It's Drive it Day on Sunday 23rd April

[Peter Cresswell]

A reminder that it is Drive it Day on Sunday 23rd April.
Drive it Day is an FBHVC initiative to celebrate the 1000 mile trial run in 1900 to demonstrate the practicality of the fledgling motor car. Each year the celebration takes place on a Sunday as close as possible to the original event held on 23rd April 1900, so this year Drive it Day is exactly 117 years after the original. Rather than testing the reliability of the motor car, these days the day is used more to publicise the Classic vehicle movement and draw attention to its importance to the economy of the country by getting as many vehicles as possible onto the roads.
Many MGCC (and other MG Clubs) natters organise a Drive it Day outing which is somewhat shorter than the original arduous 1000 miles that lasted 3 weeks. Many have a route of 60 - 70 miles and include a stop at somewhere interesting.
My own MG CC Midland Centre Stone Natter is taking a trip to south of Lichfield to visit a Classic Car restoration business, then Sunday lunch in a local pub followed by a scenic tour home. Although this one is now fully booked, take a look to see what your local natters are putting on, or why not just go for a run out as an individual? You are sure to see many other classics of all marques and models out and about and with MG being the most numerous you will be doing a lot of waving!
Some facts!
1. The classic vehicle industry employs almost 35,000 people in the UK.
2. We owners spend £5.5Bn on classic vehicle related activities.
3. Over 1 million vehicles are registered as 'Historic' of which 53% are registered for road use. The are about 550,000 owners.
4. More than 8 million people in the UK are interested in Historic Vehicles, but 23 million people see Historic Vehicles as an important part of our heritage.
(Source FBHVC)