Guide for Users of Historic Vehicles
In October 2006 the Federation Internationale Vehicules Anciens (FIVA) and the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) published a very useful guide for owners and drivers of historic vehicles.
Most of our cars do not have power steering and the braking systems are over 40 years old, many without servos. This does not mean that there is anything wrong with the cars, just that they need to be driven sympathetically and with an awareness of the effects on other road users.
We take all drivers around the block on a brief drive to familiarise them with the controls of the cars. The two main things to remember are:
1) The brakes on some cars are over 40 years old, and maybe designed up to 10 years before that. So you need more pressure on your right foot than in a modern car, and need to leave more room between you and the car in front.
2) The combination of lack of power steering and slow gear changes, in some cases without synchromesh, mean it is almost impossible to change gear and steer at the same time. So plan your gear changes, by slowing down and changing down a gear or two, BEFORE using both hands to turn the steering wheel.
Although some of the content of the FIVA/FBHVC Guide relates to very early vehicles including road going steam driven vehicles, many of the points raised are relevant to drivers of our classics and it is well worth a quick read.
Click here to download a copy of the Guide from the FBHVC web site.
