[SEL] re National Rally

[Reg & Margaret Ingold]

< I am too new at this or perhaps not informed as I am not from your
country,
> but exactly what is the NHMA? Is it a government entity or what? My quick
> web search only pulled up an insane set of rules for loading and unloading
> tractors.
Jeff



Jeff, The National Historic Machinery Association was formed, partly
 to try and give the old
machinery  movement a united voice when the government was all set to try
and screw us
on our right to sell OUR property to whoever we wanted to. I wont go into
deep details except to say that the Govt suddenly saw a chance to pull some
money off us. (If I want to sell something that might be 'antique', and I
ask more than $350 for it, I am supposed to declare it to the taxman so he
can move in and collect)
A portion of the movement were worried about'Heritage' iron leaving the
country. etc.
So the NHMA was formed to give a bit of muscle to us splintered groups.
I dont know who actually did the organising but,
from these beginnings, it decided to organise insurance, coerced clubs to
become affilliated, Made up rules on the running of events, etc.etc.
So we are now at the stage of the game that you are witnessing.

I make no judgements on the way things have gone but, I reserve the right to
disagree with the direction we are headed.
Some can see what is ahead. Others cannot grasp the broad picture.
Most dont care!  But, when it is too late, Like politics, we are stuck with
the results of ignoring it and there is no going back.
"Hey, but, its ONLY old engines, Just a hobby." Well, it may not stop at old
engines! Or old cars, bikes, etc.etc.
I dont know what is coming but, there is not the enjoyment of being able to
'show' stuff up close as there was when I first started.
In Oz, at any 'santioned' event, there is no chance of a visitor getting the
least bit involved.
Kids are no longer given the joy of starting an engine. (Under supervision,
of course) ETC.
The message projected is that this stuff is DANGEROUS!

So is crossing the road!  I have played with and owned more engines than
most, been to a lot of shows, seen the occasional stupid act, but never
heard of any wild insurance claim.

All these rules are there for 'Our,  and the spectators protection'?
Make no mistake, this hobby has one of the lowest injury rate of any.

If we are as dangerous and stupid as the present 'rules' imply, Surely we
should be in a home for the braindead.

It is my view that the rules loaded on us are for the protection of the
insurance companies more than the public.
The mindset of a lot of the movement is that you cannot do ANYTHING without
having insurance.
The mindless fear that if you have ANY incident, you will automatically be
dragged to court where
You WILL have the shirt on your back and everything else taken from you as a
matter of course.
(But it MIGHT just happen so........)

The more I write, the more desponent I become.
Not with any one point but with the total overall picture.
A lot think I am 'out of my tree' for even caring. They see nothing wrong
with things as they are.
The arguments are so logical. 'Of COURSE we must do it this way. Just in
case!'

But, the good days of sharing up close with the public are gone. All
interaction is over a barrier that is a lot more than a wire fence.

A lot out there have forgotten that this thread all started because I spoke
up about the costs involved with the Nat Rally.
I passed my concerns onto the organisers and reported to rhe list on what
transpired.
I have no intention of degading the event or the organisers.

All the rest of what has followed is  the airing of 'for and against' views
on how things are in Oz.

My views, comments,etc. are just that. I dont claim to be right or wrong,
and the hobby will follow its course.

So, lets just go onto a new topic. We have beaten this one to death and
solved nothing.
I have had my say, as have a lot of others. Some fresh air has been let in
and maybe some good will come of it all.





Reg & Marg Ingold.
Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
randmingold at hotkey.net.au
http://www.oldengine.org/members/randmingold