The Bexhill 100 - The 1999 Event
The 1999 Hastings Direct Bexhill 100 - with hundreds of wonderful classic vehicles on show (more than 800 over the weekend) - huge crowds of visitors mingling with the entrants - fantastic Mediterranean type weather over all three days - the Edwardian seafront buildings bathed in sunshine - yachts of all sizes bobbing out to sea - you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the South of France - it certainly was a memorable event. However, a few weeks earlier we did not think we would have such a happy outcome!
Looking down onto the track on a beautiful day in Bexhill
Early in April we discovered that Southern Water were about to fence off and dig up the huge area at the top of Galley Hill where, because it drained well, and remained firm even in very wet weather, we traditionally had put entertainment stands, heavy military vehicles and commercials. We also relied on it as an optional area for car clubs etc. should the field at Sutton Place be too wet to use or at worst flooded. After lengthy discussions with S.W. it proved impossible for them to delay their project commencement date, which left us crossing fingers, legs and everything else, hoping for a dry spell prior to the event. It looked as though our prayers had been in vain right up until the weekend before, but then the sun started to peek through, the wind blew to dry Sutton Place and we were blessed with a magnificent 3 days.
Southern Water and their contractors, Harbour & General, really pulled out all the stops to help us in the week before the Festival, building ramps and laying a hard-core road for access on and off the slope at Galley Hill, and providing a pedestrian walk-way alongside their site. We are very grateful to them for their efforts and support.
FRIDAY MORNING - Bexhill Seafront
The promenade is a hive of activity with marquees being erected, and stands, barriers, signs, sound systems being installed. Hospitality units and support vehicles start to arrive. The work goes on 'til late in the evening and the Town has an air of anticipation about it.
SATURDAY MORNING - De La Warr Car Park

The pit stop at Jarvis Cooden Beach Hotel during the Classic Car Town Parade		 We began as we did last year with very successful Classic Vehicle Town Parade with entertainment in the streets, such as clown, one man bands, Victorian organs, a Punch & Judy show and musicians. With over 60 vehicles taking part, including an ancient tractor, a rally car, a racing car as well as all the veteran, vintage and classic cars and some hot rods, it certainly created a lot of interest. The local theatrical society came all dressed up, adding a bit of fun and atmosphere. We started at midday from the De La Warr Pavilion, then off through Sidley, Little Common and a pit stop at the Jarvis Cooden Hotel and back to the De La Warr for even more refreshments kindly provided by Majors restaurant.
The day was rounded off with a jazz concert on the Pavilion terrace and a spectacular fire-work display from the Colonnade. In the evening there were classic vehicles everywhere and the Town was buzzing with excitement.
Now the Festival itself!
Sunday Morning 7.30 a.m.
Already there is activity everywhere, exhibits arriving, the sound of throbbing engines as entrants begin to appear, Marshals buzzing about closing off filter roads and cordoning off pit areas etc., the hiss of steam as traction engines lumber down the 'track' . By 11.00 a.m. the seafront is a mass of people, the pits filling up, the car club area at Sutton Place is a sea of colour as vehicles of every make, style and age congregate.
11.30 a.m. The promenade is now full of stands, garages, stalls, craft marquees, simulators and entertainment. The seafront road, the original race track in 1902 becomes the pits area for vintage and veteran vehicles, racing cars and some fascinating rare specimens, old and not so old. One on show was the unique Alesso built specially for the famous racing driver Juan Fangio and recently acquired by Paul Foulkes-Halbard who owns Filching Manor Motor Museum and is a director of the Bexhill 100.
Paul Foulkes-Halbard with his very rare Alesso racing car
Sutton Place is full of car clubs, auto-jumble, kids slides, an entertainment marquee and a catering enclosure. Dotted around the whole event are military bands, youth orchestras, jazz bands, stilt walkers and clowns.

Our intrepid commentator, Ron Wamner, describing some of the vehicles		 We are ever mindful that "THE CARS ARE THE STARS" of our show (that should probably read vehicles but that does not rhyme quite so well) and we always attract many wonderful rare veteran and vintage examples for the crowds to appreciate, together with classics for the nostalgic amongst the audience to enjoy. So if you have a special vehicle, please bring it along, we would love to see you show it off at Bexhill. We add all the other attractions to our Festival so that the event becomes a weekend out for the whole family without detracting from the main reason for the event to celebrate Bexhill as the Birthplace of British Motor Racing in 1902.
A hastily arranged first event of the day begins, a sponsored fire engine pull by firemen from the Bexhill Fire Station down the kilometre long track. £1000 was raised for the British Heart Foundation and Fire Brigade Benevolent Fund.
A small convoy of cars arrives from Brands Hatch in time for the opening ceremony at 12.15 p.m. A colourful cavalcade of vehicles bring the dignitaries to the rostrum, and the Festival is declared open by the Chairman of Bexhill Council, Councillor Andrew Fleming and Mr Steve Hudson, Sales and Marketing manager of Hastings Direct, the sponsors of the Bexhill 100 Festival.
The sponsored fire engine pull
THE FESTIVAL THEN BURSTS INTO LIFE with cavalcades of vehicles in decades parading up and down the track with interesting and informed commentary from our expert Ron Wanmer. At the end of each day we hold the thrilling 'Compatible Pairs'.

One of the 'Vehicle and Lady' Entrants		 Each year we celebrate MILESTONES IN MOTORING HISTORY. This year was the 30th anniversary of the Capri, the 40th of the Mini, the 75th of the MG and the 100th of the Lagonda and the Fiat all feted at the show. If you know of any historic milestone in the year 2000, please let us know. The 'Vehicle & Lady' competition is a pleasant diversion whilst the 'DRAYS UPHILL DASH' is always popular and exciting, but this year we had so much interest and so many participants it continued until late in the afternoon on both days.
The 'CONCOURS COMPETITION' which attracts more and more superb entrants each year was won by Mr J. Heagren with his wonderful 1947 MG TC. Incidentally the concours first prize is well worth winning - a commissioned painting (donated by Hastings Direct) of the winning vehicle painted by an artist of the owners choice, a colour TV and a superb trophy.
Throughout both days, as a diversion from the cars for the families in the audience, aerial displays from a 1942 Boeing Stearman, a 1980 Russian Yak and an Enstrom Shark helicopter entertained the crowds.
The MG TC 'Concours Car of the Show'
To add to our arena events, our sponsors Hastings Direct, who had adopted Road Safety as their theme, had organised for East Sussex Fire Brigade to simulate a road traffic accident in the arena and demonstrate cutting accident victims out of their vehicle. It certainly made you think about reducing your speed and the need to wear seat belts.
The Festival closed on Monday with an exciting last parade of traction engines, commercial and military vehicles, the firing of the quad gun and an excellent drop onto the beach from the 'Philishave' parachute display team.
There have been several exciting new developments for the Bexhill 100 since last years show.
  • Local businessman Christian Harmer of Renown Coaches has formed his own race team 'Team Renown' and is helping to support and promote Bexhill's Motor Racing Heritage by displaying Bexhill 100 logos on this striking cobalt blue Van Diemen RF91 race car.

The Bexhill 100 Liveried Van Diemen RF91 Race Car

The Serpollet Steam Car

The Beauty and the Jester at this years event

The Bexhill 100 Crew
(Click for big pic)
  • Work is now well under way on the construction of a replica of the Serpollet Steam car, the famous car of the period that won the race at Bexhill in 1902, recognised as the first International Motor Race Meeting to be held in Great Britain. Leon Serpollet had achieved the world land speed record, 75 mph, on the promenade at Nice just prior to coming to Bexhill and he did in fact make an unsuccessful attempt to beat this record at Bexhill making it effectively the first world land speed record attempt in this country. The Serpollet construction project is being carried out in conjunction with the young engineers and local schools under the expert guidance of George Hatley and his son Paul. It should be completed in time for next years Festival.
  • We have now formed the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club and have just had our first outing - a mystery tour finishing with a scrumptious bar-b-que with musical entertainment, in glorious surroundings on a superb summer evening. Membership to the club is £15 with a once only joining fee of £3 and entitles members to discounted insurance, tyres, exhausts, servicing, m.o.t's, repairs etc., as well as exchange of knowledge and information, meetings, trips and outings. One trip which may be of interest is to see our sponsored racing car perform at the race meeting at Brands Hatch on Sunday 17th October. You can contact the main office on 01424 730564 or the Chairman, Nigel Hogben on 01424 850689 or you can e-mail the Vice Chairman, Peter Grant on pg@potomac.demon.co.uk for more information on the Motoring Club.
  • The Bexhill 100 is now a member of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain and also the Steam Car Club of Great Britain.
We still have some of our excellent full colour 1999 programmes in stock, as well as those of previous years '93 to '98 . If you would like to receive a copy please stipulate which year and send an A4 envelope with a 49p stamp and a cheque for £2 (made payable to Bexhill 100 Ltd.), to this address
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any ideas or information for us or indeed if you want to know more about the Bexhill 100 and Bexhill's Motoring Heritage.