HISTORY

At the 1953 start

In 1903 Mr. F.S. Bennett imported the first Cadillac into England, one of the earliest American cars to come to this country. In order to publicise the car and prove its reliability he set out on a 1000 mile "Reliability Trial", starting out each day from Crystal Palace and travelling to and from a different town on the South Coast for 8 days until he had completed 1000 miles. One of these towns was Bexhill-on-Sea. He repeated this feat in 1913 and then again in 1953 when he was 79 years old.

The car, a small 6hp Cadillac is still owned by the Bennett family and this year his grand-son, Julian, will be driving the car on an identical route to re-enact the eight-day reliability trial successfully completed 100 years before by his grandfather.

Prior to the '53 run, a young Stirling Moss helps an elderly Fred Bennett test an already 'aged' Cadillac!

The event is being overseen by the "Veteran Car Club of Great Britain" who are giving the "Bennett Run" extensive coverage in their magazine, as are "The Cadillac Owners Club of Great Britain". They are keen to make something special of their visit to Bexhill and they intend to bring the 1/3 scale replica of the Cadillac to Bexhill to meet with the scale replica Veteran Car built by Bexhill’s Councillor Fairhurst and our own replica Serpollet Steam Car.

The overall main "1000 mile reliability trial" to the various coastal towns is being sponsored by The Daily Telegraph. CNN intend to cover the event as do BBC TV who have recently located "footage" of the 1953 reliability trial.

Julian 'Frederic' Bennett raring to have a go at the 1,000 miles in his recently MoT'd 100-year-old Cadillac.

At the races at Bexhill between 1902 and 1906 one of the most famous racing drivers of the day was Mr. S.F. Edge. His wife was living in Bexhill during the Cadillac Reliability trial of 1953 and she presented a trophy to Mr. Bennett when he arrived at Bexhill.

We are in contact with the grandson of Mr & Mrs. S.F. Edge and hope that he will be able to attend on Wednesday 24th September and fit another piece into the jigsaw of Bexhill’s Motoring History.

The Cadillac Owners Club of Great Britain have organised a Grand Coach Tour that will be visiting Bexhill on 19th Friday September, partly because it is one of the destinations of the reliability trial but also because Bexhill is the Birthplace of British Motor Racing.

Details of the Event.

The project will be organised by Bexhill Promotions Group.

The main event will take place opposite the Sackville, the venue in 1903, 1913 and 1953. We intend to have a parade of vehicles around the town when the tour arrives in Bexhill and when they leave. Hopefully we will welcome the return of the very popular "Happy Harold Trolley Bus", which will parade around the town during the event, promoting the event, give rides around the town and creating a fun atmosphere for residents and visitors. It is also hoped that other classic cars and the "Serpollet" will make appearances round the town.

Route map for the Bennett Run to Bexhill-on-Sea.

We are hoping to attract a number of veteran, vintage and classic American vehicles in particular Cadillacs, to the event, and a few other interesting cars. The events on the "green" will probably begin at about 11.00am and finish at 3.00pm

The 1903 Cadillac and other vehicles are scheduled to arrive in Bexhill at Noon from Crystal Palace via the A21. We intend that the Mayor of Bexhill should meet them "en-route" in "Serpollet" on the outskirts of Bexhill and lead them through the town Centre via the Old Town, the Seafront, Sackville Road, Western Road etc. to De la Warr Parade. (If we include "Happy Harold" we have to avoid Sackville Arch")

The vehicles will park on the "green" opposite Sackville where a number of other interesting vehicles will be awaiting them, together with entertainment from the famous Expedient Jazz Band and displays from the Bexhill Museum and Bexhill Costume Museum. There will be tables and chairs on the grass for the entrants and public to use to enjoy the event and the entertainment.

Some areas of De la Warr Parade near to the green opposite Sackville will be coned off for the parking of vehicles belonging to dignitaries and any other special cars that arrive unannounced.

The Mayor of Bexhill will welcome the Bennett Run to Bexhill and present a trophy to mark the occasion. Various dignitaries and personalities will be introduced.

The entertainment will continue. Mr. Bennett and the Cadillac are scheduled to leave Bexhill at approximately 2.30pm via Bexhill Town Centre.

This is a non-profit making venture, celebrating Bexhill’s place in motoring history. We are looking for sponsorship for some of the elements within the event, any person or company interested please contact :-

Brian Storkey on 01424 730564.

Any Cadillac owner wishing to join us with their car on Wednesday 24th September at Bexhill-on-Sea please contact me Brian Storkey on 01424 730564 or indeed any one with an American vehicle of another make, but only if they are pre-1930.