Does anyone else think Drive It day is stupid?

[tractorman]

I forgot about Drive it Day, though happened to be out on a tractor anyway, so I suppose I could say I flew the flag a little!

However, to say it isn't in the press isn't quite true, the Cumberland News had a piece on Wigton Motor Club's "do"! I suspect that other local papers did the same, but obviouly it isn't of national importance so the big boys won't bother (unless there's a chance of using Diana's photo)!

One wonders who is on the FBHVC's committee and how they get onto the committee - I would guess that there aren't many with 70's and 80's cars! Perhaps a second society needs to be formed - just think how large one would be if every PC reader joined a rival society - and each persuaded a friend to join!

[Grumpy Northener]

Neil - For what it is worth I agree with you - my classics went untouched on the day in question instead I spent the entire day fabricating and welding panels on a friends Jowett Javelin. Has for the FBHVC - My Rover is registered 3 weeks after the cut off date that they apply - I find it quite sad really because of the fact that for 20 years the said vehicle was displayed in one of the UK's premier car collections (Patrick Motor Muesum, Kings Norton, Birmingham) prior to myself aquiring it (hence the low mileage).

Luxo - I think you are out of order - if you are unwilling to let the forum subscribers debate the topics (whatever they are) without the threat of delating them then you should not be subscribing to the forum yourself - or do you just want the rest of us to sit back and say nothing while you dictate your own topics, or just maybe you are stuck in the same forgotten year that the FBHVC finds it's self still in !

[TriumphDriver]

In many European and other countries around the world, ‘Historic’ class vehicles come with mileage and in some cases, date limitations (i.e. can only use for driving to and from shows or on certain days of the year).

Personally i want to drive my car when and where i want, not on a prescribed day or on a limited mileage basis (i only ever go for unlimited mileage insurance polices because of this).

This answers a lot of points in one fell swoop!
Firstly, HMG recognised a certain portion of cars as worthy of special treatment. This is because there were relatively few, and they wouldn't lose much in revenue.
Once we start lumping every car in together just because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings we'll cost HMG too much money, and the chances are that, rather than all gaining historic status, we'll all lose it. It appears to be the attitude of some owners that it's better we all lose it rather than some should go without.
At my next show - an annual event - there will be at least three or four cars on display from 2004 and newer. Should I kick up a fuss that they get in free as they're "classics", or should I let them set a precedent that not only sees older cars left out of the show due to a lack of room, but may see us all having to pay entrance because some flout the entrance rules?
Don't forget - one man's classic is another man's old banger, and in todays' touchy-feely-cotton-wool world we may one day yet fall foul of the green lobby, and end up with restricted usage. Can we really argue the case that anything oldish - no matter what - is good?
Just a thought... I'll go back to me pipe.

[Adam43]

Ironic off topic point: Luxo was just stopping this thread being derail by another topic. We know that one can take over any thread. As such I think Luxo is promoting our choice of topics, not dictating them.

There are some good points here and maybe there is a little mis-guided promotion. However I like the day as it gets people out there. Maybe it is a small excuse, but I bet some used it as an excuse to get the cars moving.
I did drive mine on Drive it Day, but that was just coincidence. I didn't remember until I got home and picked up a magazine. However it seemed like I saw more classics than normal, so that made it worth while for me.

I like the idea of a day to give us an excuse and to get us on the road even if some of it misguided.

[bnicho]

Luxo - I think you are out of order - if you are unwilling to let the forum subscribers debate the topics (whatever they are) without the threat of delating them then you should not be subscribing to the forum yourself - or do you just want the rest of us to sit back and say nothing while you dictate your own topics, or just maybe you are stuck in the same forgotten year that the FBHVC finds it's self still in !

Luxobarge is not out of order and there is no need for that attitude. Luxo is simply trying to prevent this topic wandering off into another very contraversial topic which is already catered for in another thread. If you must debate "what is a classic" then do it in that thread. Not in this one. Period.

[rich.]

slighty off topic, but over here when there are classic car tours they are quite popular with the locals..

[admin]

Ok so back onto the subject. Luxobarge is right, this isn't a what is or what isn't discussion and i support his stance. Those sorts of discussions only end in bad blood, arguments and ill-feeling. We don't need that in our lives, or on here. I simply wanted people to think about Drive it day, what it means, what it's supposed to do.

It's easy for people to simply take part in it, have a nice day with their friends, and perhaps have a pint and a bag of chips at the end of the day. I'm not against having fun in your classic, far from it, but this day seems to have simply become a jolly and many people who take part in it don't know or have forgotten what it's meant to achieve. Therefore it has become a bit useless, and i particularly detest the name (as i've stated).

I'm hoping that this will create a sensible discussion about Drive It day, perhaps make a few people actually think about what it's meant to achieve. This information i will then collate and send to Rosy for her consideration of my proposal. I really think that this day is a missed opportunity, needs reform and a rebranding.

[Luxobarge]

Definately agree about the re-branding. A simple poll around my friends and neighbours, not one of them had a clue what it is. Trouble is, if the new title had the word "Classic" in it, they'd all start arguing about what constitutes a classic and end up killing each other, and that would be a shame as I like my neighbours...

What's it meant to achieve? The more I think about it the less clear I am - what do people think? Does it in fact achieve anything? I think if I was clear about what it's meant to achieve I'd be more inclined to participate!

[ajsphead]

If all of us who had classics used them all the time, there would be a lot more on the road. We have come round to thinking that you need a modern hack for modern motoring and a classic for a hobby. Why? Get a classic, choose it and modify it to cope with modern motoring if it needs it, then use it every day. How many people in 1990 for instance thought that the car they'd bought wasn't fit for modern motoring, and they needed something that resembled a 2011 modern car? There's a huge advantage to owning classics from the 80's and early 90's because they can cope perfectly well with modern motoring and qualify in reality for classic perks.

Drive it day then becomes every day. The day itself is irrelevant from that perspective. However, it could be organised so that everyone who has a classic gets it out that day - a British Old Car Day (bikes, vans, motorhomes, lorries, tractors etc also allowed). It'll then serve the hobbyists, for whom the FHBVC lobby, and allow the every day users to pitch in too without the element of elitism, and the regulations and allowances obtained through the FHBVC would be less likely to be challenged. The impression of classic car owners would change if more people saw them every day, and we could see a further resurgence in the market with associated economic effects when people realise you can use some classics every day. I think Drive it day was organised by typical hobbyists for typical hobbyists. That doesn't mean those of us who use them every day aren't also hobbyists, but we own them to use them and enjoy them and the perks they bring and not polish them to within an inch of their lives, use them for 6 months of the year, subscribe to the lifestyle, and talk too much about them.

Anthony

[suffolkpete]

I did take part in Drive It Day. I found it a pleasant social event and a chance to see a few rare vehicles and chat to like-minded enthusiasts. I also enjoy seeing the steady stream of unusual vehicles on the main road that runs past my house. I think Neil is in danger of creating a gulf between the "use it every day" brigade and those who see their vehicles purely as a hobby. I would like to use use my car more,but I am deterred by issues such as parts availability and the amount of time I would have to spend on maintenance. As it is, being a member of a very small club, most club events involve a round trip of at least 200 miles so I clock up a fair mileage. One of the great things about the classic movement is the wide range of interests it embraces and the huge variety of people. Let's keep it that way and not get drawn into silly arguments about "what is a classic", or "real enthusiasts drive their cars every day". What really gets my back up, though, is when the local paper refers to vehicles of the 70s and 80s as "vintage".