I was looking forward to the day, that I would get Helen's MGA inspected. I felt that as strict as they are, they would tell me what I did wrong.

I started restoring the car in Oct of 91. Every year I would license it for a period of a few days. This would save me the hassle of an inspection.

In 1996, I dropped in the license bureau to reinstate the license for a few days, and to my surprise, the person mentioned that I did not reinstate it for 95. I guess time flies and I missed 95.

This meant that once I finished the car, I had to get it inspected. Not knowing what was ahead of me, I inquired about it.

Different opinions re which location I should go. Some said I should go on Notre Dame, others on De la Savanne.

The horror stories I heard about these inspections scared me a bit. Others had no problem. It seemed to be who you got to do the inspection.

Many factors come into view. Did the inspectors weekend go well. Did he win at the casino. Would they be going on strike for a 3 hour break at 2pm. Was the air conditioning working on hot summer days. Did his wife find out about his girl friend.

With that, I had my appointment on May 5^th, 1998 at 8am. I arrived on time. Jacques the inspector told me to bring my car in door number 3, and I drove it up on the ramp.

He then told me to go and wait in the waiting room, and it would be about an hour and a half. He said not to worry that he knew the car very well. Boy, was I lucky, I hit the perfect guy.

About 10 minutes later, he came into the waiting room, and told me that there was a problem with the parking brake. I followed him back to the car, and told him that this was a racing type parking brake, and showed him how it worked.

Was I worried, he had told me he knew the car, maybe he forgot. Another ten minutes go by, and he comes back, with the horrible news, that he could no longer inspect my car. Why I asked. It seems that because I had taken off the registration plate that was screwed on for the restoration, that the car was now illegal.

I told him, that the car was all rusted, and I had to take off the plate. He wanted no part of it. The boss was called in, he said, that they would continue the inspection, because with me, I had all the books showing the plates screwed on. They did not believe me, because they said it should be pop riveted in place.

2 hours go by, and the bad news. They gave me back my $75.00 and told me, that I had to go to the police station and get a form 148. So I headed off for the police station in Kirkland, and they said no, now it was in the hand of the Provincial police.

So off to Ville St Laurent off the T. Can to the Provincial police. I parked my car right in from of the station. I walked in, and an officer asked me what was my problem. From where he was standing he could see my car. As we walked out, I told him the situation. He could not believe me what I was going through. Then I realized this guy knew about old cars. He said that this was my lucky day, that he owned a 1936 Buick Hot Rod, and that the registration plates in those days were screwed on. I could not believe my luck. He filled out the form, and said I will have no trouble with this.

Happy, I could not be. I headed back to Jacques, and showed him the form. He read it. To my horror, he said, that the officer did not know what he was doing. He said that now I had to go to the offices of SAQ in Gallerie Ville D'Anjou. There they would make me a plaque and pop rivet to my back door post. I said to myself, relax Bob, do not argue with a GVT. Employee. So I headed to the SAQ offices.

Was this my day, the person in charge, to inspect my car, was about 30 years old, long beard to his belt, tattoos all over his arms, and 3 earrings, two on his ears, and one on his nose. Was I in trouble or what.

He asks about my situation, I explained all what had happened so far. He asked me who this fool was at the inspection garage. I told him it was Jacques. He gets on the phone and calls Jacques, and tells him "What is your problem Jacques? Mr. Forest has form 148 properly filled, what more do you want. I will not do another registration plate and pop rivet it to that beautiful car. That is a collectors car, and you do not fool around with it, and by the way, the plates were screwed in those days." Hey, do I like guys with long hair and earrings? Does Bing Crosby sing? Jacques at the other end wanted to cover himself and asked Pierre to sign the form, and Pierre said " be glad to".

So off I went to De la Savanna, and gave the form to Jacques. Jacques was very polite, and said since the inspection was already done, I just had to pay for it. Which I did. Jacque handed me the report. They found absolutely nothing wrong with the car. It was all in the green.

Then the manager came out, and asked me if I could stay another 5 minutes. I panicked, wondering what now. They wanted to take a picture of the car to make a poster for the waiting room.

I headed out to the license bureau on Hymus, took a number, and noticed that there were 23 people ahead of me. I sat down, and thought of my day. (By the way, the 5^th of May was a record breaking hot day.95 degrees F) 5 minutes after I was sitting and waiting, I hear my named called out. I look up, and one of the persons behind the counter, was the daughter of a friend of mine. I jumped up, and 10 minutes later had my license. Time 4:50 PM.

Conclusion: Bring all proper pictures articles with you. Do not argue, you cannot win against the gvt. Be polite at all times.