MPI situation news update
So, I'm currently in the process of making a meeting with some staffers at MPI to discuss compliance items. I'm honestly quite nervous about it.
That, and I'm picking up my new fancy car from Vancouver this weekend. Photos to follow!
rob
Manitoba RHD – MPI’s memo *updated*
So, I've heard from a few sources now that MPI has sent a memo to a all Safety Inspection Stations. I'm still trying to get a copy of this memo. If you have one, please forward it to me. I now have a copy of this memo, it is attached.
The gist of the memo is... look for DOT head lights, DOT tail lights, DOT and seatbelts. Some have said that the memo says to not safety the vehicle at all. At any rate, people are getting turned away from Safety Inspection Stations because of this memo. It has been an ongoing problem that RHDs are getting turned away, but this has made even more stations close their doors to us.
Manitoba is currently in provincial election mode. MPIs are going to be too busy to care about the little guys. I had a response from Hon. Andrew Swan earlier, but MPI has still refused to contact me.
Because of all this, I have sent another email to Hon. Andrew Swan, and Hon. Steve Ashton to see if they could help.
Hon. Andrew Swan and Hon. Steve Ashton,
I realize that you are probably very busy with your campaign, but no
one from MPI has contacted me. This is itself is fine, but MPI has
just released a memo to safety inspection stations that has caused
most stations to stop safetying right-hand drive vehicles.This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. This approach to the
safety in these vehicles is not the answer.I would like to set up a meeting, or at least open communications
between myself, MPI and all relevant parties. Can you help me with
this?Again, I realize you are probably very busy at this time. If you don't
have time to attend meetings about this, can you help me contact the
correct people at MPI.Cheers,
Robert Guderian
So, hopefully I'll get some kind of response.
rob
Response from Honourable Andrew Swan
Today, I got a response from Hon. Andrew Swan, the MLA that is in charge of MPI.
It's obviously not just a form letter, this is good. But, I'm not declaring victory. Now, to wait to hear MPI's response, now that they've been prodded by an MLA.
The response:
Dear Robert Guderian:
Thank you for your email message regarding grey import vehicles and the compliance requirements to operate these vehicles in Manitoba.
I referred your concerns and suggestions to Manitoba Public Insurance senior officials to inform them of your thoughts on this issue and for consideration. The corporation is reviewing the issue and will contact you directly once its review is complete.
Thank you for taking the time to raise your concerns to my attention.
Yours truly,
Andrew Swan
Minister charged with the administration of the
Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act
rob
CJOB Radio Interview
The Road Trip on CJOB had me on as an interviewee again, to discuss the campaign we've started!
Michael Clark called me up, we discussed the ideas, and decided we should advertise that RHD drivers want to be at the table to talk about our cars in an open and honest way. Which we do!
So, Here it is! I hope you enjoy it!
rob
An open letter to the Government of Manitoba
A while ago I drafted up a letter to send to the Government of Manitoba about how poorly they are treating grey imports in Manitoba. It's summer, and I haven't heard any valuable response. Needless to say, I'm disappointed, but now I'm opening up this letter to all of you to send to your MLA and anyone you think should read it.
You should send it to:
Hon. Steve Ashton, Minister of Transport: minmit@leg.gov.mb.ca
Hon. Andrew Swan, in charge of MPI: minjus@leg.gov.mb.ca
Your MLA, found here.
I have prepared a coverletter for you to use, just replace all the 'your name' to... your name. Ideally print it out and snail mail it, but email is just as effective.
The technical document is here in PDF form, and HTML form.
Here's the original coverletter for your entertainment.
Attention Honourable Steve Ashton, Honourable Andrew Swan, and Ms. Marilyn Brick
Regarding Grey Imports and Safety in Manitoba
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of grey imports Manitoba and Canada as a whole. Manitoba laws require that compliance items are completed to allow the vehicle to be on the road. These laws are in place to make the vehicle more safe, but the laws regarding compliance items for these vehicles is outdated. The requirements that MPI and Manitoba has in place for Grey imports does not make the vehicles safer, but in fact makes them less safe.
Attached you will find a detailed report of the current situation, and some suggestions for making requirements simpler for these vehicles, which will also make the vehicle safer. It details how other provinces that have larger numbers of grey imports has dealt with the situation, and suggests that Manitoba take the same approach as British Columbia has taken, which is to simplify and clarify requirements - focusing on important and relevant safety items.
One of the problems with the current compliance requirements, is that the requirements are confusing and are often unknown to or misunderstood by safety inspection stations, law enforcement officers and the owners of the vehicles. Adopting a simple set of requirements would ensure important safety items are addressed and easily enforced. Accepting a simple set of easy to understand requirements would ensure that grey import vehicles meet these requirements, making the vehicles suitable for Manitoba roads, thereby making roads safer.
If there is any questions about anything in the attached documents, I would be happy to discuss it with you.
Regards,
Robert Guderian
Enlc: Grey Imports in Manitoba - Clarifying Requirements to Make Manitoba Roads Safer
Alert all Skyline owners: Meet this weekend in Vaughan ON!
The 3rd annual Skymeet is coming up fast! Basically, this is a meet for Skyline owners... and all skyline owners are welcome! Spectators are welcome too.
It sounds like it's going to be a good time. The meet is at Right Drive. 1970 Highway 7 West, Vaughan, Ontario.
There'll be photos here via RightDrive.ca, and I'm sure everywhere else too!
So, be there if you can be. Otherwise, live vicariously though this site, or Rightdrive.ca (I'll be doing this option, unfortunately).
rob
Canadian Business Journal – RightDrive Inc.
Congrats to RightDrive Inc. for a very nice article on the Canadian Business Journal website. This is a good article for the legitimacy of right hand drive vehicles in Canada - way to go RightDrive!
rob
Daihatsu van being given away!
Guy's Garage Daihatsu giveaway.
A radio station in Winnipeg has a Daihatsu Atrai as a prize in a radio giveaway! As a Daihatsu owner, I think this is pretty cool. The contest is called 'guys garage' and is a yearly contest where listeners call in to get 'keys' that may or may not start the vehicle that is being given away. In years gone by it's been a Porsche, or sporty car... this year it's a Kei class!
This really goes to show that right hand drive is a staple in Canadian motoring now. It's mainstream. It's not going anywhere. Canadians like a deal, and you can get a great JDM that's in great shape for a great price... why would we not do it.
Anyway, cudos to Winnipeg's Power 97 for auctioning off a very cool Daihatsu!
rob
Ford goes global – what it means to us
A Focus 3-door? Impossible!
I originally made this post for tunedtech.ca, and thought I'd cross post it here too. Check out the original here!
Ford, though born in Detroit, has not been good to the North American market. It's a name ubiquitous to the North American auto market, but has not sold it's best cars here. Sure, we've had various Mustangs, F-150 pickups and other big, fuel-hungry, V8-powered high-end Fords on the market... but we've been not seeing the other side of the market. Ford has not sold most of their high-end small cars in North America. This has (presumably) been done so the Mustang does not have competition from its own badge.
Maybe you, much like me, did not know that this has been going on for years! We missed out on the good years of the Ford Capri, which is not the same car as the Murcury Capri (which was just a low-end 80s Mustang). The Capri is known as a respectable 80s sports car, only available in right hand drive. James May even took one out for a spin in the 'Rear Wheel Drive Challenge' on Top Gear. It broke down... but it remains a good example of a good-looking and good performing car produced by Ford that was never sold here.
A Ford Escort Cosworth rallying
Then, there's the Cosworth-tuned cars. The Ford Escort Cosworth and the Ford Sierra Cosworth. The Escort Cosworth was a homologation car (much like the Subaru WRX STI or the Lancer Evo) to qualify the car for racing in various race leagues. It was a high-power 4-cylinder that remains highly desirable to this day. The big 3-point functional spoiler and turbocharged engine have gone made this car go down in history as one of the best sporty small cars in history. Here in Canada, the Escort was a family eco-box with as little flair as possible, and shames the roads to this day.
The Ford Focus might seem like a strange thing for this site to focus on (pun intended), since it's a mediocre eco-box family car in North America. But that's the thing... in North America it's lame. Check out the lead image... that's a Ford Focus RS... this last year's model. Ford stopped selling the Focus 3-door in North America in about 2004... but it only got better overseas.
The original GT40
And lastly... the Ford GT40 - the original GT40. The Mustang is the flagship of Ford North America.... the GT40 would run laps around the Mustang... and was rarely manufactured in LHD. The GT40 was a thing of beauty, intended to compete with Ferrari and other supercar manufacturers. But, the year was 1966... the musclecar era of North America was budding, and this car would have never fit into the Ford niche they were creating at the time.
The European Ford cars are so good that TopGear.com has a tribute to them! Check it out. There's lots of great photos of great cars... that were never available on Ford's native soil.
Overall, yes, I'm looking forward to Ford going global. That is, as long as it means North American Ford gets better... not European Ford getting worse!
rob
More Skylines Seized in California
I talked about this not so long ago. There are a few RHD cars that are legal to import into the USA,and Skylines are on that list. But, Skylines need modifications to meet the standards in the USA, and my understanding is that there is no shops that can do that work.
So, that means that most RHDs in the states have been imported illegally, and this can happen: 2 more Skylines have been seized, and will likely be crushed. I found the link on Jalopnik here. The original article, that is more fleshed-out can be found here on Nicoclub.com.
To the people who have lost their cars: I'm sorry. That sucks. Best of luck in the fight to get them back.
rob