Exeter Kit Car Show 26-27/10/2013

[James Doulton]

Are any SWeDO's (South West Dutton Owners) thinking of going to the Exeter Kit Car Show, if so which day? I am determined to get there in my Legerra for its first showing (not that it is a show car). It is 80 miles from my door, so I reckon that I'm pretty likely to make it without incident. It would be a good chance to meet up and show that Duttons are still viable fun cars. Let's hope that the weather is friendly.

[Dave Adams]

Towing rules have been recently tightened and you cannot tow something over 66% of towing vehicles own weight. Also any item towed behind a car that has wheels in contact with the road surface becomes a braked trailer if the wheels have brakes fitted and these MUST BE FULLY WORKING WITH THE TOWING VEHICLES BRAKES . That includes the servo if fitted to the towed vehicle.

[Big Vern]

Except for unbraked trailers, but these are usually of a low carrying capacity.

"MUST BE FULLY WORKING WITH THE TOWING VEHICLES BRAKES" So how do caravans and braked trailers now work as I've not seen any that connect direct to the towing vehicles brake system?

[James Doulton]

I thought that braked trailers (and caravans) relied on a sliding hitch point so that as the car brakes the trailer compresses the hitch bracket and this pulls on cables that operate the brakes. Maybe one of our 'mobile roadblock' owners could shed some light.

[Adrian Southgate]

Thats the way mine works James.

[Dave Taylor]

 

Licences issued from 19 January 2013

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

• small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
• trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg

If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.

You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg.

Licences held from 1 January 1997

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can drive either:

• a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500 kilograms (kg) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4,250kg in total)
• a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to3,500kg in total)

For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.

Licences held before 1 January 1997

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnesMAM.

This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.

You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgMAM.

Towing heavier combinations

If you want to tow heavier combinations, you’ll have to first apply for provisional entitlement to the new C1+E entitlement. You’ll then have to pass the category C theory test and C1+E practical test.

Once you’ve done this you can drive vehicles and trailers with a combined weight of up to 12 tonnes MAM.

[Dave Taylor]

A braked trailer i.e car transporter or caravan have an over run brake in the towing hitch. As the car brakes or decends a hill this causes the brake to operate.

[James Doulton]

Currently it is looking like both days will be overcast and dry but with rain in the early hours of Sunday. Sunday is looking like being windier. I'm still going on Saturday unless the weather changes significantly because my in-laws are coming here on Saturday to see our new puppy.

I shall probably be travelling with some other guys from the Bristol Kit Car Club and I think that they are aiming to get to Exeter at about 10:30. We are meeting at the Gordano services (near Portishead) at 9am and calling in at Taunton Deane to meet a couple of outliers en route.

[3a038xvsl2h4u]

I'm planning on getting there at about 1030 Saturday. Will we get herded together or should we plan on meeting up somewhere?

[Nick carlin]

Exeter services may be? 10am for 10.30?

[James Doulton]

The services sounds fine. 10am for 10:30 should be okay.

[3a038xvsl2h4u]

Sounds good to me see you all there

[James Doulton]

Had a good day out at Exeter. Met Anthony at the services and we parked up next to the people that I had travelled down with from the Bristol Kit Car Club. One of them has a Dutton - he also has a V8 Sumo but chose the Dutton because of the weather. We had driven down the M5, which was heaving with the half-term traffic, aggravated by on-off showers. We drove down in convoy at 60mph and I had my top up but it came unbuttoned more and more and only had a couple of poppers holding it down by the time I got to Exeter. I was mostly dry though and snug enough that I had turned the heater off.

Nick Carlin joined us a little later with his JPS Phaeton and V6 Sierra. When some of the other kit cars had gone we managed to get into a line of sorts.

I managed to drive home with the top down. The car drove faultlessly at 70mph home. I was wearing my flying helmet and dark glasses but I took the helmet off eventually as I was getting a bit hot! I filled up at my local garage and my average was 39.3mpg for the round trip. A jolly good day out.