'National Drive it Day' - Sunday 20 April!

- Tue 15th Apr 2008

By Ian Edwards with photographs by Bryan Matthews.

Funland car park by the Hayling Railway, will be the place to be for all lovers of classic motoring on the afternoon of Sunday 20 April, when ‘National Drive it Day’ comes to Hayling. A convoy of vintage vehicles from the South Hants Vehicle Preservation Society supported by the Island's own 'Hayling Legends', will be arriving at Beachlands Railway Station during the afternoon, as part of a whistle-stop tour of Hampshire highways and byways.

‘National Drive It Day’ is a nation wide event organised by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, a grouping of over 450 local car clubs throughout the country, created to “Uphold the freedom to use old vehicles”, as part of “An ongoing campaign to raise public awareness of the historic vehicle movement”.

The April 20th date was chosen for this the second annual event as, “On that day in 1900, 64 cars set out from London on the first day of the famous ‘Thousand Mile Trial’ round Great Britain – an incredible undertaking by those early motor cars and their pioneering drivers, and one which deserves annual celebration.”

The concept behind the event is that Britain’s vintage vehicle owners should, “Get their vehicles out so they can be seen by the public. If the vehicle is suitable, it could be used instead of modern transport for daily activity. To go to work take a trip to the seaside, enjoy a day out in the country, visit a stately home or just go shopping”.

In the spirit of the event the Hayling Railway’s own vintage locomotives, 1940 Ruston diesel ‘Alistair’, and its younger 1969 sibling ‘Edwin’, will be on display, taking their share of the day’s work with the ever popular 1988 built ‘Jack the Seaside Engine’.

Hayling Island and the Seaside Railway and Funland in particular, is fast becoming a popular destination for vintage car enthusiasts and rally’s. 2008 already having witnessed the annual New Year’s Day visit of the ‘Pompey Puddleducks’ Citroen 2CV Owners, and a February visit by classic Lotus sports cars.

While Sunday 11 May will see the Hayling Railway’s own annual ‘Classic Transport Day’, run in conjunction with Funland, the ‘Double L’ (Local Locomotion) Club, and the Island’s very own ‘Hayling Legends’.

By forum user, Hayling Seaside Railway

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