It's great to be back Steve. Your right about the steel I'm now carrying. I am stapled down the sternum, have a titanium right shoulder and now a titanium right knee. I reckon I'll throw out some sparks when they eventually put me in the furnace.

I had to go into hospital for a Pre-Op lecture a week before they did the deed. They handed round the prothesis which is the same as what they are putting into the knee. I couln't belive the weight of the femur insert portion. Would have gone close to a kilo. I shouldn't have much trouble getting the right foot to the floor down when I come around the tight right hander onto the main straight at Wakefiled. Can't wait. Thanks for you kind thoughts too pal. Everyone on this Forum hads been fantastic.

Baz

REGO matey, REGO.

Baz,

Good to hear that the operation went well.

Get all of those issues sorted with the car and before you know it you will be out cruising.

Ben

Spoke to a bloke yesterday. His son had his car defected and it as to go over the pit at the rta inspection station. It turns out that all defects have to be inspected at the rta now not at pink or blue slip garages.

Baz

Great to hear everything went well. Now back to the car ...!!

Geof

Hope that grease nipple works Baz.

Thanks Fellas,

I spoke to my Engineer yesterday concerning my car and others. He informed me that his normal everyday run of the mill Clubmans which makes up a large percentage of his clientele and who previously, went through inspections with ease are now being rejected by the RTA with countless ADR deficiences. He correctly suspects that the RTA are attempting to discredit the Engineer rather than the customer. We are just the meat in the sandwich in what appears to be a power struggle to remove the Engineer from the Inspection loop. Another ICV enthusiast informed me that one of his clients recently had had his Cobra rejected on about 20 issues also, all along similar lines to mine and he used a different engineer to me.

Baz

There is a new engineering system looming in nsw
 

I have it from a fairly reliable source that the NSW process for initial registration on ICV's is about to experience a total overhaul.

It would appear that the current list of RTA approved Engineers will be cancelled and a new list formulated. If you are an Engineer and wish to be included on the new list, you apply, your application is assessed and if your successful, you'r placed on the new list.

The big difference is that those selected Engineers that appear on the new list will be totally responsible for the entire ICV Inpsection process and when they complete the final Engineering Certification for an ICV, the VIN No. can be obtained and the car registered.

The entire ball game will be left in the hands of the Approved Engineers and they will be closely scrutinised by the RTA.

The system sounds far better than the one we have at the moment which suffers from a serious lack of human resources as far as the RTA is concerned. At the moment, the work load which the RTA Inspectors have on their plate is far outweighed by the number of Inspectors available to do the job. I know, because I am right in the middle of that situation.

I'm not sure when the new system starts, but the sooner the better.


Baz.

Sounds like a very similar process to up here.
Only difference is that in the NT you can get your Vin # at any stage (with just a phone call).
Then it is a case of engineer inspection (including fixing of Vin#) and once MVR (your RTA) have the engineers report if it passes then they approve the car for rego, it is just a case then of getting a roadworthy certificate (this can be either at any inspection station or at MVR test shed) and the vehicle must be inspected at MVR test shed to check correct Vin# and Engine #

Sounds like they are bringing it in line with Victoria. The engineer does the whole lot including getting the VIN number for you. You then get a RWC and take the car for inspection by Vic roads but it's much like any normal car, they just check engine and chassis numbers and look at all the paper work.

This could be a good thing for NSW ICV builders as it will remove a lot of the He said She said stuff. The engineer should be responsible for checking everything is OK. He's the one with the relevant qualifications.

Good Luck Baz, I hope your engineer is one of the successful applicants.

Thanks for that news Baz. My sit and wait a bit strategy is looking a little more appealing now.

Cheers

Probably easier than moving into my shed too. :3DSMILE:

Great to hear you are up and kicking Baz.
With all that metal in you, you had better make sure you are not in the car when they weigh it other wise you may have to up grade to a heavy vehicles licence.;)
In an Australian utopia there would be a federal body managing all matters regarding roads, including registration, maintenance and licensing. However, if the rumours are true regarding the revamp at the RTA it makes sense that they are putting the engineers through the ringer first. :eek::eek::eek: Did I just say it makes sense and the rta in the same sentence?:eek::eek::eek:
I think I need to lay down for a little while.:confused:

Good news on both counts Baz
Steve

This is what my engineer told me about 10 years ago. The RTA are distancing themselves from litigation....It all falls onto the engineer. Thus the engineer has to take out a multi million dollar insurance policy to protect himself. This will then cost the engineer $5000.00 plus each year to insure himself. Totally unaffordable. My engineer was trying to organize some sort of 'group' insurance amongst several engineers so as to keep costs down and prevent engineers from leaving that branch of the profession. As for the RTA inspectors being overloaded. It is due to the fact that the RTA itself cut the inspector numbers enormously back in 2000 (that wonderful downsizing era) and made petrol station mechanics do the blue slip and defect inspection work. I think the new system might become very strict and very expensive. I truly hope I'm wrong.

I suspect that you are right about this Rob. That is, indemnity from litigation is a main factor driving these changes.

Hey Baz - any updates on rego?

Cheers

Hi Andrew and thanks for the interest.34

I have been recuperating with my new knee. It was 7 weeks yesterday since I had the knife and I haven't been able to do much physical work.

I have met with my Engineer and he has prepared a submission which is about to go before the RTA again, disproving many of their findings.

I only have a couple of things to attend to like:-

Fit an 'E' marked Reversing Light, fit Trailing Arms to the rear suspension, re-support the wiring harness in a couple of positions and change over the LED's in the blinkers for globes so I can pass the 'Defective Lamp Telltale' test. Unlike globes, LED's won't flash faster when one of them is removed.

I have Factory Five Racing adjustable upper arms in the front suspesnion and my Engineer has to do some tests on them for load etc., to satisfy the RTA, but that is no big drama either. Then I can book it in for inspection once more.

In the meantime, I have had the 6 speed Tiptronic tuned on the Dyno, I have had the body cut back with a fine wet and dry then buffed to a mirror finish and this afternoon, I have to go and pick up the car from Ozi Cozi in Artarmon where it's having the 3M Protective Film fitted to the front and sides.

Someone mentioned last Sunday at the Cobra Club breakfast that there is allegedly 700 applications for ICV inspection in the RTA's 'In Tray.' I just hope that I don't go to the bottom of that list when I re-submit it.

Baz

Good to see your winning there Baz.
One question about your last post though, did you have no forward facing or no rear facing trailing arms on the rear, or just none at all?

Just curious, I've never owned a Jag rear end before and thought arms and legs would flail about without any?

Mate,

I didn't have any Trailing Arms or Radius Rods on my Jag rear end.

I have driven Cobras with and without and couldn't tell the difference one way or the other, but if it makes them happy, I'll fit them up.

Baz

Wow, There ya go, I should never assume nuffin.

Best you keep them happy though, just a bit longer.