but officer....

[jamcleod]

ha! i took a short ride last night after fixing my brake and parking lights, you know, a test run... i have antique car tags so in VA it's supposed to be limited use. car is in race car mode (numbers still on body, trolling for police attention Bahia Red, supertrapp aka no muffler). so i was cruising in traffic in the right lane at a pleasant pace then look in the rear view mirror and see the front of one of fairfax counties finest ... start reviewing in my mind all my excuses and explanations for why i shouldn't walk home. still following me, no flashing lights to pull me over. then he pulls behind the mini-van driving next to me turns on the flashing lights to pull the mini-van over!

well, i did then take the back roads home....

[JmuRiz]

You had nothing to worry about as long as you weren't doing anything crazy. In VA if you have antique tags you can run w/ no lights, no muffler etc as long as you are 'testing' parts...which you were. I bet he was just checking on the plate of the minivan or something and didn't want to be in their mirror to tip them off (using you as a decoy while he checked his computer). Nothing like a cop in your mirror to get your heart ticking though (especially a fairfax cop!).

[porsche914blue]

I drove my 914 (stock) in Fairfax County for a while and was never bothered by the cops. I figured if I got pulled over I'd tell them that the antique tags allow "the occasional joy ride" or "testing of repairs". Otherwise I've been pulled over quite a few times in other cars, the majority of the officers were pretty decent people.

[balthazar]

Are you required to get "antique tags" in Va. for a 914, Or are they voluntary?

[jamcleod]

voluntary. antique plates are "lifetime" (don't have to renew) and no state safety inspection required but the car is supposed to be limited use (fun runs, drive for maintainance, test drives...)

[JohnB]

Jim, I know that feeling! How did you get the lights fixed?

Nate, are you and Amy going to the beer fest we discussed? The SO wants to know so we can plan ahead for the designated driver.

[JmuRiz]

Yep Amy and I will be going to the Dominion brewfest thing. I think that it'll be a large affair, like last year. I probably won't bring the teener though...we'll probably be going saturday. Last year was a blast

[JohnB]

Roight! We'll look for you there.

[jamcleod]

johnb, for some reason, the wires were disconnected and some of the terminals on the fuse block were jumped. i just looked at the schematic, traced a couple of wires, hooked wires back up and.... voila... can't figure out why someone would disconnect brake lights though... that should be especially important for a race car. now, about that horn.. (high/low beams, back-up lights, liscence plate lights.... )

[JohnB]

Jim,

The offer stands, you can check out the manuals whenever you want.

[peter carroll]

butt officer