Tiga's fan belt has gone!

Road worthy?

We can drive at last!

Today things started to fall into place. First Queenie presented to the Transport Bureau and we now have our Chinese driving permits, for a limited period, but at least we are legal. It was a celebration because the previous evening there was some concern that we might not get the paperwork before we took possession of our cars. A bit of a risk to be driving without a permit we thought.

On the way out to the port Dave, our MG tragic, spied a new MG6 driving along the expressway. Once the traffic came to a stop Dave jumped out of the mini bus, raced to up to the MG6 driver’s window and presented him with his hat emblazoned with the logo MG Beijing to London along the Silk Road. The driver gratefully accepted the gift, relieved it wasn’t a fit of road rage, and on we travelled.

 Next stop was the import depot at Tianjin port where we were very relieved to see our cars all intact and nicely lined up: red, white, yellow and blue. We took possession of our vehicles and commenced the fifty kilometre drive back to the transport registration department for our third visit in three days.  At 8 am tomorrow we have our fourth visit to collect our plates.  Patience and persistence being the name of the game.

First breakdown occurred some thirty five kilometers in when Kerith and Peter’s car pulled to the side of the expressway as the fan belt had disintegrated. This saw four MGBGTs lined up along the run off on the expressway. Quite a stir, as cars slowed down to look at the running repairs, some even stopped, observed proceedings. Two guys hopped into our car, and of their own accord I might add, took turns to take each other’s photo in the driver’s seat. Then to seal the event they took photos with Simon and I in the shot. Just one long smile! 

Getting a Chinese roadworthy was a four hour process. Each car was checked for brakes, light strength, and exhaust emission and general safety. The vehicle assessors were extremely helpful as they repeated a number of tests to ensure the cars met Chinese standards. On our car Ken had fitted headlight protectors and this obviously defused the strength of the light so they asked him to remove the protectors, ran a second test and then when the standard had been meet told him he could refit the protectors. Very obliging.

The whole day has been driving  a cavalcade event; cars slow down, toot, lots of waves and smiles. When we stop we are surrounded by on lookers. The biggest drawcard is Kerith and Peter’s “Tiga”, the 1977 yellow rubber nose with the black strip……very fitting in the year of the tiger!

Driving is interesting as Ken, Simon, Peter and Reg have already adopted the Chinese practice of edging the car into whatever direction you want to manoeuvre to, tooting the horn and going for it.

On the way back to the hotel at the end of the day we were driving in convoy and would you believe it Simon and Ken lost sight of Peter and Reg. This resulted in stopping, again on the side of the expressway, making some phone calls which established both lots of cars were a little off course but then fortuitously a gentleman driving a Peugeot stopped, jumped out of his car to photograph our cars and as quick as a flash Ken pulled out the card with the hotel’s address and this kind soul motioned for us to follow him and  he delivered us to the hotel door