[CA B.A.R. rant] Govt. employees....

[RedBarchetta]

Well, if you work for the CA government, kindly close your ears.

I visited the FULLERTON B.A.R. last Friday and received my smog exemption sticker....smack dab in the middle of my polished firewall!!

Now, keep in mind that there are probably a 1,000 other things in life I could rant about, and another 1,000,000 things that I should be thankful for. But the rigidness with which these guys write and follow procedure is insane!

I pleaded (kindly), I pushed my case (kindly). But no dice....the sticker had to be on the firewall because, as the lead technician said and I quote "That's where the CHP says they will look when they pull you over."

My reply? "Sir, if the CHP pulls me over, the LAST thing on his mind will be to determine if I'm smog exempt. All he wants to see is driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance." I suggested placement of the sticker (a 3" x 5" beast) adjacent to the CHP-supplied VIN tag. There was plenty of space on the inner fender well, farther away from the engine heat, etc. "No, it has to on a specific place on the firewall because that is where the CHP will look." @$E&@#^ moron!

So the upside is my CA registration process is nearly complete, with my final visit to the DMV to complete the process and get my ownership certificate (title) and revised registration. The downside is I have a wonderfully polished firewall with an eyesore in the middle.

Any suggestions? Velcro attached polished plate to cover it up?

Last words: SO CAL guys...AVOID the Fullerton B.A.R. Go to one that will either hand you the sticker or at least be courteous to allow you some levity with regard to where they will place it. These clowns don't give a rat's _ _ _ about your classic. And the sad part was that they were actually nice people....they just didn't have any common sense. IMHO, anyway.

[Bill Wells]

Red, just an outsider looking in here , and realize your frustration with a new car and all ...and...I hate to say this but it ain't life threatening...think of the guys who lined up for a state number and would be #501 and up and are told COME BACK NEXT YEAR, nine frickin months from now..sheez, its early March and I understand the 500 numbers are called for already for this year. I bet #501 in line and those after who have to wait would say "give me my number and put the darned stickers ANYWHERE ya want " . ya got your new car, ya got one of the 500 numbers...enjoy the many smiles to the miles. your fun is just starting and before long you will forget all about that sticker location. in michigan they apply the stickers willy nilly, red and silver jobbies that ain't pretty either. I dont even notice it anymore when i lift the hood, just glad its licensed. all will be fine in time. Bill.

[RedBarchetta]

Bill, you're 100% right. I posted this more from a "lemmings" standpoint. I understand the rules, I live by the rules and I typically follow the rules. It's just that governments in general are to inflexible and rigid (the whole lemming mentality - too afraid to think outside the box). It's a part of life that I must accept. Just posting this gets me over the hump mentally and I'm now moving on to bigger fish to fry. :-) But for other SPF owners in So Cal, or those that have painstakingly gone to great trouble to build a car of show quality standards, just a friendly heads-up from me, nothing more. ;-)

[Bill Wells]

ah, venting can be medicinal and therapuetic ...now go take your car for a spin and do NOT tell me about your great 12 mos driving season weather as i sit in a 7 mo driving season ice station zebra area ! now, that is worth complaining about . LOL> peace. bill

[Bud Man]

Red:

Don't feel too bad. In Texas they slap on a 2"x 3" inspection sticker right smack dab in the left lower corner of the windshield, right over a nearly as large registration sticker. At least yours is hidden!!

Bud

[RedBarchetta]

Okay, now we all know that Texas sucks more than Cali.

[CowtownCobra]

Of course, those 2 stickers together cost less than a hundred bucks, no matter how much the cobra is worth.

How much did the B.A.R. suck out of your wallet?

[G.R.]

Thank GOD I live in an emission free county here in WA---not in CA.

Bureaucraps, nice or not, all suffer from a common disease, "tunnel vision regarding rules and regs"

Red--you've passed all the hurdles enjoy it, sticker and all, and be careful

[RedBarchetta]

I'd post a photo here, but I'm afraid that the Governator will squish me like a bug! LOL

[degordon]

Red,
Went to the BAR in Modesto. Guy asked me where do I want the tag. Like you I suggested, near the SPF VIN Tag.
Don't feel bad mine has been over two years of dealing with Sacramento to get mine back on the road!
Denns

[427Aggie]

Here's an idea...get you an oil puke tank and rivit it over the sticker

If they ask to see it tell them to look really hard behind it...looks correct for the car...you can set it up to be functional..plumb to oil pan, breathers and transmission and it covers up the sticker...heck you could even have it chromed if you don't like the black.

Matt

[RedBarchetta]

Matt, great suggestion but I already have the puke tank set-up off the front upper cross member.

I think I'll just put an "Arnold for President" sticker over it.

[427Aggie]

There should be 2 one for the coolant and one for the oil...you have 2?

mat

[Bluesman]

Maybe each BAR location acts differently. When I went through, the last thing he did was hand me the sticker and told me to put somewhere in the engine bay. Don't feel bad... they ran my Cobra up to 240 degrees. Blew out all the Water Wetter and coolant. All you can do is cry.

[CJ428CJ]

That bites. Thank goodness that when I got mine, they handed it to me and told me to put it anywhere I wanted as long as it was in a "permanent" location (not on a small part that could easily be removed). I put mine in the trunk on the underside of the rear cowl. Sweet.

[Mark Husar]

I feel for ya!!
After all the crap I went thru, they put it on the crosspiece under the passenger side dashboard. All hidden and out of view. My only pleasant experience of the whole mess!!

[Turk]

You are done. You lucky dog!!

I called the CHP today to make an appointment for my next to the final stop, to register my car.
I managed to dial 4 different CHP numbers only to be told, they don't do that?

Do WHAT? They don't assign VIN numbers, I should be calling the Salvage people?

Not giving up, I called Sacramento who referred me to the same office I started at.

When called, I was instructed to ask for a VIN Officer. He was not in, and the person who I spoke to told me they are not making appointments except 3-4 weeks out.

Again I was asked what year the car was. Hell, I don't know. It depends on which office you go to. I told them it was being registered under SB-100. for the first time.
Never heard of that, did I know what year? No I didn't.

What year does the VIN say? It doesn't. I don't have a VIN Number that is why I am calling.

We can't help you without a VIN number.

Back to Sacramento, and they insist I must call the CHP office where I live. I protest that the reason I am calling the main number is because the CHP I am being directed at doesn't have a clue what I am talking about.

I mention the fact I was able to register my earlier Cobra at a CHP post 30 miles from my home and they knew what they were doing. Nope can't go back there, you should have never gone there and they should have never done it.

But where I have to go says I can't be issued a VIN number because I don't have a number anywhere on the car. I am given a phone number of an officer to call, after I pick one of the two choices I am given. Pre 1996 or post 1996???

I pick post 96. The number ofcourse is a recording.
"hello, thank you for calling CHP Slavage Operations Office. We can't come to the phone because we are in the yard with salvage.............."

It is understandable with only 500 numbers one can not expect the CHP offices all over the state to be 100 percent familiar with something they may never have done before or they may never do again.

What is the citizen to do? I called the office where I was turned down, and this time I got a real CHP officer who was courteous and willing to help. As much as he did not know anything about it, he encouraged me to come on in the day after tomorrow, they would figure something.

I feel like I am in the twilight zone.

TURK

[Gordon Claunch]

Turk, You must enjoy this torture!!! You just keep doing it over and over, I bet Groundhog Day is one of your favorite movies!!!

[CowtownCobra]

Turk,

Some people have all the luck. Thats why the rest of us don't have any

[RedBarchetta]

Turk, hang in there! After wading through a sea of ineptitude, you will ultimately find the one life form that actually has something between the ears.