One of the most legendary endurance runs in the world was the 1,000 Mile Trial which began in 1900 and became one of the defining moments in automotive history and one that set the benchmark for endurance racing since. In July of 2014, the 1000 Mile Trial will be re-enacted with all vehicles entered being of 1940 vintage or earlier.
The event is being put on by the Historic Endurance Rallying Organization (HERO) and this event will become the qualifying round for the 2014 HERO Cup. EFG International and others are also sponsoring the 1,000 mile run across Britannia. The route announced for 2014 will closely follow the 1900 route with some exceptions due to road conditions or changes (some of the original roads no longer exist).
Stars of the show will include some museum pieces being put on the road for the first time in years, including a 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II from the Caramulo Museum in Portugal as well as an original 1929 Bugatti Type 37A, once owned by Italian race driver Tazio Nuvolari.
The route begins at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park clubhouse, up Captain’s Drive towards Epsom Downs. Several tests for the driving crews will be undertaken that day, including one which emulates Top Gear’s infamous character The Stig. The day finishes at Hilton Pickrup Hall in Cheltenham.
From there, more tests will begin day two, then road driving through hill climbs and more, stopping at Arley Hall & Gardens for tea. The day ends in Preston while day three begins there and motors on to Edinburgh, where a center piece dinner aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia will take place.
Members of the Royal Family could make an appearance, since the Britannia is the Queen’s floating palace. A late start the next day will run the cars from Edinburgh through to Slaley Hall in Hexham – this day’s route takes them through the home territory of Formula One race legend Jim Clark.
Day five takes competitors through the Yorkshire moors, which will include some time control sections, and a final hill climb test at Harewood. Day six continues south to the Welbeck Estate and then Silverstone, home of British racing. Finally, day seven sees the cars drive on to Woodcote Park where the Royal Automobile Club will once again host them, this time in Surrey, and then the last 100 miles will see more cars enter the fray from the Veteran Car Run through to the Woodcote Park clubhouse.
Entries are still available the racing begins on July 13, 2014. Visit www.heroevents.eu/Events/thousand_mile_trial/ for more.
