I am a member of the MCC of Australia and tried to get some info from their club registrer but dont think that the email address works... anyway... Because I cant drive all my cars at once, I was looking at registering the Austin Traveller on heritage plates because it is in most original and stock form and is only driven on organised cruises. This would help me to be able to afford keeping all three cars but would also benefit me by making sure that I get to the MCC cruises. I come to the meetings, however seem to always miss out on the cruises..!!!

I have read through the information presented on the website and have a couple of questions with regards to the "originality" of my vehicle. It is completely stock standard (right down to the crackle headlining and badging) however the owner before me thought it a good idea to take out the original engine and replace it with a 998 engine (should be an 850). All other items such as the generator, radiator etc are all the original items. Recently I have had to replace the drums, shocks and exhaust however have ensured that these are all replacement parts to the original and not wildly different to the standard.

I was wondering if this would be allowed to fall into the scheme. Visually, it does not look any different to standard apart from the engine. People will have possibly seen the van at one of the Five Dock meetings as its been to a couple already.

I have a fair few months before it is time to register the vehicle again, but was interested in understanding what needs to happen before hand so its not a rush.

Also I have another 850 engine which I was thinking of putting back into the van, however I have been told that because its quite a "slow" engine that driving with it may not prove to be very long lasting. I was contemplating replacing the engine that is in the car now (its getting close to needing replacement or reconditioning) with a 1275 reconditioned unit and with period cooper disc brakes, retaining the exterior look of the vehicle with the standard wheels and hub caps. If I was to do this conversion, would this car remain in the scheme, or would this be viewed as a modification outside of the parameters..?

If you can provide me with any information I would be very appreciative.

the van atm in its current state would get onto club plates with no worries at all. soon as youve been a member for 1 year it would go on very easy.

sticking a 1275 in there, i beleive is also ok as it was a modification that could have been done back in the day. so long as its a-series it shouldnt be a prob (or that was the case last time i looked into it)

Aaron?? Setve?? they both have CP cars so they might have a be=it more insight

Marcello

Sounds like you will have no worries. All that needs to be done is to get a pink slip (as per normal), then get the car inspected by our Club Plate Registrar (Currently Rob "Buggsy" Burns). I will PM you his details - the email on the website may not have been diverted to his email properly.

Engine swaps are fine as long as they're basically the same (A series in Mini etc).
Rae's (the president) 850 is actually a 998 I think!!

I wouldn't worry too much about the rules as they are under review at the moment. Wel will get the new ones up as soon as they are finalised and ratified.

Hope this helps.

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

Peter Tanner is also authorised to inspect club plate cars. He is much closer to you than Buggsy.

Peter was at the meeting on Friday night. You should have come along and asked these questions mate.......

That van will have no problems at all IMHO.

Marcello

As far as i can see the van would be ok.

Beware when using the word "cruises" though. if you are talking about an ausmini lets get together and do it this weekend cruise, then you won't be able to use the car. These events are not recognised as being organised by MCCNSW, or another club affiliated with the CMC or RTA scheme, are not documented in the magazine or website, and so do not fit the MCCNSW interpretation of a club event. Under the RTA scheme (remember the RTA runs it not the clubs) you are only registered and insured if you are driving to or from a club event that is listed in the club calendar or day book. In our case this is the magazine (website should reflect magazine). This is why i have never taken the 850 on a ausmini cruise, much as i would like to. At least you have other options for the ausmini events.

michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

^^ what he said...Pops only comes out for the GM's that's all I can get to.

The good thing is, if you wanted to drive it a lot, there's a helluva lot of events you can go to. Basically anything to do with the club or anything the club is attending which is most major car shows, quite a few motorsport events - or anything the club is invited to which includes anything organised by a CMC or CAMS affiliated car club.

You could do something almost every weekend if you were so inclined and some weekends something both days!!

It's a pretty good scheme. When I get a more "original" car I will do it for sure

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

It's got an 1100 in it and sports a set of disc brakes. Still looks like a stocko 850 though.

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Julie.............

Yes it is....

Aaron

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Engine needs to be an "a series" Size is unimportant. No Large metallic flake paints, or camelion paints.Std metallic is ok.paint can be any colour within reason, hot pink(sorry 13sec) probably wont cut it, but you could ask. discs are fine(saftey) but they need to be a mini 7.5" (7.5 or 8.4s for LS clubmans) not a conversion(honda's etc) Brake lines can't be braided, and pipes can't be copper(it's illeagal anyway in Aust.) Bling under the hood is exceptable but not to the point of needing to squint...You need to be a member for a minimum or 12 months before being eligable and the car must be a minimum of 30 years of age (currently 1975) another two years and all mini's will be eligable.
These rules are mostly set by the RTA. If you want to know or get someone to tell you what you may need to do, give buggsy a hoi. He's a nice fellow.

Cheers

Aaron

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Good points about the word cruises....however there are more opportunities to "?xercise" the car so long as it is recorded in the log book...these include a regular run to pump oil through everything and to ensure the car is maintained in a roadworthy state....so trips to service places or repair venues (like the Docs say ) no dealer network anymore

There is a low kay limit per annum around 3-4K I think. However I have heard that even interstate trips may be allowed by prior arrangement to attend a club related show.

The main thing is that people don't abuse the privelege of being granted Historic registration by using the vehicle as a daily driver etc

As for......

No Large metallic flake paints, or camelion paints.Std metallic is ok.paint can be any colour within reason, hot pink(sorry 13sec) probably wont cut it, but you could ask......

Have you not seen that shocking pink that BMC painted some Minis in the 70s

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"Show me the Mini!"

I don't know why i even bothered writing down the rules... i knew some wise guy would have a crack... Dude i am only relating the rules i don't write them, i also said it doesn't hurt to ask There really wasn't any need at all to throw a crack at me was there. I know your just gonna say that you weren't having a go but you seem to do it all the time, so for once back off and let it slide.... just once....


Aaron

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9Y you must be confusing the old NSW scheme, another state (ACT perhaps ) or other clubs interpretation of the rules.

For MCCNSW as part of the NSW RTA scheme, there is NO limit on total km travelled, as long as you go to club events, or events that the club is invited to, and they appear in the magazine. I could drive to Narooma for the Booma in February, Wagga for some Riverina sub branch events, Hay in July, Gulgong in October, Brisbane or Melbourne for invited events in the magazine, Wakefield supersprints, Awaba motorkhanas, Newcastle hillclimbs plus all the local Sydney events if i had the time. Steve and Mikey have been to "club invited" CMC events at Orange, Canberra etc driving all the way (sometimes on full rego though). No worries about distance travelled. Yes, for MCCNSW, you need to log which events you take the car to, since we have a rule (club only, not RTA) that says anyone who has a vehicle registered under the Historic registration scheme through the club must attend at least 3 club events through the year. not an onerous task given the opportunities mentioned above. I'm sure other clubs don't have this requirement.

As far as servicing is concerned the RTA rules are quite clear. You can travel up to 8km from the place of garaging for servicing purposes. Trips of greater distance for servicing can be organised by simply ringing the club plate registrar (Buggsy) and stating where you are going and when. he makes a note of it, and should the worst happen, you are still registered and insured. There is no smoke and mirrors, no nudge/wink.

I have found all of this great for the 850, which is fairly original, and which i cannot justify full rego.

michael

_________________
the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

michael...I am agreeing with all thats been said and trying to add info for Iwanna's benefit .....

if you check....I think you will find that the 3-4k limit applies to service runs or blowing the cobwebs out as I like to call it I already said you can even go interstate if it is pre-arranged, in the club calender etc.

The only wink I gave was for visiting the Doc, which was just tongue in cheek.....because we all know you probably would not find a much better qualified Mini repairer in Sydney.

BTW Canberra is surrounded by NSW...we have members living in NSW so our Registrar has to be acquainted with the rules applied/interrpreted in both areas.

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"Show me the Mini!"

WOO HOO..!!

Anton... sorry didnt make the meeting. Have a new second job at nights (waiter) so when they roster, they roster. I have next months meeting off.!!

MickMini... no worry about the cruises thing. Toby the van is for club events ONLY. Mo on the other hand is my daily driver/Ausmini cruiser/weekend run about etc etc etc. Then Mohammed is my beach car once summer comes around. So apart from running the engine a bit by driving around the block at mums place and up the 250 meters to the petrol station to get fuel, Toby will be wrapped up under cover in a garage till its time to play with the other "non-modified" cars.

THANKS heaps all else though for the information.

Oh and re colour. It would be plain jane boring green dont you worry about that... I am very keenly interested in keeping the van as standard as possible. I just also want the best engine combination to make it a laster...!!!