club safety check lists

Ed Saniewski

Ed Saniewski

Well-known member
I will be hosting our clubs yearly safety check in March, and was wondering if any clubs out there would share their check lists. We get about 10 to 14 cars. Thanks
 
Penn Ohio Model "A" Ford Club, Inc. used to have an annual safety meet in August. Sucessful safety inspection was a pre-requisit for the Fall judging meet. However, we discontinued the safety meet due to the possible legal exposure that could result from a member passing our safety inspection and then later becoming involved in a traffic accident with who knows what liability. Too bad, but I guess that's the world we live in.
 
Isn't it a sad world when 98% of the lawyers give the rest a bad name? I have heard the same thing about liability concerns from safety inspections. Of course if you change the name to maintenance inspection or something else I've seen clubs doing that to avoid getting involved in litigation down the road.
 
That's crazy to allow lawyers to intimidate us from having common sense safety inspections and seminars among our own membership and fellow owners. Who else, after all, knows better what the unique safety issues and proper performance standards of our cars are than us?! - a state employee at the department of motor vehicles? - I strongly doubt it.

Our own safety inspections can and should be seen as an extension or enhancement of the state safety inspections. We can catch things that the state inspection lanes don't have a clue to look for. Is anyone actually suggesting that we abandon our own "formal" inspections for fear of lawyers? Never!

What in the world is wrong with having/providing thorough safety inspections for our own, as well as friends' cars, while making it clear - in writing, if necessary - that, "This safety inspection is intended to aid the Model A owner in the better understanding of how his or her Model A operates and what to look for and correct, as necessary, to enhance driving safety and enjoyment. THIS INSPECTION DOES NOT ABSOLVE THE OWNER FROM HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE HIS CAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT, APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION LAWS."

Let the self-serving lawyers try to make an issue of that.

Earle
 
Safety Inspections within our club, are the total responsibity of the owner. Help with the inspection provided by other qualified club members upon request. Experienced and more qualified members usually complete their own at home, turn in the signed inspection form certifying completion, to our club secretary, to obtain a yearly windshield sticker with the year punched out. Club members are requested to complete the annual inspections, prior to participating in any club tours.

At present, our Provincial Government and lawyers we have consulted with, agree this proceedure meets current guidlines. Insurance companies are also in agreement.

These sessions are held usually in the spring, in conjuction with our club "Tune-up Session".
We are fortunate enough in our club, to have a member with a large home shop, and a overhead hoist, to make it easier for us aged guys. Actual repairs are the responsibility of the owner. On occasion, a repair to correct an unsafe condition, will be completed during the inspection.
 
Thanks guys, we normally call this our garage clinic. We check and do minor repairs to each others cars. It was not my or the clubs desire to certify any ones car. I am looking for what other clubs look for in their cars. This is for the guys who don't have the room or tools to do some repairs. It is amazing how loose a front end can get over time and what some drivers get used to and don't feel is a big problem. Or a leaky gas gauge and the need for the right tools to fix it.
 
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