Classic Car © Roberto Verzo/flickr.com

Illegal scrapping is a large problem in the UK. Of the two million cars that are declared off the road every year, only one million of them are processed through Authorised Treatment Facilities and issued with a Certificate of Destruction. If a car is scrapped illegally, it is stripped of valuable parts then abandoned. Tyres pile up on the side of the road or in dodgy scrapyards. Oil and brake fluid are poured down the drain, causing immeasurable damage to our soil and our water system. Even more shockingly, some of these cars are unlawfully and unsafely put back on the road; leaving you as the unsuspecting owner likely to be liable for speeding tickets for a car you thought was long deceased.

So, how can you scrap your car safely? Giveacar is working to combat this problem as well as raise money for charity. They provide a safe, easy and ethical service that facilitates the collection of scrap cars. Then, depending on the age and condition of the car, it is either scrapped or sent to a car salvage auction. If it is scrapped then at least 85% of the car by bodyweight is recycled. A small administration fee is taken from the proceeds, then the rest is donated to the charity of the owner’s choice.

Giveacar has over 300 affiliated charities, from smaller ones such as Pathfinder Dogs to massive ones such as Marie Curie Cancer Care. Since January 2010, they have raised over £250,000 collectively for charity.

Aston Martin DB5 © Timitius/flickr.com

The Aston Martin DB5, equipped with all its lethal gadgets, was first driven by Sean Connery  in ‘Goldfinger’. It also appeared in ‘Thunderball’, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ and ‘Casino Royale’.

The Aston Martin DB5 is expected to bring in $5 million (about €3.6 million) as it is the only remaining James Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5. It has been in a private collection for the last 40 years.

Another car being auctioned the very same day is the Jaguar XJR driven by ‘Zao’ in ‘Die Another Day’. The car is equipped with the Ford Mustang V8 engine, Ford Explorer four-wheel-drive and Recaro-seats. The Jaguar is expected to bring in about €40,000.

It is a world show for classic and vintage cars, motorcycles and you can get spare parts as well as model cars.
In 20 halls and 4 open air areas more than 1,000 exhibitors from 28 countries are expected.

You can see the 75 year old Volvo PV 36 “Carioca” of which only about 25 still exist. From 1935 and 1938 500 cars were produced. Mercedes-Benz will show sports cars of more than 100 years and in hall 7 Volkswagen will show many different cars.

And visitors who come to the Techno Classica should not forget that Essen as well as 52 other cities in the region are European Capital of Culture this year and many events take place. Don’t miss them.
Opening hours:

• 7th April 2010: Preview, Trade and Press Day 2 pm – 8 pm
• 8th April 2010: 10 am – 6 pm
• 9th April 2010: 10 am – 7 pm
• 10th April 2010: 9 am – 6 pm
• 11th April 2010: 9 am – 6 pm

Entrance Prices:

• Premium Day Ticket: 30,00 €
• Adults: 20,00 €
• Teenager and puplis (15 – 17 years), students, unemployed and handicapped people (on presentation on an ID-Card): 16,00 €
• Children and Teenager (8 – 14 years): 10,00 €
• Children under 8 (accompanied by an adult): free admission
• Family ticket – parents with 2 children (up to 17 years): 50,00 €
• Groups of 10 and more: 18,00 € per Person

The address is: Messe Essen GmbH, Norbertstraße 2, 45131 Essen
You can get to Essen by car or train. The nearest airport is the Rhine-Ruhr airport at Düsseldorf.

The event begins on Friday with the registration and on Saturday there will be a classic car contest,  but also enough time for coffee and lunch. The tour ends at about 3 pm in Nes where the participants are welcomed with music and drinks.

Classic Car©flickr/Martin Pettitt

In the evening there will be a buffet with music and the winner of the contest will be announced.

On Sunday there is no program but you will have time to enjoy beautiful Ameland. You can go on a cycle tour or just walk on the sandy beaches.

You can take part in the Classic Car Weekend if you are the owner of a classic car built between 1948 and 1977.

Unfortunately the number of participants is limited so that no more drivers can participate this year. But you are of course welcome to watch the event. If you send your name and address to info@vvvameland.nl you will get next year’s registration form in January 2011.

Besides several exhibitions like 100 Years of Alfa Romeo or 200 Years of Peugeot, you can see presentations of the Schörghuber Group, Mercedes-Benz Design Center, Prototypenmuseum (the Museum of Prototypes) in Hamburg. On different auctions classic cars will be sold and you can of course also see motorcycles and trucks and you can learn about electric engines during the last 150 years.

There will of course be an international car parts market too on the Retro Classics and lots of entertainment like fashion shows and music.

Lovers of Porsche sports cars can not only see the latest model, the Porsche Boxster Spyder, but also its predecessors, the  Rometsch Spyder, the Mathé Porsche and the Porsche Typ 64.

Classic Car©flickr-bslmmrs