Brighton Speed Trials

"RWS Motorsport" (rwsmotorsport) 09/05/2015 at 17:30 • Filed to: Motorsport, Brighton Speed Trials

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Le Mans has been going since 1923, the Indy 500 has been going since 1911, so in comparison these events are new upstarts. The Brighton Speed Trials have been going since 1905. I have a guess that date might coincide with the exact date that there were 2 cars in Brighton.

The Seaside resort on the South Coast of the UK has held the trials since 1905, admittedly with a few years missed, and after a years hiatus in 2013, the event returned in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Watching blokes in race suits eating fish and chips by the beach in September is slightly surreal, but everyone there is clearly loving it, with loads of drivers wandering around with cameras checking out each others machinery.

The Speed Trials feature an ecclectic mix of vehicles, from street legal cars, to heavily modified track specials.

Oh and for those that feel that cars are just too safe (on a very rough and bumpy piece of closed public road) there are also motorcycles present, with everything from pre war Nortons to Suzuki Hayabusa drag bikes complete with NOS and Turbos (in pink, naturally)

The cars range from classic american muscle to modern Japanese machinery

Theres a large number of classic British cars present, some more standard than others, and ranging in age from the 1950s right up to brand new sportscars.

One of the fastest cars is this Allard, which frequently wins the event, and always makes the top 10 run offs that close the day.

Whilst this Supra looks fairly standard (ignore the missing headlight) its making around 500bhp and gets off the line in a whoosh of turbo power.

Whilst it might feel all relaxed and casual, its taken very seriously, hence the last minute weight savings. Even the street cars are going for it flat out.

Oh and to top it all off, this F40 makes the trip every year, and is driven how it was built to be on every run.

All in all the event is a great day, and what helps make it a great success is that its free to spectate from up on the main road. Paddock access costs £15 but you can happily skip this if your just passing by. This is the way to make motorsport popular, make it loud, diverse and free!

Bonus Images

All pictures (and some others...) are on my Flickr page here: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! | !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Goggles Pizzano > RWS Motorsport 09/05/2015 at 17:40

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This car is give-left-nut material.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Goggles Pizzano 09/05/2015 at 17:47

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Seriously out of everything pictured that road runner is the only thing I’d want

Leon711 > RWS Motorsport 09/05/2015 at 17:52

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Great pics as always, I should have remembered it was on this weekend! I’m only a few miles away and have history there, my college competed several times. I think the best was something along the lines of 11.9 at 112mph

and when I finally left the college it was a completely changed car.

Cé hé sin > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 09/05/2015 at 18:17

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Doesn’t do anything for me I’m afraid. That Renault Alpine A110 though...

bryan40oop > RWS Motorsport 09/05/2015 at 20:04

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Le Mans and Indy are races. This is just peeps going in a straight line.

Wheelerguy > RWS Motorsport 09/06/2015 at 02:49

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gib

Wheelerguy > RWS Motorsport 09/06/2015 at 02:50

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Canadian or Mexican?

RWS Motorsport > Wheelerguy 09/06/2015 at 03:24

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I think the owners are Mexican, but it was launched in London so wonder if there is an english connection.

RWS Motorsport > Wheelerguy 09/06/2015 at 03:24

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I’m not a bike guy, but theres something about Ducatis that I love.

RWS Motorsport > Leon711 09/06/2015 at 03:25

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Ooo thats awesome, I wish any of my education places had some kind of motorsport program (alright my uni did but I failed and didnt get involved)

RWS Motorsport > bryan40oop 09/06/2015 at 03:27

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I’ll be honest, it was slightly tongue in cheek, as Le Mans and Indy have run pretty much every year since they started where as this has had some sizeable breaks in running.

Having said, watching one of the small open wheelers getting all 4 wheels in the air going down the strip was very impressive, its pretty bumpy, not like a proper drag strip.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > RWS Motorsport 09/06/2015 at 09:10

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I was there last year! Looks like it’s getting bigger which is great. Was there a Riley special there with w supercharger as big as the rest of the engine? That was my favourite, although that old Plymouth is pretty damn special.

Here’s my pics :)

Flavien Vidal > RWS Motorsport 09/07/2015 at 08:19

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So much drooling!! This really deserves to be FPed... Why is it still here!! :)

aquila121 > RWS Motorsport 09/07/2015 at 08:43

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I’m not usually a Corvette guy, but this is pretty.

aquila121 > RWS Motorsport 09/07/2015 at 08:44

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And I’d love to see this car in person.

GhostZ > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/07/2015 at 09:29

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The automotive equivalent of bare-knuckle boxing.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/07/2015 at 10:03

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That completely flat Yamaha thing with only three wheels - what is it?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Wheelerguy 09/07/2015 at 10:04

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I can’t say I’ve ever heard of this thing. Now I’m curious!

Wheelerguy > BaconSandwich is tasty. 09/07/2015 at 10:12

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Read this versus review to find out more.

RWS Motorsport > aquila121 09/07/2015 at 10:21

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I’ve seen it a couple of times now so guess it’s based in the south. Does circuit races, sprints like this and some track days. It’s a hard life for the owner clearly...

RWS Motorsport > BaconSandwich is tasty. 09/07/2015 at 10:23

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It’s a head first drag bike. For those who have no fear. I’m on mobile atm but somewhere in my 2014 gallery there should be a shot of it running if your so inclined to look it’s linked right at the top.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > BaconSandwich is tasty. 09/07/2015 at 10:31

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I have literally no idea. I think it’s a homebrew drag-sled made by someone who thought his sledge needed a circa 150mph top speed...

daender > RWS Motorsport 09/07/2015 at 11:50

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I’ve seen that car somewhere on Oppo a year ago by another member , I need to find more pictures and information of that badass Road Runner.

RWS Motorsport > daender 09/07/2015 at 12:02

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Yeah I think its an annual runner at the Speed Trials. Didnt spot the owner so didnt get a chance to ask, but its mighty fast, and anything with a side exit exhaust is alright in my books.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RWS Motorsport 09/07/2015 at 12:52

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That’s crazy.