Roll over to preview

So, we’ve recently had the Chancellor big it up and announce his budget for this year. I don’t know about you, but the much-hyped budget rarely seems to have any real effect on me. This year it appears I’m going to pay slightly less income tax in the future, a pint of beer will cost me 1p less, but a bottle of wine will cost me more. The good news for us motorists was that the proposed fuel hike in September is to be cancelled, but there was a further point of interest to us old car drivers. Virtually hidden amongst George Osborne’s spiel about economic growth and national debt, was the surprising revelation that free historic road tax would be extended to vehicles built before 1 January 1974. Has this 12-month extension on qualifying any other relevance? Does it signify a move towards a rolling exemption, as originally announced all those years ago? I doubt it, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. Further interesting news of late is the publication of two reports by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. Seemingly Lord Montagu of Beaulieu wanted to know the economic impact of the Beaulieu International Autojumble, and Lord March reckoned the Goodwood Revival does its bit for the local economy as well. The FBHVC worked in conjunction with the University of Brighton to undertake both of these studies and the published results are quite staggering. Facts and figures abound in the reports but, to cut to the chase, the Beaulieu Autojumble turns over £11 million, contributes half a million quid in VAT to the treasury and has an economic benefit of £3 million to the New Forest area. Impressive, huh? But that’s nothing compared to the Goodwood Revival, which has a £32 million turnover, shells out £4 million in VAT and makes a contribution to the local economy of £12 million every year. Now, what are the chances of getting similar studies done for the likes of the NSRA Swap Meet or the NASC Nationals? Yeah, I thought not.