DRIVE-IT DAY ‘BIGGER AND BETTER FOR 2016’
FIVA’s international recognition for UK event will boost 24 April turnout
There’s just over a week to go to this year’s Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs-organised Drive-It Day, and it’s set to be the best yet, according to the FBHVC.
At least 450 enthusiasts’ clubs and more than a quarter of a milion individuals will be uniting on Sunday, 24 April at numerous locations around Britain in a demonstration of classic car solidarity.
Launched in 2006, Drive-It Day was formed to inspire owners to take their vehicles out of winter hibernation for a drive to celebrate the classic car movement as a whole. It is now held every year on the closest Sunday to 23 April to commemorate the anniversary of the 1000-mile Trial of 1900, organised by the Automobile Club and which ran from London to Edinburgh and back, taking in the nation’s major cities on the way.
This year’s Drive-It Day has international recognition for the first time following its nomination as the flagship event for 2016’s World Motoring Heritage Year. This marks the 50th anniversary of The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA – the European umbrella organisation of historic vehicle clubs), which sets out to raise awareness of the enormous value that lies in the historic vehicles preserved around the world.
Another nominee for 2016’s World Heritage Year is MGLive!, run by the MG Car Club and taking place on 4-5 June at Silverstone. The Club has four different events for Drive-It Day this year, and PR and social media officer Chris Kynoch says FIVA recognition will help create the strongest turnout yet. He says: ‘Our members really love Drive-It Day and it’ll be well attended. But as MGLive! has also been recognised by FIVA, it’s a massive selling point which we expect will boost 23 April numbers even further.’
Last year’s Drive-It Day broke all attendance records and the 2016 event is expected to be even bigger, weather permitting. FBHVC communications director Geoff Lancaster says: ‘It’s snowballing and getting bigger and bigger year on year. Last year we predicted there would be 250,000 classic vehicles out on the road across Britain, and we estimate there were thousands more. We could do even better.’
Ken Coad, the FBHVC’s national coordinator for Drive-It Day 2016 adds: ‘The FBHVC leaves the running to the individual clubs, so they can develop their own ideas. But we do plan to have a presence at Bicester and possibly Brooklands this year.’
Head of PR for Bicester Heritage, Phillip White says: ‘Our venue is going from strength to strength, and Drive-It Day is hugely important for the classic movement and to us commercially.’