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SEMA

Driving Force September 2003

California Replacement Tire Efficiency Bill Rolls Through Legislature
SEMA Pro-Hobbyist Amendment Makes Bad Bill Better 

California legislators have accepted a SEMA-drafted amendment to a bill
(A.B. 844) that would require regulators to develop a replacement tire fuel
efficiency program. The SEMA amendment exempts some tires from the
scope of the bill and subsequent regulation including: limited production
tires (15,000 or less annually), deep-tread snow tires, limited-use spares,
motorcycle tires and tires manufactured for use on off-road vehicles. The
bill passed in the Assembly and was recently passed by the Senate
Environmental Quality Committee.

If enacted into law, the bill would require California regulators to develop a
fuel efficiency program for passenger car and light truck replacement tires
that is designed to ensure that these tires are at least as energy efficient,
on average, as the tires sold as original equipment on these vehicles. The
measure also provides that the program's "labeling" requirements mandate
point-of-sale consumer information or signs. However, no labeling,
imprinting or other marking would be required for individual tires. The
program would be operative by July 1, 2007.

"The SEMA amendment would protect most hobbyist tires from the
burdensome requirements of this bill," said SEMA's Senior Director of
Government Affairs Steve McDonald. "The many different lines and sizes
of specialty aftermarket tires produced by small volume tire manufacturing
companies are intended for specialized use as replacement tires on
collector and special interests cars and trucks, all-terrain or off-highway
vehicles and other mostly limited-use vehicles.

"Hobbyists demand the availability of these specialty tires for their specific
performance characteristics, utility or aesthetic value, among many
attributes," McDonald continued. "Most of the vehicles that wear these
specialty aftermarket tires are infrequently driven. They are used for
enthusiast or car-club-related activities like legally sanctioned drag or road
races, car shows, rallies and parades or, in the case of OHVs, trail rides,
races and other competitions. In the most simple terms, these tire types
are not purchased or used with an eye to fuel efficiency."

California regulators insist that low-rolling-resistance tires can improve the
fuel economy of a passenger vehicle by approximately three percent,
thereby saving California approximately 300 million gallons of gasoline
annually and saving consumers approximately $118 million to $165 million
annually. According to the bill’s sponsor, unlike refrigerators or other
household appliances, there are no requirements that replacement tires be
labeled for fuel efficiency or meet minimum efficiency standards. He claims
that A.B. 844 would address this problem by requiring tire manufacturers to
meet minimum efficiency standards after a period of testing to determine
which tires are most efficient.

Even with the amendment, SEMA believes the program to be ill-advised.
"A replacement tire efficiency program conflicts with federal law, is anti-
consumer and anti-small business, and would impose large government
operating costs in a time of record budget shortfalls," McDonald added.
The program outlined in A.B. 844 would be particularly unfair to hobbyists
since it would dissuade consumers from buying tires that may have
improved performance, handling or appearance features, based solely on
a rolling-resistance rating. In addition, this program could easily distract
consumers from focusing on more important safety issues such as tire
inflation and overload. The program would also impose substantial costs
on tire manufacturers for tires to be sold in California. Undoubtedly, these
costs would be passed on to California’s small tire dealers and installers
and eventually on to consumers. Most importantly, the program could
drive hobbyists to purchase only original-equipment-manufacturer (OEM)-
recommended tires because the program exempts OEM-selected tires and
unfairly implies that they are superior to aftermarket products.

"We are convinced that this is an inappropriate time to go forward with an
untested and expensive program that will adversely affect small tire-related
businesses and ultimately saddle hobbyists with higher costs," McDonald
concluded. 



SRMA Seminar Spotlights Need To Enact Good Laws

A reception held by the Street Rod Marketing Alliance (SRMA) provided
an opportunity to urge the membership to push forward with pro-hobbyist
legislation and regulations. The seminar took place during the 34th Annual
NSRA Street Rod Nationals, held last month in Louisville, Kentucky.

Led by Debbie Walls of Lokar, Inc., the SRMA is a SEMA council
dedicated to protecting and developing the street rod and street modified
hobby. Its members include manufacturers, fabricators, publishers, dealers
and car clubs. SRMA recently voted to expand its market scope to
include custom vehicles, also known as street-modified vehicles, thus
providing a strong united voice for this segment of the car hobby. Street-
modified vehicles are, by definition, at least 25 years old but manufactured
after 1948, or resembling one from that era.

At the seminar, SEMA's Government Affairs Manager Stuart Gosswein
discussed hot topics impacting the street rod industry and SAN members.
"We are actively moving to enact our model bills in as many states as
possible -- to provide street rod/custom vehicle classifications, establish
exhaust/noise testing programs, eliminate emissions testing of older cars,
and permit reasonable storage of inoperable vehicles."  

Gosswein noted that, "Working with Illinois hobbyists and SRMA
members, we enacted the street rod/custom vehicle model bill in just one
year. It was nearly signed into law in Missouri, is pending in New York and
Rhode Island, and SEMA has just been contacted by Massachusetts
legislators who want to introduce it during the 2004 legislative session. By
working together, we can achieve our goals."

Del Austin, SRMA's legislative liaison, went on to explain how crucial it is
for SRMA members to participate in the process of writing good laws and
regulations by networking with the SEMA Government Affairs Office and
becoming SAN members. He also encouraged SRMA and SAN members
to contact lawmakers. "As was demonstrated recently in Illinois and
Missouri, personal communication is crucial for moving bills through the
legislature. Your letter or phone call to a politician may make the
difference in getting a bill passed into law."

For more information on SEMA's model bills on street rod/custom vehicles,
exhaust noise or inoperable vehicles please contact Steve McDonald at
stevem@sema.org.



Help Those Who Help Us
Gary Bohlen, Committee to Upgrade Street Rod Laws

"Write your representative" is an often-used answer to an often-asked
question about how we can protect our hobby's interests from needless
government intervention. Here's another path to take: Why not help your
representative? If your local state representative has been active in
supporting efforts to keep our hobby healthy, there are steps you can take
to help keep him or her in office.

For example, we recently heard about a fund-raising dinner being held on
behalf of Representative Terry Parke (R-44th District) of Illinois. Terry, you
may remember, was instrumental in helping us pass SEMA model
legislation in Illinois to create titling and registration classes for street rods
and custom vehicles. He introduced the bill that got the whole effort
started.

Rep. Parke is seeking re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives,
and he's using the dinner, which takes place September 19 at the
Schaumburg Marriott Hotel (Schaumburg, IL), as a kick-off for his
campaign. If you would like to help his campaign efforts, but cannot
attend the dinner, you can still contribute to the cause by contacting
"Citizens to Elect Parke," P. O. Box 95666, Hoffman Estates, IL 60195.
Questions? Call 847/882-8335.



Illinois Plate Requests
Requests are still being taken for special Illinois license plates for your
street rod or custom vehicle. Write or e-mail Sheryl Glynn at the following
address. Simply state your name, address and how many plates you are
requesting. In addition, identify which category you are applying for.  

Illinois Secretary of State
501 S. 2nd Street Room 312
Springfield, IL 62756
ATTN: Sheryl Glynn
E-mail: sglynn@ilsos.net

Remember, 850 requests must be received in each category before the
special license plates will be manufactured and distributed.



Tuner Revolution Safety Panel Meets in L.A.

The Tuner Revolution Safety Panel, named for the sport compact car
exhibit currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum,
convened a group of law enforcement and racing experts at the museum
in early August to discuss illegal street racing and the legal alternatives
that are open to tuner enthusiasts. The panel presented some valuable
information; unfortunately, it did so to a very small group of attendees. For
those who couldn't be there, here are some highlights from the material
presented:

According to Officer Jon Samson of the California Highway Patrol,
accurate statistics about deaths, injuries and property damage related to
illegal street racing are difficult to gather in the state because responding
officers can't always qualify an accident's cause as racing-related. Most
street-racing accident reports list "speeding" or "speed-related collision"
as the cause, so when the numbers are compiled, racing does not stand
out statistically. Only when there's solid anecdotal evidence -- such as
media coverage -- can the Highway Patrol attribute the accident to illegal
street racing.

Samson said in the wake of the "Fast and Furious" films there was an
increased awareness of illegal street racing and a corresponding increase
in citizens reporting incidents. But without solid statistics it would be hard
to prove that the films actually increased the number of racing-related
accidents.

Only the San Diego Police Department has had the funding to accurately
track accident results related to illegal racing. Through 2002 the city has
reported 16 fatalities and 26 serious injuries from illegal street racing. The
CHP and other law enforcement agencies are working through the state's
bureaucracy to change the reporting structure, but Samson gave no time
frame as to when those changes would be made. 

Eric Lotz of the NHRA, Doug Stokes from the Irwindale Speedway, and
Toyo Tire public relations representative Jay Jones discussed their
respective street-car and sport-compact racing programs. The NHRA
encourages member tracks to develop street-legal racing programs and to
publicize them so local enthusiasts are aware they have a safe and legal
place to race. To Lotz, this generation of enthusiasts is not so different
than those who pioneered drag racing, and the NHRA, 50 years ago.
"They just a different breed of hot rodder with a different kind of car."

Scott Kelley, a long-time drag racer who campaigns a 300hp 1969
Volkswagen fastback in the NHRA's Sport Compact series, does see one
big difference. "Orange County, Riverside, Lyons, Colton, all those strips
where we used to race closed in the Seventies. These days you can buy
a 12-second car right off the showroom floor, but there's no place to
race."

At least, not as many as there were 30 years ago. But several southern
California tracks, and many more across the nation, have begun street-
legal race programs. Irwindale Speedway holds street-car races every
Thursday night, and typically more than 200 cars and over 2,000
spectators will turn out for the night's racing. Irwindale is trying to recruit
racers through its "speeding ticket" program, in which law enforcement
officers from 24 local jurisdictions hand out what look like citations but are
actually coupons for free race admission to tuner enthusiasts.

Replicating the street-race experience on the track is helping some
venues bring illegal racers into legal programs, said Stokes. Race tracks
in Orlando and Las Vegas have replaced their Christmas trees with street-
like stoplights, and several tracks are having good luck with "Midnight
Madness" racing programs that take place during the hours when illegal
street racing is at its peak. Irwindale would like to have such a program,
Stokes said, but its curfew (enforced to appease residents near the track)
won't allow racing to take place that late at night.

Stokes also said that illegal street racers who run at his track appreciate
its safety, but not in the way he expected. "When these guys race on the
street they're not worried about crashing, or about hitting innocent
bystanders. The street racers I've spoken to said their biggest fear is that
someone is going to pull a knife or a gun on them and say, 'No, I won' at
the end of the race."

"We know we're not going to reach the hardcore racer," admitted the
CHP's Samson. "Just like a hardcore drug dealer or gang-banger, they
reach a certain point in the subculture and they won't change. But we're
trying to reach the kids racing mom's Suburban or minivan, to let them
know there's a safe alternative to racing in the street."

Note: SEMA, through its Sport Compact Council, sponsors "Racers
Against Street Racing" (RASR), a grassroots enthusiast group that
promotes legal alternatives to illegal street racing. RASR has developed
curriculum and a video to be used in driver ed classes and is also
networking with local racetracks across the country to organize racing
activities.



Recognition And Rewards Await Car Clubs Winning Golden Rule Award

For the 11th year, Eagle One will present the Golden Rule Award, which
recognizes and rewards car clubs in four regions for conducting
outstanding community service programs.

The maker of premium appearance enhancement products announced
that beginning September 29, car clubs will be able to download an entry
form by visiting www.eagleone.com. The entry deadline is December 15,
2003.

A winning and runner-up club in the West, Midwest, East and South will
be selected for conducting the most outstanding community service
program in their region during 2003.

Eagle One and Valvoline will award the clubs a total of more than $5,000
worth of products for fund-raising purposes. In addition, Eagle One will
make a $250 cash donation to a charity designated by each of the four
winning clubs.

The Golden Rule Award winners will receive 20 buckets of Eagle One
products, 10 cases of Valvoline MaxLife motor oil and a custom-designed
plaque. Runner-up clubs will receive 10 buckets of Eagle One products,
five cases of MaxLife motor oil and an award of merit.

An entry form may also be obtained by calling (818) 501-1445. Winning
clubs will be notified by January 16, 2004.

Eagle One is a division of The Valvoline Company.



Legislative Quick Hits
Michigan Historic Vehicles: SEMA is working with member company
Hagerty Insurance to amend the law in Michigan defining historic
vehicles. Under current law, historic vehicles are only permitted to be
driven in club activities, exhibitions, tours and parades. Under the
proposed amendment, these vehicles could also take advantage of
"other occasional use." Many Michigan vehicle owners whose cars
qualify for the historic registration class have chosen to register as daily
drivers to avoid the limited use restrictions. Hagerty is surveying its
customers to determine if the current advantages of historic vehicle
registration (lowered fees and state assessments) in addition to the
expanded use allowance offered by the proposed amendment would
compel more owners to apply for this class.    

Exhaust Noise, Street Rod/Custom Model Bills: SEMA’s exhaust noise
and street rod/custom vehicle model bills continue to pick up steam. The
association was recently contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PennDOT) to discuss the possibility of implementing the
exhaust noise model in that state as an administrative regulation.
PennDOT officials had seen notices of SEMA’s successes with the bill in
California, Washington State and Maine. The SEMA model bill deems all
modified exhaust systems that emit sound levels at or below 95 decibels
under SAE test standard J1169 to be in compliance with state noise laws.
In addition, Massachusetts’s legislators have approached SEMA about
introducing the model street rod/custom vehicle bill in the 2004 legislative
session. State hobbyists are seeking laws that allow for the use of non-
original materials and to include qualifying replicas and kit cars in these
specialty vehicle titling and registration classifications.

Energy Bill: Unable to agree on this year’s version of an energy bill, the
U.S. Senate adopted last year’s bill and sent it to a conference committee
to iron out differences between the Senate and House versions of the
legislation. Both bills direct NHTSA to set Corporate Average Fuel
Economy (CAFE) standards in a manner that takes into account the
impact on jobs, safety, consumer choice, technology and other factors. In
addition, the Senate did not consider an amendment to the energy bill that
was actively opposed by SEMA, which would have required replacement
tires to be labeled with fuel economy information. The amendment may
also have required NHTSA to promulgate minimum fuel economy
standards for tires designed to ensure that fuel economy is at least equal
to OE tires.



We Get Letters

I am an active-duty Navy SEAL stationed overseas. At home in California I
have a ’68 Shelby, a ’66 Ranchero and a ’73 Cougar. What’s the deal on
S.B. 708? I picked up a copy of Mustangs and Fords magazine the other
day and it said S.B. 708 had been re-introduced and was "alive." The
very same day I was looking through Chevy High Performance magazine,
and it said that S.B. 708 had basically been "defeated." Can you give me
the straight skinny?
Mike Bloom

Mike,
Here's the skinny: This Spring, SEMA successfully negotiated a deal with
California legislators on revisions to a bill (S.B. 708) that originally
threatened to repeal the current 30-year rolling emissions exemption for
older cars in the state and replace it with a 45-year exemption. The final
deal, if signed into law, will only amend the California Vehicle Code to
increase fines for violators of the state's current law prohibiting vehicles
that emit excessive smoke. The new S.B. 708 also adds vehicles cited for
a smoking vehicle violation to those eligible for the state's repair
assistance program, which is available to low-income citizens. This bill
brought out our hobbyist contacts, the SEMA Action Network in record
numbers. In fact, the bill’s sponsor told us that we could rewrite the bill to
remove the exemption repeal only if we got our people to stop calling his
office. At the end of the day, our 30-year rolling emissions exemption
remains intact.

I just read about this [rumored federal ban on HID lamps] and was pointed
toward you as a person in the aftermarket industry working to protect
consumers and their right to choose. I oppose such underhanded tactics
as employed by NHTSA to interfere with consumers. Please feel free to
use my name and information as one such consumer opposed to out-of-
control bureaucrats. The same ones who for years now -- nay, decades --
saddled the American driver with massively inferior lighting standards for
our cars. Wonder how many deaths that has caused?
Brian Shipley
Birmingham, Alabama

Brian,
We are aware of a rumor that the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has shut down the market for all HID lamps. This
is incorrect. The fact is, if an HID lamp does not comply with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, it is illegal to market this
equipment right now. However, NHTSA has not shut down sales of HIDs
that comply with FMVSS No. 108. In 2001, NHTSA requested public
comment on how to respond to complaints about headlamp glare. NHTSA
now intends to propose new lighting rules beginning in late 2003. The
rules will address consumer complaints regarding perceived glare from
HIDs, HID knock-offs, higher-mounted and supplemental front-mounted
auxiliary lamps and possibly headlamp-aiming requirements as well. We
certainly do not expect that NHTSA will ban legal HIDs in these rule-
making proceedings.



SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER SAN CLUB EVENTS

ARIZONA
September 12-14, Jerome
Jerome Jamboree
Sponsor: Arizona (VW) Bus Club
Information: www.arizonabusclub.com

CALIFORNIA
September 14, Palos Verdes
11th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance
Sponsor: Acura
Information: 310/783-3165

October 3-5, Sacramento
2nd Annual NSRA Golden State Street Rod Nationals
Sponsor: National Street Rod Association
Information: 901/452-4030

October 5, Anaheim
34th Annual All Ford Picnic
Sponsor: Southern California Region Early Ford V-8 Club
Information: 714/538-3957

October 5, La Palma
15th Annual Big Orange Chrysler Products Show
Sponsor: The WPC Club, Orange County Region
Information: 714/538-0971

October 17-19, Ocotillo Wells
Operation Desert Fun
Sponsor: California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs
Information: 760/789-8294

COLORADO
September 5-7, Colorado Springs
8th Colorado Classic
Sponsor: Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Information: 925/838-9876

FLORIDA
September 20, Titusville
American MGB Association Meet 2003
Sponsor: American MGB Association
Information: 800/723-MGMG

October 10-12, Tampa
16th Annual NSRA Southeast Street Rod Nationals
Sponsor: National Street Rod Association
Information: 901/452-4030

ILLINOIS
September 6-7, Oak Brook
2003 Fierorama
Sponsor: Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts
Information: 630/983-6434

September 13, Carol Stream
Colony Park Classic Car & Craft Show
Sponsor: Buick Club of America, Chicagoland Chapter
Information: 630/665-6069

September 21, LaGrange Park
3rd Annual Antique Car Show
Sponsor: Chicagoland Chapters of the Buick, Pontiac and Chrysler Clubs
Information: 708/482-6673

September 27-28, Bloomington
21st Annual Thunderbird Rendezvous
Sponsor: Land of Lincoln Thunderbird Club
Information: 309/452-6481

October 4, Barrington
6th Annual Fall Car Show
Sponsor: Buick Club of America, Chicagoland Chapter
Information: 312/316-5435

INDIANA
October 12, Bristow
15th Bristow Auto Oktober Fest
Sponsor: Waynes
Information: 502/937-9781

KANSAS
September 19-21, Kansas City
2nd Mid-Western Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Information: 925/838-9876

MICHIGAN
September 12-14, Kalamazoo
24th Annual Street Rod Nationals North
Sponsor: NSRA
Information: 901/452-4030

MINNESOTA
September 13-14, Stillwater
13th Annual All Buick Car Show and BCA Heartland Region Fall
Gathering & Tour
Sponsor: Minnesota Fireball Chapter, Buick Club of America

Information: 651/439-0373
   
NEW YORK
September 12-14, Rhinebeck
12th East Coast Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Information: 925/838-9876

NORTH CAROLINA
October 24-26, Charlotte
10th Southeastern Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Information: 925/838-9876

OREGON
September 6-7, Sandy
Sandy Oktoberfest Car Show
Sponsor: Oregon Council of Vehicle Associations
Information: 503/668-4096

PENNSYLVANIA
October 8-11
AACA Eastern Division National Fall Meet
Sponsor: Hershey Region, Antique Automobile Club of America
Information: 717/534-1910

SOUTH DAKOTA
September 5-7, Rapid City
15th Annual National Dodge Charger Meet
Sponsor: The Dodge Charger Registry
Information: 605/484-0343

TEXAS
September 14, Dallas
8th Annual Toy Drive Car Show
Sponsor: Summer Knights Car Club
Information: 972/422-1952

October 3-5, Ft. Worth
11th Annual Lone Star Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Information: 925/838-9876

UTAH
September 5-6, Brigham City
25th Annual Peach Days Family Picnic Car Show
Sponsor: The Bonnevills Rod & Custom Car Club
Information: 801/721-2554

VERMONT
September 19-21, Burlington
10th Annual Northeast Street Rod Nationals
Sponsor: National Street Rod Association
Information: 901/452-4030

WISCONSIN
September 26-28, Waukesha
14th Great Lakes Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys Rod and Custom Association
Information: 925/838-9876