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• Due to implications of Covid-19, Sporting Bears Motor Club will not be running its popular Dream Rides feature at the NEC in November 2020.
• Show organisers pledge support to help the popular fundraising group with a number of activities between now and the end of the show.
• Sporting Bears will have a static presence at the show with a stunning display of cars in Hall 5.

Plans for the 2020 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, are steaming ahead now that indoor exhibitions have the greenlight from government. However, one popular feature that has had to put the brakes on for this year is the Sporting Bears’ Dream Rides.

Having been a part of the show since 1994, the Dream Rides gives visitors the chance to take a ten-mile ride as a passenger in one of the cars owned by the Sporting Bears members in exchange for a donation to charity.

Show Director Lee Masters explained: “We’re had lengthy discussions with the Sporting Bears and our operations team about running the Dream Rides. Sadly, the implications of Covid-19 makes it impractical to offer these to the same enjoyment level and therefore we have agreed that we will put Dream Rides on hold for 2020.

“Given the Sporting Bears usually raises in the region of £35-40,000 over the three-day show and gives up to 1,000 rides, this is a huge blow to their fundraising efforts. Especially with the rest of the 2020 calendar having already been cancelled over the past six months.

“That’s why we’ve committed to supporting the Sporting Bears in helping them to raise the same amount of money they would have generated from Dream Rides between now and the end of the show on 15^th November. And we’re asking all our partners, supporters, traders and visitors to do the same!

“This starts right from when you’re booking tickets as you have the option to add a donation to your ticket order. The donation will go directly to the Sporting Bears in its entirety. We will also be announcing further fundraising initiatives over the coming months but hope as many people will get involved as possible.”

Since its inception in 1989, the Sporting Bears have raised over £2.4million for children’s charities all over the UK. Each member gives their car, time and fuel for free so every penny raised benefits these worthwhile organisations.

Alan Moss, Chairman of the Sporting Bears, added: “We are bitterly disappointed not to be offering our Dream Rides at the Classic Motor Show this year. This show is a highlight for us and has allowed us to raise significant sums over the years thanks to the generosity of the show’s visitors and the support of the organisers. Our annual fundraising activities normally start at the NEC in March and end back there in November.

“We have so far lost all of our events and are deeply conscious that the children’s charities that we support are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a great partnership with Clarion Events and are grateful for their continued support. We hope that you will be able to help us as well.”

The Sporting Bears will still be involved with the show and will have a fantastic static display of cars on its stand in Hall 5 by the Discovery Live Stage.

Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager at Lancaster Insurance, comments: “Charities need our help more than ever and as a community we are fantastic at pulling together in times of need. Our friends at Sporting Bears work tirelessly and we’ll be supporting them, the show and everyone involved in reaching their fundraising target.”

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, is scheduled to be held at Birmingham’s NEC from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2020. Tickets are now on sale with limited availability. Check the website www.necclassicmotorshow.com or sign up for the newsletter at www.necclassicmotorshow.com/newsletter for the latest updates.