has so participated about a
half-dozen times. It's owner's health is such that he wasn't able to go
again this year. The Maytag family, of course, gave up on cars and then
decided to get into wash machines. They did make a good car!
That's your history lesson for the day. I would be curious if anyone
out there knows of any really old Morgans in existence.
Thanks,
Arlo Levisen, Revillo, South Dakota '87 Plus 8
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