EPA Seeks to Prohibit Race Cars

[VintageMusclecar]

Had to alter the title because it wouldn't fit in the text box.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">EPA Seeks to Prohibit Conversion of Vehicles into Racecars</span></span>

Don't take this one lightly, look at what they've recently done to the Diesel market.
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https://www.sema.org/news/2016/02/08...-into-racecars

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.

About SEMA
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $36 billion specialty automotive industry of 6,633 member-companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends and market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765, tel: 909-610-2030, or visit www.sema.org.

[70 copo]

The #1 target of the EPA has always been cars. Once conversion is prohibited they will next target and regulate existing race cars and &quot;pre emission street vehicles&quot;.

That's our muscle cars folks.

[bbbentley]

Let's see, picture a balance scale with, on one side, Motorsports and the $ revenue made in all forms including money spent on the cars, crews, etc... On the other side of the scale put the EPA. Now, if the hobby and sport could just band together and have a one year moratorium stopping all $ generated by Motorsports as a whole, then let's see who would win, 'cause in this country, $ talks and B.S., well you know? The EPA would be shut down so fast 'cause it is our money (taxes) that keeps this leviathan running. Hit 'em in the pocketbook, something to consider. It is the only thing these folks understand.

[HawkX66]

This coming from an agency that produced John Beale, Sr. Policy Advisor. Oh, and claimed to be a CIA operator while bilking the EPA for nearly $1m that they actually could prove.
http://www.washingtonian.com/2014/03...ooked-the-epa/

For many years the EPA has been an agency that keeps just trying to make itself relevant by creating insane policies like the ones concerning ethanol fuel.

[bilede]

Changes to their policies have continued to occur as companies that produce products labeled as &quot;race or offroad only&quot; have been fined huge amounts and gone bankrupt already for producing these because vehicle owners installed on a street vehicle. Holding a company liable for how a product is used by a future owner has interesting consequences in many other areas. No good in my opinion.

[old5.0]

So you mean the &quot;slippery slope&quot; is a real thing? Who'd a thunk it...

[427TJ]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 70 copo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The #1 target of the EPA has always been cars. Once conversion is prohibited they will next target and regulate existing race cars and &quot;pre emission street vehicles&quot;.

That's our muscle cars folks. </div></div>

They choose the easiest targets they can win against. They don't dare go after industrial polluters (with powerful legal teams and political allies) so they come after the little guy who cannot defend against this.

Having said that, there's this: http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/...actually-means/

[70 copo]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/...r-conversions/

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story...ersions-020916

Looks like they are walking it back a bit.,.

[70 copo]

And it does not take long to connect the dots on new production of old cars with EPA approved drivetrains. The timing here is conveinant.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/12/08/n...-vintage-cars/

[70 copo]

From 2009 speculation:

https://www.motorists.org/blog/will-...lly-be-banned/


There is also an EPA position paper that I have read that sets fourth as early as 1990-ways to regulate old cars off the road and ways to nudge the population into compliance.