WAKE UP
I've been involved, on a small scale, with SEMA and our issues concerning the ability to enjoy a HARMLESS hobby for decades. 

It is the THOUSANDS of small scale enthusiasts that have kept big gov at bay these many years.

Contact ALL your government reps ASAP concerning this attack on you.

If you don't SPEAK UP, your opponents will.  Government reps do listen to those who speak their mind in a respectful way.  It's a numbers game to them.  Let's get the numbers to read in our favor. 

For more info:http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?ID=/content/SEMASANcom/HomePage

DO NOT BE SILENT

Welcome to the USSA!
They don't give a rats A$$ what you think or want, You better wake up after Jan 20 your going to grab you ankles and ask for another please! It's gonna be a LONG 4 years...

Good By America was nice knowin Ya.......

Sit back and take a good long look at what happened on Nov 4. The far left wing special interest socialists took over the law making in this country! Al Frankin is stealing the election in Minnesota gives the air Nazi a 59 vote majority a few left leaning Republicans that are in the back pocket of the tree huggers they have a 60 vote majority!
Then with King Hussein in the White House who's going to stop them?

They can BAN any pre 1985 car!  What are you going to do? write letters?

If our government is allowed to do this, that will jeopordize everything we stand for. What freedoms will remain? What kind of country will we be if we dont stand up as a people and demand what we see fit for us and not let someone else tell us what we need. Sorry i dont believe in this Government. Elected by us or not they do not see fit to do as we need, but as they think we should be. I personally am willing to stand up for my rights, my freedoms, How about you all? Why dont we all do something about this. and get this ban, banned.

Doesnt seem that way anymore does it?

I heard on the radio tonight that this is going before the HOUSE for a VOTE tomorrow Friday the 16th.  If you have something to say concerning this subject (or do you just want to roll over and play dead?)  now is the time.

Don't forget to write to your congressional reps too

UPDATE :

 
Dear Fellow Enthusiast,

Last month, we sent you an Urgent Legislative Alert from The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) regarding a proposed “Cash for Clunkers” bill that would threaten our hobby. Thanks to your overwhelming response, this legislation was dropped from the economic stimulus package. Congratulation s for standing up for your rights as enthusiasts!

We have just received a follow-up Legislative Alert from SEMA. New legislation (S. 247 and H.R. 520) has been introduced in Congress to create a national vehicle scrappage program which will give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in their “gas guzzlers” to have them crushed. This program would target vehicles with low fuel economy ratings of any model year. That means sports cars, SUVs, and performance-built vehicles could be crushed in exchange for a monetary reward.

The following information is directly from SEMA. If you would like to contact the lawmaker, follow the instructions in the alert.


Thank you for your time,

Your Friends at Summit Racing Equipment

 
 
 
 
Our effort to prevent Congress from including a nationwide “Cash for Clunkers” program in the economic stimulus package has been successful – so far. Thousands of SEMA members and SEMA Action Network (SAN) enthusiasts contacted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in opposition to the plan. The Speaker’s Office informed us that your emails, calls and faxes were received and, thanks to your work, Cash for Clunkers was not included in the economic stimulus package introduced in mid-January in the House of Representative s. Unfortunately, new legislation (S. 247 and H.R. 520) has been introduced in Congress to create a national vehicle scrappage program which will give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in their “gas guzzlers” to have them crushed. Lawmakers need to scrap this idea!

Contact Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) Immediately
to Oppose S. 247 and H.R. 520

The so-called “Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act” is Cash for Clunkers with a twist. Instead of focusing exclusively on older cars, this program would target vehicles with low fuel economy ratings of any model year. Participants would receive cash vouchers ranging from $2,500 to $4,500 based on the model year and whether the replacement vehicle was a more fuel-efficient new car or used car (MY 2004 or later). Fuel-efficient is defined as getting at least 25 percent better mileage for the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) target for its class. The bill sponsors want to scrap up to one million cars a year for at least four years.

There is no evidence that the program would achieve the goal of boosting new car sales or increasing fuel mileage. Many states have considered scrappage programs in the past as a way to help clean the air or increase mpg, but abandoned the effort because they simply don’t work. The programs are not cost-effective and do not achieve verifiable air quality or fuel economy benefits, but they do have a devastating impact on the many small businesses that market products and services for the scrapped cars.

Don’t Delay! Please contact Senator Diane Feinstein and Rep. Henry Waxman today to urge their opposition to S. 247 and H.R. 520. For those who responded to our first call for action, we need you again, along with everyone else.

Contact Sen. Dianne Feinstein to oppose S. 247
Click here to send an email: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
Call: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954

Contact Henry Waxman to oppose HR 520
Click here to send an email: http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&=view&id=1313&Itemid=1
Call: (202) 225-2927
Fax: (202) 225-2525


Talking Points
Oppose the Use of U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for Accelerated Vehicle Retirement

I am writing to urge lawmakers not to approve an “accelerated vehicle retirement” program. Even on a voluntary basis, the program will hurt thousands of independent repair shops, auto restorers, customizers and their customers across the country that depend on the used car market. These businesses are already very vulnerable in the weak economy.

An accelerated vehicle retirement program is flawed since it does not target the “gross polluter,” an improperly maintained vehicle of any make or model year that has poor fuel mileage and dramatically more emissions due to poor maintenance.

An accelerated vehicle retirement program is flawed because it does not factor-in how many miles-a-year the collected vehicles are currently being driven. U.S. taxpayers will be buying rarely-driven second and third vehicles that have minimal impact on overall fuel economy and air pollution.

Accelerated vehicle retirement won’t generate many new car sales. The cash incentive provided will not be enough to enable a person to buy a new or used vehicle.

Accelerated vehicle retirement will compete with nonprofits that rely on vehicle donations to raise funds, such as the Salvation Army, the Purple Heart and other charities.

Accelerated vehicle retirement threatens to disrupt a large and complex industry which already handles scrappage, repair, remanufacturin g and recycling issues. This independent industry provides thousands of American jobs and generates millions of dollars in local, state and federal tax revenues.

Accelerated vehicle retirement ignores better policy options. Taxpayer dollars would be better spent as direct tax incentives to purchase a fuel-efficient new or used car, without a government vehicle crushing program. Congress should also provide tax incentives to upgrade, repair and maintain existing cars, trucks and SUVs. There are many commercially available products and technologies that can substantially improve fuel mileage and lower the emissions.

We hope we can count on you to reject “Accelerated Vehicle Retirement.” Thank you for your consideration on this very important matter.
If you choose to send a note and/or message to Sen. Feinstein and Rep. Waxman please forward a copy of your message to:
E-mail: briand@sema.org
 

Hi people,
 Yep, I'm back to reiterate that this is a serious threat to our Hobby and the first of many Bad bills that will impact our freedom of choice. Just dodged another California Smog check bullet on my completely Original 1 owner 1984 VW GTI w/157k on Odo. Passed real clean too! But the State has it listed as a High emitter vehicle in their I/M program.
 You get one guess what they (US EPA ) will do if this "Cash For Clunker" bill becomes law. Pintos will be in the bullseye of that target. Does $500 dollars for a buyout sound fair for your beloved rides.
 They'll be after the "classic" cars next, you'll be paying huge vehicle " Carbon Tax penalties" just to operate one on the roads.
 Face it people, California is the guinea pig, if it passes here, it will become a national agenda.
 
 I know it's cold and freezing out there, But typing letters to Congress and your state legislatures will keep your fingers warm. Get going or you will need a Bus pass to get around.

 Pintosopher, and yes the British aren't coming... Pelosi is!

Wow that article from the LA Times really grinds my gears. Lee Iacocca was wayyy before his time with his automotive genius and you simply cannot throw him into the pan with the boneheads shacked up in Detroit today. He was the EXACT OPPOSITE of the leaders of the 'Big 3' that stand today. He was working to battle the Japanese auto market by introducing the Pinto after many many blocks by a very traditional Henry Ford II by offering affordability and economy. Safety wasn't a top priority back then with ANY automaker domestic or foreign. Iacocca was taking a gamble by offering a car to a then small target market and he was sure his insight was way ahead of his time. And it was. What to American's want now? Fuel economy. He wasn't arguing against economy because that wasn't a top priority. He was arguing against safety because it would add to the cost; which was what Americans wanted back then, a good deal. It's not about what the government wants, you have to fight that if you know what you want is right. That is NOT the situation in today's auto market. Automakers have completely missed the target and now can't sell a car because they can't give the people what they want because they don't know unlike Iacocca's situation. The government does need to step in but not "Cash for Clunkers" or anything like that. They need to put worthy presidents into the spot of our crackheads in Detroit, especially at GM. Ford still can hold it's own even though they need a little reworking too. Just my very very very long two cents. Sorry it is so long. I just hate when people bash Iacocca. If anyone actually reads this, thanks for the consideration.

    -beegle55

Scott,
 If you posted this upgrade, many thanks...

 Pintosopher

Scott,
 If you posted this upgrade, many thanks...

 Pintosopher

Yeah...same here.  No reason we need to sit still while they try to take over.  I remember back in the 60's when a certain USSR premier said that the USA would be taken over without a shot being fired. 

The current climate in Washington makes it seem that he has plenty of converts.

an updated page with links:

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?ID=/content/SEMASANcom/HomePage

and a specific call to arms for those who reside in Oregon..
http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=62515

Pintosopher I agree wholeheartedly .  I've been thinking & writing to every one here in the Kalifornia gov about this.  As well I've been writing avery one of our reps/senators in DC also. 

We NEED to get this rolling and KEEP it rolling.  This is really drastic.

Wittsend, and All,
 I went into the details of the law on the SEMA site and , the Pinto would be classified as a "custom" car if over 25 years old and built after 1948. If the laws apply, your Turbo pinto would be required to be certified by a referee by either the standards for a engine alone ( by engine model year and type) OR by vehicle chassis year of Manufacture (or model year represented by Kit or reproduction Mfr.)
 This spell the death knoll for carbureted Custom and street rod vehicles, IF they do away with the Referee Certification of aftermarket equipment as a condition of equipment exemptions. Only the "kit" components would be allowed, and all cars would be EFI with catalyst exhaust and OBD controls.
 The current Engine swap guidelines left no latitude for Modded engines in a swap situation. All of the emissions controls had to be carried over.
  The problem isn't the equipment, it's the attempt to "standardize" retrofitting so the visual inspection is easier , and the cars are more likely to pass certification.
  What's really dangerous in this law , is the clause that the Vehicle NOT be used for daily transportation! :hangover: :mad:
  Not acceptable, not for a group of vehicles that has little impact on air quality. If it passes the emissions, regardless of equipment installed, it should be licensed for ANY Use!

 Pintosopher

I too am a bit unclear but it does seem to be that under this 'program' if you have a modified or 'custom' vehicle that is not your ungodly typical chevy sb based car or truck or rod;  then (it appears) you may be out of luck.  that ain't good.

I'm looking at the wording of the bill itself.  It's 'legaleze' and as such it is meant to confuse.