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Aug 21, 2012 21:40:02 GMT
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OK - so what can we actually do to stop it? God knows. Get the suppliers and biggest car clubs making noise and writing to MEPs is about as far as it can go - I don't know if the UK's MEPs carry enough weight to block it all together. Beyond that, mass civil disobediance could work - how would they be able to deal with everyone driving without MOTs or tax if everyone with a slightyl altered vehicle was doing it? They'd have to repeal it sooner or later.
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Aug 21, 2012 21:40:49 GMT
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I've been posting the link over on facebook and recommend everyone does the same on their car groups to spread the message, Again, I still don't know how to act against it!
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Last Edit: Aug 21, 2012 21:41:12 GMT by trigger
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lizardking
Part of things
'zon the revelator
Posts: 502
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Aug 21, 2012 21:45:27 GMT
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I'm up for civil disobedience after all there must be enough of us to politely and legally slow down the country at inconvenient times
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I'M SO RETRO , I SH1T SPANGLES
'68 Amazon,97 x300 jaaaaaaag,96 Mx-5,86 1300 mg Trike
L300 Delica ex MM
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Aug 21, 2012 21:46:46 GMT
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the only people who have enough clout to stop something like this are large companies who shift big quantities of bolt on tat, such as halfords. if it stops them selling cheap nasty alloy wheel packages and lowering springs over the counter to the lower end of the modifying market, they WILL get involved. This is the best, most practical thing I've read on the subject of "we must do something, but what?". Halfords made £80m profit in 2011. Demon Tweeks turnover about £20m a year. There's a lot of money in this and these companies need this legislation like a hole in the head. To be fair, they'll probably already have a plan to respond to this, they may already have been consulted on the plans. If they get enough correspondence on this, they may see a PR opportunity in throwing their weight behind a publicity campaign. I can only really think of Demon Tweeks and Halfords, who are the other big suppliers to the modification industry? We should be writing to them, asking them how their businesses will respond to a change in rules that mean using some of their products means that the car is no longer fit for the road without a detailed inspection. Just a thought, what's the current turnaround time for an IVA, I'm sure I read somewhere that there's a wait of a few weeks, is that still the case? I don't have much confidence in them coping with a big spike in people looking for IVAs after relatively common mods.
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Aug 21, 2012 21:49:05 GMT
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I vote for us all to 'break down' just 2 meters outside the congestion charge zone, on every road in and out of the centre of London. That would be a pretty effective way of protest.
In more sensible terms, I am spreading the word to as many clubs as I can to make sure the maximum amount of people are aware of the potential shower of poo that is about to arrive, maybe getting as many letters written to local MPs as possible might push us to some how opt out of the legislation. European directive and UK law are 2 different things. UK law always over rules the other.
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Aug 21, 2012 21:49:48 GMT
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Spotted this on pistonheads and went to post it here, thankfully it looks like the word is out. It's going to affect everyone with an interest in anything slightly different car-wise.
It's a shame the EU hasn't collapsed yet, maybe by October it will have done.
What can we do?
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Aug 21, 2012 21:54:58 GMT
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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Lawsy
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,615
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Aug 21, 2012 21:59:31 GMT
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someone with writing letters experience needs to draft something up that we can submit a torrent of emails, letters etc - otherwise I fear eevryone will be - what do i say, what do iwrite and it'll be upon before it starts.. I wouldnt know where to start with it andfear I;d mess up an email by saying the wrong things
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Aug 21, 2012 22:04:25 GMT
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OK I've read it... and as my planned career path is basically shot down in flames if this passes, I'm keen to do something about it. Slight issue: No where in that post does it say how to do anything about it, it just shouts about how we must do "Something"![/i] [/quote] thats the problem ive had with the ACE so far. lots of discussion, lots of talk, and erm...... thats it. petitions are useless too. demonstration/public inconvenience (like gridlocking central london with modified cars to highlight the issue) are the only things that seem to draw anyones attention to anything these days, but tbh, probably wouldnt help the cause. [/quote] 'YOU' may have done nothing, mostly because no one coudl be arsed and that is what has let it get this far. WE ( ACE ) have doen many thing sin teh background because we have lacked numbers for anything else. If we don't get support on thsi soe are walking away ( me for one ). I have 4 totally legal type approved MODIFIED cars and one that will go down the pan , £7k worths but I'd rather lose that than waste my time a minute longer. Not toy throwing or suchlike, just amazed that after almost 8 years of telling people this is coming and get preapred it actually has to be seen in proper grown up writing for anyone to pay attention. This is my only post on this subject . I'll let everyone hypothosise how they are going to get round, how it can't possibly work, how we ought to leave th EU . At least I gave up 8 years trying to do something.
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Aug 21, 2012 22:07:37 GMT
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I've been posting the link over on facebook and recommend everyone does the same on their car groups to spread the message, Again, I still don't know how to act against it! OK THIS is my last post . we've said in the article contact us' , we will mail you, we are setting up a one subject forum we simply don't have the time to do it all NOW. Everyone on the ACE team, apart from me, has proper jobs so it has to fit in around them. Per usual we will do template letters etc but the main thing needed now is getting people to read the article.
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smellyferret
Posted a lot
Back in a retro after 7 years!
Posts: 1,121
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Aug 21, 2012 22:09:26 GMT
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someone with writing letters experience needs to draft something up that we can submit a torrent of emails, letters etc - otherwise I fear eevryone will be - what do I say, what do iwrite and it'll be upon before it starts.. I wouldnt know where to start with it andfear I;d mess up an email by saying the wrong things I'm guessing/hoping that the ACE 'open forum' will result in something like this being created. We need to get MEP's talking about this. EDIT: Just seen post above! thanks ACE. For me the worst part of this is that it will make it hard to get into modifying cars, different wheels sir? that will be an IVA(or whatever test and £xx). No longer will you be able to slowly modify a daily use car (legally), you'll need to have it off road and plan the mods with the IVA/test at the end..
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Violet Vivid
Part of things
Reports of my demise were somewhat exaggerated
Posts: 734
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Aug 21, 2012 22:10:46 GMT
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I've been posting the link over on facebook and recommend everyone does the same on their car groups to spread the message, Again, I still don't know how to act against it! OK THIS is my last post . we've said in the article contact us' , we will mail you, we are setting up a one subject forum we simply don't have the time to do it all NOW. Everyone on the ACE team, apart from me, has proper jobs so it has to fit in around them. Per usual we will do template letters etc but the main thing needed now is getting people to read the article. Thank you, and also thank you for your work previous Shall submit my contact us thingie now x
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Violet, purple-loving Landy obsessed Purple-haired CyberPunk Almost model & occasional word wrangler regarding Landies xXxIf she can't decide on what kind of genitalia she likes to play with you're better off without her. Move on... play with Land-Rovers.
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Aug 21, 2012 22:14:42 GMT
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It sounds like an action plan is getting there, so thank you for your efforts ACE, I'll be keeping a close eye on your site.
I think one big issue with hoping that companies like Halfords and Demon Tweeks will have plans is that their plans may well support this. Think about it, if law is passed that allows only approved modifications, then they have the money and power to offer parts with the appropriate 'approval' while most of their competition don't. This could potentially massively increase their market segment by knocking out most of the small companies competing with them. OK the industry would shrink, but they'd be getting one hell of a chunk of what's left.
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Last Edit: Aug 21, 2012 22:20:10 GMT by RobinJI
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Violet Vivid
Part of things
Reports of my demise were somewhat exaggerated
Posts: 734
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Aug 21, 2012 22:17:41 GMT
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I think one big issue with hoping that companies like Halfords and Demon Tweeks will have plans is that their plans may well support this. Think about it, if law is passed that allows only approved modifications, then they have the money and power to offer parts with the appropriate 'approval' while most of their competition don't. This could potentially massively increase their market segment by knocking out most of the small companies competing with them. OK the industry would shrink, but they'd be getting one hell of a chunk of what's left. Also what lends a slant on the halfords in particular is they have 'halfords autocentres' which could offer the testing... ominous x
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Violet, purple-loving Landy obsessed Purple-haired CyberPunk Almost model & occasional word wrangler regarding Landies xXxIf she can't decide on what kind of genitalia she likes to play with you're better off without her. Move on... play with Land-Rovers.
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Aug 21, 2012 22:19:07 GMT
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I think one big issue with hoping that companies like Halfords and Demon Tweeks will have plans is that their plans may well support this. Think about it, if law is passed that allows only approved modifications, then they have the money and power to offer parts with the appropriate 'approval' while most of their competition don't. This could potentially massively increase their market segment by knocking out most of the small companies competing with them. OK the industry would shrink, but they'd be getting one hell of a chunk of what's left.Their available customer base would collapse too so they would still suffer greatly.
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Aug 21, 2012 22:23:35 GMT
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Their available customer base would collapse too so they would still suffer greatly. It would, but I bet 90% of the stuff Halfords sell could easily be stamped with "English version of TUV approved" and flogged to the same 17 year old kids who just want alloys because they're alloys. Only a really rather small portion of their customers are us lot who play with cars properly, the majority are happy with simple bolt on mods, which a system like TUV, which is what it sounds like, would be fine with.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,713
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Aug 21, 2012 22:24:40 GMT
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thats the problem ive had with the ACE so far. lots of discussion, lots of talk, and erm...... thats it. petitions are useless too. demonstration/public inconvenience (like gridlocking central london with modified cars to highlight the issue) are the only things that seem to draw anyones attention to anything these days, but tbh, probably wouldnt help the cause. 'YOU' may have done nothing, mostly because no one coudl be arsed and that is what has let it get this far. WE ( ACE ) have doen many thing sin teh background because we have lacked numbers for anything else. If we don't get support on thsi soe are walking away ( me for one ). I have 4 totally legal type approved MODIFIED cars and one that will go down the pan , £7k worths but I'd rather lose that than waste my time a minute longer. Not toy throwing or suchlike, just amazed that after almost 8 years of telling people this is coming and get preapred it actually has to be seen in proper grown up writing for anyone to pay attention. This is my only post on this subject . I'll let everyone hypothosise how they are going to get round, how it can't possibly work, how we ought to leave th EU . At least I gave up 8 years trying to do something. not entirely helpful that is it. getting all serious about it, jumping up and down and saying we collectively need to do something then not being able to back it up with a 'you need to do this, this is how we're going to fight it' for those concerned isnt much use. especially with 6 weeks left before it goes through. the ACE are selling themselves as the voice of UK car modifiers, but don't know what to say. tbh, I seriously doubt that no matter how much fighting is done at this late stage will do anything. this has been years in the making, and letter writing and E_petition signing isnt going to stop it. youve got to find literally hundreds of EU politicians who will stand up against the safety nazis AND the environment nazis in the european parliament, making themselves unpopular in the process. not only that they have to overturn a qualified majority in said parliament AND in the EU council to stop it being passed. even if ALL 29 uk representatives out of the full 345 voted against, thats only 8.4% of members. you need over 120 members to either vote against or choose not to vote to stop it going through. do you honestly think that is going to happen?
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Last Edit: Aug 21, 2012 22:43:17 GMT by Dez
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Aug 21, 2012 22:37:23 GMT
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'YOU' may have done nothing, mostly because no one coudl be arsed and that is what has let it get this far. WE ( ACE ) have doen many thing sin teh background because we have lacked numbers for anything else. If we don't get support on thsi soe are walking away ( me for one ). I have 4 totally legal type approved MODIFIED cars and one that will go down the pan , £7k worths but I'd rather lose that than waste my time a minute longer. Not toy throwing or suchlike, just amazed that after almost 8 years of telling people this is coming and get preapred it actually has to be seen in proper grown up writing for anyone to pay attention. This is my only post on this subject . I'll let everyone hypothosise how they are going to get round, how it can't possibly work, how we ought to leave th EU . At least I gave up 8 years trying to do something. not entirely helpful that is it. getting all serious about it, jumping up and down and saying we collectively need to do something then not being able to back it up with a 'you need to do this, this is how we're going to fight it' for those concerned isnt much use. especially with 6 weeks left before it goes through. the ACE are selling themselves as the voice of UK car modifiers, but don't know what to say. tbh, I seriously doubt that no matter how much fighting is done at this late stage will do anything. this has been years in the making, and letter writing and E_petition signing isnt going to stop it. youve got to find literally hundreds of EU politicians who will stand up against the safety nazis AND the environment nazis in the european parliament, making themselves unpopular in the process. not only that they have to turn a MAJORITY in said parliament AND in the EU council to stop it being passed. do you honestly think that is going to happen? With that attitde, no, not a hope. You have no ideaa hoo it feels having spent all that time trying to prevent this happening and then seeing it being bulldozed through. Modifying has been my LIFE for 40 years . It's been good to me and although none of these proposals will affect me personally it will decimate modifying in this country. I've been up until 4 in the morning doing research to try to ensure all facts are correct . We have collectively worked many hours this week to get this articl eup thinking the quicker teh better. Sorting everything that everyone else wants handing to them on a plate will take another week. Make the 'contact us' mail as pointed out in the article and we'll get back asap . Last word as there is time to be spent constructively elsewhere ( like writing template letters )rather than answering critiscims from those who have done nothing and whose livelyhoods actually rely on this NOT happening. Let the stoning begin. Bye.
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Aug 21, 2012 22:38:41 GMT
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We're gonna give it a go tho, right?
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crazymonkey
Posted a lot
ummm....what was I doing again???
Posts: 1,981
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Aug 21, 2012 22:40:29 GMT
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not looking hopeful is it although there may be protests same as the MAG demos for the motorbike laws. the EU really is ruining the country, there will be business that will suffer and thats hardly going to help the economy is it.
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whoever said dogs were man's best friend....obviously never heard of cable ties
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