2020 Coronavirus season

[Mfitzz]

I would like to offer my thoughts and support to fellow members of R3 that will be going through a very traumatic time over the next few months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If anyone needs help dont hesitate in contacting any of your friends in R3.

Lets all cross our fingures and look forward to 2021.

 

[Jacqs01]

Second that. Hopefully things will improve soon

Philip & Jacquie

 

[chrisbradley]

Being in the 'over 70' category, I'm self isolating until further notice, although I'm still getting out for a brisk walk occasionally to avoid putting on too much weight !

My car is still in winter hibernation - it is sorned and needs an MOT and service and road tax.

Whilst I am aware that I can take it for an MOT, I cant do that until it is taxed - I can't tax it until it has an MOT. It's not an immediate problem since I am avoiding contact at the moment, but it will be a 'chicken and egg' situation when I eventually try to get the car on the road.

Stay safe everyone

Chris

 

[Nick_USA]

Being in the 'over 70' category, I'm self isolating until further notice, although I'm still getting out for a brisk walk occasionally to avoid putting on too much weight !

My car is still in winter hibernation - it is sorned and needs an MOT and service and road tax.

Whilst I am aware that I can take it for an MOT, I cant do that until it is taxed - I can't tax it until it has an MOT. It's not an immediate problem since I am avoiding contact at the moment, but it will be a 'chicken and egg' situation when I eventually try to get the car on the road.

Stay safe everyone

Chris

I believe that you are allowed to take it to and from MOT test station for a pre-booked MOT un-taxed. I would get the test station to email you your appointment and also contact your insurer.

Be safe in self-isolation

Nick

 

[Willardfan]

Nick is correct about this, you are permitted to drive to the MOT station provided the station has your name and car registration number, with a prearranged appointment for the test.

An email to you from the station, confirming the appointment, would certainly add to peace of mind.

Stay well everyone.

John & Gillian

 

[Peter_Bull]

......... and it has to be at a MOT garage that is close to you an not hundreds of miles away so you can have a nice day out []

 

[Nick_USA]

I think there will be a long backlog of MOT's post all of this

 

[Porschekit]

Repair garages (and those that have MOT facilities) are one of the businesses that are excluded from closure and lockdown to ensure that people are still mobile. I guess the debate would be whether it's absolutely necessary for you as an individual to the your car MOT'd...it will be if you are NHS or an employee of many of the business who's staff cannot work from home.

 

[vitesse]

Just managed to squeeze in my BMW for it's MOT tomorrow at 3pm after which they are closing.

Phew-Tax renewal due next weekend.

I know we have got other cars but with our daughter & son in law both on the frontline as NHS Consultants ,who knows when we might need to us our main travel vehicle !

 

[Nick_USA]

Update from BBC:

'There's some good news for drivers in the UK. Drivers are to receive a six-month extension to annual tests of a car's roadworthiness.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says MOTs due for renewal from 30 March will be extended for half a year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Shapps said on Twitter that drivers must still keep their cars safe and that garages would remain open for any repairs.'



Nick

 

[greg_harm]

Nobody told me there would be days like these. It's obvious we are all currently in the hands of the gods and as we have had some great communication from Club HQ, I don't think I need to bang on about the Club or the Government's stance on what we should or shouldn’t be doing. Instead I want to assure everyone that PCGB Club Officials are collectively looking at potential ways to keep members engaged during these unprecedented difficult times.

As boredom, social distancing and lack of being able to interact first-hand with others starts to take it toll, it's obvious it's not just the high risk members that we need to ensure we continue to protect and support as a community, but also those who are worried, concerned and perhaps even dare I say a little frightened of the situation we now find ourselves in, so don't be to shy to check in with your network of Club friends via the forum, social media, text or possibly even a virtual chat where possible.

You may think its a given that as drivers we need to act responsibly and ensure we only use our cars to collect food or essential supplies, but sadly some still think its a perfect opportunity to just pop out and get that little job done that they have being putting off for some time, because their local workshop or garage remains open to serve the key workers and their community. Please can I remind everyone to be considerate for the safety of these people and their families before making any non-essential journey, after all that winter tyre swap or screen wash top up isn’t, in the grand scheme of things, massively essential in the current climate.

Stay Safe

Greg & Deb.

 

[Mark&Suzie]

So very well said Greg. We have taken the decision to take both cars off the road, while understanding that people may only have the use of one car it seemed totally inappropriate to be using cars “for pleasure“ during these difficult and testing times. Hopefully we can all stay safe and look forward to our next drive.

Best wishes Mark & Suzie

Nobody told me there would be days like these. It's obvious we are all currently in the hands of the gods and as we have had some great communication from Club HQ, I don't think I need to bang on about the Club or the Government's stance on what we should or shouldn’t be doing. Instead I want to assure everyone that PCGB Club Officials are collectively looking at potential ways to keep members engaged during these unprecedented difficult times.

As boredom, social distancing and lack of being able to interact first-hand with others starts to take it toll, it's obvious it's not just the high risk members that we need to ensure we continue to protect and support as a community, but also those who are worried, concerned and perhaps even dare I say a little frightened of the situation we now find ourselves in, so don't be to shy to check in with your network of Club friends via the forum, social media, text or possibly even a virtual chat where possible.

You may think its a given that as drivers we need to act responsibly and ensure we only use our cars to collect food or essential supplies, but sadly some still think its a perfect opportunity to just pop out and get that little job done that they have being putting off for some time, because their local workshop or garage remains open to serve the key workers and their community. Please can I remind everyone to be considerate for the safety of these people and their families before making any non-essential journey, after all that winter tyre swap or screen wash top up isn’t, in the grand scheme of things, massively essential in the current climate.

Stay Safe

Greg & Deb.

[/quote]

 

[Eldavo]

I’m taking things very seriously, should anything happen to me then my wife will end up selling my car for what I’ve told her I’ve spent on it [:-]

 

[Mfitzz]

Hahaha. A dilemma indeed. If ever there was motivation for self isolation 🏎

 

[vitesse]

I think it is easy to make generalisations as there are always reasons behind many peoples decisions to use a car.

For instance,my BMW 530D had an MOT running out on March 29th,Tax due 1st April so was booked in at the garage 11miles away where they have done all our 3 cars for years last Wednesday 25th March.

I therefore considered it essential as HMG scheme only operates from the next day.

With our son-in-law on the frontline at the RVI as the senior Trauma/A&E Consultant( already 2 colleagues have been /is seriously ill) & our Consultant daughter re-assigned to any ward necessary from her usual clinic roles-2 grandsons still at RGS because of their parents NHS status,I had no problem self justifying my actions because who knows when the 2 of us might be required up in Northumberland ,despite our Age related risk status.

That is what I would have related to any person checking on me.

I also used my 924S to pick up some parts from a dismantled Grade 2 listed gate I am restoring to enable me to carry on working on it at home- I shall do 2 more trips next week with the now legal BMW because that is work becoming Working from Home.

I just don't think we should be too prescriptive.

There-rant over,otherwise with a large garden & old house "there is plenty to do at home

 

[GordonT]

I’d hoped someone else would have responded by now, as I don’t think you’re quite interpreting the rules correctly. Unfortunately, ”working from home” does not include going out to get bits and pieces.

I can wholly identify with what you are saying, I too have loads of jobs to get on with, however I am unable to travel the 4 miles to my unit to collect bits which I need - despite the fact that I am unlikely to even meet anyone. Unfair, unreasonable? Perhaps, but ‘them’s the rules’!

 

[Mfitzz]

It's not about us and what we think. It's about helping others by doing the right thing.

 

[vitesse]

Well possibly but the guidelines are not precisely clear.

I am allowed to travel for work if unable to work from home.

So that I can work from home & to eliminate any travel,I need all the previously dismantled parts at home from where they are stored.

I am alone in the car ,alone well over 2 m away from anybody at my shot blaster /powder coater where I pick them up & alone on the drive back.

I can happily machine /process the necessary components at home until the situation resolves.

I am not therefore shuttling to & from home getting supplies just relocating work to home to conform with recommendations & not putting anyone else at risk.

That apart we hardly leave our home/garden even for exercise having 1/3 acre to occupy.

Justification one might say but pragmatic

 

[GordonT]

It's not about us and what we think. It's about helping others by doing the right thing.

Quite right, Mike.

 

[Peter_Bull]

How amazing how we interpret the rules set out by the government to individually suit our own requirements.

I am sure we all might have a reason to travel if we think NEED to or should I say to try and justify the NEED. My own father is 93, lives on his own 45 miles away from me. I don’t NEED to be with him but I could easily make the ‘excuse’ to drive my Porsche there and put him at risk. He’s coping OK on his own at the moment, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Just imagine if I decided I NEEDED to see him and had an accident or breakdown on the way there or back. I would be putting others at risk: Police, breakdown staff and NHS people.

The best I have heard was on Piers Morgan GMB show today chatting about Steven Kinnock, MP, travelling from Wales to London to say happy birthday to his father Neil. Jeez H C …………… That takes the biscuit for me. The three left wing wets who were guests on the show were typical in their non-condemning response.

We are all in this together and my wife and I are isolating and acting on the government’s advice by the letter.

Covid-19 is deadly serious and no one is yet immune.