The United Hospitals and University of London Motor Club (UHULMC) was founded in 1932 to organise and promote motor
competitions in all its forms within the hospitals and colleges of the University of London. In part due to the transient
nature of student populations, partly due to increased costs as competitions moved from the amateur and casual to more
professional, the nature of the club evolved. The Suez crisis in 1956 resulted in panic fuel buying and the anticipation of
rationing which commenced in November of that year. Obviously, this had a major adverse effect upon motor sport.
UHULMC sought a way for enthusiasts to enjoy their sport, yet use a minimum of petrol . . .and so the Miglia Quadrato was
born.
The very first Miglia Quadrato was run in April of 1957 whilst fuel rationing was in
action. Petrol rationing ended on 14 May, but it took a while for normality to return
to motor sport (which was seen as a frivolous use of fuel), and that first Miglia was
well attended. So, what was the inspired idea that has endured to the present day?
The aim was to provide a night of competition that would use but a gallon of fuel.
The format was of a treasure hunt constrained in a limited area, combining
navigational (reading the map) and observational (finding the clues) skills. By setting
a large number of clues (sixty is now the number) within a five hour span (from
midnight) the crews had the task of finding their own route between the randomly
listed locations and then the task of finding answers to the clues by torchlight (and
the torches of the fifties were far inferior to the ‘searchlights’ that are found today).
All this within the City of London - the famous ‘one square mile’ which gave rise the
event’s name - the Miglia Quadrato, having a nice homage to the famous Mille Miglia.
That was a thousand mile endurance race that ran through Italy, enthralling many,
and which had its final race in that same year as the Miglia Quadrato was born. The
Miglia Quadrato ran for the last time in May 2019 and was open to anyone - no
membership of any club nor affiliation with the University was required: just a four
wheeled motor vehicle and a team of two to five persons.
Latterly, the nature of the club has been to continue the tradition of the annual Miglia
Quadrato, which still has a loyal following and is run in very similar fashion. The
popularity of this event in the City of London saw, in 1972, the organisers devise a new
competition to bring the curiosities of the City to others. The Londinium Pedo is the
sister event, albeit with no motoring association. It is a treasure hunt, with a difference.
A Sunday afternoon, usually late autumn, with a three hour circular route on foot. Teams
are of one or two persons and entry is open to all. A separate, less strenuous, route is
offered for the more elderly or those with very young children. It is a competition (and
some take it seriously) but it is also a social occasion and entrants will be taken to parts
of the City they might otherwise not have explored. The essence of the Londinium Pedo
is to provide an enjoyable afternoon, with similar elements of competition to the Miglia.
The route comprises six sections, each of a different style, and on the way competitors
need to search for clues. This has become an annual fixture with many eagerly awaiting
the next. Read about it in more detail and maybe join us on the next Londinium Pedo.
The name rather loosely suggesting ‘London on Foot’ in pseudo-Latin.
UHULMC exists now to organise and promote competitions within the City of London. Some of our past history is given in a
later section of this web site and will be expanded as time permits and as more materials come to light.
All images (excepting those in the History section) are copyright John Gilbert
All other material is copyright John Gilbert/UHULMC and may only be further reproduced with written permission
All queries regarding this web site to web@uhulmc.org
The United Hospitals and University of London
Motor Club (UHULMC) was founded in 1932 to
organise and promote motor competitions in all its
forms within the hospitals and colleges of the
University of London. In part due to the transient
nature of student populations, partly due to
increased costs as competitions moved from the
amateur and casual to more professional, the
nature of the club evolved. The Suez crisis in
1956 resulted in panic fuel buying and the
anticipation of rationing which commenced in
November of that year. Obviously, this had a major
adverse effect upon motor sport. UHULMC sought
a way for enthusiasts to enjoy their sport, yet use
a minimum of petrol . . .and so the Miglia
Quadrato was born.
The very first Miglia Quadrato
was run in April of 1957
whilst fuel rationing was in
action. Petrol rationing ended
on 14 May, but it took a while
for normality to return to
motor sport (which was seen
as a frivolous use of fuel),
and that first Miglia was well
attended. So, what was the
inspired idea that has endured to the present day?
The aim was to provide a night of competition that
would use but a gallon of fuel. The format was of a
treasure hunt constrained in a limited area,
combining navigational (reading the map) and
observational (finding the clues) skills. By setting a
large number of clues (sixty is now the number)
within a five hour span (from midnight) the crews
had the task of finding their own route between
the randomly listed locations and then the task of
finding answers to the clues by torchlight (and the
torches of the fifties were far inferior to the
‘searchlights’ that are found today). All this within
the City of London - the famous ‘one square mile’
which gave rise the event’s name - the Miglia
Quadrato, having a nice homage to the famous
Mille Miglia. That was a thousand mile endurance
race that ran through Italy, enthralling many, and
which had its final race in that same year as the
Miglia Quadrato was born. The Miglia Quadrato ran
for the last time in May 2019 and was open to
anyone - no membership of any club nor affiliation
with the University was required: just a four
wheeled motor vehicle and a team of two to five
persons.
Latterly, the nature of the
club has been to continue
the tradition of the annual
Miglia Quadrato, which still
has a loyal following and is
run in very similar fashion.
The popularity of this event
in the City of London saw, in
1972, the organisers devise a
new competition to bring the
curiosities of the City to
others. The Londinium Pedo
is the sister event, albeit with no motoring
association. It is a treasure hunt, with a
difference. A Sunday afternoon, usually late
autumn, with a three hour circular route on foot.
Teams are of one or two persons and entry is open
to all. A separate, less strenuous, route is offered
for the more elderly or those with very young
children. It is a competition (and some take it
seriously) but it is also a social occasion and
entrants will be taken to parts of the City they
might otherwise not have explored. The essence
of the Londinium Pedo is to provide an enjoyable
afternoon, with similar elements of competition to
the Miglia. The route comprises six sections, each
of a different style, and on the way competitors
need to search for clues. This has become an
annual fixture with many eagerly awaiting the
next. Read about it in more detail and maybe join
us on the next Londinium Pedo. The name rather
loosely suggesting ‘London on Foot’ in pseudo-
Latin.
UHULMC exists now to organise and promote
competitions within the City of London. Some of
our past history is given in a later section of this
web site and will be expanded as time permits and
as more materials come to light.
All images (excepting those in the History section) are copyright John Gilbert
All other material is copyright John Gilbert/UHULMC and may only be further reproduced with written permission
All queries regarding this web site to web@uhulmc.org