Brighton under threat

The future of Brighton Speed Trials remained in doubt as we went to press, after an attempt by Brighton and Hove City Council to stop the event.

First run in 1905, the straight-line sprint along Madeira Drive has been a popular event for two-, three- and four-wheel racers. It ran sporadically in the 1920-30s and then regularly after the war. However, a fatal accident in 2012 led to the cancellation of last year’s event.

In a bid to persuade the Green-led local authority to let the event continue, a petition was launched and attracted more than 10,000 signatures before being presented to the council ahead of a critical meeting late in January.