[jhwalker]

Daryl,
First post here. Last July I was exactly in your position, including the 427R.

I got my SB100 completed on the first working day of 2006 just as you plan on first working day of 2007. As others have said, have ALL the paperwork neatly completed and your documentation well organized. Be humble and friendly (at my DMV a group came outside to hear it idle). If they are wrong on something, politely but firmly show them the rules. My DMV was a little confused, and their screwup could cost you a year of TOPs.

If they have not done an SB100 recently, they might not know that they have to start calling Sacramento asap the first morning of the year. I went in the last week of the year and met with the manager and reviewed the game plan that I thought was required to make it happen, asked her if it made sense, etc. That made the "morning of" less of a question mark. They considered it a "win" when the SB100 # came thru.

I was able to get three Temporary Operating Permits -- they carried me thru the 10th day of 2006 so I wouldn't be driving around trying to get the DMV and BAR (both of whom really liked the car and gave me NO hassle)
steps completed.
Good luck.
James