HISTORYISABOUTTOGO“INMOTION”
S
ome people have seen the relationship between Military
Vehicles Magazine (MVM) and the Military Vehicle Pres-
ervation Association (MVPA) as that of competitors. Noth-
ing in the 18 years that Krause Publications / F+W Media have
published MVM could be further from the truth. So, with that
fair warning, I am about to embark on an unabashed endorse-
ment of the upcoming MVPA Convention in York, Pennsylvania,
this coming August 8-10.
NOBODY LIKES CHANGE
When the Chet Krause bought Military Vehicles Magazine
back around 2000, many people were very vocal about how it
would be the demise of the magazine — and perhaps, the hobby.
The same was said (and decried by many of the same people)
when F+W Media purchased Chet’s entire publishing empire
(including MVM) a few years later.
Despite a few people spreading rumors packed with all the
“negative vibes,” the magazine soldiered on. Sure, it has had to
adapt to a new world of information-sharing that has seen page
counts drop, classifi ed ads disappear, social media emerge, as
well as changes in collector tastes. Regardless, MVM has re-
mained a constant source of hobby news, technical advice,
historical interpretation, and human interest stories through all
those years.
Despite all that, the “nay-sayers” aren’t silenced. I guess,
some people can only feel validated as individuals if someone
else listens to their persistent complaints.
I recognized this ugly behavior while reviewing a recent
show where I was able to talk and listen to a lot of folks involved
in our hobby. Besides the usual round of concerns that included
the “health of the magazine,” “we need to get young people in-
volved,” and “buying surplus vehicles isn’t like the old days of
the DRMO (Defense Reutilization and Marketing Offi ce – later
changed to Disposition Services. Military Property Turn-In:
DLA Disposition Services), I heard several people talking about
the upcoming MVPA Convention to be held in York, Penn., on
August 8-10, 2019.
How could anyone fi nd something to complain about the cul-
minating event of the military vehicle hobby in North America?
Well, you would be surprised! Through the years that I have been
involved, the most common complaints have been: location,
time of year, cost, and lack of activities. I have witnessed sev-
eral MVPA Boards of Directors struggle to address all of these
concerns. The location of the Annual MVPA Convention moves
around the country to give people across the nation the easiest
opportunity to attend as possible. The same has been done with
the time of the year (albeit, the conventions are all held in the
least snow-fi lled or stormy times of the years).
Decrying the cost of a convention has been a funny reaction
that I don’t think I will ever understand. In our hobby, some-
one who might spend tens of thousands of dollars to acquire and
restore a vehicle, will balk and run around like Chicken Little
if they are asked to pay a $25 fee to display their vehicle at a
sanctioned event.
While that does appear to be absurd, let me assure you, there
is a very loud, vocal small group who are complaining about this
verythinginrelationtotheYorkConvention.So,pleasepermit
me to give you a bit of context.
The past few conventions have charged members $30 each to
attend. That fee helped to offset the cost of rent of the facilities,
support staff, promotions, special events, and insurance among
many other things. As part of their payment, that individual was
invited to display their vehicle(s), free of charge. Not a bad deal
for $30 bucks!
Well, just like any other business these days, the Board of Di-
rectors of the MVPA has examined the costs and revenue of past
convention. And like so many other businesses, they decided the
old model was due for a bit of change.
Oh, how some don’t like change! So much so, these days,
some people’s outrage about any change often blocks their abil-
ity to evaluate whether the change is “good,” “bad, or “indiffer-
ent.”
What about the changes that will be enacted at York that have
caused some to go around bad-mouthing the MVPA?
First, every MVPA member is invited to attend the Conven-
tion at York for free. Of course, they will have to pay for some
extras like the tours or award ceremonies, but if they just want to
go to York, look at vehicles, see the parades, interact with the liv-
ing history displays, and buy from vendors, it will cost NOTH-
ING. Heck, this should provide an incentive for non-members to
join or current members to renew.
But here is what is sticking in some peoples’ craw: If a mem-
ber wants to display a vehicle, it is going to cost them $15. Did
I mention, each member who displays a vehicle will receive a
free MVPA Convention t-shirt (non-displayers can buy them for
$20)?
WHAT’S A PERSON TO DO?
I have just one suggestion: Make your plans to attend to the
MVPA Convention in York, Penn., this August 8-10. The itiner-
ary is beyond anything we have ever seen at a convention. Fol-
lowing the rebranding of their magazine, The MVPA is really
promising some “History in Motion.”
After years of rather static conventions, York will see many
vehicles in action at the WWII battle reenactments, truck pull,
slow race, and the kick-off and pass in review of the Lincoln
Highway Convoy (TMC19) participants. And for all of you
“keep ‘em rolling” types, for the fi rst time ever, the MVPA and
members of the internet forum, Steel Soldiers, are combining
forces to host an off-road trail ride rally at the Anthracite Out-
door Adventure Area.
Added to this is a wide array of hands-on Vehicle Special In-
terest Group gatherings, historic site tours, and special banquets.
This is all on top of the vendor booths, static vehicle displays,
and opportunities to meet with fellow enthusiasts.
So, yes, the MVPA Convention has changed. And change is
scary. But, I hope you see how this change is for the health and
enjoyment of our great hobby.
So, let’s put our history in motion in York to keep ‘em rolling!
To register or learn more about the 2019 MVPA Conven-
tion in York, Penn., log onto http://www.MVPA.org/convention or call
MVPA Headquarters at (816) 833-6872. ✪
THE JAG FILE With John Adams-Graf
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