Your onto something there, Dave.
What effect did the few Goodwood meetings have that showed the cars off. The enormous crowds they pulled would attract those sorts of folk who want to be noticed. The sort of guy who could buy something odd to put in the corner behind the Lamborgini. Twats like that DJ. That sort of collector is competitive. Its that sort of buyer who will outbid at auction to win, at a cost of a weeks earnings or less. The car itself is not as important as its image, and that there is a reference book you can cross it off in, till you own all the set.
To a lesser degree restored cars at local shows only really get upstaged by Morgan trikes and such. Again the folk who want to be noticed can buy a lifestyle in the showground year. However a Microcar rally of 50 other equally odd cars means your not the centre of attraction. So why go miles to be a bit player ,when in 10 miles your a star? Some of those owners are not going to be microcar enthusiasts. They will be the ones currently not buying IC, for instance, as your the weirdo in the corner. The IC is where the bubblecar was in about 1982/4. French fridges, what, about 1990?
The mags reflect what people want to read about, not what they own. Indeed if there is a good mag presence in a vehicle I almost do not want one! The very reason to tune a Borgward, not a BMC or Ford. Its different, a challenge, but having done my homework, there is good concept and engineering with which to create something overlooked by most people. If it is successful, it will be banned, as that is what the normal answer is to folk who upset the known order of things. I have been through this several times, with ground effect radio control racing cars beating the best of the traditional ones and such like. And trading cars, of course.
That's why microcars were not historically welcomed at classic car events. They nicked the show. The bikers were more even handed. Now everyone wants a slice of the action, but normally not without a price tag - see Top Gear filming, Gaydon Rallies etc etc. Well sorry, if you did not want to know me when I was unfashionable, you are not taking my independence of action just because I am now, sunshine. No, I own the right to do my best for my interest and cars, its not for rent to possers with agendas. Look at the continual theft of concept and design on line. These people need to get out more and do some original work. However its easier to copy something discovered by someone else, especially if you can convince folk its your idea.
I like the real micronauts as they are a group of pretty independent awkward folk who do not do what they are told. There still out there, thank god.
