'No tax, so bring out your classic'

WITH the abolition of motor tax, islanders with vintage cars are being urged to use them more often. 'There are loads of cars sitting there and we are hoping more will appear,' said Guernsey Old Car Club president Graham Brown yesterday.

'In Guernsey, we have always had to pay road tax. We have campaigned without success for more than 20 years for its abolition for vehicles over a certain age,' he said.

People were reluctant to tax their cars for six months with abolition approaching and he believes there are many hidden gems stored away.

'We are hoping this will encourage them to bring out on a nice day cars that have been sitting in a garage for many years.

'Please think of what these cars were made for - to be used. Bring your treasures out and let the general public see them and become a member of the club,' he said.

'People have had the perception in the past that you had to be rich to have an old car, but that is certainly not the case.'

Club members went on their first run of the year yesterday - from John Foley's home at Les Bordages, St Saviour's, to Les Rocquettes Hotel, where they had lunch, and back.

The club was formed in 1969 and now has about 125 members.

'It's like born-again bikers,' said Mr Brown.

'You see cars and remember you used to go round in one as a lad and the interest is passed down through generations. It brings back boyhood memories.'

'People, as they get more mature, have more leisure time and bring their memories back into modern day reality,' he said.

In May, 42 club members are heading to the top of France's Loire Valley.

Members' cars range from the early 1900s up to the classic Morris Minors, MGs and A35s of the 1960s.

Chartered accountant Michael Fattorini, 56, owns a 1908 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, which his father passed on to him.

'It's an Edwardian vehicle and it's one of the oldest dozen Ghosts in the world,' he said.

'It's priceless to us and we enjoy old motor cars. My wife, Heather, and I met through them. They are a very gentle way of life and we take it everywhere and anywhere.'

* Anyone wanting to join the club or find out more about it can call its secretary, Rolf Aschmann, on 263890.