Dodgy H-Plates - What Do You Reckon 440

By: Glenn Torrens

Date: 21.06.2020

With so many cars wearing dodgy H-plates, Glenn Torrens reckons it’s time to fight the enemy within

At any other time, the car would have deserved a big grin: A chrome-drizzled 1970s Holden Statesman tight over big wheels; a carby poking through the bonnet. Proper cruisy traditional old-school street machine!

But it was thumbs-down this time… the owner’s FB post was to let the world know he’d been sent a letter about his modified car’s non-compliance with its club-issued rego plates (H-plates) intended for standard cars.

A few obviously level-headed car enthusiasts made comments such as: ‘What do you expect?’ and ‘Derr! Put it on the correct plates!’ and to the Statesman owner’s credit, he didn’t seem to be ranting and sooking – like so many others would have – after receiving a tap on the shoulder from the Law.

But others who commented about the pics of the modified Statesman and the ‘please explain’ letter from VicRoads whined about ‘Big Brother’, ‘stasi’ and ‘dobbed-in’.

C’mon car people, grow up. It’s pretty easy… Lots of enthusiasts have spent a lot of time talking to governments on our collective behalf to set-up these H- (for standard) and M- or D- (modified) plate permit/rego schemes. Sure, not all states have it. In NSW and Vic we have awesome freedoms to drive our cool old cars, standard or modified, wherever we like and it costs us around the same money as one box of beer PER YEAR!

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These club-based systems have been terrific for our hobby. Now we’re able to drive these cars anywhere, people are enjoying them more often. It’s taken the focus off ‘collectible’ and ‘investment’ and shone the light on ‘lifestyle’ and ‘enjoyment’.

In fact, it’s kick-started a whole new genre: For each Falcon GT and Holden GTS hidden in a collection somewhere, I reckon there are several dozen more GLs and SL/Xs being refurbished and driven… Restorers, painters, mechanics and trimmers are all busier and the money is making the world go round!

But some people are abusing this privilege. I’ve seen/met some who puff-out their chests with an arrogant ‘F*** off – I’ll do what I want!’ attitude. It’s making me think that right now, these people from within the car community are our scene’s worst enemy. What’s the fix? First: make sure you and your mates restore/build and plate your car right. I don’t reckon a set of Hotwires or a chrome air-cleaner on your Kingswood should need to be considered ‘modified’ but a turbo LS1 EFI V8 engine transplant does. Keep in mind, if it needs re-certification/engineering on full rego, it needs it for club rego, too. There are no short cuts; no back doors.

Yes, there remain some grey areas (such as: is an older car built for weekend Improved Production-type motorsport with era-correct tech regarded as ‘modified’ or ‘accessorised’?) but your club’s eligibility officer is usually (or, is supposed to be) the go-to person here. But as I’ve seen in NSW (where I live) some clubs are pretty loose. That’s why Roads and Maritimes Services in NSW has reportedly, so far, de-registered plenty of individual cars and several clubs for abusing the system.

Second: don’t ignore any attitude from smartarses that want to flaunt the rules. Call them out. Remind them what’s at risk. It’s a crying shame that, like spoilt little brats, some need to be told twice – or more – to do the right thing. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let morons de-value my cars and risk my hobby (and my job!) by abusing the terrific rego/permit schemes we have.

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