Bexhill's Easter Egg takes pride of place

The steam driven "Easter Egg" replica was loaned for the trip by Bexhill Museum to members of the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club, who took it to the first Beaulieu Steam Revival Show over the weekend.

Brian Storkey, president of the club, said it had been "some time" since the car had a proper outing.

"There was a lot of excitement when it was displayed," he said. "It's splendid promotion for the town."

The original Serpollet pioneered motor racing when Frenchman Leon Serpollet drove it to victory in the first British motor trials along Bexhill seafront.

Beaulieu organisers asked Brian Storkey if the replica could be displayed beside the car which set a new world land steam-propelled speed record of 145mph in America recently. Three club members voluntered to take it down. The original Easter Egg, as the Serpollet was known, took the land speed record of approximately 75mph on the seafront in Nice, France in February 1902.

Brian said: "The Beaulieu steam show seemed a great opportunity to promote Bexhill's motor racing history and also to announce the proposed Bexhill Motoring Heritage Trail, organised by the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce."

The trip was funded by the Chamber of Commerce, Rother District Council and Mr Storkey.