More government over reach

[racerrad8]

Well, the great minds of the EPA have proposed another way to screw up our great country and destroy the American past time and an industry.

Please take a moment and sign this petition if you do not want to the goverment to continue its over reach into our lives.

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

For those on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SEMAActionNetwork/posts/10153624094753183

Please, pass it along.

Randy - RPM

EPA Seeks to Prohibit Conversion of Vehicles into Racecars
SEMA To Oppose Action As Threat to Modified Racecars and Parts Suppliers

Washington, DC (February 8, 2016) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a regulation to prohibit conversion of vehicles originally designed for on-road use into racecars.  The regulation would also make the sale of certain products for use on such vehicles illegal.  The proposed regulation was contained within a non-related proposed regulation entitled "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles—Phase 2."  

The regulation would impact all vehicle types, including the sports cars, sedans and hatch-backs commonly converted strictly for use at the track.  While the Clean Air Act prohibits certain modifications to motor vehicles, it is clear that vehicles built or modified for racing, and not used on the streets, are not the "motor vehicles" that Congress intended to regulate.

"This proposed regulation represents overreaching by the agency, runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles," said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting.   "Congress did not intend the original Clean Air Act to extend to vehicles modified for racing and has re-enforced that intent on more than one occasion."

SEMA submitted comments in opposition to the regulation and met with the EPA to confirm the agency's intentions.  The EPA indicated that the regulation would prohibit conversion of vehicles into racecars and make the sale of certain emissions-related parts for use on converted vehicles illegal.  Working with other affected organizations, including those representing legions of professional and hobbyist racers and fans, SEMA will continue to oppose the regulation through the administrative process and will seek congressional support and judicial intervention as necessary.  

The EPA has indicated it expects to publish final regulations by July 2016.

[racerrad8]

I spoke to a guy at SEMA today about this at the request of a couple of engine builders I supply with concerns. It sounds like the scope of this will trickle down to racing series like the Legends cars here in the US that use production motorcycle engines. What I was told is that if the engine was used in a production vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, etc), with DOT compliance it cannot be used in a race car if this is imposed.

What that are referring to is the engine is then modified for off road use and there is no emissions controls that they can regulate.

I asked if this would trickle down to the motorcycle industry and they could not answer, but the feeling is if this were to pass for cars, it would not take much to apply it to motorcycles as well. That would mean no more production based, street bike amateur motorcycle racing.

He told me if that was to happen, he believed the motorcycle manufacturers would only bring in cruiser type bikes to the US and the sport bikes would not be imported.

Finally he told me, there are enough signatures obtained for the petition to be accepted, but the petition will hold a much higher level of review if there are 2.5 million people that sign the petition compared to the current 124K+. They got the 124K+ in less than two days, so there is still a month to go.

If you have not signed it, please sign and forward to everyone else you know who has any type of love affair with automotive or motorcycle based profession or hobby.

Thank you, Randy - RPM

[racerrad8]

Here is another link from SEMA that will mail a specific verbiage letter to your senators & representatives in your area.

https://www.votervoice.net/Shares/BAAAAAVoACSFLA52hmO7FAA

Please take a moment and fill out your name and send the letter.

Randy - RPM

[racerrad8]

They are getting ready for the fall session...

If possible, take a moment and send a letter to your senators and representative via the link.

Help prevent EPA Overreach and Support the RPM Act

Thank you, Randy

[aviationfred]

Message sent to my Representatives in Kansas.


Fred

[fj1289]

One for Colorado

[rktmanfj]

I'm always in on these...   

[Country Joe]

Message sent to my Congresscritters in Arkansas.

[Burns]

is this the reg you were concerned with?

http://yellowhammernews.com/politics-2/victory-epa-withdraws-proposed-rule-devastated-alabama-racing/

[racerrad8]

is this the reg you were concerned with?

http://yellowhammernews.com/politics-2/victory-epa-withdraws-proposed-rule-devastated-alabama-racing/

From the information I have been sent and read, the language was tabled for further review this past spring. I received the latest link from SEMA (Specialty Manufacturing Equipment Association) the same day I sent out. The new link has H.R. 4715/S. 2659, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016 (RPM Act) which will ensure no language similar to the earlier proposed can be written again.

This also applies to any vehicle that operate on the highway. It would make it illegal for you to use aftermarket air filters or exhaust on your FJ due the "modification" of the factory systems.

Randy - RPM

[Burns]

the article quotes the EPA as saying:

"The proposed language in the July 2015 proposal was never intended to represent any change in the law or in EPA's policies or practices towards dedicated competition vehicles. Since our attempt to clarify led to confusion, EPA has decided to eliminate the proposed language from the final rule."

Unless you have information to the contrary the provisions of your concern appear to have been eliminated rather than merely "tabled" .

Since this horse seems to be dead, what are asking folks here to do ?

[racerrad8]

Since this horse seems to be dead, what are asking folks here to do ?

Seems like I was pretty clear in my request, but let me explain it better so hopefully you can understand.

An association that is directly related to the automotive, racing and motorcycle industry has advised this is not dead. The have reached out to those businesses who are directly affected by the EPA and the proposed changes. Since they have people directly working this issue, including lawyers I'm sure, the issue must not be dead. In contrast to your minimal knowledge of the issue and research you have completed.

Obviously, you have read an online article and have implied your self appointed judge and jury, just you have done in the recent presidential topic and prior.

I'll marshal the evidence and close.

So, my request when I made the post was to click the link. You fill out your information. That information is then sent to the congressional representative and senator in support of the RPM act. It is your choice to click the link or not.

Thank you for taking the time to find the online article you have based your decision.

I will continue to get my information from the association that supports my livelihood. Not the online writer/article you have chosen to "marshal the evidence and close" to determine the horse is dead.

Randy - RPM

[giantkiller]

Sent thank you Randy.

[fj1289]

Since this horse seems to be dead, what are asking folks here to do ?

Seems like I was pretty clear in my request, but let me explain it better so hopefully you can understand.

An association that is directly related to the automotive, racing and motorcycle industry has advised this is not dead. The have reached out to those businesses who are directly affected by the EPA and the proposed changes. Since they have people directly working this issue, including lawyers I'm sure, the issue must not be dead. In contrast to your minimal knowledge of the issue and research you have completed.

Obviously, you have read an online article and have implied your self appointed judge and jury, just you have done in the recent presidential topic and prior.

I'll marshal the evidence and close.

So, my request when I made the post was to click the link. You fill out your information. That information is then sent to the congressional representative and senator in support of the RPM act. It is your choice to click the link or not.

Thank you for taking the time to find the online article you have based your decision.

I will continue to get my information from the association that supports my livelihood. Not the online writer/article you have chosen to "marshal the evidence and close" to determine the horse is dead.

Randy - RPM

Since filling this out I've recieved several replies from representatives.  The replies fall into two very distinct categories - fairly long detailed replies stating how the EPA is over reaching their authority and intent of the original legislation ; or a very short thank you for your input while we consider this bill. Seems obvious to me which side they are each supporting! 

Chris

[Burns]

I have no conclusion at all. My reading of your request was a call to oppose an EPA action and the EPA is quoted as saying that it does not intend to take any such action.  Which led me to:

" Unless you have information to the contrary the provisions of your concern appear to have been eliminated rather than merely "tabled" "

If indeed the EPA is considering the action you fear - and the quote is wrong - surely that would be information to the contrary. But "if" is the biggest word in the English language.

You are certainly correct that my knowledge of the subject is minimal. I'll do a little research and get back to you.