I just read a piece in Classic and Sports Car that said FORD might very
well be the next custodian of the Heritage Motor Centre. It went on to
say that FORD was unsure of what all it was going to be getting from the
deal it is striking with BMW. But if FORD were to receive the Heritage
Motor Centre, then it would be business as usual and there could
possibly be a joint BMHIT/FORD museum developed. As FORD just closed
their Dagenham museum (although it is supposed to re-open in 2001).
As John has said in the past though. These are nothing more than
rumors. It says as much in the C&SC article as well. We will only know
the full story when a deal is eventually finalized. Maybe not even then.
Shawn
John Macartney wrote:
>
> Listers
> I've had many off-list requests for info about Gaydon's fate (BMIHT) over the
>last two or
> three weeks and all I've been able to say is very little. Today, a meeting
>took place for
> employees in which the future became a little clearer. This info is still
>very much under
> wraps and I can't comment about it - so please don't push me to do so. All I
>will say is
> that outside the BMW/Rover debacle, Gaydon's funding is in place until the
>end of calendar
> 2000. After that, and if everything goes according to plan, Gaydon's future
>looks
> reasonably secure and I'm not dismayed at the prospects outlined.
> All I can say is that both the Trustees for the Trust and the Charity,
>together with BMW
> senior management, are adamant the vehicle collection and archive should not
>be
> dismembered and MUST stay together. Being a bit of a cynic (life has made me
>like that) I
> feel there can still be many a slip 'twixt cup and lip and it is for this
>reason that
> caution errs against euphoria.
> Anyway, we'll be there for the rest of this year, working like hell to build
>up support by
> any means possible and we need visitors like we need visitors by the
>planeload, carload,
> busload - and even on foot. We're working flat out to keep this place open
>for you,
> wherever you live, so PLEASE don't pass the door with a promise to come "next
>time
> around." If everyone does that, there may not be a next time.
>
> Jonmac
|