Each year, we get lots of people asking us “how do I enter”  the annual National Brighton Speed Trials? held along Brighton’s famous Madeira Drive. So here, in a nutshell, is the answer...

The brighton speed trials is the world’s longest running Motorsport event and each year the Brighton and Hove Motor Club (who run the event) kindly invite the VMCC Sprint Section to select 40 or so motorcycles to represent the breadth of race and sprint machines throughout the decades.

“Who wouldn’t want to follow in the tyre tracks of  legends like George Brown, Ernie Woods, George Brough and Francis Williams”

That means that we regularly present everything from a Vintage 1923 Zenith J.A.P that raced at Brooklands, through to much modified Classic 1970‘s Kawasaki Z1‘s right up to brand new (and very quick) Suzuki Hyabusa’s. If you want to see pictures of the breadth of bikes we select see our event gallery

How do you get an entry then...?

Well, priority is given first and foremost to our regular competitors who support us and ride throughout the year at our other events. Why do we do this? because as a group of unpaid enthusiasts, we rely on their regular attendance at sprint meetings to keep doing what we do. We feel it’s therefore appropriate to allow those with a proven record of attendance to be given a priority opportunity to enter this unique event and to race along Brighton’s famous seafront.

“On a sunny day some 30,000 people line up to watch you race from the start line towards black rock”

A view of the 20 - 30,000 Strong brighton speed trials crowd on a sunny day

Secondly, if you have a machine of historical or public interest you’re also high on the list of people we’d like to see there. The Speed Trials is a public event and (just like our attendance at the VMCC’s Festival of 1000 Bikes), we have an obligation to put on a show of machines that will appeal to the 20 to 30,000 people who stand on the promenade during the racing, then come and mingle amongst the open paddock.

Alan Morgan’s 1930‘s Rudge Sprinter Leaving the start line

“There’s no other car and motorcycle racing event quite like the Brighton Speed Trials...”

Finally, even if you have something super rare that you’ve just dragged out from under a bench, we’ll also take into consideration whether or not you’ve got racing experience. While Brighton may no longer be the fearsome Kilometre long track it once was (running dual lanes), there are risks associated with all motorsport and event specific safety measures aside (Madeira Drive is a public highway 364 days of the year), Brighton is not the place to be having your first ride. We therefore have a very simple rule that is strictly adhered to - if you have never ridden in at least one of our events beforehand, you will not get a ride! (though we reserve the right to make very rare exceptions for foreign riders who wish to enter).

Alan Tinnion giving his Yamaha a little too much stick off the line!

Perhaps all that’s left to ask is why would you want to enter anyway? Unlike other sprints, there’s barely any parking, the sprint paddock is about as far away from the start line as you can get and on top of that you’ll get just 3 goes up the 1/4 mile track! All of which begs the question is it worth travelling half way down the country (or more) for less than a mile’s riding?  - You betcha it is!

“On one side you’ll have 60,000 eyes looking down on your every move and on the other you have nothing but the beach and the sea”

The brighton speed trials is an event like no other, on one side you’ll have 60,000 eyes looking down on your every move (so it’s not a day for a bad start or a missed gear) and on the other you have nothing but the beach and the sea.

Couple that with the now ‘expected’ good weather that we tend to get in the 2nd weekend of September (which for more years than we can recall* has been hot and sunny - *Addendum 2010 was bloody awful weather!) and the pure history of the event and you’ve got a thousand and one reasons why each year we have far more people than we can accommodate wish to enter.

George Brown and unknown rider - Brighton Speed Trials in the 1960’s

Which sprinter or motorcycle racer wouldn’t want to follow in the tyre tracks of  legends like George Brown, Ernie Woods, George Brough and Francis Williams.

So, to close this short article, there is one last piece of advice. Entries for the speed trials are opened (and indeed closed) in a very short window of time between about April and May each year. If you’d like to be sent entry forms please send a stamped addressed envelope to the following address in early April.

Mr. Juan Manzano

Event Secretary Brighton Speed Trials

VMCC Sprint Section

C/O 31 Turners Avenue

Tenterden

Kent

TN30 6QL

Unfortunately even if you’ve fulfilled all the criteria above, we still can’t guarantee you a ride but it will certainly get you the best possible chance.

We really try to be fair to all and hope that this article makes it somewhat clearer with regards to what it takes to actually enter the Brighton Speed Trials. You may have to wait a year or so to get an entry accepted, but it is possible and it will be worth the wait to ride in this one of it’s kind speed event. A good days racing at Brighton is a joy that is unsurpassed for any sprinter.

For now, why not start by entering one of our OTHER EVENTS

PS: If you wish to enter a car - Please be aware that ALL 4 wheel entries are organised solely by our friends at Brighton & Hove Motor Club