V8 Column for March 2005
published in Safety Fast!, the award winning monthly magazine of the MG Car Club

This month we have news of an opportunity for V8 enthusiasts to drive their V8s on the track at Silverstone, a reminder of the V8 Essex Tour in September and news that the first RV8 import specialist has got a RAWS approval.

Kai Knickman (Damask 0945) on a track session with John Wallace close behind. (Photo: ktphoto.co.ukl)

Another exclusive Members' Track Day has been arranged for Monday 11th April 2005 when V8 enthusiasts and other Club members will have an opportunity to drive their road cars on the National Circuit at Silverstone. These sessions are planned and run by MGs on Track, a branch of the MG Car Club which specialises in planning and running track days. Full details are set out on the Rolling V8 Calendar on the V8 Website, and booking details are available from Club Office.

The V8 Essex Tour 2005 is planned for the long weekend from Friday 9th to Monday 12th September 2005 and will be based at the Five Lakes Resort near Maldon. The full programme of visits includes Mountfitchet Castle and Norman Village, the Toy Museum nearby, the Essex County Show, and the New Hall Vineyards at Purleigh near Chelmsford. The organisers are Lynn and Andy Vine who can be contacted on 01245 259858 or at lynnvine@v8register.net by email. Full details of the tour and a booking form are on the V8 Website.

RAWS downunder
The first RAWS approval granted to an RV8 importer in Australia has gone to the RV8 specialists, RV8

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Cars Australia. Stuart Ratcliff reports "Had my final inspection by the engineers from DOTARS (Department of Transport and Regional Services) last Friday and am expecting a RAWS (Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme) approval may be through by shortly. That will be good news after 18 months of hard work! After all the horror stories from others involved in the RAWS I must have done something right as I was only given one item to review." Then a few days later Stuart sent a further email with the good news - "Accreditation as a RAW (registered automotive workshop) came through yesterday so we are now able to comply vehicles for Australia." The RAWS scheme came into effect in May 2003 cutting off imports of all used cars under 15 years old, except for cars brought in by migrants".

RV8 undergoing side impact testing - painful to watch in slow motion. (Photo: Stuart Ratcliff)

Stuart recognises there have been concerns that auction prices in Japan might jump with the return of buyers for the Australian market with the granting of RAWS compliance approvals to specialist RV8s importers in Australia. Quite what effect Australian buyers will have when they start hitting the RV8 auctions again in Japan to meet the pent up demand from enthusiasts in Australia who have been unable to import RV8s for 20 months, is uncertain. Stuart offers reassurance on this front saying "in relation to the flow of cars to Australia don't worry. Australia might be a large country but we only have a small population, most of whom don't remember the glory days of BMC and don't know what an MG is. There are currently around 130 RV8s in Australia of which we complied around 75 (some 58%) under the previous vehicle import compliance scheme. We will not be driving auction prices up so don't get too worried!"