Thank you for joining us at Classics on the Common this year. Please read these Guidance Notes as they are designed to help you and to maximise the enjoyment of everyone at the event.
Access for Classic Vehicles
Ensure that you arrive with your ticket clearly displayed in the windscreen of your vehicle. Etickets will be checked with a card reader if not printed. Access to the Main Common for those who have paid £17 (including bikes and pre 1930 cars) will be available from 11.30am and NOT before. Access to the Main Common for all other ticket holders will be from 2.00pm and NOT before. If possible, please arrive by 4pm at the latest and do not leave until after 5.30pm. When the Main Common is full, vehicles will be directed to park on the Harpenden Arms triangle.
Substitute vehicles
If you need to come in a substitute vehicle (4-wheel or 2-wheel) it must be a minimum of 25 years old (except motorcycles and scooters) and you must provide full details, including registration number, in advance, by emailing tickets@classicsonthecommon.com or by writing to Classics on the Common, 67 High Street, Harpenden AL5 2SL. Do not alter the registration number on your ticket. If the substitute vehicle does not meet the minimum age requirement a spectator car park must be used.
Uneven Ground – a Warning
If your vehicle has limited ground clearance, please be warned the surface of Harpenden Common is uneven in places. This could result in grounding and damage. If practical, you may want to inspect the Common beforehand.
Traffic Control
We will install barriers in the road and to the side of the A1081 to improve safety and we would ask that you take extreme care in these areas. The movement of vehicles and traffic control around the Bull Road roundabout will again be controlled by a traffic management company and they will direct traffic to assist pedestrians crossing the A1081 and Bull Road.
Parking for Classic Vehicles
Please park as directed by the marshals and observe the 5 mph speed limit. If you wish to park with friends who are fellow classic vehicle owners, please arrive together. Saving space for later arrivals is not permitted.
Autojumble stands
To provide more interest, we will have a few autojumble stands. One of these will be manned by Rotary and all proceeds will go to the Classics 2022 charities. It would be great if you were able to donate any spare parts and tools that you no longer need. Do bring them on the day and take them to the Rotary stand which will be located at the far north east of the common near to the Harpenden Arms Public House and the Harpenden Public Halls on Southdown Road. Unsold items will not be returned but can be collected at 7.00pm.
Barbeques and the erection of gazebos are not allowed on the common.
Sharing information about your Classic Vehicle
Many spectators like to view a classic vehicle’s engine so please consider opening your bonnet. An A4 sheet on the windscreen with a description and the history of your vehicle is also of great interest to the majority of our spectators.
Safety
Please drive slowly on the Common, be directed by the marshals as to where to park and watch out for pedestrians and picnickers when manoeuvring your vehicle. There will be a 5 mph speed limit clearly indicated on the Common.
If you would like to read more about our safety measures and risk assessment, please find more details below:
Safety Statement and Risk Assessment
Spectators
We implore spectators who are able to reach the event on foot, or by using public transport, to do so. Traffic in Harpenden will be very heavy. For those arriving by car, subject to ground conditions, free spectator parking will be provided on Harpenden Rovers football field with entry and exit in Cravells Road. Access to this area may be closed due to wet ground conditions, in which case spectators will have to park in the town or station car parks. The Harpenden Hopper will provide a shuttle service from the Cravells Road Car Park from 1pm until 7pm. Please note that all other car parks will be ‘pay and display’ as normal.
Motorcycles and Scooters
All two-wheeled vehicles must enter the Main Common via the main entrance opposite the Silver Cup Public House and will be directed to the Baa Lamb Trees area via a dedicated route immediately on the left. No tickets will be available at the event and any motorcycle or scooter arriving without a ticket will not be admitted. With the permission of the police, there is likely to be “ride out” by motorcycles and scooters.
Plaques
The free souvenir plaque will be available at the Reception for each entrant on a first-come, first-served basis but you must produce your ticket. We are indebted to Bennett’s Car Parts for sponsoring the plaques.
Charity Collection
As Harpenden Common is common land on which the public can roam freely we encourage spectators to make a voluntary donation for charity. They receive a lapel sticker to show that they have supported us. We appreciate that classic car entrants have already made a contribution and to avoid you being approached again you will be given two lapel stickers when you pick up your plaque from the Control Point. The total raised at our last event in 2021 exceeded £30,000 and we hope to raise a similar amount this year.
Our main charities for 2022 will be: Global Sight Solutions, Malawi Water and Sanitation project, Homestart Hertfordshire and Luton Samaritans. A proportion of the funds collected will be allocated to other good causes supported by Rotary in Harpenden.
