The Newsletter of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs Issue 6, 2014 In this issue: No more tax discs! Ethanol-free petrol DVLA operations Scenic tour reports AGM and Conference report Visit our website at www.fbhvc.co.uk The UK Member of FIVA FBHVC Insurance Scheme for member clubs... When it comes to securing the right insurance for your club, we IFC can help. Aston Scott full page ad With a product endorsed by the FBHVC and only available to member clubs, you can be confident that we have the product you need at a price that is competitive. We specialise in helping clubs and classic motor traders, so why not put us to the test? Email: Debbie Adye [email protected] or Yvonne Bates [email protected] Call us now on 01252 377546 or visit www.astonscott.com 2 FBHVCnews Issue 6, 2014 The Newsletter of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs President: Lord Montagu of Beaulieu Editorial Chairman: David Whale Secretary: Rosy Pugh As I write this the memory is fresh of some 619 veteran vehicles (I would say cars but All correspondence to the secretary that would not be strictly accurate as some entrants are more accurately described as at the Registered Offi ce: tricycles) leaving London for their annual pilgrimage to Brighton in commemoration Stonewold, Berrick Salome, of the repeal of legislation restricting use of the new-fangled motor car at the end Wallingford, Oxfordshire, of the 19th century. It’s a wonderful spectacle and even torrential rain of biblical OX10 6JR proportions couldn’t dampen the spirits of the enthusiasts, though I daresay Sir Ben Ainsley felt the most at home of all the competitors! This event is indeed the oldest Phone/Fax: 01865 400845 motoring event in the world and has been run continuously for 118 years! Only Email: [email protected] World Wars and petrol rationing have stopped it and it continues today to be the most world famous event that symbolises motoring enthusiasts exercising their rights of access to the public highway. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs exists to uphold the Would it therefore not be ironic if this British cultural icon were to be fi nally freedom to use historic vehicles on scuppered by an over-zealous or even careless application of a piece of legislation not even originating from the Parliament building so often featured in the the road. It does this by representing background of news reporting of the event? the interests of owners of such vehicles to politicians, government I don’t think for one moment that the Department for Transport has this in mind offi cials, and legislators both in as they begin the process of enacting the EU Roadworthiness Directive. They are the UK and (through membership quite rightly focussed on the road safety benefi ts, but we must of Fédération Internationale des not underestimate the diffi culty of their task having to fi t a very Véhicules Anciens) in Europe. prescriptive European directive into a legal framework which There are over 500 subscriber both complies with European law yet respects British heritage organisations representing a total and culture. membership of over 250,000 in Yes of course there are exemptions from the new testing regime addition to individual and trade (that too has to be thrashed out prior to introduction in 2018) supporters. Details can be found but the defi nition of ‘historic’ in the directive which prohibits at www.fbhvc.co.uk or sent on ‘substantial modifi cation’ could make life very tricky indeed application to the secretary. for many vehicles which to our culture appear self- FBHVC is a company limited by evidently ‘historic’. guarantee, registered number FBHVC is on the case, as you will discover when you 3842316 and was founded in 1988. read Bob Owen’s report in this issue. Contents 4 UK Legislation 7 DVLA 18 Trade and Skills Roadworthiness and REACH, the DVLA operations Apprenticeship scheme - help end of the tax disc wanted 8 AGM and Conference 5 EU legislation 2014 Report 19 Heritage An extract from FIVA’s lobbying Drive it Day and Heritage Open service 10 Technical and Events Days dates announced What’s on, Autumn Leaves Tour 6 Fuel News report, Around Mainland Britain 20 Club News Ethanol-free petrol on a BroughSuperior Extracts from club newsletters Lavenham Press are the preferred supplier for print to the Federation articles are available via email, for more information please contact of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. They have a wealth of experience in [email protected] the fi eld of club magazines and newsletters and can also offer database Cover picture: Delighting attendees at the FBHVC AGM ANH 154 is a and membership services Daimler CVG6 of 1947-vintage with a body by Northern Coachbuilders Subscriber clubs and organisations can reproduce the text of items and operated with Northampton Corporation. It has its own website at from this publication in their own publications provided that FBHVC is http://www.anh154.co.uk/ credited. Images may be reproduced only with specifi c permission. All Issue 6, 2014 FBHVCnews 3 UK Legislation Bob Owen really explain the situation and implied Roadworthiness Testing the exercise was merely a tidying up of the existing MoT regime, which we think is a bit of a simplification. To remind everyone, the EU Directive the Northern Ireland situation under In particular it was in error in not is adopted and is binding on all the guidance of the Association of Old mentioning that motorcycles are not Member States including the UK. Vehicle Clubs in Northern Ireland. to be covered until 2021 and even Our Government is now working on then there will be much more national the problems of how the Directive We are disappointed that the meeting discretion. And the site did not really is to be applied, including whether, with DfT and DVSA on 2 July, at which allow for discussion on the subject of and to what extent, there should be several stakeholders were represented ‘substantial change’ which is for us the exemptions. and which was most useful but far too most important issue. short, has not to date been followed Interestingly, that means two separate up. We are still hoping. DfT say they are proceeding towards a exercises, one in Great Britain formal consultation during next year, (England, Scotland and Wales) and We do hope many of you contributed but the Federation is now commencing one in Northern Ireland, where the to the discussion on the DfT ‘Classic’ serious briefing activities on the testing regime is devolved. Our own website. The website was announced matters which we have considered and Department for Transport (DfT) is as running till the end of October. raised here, and which have been put not involved in the Northern Ireland In the event, as it was not a formal to us by members. We will be able to process. We are not clear how the two consultation and as it had received tell you a lot more on this in the next Governments are going to co-ordinate around 550 comments, it closed slightly Newsletter when our briefing activities on this, as they surely must, but we early on 24 October. Its presentation will be further advanced. will be keeping a watching brief on was a bit of a disappointment. It didn’t REACH Regulations Asbestos There is a view among manufacturers, including the As I explained in the last Newsletter, there is an ongoing motor industry, that the views of the producers of the exercise in the Department of the Environment Food and substances were being more carefully considered than Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Health and Safety Executive those of industrial users. They are working to rectify this (HSE) to regularise limitations in dealing with asbestos imbalance, which grows in importance as more substances, under the EU REACH Regulations. They have started with of less obvious hazard, are included. In particular, they are sales and transfers by museums, after which they will keen that a principle be established known as ‘repair as proceed to other ‘artefacts’ which will include vehicles. produced’, which will allow the continuation of existing processes on both replacement and refurbished existing Progress has not been as quick as we would have expected, parts where that is appropriate. but we are promised further news soon. We will, as always, keep you posted. In respect of chromium trioxide, there are major industrial concerns, including from the suppliers of turbines, Chrome plating particularly regarding the use of chrome plating for Again as reported in the last Newsletter, there are concerns hardening purposes on bearing surfaces. These are being regarding the use of chromium trioxide, used in chrome dealt with through such bodies as the European Vehicle plating, which has become what is known as a ‘candidate Manufactures Association (ACEA) in Brussels, supported by substance’ for inclusion in REACH. FIVA. Our understanding now is that these concerns are likely So we are somewhat more relaxed on this, but are ensuring to be subsumed into broader discussions, which will have that the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group are been a little delayed by the appointment of the new EU kept aware of the issue and are on hand to support us if we Commission, on how substances are considered generally. need them to. 4 FBHVCnews Issue 6, 2014 Discontinuance of the Tax Disc The tax disc is no more. Several of the issues we raised became And we think it important clearer as the project progressed, but also to remind everyone we remain concerned at how diffi cult that a seller should never it was to establish exactly what was part with the V5C/2 tear off planned until it actually happened.