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What is the 2B
[Or, dietary tips for Sierras]

The Build Diary
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[January '01]
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[July '01]

The SVA
[Did my 2B pass?]

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[If you are really bored...]

SVA. - 30th July 2001

SVA day dawned bright and warm, it even stayed that way for the whole time I was out with the car. As I said previously, I was expecting the car to fail a bit, what actually happened was this…

You hear lots of horror stories about the SVA, tests lasting for 6 hours, cars failing on the radius of the drivers eyebrows etc, so I was worried to say the least as I presented myself at 8.15. There was only one tester there as the other was sick, so I had to wait while he finished a grey import Celica, which failed on the glass not all being e-marked, which was one area at least that I couldn't fail on! There were also lots of Lotus Exiges laying around, and I was told they often fail too, which worried me even more- if Lotus had problems what chance me?

Any way, we finally got under way at about 9.15, with a check around the outside of the car, the chassis number and the under bonnet area. The tester made some rather guarded comments about Robin Hoods and dear old Tricky Dicky which I felt were not a good sign! Then he sat in the car and checked the inside for projections.

Emissions were next and the CO was a bit high but he let me adjust it and passed it there and then, I was beginning to like this guy, he was friendly and approachable, unlike some you hear about. We checked all the lights then up on the ramp for the steering and visual checks under the car. No comments made about the seatbelt mounts or anything else for that matter, though he did measure the height of the seats for some reason-"fine" he said.

The brakes got a seeing to next, and passed OK, the best figure being 97% on the service brake with the engine running. The car is also weighed at this time and I can tell you that 2B 1403 weighs 661KG including 150kg for average driver and passenger. At least that's what he said, but I think it is probably with just him sat in it, it can't be that light, I mean 400 kg is good for a super light weight Westie or such, I doubt a 2B weighs in at 510. Still, I can now give a much better power to weight ratio, as I thought it was about 800kg.

We did the rolling road bit to check the speedo accuracy, and like everyone says, it looks a bit scary at 70 mp/h on the rollers, he said they had a Skyliner on there at 150 recently "to see how quick it was", so there you go.

After this, he went for a quick drive around the test centre, where I expected the steering to fail dismally, but no, he went around in a tight circle and it seemed to be straightening up. Both ways even! He did not check this in reverse, shame as it could really have impressed him then!

He then checked the mirrors and disappeared with "I'll just go and do my calculations". Some time passed, it was now about 11 20, so about 2 hours for the test in all. Some more time, about 4 years I think, passed, then he came over to me.

" Do you want the good news or the……………………………good news"? he said.
"Err" said I fluently.
" it's passed"

Well bugger me back-wards over an old barrel of pickled Elephants toenails. To say I was surprised is an under statement. But there you go, I have my MAC certificate and the DVLA has £165 of my money.
So, you can get your 2B through the test, just take your time and build it carefully. The next hurdle is the registration process, then it's hello rainstorms!

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