WTF (Page 1 of 3)

I say the EPA needs to get off my ass and start shoving catalytic converters up the asses of cows.

source: http://www.cleantechpatentedge.com/2012 … onverters/

Not for nothing.....

That was posted with not much detail about 'the new regulations', and what the EPA would consider a 'racecar'.   I find it odd that there is no detail about any politician or name of anyone at the EPA mentioned, just one from SEMA, and all other details were ambiguous at best.  At the bottom is a request for money by SEMA.

I'm not saying the article is fake, but to me, the way its put out is just strange.  I would expect way more detail with something like this, and maybe not with a request for funds with it.

SEMA does work hard to in the automotive hobby industry.

Just sayin'.......

Bill

Ok, ok. So I started using the "Find" feature and what I'm coming up with is language pertaining to CAFE stuff.

[Annnnd I'm deleting this so as not to promote the spread of misinformation...]

I don't think that's the part that's causing the fuss. The "racing exemption" is in 40 CFR part 1068. The summary of the proposed change, given on p. 391 of that document, is:

and on p. 403:

There are other references along these lines throughout the document, but the gist of it appears to be that if an engine has been certified for street use, it can never be modified away from its certified specification even for racing use. It can be used for racing but it must still have all of its original emissions equipment and meet all original standards. Similarly, if I'm reading the rest of it correctly, a vehicle that was originally certified for street use can't have a different engine installed in it for racing purposes unless that engine meets the original emissions standards of the vehicle itself.

In other words, if this proposal is accepted, then an originally street-legal car must always meet its standards, even if it is only used on track. An originally street-legal engine must always meet its standards, even if it is only used on track. Turning a car into a race car or an engine into a race engine does not eliminate the requirement of meeting the original standards of the car and/or of the engine. The only racing exemption would be for vehicles and engines originally built by the factory for off-road purposes.

On the bright side, this could bring us into a golden age of crapcan racing, where everyone ends up using either domestic-market vehicles and engines from before the era of emissions controls or grey-market imports that are more than 25 years old.

I think your interpretation makes sense.

I wonder how they could ever enforce such a law.  Are they going to start showing up at race tracks and impounding vehicles?

Normally I'd say f*ck them, let them come and find me.  However, with GM getting a token fine for killing a couple hundred people, and VW being whacked for $30+ billion for screwing with the EPA, I don't think I want to screw with the EPA.

bs

Well, yeah, this just means we're always looking for a competitive edge wherever we can.

In all seriousness, though, anyone who wants Lemons to develop a more comprehensive and specific set of rules should first look at that PDF document referenced in Spank's post above and try to extract useful information from it. That entire 629-page document is itself just one proposed change in the rules, too.

Oh, and as for enforcement, from p. 584:

Is there anything in there about when and how this takes effect? Would this law be retroactive to existing modified cars, or would they be grandfathered? Would it include cars that have already been purchased but not yet modified? Or would it start with, say, the next new model year of car, and anything produced after 2016 would carry penalties for modification?

Don't get me wrong; I think this is a terrible idea regardless, and I plan on contacting all my congresscritters. I'm just trying to wrap my head around the specifics before I take any action.

One thing that no one has brought up (or at least I haven't seen) is the EPA certificate of conformity.  Doing a quick Google search and it brings up that the CoC is for heavy duty on and off road gas and diesel motors.  IE simis, dump trucks, stationary pumps, bulldozers, locomotives, tug boats, and for some weird reason snowmobiles. From where I'm sitting this sounds like the EPA's horribly worded attempt to keep Simi drivers from removing their urea tanks because its and "off road" truck.  With the amount of shit that they stirred up today I would hope they come back and clarify that they won't be affecting the bottom line of any of the secondary parts market companies or the right of John Q Public to turn their hooptie into a firey ball of racing awesomeness.

More info here http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/certdata.htm

Only goes back to 2003. 

Old Hoopties for everyone!

(really hope this doesn't pass)

The very well-written SEMA objection can be found here: first PDF titled "Comment."

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDe … -0827-1469

My lawyer friend and EVR co-captain Bob seems to think this would only affect new vehicles, but the effects on the industry would be pretty far-reaching. He also told me that while most enforcement would be at the corporate level, if they really wanted to the EPA could put the screws to you when they see your 2017 Corvette at the track with an aftermarket intake on it.