707 lands tomorrow...

Gunner · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:08 PM

So the car will definitely be here tomorrow - I talked to the driver and he gave me his route and ETA.

Now I have the problem of "the last mile" - the transportation company sent it on a monster 90' carrier instead of one of the small carriers that would fit on my street. So I have to find a place for a full-size carrier to drop two cars (one's in the way of mine). Then I have to drive it home, hopefully over the smallest streets possible. (No plates or registration, ya see...)

So I find a cooool solution: an apartment complex backs up to one end of my street and has a huge (30') service gate that opens there. There's a street big enough for a semi to park on the other side. So he parks there, drops the car, I scoot in their gate, through the complex, out the back gate, and it's a block to my warm, safe driveway, waving to my astonished neighbors.

So I call the complex manager. She's polite and sort of helpful, but has *no* idea what gate I'm talking about. I describe it. I describe walking down my street, hopping that fence and walking to their office. I narrate a little tour as I'm looking at Google Earth on a 24" screen. I patiently describe the location of the gate relative to their front gate, pool, etc.

I am standing on my porch looking down the street at it. I tell her this.

She knows of no such gate.

I give up. I will scoff, scoff, scoff at the laws and drive home on residential streets instead.

Got the Bug · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner

So the car will definitely be here tomorrow - I talked to the driver and he gave me his route and ETA.

Now I have the problem of "the last mile" - the transportation company sent it on a monster 90' carrier instead of one of the small carriers that would fit on my street. So I have to find a place for a full-size carrier to drop two cars (one's in the way of mine). Then I have to drive it home, hopefully over the smallest streets possible. (No plates or registration, ya see...)

So I find a cooool solution: an apartment complex backs up to one end of my street and has a huge (30') service gate that opens there. There's a street big enough for a semi to park on the other side. So he parks there, drops the car, I scoot in their gate, through the complex, out the back gate, and it's a block to my warm, safe driveway, waving to my astonished neighbors.

So I call the complex manager. She's polite and sort of helpful, but has *no* idea what gate I'm talking about. I describe it. I describe walking down my street, hopping that fence and walking to their office. I narrate a little tour as I'm looking at Google Earth on a 24" screen. I patiently describe the location of the gate relative to their front gate, pool, etc.

I am standing on my porch looking down the street at it. I tell her this.

She knows of no such gate.

I give up. I will scoff, scoff, scoff at the laws and drive home on residential streets instead.

Congrats!! You should drive it. I thought you could fall back on the "20 day rule." The chassis number is great...like a jet!

Gunner · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Congrats!! You should drive it. I thought you could fall back on the "20 day rule." The chassis number is great...like a jet!

The 20-day rule only applies if it's registered in another state. Since this passed from owner to dealer to another dealer to me, it's long since been stripped of its registration. It occurs to me that I could convincingly "misunderstand" this this rule, since it is titled, insured, and was registered in another state... oh, well, at least reg violations aren't points.

You can never be sure about getting a car that's widely advertised, and I thought a couple of times that this one had passed from my grasp. I wouldn't have minded (much) as there's always another one... but I would have hated to let this chassis number get away. It's a long story why, but "07/07/07" is an important date in my professional career.

(Actually, though, not a single other candidate worth considering has come up since this one, so I'd still be playing the waiting game instead of almost on my way to meet the delivery...)

patrickt · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:54 PM

Just get the damn car home -- forget about that law stuff. Remember, it's more important that you get it done than it is how you get it done.

RodKnock · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:24 PM

Gunner, please drive it home. While you may violate the letter of the law, I would think most law enforcement officers would let you slide w/o problem. You have all the paperwork and the delivery receipt with you.

*13* · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:25 PM

Just take her for a little drive. Show the Cop the Odometer if by chance you get pulled over. As long as you aren't doing something stupid I'm sure he'll let you go home

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:27 PM

Have a friend follow behind you at a safe distance so you're not worried about the car behind you. You will be nervous as a cat the first time you drive it.

Got the Bug · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:38 PM

I say, break out the drill and the white out.

Desperate times require desperate measures.

UB DRMNG · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 10:29 PM

Tape a small piece of paper to the windshield like a temp reg and drive it home!

If you would prefer I can drive it home for you... I will even let you visit it occasionally!

Congratulations, I bet you are just a tad anxious.

patrickt · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 06:23 AM

Having your car delivered is like running down the stairs on Christmas morning when you were a little boy.

If you have the presence of mind to take photos, you really should -- or have someone else do, and then post a few.

Rickd · #11 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 07:36 AM

Just put a plate on from your other car and have a friend follow you - with your papers AND your insurance coverage letter / card. U should be OK.

patrickt · #12 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickd

Just put a plate on from your other car and have a friend follow you ... U should be OK.

What is that RodKnock wrote? "If we all played by the rules, most of us wouldn't be driving Cobras."

Gunner · #13 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 08:44 AM

I'm amused that your post is stamped (Pacific time, at least) 7:07 am...

patrickt · #14 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner

I'm amused that your post is stamped (Pacific time, at least) 7:07 am...

What time did the driver say he'd be there?

RodKnock · #15 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

What is that RodKnock wrote? "If we all played by the rules, most of us wouldn't be driving Cobras."

Some other great person must have said that. It doesn't sound like something I would say.

patrickt · #16 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

It doesn't sound like something I would say.

You're right -- it wasn't something you said... but you should have.

P.S. -- Chas. & Ernie think we need to "man you up" a bit.

Gunner · #17 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 11:46 AM

Home and dry. No problem.

Except that it took me an embarrassingly long time to remember that with the Richmond tranny, reverse is a push-down lockout, and the finger pull is cosmetic.

Other than that, I can sum things up with WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I also have the MA registration in hand, paid through next year. In my 'umble opinion, that entitles me to the 20-day rule, plates or no plates. I have title, BOS, registration, transport document and not one but two DMV appointment pages. If that ain't good enough I'll see you in court, Mr. CHP, sir.

Bwah. And ha. And ha again.

*13* · #18 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 02:26 PM

Congrats!!! Looks like a beautiful ERA!! Just got my car back also, Last night. So excited! I'm sure you are also! Enjoy & welcome to the ERA club.

RodKnock · #19 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

You're right -- it wasn't something you said... but you should have.

P.S. -- Chas. & Ernie think we need to "man you up" a bit.

I've got nothing.

Congrats Gunner. Right around the 20th day, or before, you need to get to the DMV and start the process. First order of business is to ask the DMV clerk for a TOP, "90-days please", but they may not do those anymore from what I hear. I actually got one for 120 days way back when.

Gunner · #20 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 04:31 PM

Well, frack me (nods to the BSG fans, if any).

Went for my first drive of any length - Tognotti's, to look for some junk - and I don't need to tell anyone here what it was like. Even the two CHP who passed me just added to the ambience. And the busty young thing at the register had nice things to say about the car (the kind of attention I would have killed for back in my high school days... ah, youth...)

OTOH, I'd bet that few of you have hair that could be considered long.

I do.

It is NOT compatible with a roadster at freeway speed. Nuf sed.