Drive It Day 2013 Judged a Hit
Published: 24/04/2013
24 April 2013. Officials at The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, the organisers of the annual Drive It Day, have declared the event a resounding success. The combination of better weather and the unbounded enthusiasm of club organisers the length and breadth of the country brought historic vehicles out on to the roads in droves. FBHVC heritage team member, Ken Coad, coordinator of the event said, “We were blessed with the weather and hundreds of owners were encouraged to emerge from a long cold winter and get out on the road and meet up with like-minded enthusiasts.”
The FBHVC board were out in strength to welcome participants at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon. An estimated 300 historic vehicles met up at Gaydon’s splendid facilities and were rewarded by discounted entrance to the museum and pre-registered entrants received a specially minted 25th anniversary FBHVC pin badge. Amidst the customary MG’s, TR’s and Minis, were the somewhat rarer, Gilberns, Gordon Keebles and Scimitars. A brace of BSA thee-wheelers were attracting much interest, plus a number of motorcycles and scooters attended, including a rider in his eighties on a BSA A10 Rocket. A splendid US specification Rolls Royce took the prize in the bling category!
“Photographs and reports are flooding in to the FBHVC office”, said Federation secretary Rosy Pugh, “We will be putting as many as we can up on our website.” These are typical of the events that took place nationwide. Rosy herself reports from The Royal Oak at Bishopstone, near Swindon, where more than 120 vehicles gathered. The landlord was kept busy with bacon sandwiches and lunches and the oldest vehicle present was a 1914 Stanley steam car. There were bikes, cars a three wheeler, commercial vehicles and even military vehicles.
Steve Bradley from the South Cheshire Collectors Car Club reports that 10 cars set off from Nantwich to make the run to the Ponderosa Cafe at the top of the Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen in North Wales. After an excellent lunch they visited the nearby steam railway and everyone had a jolly good day out.
Steve Tanser of North West Casual Classics reports on their annual Ferry to Ferry Run. This starts at The Ferry Inn, Penketh and meanders through Cheshire finishing at The Eastham Ferry Hotel at Eastham for a splendid lunch.
Doug Townsend reports that 48 members of the Chiltern Region of The Morris Register visited the RAF Fighter Command 11 Group bunker at the former RAF Uxbridge. There were twenty historic Morris’s on parade and he recommends a visit to this historic site.
Doug Castle reports from the Cornwall Austin Seven Club. Members travelled from all parts of the county to meet at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Twenty four Sevens, Tens and Twelves and a much admired 1939 ex-London Taxi complete with period suitcases, provided an interesting display for visitors to this popular tourist attraction.
