So a lot of new things happening your New committee has the ever waited for updated website happening very soon by another old friend Richard Monty who created our existing one, we are looking to a new e-magazine for members edited by a current member, the rallies are completely changing and some are being re-introduced again and being rejigged to stop people holding there own rallies within a rally to the detriment of participants, our longer distance Gypsy Tours are also being looked at. An Association 18 month Calendar is being published for financial members only, so pay now. The Christmas in July party that was planned is now cancelled this year, but other types of things like this will be happening keep checking on our website, there are now 3 extra people as Association signatories so it should be easier for our Red Plate members. Finally for now pay your subs as you are all un-financial and for Red Plate owning members you are currently in an illegal position with a potential $800 fine if you continue to ride your machine!

And from member Jeremy Furness a good comment

Another lack of creativity shown by a small Chinese company. I really find it difficult to understand why these brands cannot design a motorcycle without resorting to this type of blatant plagiarism. Look at the logo – it unashamedly uses the Indian font.

Here is an interesting fact – the motorcycle is not actually not too bad in terms of manufacturing quality and there are even features that are not found on the Indian Scout. But Indian Scout it is not, and nobody is going to be fooled outside China.

My big question is – why do this? Has China killed off all their creativity and are their no up an coming automotive designers willing to come up with their own unique creations?

Some Permit related changes afoot at VicRoads…from AOMC…

VicRoads club permit forms and VIN stamping

Dear Club representative

Please read on for the following updates :

• Alignment of VicRoads club permit forms with the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021
• Commonwealth requirement – Classic and collectible vehicles imported from 1 July 2021 will be issued a VIN that must be stamped on the vehicle.
  Alignment of VicRoads club permit forms with the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021
  VicRoads has updated a number of Club Permit forms to improve the vehicle data collected by VicRoads, and to ensure that the correct permit types and club permit plates are issued to eligible vehicles.

What do Club Permit Scheme clubs and members need to do?
The updated forms are now available on the VicRoads website at < vicroads.vic.gov.au > for you and your members to use.

• Club Permit application form
• Club Permit reassignment form
• Vehicle eligibility and standards declaration form
• Approved club office bearers and scrutineers
  Please encourage your members to use these current forms rather than previous versions.

Why have these changes been made?
These forms now have an updated layout and align with the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021.

Club Permit application

• There are only four categories of Club Permit – Veteran, Vintage, Classic and Historic, and Street Rod.
• Each category now has a sub-category – either Original, Modified or Replica.
• The documents required for each sub-category are listed at the bottom of the form.
  Vehicle eligibility and standards declaration for Club Permit vehicles
• Now includes a record of the VASS approval certificate and Vehicle import details, where applicable.

Club permit reassignment and Club permit agreement

• Re-ordering of the data fields.
  Club Permit logbook
• The Club Permit logbook has been updated to align with regulation changes.

New requirement – Classic and collectible vehicles imported from 1 July 2021 will be issued a VIN that must be stamped on the vehicle.
With the introduction of the Commonwealth Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 and Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019, vehicles imported from 1 July 2021 that do not already have a 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) stamped into the vehicle will be issued a VIN, which needs to be stamped on the vehicle.

Club members who are considering importing these vehicles should familiarise themselves with the new requirements as explained below.

Most classic and collectible vehicles are issued a chassis number by the vehicle manufacturer. Under the Commonwealth Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 and Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019, these types of vehicles are now imported under the concessional entry pathway and recorded on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV).

As these vehicles do not have a 17-character VIN that meets the ISO standards, the Commonwealth Department of Transport Infrastructure Regional Development and Communications (DITRDC) will issue a VIN with the condition that the VIN must be stamped on the vehicle. It is an offence under the Commonwealth legislation if this condition is not complied with. A plate attached to the vehicle displaying the VIN is not acceptable.

The VIN provided by the Commonwealth via the RAV process is the identifier by which the vehicle must be known throughout Australia for registration and club permit purposes and is how the vehicle’s origin will be determined for the purpose of registration/CPS permit eligibility.

Further information
To find out more about the Club Permit Scheme obligations, search ‘Club Permit Scheme’ at < vicroads.vic.gov.au >.
To find out more about the RVS legislation please visit < infrastructure.gov.au >.

Kind regards,
Director, Registration and Licensing

Practice Standards and Solutions

So a lot of people are still “shell shocked” by the recent pandemic, some are still afraid to travel others are reluctant to gather with friends and of course social distancing and mask rules are still in place but QR codes are now 50% down on what they were a mere month ago. Still having just recently turned 70 I’m out to make up 2 years of life and at this age 2 years is a lot of time, what does one do to make it up well I’m off to Tassie next month with the British Motorcycle Club of Hobart on a 12 day ride which is what happens every 2 years the last one I just got back before lockdown! Then there is the Sitting Bull Rally in two weeks and a run the week after with our new club captain Dave Catteral to the Two Spurs, so plenty on and hopefully with friends coming along as well