CONCERNS over the safety of racing veteran vehicles have been raised after two deaths in three years.

Millionaire motoring enthusiast Ron Carey was the second driver in three years to be killed racing 100-year-old vehicles.

Mr Carey, 80, took a wrong turn on the M23 where his rare wooden framed American car, a 1903 Knox Porcupine, was struck by a lorry on Sunday.

Canadian Mr Carey, who owned a £3.8million car collection, was the second driver to die taking part in the event in recent years.

In 2017, David Corry, 68, died after his 1202 Benz crashed in Reigate Hill, Surrey.

Drivers and enthusiasts highlighted the difficulties of driving old vehicles, but experts said the event should not be cancelled in the wake of the deaths.

Drivers participating in the event on Sunday said their vehicles weighed as much as elephants but had brakes only as powerful as push bikes.

Some described tiller steering systems as like trying to manoeuvre a boat on the road.

The vehicles do not require seatbelts and are exempt from MoT tests which check they are safe.

Denis Bass, manager of the Veteran Car Club of Britain, who lives in Seaford, said he did not think the event should be cancelled, but suggested signage could be better.

Mr Bass, who has completed the veteran run 21 times said: “It is not dangerous any more than crossing the road can be dangerous.

“The situation as far as I can see is that he mistook the signage on the junction.

“I know that junction well and it could have been confusing.

“Generally the organisers and marshals do a fantastic job but perhaps with hindsight more signage could have would have been better.

“The brakes on veteran vehicles are not as effective as modern brakes, but every veteran car owner drives to the capabilities of their vehicle.”

A spokesman for the event said: “The police are investigating exactly what happened and we will continue to work closely with them as well as carrying out our own investigation.

“It is far too early to draw any conclusions.”