CLUBS TO LOAN THEIR CLASSICS TO YOUNGSTERS
Eight of the nation’s clubs meet at Gaydon today to draw up radical scheme enticing younger car fans into driving classics
Clubs are joining forces to lend young enthusiasts their vehicles – and aiming to get a new generation of car fans more involved with classics. Eight organisations – including the MG Owners’ Club and Vauxhall Victor Owners’ Club – are meeting at the British Motor Museum today to draw up the Classic Loan Scheme, following the success of a pilot initiative run by the Model A Ford Club. The clubs now involved have several cars ready to loan to younger classic fans.
MG Owners’ Club spokesman, Richard Monk, says: ‘ We are right behind the idea – it’s got to be a good way of getting more young people into the classic movement.’
‘ We hope it will give younger people some of the joy that we’ve had’
BOB WILKINSON
Classic car owners’ clubs – including one of Britain’s largest – are backing a major scheme due to be drawn up at a meeting at the British Motor Museum today to loan cars to young enthusiasts.
The Classic Loan Scheme has grown from a pilot year-long project involving just one car – a 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton – which has been in use by 26-yearold Richard Gordon-Colebrooke since March.
The car, owned privately by Peter Garret, was featured on the stand of a major backer of the scheme, Peter James Insurance, at this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show.
Scheme co-ordinator and Model A Club of Great Britain chairman, Bob Wilkinson, was on hand to advise other organisations wishing to run a similar project.
He says: ‘Several clubs have got in touch and now eight are attending the meeting to get a joint scheme off the ground. There are also now several cars available for loan.
‘ We want to pass on classics to a new generation and hope this scheme will give younger people the chance to try the vehicles and get some of the joy from them that we have had.’
The MG Owners’ Club, which has 24,500 members, is another supporter of the plan.
Spokesman, Richard Monk, says: ‘ We are right behind the idea – it’s got to be a good way of getting more young people into the classic movement.’
‘ We do have some reservations but are hoping to resolve these and get a scheme into action, though we haven’t begun work on this as yet.’
Meanwhile the Vauxhall Victor Owners’ Club has allocated a 1960 F-type, called Joanna, for the loan scheme. Club spokesman, Ian Spruce, says: ‘This could not have come at a better time. Joanna was donated to the club by her owner Ms Valerie Evans in 1994 and has been carefully looked after by various members ever since. Recently though, circumstances have changed and we were wondering what to do about this partiucalr car in the future.
‘ We are delighted to join the Classic Car Loan Project. It’s a pioneering idea and we will shortly be searching for a suitable young enthusiast to take the Victor over for a year.’