Hotrod busted

Multiple serious engineering deficiencies have been found on a Victorian-registered hotrod after the vehicle was the subject of a roadside examination by ACT Policing’s Road Safety Operations Team (RSOT) on January 1.

The car had been driving along Vernon Circle in the City with its bonnet removed when it was stopped by police.

Concerned with some of the faults evident in the heavily modified vehicle, RSOT officers placed an immediate defect notice on the vehicle, directing that it be fully inspected at the Dickson RTA Inspection Station.

The V8 hotrod was subsequently transported to the Dickson RTA Inspection Station, where vehicle inspectors found it had a cracked chassis rail and an engine mounting which had completely broken away, in turn placing pressure on the steering arm and other vital components. Elsewhere on the engine, some important retaining bolts had barely any engagement.

“It’s hard to believe that anyone would risk driving a vehicle with faults as significant as these,” Acting Superintendent of Traffic Operations Rod Anderson said.

“This car was a catastrophe waiting to happen. It was fortunate that our officers were able to prevent it driving any further than necessary and it was able to be fully inspected by the RTA,” Acting Superintendent Anderson said.

“The likelihood of an impending failure on this car at speed was very high. That poses a huge risk to the safety of the people on board, and anyone else around.”

The hotrod had not been entered for Summernats and ACT vehicle inspectors have advised VicRoads of the results of their examination.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]