Lancashire Automobile Club’s 'Kendal 100 Run' re-created

Published: 06/07/2023

Fifty-five cars assembled outside the Mytton Fold Hotel, Blackburn in brilliant sunshine and were flagged away by Mrs Amanda Parker, Lancashire’s newly appointed Lord-Lieutenant (pictured, centre with Alan Wilson and Carolyn Taylor) on Sunday 18 June.

The Lancashire Automobile Club’s members provided an eclectic display of cars including Alvis (pre-and post-war), Aston Martin, Austin Healey, Bentley, Jaguar, MG, Mercedes, and Porsche to mention just a few. 

This event has great significance for the Lancashire Automobile Club (1902) because it has recreated the Kendal 100, which originally took place in 1904 as a reliability trial over roads that were little more than cart tracks.  In those days, the club was called the North East Lancashire Automobile Club, and members would drive non-stop to prove the reliability of their cars.

Of course, the roads are no longer cart tracks and there have been many improvements over the decades.  However, as far as practicable, the club has recreated the original route from Whalley to Kendal using old motoring maps.  Today’s motorsport regulations do not allow the use of the same return route, so some of the roads that formed sections of the Kendal and Carlisle (200 mile) runs of the early 1900s have been included instead.

Following the run, vintage Alvis car owner and member of the LAC Alan Wilson, of Whiting and Wilson gold and silversmiths, presented commemorative silver replicas of the original medallions given to all finishers of the 1904 Rally to officials, marshals and entrants.

This year, the club is supporting Tree-V in all its touring events and so far, has carbon captured 8.28 tonnes of CO2.  Contributions are used to plant new trees at Tom’s Wood in North Yorkshire, which is a new woodland designed and renamed in honour of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.         

The Kendal 100 has replaced the Manchester to Blackpool run because, after 60 years, it was considered no longer viable due to the difficulty of finding suitable start/finish venues and the proliferation of traffic management measures on busy routes.  

Features like the start in Albert Square in front of Manchester Town Hall with the cars being waved away by the mayor, and the celebrated finish on Blackpool Promenade lined by well-wishers, are now just cherished memories.