The end of my Cobra - it's being deregistered

[Fred Douglass]

......I am astounded, however, by the mental and nomenclative gaps people who espouse all this statist shyte display. What government program has EVER worked? Why do people LUST to throw away their freedom and money? I uster explain to my students, that under freemarket capitalism, money EQUALS personal freedom---it allows them to go places, buy things, build things, invest, make more money, etc. They got it in my class--it took a lot of comparo studies, etc. and finally one German exchange student who said that Germany is the very model of the intrusive, controlling state.

I think it all started with that great socialist mountebank, FDR, who idiots even in the Republican Party think was a great man. His programs "solved" the world-wide Depression? Boozheet! Is or is not WAR (unfoprtunately) good for economies? I will swear to you, Toy-C, at the great risk of being deemed a paranoid conspiracy looinnie, that the attack on academia was PURPOSEFULLY DONE. You would not believe the attack on traditional teaching and course content which was undertaken by by "useful idiot" teachers. If you can believe this, I had PARENTS screaming that I was too old-fashioned (!) and that spending 4-weeks on a "course-within-a-course" on the CONSTITUTION was "not relevant" and "unfair". Jeez biGawd!

I wonder how the survivors of that (my) special course feel about what's happening in their country now. The people screeching the loudest about teaching pre-FDR history, were of course, the Lefties. Ever notice how the "reportorial revolution" has changed textbooks? You pinch the pages which cover Columbus to the Civil War and it's less than a fifth of the book. Then Civil War to now---the balance. NOW figure out the chronological "injustice" in that! It's (as yuou know) due largely to the explosion of media coverage and the difficulty of finding out about things in the 18th century, for instance.....

I hope that (as you said) the tooooner dyewds carry over a healthy disrespect for the FED GOV into the rest of their viewpoints. EVERY kid who needed a short summer reading book got my recommendationn of Ayn Rand's classic "Anthem"---and (subversively) I helped them interpret the 96 page masterpiece. Can't tell me that anti-Stalinists in the 1930s didn;t know all there is to know about mega-states!

Carrion.

Oh BTW, who was the Georgian who (incredibly) had come to and stayed in Cataumet? Not you?

[computerworks]

I think these few recent posts on general political ideology have no place in a thread in the Australian Cobra Club's home, about Craig and his misfortune with the Queensland Transport.

So, stop.

Craig...man, that stinks. Hope you can find a workable solution.

Ron
ClubCobra Moderator

[trularin]

Craig, I am so sorry to hear you got screwed.

Why not take it down and see what they say anyway, or is this a bad idea?

[justbetter]

That really sucks, i know what it is like with my battle with the EPA, RTA in the last 12 months with it probably costing me close to 4 k to keep mine on the road with the regs and fines.

Its a pitty as i was looking for the Dark side to take on your Blue Oval at the Nationals one day, or is there a last stint in you for this year as a last song ??

To be honest it was the Q777 that orginally FORCED me to that direction, ( wish you would update your web page though ) Thanks for being so detailed.

Good luck with your new ventures.

Garrett

[jasonnichols]

Im so sorry
As you may or may not be aware I stepped down from the Cobra car club Presidency and sold my car

Things have just become too hard, I dont know of one car anywhere that would cope with a RTA inspection done by one of our learnered persons( a legal term used to describe someone of less than normal intelligence).

I love these cars but god its getting tough : it only takes one cranky person from the RTA or police or a concerned member of the public to destroy your dream. I only have praise for those whom like me built their dream and continue to drive and enjoy their car.

Any modification to your car makes it illegal and can be grounds to be pulled over and Stickered .

Im just finishing a Milano A special little car from the 60s with little or no regs and hence its a breeze to keep on the road.

This does suck the big one and I only have simpathy for you

[pneall]

Craig,

This is not good news for you or anyone else involved in this pastime.

What really bothers me is how easy it would be for one of these officials to turn up at a club function and knock us all off in one go.

Phil

[Rebel1]

Phil...that's a horrible thought.

But....you are pretty much legal aren't you?.
The LS1 is legal, maybe you are a little noisy but thats easilly fixed for an inspection.

The point I'm trying to make is that even if an official did visit a club function and knock you all off you could be legal in the 30 days you get to front up.

I'd make a bet that my 4 year old bog standard Magna won't pass emissions as the cats are stuffed, but, 2 cats and I'd be home safe.

I think the lesson to be learned here is if you build, get the basics right. If you modify then do it in a way which is easily reversable.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not sticking up for the authorities, but they have made their intentions clear, one has to only interpret them.

Remember, as Craig pointed out, there is a gulf of difference between an unsafe car ( which they can order off the road ) or a car which maybe doesn't comply.

I've mentioned before about a mate who runs a 351 in place of what should be a 302W. He passed the road side inspection even being put on a brake dyno trailer.

He also runs an under car exhaust with cats and i'm bluddy positive wouldn't pass the 90db test, but they let him go with a smile and compliments on a great car.

Seems the roadside fellas couldn't pick the different width of the 351W.

As Craig also said, many police and DOT roadside inspectors are enthusiasts and given sensible presentation will be somewhat lenient.

But...then there are Pri%$s who visit car shows and made a list.

[boxhead]

Oh crap, That is not good news Craig.

[GAV MILDURA]

You could always get yourself a tempory rego? A week, A month???

Gav

[PCC]

Gav,

Fat chance with what Craig's got.

His engine bay looks something close to a Petro Chemical Pipe Layout Schedule.

I'm convinced that if he sold off his pipework alone ICI would be seriously interested.

Seriously powerful car.

Oh and Craig, the next time I speed past you could you do me a favour and keep the noise down when trying to catch up. You interfere with my new stereo unit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[400TT]

Craig could get 1 day rego's for taking it to Sanctuary Cove meets etc, till it gets pulled apart.

As far as I know you just need working lights etc to get 1 day permits.

[NASSTY]

Craig that truely does suck

Having a ride in your cobra was the most unbelievable experience. The accelleration and braking was truley awesome.

I concur with Les's thoughts on the issue. In many ways our own enthusiasm coupled with young idiots doing stupid acts has lead to DoT's cracking down on everyone.

So either we do what the hotrod guys have done and have nationally accepted build regs or we build compliant cobras. With LS1 or BOSS power, it is still easy to get 450 odd hp while still appearing to be street legal.

Cobras aint dead and buried nor are they on borrowed time. We just need to be one step ahead of the DoT's and use our brains and some common sense.

[pneall]

Les,

Your right, the trick from now on will be to make mods reversible.

This is a complicated and potentially expensive excercise in the case of side pipes so I think the smart money will be on under car systems from here in.They probably make more power than side pipes anyhow.

if you want to get really depressed have a look at the APS site about what you can and cant do.

Bottom line is if you make a mod you have to prove its still compliant. Thats a big dollar issue.

My strategy is and always will be when on public roads and especially on roads you travel regularly dont do anything to attract undue attention.We all know places where we can have a bit of fun and not attract attention.

If the RTA's gets serious about compliance their will be a whole shift in modification philosophy. It will kill off any individuality in our cars and I think thats a sad thing. THe only mods acceptable will be those from companies like APS that have put up the $$ to gain compliance.

I can see the after market industry dieing pretty fast.

As a club we are going to have to get a whole lot smarter.

Phil

[Rebel1]

And I really wonder how much is enough.

Don't get me wrong, there will always be those who want more but an out of the box compliant LS1 corvette engine produces what ... 430hp. in the old scale?.

That power in a 1200 Kg cobra translates to very serious performance potential. Given our roads are not conducive to 200 Kph travel means we gear our cobs for light to light runs anyways.

The latest 5 and 6 speed boxes look after the highway cruising.

Again, don't get me wrong and this is not a criticism (sp) of Craigs car. Craig wanted something different and set about doing exactly that..good on him. I admire the car.

But it is not the end of the world for us normal everyday cobra enthusiasts who want a car which is admired by most and which will blow the doors off most production cars.

[Ralph_C]

Not good news Craig, and I wish you well ....

Les and Phil are on the right track - make mods reversible. Even if we get to build/rego like hot rods, any mods could still be picked up.

When I transferred the rego on the DAX, there were a number of the usual issues to resolve (noise, height, wear & tear - cost me a few grand to get it all right), but the interesting bit....

I DO NOT HAVE ENGINEERS REPORTS (none required back then) - they wanted them to compare the car to.
The inspector said "you should have your original reports, and engineers reports for any mods, even a change of wheels, and keep the lot in your glove box in case you are pulled over" (but sir, I do not have a glove box ..... )

So since I had no reports, they started trying to find info in their records - turns out they shredded the file a few years ago. So the chief Inspector signed the paperwork anyway (then had a look at the car).

The inspector who gave me a tough time over not having reports then gave me the thumbs up

The inspectors (at the pits) are doing a job, but they also like cars, and are happy to try to help. As Les said, the problem people are those that visit shows and take numbers.......

[NASSTY]

for background info on engine mods, APS has covered the basics

http://www.airpowersystems.com.au/falcon/legalities.htm

[pneall]

depressing isn't it. OK if you have a Monaro.

Phil

[Rebel1]

Simply awsome Al.

Be nice to be able to fit one of those super wide 5.4 fords into a cobra hey?

[BT SNAKE]

Craig,

Hi mate I'm over in Arizona with Hershal, hence the 'Post".

That's a real pity with the Cobra. Must say I agree with other 'Posts' above regarding just placing a 'stock' motor in and bonnet etc.

I have just removed a number of parts from my Cobra, as I have been 'warned'.

The gas bottle has gone, along with the big noise making parts.



So new cam, carby, air cleaner and PCV valve and fuel tank cannister. All a lot of sh!t that does nothing for the environ but makes the officers there happy.

I have pulled the 110hp gas off along with around 50hp of engine bits so not a hell of a lot. Will get one of the glass gas bottles for show..

Cheers,

Bernie

[justbetter]

where did the giggle gas bottle go Bernie ??