100 Years of Speed! Sir Henry Segrave Centenary Celebration on Ainsdale Beach 2026

What a day to remember! On March 16, 2026, crowds gathered on the windswept shores of Ainsdale Beach to celebrate an incredible milestone — 100 years to the day, since Sir Henry Segrave made history by breaking the Land Speed Record on this very stretch of sand in his legendary Sunbeam Tiger. The event kicked off in style with a stunning lineup of classic cars warming up before heading onto the beach for an elegant parade, a proper throwback to a golden age of motoring! The iconic Sunbeam was then taken for a run by its current owner, Vijay Mallya, before being handed over to current Land Speed Record holder Andy Green, who thrilled the crowd with a series of high-speed demonstration runs along the beach. Massive credit to the Aintree Circuit Club for organising the event — especially since it nearly didn’t happen due to environmental concerns from the local council. There was even a touch of drama off the track, when a Bentley 4½ Litre was taken without the owner’s consent from a nearby hotel car park. Thankfully, it was quickly recovered on a nearby side-street and was safely returned in time for the event. From roaring engines to historic machines, this was a true celebration of speed, heritage, and passion. An unforgettable centenary event — and one for the history books! Cars entered in the event:- 1 Sunbeam 1925 Tiger 4000 cc Supercharged 2 Sunbeam 1910 12/16 Roi de Belge Touring Car 2.5 litre 4 cylinder 3 Lancia 1926 Lambda 2500 4 Sunbeam 1927 20.9 sport tourer 3ltr 5 Sunbeam 1927 16hp (16.9) tourer 2.2 litre 6 cylinder 6 Sunbeam 1928 2 Seater Tourer with Dickey 20.9 7 Talbot 1929 14/45 1666cc 6 cylinder ohv 8 Sunbeam 1932 Sportsmans Coupe (23.8hp) 3455 cc 9 Riley 1934 Lynx 1087 10 Bentley 1935 3 1/2 litre Gurney Nutting Sportsmans Coupe 3669cc 11 Bentley 1937 'Derby' 4.25L Park Ward Sports Saloon 12 Chrysler 1938 Royal Convertible Coupe 4000cc side valve 13 Lagonda 1938 V12 Le Mans 4500 14 Rover 1938 Single Seater Racing Car 2995cc 15 Bentley 1949 Mark 6 Special 4.5 16 Plymouth 1950 Suburban 3600