[Mike K]

A few comments .

Most of the classic vehicle events I know of over here are run by clubs and they do not charge entry fees for vehicles and crews if you arrive in a restored vehicle , they do usually charge a small fee for the public . The events that do charge fees for participating classic or old vehicles are usually run to make money for a charity of some sort .

I must say it is most unusual to have a classic vehicle event that is run by a private business in order to to make a profit for that business . Does anyone know of any others apart from Beltring ?

The local MV club here used to have a policy ( still current I believe ) of not attending any events that charge a entry fee for restored vehicles and crews , the exception is charity events . When you think about it , after spending hundreds hours of your life and much money re-building a vehicle , then having to pay reg/ fuel / insurance costs to get it to a event , the final blow would be paying to get in . Another point is , I would think that the immediate area surrounding the W&P show in Kent would gain quite a lot financially , eg. hotels , inns etc. We , the struggling back yard restorers who make these shows possible are in many cases, not appreciated enough by event organisers ,we are often taken for granted .

The best way to look at the MV scene is through the eyes of a classic vehicle enthusiast , not through the eyes of a loony running around playing soldiers . Many of the re-enactors wouldn't know a Sherman tank from a BSA folding pushbike .

Mike