SEMA Driving Force Sept Edition

[RonWilson]

Driving Force Presented “Golden Quill” Award

The folks at Old Cars Weekly News & Marketplace recently recognized Driving
Force’s efforts to protect the hobby from government intrusion while
promoting its growth. We thank them for their support and look forward to a
continued partnership with their publication.
While it’s always nice to have your hard work noticed, the SEMA Action
Network staff does what it does for the love of the hobby. Brian Caudill
(Driving Force Editor), Steve McDonald, Stuart Gosswein and Andrew Rasberry
work as a team to arm SEMA Action Network members with information regarding
legislation and regulations affecting the hobby. What makes it all
worthwhile is when you, the enthusiasts, are motivated to act and
collectively we are successful in protecting our hobby from unnecessary
government intrusion. Legislators only answer to their constituents, and
were it not for SAN members around the country calling and writing their
elected officials to voice their concerns, our pastime would almost
certainly be worse off.
We owe every SAN member a big “Thank You” for willingly jumping into action
to support the hobby and our way of life. This award belongs to you, just as
much as it belongs to us.


CARB Reviews Scrappage Regulations

In late July, SEMA and other aftermarket associations submitted joint
comments to a California Air Resources Board (CARB) draft proposal to revise
its vehicle scrappage regulations. The draft proposal attempts to minimize
differences between CARB’s scrappage program and the scrappage program
operated by the Bureau of Automotive Repair. At SEMA’s insistence and per
California law, the draft also proposes policy options designed to maximize
parts recycling.
SEMA has long believed that California law is very specific in
requiring “vehicle retirement” programs to “maximize the salvage value of
vehicles through recycling, sales and use of parts . . .” (Calif. Health and
Safety Code, Section 44102). We believe this clearly indicates the
legislative intent to accommodate the interests of car collectors and
low-income citizens. In the past, CARB has maintained a far different
interpretation and, to date, has done nothing to ensure that parts from
retired vehicles remain available to automobile collectors and restorers or
low-income drivers.
Under Option 3 of the draft proposal, CARB would allow total recycling and
resale of all parts, including emissions-related and drive train parts.
“SEMA believes Option 3 is not only the most desirable to vehicle collectors
but also the easiest to implement,” said SEMA Director of Government Affairs
Steve McDonald. “It would provide the greatest flexibility and least burden,
while also maximizing the availability of vehicles and parts and reducing
overall emissions of the vehicle fleet.”
Option 1 of the proposal would continue CARB’s prohibition on parts
recycling, while Option 2 would allow the recycling of all but
emission-related and drive train parts.
After reviewing comments to the draft proposal, CARB will publish final
proposed changes for formal public review. We will keep you updated on
developments.


U.S. Forest Service Rethinks “Roadless Rule”

Adding a new chapter to the contentious debate over public access to
federal land, the U.S. Forest Service is reconsidering the Clinton
Administration’s regulation prohibiting road construction and maintenance in
58.5 million acres of national forests. This controversial regulation is
commonly known as the “Roadless Rule.”
Announced by the Clinton Administration on Jan. 5 of this year, the
original regulation outraged the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community because
it threatened to effectively close many miles of forest roads currently
enjoyed by recreationists nationwide. In response, the OHV community,
including SAN members like the California 4 Wheel Drive Association, East
Coast 4 Wheel Drive Association, Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association
and the United Four Wheel Drive Associations, joined the timber industry,
many western state governments and other forest access supporters in
protesting the regulation in both Congress and the courts.
So far, the strategy has worked. A federal judge has blocked the roadless
rule from continuing, and in July, the Bush Administration formally reopened
deliberations on a new regulatory approach designed to appease the OHV
community and other land access advocates.
As part of the new rulemaking, the Forest Service sought comments on a
number of priority questions: how roadless areas should be managed; what
activities should be allowed in roadless areas; how the agency should work
with local groups in creating forest policy; and what activities should be
allowed or banned at “unroaded” sites.
In its comments to the new proposed rule, SEMA urged the Forest Service to
protect the legitimate interests of OHV recreation and the industry that
supports this popular pastime. Brian Caudill, SEMA director of outreach and
public affairs, noted SEMA’s basic position, “Road and trail access is about
more than environmental concerns for the ‘green’ movement and financial
considerations for the timber and mining industries. It’s also about
fairness. Tens of thousands OHV hobbyists enjoy access to established Forest
Service roads every year and have been doing so for decades. To simply block
access to the land without sufficient justification is unwarranted and
excessive. We hope the Forest Service will take our comments into
consideration when issuing a final rule.”


U.S. House Addresses Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)

During recent consideration of the Bush Administration’s national energy
policy program, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected hard-fought
efforts to drastically hike Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
Current CAFE targets are frozen at 20.7 mpg for light trucks and SUVs and
27.5 for passenger cars.
Legislative proposals to raise CAFE varied widely. Many House Members
supported an incremental approach, raising CAFE from 20.7 to 25.8 mpg on
light trucks and SUVs and from 27.5 to 31.6 on mpg on passenger cars by
2007. Hard-line environmentalist Members wanted greater concessions,
preferring an across-the-board CAFE standard of 40 mpg by 2016. Still others
preferred a go-slow approach, advocating a slight hike in standards for
light trucks/SUVs alone.
For our part, automakers and SEMA opposed any legislative CAFE increase.
Our argument remains that any CAFE hike will force automakers to limit
consumer vehicle choice, particularly in the light truck/SUV and
performance/luxury car markets, by either eliminating or curtailing
production of popular models in order to meet fuel economy targets.
In the end, industry won a minor victory. Instead of raising standards
specifically, the House bill would require light trucks to consume 5 billion
fewer gallons of gas by 2010. Industry experts note that this will likely
result in a net 1 mpg CAFE rise. The bill also includes tax incentives for
purchasing vehicles equipped with advanced fuel economy technology, such as
hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles.
Brian Caudill, SEMA Director of Outreach and Public Affairs notes with
caution: “National energy policy and fuel economy considerations now move to
the Senate where there is likely greater support for significantly raising
CAFE. While SEMA remains
confident that the nation’s energy crisis can be resolved without affecting
consumer vehicle choice, we know the fight to prevent a CAFE rise in the
Senate will be difficult. We encourage SEMA Action Network members to
contact their Senators to oppose any legislation to increase CAFE.”


Can You Believe?

Vehicle Profiling and the Dodge Dart

Bill Wivell and his wife were driving home from the local circle track one
Saturday night in his Dodge Dart project car when they were pulled over.
The officer told Bill that he had pulled him over because it appeared
that the license plate light on his Dodge was broken, but the officer now
realized that it was in fact working.
The officer then asked Bill to get out and take a look at it with him.
Bill told the officer he’d take his word for it.
Bill was then asked (we assume politely) to get out of the car to show the
officer his license. He was then told that the reason he’d been pulled over
was because he was weaving. When Bill was asked if he’d been drinking, he
answered honestly: “Yes, I had three large Cokes at the races tonight.”
The officer, realizing he had made a mistake, commented that Bill’s alleged
inability to keep his car going in a straight line could probably be blamed
on his “old car with its worn out parts.” Bill took exception to the comment
and informed the officer that his Dodge probably had a newer suspension than
his squad car did and that his supposed weaving was probably due to the poor
paving job the city had done on the road.
The officer told Bill to take it up with the mayor and that he was free to
go.
How pleasant . . .

(If you have a story regarding unfair restrictions on our rights as
hobbyists (or maybe just poor attitudes about what we choose to drive! )
send it to us at: Can You Believe, SEMA, Attn: Andrew Rasberry, 1317 F
Street, NW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. 20004.)



We Get Letters

[Mr. Sadat Vang’s letter on California exhaust noise legislation in the July
Driving Force garnered a sizable reaction. Driving Force thanks you for your
interest in this matter. Below is a reprint of Mr. Vang’s letter and a few
responses.]

Food for Thought on California Exhaust Noise Law

(Reprint — July Driving Force)

I am an enthusiast of imports. I fully understand what the California
Highway Patrol’s (CHP) [exhaust noise testing procedures] are. Only they can
decide if we get tickets or not. After that, it’s up to us what we do. If
the CHP doesn’t offer decibel testing, how can we go about testing these
aftermarket exhaust systems? I think personally, if the CHP officer can
write us a ticket he/she should be able to test our muffler at that point in
time. If it falls under the 95 db(a) legal limit, then we’re cool. If it is
over, then [the citation] is understandable. But as a car-craze lover, I
need answers to my questions.
If [reasonable exhaust noise] legislation can pass, maybe more of us
youngsters will grow up knowing our government is behind us on what our
choices are. At this moment, I can truly say youngsters grow up not caring.
We can care less about our neighbors. Government??? We laugh our heads off.
Anyone can capture the youth. Give them a fair chance and make it work.
Hey, look on the bright side; cars got me out of gangs. I’ve been into cars
5 years now. I’m 21.

– Sadat Vang
Sacramento, Calif.

_______________________

Sadat Vang of Sacramento, Calif., has an interesting point. However, the
solution is simple. Buy and install only California-approved components, and
carry the applicable certification in the vehicle. Do that and you should
never receive a citation, and if you do the officer would be in trouble, not
you.
I am assuming that such certification is available for exhaust components
just as for engine modifications. This responsibility is now part of driving
an emission-controlled vehicle and also applies to out-of-state visiting
drivers since the regulations state “not for sale or use in California on
vehicles driven on public roads,” for any non-approved component.
Be compliant or risk a ticket; it’s up to you.

– Pete Harding
Gardnerville, Nev.

[We wish it were this simple. A car can be completely California emissions
legal and STILL be considered too loud. – Ed.]

Kudos to Sadat Vang. If a love for performance cars convinced him to leave
gang life and to straighten his act out, more power to him. What will it
take to convince some of the authorities (surely they are not all ignorant
of the hobby — are they?) that driving, caring for and trying to improve the
performance of a cool car is better than any number of activities many young
people are doing these days?
Make your choice: Would you rather have your son/daughter drinking or using
drugs, or at the drag strip? Would you rather have your son/daughter staring
blankly at a computer screen or under his/her car trying to understand what
makes it work? Would you rather have your son/daughter involved in gangs or
researching how a custom (and okay, maybe louder) exhaust might help squeeze
a few extra horses out of his/her Honda?
I hope you choose wisely.

– Robert Ortiz
San Antonio, Texas

I’m not a letter-writer ordinarily, but Sadat Vang’s note in the July
Driving Force got to me. You mean to tell me that the CHP can pull you over,
and write you a ticket for having [an exhaust] that [emits] more than 95
decibels, but offers you ZERO PROOF that your exhaust is actually louder
than 95 decibels? How is this fair? Do other states create and enforce their
laws the same way? I really hope not.
Mr. Vang is basically talking about our young people being alienated from
the law and society. I applaud him for straightening up, but with capricious
laws and law enforcement like this on the books, I’m surprised more people
don’t stray from the straight and narrow.

– Robert Hood
Mercerville, N.J.

[Unfortunately, in California a police officer can cite you for loud exhaust
without proving your exhaust is louder than 95 decibels. The good news is
that last month, a SEMA-sponsored law passed giving hobbyists the
opportunity to fight unfair tickets by proving their exhaust systems comply
with California law. Ironically, despite the enforcement
trouble, California is still one of the most lenient states in regulating
aftermarket exhaust. Most other states simply outlaw any exhaust that is
substantially different from stock. – Ed. ]

I’m glad Sadat Vang found his way out of gang life. However, the implied
excuses he makes for kids being alienated are weak. The implication that a
new law — one allowing Mr. Vang and his cohorts to join Harley riders in
blasting up my street and rattling my window frames with excessively loud
exhaust — will make young people feel more connected to society is weaker
still.

– Name Withheld by Request


SEPTEMBER SAN CLUB EVENTS

CALIFORNIA

•September 8-9, Sonoma—12th annual GOODGUYS Fall Classic Nostalgia Drags
Sponsor: GOODGUYS
Information: 925/838-9876

September 30, - Fall Classic VIII Show
Sponsor: San Diego Camaro Club
Information: louheyn@aol.com

COLORADO

•September 7-9, Colorado Springs—4th annual GOODGUYS Colorado Classic
Sponsor: GOODGUYS
Information: 925/838-9876

ILLINOIS

•September 9, St. Charles—31st annual Midwest Antique Car Show
Sponsor: Model “T” Ford Club, Midwest Chapter
Information: 877/663-3589

•September 9, Oak Brook—2001 Fierorama
Sponsor: Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts
Information: 630/305-9806

MARYLAND

•September 30, Baltimore—15th annual All Buick Car Show
Sponsor: Buick Owners of Maryland
Information: 717/428-3408

MICHIGAN

•September 14-16, Kalamazoo—22nd annual Street Rod Nationals North
Sponsor: National Street Rod Association
Information: 303/776-7841

MINNESOTA

•September 29, New Brighton—MSRA Fall Foliage Picnic
Sponsor: Minnesota Street Rod Association
Information: 320/629-2860

NEW JERSEY

September 15, Woodbine - Antique Car and Truck Show to Benefit the Linda
Carter Cancer Fund
Sponsor: Cohanzick Antique Auto Club
Information: 856/692-8050

OHIO

•September 7-9, Springfield—12th annual IH Scout and Light Truck Nationals
Sponsor: Scout and International Motor Truck Association
Information: 937/525-9781

PENNSYLVANIA

•September 16, Lehigh Valley—4th annual Children Miracle Network Car Show
Sponsor: Blue Angel Cruisers
Information: 610/285-2000


TEXAS

•September 29, New Braunfels—19th annual Mopar Muscle a