Race truck or trailer?

[Tim Wilkinson]

1st January 1997 - the last post on the first page pretty much explains it, got a little lost in the thread merge. Theory test was introduced at the end of June '96.

Al - "Grandad's Rights" means that you retain all the entitlements you have on your license - the new rulings don't affect you or anyone who passed their test before 1997. There is the possibility to take a towing test that will allow the driver to tow up to the 7.5t limit that is on your license from passing the normal test. It costs about £70 and last about an hour, consisting of the sections Bodyrepairs mentioned. I don't know anyone who's taken the test.

Passing a lorry test does not entitle you to tow above 3.5t, you still need the towing test entitlement for that. (more money).

It is just barely possible to tow a small race car without the towing entitlement. I think I'll just about be able to tow my Astra (900kg) on a trailer just about big enough for it (1300kg gross) with a medium-sized family car (weighs 1400kg, plated to tow about the same, gvw of around 2t). If I was to get a bigger trailer or a bigger car it'd make it easier, more practical, even safer, yet would most likely be illegal as the trailer may be plated to more than the car weighs, or the MAMs of both trailer and car combined may be above 3.5t.

Yes, it will make it more difficult to compete for us young 'uns.

Hope the above is all pretty clear. And congratulations, Al!

[MGDavid]

>>>Yes, it will make it more difficult to compete for us young 'uns.
===not at all, you'll just have to go back to driving the racecar to and from the circuit (assuming it's a road car in the first place of course). And you will then find all that elusive reliability, and save on testing to boot...

[SpawnyWhippet]

Just don't bend it...

[Cameron Winton]

Anybody ever rent anything to tow? eg a beavertail or van plus trailer?
Currently interested if anyone knows where.

Thanks
Cameron

[midgetman]

>>>>>>>>>>not at all, you'll just have to go back to driving the racecar to and from the circuit

And then you get caned on insurance for a modified car on the road, which'll probably be more p.a. than the cost of the test ;-)

Life just gets more and more complicated.

BTW presume Class 1 HGV (or whatever they call it now) means it's OK to tow a trailer without the extra test?

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

>>>Yes, it will make it more difficult to compete for us young 'uns.
===not at all, you'll just have to go back to driving the racecar to and from the circuit (assuming it's a road car in the first place of course). And you will then find all that elusive reliability, and save on testing to boot...

Rules out most single-seaters to start.

My car is road-legal, and I could drive it to circuits, but as Andy says, there's always accidents to consider. There's also mechanical failure to factor in - my engine let go at a trackday, no way to get the car home other than call the breakdown people. They were okay with it, but I might not be so lucky again.
Good point on the reliability and testing, if I can afford to insure and tax it mine will be back on the road after it's rebuild.

Personally I'd love to see road-saloons or super road-saloons back again; if everyone in the series was in the same boat then I might risk it, but otherwise i'd rather tow.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by midgetman

>>>>>>>>>>not at all, you'll just have to go back to driving the racecar to and from the circuit

And then you get caned on insurance for a modified car on the road, which'll probably be more p.a. than the cost of the test ;-)

Yep. I can insure a tow car and buy a trailer for not much more than a year's insurance, even on limited mileage which will barely be enough to get to a year's worth of meetings.

BTW presume Class 1 HGV (or whatever they call it now) means it's OK to tow a trailer without the extra test?

Nope, not if you passed after 1st Jan '97. As I understand it the towing entitlement is a completely different part of the license, you can't get it without doing the towing test.

[Bob Pearson]

The DVLA site on the Internet reckons that tests passed after Jan 97 still entitle the driver to tow a trailer up to 750 Kg. OK for a single seater, but unlikely to cover a saloon car.

[Al Weyman]

Mg and TeeJ we really do not want those irresponsible Road Saloons back mates I tell you. I was competing in Road Saloons and it is absolute madness to drive a thrashed car home after an event, tyres ran ragged or flat spotted, brakes down to the metal, it just not on. In fact it was when I crashed my Talbot very heavily at Oulton that I first got chatting to Brian Sheridan about what a ninsense the rule of driving to and from the track really was and this is when we decided to start the ModProds. Also a guy driving his Road Saloon back from Lydden or Brands lost his Golf on the M25 and sadly I don't think he survived the accident so please lets not talk about revieving this madness.

When I was competing in the Road Saloons I had a little A Frame like the AA use and used to strap the Talbot on the back of my 305 van and it pulled great but no good when you total it of course (oh and someone who posts here grassed me up for doingot, you know who you are!), I then went a step up when I started racing yanks and bought one of those little drive up dollys that the cars rear wheels stay on the ground. Now I tell you this you can laugh as much as you like but thos things being articulated are the best tow you will ever get they just do not sway or move at all. They are light so it is possibel to tow with a lighter car. The police don;t seem to know if they are legal or not (at least the ones I asked) and to be on the safe side I think that the vehicle has to be disabled which is very easy to rig.

This set up would only work on road type saloons but may be a solution for some of you young drivers. I tell you this like everything else this *uddy givernment do this is a money making excercise and a complete nionsense, how am I any more capable to tow a heavy trailer than a guy who passed his test post 1996. Maybe it would make sense if they allowed them to get a bit of experience with an older driver sitting in when towing for the first 6 months or so. How you would police it though I don't know.

[midgetman]

So at last there's benefits to being old. Anyone need a tow car driver with HGV 1?

[Ali Rushforth]

Al,

I think (this is according to a friend who not long ago passed his 'trailer' licence) If you passed your test after whenever people are saying (1997) and can't automatically tow with your licence, you can run with "L" plates and tow, provided you have someone next to you who has either passed before 1997 and driven for three years plus, or someone who passed their trailer test after 1997 and have driven for three years plus.

Thats what the law told him to do, he hated the fact that he had to run with "L" plates, but hey what can you do.

I'm not sure if you would be able to tow a vehicle, compliying with the above with regards the guy/girl sat next to you, and drive on the motorway. Therefore any of the 'young uns' would have to find that out, or find 'A' roads to all the circuits!!!

[Bob Pearson]

Ali, as I said earlier, it is a weight thing. Look on the DVLA website, for such an organisation it is remarkably clear to read. Under 750 Kg you can tow, over 750 Kg you need a towing test.

[zefarelly]

I passed my test in 1990 ( yes I'm getting on a bit I know!)

according to my license and the codes on the DVLA website I'm ok up to 8250 Kg, and not for hire or reward

I know I've filled out a bit but I'm not that heavy !!!

so I should be ok to tow a trailer with saloon with a camper van ?

got know where to keep a truck/transporter