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NEC Classic Motor Show
The Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, will be held November 12-14.
The 2021 show theme is
‘The Journey Continues...’
Each year, the organisers
challenge the exhibiting
clubs and traders to
create displays around a
suggested theme that they
can interpret in their own
way. The show also creates feature displays and entertaining stage segments that are
in keeping with the theme. The show, now in its 37th year, continues to grow and evolve as does our community as classics continue to be handed down from generation to generation. This year’s show is being planned with a number of Covid-19 safety measures still in place that can adapt with any changing guidelines. When booking tickets, visitors will be asked to choose a specific arrival time and entrance hall from which to enter the show. The organisers are planning the event to ensure everyone gets the best possible experience while keeping safety a priority for all attendees. More information can be found on the show’s website www.necclassicmotorshow.com.
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, is scheduled to be held at Birmingham’s NEC from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 November 2021. Tickets for the 2021 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, are now on sale with special discount codes (see the magazine’s carrier sheet for the code) available to enthusiasts to help get the classic car industry moving again following lockdown.
Check the website www.necclassicmotorshow.com or sign up for the newsletter at www.necclassicmotorshow.com/newsletter for the latest updates.
DVLA’s Historic Vehicle Backlog
Branch and Register Liaison Meeting
As we are still finding our way through this year, I have taken the decision to hold the 2021 Branch and Register Liaison Meeting via Zoom. Although restrictions have been lifted, I do know that some people will still be a little anxious of being in a ‘confined’ indoor space.
Hopefully by the same token it will give more of you that for various reasons cannot normally attend an opportunity to join in from the comfort of your own home. The format will be roughly the same, but with only ‘in house’ guest speakers taking part to cover your questions. The date of the meeting is Sunday October 10 at 2pm and will take around an hour to an hour and a half (unless we get really excited!). Mike Dean our Internet Service Manager will send the Zoom link to me and then I will pass it on to all branch contacts several days before hand, if you think you may have any difficulties accessing the link portal, please let Mike know at admin@mmoc.org. uk and we can work you through it.
Susan Akrill, Branch & Register Liaison
various pain points for the historic vehicle community in partnership with the FBHVC.
A spokesperson for the DVLA said, “We are pleased that the FBHVC has a positive and constructive relationship with the DVLA’s Vehicle Policy team, and I am keen that this continues and is strengthened. We also now have a dedicated Corporate Services team who work closely with our key stakeholders.”
Speaking specifically on the subject
of applications for historic vehicles, the DVLA commented; “When applications for historic vehicles cannot be processed using the usual methods, we consider each case individually on its own merits. If required, we also provide guidance to applicants on how best to proceed with their application if further evidence is required. Applications that may not have all the expected historic documentary evidence are considered taking into account all the available evidence so as to build a picture of the vehicle’s history. Where appropriate, these vehicles are able to retain their history.”
The Commons Select Committee for Transport met in July to question the DVLA on what its strategy is for overcoming the current backlog of over 1.4 million licence applications and to answer MPs questions around industrial disputes and staff shortages brought about by the pandemic.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs would like to lend its support to
the hardworking staff at the DVLA who have been dealing with a hugely increased workload in the wake of personnel shortages brought about by the pandemic. We think every workplace can relate to the struggles of the past 18-months.
The FBHVC, through constant dialogue with the DVLA and our close working relationship built up over many years, has managed to put systems in place whereby our member clubs, their representatives and experts on the ground are able to assist the DVLA through the outsourcing of certain elements of registration processes to the historic vehicle community. These
have included in the past the V765 scheme but also more recently, the validation of imports and VHI applications. We believe these established processes are key to helping the DVLA deal with the backlog for historic vehicles and effectively outsources much of the investigative process and verification the historic vehicle community. We understand that although there have been increased turnaround times, the DVLA for our sector at least, are beginning to get back on top of applications and have been in dialogue with them now to understand how best we can lend our assistance. Our focus is always to ensure that historic vehicles that should be on the road are on the road and being enjoyed by their owners and the public as quickly as possible.
As a result of those recent discussions on how we can assist the DVLA, the FBHVC has now been officially appointed as
key stakeholder in the DVLA. The DVLA have put in place and a newly designated relationship manager to work through the
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