EPA To Prohibit the Conversion of Street Cars into Race Cars

[kellintrans]

It really is not relevant, in this situation, whether you are Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, etc.. We are all drag racers in some form or another. This EPA proposal could impact anyone & everyone who participates in our hobby. These regulations, if passed and enforced, will have a negative affect on the racer, the company that sells the racer parts, and the track where the racer takes the car, regardless of the political views they may have. This problem should unify the racing community into action as a whole. Remember the saying " United we stand, divided we fall", and save the varying political opinions for the voting booth.

Chris Lindell

[Mike Dahl]

Granted I have not read the whole thread but where is Detroit on this?

The aftermarket, racing, crate engine programs, etc. etc. etc. would be demolished by this action. Without doing a very deep dive it does not make sense on its face for Detroit to go along with EPA. If that premise is true, this may not be a long lived endeavor... Detroit mostly gets what they want- but not all the time.

Also, the aftermarket parts and racing industry is where almost all innovation comes from that lowers emissions. Racing innovations teach and allow Detroit to build smaller engines so all of us can travel where we need to go. The industry provides and financial ecosystem that was responsible for fuel injection, hybrid technology, variable valve timing, utilization of lightweight materials, and hundreds upon thousands of advances that are too numerous to mention. The people within the aftermarket provide the financial resources and testing ability to sort out the millions of possible combinations required to make something produce more power. More power= more efficiency= smaller, cleaner engines. And there is no doubt that it worked. Am I wrong?

[Ed Wright]

What about our friends in the racing parts business? I would be nervous.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

What about our friends in the racing parts business? I would be nervous.

Ed, the majority of the aftermarket suppliers are represented by SEMA.

SEMA has a government affairs division to deal with these type of issues.

https://www.sema.org/government-affa..._utmk=30735223

Nevertheless, since this issue has political overtones, racers and others need to get involved in the petitions.

[davidhuff]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Ed, the majority of the aftermarket suppliers are represented by SEMA.

SEMA has a government affairs division to deal with these type of issues.

https://www.sema.org/government-affa..._utmk=30735223

Nevertheless, since this issue has political overtones, racers and others need to get involved in the petitions.

I agree with you 100%

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Ed, the majority of the aftermarket suppliers are represented by SEMA.

SEMA has a government affairs division to deal with these type of issues.

https://www.sema.org/government-affa..._utmk=30735223

Nevertheless, since this issue has political overtones, racers and others need to get involved in the petitions.

It is a huge pain in the rear end to have to pay attention to this kind of crap. We all have better things to do with our time than to try to stay informed about this big government crap that has a major affect on all of us, who's trying to sneak what through now, email and call elect officials who are supposed to responsible for this, and in general, try to keep up with these endless attempts to control everything we do.

My involvement in other non-PC interests has taught me that we often need to be activists, be involved in national organizations that represent our interests, and be a large, loud, angry voice in the ear of our representatives. Otherwise, people like Administrator McCarty will do what they want, take what they want, tell us what we can and can't do, and not look back. Unfortunately, that's how it is.

The good news is, large numbers of people expressing their opposition to these types of initiatives are often effective in delaying or preventing them from becoming reality. People who have to be voted into office every few years, pay attention to which way the wind's blowing. You just need to take the time to rattle their cage.

[CMcAllister]

More people paying attention and speaking out.

http://theshopmag.com/news/news-blog...on-against-epa

[Fireofficer5]

How come the NHRA doesn't listen to us?

[CMcAllister]

In the past few days...

Marco Rubio has posted comments on his website opposing the proposed EPA regulations and included a link to the Whitehouse petition, encouraging people to sign it.

https://marcorubio.com/news/epa-race-cars-modified/

The EPA has reopened the public comment period for the proposed regulations.

Also, comments attributed to an EPA spokeswoman at the end of this article seem to indicate that EPA does not intend to go after vehicles used solely for racing. However, she says “The EPA remains primarily concerned with cases where the tampered vehicle is used on public roads, and more specifically with aftermarket manufacturers who sell devices that defeat emission control systems on vehicles used on public roads.”

ANY certified vehicle - those sold for street use since the late '60s - that has had ANY modifications that affect emissions equipment, will be a problem. That sounds like every single muscle car, resto-mod, hot rod, race car, etc. with tags, except those that have been restored to factory original.

The threats to the aftermarket are particularly troubling. What is their definition of "device"? How do we separate the parts and pieces we use on race cars from those used in a street legal car? It will be much easier for them to go after a Holley, Edelbrock, MSD or any other company making performance parts and impose huge fines and penalties, rather than single out individuals with a hot street car in their garage. What happens to the investment of the years spent, the billions of dollars and the value of these companies and the cars most of us own?

http://theshopmag.com/features/epa-r...race-mod-rules

This is the link for the EPA comments page. Please take the time to leave your comments. Speak up on behalf of the companies that make the parts and pieces as well as the people who have street and muscle cars that they are able to enjoy.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitC...2014-0132-0001

[Chris1529]

from post above...."Also, comments attributed to an EPA spokeswoman at the end of this article seem to indicate that EPA does not intend to go after vehicles used solely for racing. However, she says “The EPA remains primarily concerned with cases where the tampered vehicle is used on public roads, and more specifically with aftermarket manufacturers who sell devices that defeat emission control systems on vehicles used on public roads.”

...that is basically what my Senator's office told me.
that being said, it is still bad news for the car performance market.