Giulia 105 Register
Registro Ricambio
February 2010
Giulia 105 Register News
Items of interest from the FBHVC newsletter
Continuous insurance
There has been a sudden flurry of enquiries following media reports about new measures to enforce motor insurance regulations. The reports were triggered by a press announcement issued by the Department for Transport to coincide with the publication of their analysis of the responses to the consultation on a ‘Scheme of Continuous Enforcement of Motor Insurance’.
There has been a series of consultations on this topic, going back several years. The underlying proposal is to undertake regular comparison between the DVLA database of vehicles that are licensed for road use and the motor insurers’ database (MID) of vehicles that are insured. The comparison would identify vehicles that appear only on the former, and keepers of those vehicles would then become liable to penalty, whether or not the vehicle concerned was actually in use. Legislation to make this possible was contained in Section 22 of the Road Safety Act of 2006, allowing the Secretary of State to make appropriate regulations for the application of the new law and to decide when it should start. The latest consultation was concerned with the detail of those regulations.
Typically, some of the media reports caused needless anxiety for some whose vehicles were licensed, but temporarily out of use and uninsured, by suggesting this was some new idea and hinting that the new system was already in operation. A closer look at the press announcement would have shown the journalists responsible that DfT expects the new enforcement regime to come into force in the 'next financial year'.
At present, it is only illegal to use, or keep, an uninsured vehicle on the road - provided it is off the road, it doesn't matter whether it is insured or not. However, once the new regulations come into force, and Section 22 of the Road Safety Act of 2006 commences, it will be an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle unless it is SORNed (or has been off the road since before the SORN system began in January 1998).
FBHVC supports the principle of this scheme as it believes it will reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads. The obvious caveat is the risk that a properly insured vehicle may not show up on the MID for some reason, such as being one of many vehicles on a multi-vehicle policy. Owners can check that their vehicles appear on the insurance database by checking at www.askmid.com - and we recommend that everyone should make that basic check shortly after each insurance renewal.
Declaring SORN on a newly acquired vehicle
SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) is only applicable to a vehicle whose licence disc expired on, or after, 31 January 1998. If you have just acquired a vehicle that is subject to SORN, a recent case has indicated that the on-line SORN system should not be used to declare the initial SORN under your new ownership. This is because of the way in which the SORN legislation, and on-line SORN system works. If a vehicle is being taxed, then it is perfectly normal for the new owner to take over the unexpired period of tax. However, the SORN period starts at the beginning of a month, and then stops when there is a change in ownership. The online SORN system can only start a period of SORN at the start of the month, and then stops that SORN when the ownership changes.
SORN cannot be made online within the month of registering as keeper.
If you have acquired a vehicle, and you are going to declare SORN, as well as filling in the V5C to register the change of ownership, (or V62 if V5/V5C was missing) it is essential that you fill in a V890, (SORN form) as well. The V890 SORN form is available for download on line from www.direct.gov.uk, or should be available from a main Post Office. Staple these forms together, and send to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1AR. I would suggest that it is always wise to make copies of these forms before sending them off.
You should receive written confirmation of the SORN declaration within four weeks. If no acknowledgement letter is received then the DVLA instructions are that you must contact Customer Enquiries Group on 0870 240 0010 immediately.
In summary, new keepers should make a SORN declaration via the paper based SORN V890 application form.
York Giorni Alfa Centenario - 2nd May 2010
As I am sure you will be aware, 2010 is Alfa Romeo’s centenary year and the AROC is organising a series of special events to celebrate 100 years of car making. The City Centre of York is to be the venue for one of these special events, further details are printed in this magazine.
The aim is to display all of Alfa Romeo’s models in chronological order, from the earliest vintage examples right up to the Company’s latest vehicles but we can’t do it without your backing and collaboration.
If you would like to be part of this very special celebration and display your Giulia 105/115, please contact me as soon as possible so that I can compile an entry list, book your space in the display and organise the necessary passes for you. Entries will be accepted on a ‘first come first served’ basis, therefore, please be prepared to be listed as ‘first or second reserve’. I would like to thank the many of you who have responded to my email and AROC website forum request. I already have several Giulia 105/115 models covered but my list is not yet complete.
All entries will need to be pre-booked. No cars will be accepted on the day itself, so please help me to help you by contacting me by email at the earliest possible opportunity. As a theme, we aim to have 100 cars on display to celebrate Alfa Romeo’s 100 years of history.
News from the Giulia 105/115 Specialists
Alfaholics
Please see the New Products section on our website giving details including photographs of our latest productions. Here are some of the ones that might be of interest to Club Members:
Steering wheel centres for all models including wood for Mk2 1750 GTV and 1750 Kammtail Spider
8 X 15 GTAm Alloy wheel (Photo attached)
GTAm Sliding window kit for all Coupes
Battaini Jack Plastic End Caps
Handbrake handle Grips
Tel: 01275 349449
www.alfaholics.com
Classic Alfa
New parts - We now stock boot floors for all 105 models as well as a range of forged Cosworth race pistons for 1600 & 2000 cars.
Tel: 020 8679 0707
www.classicalfa.com
EB Spares
Door skins for Giulia Supers are now available, also good quality repair panel for bottom of front wings. Fuel tank sender units for both Veglia and Jaeger senders and trailing arms are now available new again for all 105’s. CSC are producing big bore tubular manifold and system for GT and Supers.
We have an online parts list with pictures and prices.
Tel: 01373 823856
www.ebspares.co.uk
The Highwood Motor Company
We are in the process of making some big changes to the website, including many photographs of individual parts.
Tel: 01792 234314
www.highwoodalfa.com
Track Days
Alfaholics 9th Annual Castle Combe Track Day
Saturday 10th April 2010
Photo credit - Alfaholics
Owners of 105 series Alfas who would like the opportunity to drive their cars at speed in a non-competitive environment are very welcome.
Castle Combe, conveniently situated between J17 and J18 of the M4, is 1.85 miles long and combines chicanes and fast corners that make for extremely exciting and challenging driving. Once again, instructors will be on hand to offer advice and demonstrate cornering technique, while all corners will be 'coned' to show braking, turn-in and apex points.
With no fixed session times and 12 cars on the circuit at once, there will be virtually unlimited track time all day! This makes for a relaxed and sociable atmosphere which is always a great feature of our Castle Combe day. Additional drivers in any cars entered are welcome.
For more information please visit the Alfaholics website www.alfaholics.com or call 01275 349455
Classic Alfa Goodwood Track Day
Saturday 17th April 2010
.
Photo credit - Stuart Taylor
Our event is always extremely popular (especially being a Saturday) please reserve your space quickly if you wish to be guaranteed a place.
This year, as last, 10 cars will be on the circuit at any time ensuring more than ample track time for everyone and hardly any queuing between sessions.
The day is also only for drivers of 750/101 Giuliettas, 102 series cars and of course 105 series Bertone GT's / Spiders, Montreals and Saloons
.
Photo credit - Stuart Taylor
As well as the staff of Classic Alfa, there will be at least half a dozen Alfa specialists there on the day so there will be no shortage of knowledgeable advice! Also present will be a photographer to capture your finest moments & you will be able to purchase prints from them the following week.
Spectators are more than welcome throughout the day and the restaurant and snack van will be open the entire time.
A fantastic day out for owners of 750/101/105 series cars, see www.classicalfa.com for more information.
Note: Spectators, especially 105 Register members, will be more than welcome at both events, refreshments available all day. Come along and enjoy the action – it’s free!
DRIVE IT DAY
Remember - Drive It Day will be on Sunday, 25 April. The aim is simply to be seen so that the public is reminded that historic vehicles exist and that there are lots of people preserving them for posterity. So people don’t need to do anything special if they don’t want to - all they need do is just use an old vehicle instead of a modern one for whatever it is they do that day.
Keeping the Register up-to-date
Maintaining any type of register can be a thankless task especially when members forget to inform the keeper when they sell, buy or sadly scrap their car. I am very grateful to all those of you who have notified me of any ownership changes. An out-of-date Register is of little use to anyone! I would be pleased to hear from all existing or prospective Register members to check their database record and hopefully add some ‘new faces. Please send me an email to stuart.alfa@virgin.net and I’ll get straight back to you.
KOY Saved!
Further to my appeal in the last issue of ‘Alfa Romeo Driver’, I am delighted to tell you ‘KOY’, the burnt bluette Giulia 1600 Ti has been rescued by AROC member, Max Haycocks. A full restoration and rebuild is now underway and we will look forward to seeing the finished result at a Club event in the not too distant future.
Benvenuto!
The Register is delighted to welcome new members Stuart Walker (Spider S4 2.0i) and Ian Waters (1750 Spider Veloce).
Stuart Taylor