From the Sport Relief website:

 "Sport Relief is getting ready to rock Brighton & Hove again!

The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile and Hula Hoops Hoopathon will be at Madeira Drive on Sunday 21st March 2010, giving everyone the chance to get active, raise cash and change lives. By taking part and raising loads of cash, you'll be helping to transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people, both here in the UK and across the world's poorest countries."

Get the full story here 

The 20th Sussex Beacon Half Marathon kicks off the year in Madeira Drive on Sunday, 21st February.

 Half Marathon Section

The caption on this old postcard reads: "The celebrated Motor Track, Madeira Road". 

The road we know as Madeira Drive was once a carriage road, which ran from the present roundabout to Brighton's first pier, the Chain Pier, which came ashore just where today's colonnade of shops is.

In the early 1870s a new seawall was built along the foot of the cliff and the road which ran along the top of it was known as Madeira Road.

In 1905 Harry Preston, owner of the Royal York Hotel in the Old Steine, and who was both a motoring and flying enthusiast, proposed to the local council that Madeira Road be resurfaced with tarmac, and be the venue for a Motor Race Week. The event was a great success and the top speed achieved was a very impressive 97 mph!