Glews-National Drive-it-Day
Bubblecars, Micro-cars and other small cars will all be heading to Glews Garage on Sunday 17th April; but not for a service or MOT.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has set the date for the ‘National Drive-it-Day’ and Glews Garage are proud to be hosting the event by acting as the meeting and starting point for this year’s event.
Glews Garage are expected to welcome twenty cars to their site in Goole and will be providing refreshments for the car enthusiasts before they set out for a scenic run through the York area. The Micro Maniacs-the name which the club goes by-will begin to meet from 9.30am and will be leaving Glews Garage between 10.30am and 11.00am.
“We are delighted to be hosting the start of the National Drive-it-Day and are looking forward to welcoming participants and spectators alike” commented Graham Andrews, Dealership Director of Glews Garage. We are also hoping to have a 1950s Bedford O Series truck, 1950s Talbot Sunbeam Drop Head and on a more modern note the all electric Peugeot Ion and the depute of the New Peugeot 508 so come along grab a coffee and spend an hour looking around the cars.
The event is expected to attract a large spectator crowd and Committee member of the Micro Maniacs, Terry Parkin, believes the event will be an enjoyable one for all;
“Our purpose is to encourage the preservation, restoration, use and enjoyment of Microcars and Bubblecars. Our motto is ‘Max Fun-Min Cost and we are all looking forward to the event. We would like to thank Glews Garage for providing us with such a welcoming starting venue.”
Bubblecars are those odd vehicles, usually very small, often 3-wheeled, usually powered by motorcycle-derived engines of less than 300cc and recognisable by their bubble- or egg-like appearance. These vehicles were developed in Europe in the aftermath of WW2, when fuel supplies were limited and materials for building cars were scarce.
They became even more popular during the Suez fuel crisis of the mid 1950’s when their parsimonious frugality took them much further on a gallon than conventional vehicles of the period. However, in 1959 the introduction of the ubiquitous “Mini” prompted their decline and by the mid-1960’s, production of Bubblecars had virtually ceased.
Nowadays, the quirky appearance and design of Bubblecars is recognised as an unforgettable phase in the development of the automobile and is recognised as the fore-runner of today’s eco-mobiles.