WELCOME TO THE WORKSHOP

Where the team form the world’s worst boy band

Iam sure nobody would have believed, at the very first Classic Motor Show, how big the annual party would become. The final, huge, hurrah of the season doesn’t look like it is going to change anytime soon: this year 71,896 people came through the door.

It’s tangible proof of the scale of our passionate pastime and an illustration (like it or not) of how we have become an industry. The Lancaster Insurance-supported show is the trade’s shop window as well as the clubs’ big bash and business is still bouyant.

So, when I called the Ford Motor Company to ask for some kind of change to its scrappage scheme, when it comes into contact with classic cars, I didn’t go in holding a dud hand. Not only did I make Ford aware of the size of our industry (£5.5 billion p.a. to UK plc) but I had friends to help me kick down the door. Lord Steel, President of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, spoke forcefully to the big suits and got me an ‘in’. Then there was you, the PC reader.

Your emails, tweets, posts and letters had an effect. Ford listened and you made the negotiations easy. Thank you – we are strong when we act as one – the heroes of Caithness proved it. Ford didn’t save this car… you did!

Now for the campaign. ‘If it says Historic Vehicle on the V5 – it is scrappage exempt.’ Online petition open, please sign.