Mk10 Jaguar STOLEN

[simmo]

Cue argument about what could be done to stop this.

"Nothing can be done!"

 

Maybe if the "classic" car fraternity got together and lobbied those involved and maybe even MP's it might force people to do something about it. I am sure there is always something that can be done.

 

?!

 

Hang on a minute classic cars like Mint RWD escorts and VW campers are being nicked and not turning up at banger meetings, so if the classic car community are not dobbing in these peaple, what can be done? If we are lobbying for legislation lets make sure that every classic car owner can produce 'proof of purchase' for every part replaced, to be presented at any carshow, ace cafe autoshite meet up etc etc.

[504GL]

Cue argument about what could be done to stop this.

"Nothing can be done!"

 

Maybe if the "classic" car fraternity got together and lobbied those involved and maybe even MP's it might force people to do something about it. I am sure there is always something that can be done.

 

?!

 

Hang on a minute classic cars like Mint RWD escorts and VW campers are being nicked and not turning up at banger meetings, so if the classic car community are not dobbing in these peaple, what can be done? If we are lobbying for legislation lets make sure that every classic car owner can produce 'proof of purchase' for every part replaced, to be presented at any carshow, ace cafe autoshite meet up etc etc.

 

If someone steals a car and restores it then at least it can be recovered...... if someone banger races it however....

[theorganist]

Hang on a minute classic cars like Mint RWD escorts and VW campers are being nicked and not turning up at banger meetings, so if the classic car community are not dobbing in these peaple, what can be done?

 

I wasn't suggesting that every stolen car was ending up on the oval. I am sure there are a lot of unscrupulous people in the classic car world.

 

I was just thinking that if the honest participants (which I have no doubt most are) in the banger racing world are worried about their reputation then maybe they should take the lead and legislate for it.

[messerschmitt owner]

I am sure there are a lot of unscrupulous people in the classic car world.

Can't agree more - years ago, when I was living in Ayrshire, I was visited by a Bedford CA Dormobile owner, who knew I had two of them (a 69 and a 63) - amazingly, the next day, the metal sunvisor I had for the early one went missing - now, I'm not one for pinning blame on anyone, but it was too coincidental not to be him.

[simmo]

[Hang on a minute classic cars like Mint RWD escorts and VW campers are being nicked and not turning up at banger meetings, so if the classic car community are not dobbing in these peaple, what can be done? If we are lobbying for legislation lets make sure that every classic car owner can produce 'proof of purchase' for every part replaced, to be presented at any carshow, ace cafe autoshite meet up etc etc.

 

If someone steals a car and restores it then at least it can be recovered...... if someone banger races it however....

 

I suspect that comment is a bit tougue in cheek, do they often get recovered? not sure if I would feel any better if I lost my pride and joy thinking someone else is cruising around in it. Sadly its more likely that a lot of these classics are nicked and destroyed in private so they don't create such an outcry.

[simmo]

Hang on a minute classic cars like Mint RWD escorts and VW campers are being nicked and not turning up at banger meetings, so if the classic car community are not dobbing in these peaple, what can be done?

 

I wasn't suggesting that every stolen car was ending up on the oval. I am sure there are a lot of unscrupulous people in the classic car world.

 

I was just thinking that if the honest participants (which I have no doubt most are) in the banger racing world are worried about their reputation then maybe they should take the lead and legislate for it.

 

My point being that any legislation might not necessarily target the people you want it too, they would look at the big picture and make laws accordingly. For example you may have to produce a car to VOSA/Police for an inspection afte rit comes of a SORN to prove its not a ringer or fixed using stolen parts. It would be more of a hassle for the straight guys like with SORN, insurance on possession, the villans always get round this stuff anyway.

[504GL]

I suspect that comment is a bit tougue in cheek, do they often get recovered? not sure if I would feel any better if I lost my pride and joy thinking someone else is cruising around in it. Sadly its more likely that a lot of these classics are nicked and destroyed in private so they don't create such an outcry.

 

Sadly I was mostly serious

 

If someone turned up and took your car away would you feel worse knowing that it was going to be destroyed by some thieving knuckledragger who will use it to destroy other cars or would you feel a tiny bit better knowing that it was going to be fixed up? I don't want either to happen to anyone of course.....

[flat4alfa]

I'd welcome a Banger meeting for VW Camper vans!

 

What a spectacle that would be.

[504GL]

I'd welcome a a Banger meeting for VW Campers!

 

What a spectacle that would be.

 

Or you could just have a meeting where they take campers which have been naffed up and take them back to standard?

[Cavcraft]

Genuinely not interested in stirring up any debate but I have thought about getting a Mk4 Astra and a Focus and having a two car banger race just for fun. The winner gets to claim which car is the best and we'll no longer have to suffer arguments on here about them.

 

Good point about not all classic car people being straight, in all walks of life you're going to get the unscrupulous who give a bad name to all in their game.

[Guest]

Hang on a minute classic cars like Mint RWD escorts and VW campers are being nicked and not turning up at banger meetings, so if the classic car community are not dobbing in these peaple, what can be done? If we are lobbying for legislation lets make sure that every classic car owner can produce 'proof of purchase' for every part replaced, to be presented at any carshow, ace cafe autoshite meet up etc etc.

Bear in mind that if you'd stolen a car and intended to sell it on, at a minimum you'd want to change the identity and sell it with a V5. Even then you're left with a car which has a good chance of being identified by the owner (especially if it's a rare model). So you'd have to make some efforts to disguise the identity - possibly respray it, alter trim, change the mileage, change the glass (if etched), etc. After all that, the car would still be going around and you could be rumbled later on.

 

If you want to banger race a car, you can turn up with the identity completely removed, the interior binned, paintjob by Dulux and at the end of it all the "evidence" is destroyed. Take it, use it, get rid of it. Even if someone was 100% certain their stolen car had turned up on a track, by the time they find out, it's been turned into a load of bean tins. Pretty sure that's what happened with that stolen 180B.

 

The general argument against further regulation always seems to be along the lines of "whatever we do, they'll just find ways round it" - yeah, no doubt some will! But at least they might have to make enough effort to wonder whether it's worth actually doing it. As-is, we're just in this constant cycle of legit banger racers complaining about being labelled as thieves, whilst cars continue to be stolen due to lax regulations and a general apathy about removing the bad elements from the scene. Even some kind of token effort would be appreciated.

[RedSparrow]

Out of interest, how much would a racer pay for a Westy to enter this?

Was told around £1200, but one changed hands for 'two-and-a-half'

 

Seriously?!

 

Wow. I'm amazed people would pay that much to put a car round the oval even if they get a bit back from parts sales. I'm guessing the prize money can't be more than a few grand.

 

Yeah, new banger formula, VW Campers, Beetles, Minis and MGBs. That I would watch with some sadistic pleasure!

[banger-driver]

believe it or not the police do go to alot of the higher profile meetings such as the all westy meeting and do checks on the cars before they are raced. To my knowledge none have turned out to be stolen. Why slag a banger driver just because of what we do there is no need for it. So what that banger drivers drive hiabs etc its just a tool. I have a transit recovery does that make me scum? I would race a mk2 granada if i could get 1 cheap or any other banger that was cheap in fact because i love the sport that i do. just like the people that enjoy restoring cars. To be honest im pretty upset with how people can slate other people!

[M'coli]

And there's a lot of people who get upset at the idea of getting their car stolen, sold on and then somehow prep'd for racing.

[Cavcraft]

Tbh I think some of it is possibly down to 'gypsy syndrome' where the bad ones spoil it for the rest and eventually lots of people tar them all with the same brush. Not sure if anyone on here has said all banger drivers are the same mind you. Don't forget lots of people think those of us who like shit old cars are weirdos, mingebags and nutcases who are so skint they can't afford a 'decent' car. They are right of course but it shows prejudice exists in all walks of life.

[dollywobbler]

The All-Westy meet is a disgrace. I cannot believe that there are over 100 absolute wrecks out there for which a trip around the oval is the only future. If four figure sums have been paid, that means that good, solid cars will be involved. I'm worried about the one I used to own. These are not valuable cars, even when it good condition. They're also not common cars.

 

If the banger racing community want others to have a better view of what they do for fun, they should think more carefully before having such stupid ideas that are obviously going to cause widespread ill-feeling.

[Rocket88]

Banger racers probably KNOW who the bad guys are, but probably are [understandably] a bit reluctant to dob them in. I don't suppose the nastier elements of that fraternity would have many qualms about doing some hammer welding on your kneecaps, for instance.

 

If an old shaed is legally obtained, and beyond economic restoration, an honourable death on the oval is preferable to rotting in a hedge somewhere. By the way, there's an easy way to prevent legally purchased good stuff being bangered, which is to introduce a £500 rule, whereby any competitor would be forced to sell his weapon of choice for £500 if another competitor wanted it.

[theorganist]

The All-Westy meet is a disgrace. I cannot believe that there are over 100 absolute wrecks out there for which a trip around the oval is the only future. If four figure sums have been paid, that means that good, solid cars will be involved. I'm worried about the one I used to own. These are not valuable cars, even when it good condition. They're also not common cars.

 

Totally agree with this. Surely spending over a grand on what would be presumably a MOT'd car is going against the spirit of "banger" racing!! As I said earlier I thought the term banger was the key, i.e. cars that have little future. Will they only be happy when their are no Austin Westminsters left! To me this is just legallised vandalism!

 

I notice on another forum that the fourth production Maxi has just been sold to a banger racer, it did look like it needed a hell of a lot of work mind but it still seems a great shame!

[Rocket88]

The All-Westy meet is a disgrace. I cannot believe that there are over 100 absolute wrecks out there for which a trip around the oval is the only future. If four figure sums have been paid, that means that good, solid cars will be involved. I'm worried about the one I used to own. These are not valuable cars, even when it good condition. They're also not common cars.

 

Totally agree with this. Surely spending over a grand on what would be presumably a MOT'd car is going against the spirit of "banger" racing!! As I said earlier I thought the term banger was the key, i.e. cars that have little future. Will they only be happy when their are no Austin Westminsters left! To me this is just legallised vandalism!

 

I notice on another forum that the fourth production Maxi has just been sold to a banger racer, it did look like it needed a hell of a lot of work mind but it still seems a great shame!

 

In banger racer's defence, I know from personal experience that some owners' clubs are populated by anally retentative types who seem to think that anything "rare" should be sold to them for buttons so that they can "preserve" it.

[theorganist]

In banger racer's defence, I know from personal experience that some owners' clubs are populated by anally retentative types who seem to think that anything "rare" should be sold to them for buttons so that they can "preserve" it.

 

I don't doubt it and I am sure the owners clubs do not help themselves, as in the Top Gear/Morris Marina Shenanigans.

 

I personally don't have anything against banger racing it is fun to watch, I know a lot of racers help keep old cars on the road by selling any salvagable parts and I know a lot of racers buy cars with the intention of racing them and then have a change of heart when they see the condition of them.

 

I do wish the organisers though would put a little more thought into what is suitable to be raced.

[Pete-M]

I know from personal experience that some owners' clubs are populated by anally retentive types who seem to think that anything "rare" should be sold to them for buttons so that they can "preserve" it.

 

These tend to be the same lot who won't sell anything for less than triple its value - because it's rare.

 

I don't doubt it and I am sure the owners clubs do not help themselves, as in the Top Gear/Morris Marina Shenanigans.

 

I have to admit, after reading a lot of the Marina apologists club members whining about this on the PC forum I very very nearly wangled a Marina Coupé with the express intention of giving it to Top Gear. The Marina OC do no favours to the 'classic' car world, not because the Marina is shite - which it obviously is - but because the owners club are a bunch of whining tossers who couldn't grasp that the more they whined, the more Marinas were gonna bite the dust. I lost track of the number of whingeing threads on there every time TG wrecked a Marina. With Marinas, however, supply far exceeds demand. They're not hard to find, sought after, or expensive, so if one comes up for sale and they don't want it to die they should chip in and buy every example they can...

 

Banger racers are always going to crash old cars. It's the nature of what they do. Old cars get rarer every day because people strip 'em for parts, use them as donors, or send 'em over the bridge of doom.

 

Banger racers are a tiny minority when it comes to wrecking 'normal' cars, can't blame Banger racers alone for the lack of MkIV Cortinas, Sierras etc.

 

The Pre-68 brigade, on the other hand. There seems something very perverse about people who just want to wreck cars that have survived 43 years or more. It's as if the whole category is only there to annoy 'classic' car folk. Stealing MkX Jags from people to 'race' just annoys and alienates the Banger folk from other 'old car people' more.