So Call Sign has asked American member Merle Pierce to give us a view of the LVTA from his perspective…
The LVTA in America
By Merle Pierce
THE CALL SIGN CONNECTION
TO THE
LONDON VINTAGE TAXI ASSOCIATION
The American Section was originally started as the American-British Cab Society in California, but later it just seemed easier to become part of the LVTA itself. We have our own Secretary and each month he prepares a Section Notes flyer which is included with our Newsletter. A problem for the section though, is that the members are widely dispersed, so there are very few club activities.
London to Brighton Run - In
Michigan!!!
A few years ago, a London-Brighton Run was put on in Michigan attracting 8-12 members, and
this past January an Arizona Taxi Odyssey Meet brought together about 15 people. Members
tend to cluster in California, Florida, New York City, Washington and Chicago.
On the other hand, each May a British Under Steam meet is held at the New
England Museum of Wireless and Steam and the club is listed as one of the sponsors. While
it is a very small gathering, each year we raise $100 or more for the preservation of
steam and one of the oldest wireless stations in the world.
At the beginning of last year, some of the Free-Net administration took notice of the page and offered increased space for the Association and status as a local information provider. Then in May, the Canadian Free-net host was shut down, and OSFN also offered to act as host. After several weeks of discussion, another site was found, but OSFN remains as a back-up if trouble should recur. They are very taxi supportive. By December, the LVTA site was set up, slightly delayed by staff changes. Our site address is:
http://www.osfn.org/britishcabs/
I have added areas on items for sale and for club activities. There is a small section on cab humour and others with references to cabs in literature and film. Inasmuch as there is such a large American membership, I am constantly working on an expanded British links sections.
The Transport links covering air, marine, rail, bus, light rail and British motoring marques is especially full. There are also sections for British World Taxi sites.
I am also compiling a list of British cabs which have been sent across the water which is echoed on line. Call Sign will be using this list as an on-going series on British taxis through the ages.
Coach Glider Kits - From Carbodies
During the short period the page is up, we have gained a number of new members, united several Beardmore owners, referred a great number of owners to parts sources, (which as American Spares Co-ordinator, I find especially gratifying) and even helped a couple of owners identify their vehicles. One fellow from New Jersey had a 1976 cab passed off as a 1966 model, while a couple in Colorado had an FL2 which had been altered to pass as a taxi. They are now planning to restore VCR 355H as a hire car. So far, it is the only FL2 to have surfaced over here.
As information becomes available, I hope to add summaries of cab registrations and driver licensing, operating companies, cab production records and materials on the licensing process. I would also like to see more parts information, and perhaps, diagrams added later. During the past few weeks, we have installed a counter on the page and accesses seem to be increasing. It averages 200-400 hits per month.
Our Section has been a bit ahead of the UK membership in exploring the Internet, but Warren Rushton has now set up a UK e-mail address for the club: lvtauk@btinternet.com
The email address for the LVTA web site is britishcabs@osfn.org and my own address is reverendweasel@mindless.com or rweasel@busweb.co.uk
