Save the Speed Trials!

A tradition that has been going for over 100 years may be in jeopardy.

John Newman

• JohnNewman
• speedtriials

The Brighton Speed Trials may be the longest-running motorsports event in the world, but it faces cancellation for the second year running due to a rare accident in 2012. At the last Brighton Speed Trials in 2012 a sidecar passenger was killed when a sidecar struck a wall. The trials were cancelled in 2013 because the inquiry into the incident had not been completed, and until they were, the event could not take place.

With a full investigation into the case completed last year, many assumed that the 2014 Speed Trials would run as normal. However, the event has been threatened as the Brighton and Hove Council have indicated that they will not support the granting of a license for it to take place.
The speed trials, organised by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club, have been held on the seafront Madeira Drive since 1905. The events have attracted thousands of motor sport fans to the town to watch an array of interesting and superb two and four wheel machinery compete against the clock.
The Brighton and Hove City Council have stated that they are unsure of the safety of the event taking place. Supporters of the event have launched a petition to save this very popular meeting, which can be signed on the Save Brighton Speed Trials site.
It would be a shame for this event, that has been a tradition in Brighton for so long, to be cancelled. Ruth Reynolds of the Brighton and Hove Motor Club, started the petition claiming that "the end of the Speed Trials will be an end of an era for Brighton".
Not only is Brighton at risk of losing a record breaking tradition that thousands have enjoyed over the years, it will also lose out on the increased tourism that has surrounded the weekend event. Brighton's seafront benefits majorly from the attractions held there, and the cancellation of the Speed Trials will have a financial impact on the area over the period that it is normally held.
Thankfully, the fight to keep the Speed Trials has been growing momentum since the petition opened, with 2,000 votes achieved in the first 24 hours. The Brighton and Hove Motor Club are asking people who want to see the Speed Trials to sign the petition and lobby the council if they live in the area.
The council's Economic Development and Culture committee will meet on January 23rd to make a decision on the matter. With only a few weeks to go until a decision is reached we urge any supporters of the Speed Trials to sign the petition. Let's save the world's longest-running motorsports event!
Follow the link to Save the Brighton Speed Trials Petition to sign.