Driving Force - SEMA Action Network

Delivering Up-to-Date Information to America’s Car Clubs and Enthusiastswww.semasan.comMARCH 2010Meet Tony MendozaCalifornia Legislator and Car EnthusiastTakes a Stand Against Illegal Street RacingCourtesy Darryl DennisCalifornia Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, born in SouthCentral Los Angeles, is the second youngest of nine children.As a young man living in a single-parent home, he witnessedfirsthand the struggles of working families and the opportunitiesa good education provides.Passionate about education, he was an elementary school teacherin East Los Angeles for more than 10 years and was involved with theCalifornia Teachers Association and the National Education Association.In addition to working diligently on education, health care andfamily issues, he is focused on making the roads a safer place throughmeasures that oppose illegal street racing.First elected to the California State Assembly in 2006, Mendozarepresents the 56th California Assembly District, which includes thecommunities of Artesia, Buena Park, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens,Los Nietos, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier/unincorporatedWhittier, portions of East Whittier and Lakewood. Last year,Continued on page 4s

CAUCUS CORNERach month Driving Force will feature members of the State AutomotiveEnthusiast Leadership Caucus. The SEMA-supportedEcaucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, nearly 400 strong,whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles.Here are its newest members:VIRGINIaDelegateMark KeamVIRGINIaDelegateGlenn OderVIRGINIADelegate Sam NixonNEW MEXICORepresentativeBill R. RehmVisit www.semasan.com for a complete list of caucus members.LEGISLATIVE QUICK HITSOwners of antique vehicles such as this wouldbe given a second, less-expensive option forregistering their car if driven less than 1,000miles annually.Iowa Antiques: The SANis supporting Iowa legislationwhich would allowantique vehicle owners toregister limited-use vehiclesfor a reduced fee. Underthe measure, owners whoagree to use their vehiclesfor hobbyist purposes andoccasional transportation(not to exceed 1,000 milesannually) would be chargedan annual $5 fee. All otherantique vehicle ownerswould be charged a standard $70 fee for a two-year registration.Kansas Inoperable Vehicles: Legislation that would allow cities toenforce “nuisance abatement” procedures by notifying affected propertyowners by use of first-class mail instead of certified mail (with a returnreceipt) has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Nuisance abatementlaws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles,including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors. Inopposing the bill, the SAN has argued that certified mail with a signedreceipt provides proof that a property owner has been properly alerted toa future enforcement action.Maryland New Car Emissions Exemption: The SAN is supportinglegislation to exempt newer motor vehicles from the state’s mandatoryemissions inspection program. Under the bill, a vehicle would beexempt from mandatory emissions test requirements for four years afterthe vehicle’s model year or first registration date, whichever is earlier.Maryland already exempts older (pre-’77 model year) motor vehicles fromemissions tests.Mississippi Nitrous Oxide: The SAN is seeking to amend a bill tooutlaw all vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems. Using anapproach adopted by other states, the amended legislation wouldallow the system if disconnected (or canisters removed) while in use onpublic roadways.New Jersey StreetRods: New Jerseyhas reintroducedSEMA-model legislationto createa vehicle registrationclassificationfor street rods andcustom vehiclesand provide forspecial license An example of a street rod that would benefit from theenactment of SEMA-model legislation.plates for thesevehicles. In the 2009 legislative session, the bill was approvedby the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee butnot considered by the full Senate prior to adjournment.The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufacturedafter 1948. The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to beassigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation asthe body of the vehicle it most closely resembles.New Jersey Historic Vehicles: The SAN is again supporting legislationto allow historic vehicles to be used for pleasure driving one dayper week. The bill did not receive committee consideration last session.Under current law, owners of properly registered historic motor vehiclesare permitted to operate them solely for exhibition and educational purposes.In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.Ohio Street Rods/Custom Vehicles: SEMA-model legislation to createa vehicle registration and titling classification for street rods and customvehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles is pendingbefore the Ohio House Transportation Committee. The bill defines astreet rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a customas an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948.The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificateof title bearing the same model-year designation that the body of thevehicle was constructed to resemble.Virginia Exhaust Noise: At the SAN’s urging, the House TransportationCommittee rejected a bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarketexhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce“excessive or unusual noise.” The SAN recommended that Virginiaadopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systemswhich can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard.In California, for example, a SAN-supported provision is made forthe testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Societyof Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels(SAE J1169). To date, this procedure has been enacted in California,Washington state, Maine and Montana.West Virginia Antiques: The SAN is again supporting legislationthat would exclude owners of antique cars from the scope of vehiclesrequired to pay any taxes or fees related to the registration or titling ofthese vehicles. Last session, the bill did not receive committee considerationbefore the legislature adjourned for the year.Continued on page 3s2 DRIVING FORCE MARCH 2010

You’ve Got Legislation!SEMASAN.com Has All the Info You NeedLegislators from aroundthe country have beenbusy over the past coupleof months, and consequently, sohas the SAN. We have plowedthrough thousands of bills andidentified hundreds that maybe of interest to hobbyists. Themost pressing of these billsresult in Action Alerts beingshot out to SAN membersand highlighted in the DrivingForce. However, given limitedprint space, we have expandedthis bill-tracking effort intoan online compilation providedat no cost, 24/7, atwww.semasan.com. Along theleft-hand column of the SANsite you will find, in red underlinedletters, the words “MY HOBBY.” Simply find your hobby in thelist, click once and you are transported to a list of legislation pertainingto your particular automotive hobby. For a wider range of issues affectingyour state, simply follow the same steps in the lower box entitled“MY STATE” to view a regularly updated resource on legislation in yourneck of the woods.Some of the bills listed on the site will never progress past introduction;others will go on to become the laws of tomorrow. The period followinga bill’s introduction is critical to its success or failure. It is at thistime, immediately following introduction, that the SAN aims to informenthusiasts and encourage their participation in the legislative processthrough e-mails and phone calls to their state representatives. Such correspondencehas a proven impact on the decisions of legislators.Visit www.semasan.com today! The information on this site willprovide you with the tools you need to help effect real change and aidin the common goal of protecting our passion. Please contact AshleyAilsworth at ashleya@sema.org if you have any questions. She wouldbe happy to provide you with the bill’s full text, current status andcommittee information.Legislative Quick HitssContinued from page 2West Virginia ExhaustNoise: The SAN is againopposing legislationto providethat thenoise from a motorvehicleexhaust systemdeemed “disturbing orunreasonably loud” constitutesdisturbing the peace.The SAN website, www.SEMASAN.com isupdated frequently with the latest bills fromaround the country and Action Alerts toraise awareness of the most pressing issuesaffecting the hobby.Specialty-equipment exhaust systems canprovide increased power and efficiencyfor vehicles.The bill did not receive committee consideration in the last sessionbefore the legislature adjourned for the year.HEY, THAT’S MY CAR!One Happenin’Half-Ton1946 Studebaker M-5Owner: Randy WilkinHillboro, OhioIfirst saw anM series (built1940 to 1948)Studebaker at alocal car show andimmediately fellin love with them.Living in Ohio, itwas nearly impossibleto find anexample to buyand restore thatwasn’t completelyrusted out. After years of normal searching, the Internet happened andeBay started its old-car marketplace. When I started searching with thisnew technology, what came up on eBay was not a Studebaker pickup,but a 11/2-ton dual rear-wheel flatbed. It came complete with a caved-intop, missing grilles and basically all the trim missing. It was solid, though,with only surface rust and a price starting at $99 with no reserve. I madethe opening bid of $99 and with no other bids forthcoming, I won thetruck! Now all I had to do was drive 2,000 miles round-trip to get it!I borrowed a friend’s trailer and my wife’s Grand Cherokee and set outto collect my prize.I was able to trade an old street rod of mine for some componentsI needed for the build. My Studebaker’s cab was installed onto a full-sizeChevy half-ton frame, which made it easy to install a 350 Chevy V8.I mated that to a 700-R4 overdrive transmission with a lock-up converterand 3:73 12-bolt limited-slip GM rearend. Also in the deal camepower steering and power disc brakes. I then added Vintage Air conditioningand DakotaDigital gauges and hadthe interior done by RickFutrell in Dayton, Ohio.The bed was crafted fromnew sheet metal; the tailgateis made out of Douglasaircraft DC 8 thrustreverser pistons; and therear bumper is an aircrafttorque tube. All the bodyworkand paint was doneby Fred Kidder Jr., andhe did an outstanding jobwith what he had to workwith. I had help from themany people I work withwho made small parts forthe project.Have your car or truck featured in a future issue of Driving Force.Submit your high-resolution photos online at www.semasan.comMARCH 2010DRIVING FORCE3

DF0210_V1.indd 11/20/10 9:01:47 AMMARCH 2010MARCH 2010 SAN CLUB EVENTSALASKAMarch 17, AnchorageMSSRA Monthly MeetingSponsor: Midnight Sun Street Rod AssociationInformation: www.MidnightSunSRA.orgARIZONAMarch 6, Scottsdale2nd Annual “Let the Good Times Roll”Sponsor: Arizona Vettes and Rods ClubInformation: Laurie at 602/808-9352 orwww.vettesandrods.comMarch 26–27, TucsonMustang Mania 2010Sponsor: Old Pueblo Mustang ClubInformation: www.tucsonpony.com/Maniaflyer.htmlCALIFORNIAMarch 5–7, San Diego48th Annual Desert SafariSponsor: Tierra Del SolInformation: www.tds4x4.comMarch 7, Anaheim2nd Annual All Porsche Swap Meetand Car DisplaySponsor: Porsche 356 ClubInformation: Jeff Trask at 949/697-4499or NO911NV@aol.comMarch 20, GormanCORVA Family Fun RunSponsor: California Off-RoadVehicle AssociationInformation: www.corva.org/events/FamilyFunRun.htmlMarch 27–28, Pleasanton28th Annual All American Get-TogetherSponsor: Goodguys Rod& Custom AssociationInformation: www.allamericangettogether.comFLORIDAMarch 26–28, Pensacola31st Annual Gulf Coast National Car ShowSponsor: Gulf Coast Regional Mustang ClubInformation: www.gcrmc.com/attachments/2010_Show_Flier.pdfMarch 28, OcalaLive Oak Carriage and Car ShowSponsor: AACA Club of Ocala FloridaInformation: Carolyn Smith at 352/368-3880or SKISS1937@Embarqmail.comILLINOISMarch 5–7, ChicagoWorld of WheelsSponsor: O’Reilly Auto PartsInformation: www.autorama.comMARYLANDMarch 13, West FriendshipAntique Auto Parts Flea MarketSponsors: Antique Automobile Club ofAmerica, Chesapeake Region ChapterInformation: http://local.aaca.org/chesapeakeNEW YORKMarch 28, Woodstown39th Swap Meet & Car CorralSponsors: South Jersey Region AACAInformation: info@strayangelscarclub.comOREGONMarch 13–14, Roseburg33rd Annual Roseburg Benefit Car ShowSponsors: Umpqua Flatheads andStray Angels Car ClubsInformation: info@strayangelscarclub.comTEXASMarch 12–14, AustinTexas Volvo Crew Spring Break BashSponsor: Texas and Alamo Volvo ClubsInformation: http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=126645March 13, Dallas/Ft. WorthSpring Classic ‘Tri Five’ Chevy ShowSponsor: Dallas Classic ChevyInformation: www.DallasClassicChevy.comor info@dallasclassicchevy.comMarch 20, GalvestonSpring Car Show On Pier 21Sponsor: American Pontiac AssociationInformation: http://americanpontiacassociation.us/images/stories/inset/APA_2010_SPRINGSHOW_FLYER.jpgUTAHMarch 5–7, Salt Lake City36th Annual Parts Plus AutoRamaSponsor: Parts PlusInformation: www.autorama.comVIRGINIAMarch 13, AshlandFirst Annual Winter Swap Meet and Car CorralSponsor: Richmond Region AACAInformation: George Field III at 804/752-6784or e-mail Andy Fuhrman at fuhrmanandrew@hotmail.comAttention Car Clubs, Event Organizers and Enthusiasts:Put SAN on Your Mailing List!e like to know what’s going on with SANW clubs and enthusiasts across the country;what charity events you’re involved in; whenand where the rod runs, car shows, trail rides,rallies and tech meetings are held; and whatlegislative and regulatory issues concern clubmembers and individual enthusiasts.One of the best ways to keep us abreast ofwhat’s going on and what’s important to thevehicle hobbies nationwide is for us to receiveyour club newsletters and updates. Please considerplacing SEMA on your mailing list.You can send correspondence to Attn: EthanLandesman, SEMA, 1317 F St. NW, Ste. 500,Washington, DC, 20004-1105 or via e-mail atethanl@sema.org.Delivering Up-to-Date Information to America’s Car Clubs and EnthusiastsThe SANRaces NorthSAN Supports Leaded-Fuel Exemption for RaceVehicles in CanadaCanada andthe UnitedStates have theirfair share of differences. Forexample, Canada’s head of stateis the queen of England, the governmentis run by a prime minister ratherthan a president and it has a parliament andprovinces rather than a congress and states. Whatseparates Canada from the United States, though, isn’tnearly as significant as the similarities that unite them.One of those similarities is a love of cars, racing and the culturethat surrounds them. It is that bond that brought the SAN toCanada in 2007 and is the reason we work with great organizations,such as the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada (NAACC)to promote and protect the hobby north of the U.S. border.To further that mission, the SAN is supporting a proposal issued by EnvironmentCanada to indefinitely extend an exemption that permits the use of leaded gasoline incompetition motor vehicles. The exemption has been renewed several times since it wasfirst established in 1996, but was set to expire in 2010. SAN had previously opposed efforts toterminate the exemption and effectively ban vehicles using leaded fuel. The new proposal recognizesthe relationship between the Canadian and U.S. racing industries and adopts a consistent environmentalapproach to leaded-fuel use. Environment Canada will conduct a five-year review and revisit the exemptionContinued on page 2swww.semasan.comFEBRUARY 2010Early April 2010 EVENTSCALIFORNIAApril 11, Rancho Cucamonga2nd Annual Chaffey College Car ShowSponsor: Chaffey College Car ClubInformation: ChaffeyCollegeCarClub@hotmail.com or www.webstarts.com/ChaffeyCollegeCarClubNEW YORKApril 2–11, New York CityPublic days for the New YorkInternational Auto ShowInformation: 800/282-3336 orwww.autoshowNY.comOREGONApril 9–11, PortlandPortland Swap MeetInformation: www.portlandswapmeet.comMARCH 2010DRIVING FORCE5

SEMA GOVERNMENTAFFAIRS OFFICEVice President of Government AffairsSteve McDonaldSenior Director of Federal Government AffairsStuart GossweinGovernment and Public Affairs ManagerEthan LandesmanCongressional Affairs ManagerDan SadowskiResearch ManagerAshley AilsworthTechnical ConsultantJim McFarlandPUBLICATION STAFFEditorial Director Matthew PearsonEditor Ethan LandesmanGroup Operations Manager Janet Francisco LeeManaging Editor Carr WinnSenior Graphic Designer Mariciel FullerProduction Manager Kari SakataWeb Content Manager Monique DaoFor more legislative and regulatory information,visit www.semasan.com or phone 202/783-6007.CLUB SPOTLIGHTFive Decades of Safe RacingMcCulley Family Racing Teaches Safe Alternatives to Illegal Street RacingMcCulley Family Racing has spent 10years running a safe driving programat local high schools in their area. Thefocus is on teaching children the dangers ofillegal street racing and the importance of safedriving. The program involves different techniquesto help demonstrate the responsibilityneeded to get behind the wheel.It is a hands-on program, set in the classroomand in other locations with an actual race carand drivers from McCulley Family. The programuses videos from SEMA and the NHRA,in addition to videos from local police. Theymake the presentation to one class at a time andJames McCulley of McCulley Family Racing presentsone of his drag race cars to students duringa class to teach them about safe alternatives toillegal street racing.spend the entire day at the school. The program also includes a local law-enforcement officerexplaining the punishment for racing illegally on public streets.The program also has a fun part. The students are taken outside and have an opportunity notonly to look at the race cars McCulley Family Racing brings, but to actually get into the race carsand put on the safety equipment. This portion of the program also includes a talk about safetyand the difference between racing on the streets and at the race track. The program takes placeabout seven times a day at each school they go to.For more information on McCulley Family Racing, visit them at www.mcculleyfamilyracing.com.MARCH 20101317 F St., NW, Ste. 500Washington, D.C. 20004-1105INSIDEMeet Tony Mendoza•Caucus Corner•Legislative Quick Hits•You’ve Got Legislation!•Hey, That’s My Car!•March 2010 SAN Club Events•Club Spotlightwww.semasan.com