Does anyone else think Drive It day is stupid?

[Rhythm Thief]

You're not reading my posts. Driving classic cars about with a group of like minded souls is fine, I'm sure you all had a great time and I hope that lots of people saw you and responded positively. It's not really my thing, and as I mentioned earlier every day is drive it day for me, but there we are. But the point I (and possibly Admin) was making is that the name "Drive It Day" is pretty meaningless, and useless when it comes to raising awareness of classic car issues. Drive what? Is it about articulated lorries? Steamrollers? Cattle? What??

[Grumpy Northener]

Luxo - Apologies I got the wrong end of the stick - and it's me that's out of order - I now appreciate what your posting was intending to do - in my defence (not that I have one) I am going to blame my long standing intollerance of authority along with responding after having to drink most of the bottle of red wine we had in the resturant that night because the wife did not like it - Has for the what is a classic debate - I have no interest !

Neil - Your point on rebranding the day in question is a very good one - and hey why just one day why not a week - why not tie it in to something larger and have a stronger promotion over a more sustained period - maybe several regional events that culminate in one large one - what's stopping a continual prade of classics crusing past Parliment for the day ? (congestion charge for a start) - Anyone out there got ideas on what it sould be called ? National Classic Car Week ?

[Luxobarge]

Luxo - Apologies I got the wrong end of the stick - and it's me that's out of order - I now appreciate what your posting was intending to do - in my defence (not that I have one) I am going to blame my long standing intollerance of authority along with responding after having to drink most of the bottle of red wine we had in the resturant that night because the wife did not like it - Has for the what is a classic debate - I have no interest !

No problem mate - none taken etc.

You lucky man - my wife will guzzle the lot if there's a supply of red in the vicinity....

[ajsphead]

So 'Drive it day' does have a purpose but it's lacking in focus, publicity and really one day is going to make next to no difference to anything unless it's a really big day - prominent national publicity and that sort of thing. I'm not allowed to take the SD1 on our local organised trip as the organisers drew a cut off date of 31-12-1979. Joke is that the old MGB was registered in Aug 1980 so I couldn't have taken that either. As someone totally dedicated to keeping old cars on the road and using them without failure every day of the week for something, I find myself calling the motivation of the day into question. Every day is drive it day for me, and the connection that the SD1 in particular has with ordinary members of the public has astonished me from the first 5 minutes after I bought it, filled it up and had 10 people in the filling station stopping what they were doing to look at it and talk to me. (it's just an ordinary Vitesse to me).

What I feel is really lacking is a celebrate British cars day - one in the eye for all the naysayers who said they were rubbish, proof that they are alive, stubborn, loved and enjoyed, and what's more, they're British. It might also be a good way of starting to kick the hackneyed motoring journos into touch.

Anthony

[Morrisand944S2man]

The other point about the "drive it day" that the days of a classic being run as an everyday car are largely over. That is because most of those everyday classics have rusted away and been scrapped by now. Even in the Morris Minor world, I have seen over the last decades the cars have gone from everyday use to being restored and kept in garages, only brought out for nice days and rallies.

The point of the drive it day is to get all these garaged, usually hidden from public view, cars out and about en masse on the same day and be visible to the general public (and hopefully a few Politicians).
I HAVE read the posts in this thread.
I can see why you think it is pointless if you "drive it" every day. But it is not pointless as I have said.

Perhaps, the missing link here is that classic car clubs need to get an article in the local paper or on local radio explaining why people will see loads of classics on that day. Then it becomes like a demonstration. By driving your classic on drive it day you are saying "classic cars are still here- Politicians/ EU please don't persecute us with your thoughtless legislation".

I really don't see why people on here do not understand the point of "drive it day".

[Mrotwoman]

I still see a fair few daily driven Moggies around these parts.

[Rhythm Thief]

Perhaps, the missing link here is that classic car clubs need to get an article in the local paper or on local radio explaining why people will see loads of classics on that day. Then it becomes like a demonstration. By driving your classic on drive it day you are saying "classic cars are still here- Politicians/ EU please don't persecute us with your thoughtless legislation".

I really don't see why people on here do not understand the point of "drive it day".

I understand the point well enough. But - and you've addressed this with the first bit quoted above - it does need more focus and a better name.
I must admit too that I (personally) can't see much point owning a car which isn't used regularly. 2CVs have gone much the same way as Moggy Minors in the past few years: there aren't many of us left who don't have a modern car to run around in, saving the deuche for summer days out. Speaking as someone who ran a knackered 2CV with no doors, roof or windscreen as daily transport for most of last year, I find this attitude hard to understand.

[vit6iw]

I took part in Drive it Day as one of nearly 50 classics owned by members of, primarily, the Vectis Historic Vehicle Club (VHVC) on the IW. Members of other clubs such as the TSSC and MGOC were also invited. We all met up at Newport FC car park and went on a 50 mile or so, run.

I had seen most of the cars before but there was one new addition; an NSU Sport Priz Bertone Coupe. I'd only ever seen a picture of it in The Observer's Book of Automobiles, I'd never seen one in the flesh before. So from that aspect it was well worth going.

I work from home, so don't get to use my Vitesse 6 Convertible that often - once, sometimes twice a week in the summer - for pleasure and taking part in organized events and runs. I think Drive it Day is worth supporting, I'll probably do it again next year.

Denis

[Martin Evans]

I don't think it's a stupid idea, though there are aspects with which I am not happy.

Perhaps before I mention these, I should point out that is isn't the FBHVC who regard only pre 1973 vehicles as historic. That is the position of the government and the cut off was, I conclude, the result of Gordon Brown's own petty dislike of classic cars . FBHVC define historic vehicles as do FIVA, which is broadly anything over thirty years old. Yes there are conditions, like not in daily use, but taken literally "Daily" means every day. My Morris Traveller is my runabout car but it's not in daily use and even if I didn't cycle to work, I doubt the Traveller would be taken out every day.

I have taken up the issue of timing with the FBHVC. Since Humbug Brown trod on rolling free tax, some of us still tax our non free tax classics for just six months and many of us tax from May to October. Having an event, such as Drive it Day, so close to the end of April, means that if you want to take part, you have to lose a months road tax. FBHVC, with true "Old school tie stuffiness", wouldn't even consider a change, though they did see fit to move it forward one week this year, so as not to clash with Easter. Seems like a case of fools and wise men

[TriumphDriver]

Since Humbug Brown trod on rolling free tax, some of us still tax our non free tax classics for just six months and many of us tax from May to October. Having an event, such as Drive it Day, so close to the end of April, means that if you want to take part, you have to lose a months road tax. FBHVC, with true "Old school tie stuffiness", wouldn't even consider a change, though they did see fit to move it forward one week this year, so as not to clash with Easter. Seems like a case of fools and wise men

So why not tax your car from April to September? What is there in October that there isn't in April, given the current heatwave? You can't accuse the FBHVC for "old school tie stuffiness" - which has NOWT to do with the classic car movement, other than they apparrently don't recognise your choice of car as worthy of tax-exemption - and then expect them to change the date of an event to suit your own preferred tax period? Maybe we should push for an officially recognised six months that all our events can run within, and then those damned elitist snobs who get free tax can run THEIR events in the other six? Just a thought...