PeterH Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I got this from the Mini Forum. There's a TR7 and Herald in the photo. https://www.change.org/p/patrick-mcloughlin-save-the-classic-cars-from-he-scrappage-scheme?recruiter=69448908&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Anything, just anything, that anyone alleges on the 'Net needs checking. After all, is it sensible that after five years the scrap industry hasn't got on top of the glut after the scheme was introduced? I've asked the FBHVC, who should know if anyone does. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Would any of them be salvageable after standing 5 years on an airfield? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Obviously there were a lot of unwanted cars, and the owners decided to get rid of them this way. The small-ads are still full of similar cars that sell, or sometimes don't, so they decided it was less hassle than bartering with tyre kickers or time wasters. If these cars were released for sale, how many of them would actually sell? It's a nice dream, to save as many of our cars as we can, but in reality who is going to do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Despite suspicion I signed the petition. Today three messages from change.org which I appear to have joined. Another link for the spam folder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 I will relay the comments back to the Mini forum. I admit I was a little concerned when I saw it and didn't sign myself. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Not your fault Peter, I signed it, my spam folder will take care of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 A response on the Mini forum says the airfield at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire is full of old cars taken in under the scheme and that he saw a transporter bringing more only a few weeks ago - he thinks they are collecting them all together from around the country. Anybody live near enough to confirm this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Oh wow. I've just done a Google Earth view of Thurleigh Airfield - it is lined with cars. There must be hundreds. Don't know if they are all scrap or just storage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 And I've found this site: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/r-a-f-thurleigh-car-graveyard-april15.t95528 Dated 2013, it includes a lot of pics of the stored cars, inc. five MGBs, three Moggies, at least five Minis and I think a Sprite, next to two Daimlers! The authors were more interested in a clapped out Escort Mk5 RS turbo or Mk1 Golf GTIs. They had been there before, but this was 2010, several Minis and an MGB: http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/rae-thurleigh-august-10.t52937 And another site, with pics by the same snapper, I think as it includes duplicates, but showing more Bs and Sprites, but no evidence of any Triumphs. You have a look - if you click on the pics you'll see them in Flicker and can enlarge them. Maybe I must eat my words, but research is all! Just realised that this airfield is half of the Bedford Autodrome, test track and track day venue. Been there, never realised there was another half to it. And that Google Earth labels that second half as "RAE Bedford", which the Wiki reveals to have been a Top Secret flight research base, Brabazon, Harriers etc. No wonder the Urban Explorers get a buzz from it! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 The FBHVC describes the Facebook petition as "genuine", although they have no part in it. It looks as though my scepticism was misplaced. But my cynicism about online petitions is unfaded. There is no way that a Facebook petition will achieve anything. The only type that can is an official Petition to Parliament: https://petition.parliament.uk/ That needs a 10K signatures to get a Government 'response' (ie brush-off) and 100K to get a Debate in Parliament (a talking shop in Westminster Hall) I don't know that any of the latter had any effect on Government policy, and 100K is a big, big ask for something so niche as classic cars. IMHO, the only way to do this would be to get the FBHVC interested, as a sponsor for a scheme to get the used parts industry interested in 'mining' the store for spare parts. When Triumph engines are £200 now, that might be profit making, and that always attracts this Government, because they can tax profits. They can make nothing out of the cars as they are now, even scrap value is minimal. Thanks to the price of steel that same engine is only worth about £30 as scrap. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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