E30 Zone

Okay, I spoke to a friendly MOT tester about my track car and potential offending modifications. He said he wouldn't want to MOT it on the basis it had a servo fitted as standard and now hasn't (http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_360.htm).

Now I'm not asking for a dodgy MOT place - so far as I'm concerned, my car comes under the following criteria:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications ... atures.htm

So it should be okay. However the wording is vague and I understand why a tester may still be hesitant, on the basis that this guidance is in the MOT manual. Furthermore, I don't want to go around telling perfectly friendly and helpful mechanics how to do their job.

So does anyone know anywhere in the Mancs/Cheshire/Merseyside region who MOT rally cars and are familiar with this kind of thing?

To me-

Reasons for Rejection for components missing where fitted as standard should not be applied. For example:- a car converted for rally usewith rear seats removed, roll cage and full harness seat belts fitted etc. - may no longer be fitted with a brake servo, power steering or airbags

That seems pretty clear no? There is the standard vosa ticklist you can download and check everything there. All that said, my mot tester said strictly speaking he shouldn't have passed my car as the seat was not adjustable... And he had been on a refresher course last summer.

Its all a bit messy frankly.

If I recall correctly, the seat only needs to be adjustable if there are rear occupancy seating. Otherwise its ok.

Interesting about the Servo, lets see what happens when I take mines to be tested.

I belive there is an VOSA guidline for rally/race/track cars etc ie where where the car has been modifed fro a specifi use. So no servo in you family saloon is a no but a rally car yes.

That is a new one to me as well - as milescook said - messy...

I got my trackday car MOT'd at Hatton Heath Garage - A41 Whitchurch Road near Waverton in Cheshire. Google search will give you the address.

Fully above board, but near to a couple of motorsport preparation garages, the chap who runs it is familiar with highly modified vehicles. Might be worth a punt...?

e21Jason wrote:I belive there is an VOSA guidline for rally/race/track cars etc ie where where the car has been modifed fro a specifi use. So no servo in you family saloon is a no but a rally car yes.

This appears to be the case, but 'modified car' isn't well defined - so it still comes down to tester's discretion as to whether or not a car falls within this criterion. When does a car cease to become a road car and become a track/race/rally car? Is it the rollcage? The stripped interior? The fixed seats and harnesses? All of these?

Messy.

Cheers for that Mikey-boy, they arn't too far away from me. Worth a crack

Well here's a twist!

Got a phonecall off the guy about an hour ago. The legislation regarding modified cars arrived on his doorstep this morning and on that basis, he's happy to accept my car for a test.

Coincidence + top service = win

However I'm now thinking of all the benefits of towing...

Hmmmm... *rubs chin* By that does he mean what he actually did was re-read VOSA guidelines?

I think in conclusion we could all argue the toss on legalities with various testing stations and get different answers, so as long as yours gives te the answer you want, then happy days.

I did think about the merits of towing car, trailer, no tax / mot / insurance. Decided at least I could give the car a spin on the road and to/from tracks as and when putting it back on to the road, cheaper initially. I'll invest in all that garbage to tow it later down the line.

Demlotcrew wrote:If I recall correctly, the seat only needs to be adjustable if there are rear occupancy seating. Otherwise its ok.

Interesting about the Servo, lets see what happens when I take mines to be tested.

How many are you taking to be tested?

The seat has to be adjustable if it is an adjustable seat, if its a fixed seat it doesnt have to be adjustable...

Harness are always a good one for me when going for mot

They should be the push button type like a car seat belt buckle - is what I have been told?

milescook wrote:Hmmmm... *rubs chin* By that does he mean what he actually did was re-read VOSA guidelines?

I think in conclusion we could all argue the toss on legalities with various testing stations and get different answers, so as long as yours gives te the answer you want, then happy days.

I did think about the merits of towing car, trailer, no tax / mot / insurance. Decided at least I could give the car a spin on the road and to/from tracks as and when putting it back on to the road, cheaper initially. I'll invest in all that garbage to tow it later down the line.

Did some man maths yesterday - based on something like a VW Caddy ('04 onwards) that has a towing weight of around 1500kg and would cost no more to run as a daily than my Fabia and that you could sleep in the back on trackdays rather than have to pay for a B&B - it would work out about a grand a year cheaper than running the car on the road! Plus you can get more use out of the tyres and if you have a prang/breakdown, getting home isn't too much of a ballache. And taking tools is easy.

Missus is MUCH less convinced about the idea of me trading the Fabia for a Caddy though

crossie wrote:Harness are always a good one for me when going for mot

They should be the push button type like a car seat belt buckle - is what I have been told?

Mine are the twist release, I believe its only the flip over latch type that are not allowed, like this -

Motorhole wrote:

milescook wrote:Hmmmm... *rubs chin* By that does he mean what he actually did was re-read VOSA guidelines?

I think in conclusion we could all argue the toss on legalities with various testing stations and get different answers, so as long as yours gives te the answer you want, then happy days.

I did think about the merits of towing car, trailer, no tax / mot / insurance. Decided at least I could give the car a spin on the road and to/from tracks as and when putting it back on to the road, cheaper initially. I'll invest in all that garbage to tow it later down the line.

Did some man maths yesterday - based on something like a VW Caddy ('04 onwards) that has a towing weight of around 1500kg and would cost no more to run as a daily than my Fabia and that you could sleep in the back on trackdays rather than have to pay for a B&B - it would work out about a grand a year cheaper than running the car on the road! Plus you can get more use out of the tyres and if you have a prang/breakdown, getting home isn't too much of a ballache. And taking tools is easy.

Missus is MUCH less convinced about the idea of me trading the Fabia for a Caddy though

you sure the caddy is big enought??

1000kg car plus 500kg trailer plus spares wheels and fuel?

Motorhole wrote:Well here's a twist!

Got a phonecall off the guy about an hour ago. The legislation regarding modified cars arrived on his doorstep this morning and on that basis, he's happy to accept my car for a test.

Coincidence + top service = win

However I'm now thinking of all the benefits of towing...

Yep - a notice went out to all Test stations this week giving details of the introduction of new (delayed) test items and outlining a modified vehicle requirements, to name but a few. SN 1-13

crossie wrote:
you sure the caddy is big enought??

1000kg car plus 500kg trailer plus spares wheels and fuel?

Should be...I think towing weight is 1490kg exactly, with total train weight of 3500kg. So provided fuel, tools etc are in the van and not on the trailer, should just about do the job

crossie wrote:Harness are always a good one for me when going for mot

They should be the push button type like a car seat belt buckle - is what I have been told?

That was a rumour going round about TF ag the Ring. I have the twist buckle type. Not sure they ever implemented it as I rarely do TF these days (and less likely in future as my driver's seat is deemed illegal due to it gaving wrap around "ears").

crossie wrote:Harness are always a good one for me when going for mot

They should be the push button type like a car seat belt buckle - is what I have been told?

That was a rumour going round about TF ag the Ring. I have the twist buckle type. Not sure they ever implemented it as I rarely do TF these days (and less likely in future as my driver's seat is deemed illegal due to it gaving wrap around "ears").