Stripped out trackcar and the new MOT

[AndrewO]

The trackcar is coming up to its MOT date and the usual MOT centre won't touch it.

Main areas I think are:-
ABS disconnected - I think I pulled the relay and fuse but could be more, I can't remember.
All airbags/wiring gone
No dash, kept the main instrument panel but missing some warning blubs. (abs light,etc)
Headlight washers still there but nothing behind

Is there a MOT section for competition/road cars ?

If not then I think it'll be up for parts.

[g40steve]

This stopped me from removing my interior & replacing with bucket seats & small suede wheel.

Trailer time if I do decide?

[SonicShadow]

What is the car in question? Airbags shouldn't really be an issue if they aren't there and the airbag check system is gone too.

ABS may be a problem area, I dont think the test makes any mention of ABS must be present if fitted from the factory, it just needs to work if fitted. So, if you remove the ABS system completely (difficult on newer cars), then that shouldn't be a problem.

Remove the washers completely, wont be a problem.

I dont know where the MOT will stand regarding the dash, but as long as it all works it should be fine? Best bet is to pop an email to VOSA listing everything you've changed on your car to get an official, definitive response.

[Steve H]

I'm told there is an exception in the new regs for "race" cars regarding things like airbags, I don't know how flexible it is on things like ABS (or why you would want to disconnect it anyway).

[AndrewO]

Steve H said:

I'm told there is an exception in the new regs for "race" cars regarding things like airbags, I don't know how flexible it is on things like ABS (or why you would want to disconnect it anyway).

I went a bit ballistic with the back to basics, weight reduction thing. I'll have a chat with them about "race" cars and see what they say

Its a 98R celica which I had from new, then stripped and tracked for a few yrs, now with my dad after he got his car pinched (he's 75 and loves it).

Edited by AndrewO on Monday 15th April 22:16

Edited by AndrewO on Monday 15th April 22:20

[Steffan]

All the MOT stations are on notice about not MOT'ing heavily modified cars curremt;y. Reason why so many half built Kit Cars are about currently. Too much modification mean most MOT stations will not MOT the car. I personally doubt that this will change and in consequence the majority of modified cars will need trailering to track days. There does not appear to be a simple alternative. Such cars will not be getting back on the road.

[chrisr29]

Stick the car in for an MOT, get a fail list and reinstate the removed bits that it failed on. If it has reg and chassis numbers then they can't refuse you an MOT inspection.

Though I suspect you know that and are looking for somewhere a bit on the lenient side.......

I think you're biggest issue will be the abs as the light is meant to come on then go out after a certain time. Cages and weight reduction wont be a problem.

I've put a few pretty extreme track cars through an MOT, but older stuff that didn't have abs or air bags to start with.

[iguana]

Proper modified competition cars have exemptions, I take this to mean this does not apply to the countless heaps labeled 'track cars' often seen for sale ie a tatty old heap of a car with just all the trim & the door cards ripped, but a properly prepped caged & harnessed track car should have no specific issues regarding track mods.

- See page 4 Modified Vehicles

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/SN%2001%2020...

[Pumajay]

looks like you could claim it as a full race/rally car then and say it doesnt need airbags/abs and jobs a goodun

Edited by Pumajay on Wednesday 17th April 12:46

[mat205125]

I think you'll want to be fitting a proper pedal box to replace the entire ABS system and warnings, rather than just yanking out relays and bulbs.

[mat205125]

iguana said:

Proper modified competition cars have exemptions, I take this to mean this does not apply to the countless heaps labeled 'track cars' often seen for sale ie a tatty old heap of a car with just all the trim & the door cards ripped, but a properly prepped caged & harnessed track car should have no specific issues regarding track mods.

- See page 4 Modified Vehicles

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/SN%2001%2020...

If you were to roll up to your MOT centre in a professionally finished rally car, they might happily test it and pass it. The OPs Celica (with a few adjustments) may be similarly specced from a letter of the law point of view, however an MOT inspector may not view the car as a bonafide competition car that falls under the exemption criteria.

[MartG]

mat205125 said:

I think you'll want to be fitting a proper pedal box to replace the entire ABS system and warnings, rather than just yanking out relays and bulbs.

Or just remove the ABS unit and reroute new brake pipes around where it used to sit in the system.

[mat205125]

MartG said:

mat205125 said:

I think you'll want to be fitting a proper pedal box to replace the entire ABS system and warnings, rather than just yanking out relays and bulbs.

Or just remove the ABS unit and reroute new brake pipes around where it used to sit in the system.

..... and then risk suffering a season of trial and tribulations relating to brake bias, and balance under braking.

[MartG]

mat205125 said:

MartG said:

mat205125 said:

I think you'll want to be fitting a proper pedal box to replace the entire ABS system and warnings, rather than just yanking out relays and bulbs.

Or just remove the ABS unit and reroute new brake pipes around where it used to sit in the system.

..... and then risk suffering a season of trial and tribulations relating to brake bias, and balance under braking.

Nope - you're not altering the brake bias at all, just removing the ABS system ( if the ABS unit is still in place but not working due to relays/fuses being removed, then I can understand it being an MOT fail. But if it isn't fitted anymore then it should pass ). You'd only alter the bias if you were to fit differently sized calipers

[mat205125]

MartG said:

mat205125 said:

MartG said:

mat205125 said:

I think you'll want to be fitting a proper pedal box to replace the entire ABS system and warnings, rather than just yanking out relays and bulbs.

Or just remove the ABS unit and reroute new brake pipes around where it used to sit in the system.

..... and then risk suffering a season of trial and tribulations relating to brake bias, and balance under braking.

Nope - you're not altering the brake bias at all, just removing the ABS system ( if the ABS unit is still in place but not working due to relays/fuses being removed, then I can understand it being an MOT fail. But if it isn't fitted anymore then it should pass ). You'd only alter the bias if you were to fit differently sized calipers

Or taking a shed load of weight out of the car, predominently from one end. The bias would be identical, true, however the balance would be all wrong, and the ABS wouldn't be there to compensate or help out .... neither would it be, without the relays off course.

[AndrewO]

I'm seeing my usual guy on Saturday so I'll ask him all about this then

I'd quite like to keep it really, if I book somewhere like Oulton/Cadwell, I'd rather do it in the celica than the M3.

Pretty sure there is a bias for the rear (similar basic system to vans). The car is fine in the dry but it does lockup NSR in the wet. I've had it corner weighted/setup but they said they did the best they could. I moved the battery to the NSR but all the weight really is at the front. Maybe need to play about a bit more with the ride height/dampers (TEIN).

Edited by AndrewO on Thursday 18th April 16:01

Edited by AndrewO on Thursday 18th April 16:03

[RichTBiscuit]

Seems to be a lot of misinformation on here.

I just MOT'd my extensively stripped track car without issue - Just because it's stripped and has a different steering wheel and seats makes no difference to the MOT.

If a Car has ABS, the ABS warning light must go on and then out when starting the engine - same as any other car.

[sbird]

iguana said:

Proper modified competition cars have exemptions, I take this to mean this does not apply to the countless heaps labeled 'track cars' often seen for sale ie a tatty old heap of a car with just all the trim & the door cards ripped, but a properly prepped caged & harnessed track car should have no specific issues regarding track mods.

- See page 4 Modified Vehicles

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/SN%2001%2020...

Thanks. That's quite useful.

The MoT test seems to be intended to stop people leaving broken airbags, and used seatbelts (ones 0that have had the pretensioners activate) in cars after accidents.

I've completely removed my airbags and original seatbelts, replacing them with harnesses attached to a bolt-in 6-point rear rollbar. My intent was modify the car for track use, not do bodge-job repairs.

Only time will tell if common sense will prevail.