PAST EVENTS
In case you’ve wondered what the Stag Owners Club has been getting up to this section gives you an insight to the events that we’ve participated in or held on a National level on a year by year basis – starting with the resumption of shows during 2021.
The 2021 AGM Officer Reports
President’s Report
It’s my opportunity to thank all of our Officers who have kept the Club moving forward in difficult circumstances since the pandemic struck. Special thanks to Committee Chairman Tony Lapworth who has produced regular advice for our members on the Covid issues and also steered the implementation of the shiny new website along with Carl Fuss as Webmaster, Roger Gray as Webeditor and Rosie Harvey. And a huge thank you again to everyone who organised and also volunteered at the Silverstone Classic where we celebrated 50 +1 years from the launch of the Stag …what a weekend despite the rain! And cream on the cake; we won the Best Club Display.
Also worthy of note was the Charity Rumble in which each Area took part to raise funds for their own favourite charity. Grateful thanks to Nick Rowland of Manchester and South Cheshire for pursuing Tony Lapworth’s idea with the Areas.
Co-ordinators’ Liaison Officer
No bonus points for guessing what a difficult and disappointing year it has been for the Co-ordinators and Club Officers with many events cancelled or postponed and a rush of events at the end of the year. However, their enthusiasm and camaraderie has continued via Zoom and other media. Many of them have continued to support their area members with regular contact and organising gatherings when and where it has been safe to do so. I would like to thank them all on behalf of the membership for their efforts.
During 2021 both biannual Co-ordinators meetings have been cancelled and we have mainly used email to contact, to advise and to answer queries including what alternatives to quizzes can we use for Zoom meetings? We had some creative answers to that one.
As usual as we approach the area AGMs and election time a number of resignations have been notified to me. And I am making a plea now for new officers to come forward. Without a Co-ordinator an Area cannot function and will have to close. The role does not have to be demanding, areas of the work can be passed to others who are willing to help, and in my experience the more you are involved the more you enjoy the Club.
Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs
Full reports from the Officers and a CCTV version of the AGM are available on the Federation’s website www.fbhvc.co.uk The following are what I consider to be of most interest to us as Stag Owners.
It is felt that the future for historic vehicle movement in the coming years will be challenging but is not all doom and gloom. The Federation report that many clubs are reporting a stability or an increase in the numbers of their club membership (and that includes SOC). Are people realising their ambitions because they understand that life is short?
The Federation have appointed a new Fuel Specialist to steer us through E10 and E5 et al.
Legislation
The focus has been on
- national and local initiatives regarding traffic regulations in Clean Air and Low Emissions Zones
- Internal Combustion Engined Cars (ICE2030) i.e. the stopping of their sale by 2030
- E10 Petrol introduced in September 2021. Concern for older vehicles. However E5 sales will continue for at least the maximum in law i.e. a further five years. Details of the effect of fuels is on the Federation website www.fbhvc.co.uk/fuels. It is good to know that an occasional tankful of E10 is unlikely to cause lasting damage.
- Automated Lane Keeping Systems (an international project) will allow limited automated driving on motorways late in 2021.
Other issues include ban on tyres older than 10 years on HGVs, Brexit and the effect on driving abroad, rear brake lights on pre-war cars, coal powered and steam vehicles.
Environmental Issues
After successfully lobbying historic vehicles are exempt from the charging regimes of Local Authorities. A number of the cities have been monitored to ensure they are dealing properly with the exemptions. The London ULEZ extended boundaries have incorporated the exemptions to the original area without further legislation being needed.
Where non-compliant vehicles would be banned in Scotland, the exemptions for historic vehicles are reflected within the individual consultation documents of Scotland’s major cities. A leading Scottish politician supportive of motoring heritage (and also a Stag owner) was involved and we asked our Scottish SOC members to send in their comments during the consultations.
The Federation has been investigating road closures and the extension of cycle lanes which has been accelerated during the pandemic. Primarily it is to prevent rat runs and create freer pedestrian and cycle traffic. However, careful drafting is required during implementation or historic vehicles could be prevented from using the rural roads and lanes.
DVLA
Staff suffered a higher rate of infection than the national average. However processing of registration applications were dealt with as quickly as pre-pandemic. A small dedicated team gave excellent service in dealing with V756 applications.
FIVA Legislation Committee
The Federation representative on FIVA has highlighted the significance of playing a role at COP26 to ensure historic vehicles are recognised in international plans to restrict fossil fuel powered vehicles and also to ensure the exclusion of historic vehicles from vehicle scrappage schemes. FIVA has provided an amendment to the End of Life Directive (vehicles of course!)
Heritage and Culture
The bulk of activities have been with the Heritage Alliance which is keen to support the historic mobile sector. The Heritage Statement published in the autumn is the Government’s vision and strategy for heritage and the historic environment for the short and medium term. In response the Federation has pointed out that our vehicles represent items of culture that changed the world in the 20th Century, that our level of pollution is minute and that the wellbeing following involvement with our movement is a significant contributor to our health.
Drive It Day was a success raising over £40,000 for the charity, thanks to the clubs and individuals participating. There are plans to repeat the event on 24th April 2022 sponsoring Childline, alongside a Ride It Day for motorbikes. Rally plates are available already to purchase for the charity.
A TV series is being produced by the National Transport Trust to be hosted by Edd China.
Skills
Unsurprisingly the pandemic put pressure on the Heritage Engineering Apprenticeship scheme with much of the classwork undertaken online. However, the high quality apprenticeship is recognised by many restorers and the number of apprentices has increased significantly, crowding the resources at Bicester Heritage. Brooklands Museum offered the use of the 4000 square foot Flight Shed as a workshop for apprentices, now to be used for mechanical work releasing space at Bicester Heritage for the new coachwork classes.
Those apprentices who started the courses four years ago will complete the course as qualified Heritage Engineering Technicians. It is likely demand for the course will increase as only these apprentices will be able to work on historic vehicles and also those of the present day powered by petrol and diesel.
Research
The National Historic Vehicle Survey provides information to the media and supports the lobbying of the Government, and incorporates not only information from owners and traders but also the general public to gauge attitudes to historic vehicles. A video and a series of Fact Files covering the results of the survey is available on the Federations website. To preserve integrity of the outcomes the survey is funded from the Federations own resources. A group of enthusiasts is being gathered to work on the future research projects. If you are interested in joining the group email research@fbhvc.co.uk
Events and Technical
The pandemic overshadowed so many events, particularly complicated where events cross the boundaries between the four countries of the UK.
The impact of Brexit on taking our historic vehicles abroad has caused concerns with contradictory advice from various sources including the Government. Inevitably some restrictions will disappear e.g. the need for Insurance green cards. Advice is still evolving but it looks like the only concerns for drivers of their own historic vehicles will be the length of the trip and whether they cross into Switzerland.
Information and Technology
Streaming the FBHVC AGM is expected now, after a successful virtual AGM in 2020.
The website is active with between 15,000-20,000 users per month. The website now lists the Museums and Trade Supporters directories. Clubs are urged to support museums and to use their facilities for group visits and for breaks during driving events.
Following Brexit an update to the guide to data protection is available on the website.
Archives and Museums
Always concerning is the amount of information and artefacts we house in our lofts and garages! An Archive Health check sheet together with the 5 Ps of Archiving (People, Place, Possessions, Process and Potential) is available to download from the website. A more detailed document on the 5 Ps will appear soon. If you have any items of interest to SOC please contact either Derek Athey or Peter Robinson (see page 3 of the magazine for contact details.
Standard Triumph Forum
For more than 20 years the group has been meeting twice a year to share information and organise events for the Standard Triumph community. The pandemic prevented our March and October meetings taking place in 2021 so most information was exchanged by email with a zoom meeting to decide on the 2023 Centenary for Triumph celebrations.
The Standard Triumph Picnic was held a Walton Hall Hotel, Wellesbourne postponed from May to September. Hosted by the Pre 1940 Triumph Club the event was held on a sunny day (eventually after early morning rain) in the lakeside setting. I am grateful to Worcestershire member Stewart Braznell who hosted the SOC stand.
Sadly, the Forum and the Motoring community as a whole lost long term and knowledgeable member, Graham Robson, author and compere at many motoring events all over the world. Graham supported the Forum from its conception and was passionate about the Triumph Community working together. His force and his knowledge will be missed.
As the third largest Triumph club we need to be represented on the Forum. I have already asked for a representative of Stag Owners Club to come forward to replace me on the group. Please contact me (lesleysoc@gmail.com) if you are interested.
International Liaison Officer
Car Clubs in Europe, and probably over the world have been affected by the cancellation of events and meetings because of the pandemic. Conditions and restrictions are very different amongst the countries. Stag Club Deutschland had to postpone the European Stag Meeting originally scheduled for 2021 and have now come to the conclusion that they cannot run it in 2022 because of ` lack of volunteers.
So the next European Stag Meeting will be hosted by SOC in Scotland in May 2023.
Lesley Phillips – President