HISTORY OF THE MANCHESTER TO BLACKPOOL CAR RUN   In 1962 the Lancashire Automobile Club celebrated its’ diamond jubilee (60th), one of the oldest motoring organisations in Britain. To mark this unique occasion a special event was organised in Blackpool, on Friday 19th October 1962. It comprised a cavalcade of one car from each year of the clubs’ existence from 1902 to 1962 along the promenade during the afternoon. This was then followed by a ‘Black Tie’ Dinner Dance at the Casino (now the White Tower) Restaurant at Blackpool  Pleasure Beach. During the evening the consensus of opinion was that the cavalcade was a great idea, and let’s do it again. As the evening went on, (and possibly a few drinks consumed!), the idea of a run from Manchester to Blackpool emerged. Some of the people involved with these discussions were organising Blackpool’s “Drive for Safer Motoring Week” (April 20th to 28th 1963). On Sunday 21st April 1963 the First Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run took place with 101 entries. It proved to be a great success, prompting a letter of congratulations addressed to Mr S H Whitaker (whose son and grandson are carrying on the tradition to this day) from The County Borough of Blackpool.