Steve wrote:
It should be an interesting story if its not sensational bull. My sistr is a mini owner in the ACT and on Numerous occassions stated that in Canberra its getting harder and harder to register older cars as the government wants them of the road, safety issues and all the hog wash that goes with it. My sister said when friends have taken older cars over the pits as I believe is a requirement when cars change hands in the ACT they are given a harder and harder time.
One of the reasons why I initally joined a club was that the word around was this would be happening in the near future and that unless you had belonged to a club for a while it would become increasingly harder to register and insure your vehicle. As a member of a club and having a mini on full rego regardless of what it looks like or condition you are considered and enthusiast not just a kid with a S'box.
You can insure your car with shannons as a classic on full rego as they have different catagories for use.
I figured that if the goverment of the day decide to remove old bangers from our roads the only people who would be safe are those in organized official clubs.
Cost of membership to official clubs varies and is never more than $40 a year and you can choose your level of involvement.
There are brittish car clubs which have many minis in there membership, Austin car clubs that also have many minis amongst it ranks and of coarse mini car clubs.
I figure it's cheap insurance against ridiculous legislation like in Japan where cars only do 60 000km before their scrapped and you must be in a club to own an old car.
It may not happen or it could be just around the corner, better safe than sorry.
Steve
Steve, true about the Roadworthiness check in the ACT when selling, however, it ain't that rigorous in my experience. If you don't sell your 1982 Commodore and just keep on paying the rego each year you don't seem to get tested anymore. We do have random vehicle checks but after a few cars were damaged or alarms set off and police called that group would probably only get you on baldies and oil leaks.
I can't see how being in any Motor Club would insulate you from attacks by a determined Road Traffic Authority. I have had many long discussions with our Concessional Registrar about roadworthiness ....and the concensus is that Club appointed Officials are not qualified. However, if someone presents a car to the club for Historic rego and there is a Cricket Ball sized rust hole in the guard and you slip over on the river of oil being dropped by it then the registrar would have the right to "knock Back" that application until the vehicle was roadworthy.
First time CRS requires a roadworthy certificate BUT after that it is up to the individual to maintain the vehicle in the spirit of the scheme.
Research into the regular Registration scheme found very little crashes attributed to unroadworthy vehicles.....its largely self regulating.....if you find yourself going down Devils Pass and the dodgy brakes you didn't fix go to floor then the dodgy gene pool may be appropriately reduced.
Your unsolicited advertisement for Shannons is noted
I don't think being too hard on older cars will ever fly due to the outcry from poorer voters, well heeled enthusiasts with collections and the lobbying from the massive repair, overhaul and restoration infrastructure that currently exists.
Having said all that, I hope you have advised your Sister to join the ACT Mini Car Club
just some ideas......
<---. I was very impressed Steve!
!! No more leaded petrol...my car is worthless.....the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!
