Meet the Car Club – The Morris Register and The Young Driver Initiative

The Morris Register young driver initiative gives young drivers the opportunity to drive a charming 1939 Morris Eight Tourer. The National committee of the Morris Register started the scheme in March 2018 with the aim to engage younger enthusiasts with pre-war vehicles.

“We conceived this initiative to engage younger enthusiasts with pre-war vehicles, as many newcomers to the classic car scene tend to gravitate towards models from the 1960s to the 1980s. At classic car shows, we hold a draw where attendees can enter their names, and we follow up with relevant questions before selecting a winner. Our hope is that the chosen individual will develop an interest in pre-war classic cars.”

We caught up with David Allanson, Webmaster, to find out more about the club and The Young Diver Initiative.

How did you come up with the idea for the loan car scheme?

There was a need to inspire the next generation of enthusiasts to look after these cars and preserve them in the future. What better way to do that then get them driving and using the cars!

How long have you run the scheme for?

The young driver initiative has been a part of the Morris Register since the First Lady took possession of the car in March 2018.

What is your reason for doing it?

The National Committee of the Morris Register conceived this initiative to engage younger enthusiasts with pre-war vehicles, as many newcomers to the classic car scene tend to gravitate towards models from the 1960’s to the 1980’s.

What benefits are you hoping that it will bring to the club?

Our hope is that the chosen individual will develop an interest in pre-war classic cars, ideally a Morris, although it’s not a strict requirement!

How will you choose the right custodian of the vehicle for 12 months?

At classic car shows, we hold a draw where attendees can enter their names, and we follow up with relevant questions before selecting a winner.

What will they gain from being a custodian of the car for 12 months?

David Allanson of The Morris register explains, “I was fortunate enough to be the second participant to benefit from this initiative, having entered the competition at the NEC Classic Car Show in November 2018. I received the car from the Club Chairman, John Ford, during the NEC Restoration Show in March 2019.

After returning the loaned vehicle, I decided to purchase a 1950 Morris 6 MS, which is now insured through Lancaster. Having then joined the club, I have been actively involved in redesigning our website and contributing to the monthly magazine, and I am currently collaborating with a team to organize our annual rally, Morris Fest, which can be found at Morris Fest's website.”

Have there been any problems and how did you overcome them?

There have been no problems due to having a robust set of questions to shortlist applicants that is based on their enthusiasm and passion for the classic vehicle scene, any relevant experience that they have and ability to safely store the vehicle etc.

Would you recommend this opportunity to other classic car clubs?

Yes, without question, it can introduce a whole new generation of people to cars that due to their younger age, they may not have previously been aware of, it helps them also develop the skills needed to maintain and understand cars from a different era.