The Warren Classic & Concours
With the bank holiday weekend ahead of us, it is that time when we all think of what we are going to do to fill the weekend. Thankfully for Motorsport fans and Petrolheads alike, this weekend has a lot to offer. Not only is there British Touring Car action at Thruxton and British GT at Rockingham as well as other club events around the country but on Saturday, there is something a little different you may be interested in checking out.
The Inaugural Warren Classic and Concours will be taking place on the 4th of May at The Warren Golf and Country club in Woodham Walther, near Chelmsford in Essex. On display at the 350 acre estate will be a unique collection of historic and supercars giving visitors the opportunity to get a closer look at some of the most beautiful cars in the world. If that wasn’t enough, the complete Le Mans Jaguar XJR works team will be present along with entertainment such as live music, games, an air display from the ex Red Arrows display team ‘The Blades’ sponsored by HastingsDirect and the chance to win a Mercedes Benz worth £30,000.
JD Classics will be bringing their Le Mans Jaguar
The Warren Classic & Supercar Family Experience will also be hosting the 2013 Warren Concours. Showing off a stunning array of Classic cars spanning ten decades of impressive automotive history for all the family young and old to drool over.
Max Chilton
But if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, also in attendance will be British Formula One Star Max Chilton and a Marussia Racing Car. “I’m really looking forward to meeting visitors to The Warren Classic and Supercar Family Experience.” Says Max, “The event provides an excellent opportunity for families and car enthusiasts to see a wide selection of the worlds most magnificent automobiles. Both Classic and Supercars will be well represented and, given the Warrens setting, it should be a fantastic day!”
The Warren Golf & Country Club Managing Director, Tony Stanton, said: “It is a fantastic coup for The Warren to get both Max and Marussia along to the event along with the Le Mans XJR works team. These additions, alongside the selection of world-class cars and entertainment, only make for a more spectacular day!”
The Warren Golf & Country Club provides a perfect setting for the event.
So if you fancy taking the opportunity to see this fantastic event in its debut year then here’s the details: Parking is free and public entry on the day is from 10.30am, with tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 5-16 and £25 for a family of four. Entry for classic car owners is from 7.30am and priced at £20.00 per car with parking in a dedicated area on a first come basis, plus an invitation to enter a novel ‘Car Park Concours’.
Tickets can be purchased on entry; those wanting to find out more can visit the Facebook page here or http://www.warrenclassic.co.uk/
Cassie’s Law – Update
Those who regularly read my blog, if there are any, will have read a post I wrote last year about Cassie McCord and the petition to enable Police the power to revoke the licences of unfit drivers with immediate effect. As in the Case of Cassie, her life was tragically cut short by an elderly motorist who at the time was in the process of having his licence revoked after an incident a few days earlier. You can read my blog about it here.
Two years on from Cassie’s death and after tireless campaigning from her mother Jackie, along with a well supported online petition (thank you if you were one of the many thousands who signed) the DVLA have announced plans to fast track the process in which licences can be revoked if the Police feel necessary. Under the new procedure, where an officer feels the safety of other road users will be put at risk if the driver remains on the road, they can request an urgent revocation of the licence through the DVLA. When notified, the DVLA will review the case and respond with an emailed revocation for the license. The new system will provide three levels of revocation – immediate, within 48 hours and postal whereby the driver will be dealt with via letter sent within 24 hours of notification from the police.
Cassie McCord
Personally I would prefer to see Police given the power to stop an unfit motorist from driving on the spot, much like they have the power to stop an uninsured driver. As in the case of the Motorist who killed Cassie, Police strongly advised him not to drive after being called to an incident a few days earlier, but the stubborn 89 year old pensioner refused and the police were powerless to stop him.
Although the change isn’t quite what Jackie has been campaigning for, she’s pleased it’s a step in the right direction. She said: “I’m pleased my work has been taken seriously. This is a positive step in the right direction but I think it’s just the beginning – there are a lot of changes that need to take effect.”
Jackie McCord – Tireless Campaigner
Assistant Chief Constable Sue Harrison said: “The new procedures launched by the DVLA to fast track revocations of driving licenses have been welcomed by Essex Police. This new procedure is a great testament to Jackie’s relentless determination and resilience, which I highly commend.”
Although these procedures have come too late in Cassie’s case and it is sad that it has taken the life of a young person to establish them, hopefully this will help stop a similar incident from happening again in the future.
I also believe this highlights the dangers of motorists who are unfit to drive but continue to do so, especially in the case of pensioners. Personally I believe the current driving license renewal system also needs to be looked at as it currently is only voluntary for a driver to give up their license and it is wrong to wait for an incident to happen before the Police of DVLA become aware of unfit drivers. The need for regular assessments for drivers over 70 years of age would be worthwhile along with the requirement for anyone over the age of 70 to renew their driving license on a more regular basis than the current 10 year period.
I hope that work continues to improve procedures such as this to make the roads and pavements safer for everyone, for Cassie’s sake.
Cassie’s Law
On the morning of February the 7th 2011, a young girl was walking through Colchester town centre on her way to the Sixth form college at which she was a first year student. Unbeknown to 16 year Old Cassie McCord, it would to be her last journey to college.
Whilst walking along Head street in the town past H&M, an out of control car mounted the pavement and struck Cassie, crushing her between it and the shop wall. The following day, the teenager was to succumb to her injuries and died in Queens Hospital with her family by her bedside.
Cassie McCord
But what of the driver? Was he drunk? No. Was he a young lad who had passed his test and was showing off like much of the media loves to tell us about? No. Or was he involved in a police chase and lost control in his desperate bid to escape? No. The driver was an 87 year old pensioner. So maybe just a tragic accident you might be thinking. Well maybe. But what makes this story so terrible is that just 3 days prior to this tragic event, Police were called to a collision in which a driver had crashed into a petrol pump on a forecourt endangering many people. The driver in question was the very same driver involved in Cassie’s death.
After the petrol station incident, the driver had failed an eye test and had to be driven home. Police had urged him not to get behind the wheel of his car again, but as the law stands, were powerless to immediately suspend his driving license. Unfortunately, the driver selfishly ignored the police’s advice and continued to drive despite his poor driving ability and eyesight. This was a selfish decision that claimed the life of an innocent victim with a long life full of potential ahead of her.
Now, Cassie’s mother, Jackie McCord has started a petition to push for a change in the law to give police the power to immediately suspend the licences of drivers who’s ability behind the wheel falls below an acceptable standard until a full medical examination can be held to confirm their ability to drive. This campaign is fully supported by Essex Police and like all petitions, needs 100,000 signatures before a debate can be heard in the House of Commons. So please just spare a couple of minutes to fill in the online petition via this link: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/21244
If a law like this already existed, a young girl would not have had her life so tragically taken away. So please do your bit to try and stop this from happening again.
