2026 MVPA Convention in Fishersville, VA - Vehicle access for Non Member Question

[lpcoating]

Hopefully someone on here can shed some light on this. I was sent this post from a FB page (I'm not on FB). My wife and I plan on attending this event. We are going to trailer a M151A2 to an AirBnB. Our plan is to go to the show for a day and then do some area touring in the jeep. We were also considering going a day early as there is talk of group rides. The third paragraph in the post states that you have to be a member of the MVPA to drive your jeep on the trail rides around the grounds or come and go from the show during public hours. This statement leads me to believe that I can't drive my legally licensed and insured jeep from where we're staying to the show. Can someone on here involved with the convention clarify this statement?

 

[G744]

So this is what the old MVPA has descended to. I was a member for years, did high-level work for conventions, had pride in our operations. Membership was never required to exhibit vehicles, and the local Guard base sent great things to our shows. Nary a thought about insurance vs. attractions.

Then things happened in the US that cast undeserved scorn on MV owners, and the then-current management sided with those feelings. It slowly degraded into an op that if you didn't have a WW2 Jeep or maybe Deuce you were not welcome at functions.

I never looked back.

G744

 

[antennaclimber]

I suggest that you contact the MVPA directly to get a clear answer.

 

[M813rc]

My understanding of this is that the insurance company (the bane of life in any event) requires that the vehicles involved in trail rides, reenactments, etc. are required to be MVPA operated to be covered. Insurance company rules, not MVPA rules. And the "coming and going" part refers to in and out of the event building etc. during the show, not the parking lot. You can drive anything you want to the parking lot.

No one likes insurance rules, because they are often arbitrary and seem counterproductive to what your event is about, but you have to have insurance for a show like this, and to get it you have to follow their stupid rules.

The current MVPA is welcoming of all kinds of MVs from all eras, including tribute vehicles (meaning vehicles that are done up like a military vehicle, even if they are not actual former military). It took a major shakeup to get to this point, and the work to overcome the bad reputation that G744 still holds is going to be an ongoing battle. The new board are working hard on this, trying to revitalize the organization.

The military and MV manufacturers have always been welcome, and still are, and it is silly to suggest that MVPA would require them all to be members. I don't know if you have to be a member to display an MV at the show, I think I saw that you did not, but I can't confirm that.

As mentioned above, ask the MVPA directly for a straight answer to your questions - hq@mvpa.org

Cheers