Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason will compete in this year’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on 4 November.
The musician will use his 1901 5-litre Panhard, which he bought specifically for its ability to “tackle a steep hill even when loaded to the gunwales."
Mason owns a number of collector’s items including a Bugatti Type 35, a Maserati Birdcage, a Ferrari 250GTO and a McLaren F1 GTR.
He said: “My passion for cars and motor racing predates any involvement with music. My father – a director for Shell’s documentary film unit – used to take me in his Bentley 4 ½ litre to the vintage car events he was competing in. Some of my happiest childhood memories include the smell of leather, hot oil and blended racing fuels, accompanying the ticking sound of hot metal."
More than 550 cars are expected to travel 60 miles from Hyde Park in London to Madeira Drive, Brighton.
The event commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896, which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act. It raised the speed limit for 'light locomotives' from 4 mph to 14 mph and abolished the requirement for cars to be preceded by a red-flag-holding man on foot.
The meet is part of a weekend Celebration of Motoring that includes the Regent Street Motor Show (celebrating the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries of motoring) and the Future Car Challenge (for low energy use vehicles).
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