Renault Launches Veteran Car Run With a Taste of the Moulin Rouge

MAPLE CROSS – September 11, 2008: Saucy Moulin Rouge dancers launched the festivities surrounding the 2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run by greeting a 104-year-old Renault at the end of its 250-mile journey from the world-famous Parisian cabaret venue.

In the year when French motor manufacturing is celebrated by the world’s oldest motoring event, the 1904 Renault completed its trip from the world-famous Moulin Rouge in Paris to the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London to mark the start of the 75th running of the LBVCR.

The owner of the 4-cylinder, 14/20 horsepower Renault, Daniel Ward, was joined by Moulin Rouge CEO, Jean-Jacques Clerico, in his 1902 Darracq for the remarkable Anglo-French journey, which began in Paris at 12 noon on Tuesday, 9th September and finished 24 hours later. Both Mr Ward and M. Clerico are due to take part in the London to Brighton run on Sunday, 2nd November.

When the car arrived in London it was greeted in the inimitable style of the renowned Moulin Rouge dancers. The cabaret venue opened its doors for the first time in 1889 and the French Can-can dance has been performed on stage every night for 115 years, as well as at countless venues around the world. Today it was the turn of the RAC Club to witness the unique can-can.

LBVCR Event Director Roger Etcell commented: “The Moulin Rouge is instantly recognisable worldwide as very French and we are pleased to have them as a partner for the 2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run as we celebrate French manufacturing of the period. The trip from Paris to London by two veteran cars is a great way to link France and Britain in this special year. We look forward to seeing the Moulin Rouge dancers in London on the event itself at the start of November.”

Starting in Hyde Park, London, the 60-mile route to Madeira Drive, Brighton will play host this year to a record 550 veteran cars. The 2008 event marks the 112th anniversary of the 1896 Emancipation Run, held to commemorate the passing into law of the 1896 Light Locomotives Act, which raised the speed limit from 4mph to 14mph and scrapped the requirement for a person to walk in front of a mechanical vehicle waving a red flag to warn other road users.

A total of 26 Renault cars are entered for the Run, including nine from overseas in a year that has a record number of International entries. Renault’s involvement includes to providing its new Koleos, Renault’s first-ever 4x4 crossover, to act as a course-opening car, updating the thousands of spectators lining the route on the progress of the veteran cars. A team of mechanics from Renault Minute, Renault’s all-makes fast-fit centre, will be on hand at the Renault coffee-stop at the midway point of the Run in Crawley to give emergency help to any of the veteran cars, whatever the make.