The new news 24 thread

[N19]

10 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Had this game when they introduced the registration based parking ticket system somewhere round here (think it was the Summertown bit of Oxford) which would only accept the post 2001 format of plates, so it just kept flashing up "Invalid registration" when I tried to input the reg for the Saab.

Our local Sainsbury's ANPR system couldn't see the Lada because the camera was directly above the entrance and the plate was tucked back quite a long way under the bumper.  Caused me a right row with the parking enforcement company when they gave me a ticket one day.  Turns out the system flagged up anything it hadn't seen going into the car park as overstayed when the warden went out with their computerised enforcement doodad.

They were quite puzzled when they reviewed the video footage of me driving in and then leaving less than half an hour later exactly as I claimed...apparently not recording the reg of a car on the way in wasn't an eventuality they had thought of.  I was expecting a right fight with them, but they were actually really apologetic. 

The car park in St Albans city centre changed recently, and it always records my registration as 'LUM590' without the suffix. Fortunately it is reliably wrong so will record the wrong plate on entry and on exit, so I don't get a ticket.

(Although I suppose if they wanted to issue a ticket they'd need to go and watch the camera at which point they'd see the mistake and not bother)

(But that assumes that traffic wardens have common sense)

Anyway, any system that attempts to validate a registration number (rather than simply taking it as a given) must be incredibly slovenly written and implemented to not have included support for any valid registration number. Especially when you can google 'regular expression uk car registration' and hey presto...

(?<Current>^[A-Z]{2}[0-9]{2}[A-Z]{3}$)|(?<Prefix>^[A-Z][0-9]{1,3}[A-Z]{3}$)|(?<Suffix>^[A-Z]{3}[0-9]{1,3}[A-Z]$)|(?<DatelessLongNumberPrefix>^[0-9]{1,4}[A-Z]{1,2}$)|(?<DatelessShortNumberPrefix>^[0-9]{1,3}[A-Z]{1,3}$)|(?<DatelessLongNumberSuffix>^[A-Z]{1,2}[0-9]{1,4}$)|(?<DatelessShortNumberSufix>^[A-Z]{1,3}[0-9]{1,3}$)|(?<DatelessNorthernIreland>^[A-Z]{1,3}[0-9]{1,4}$)|(?<DiplomaticPlate>^[0-9]{3}[DX]{1}[0-9]{3}$)

...you have something which will check any valid registration plate of any format.

[Zelandeth]

Ah, now you mention it, another one I've had an argument with is the one at Heathrow T3.  It insists on recording the Xantia as XAN714 on the entrance, yet correctly on exit.  So the barrier refuses to open...cue waiting five minutes with people honking and swearing at me until someone answers the assistance button.

Had forgotten that one!

[wuvvum]

25 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Had this game when they introduced the registration based parking ticket system somewhere round here (think it was the Summertown bit of Oxford) which would only accept the post 2001 format of plates, so it just kept flashing up "Invalid registration" when I tried to input the reg for the Saab.

I imagine the thinking was that the possibility of anyone in Summertown driving a vehicle over 18 years old was so remote as to not be worth taking into consideration.

[Zelandeth]

Just now, wuvvum said:

I imagine the thinking was that the possibility of anyone in Summertown driving a vehicle over 18 years old was so remote as to not be worth taking into consideration.

Indeed!  You should have seen the near terror most road users reacted to the Lada with...

[anonymous user]

8 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

I imagine the thinking was that the possibility of anyone in Summertown driving a vehicle over 18 years old was so remote as to not be worth taking into consideration.

What, even 248 RPA?

[N19]

Just now, anonymous user said:

What, even 248 RPA?

I don't think he would have got on with traffic wardens or ANPR parking systems. Too modern. He'd be strolling into the distance, murmuring about 'apps' whilst Lewis fumbled for his credit card.

[wuvvum]

He wouldn't have to worry about parking tickets anyway - police car, innit.

[New POD]

9 hours ago, vulgalour said:

I have lost my valve grinding twiddle stick.  This is a bit of a nuisance since I've got everything else together to crack on with the valve replacement but without the stick, there's not much point.  I know as soon as I get a replacement the one that's hiding will appear.

Put the shaft in the chuck of an electric drill ? 

[brownnova]

Started to clear some crap out of the areas down the side of my house today... then realised the skip isn’t open so I have nowhere to put it... guess it can stay there then... 

[somewhatfoolish]

Hire one? I have no idea whether that's still possible, but given some construction work is still going on, councils are still moving rubbish to avoid everywhere looking like the film set of Shaun of the Dead it's got to be worth a phonecall/google to find out.

[Jazoli]

Our local skip hire places are still open, you might not like the prices though.

[spike60]

3 hours ago, Jazoli said:

Our local skip hire places are still open, you might not like the prices though.

And doing a roaring trade I would think. Is anywhere open for them to empty the skips though?

[hairnet]

10 hours ago, brownnova said:

Started to clear some crap out of the areas down the side of my house today... then realised the skip isn’t open so I have nowhere to put it... guess it can stay there then... 

this was planned (after 6 years) but local place not open

surf on here and go shopping later instead

[N19]

Council tips are shut to the public (at least round here) so the staff can concentrate on getting the dustcarts unloaded and, if needs be, cover for dustmen if they go sick.

Dozed off to sleep around 1am, woke up a few minutes later, that's funny why is someone doing DIY at this time of night? Sounds like an angle grinder? 

By the time I'd realised what was going on, they were mostly through my neighbours bike chain and front disc. They couldn't get it started as it was a non runner having been hit by a car a month or so ago and knocked over, and had to pull it with their own scooter.

[richardmorris]

ok, what on earth is this

from the FB club de vehicules ancienes Calais page

[KitKat]

11 hours ago, New POD said:

Put the shaft in the chuck of an electric drill ? 

Don't lap valves with a drill. A drill spins too fast, in one direction, and you won't get a feel for how its lapping. It will just cut grooves into the seat in a flash.  

You need that comparatively slow back and forward motion you get with doing it by hand, and it gives you a chance to make frequent checks as you progress to ensure you aren't taking any more material off than you need to.  You aren't trying to remove loads of material, you just want to ensure the seat's round and concentric. 

Get a another stick

[Talbot]

13 minutes ago, sickboy said:

Don't lap valves with a drill. A drill spins too fast, in one direction, and you won't get a feel for how its lapping

Hence my comment a page ago about using a reversible battery drill on very slow speed, and constantly re-distributing the grinding paste.

It does work.  I've had some very nicely lapped in valves using this method before.  Even dull finish with no scoring or grooves.

[New POD]

46 minutes ago, sickboy said:

Don't lap valves with a drill. A drill spins too fast, in one direction, and you won't get a feel for how its lapping. It will just cut grooves into the seat in a flash.  

You need that comparatively slow back and forward motion you get with doing it by hand, and it gives you a chance to make frequent checks as you progress to ensure you aren't taking any more material off than you need to.  You aren't trying to remove loads of material, you just want to ensure the seat's round and concentric. 

Get a another stick

10 seconds and it's done. 

It worked on an A series for me in 1992. 

[vulgalour]

Yeah, I'm going to just do it with a stick.  It's only 8  valves and trying to set up the drill we do have to do it that way is way more faff than I want to get into.  Doing by hand isn't a hardship and I'm not in a rush.

[mitsisigma01]

3 hours ago, N19 said:

Council tips are shut to the public (at least round here) so the staff can concentrate on getting the dustcarts unloaded and, if needs be, cover for dustmen if they go sick.

Dozed off to sleep around 1am, woke up a few minutes later, that's funny why is someone doing DIY at this time of night? Sounds like an angle grinder? 

By the time I'd realised what was going on, they were mostly through my neighbours bike chain and front disc. They couldn't get it started as it was a non runner having been hit by a car a month or so ago and knocked over, and had to pull it with their own scooter.

Absolute cunts, if anyone deserves to get it (CV) they do ?? 

The bike thieves of course not the council workers  ! 

[reb]

It's dad's funeral tomorrow. Immediate family only.

I've polished my boots for the first time since I got them.

[BorniteIdentity]

13 minutes ago, reb said:

It's dad's funeral tomorrow. Immediate family only.

I've polished my boots for the first time since I got them.

Fantastic.

Not being a self appointed spokesperson, but I think I speak for all of us when I say we'll be thinking of you and yours tomorrow.  Stay strong.

[Eyersey1234]

I hope the funeral goes well @reb. The Eyersey clan will be thinking of you tomorrow. 

[GBJ]

3 hours ago, reb said:

It's dad's funeral tomorrow. Immediate family only.

I've polished my boots for the first time since I got them.

Brahn boots? Did you give your other boots to someone who 'ad no boots at all?

 

Sorry to hear that your father's gone.

[paulplom]

Nice thing from volvo on fb

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[barefoot]

I've just Sorn'd the 75, we're only using scruffy the Scirocco at the mo, so there seems little point paying for the sake of it. This is the only time we've just had one car between us in thirty five years.

[brownnova]

5 out of 7 now on SORN...

I really don’t need to keep two on the road, but Mrs b doesn’t want to SORN hers and I need one to commute in for when I’m in work. 

[N19]

1st April tomorrow, therefore any vehicle manufactured in 1979 becomes a historic vehicle.

As far as I can see, the only way of doing this is to physically go to a post office, it can't be done online. Moral dilemma of whether this is appropriate or not is somewhat lessened by my having got a card to pick up an item from there anyway, and it's only at the end of the street. Need to do a couple of other bits too so combining it with a trip to the pharmacy (next door) tomorrow.

[SiC]

Not SORN any of my cars for next month, betting on the fact that lockdown will be lightened up next month. That and I'm not sure where the V5s are after moving a couple of weeks back. 

[LightBulbFun]

cant SORN mine even if I wanted to as the DVLA have seemingly eaten the V5 and I stupidly forgot to note the 11 digit number down before sending it off to have the tax class changed!

(not that I want to, Keeping her taxed is sort of my way of hoping this whole situation gets sorted out safely and quickly)

plus she is a historic vehicle, so nil rate  or will be if the DVLA ever regurgitate the V5...