SEMA Opposes Regulation Prohibiting Conversion of Vehicles into Racecars

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick lovers who . . . what to be free to keep driving their beloved Buicks

There was an email today from Summit Racing about an EPA regulation that is not exactly friendly to classic and muscle cars.  You can read the email here online:

http://static.summitracing.com/email/2016/semaalert0210.htm?_bta_tid=3.AItF.CHccqw.F2tZ.AUi4jw..AgtmkQ.b..l.CQzy.n...LMW6MA&utm_source=bm23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=online&utm_content=Take%20Action%20Now%20to%20Protect%20Your%20Hobby!&utm_campaign=20160210_SRE_SEMA%20Action%20Network%20EPA%20Alert_Domestic%20Only

While this forum doesn't seem to have that many hard core racers, it does look like an issue where we should stand shoulder to shoulder with our racing brethren.  Here is the kernel of the issue (to quote: )

SEMA has issued a press release informing the public that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is aiming to make it illegal to convert automobiles originally designed for on-road use into racecars, even though such conversions have been done for decades. Under the EPA’s proposed rule, it would also be illegal to sell any performance-related products for those cars. The EPA’s proposal would have a devastating impact on motorsports since many types of racing rely on production vehicles that have been modified for use strictly at the track.

There is additional information at this link:

http://www.onallcylinders.com/2016/02/09/epa-looking-to-prohibit-conversion-of-street-vehicles-into-race-cars/

There is a petition at the White House website that you can sign to express your opposition:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/tell-epa-withdraw-its-proposal-prohibit-conversion-vehicles-racecars-0

Even if this doesn't obviously look like a threat to the way you drive your Buick, it is probably prudent to express your opposition to this measure.  Of perhaps a greater concern is what sort of regulations were being proposed.  The title is: "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles—Phase 2."  With all the fuss over global warming, governments have made promises that won't be easy to keep.  So there might be renewed efforts to target older cars because that is apparently a more vulnerable group of owners than say major industries.  So I think we need to be more on guard to protect our rights to enjoy our classic cars by - driving them!


Cheers, Edouard 

[Loren At 65GS]

Thanks for the post Edouard.

Unfortunately, it is necessary to watch for these types of regulations.

As I've said previously, this is one of the things that folks at SEMA and Hemmings, to mention a couple, as well as car clubs at a national level do for us.

I realize most folks aren't of the mind to join a car club, but membership is needed to keep the hobby intact.  It costs $$$ to lobby. And it doesn't grow on trees. It's through membership that it is possible.

  Loren

[35chevcoupe]

I was notified about this also because of the racing environment I'm involved with .
I highly doubt anything will become of it as racers are almost as strong as the NRA . They for one would have a very difficult time policing it as a lot of race cars now are built from scratch and don,t really share many parts with a street car .
But all in all , YES it is important to go against the EPA     and others that want to dictate what people can and can,t do .

[cwmcobra]

Amen brothers!

[elagache]

Dear Loren, John, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick lovers,

Thanks for being on-board with this one.  I'm sending a change in the political landscape driven in part by an increasing number of young people who have lost touch with mechanical things in favor of virtual world of the Internet.  An example of this disconnect is the reckless rush to put self-driving cars on the road.  So I think we need to be more active to make sure our rights don't get trampled by the stampede toward what some people consider to be progress.  In the end, I think the case for allowing classic cars on the road is sound.  The environmental impact is negligible because these cars are driven so little compared all the other driving that people do today.  In return we preserve a part of history that truly shaped our world.  So the problem should nothing more than reminding the politicians that it truly is in their best interest to protect our rights.

Cheers, Edouard

[GS66]

Yes, definitely need to keep an eye on things like this.

[schlepcar]

We definitely have to keep one eye on them all of the time. It is probable that they are just once again creating a conflict that will see resolve while they are portraying an important role in their own lives. This seems to be the way of Washington unless one wants to look for a real job. I find it very illogical that any of these gangsters would want to get rid of large trunk vehicles.

[telriv]

We have to keep a close watch on what their doing. Keep us all busy with this & under our noses they sneak in something that matters even more WITHOUT being found out about until it's too late..

[GreatScat1965]

Ok, I do race my car and enjoy motorsports. that being said we all need to be very weary of this. They could impose arbitrary emissions standard for older cars (Good luck with a 2 600cfm carbs sitting on a 50 yr old engine) They could also just stop selling fuel that we need . They have already proposed E15 as a standard. Mopar is building fleet vehicles that are supposed to be strictly E85. Don't think that can happen? does anybody remember Leaded gasoline, the Sunoco 260 Blending pump at the corner gas station? Never say never.

This isn't a racing thing this is a car thing.

Jerry

[Mister T]

My blood boils with every such legislative proposal involving the EPA. I have made it a habit to observe non regulated, usually dirty polluting, transportation methods, such as the railways.

Just yesterday, I spotted TWO CP Rail power units attached to ONE solitary freight car close to where I work. One of them was spewing incredibly filthy and noxious exhaust fumes, which I had to drive through.      The railway industry has powerful lobbyists acting on their behalf which keep the EPA at bay. Thus they can pollute the air at will.

Then there's international shipping. Most ocean going container ships produce far more filthy exhaust fumes than all the cars on the roads today. These ships use the lowest, cheapest forms of bunker diesel fuel,which is very dirty. Unfortunately, they are not subject to any one country's emission regulations.

Most people don't consider the above examples when discussing emissions. 

I will be closely watching SEMA's actions against the EPA.

[cwmcobra]

Not to mention, as clean as our current automotive engines are, lawnmowers exhaust more pollution in this country than cars and trucks.  Which means far more than the entire collection of classic cars in the country.  I'd encourage the EPA to go pick on something that matters!  Not that I want to see catalytic converters on new lawnmowers, but I think you get my point.

Chuck

[WkillGS]

....... lawnmowers exhaust more pollution in this country than cars and trucks.  ....... I'd encourage the EPA to go pick on something that matters! 

Chuck

Already happened! The issue made the news in 2008, but started years before that.

2 strokes are being phased out. Many small garden tools are now 4 stroke.

The EPA does serve an important purpose. China is a perfect example of what happens to air quality when there are limited regulations. It's downright unhealthy breathing the air in Beijing  or Shanghai.

[elagache]

Dear Jim, Dan, telriv, Jerry, Tom, Chuck, Walt, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Unfortunately, there is another aspect of this situation that is ominous.  This regulation is clearly part of the EPAs response to government mandates to reduce CO₂ emissions.  I'm afraid governments have already committed to an impossible level of reductions.  Humanity cannot undo centuries of infrastructure in decades.  As a result, the situation is like the western US water wars, politicians take water from the weak and give it to the politically strong.  Government is looking for groups that are vulnerable to at least appear to making progress toward their hopeless goals.  So we definitely need to exercise what political muscle we can muster.

Edouard