Track cars & the new MOT test

[e21Mark]

In the past couple of years I have started doing track-days and more recently, competing in sprint and hillclimb events. I use an old e30 BMW that I have gradually modified and made more track focussed, although I have kept it road legal in an effort to keep costs at a minimum. I cannot really afford/justify the cost of a tow vehicle and trailer, or afford storage for vehicles that only get used once a month or so. I have hired a van and trailer in the past, but an average weekend cost is over £160 plus fuel and time to collect and return them.

Although my e30 is MOT'd & taxed now, I'm told it is pretty much at the limit of what might be acceptable for the revised UK MOT test but just want to get some other peoples take on things. As I only use the car to go to events and circuits I'm not too concerned with comfort but I do want it to be safe and totally legal. So far, I have only been stopped by the Police once and I think they were more just curious and wanted to take a look. In fact, the only negative side of driving it, on the road, is the attraction for knobheads in people carriers & saxos who all see it as a challenge to get ahead at all costs! (I am well aware that the UK's roads are not for racing on and drive accordingly)

Anyway, I will post a few pictures of how my cars is at present but is it likely that it will no longer be road legal with the revisions to the MOT test?

[Athlon]

Beam breaker stops the number plate from being read, take it off for the MOT.

Nothing else seems a problem, the new test says the seat must adjust but if the car is modified for race/rally then a fixed seat will pass (VOSA stated)

ETA, the sunvisor strip will fail, greater than 40mm zone B etc, smaller wiper that misses the strip may help, oh and the wiper parking central, kind of the same problem if you get a picky tester same with the taped headlamps.

Edited by Athlon on Wednesday 6th June 09:29

[Life Saab Itch]

Athlon said:

Beam breaker stops the number plate from being read, take it off for the MOT.

Nothing else seems a problem, the new test says the seat must adjust but if the car is modified for race/rally then a fixed seat will pass (VOSA stated)

ETA, the sunvisor strip will fail, greater than 40mm zone B etc, smaller wiper that misses the strip may help, oh and the wiper parking central, kind of the same problem if you get a picky tester same with the taped headlamps.

Edited by Athlon on Wednesday 6th June 09:29

Seems about right to me.


So pull off the electrical tape for the MOT, get a tiny wiper blade for the MOT and remove the beam breaker.

Of course keep the tiny wiper in the car at all times when on the road just in case, then you can say "sorry officer, I'm just coming back from a meeting/charity day/photo shoot for my car and I forgot to put the wiper back to MOT standard".



Although really they won't stop you for that.


Nice car BTW.

[e21Mark]

Thanks guys. I feel a bit better about things now. I know the central parking of the wiper can be an issue (the last tester conveniently missed that) but I'll pick up a shorter blade. The digital dash has a speedo function. The only other planned changes (at the moment) are the removal of the rear bulkhead, boot floor (to be replaced with aluminium) and valance. I'll keep a space-saver spare for convenience. I'm trying to get it as light as possible.

Would a foam filled fuel cell or similar, remain street legal?

[Hugo a Gogo]

surely you don't need a spare wheel for the MoT?

[e21Mark]

Hugo a Gogo said:

surely you don't need a spare wheel for the MoT?

Sorry no, but if you do have one it has to comply with legislation.

[Life Saab Itch]

e21Mark said:

Would a foam filled fuel cell or similar, remain street legal?

Not a problem as long as the fuel lines don't go through the cabin iirc.

[e21Mark]

Great, thanks.

[A911DOM]

Looks nicely sorted!

On a different subject:

Dont you find your lid (I assume is yours resting on the roof in one of the pics) restricts your vision a little in comparison to some of the less 'stig' looking items usually seen for competition use?

(I have a black lid of a very similar design and found myself wanting a little more air flow and vision on track)

Looks very cool however

[e21Mark]

I ended up with a Simpson purely because I have a big head. In fact it's the Stig connection that I dislike most of all, as some folk seem intent on assuming that's the motive behind wearing it. I did buy another helmet first, that was supposedly the same size, but it was just too tight across my forehead and gave me headaches. I have no doubt about Simpsons quality but would prefer something a little less showy. I junked the tinted visor for the same reason.

[A911DOM]

I have to admit that I bought mine purely because it was the most menacing 'different' looking helmet around (I was into custom trikes and drag racing style machines at the time however).

I had the opposite problem that most helmets were large, and not quite tall enough for my head shape (and being without hair means they move around if they dont fit properly.

Good luck with your MOT and competition stuff anyway!

[woof]

Find a nice MOT tester

[Munter]

Mark did you read the PH news story? I seem to recall a "get out" clause for a few items. Like seats don't have to move if the mechanism isn't there. So a bit like the spare tyre.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[e21Mark]

Munter said:

Mark did you read the PH news story? I seem to recall a "get out" clause for a few items. Like seats don't have to move if the mechanism isn't there. So a bit like the spare tyre.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Thanks for that. I missed it.

As far as I can see, so far, I think I should be OK.

I'm quite fortunate that thus far the tester I have used has been relatively sympathetic but I guess it is also dependent on what changes in legislation might be further down the line. Right now it's cheaper to MOT, tax and insure my track car but that might change. I had considered a towing dolly, as some people I meet use them, but that's a whole other can of worms. My understanding is that they are only legal for moving 'breakdowns' and that anyone using them to simply tow track cars, are leaving themselves open to potential prosecution?