Taking the Show on the Road
SEMA Action Network Joins With Hot Rodders in Annual Tour
It’s that time of year again! So check your tires, fill up the gas tank and get ready for the long haul. In its 13th year, the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour draws motor vehicle enthusiasts from across the country. Kicking off from the International Exposition (I-X) Center in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 2, the convoy of collectibles will travel over 1,400 miles before pulling into the State Fairgrounds in Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 8. Over the seven days, participants will pass through eight states, stop at venues in seven cities and the SEMA Action Network (SAN) will be there covering every mile of it.
Whether you’re a long hauler or are just planning to attend one of the stops along the way, be sure to stop by the SAN RV and meet with Jason Tolleson, director of the SAN. Bring your fellow car guys and gals and have them join this nation-wide partnership between vehicle clubs, enthusiasts and members of the specialty automotive-parts industry who have bonded together to oppose harmful legislative initiatives and promote hobby-friendly legislation. The more people that get involved, the more we can all stand up to protect our hobby. And best of all…it’s free!
For more info, visit www.hotrod.com.
Saturday, June 2
Cleveland, Ohio—International Exposition Center (I-X)
Sunday, June 3
Kalamazoo, Michigan—Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds
Monday, June 4
Racine, Wisconsin—Downtown Lake Front
Tuesday, June 5
Springfield, Illinois—Illinois State Fairgrounds
Wednesday, June 6
Evansville, Indiana—Roberts Stadium
Thursday, June 7
Memphis, Tennessee—Memphis Motorsports Park
Friday, June 8
Little Rock, Arkansas—Arkansas State Fairgrounds
LEGISLATIVE QUICK HITS
Georgia Inoperable Vehicles: A version of SEMA-model legislation has been introduced in Georgia to exempt certain owners or occupants of municipalities from ordinances or land-use regulations that prevent automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Junked, wrecked or inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property are only required to be maintained out of ordinary public view.
Montana Exhaust Noise: SAN-sponsored legislation to permit vehicles with modified exhaust systems that do not emit an excess of 95 decibels, as measured by SAE test standard J1169, was signed into law by Governor Brian Schweitzer. Under the SAE standard, a sound meter is placed 20 inches from the exhaust outlet at a 45-degree angle, and the engine is revved to three-quarters of the maximum-rated horsepower. The highest decibel reading is then recorded.
Montana Collector Items: SAN-supported legislation that would clarify that owners must pay only a minimal one-time registration fee for collector motor vehicles was approved by the Montana State Legislature and signed by the governor into law. Under Montana law, collector vehicles must be more than 30 years old and not used for general transportation.
Nevada Replicas: A version of SEMA-model legislation to create a registration category for replica motor vehicles was approved by the Nevada State Assembly. Under the bill, replicas are defined as vehicles manufactured after 1968 to resemble vehicles manufactured before 1968. Replicas would be exempted from all emissions-inspection requirements applicable to other vehicles in the state. Registration as a replica vehicle would be open to 100 such vehicles each year and use would be limited to occasional transportation and other hobby-related activities. Titles for these vehicles would list both the year of assembly and the model year that the body of the vehicle replicates. The bill will be considered by the Nevada Senate next.
West Virginia Abandoned Vehicles: SAN members in West Virginia defeated a bill that would have further restricted the ability of West Virginia vehicle hobbyists from maintaining inoperable vehicles on private property. The legislation sought to redefine “abandoned motor vehicles” to include vehicles or vehicle parts which are either unlicensed or inoperable, or both, are not in an enclosed building and have remained on private property for more than 30 days. Under current law, the abandoned-vehicle law applies primarily to vehicles on public property. The SAN opposed the bill as it made no legal distinction between an owner using private property as a dumping ground and a vehicle enthusiast working to maintain, restore or construct a vehicle.
CAUCUS CORNER
Each month Driving Force will feature members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. The SEMA-supported Caucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles.
Here are the newest Caucus members:
California
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth
Assemblymember Bonnie Garcia
Assemblymember Kevin Jeffries
New Jersey
Assemblymember Charlotte Vandervalk
Texas
Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
HEY, THAT'S MY CAR!
Give Us Your Best Shot
Whether it was the ultimate barn find, a complete restoration or a car that just needed your own personal touch, the SAN would like to give you an opportunity to share your passion for your car and truck with the rest of the automotive hobby. Your pictures and stories will be put in Driving Force, as well as on the SAN website for others to see. Please contact us at san@sema.org with your photos and story or if you have any questions.
Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Legislation Roundup
SEMA has produced model legislation to create titling and registration classifications for street rods and custom vehicles, including kit cars and replicas. Under the SEMA model, eligible vehicles are titled as the production year they most closely resemble, are required to meet the equipment standards for that model year and are exempt from periodic vehicle inspections and emissions inspections. For updates on a particular state, or to download a copy of the bill, visit www.semasan.com.
Arkansas: SEMA model enacted in 2007.
California: Enacted in 2001. Allows 500 specially constructed vehicles each year, including kit cars, to be held to the emissions standards for the model-year that the body of the vehicle represents.
Colorado: SEMA model enacted in 2004. Based on SEMA model, kit cars are exempted from the state’s emissions-inspection program.
Florida: SEMA model enacted in 2007.
Hawaii: Enacted in 2004. Portions based on SEMA model.
Illinois: SEMA model enacted in 2002.
Maine: Custom vehicle portion of SEMA model enacted in 2005.
Massachusetts: SEMA model reintroduced in 2007.
Missouri: SEMA model enacted in 2004.
Montana: SEMA model enacted in 2005.
New York: SEMA model reintroduced in 2007.
Oregon: The SAN worked with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to adopt new state regulations that will exempt newly built street rods, custom cars, replicas and assembled vehicles from the state’s mandatory emissions-inspection program.
Rhode Island: SEMA model enacted in 2004.
Virginia: Custom vehicle portion of SEMA model enacted in 2007.
Washington: Enacted in 1999. Portions based on SEMA model.
Wyoming: SEMA model reintroduced in 2007.
CLUB SPOTLIGHT
Classic Legends Show They Care
Each year the Classic Legends Club hosts the Memorial Day Car Show, and this show does more than display timeless classics. The funds from the show are contributed to benefit charities, such as Make-A-Wish, hospice care programs and local efforts to help families during the cold winter season.
Over the past ten years, Classic Legends has given over $110,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation—the primary charity for the Memorial Day Car Show—to help the non-profit organization give hope and joy to children with life-threatening conditions. The Classic Legends Club started with just a few families who had the noble intention of helping children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and today the club consists of 50 families who still utilize their love of classic automobiles to donate to charity. Each year the show draws a greater number of cars and crowds.
The SEMA Action Network is proud of the members of the Classic Legends Club for their continued efforts in their community. For more information on the club visit http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/classiclegends/.
Please send your club spotlights to san@sema.org.
EVENTS
CALIFORNIA
June 2–3, Pleasanton
14th Summer Get Together
Sponsor: Goodguys
Information: www.good-guys.com
June 3, Palmdale
37th Antique Nationals
Sponsor: Four Ever Four Cylinder
Information: 661/533-2225
June 9, Chatsworth
4th Annual All American Car Show
Sponsor: All Mustang and Ford Club of So. Cal.
Information: www.allmustangandfordclub.com
June 9, Corona
Rollin 4 the Kids Truck Show and Concert
Information: www.fendercenter.org
June 10, Corona
Johnny Carson Car Show
Sponsor: Road Kings
Information: www.roadkingsburbank.com
June 10, Long Beach
33rd Annual Corvette & Classic Chevy Show
Sponsor: National Council of Corvette Clubs
Information: 210/830-5100
June 23, Sacramento
Mopar Day at the Park XIV
Sponsor: Capital City Mopars
Information: www.capitalcitymopars.com or 916/729-4367
June 24, Anaheim
Annual Forty Ford Day
Sponsor: Forties Limited, Orange County
Information: clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/forties/indexright.htm
COLORADO
June 1–3, Loveland
10th Colorado Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys
Information: www.good-guys.com or 925/838-9876
June 8–10, Glenwood Springs
2006 Glenwood Rallye
Sponsor: MG Car Club, Rocky Mountain Centre
Information: www.mgcc.org or 303/377-1578
June 22–24, Pueblo
Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals
Sponsor: NSRA
Information: www.nsra-usa.com or 901/452-4030
CONNECTICUT
June 3, Waterford
20th Annual Gathering, British By The Sea
Sponsor: Connecticut MG Club
Information: www.ctmgclub.com or 860/693-4249
June 3, Windsor Locks
21st Annual 4C’s Auto Show and Aircraft Exhibit
Sponsor: Connecticut Council of Car Clubs
Information: www.ctccc.org or 860/623-3906
June 24, Wallingford
Sponsor: The Constitution State
Late Great Chevys
Information: 860/666-6913
DELAWARE
June 2, Wilmington
Riverfront Camaro Show
Information: www.mdcamaroclub.com
WASHINGTON, D.C.
June 21–24
2007 Tucker Club of America Convention
Sponsor: Tucker Club of America
Information: www.tuckerclub.org
FLORIDA
June 22-23, Melbourne
32nd Annual Corn Boil
Sponsor: Space Coast Street Rods
Information: 321/727-2810
June 22–24, Deltona
Roundup 28
Sponsor: Cosworth Vega Owner’s Association
Information: www.cosworthvega.com
GEORGIA
June 15–17, Atlanta
Napa Southern Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys
Information: www.good-guys.com
ILLINOIS
June 2, Chicago
Chi-Town Kruze
Sponsor: Chicago Gearheads Car Club
Information: 773/622-6445 ext. 13
June 27, Barrington
5th Annual All Pontiac Car Show
Sponsor: Illinois Chapter of Pontiac-Oakland
Club International
Information: 847/526-1812
INDIANA
June 3, Loogootee
36th Annual Car Show
Sponsor: Park & Spark Car Club
June 8–10, Indianapolis
19th Hot Rod Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys
Information: www.good-guys.com or 925/838-9876
IOWA
June 3, Marion
26th Annual Chevy and Chevy
Powered Car Show
Sponsor: Hawkeye Area Classic Chevy Club
Information: 319/366-4966
June 19, Anamosa
Cruise Night 2007
Information: www.jpcycles.com or 319/462-4817
MARYLAND
June 3, Capitol Raceway
Muscle Car Mania
Sponsor: Maryland Camaro Club and Corvette Club of America
Information: www.mdcamaroclub.com/image/DragRace1.pdf
MASSACHUSETTS
June 17, Fitchburg
28th Father’s Day Antique & Classic Auto Show
Sponsor: Mid-State Antique Auto Club
Information: www.midstateaac.org
June 24, Topsfield
Sponsor: North Shore Old Car Club
Information: www.nsocc.org
MINNESOTA
June 3, Pine River
Annual Lakes Car Show
Sponsor: Lakers Car Club
Information: www.lakerscarclub.com
June 22–24, St. Paul
Back to the ’50s
Sponsor: MSRA
Information: www.msra.com or 651/641-1992
MISSOURI
June 19, Columbia
20th Annual Show-Me Mopar Fest
Information: 573/474-2397
MONTANA
June 22–23, Hamilton
29th Annual Swap Meet and Car Show
Sponsor: Bitterroot Valley Dusters Car Club
Information: 406/363-4449
NEVADA
June 9, Reno
Classics in Paradise
Sponsor: Classic Chevys of Reno
Information: www.classicchevyclubreno.com
NEW MEXICO
June 1–2, Carlsbad
Car-A-Fair 2007
Sponsor: Carlsbad Automotive Restoration Society
Information: www.carsclubofcarlsbad.com
June 16, Belen
12th Annual Hub City Mopar Fest
Sponsor: Mopar Muscle Club of New Mexico
Information: www.moparclub.com
June 23, Albuquerque
Old Route 66 Car Show
Sponsor: New Mexico Route 66 Cars and History Association, Inc.
Information: www.oldrt66.com
NEW YORK
June 10, Rochester
33rd Annual Street Machines of Rochester Auto Show
Sponsor: Street Machines of Rochester
Information: www.streetmachinesofrochester.com or 585/663-0393
NORTH DAKOTA
June 1–3, Devils Lake
15th Annual Devils Run
Sponsor: Greater Dakota Classics
Information: www.greaterdakotaclassics.com or 701/662-7222
OHIO
June 9, Mount Vernon
12th Annual Car Show
Information: 740/694-3596
June 16, Marysville
All GM Car & Truck Show
Information: 800/ROBYUSA
OREGON
June 14–17, Medford
Medford Cruise 2007
Sponsor: Medford Cruise
Information: www.medfordcruise.com
PENNSYLVANIA
June 1–3, Carlisle
Carlisle All-Ford Nationals
Information: www.carlisleevents.com or 717/243-7855
June 1–3, York
Street Rod Nationals East
Sponsor: NSRA
Information: www.nsra-usa.com or 901/452-4030
June 2, Conshohocken
Conshohocken Antique & Classic Car Show
Sponsor: The Historical Car Club of Pennsylvania
Information: www.historicalcarclub.org
June 10, Springfield
All Ford Show
Sponsor: The Historical Car Club of Pennsylvania
Information: www.historicalcarclub.org
June 10, Washington
Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC Truck Show
Sponsor: Western PA Chapter of Pontiac-Oakland Club International
Information: 724/843-5195
June 10, Hellertown
British Car Gathering
Sponsor: Keystone Region MG Club
Information: 610/865-3419
June 15–17, Butler Fairground
31st Annual Pittsburgh Parts-A-Rama
Information: www.pittsburghparts-a-rama.com
June 23, Trexlertown
14th Annual Classy Cruisers Show and Shine
Sponsor: Classy Cruisers Club
Information: 610/758-9111
June 22–24, Carlisle
Carlisle All-GM Nationals
Information: www.carlisleevents.com
June 24, Mt. Lebanon
12th Mt. Lebanon Classic Car Show
Sponsor: Western PA Chapter of the
Pontiac-Oakland Club International
Information: 412-833-1441
SOUTH DAKOTA
June 8–10, Black Hills
Black Hills Overdrive
Information: www.bhoverdrive.com
June 23, Rapid City
14th Mopars In The Hills Car Show
Sponsor: Black Hills Mopars
Information: 605/787-5695
TENNESSEE
June 29–July 1, Nashville
2nd Nashville Nationals
Sponsor: Goodguys
Information: www.good-guys.com or 925/838-9876
VIRGINIA
June 9, Richmond
Richmond Region’s 38th Annual Car Show, Corral
and Swap Meet
Sponsor: Richmond Region AACA
Information: www.richmondaaca.com
June 16, Fredericksburg
Antique Car Celebration & Meet
Sponsor: AACA, Historic Fredericksburg Region
Information: 540/372-6896
WISCONSIN
June 10, Wauwatosa
2007 Renner Oldsmobile Show
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Club of Wisconsin
Information: 262/966-3702
June 15–17, Warrens
26th Annual Car Show
Sponsor: Wizards of Rods
Information: 608/374-2458
June 30, Grafton
2007 Rods N Relics Car Show
Sponsor: Rods-N-Relics Car Club
Information: www.rodsnrelics.org
June 30–July 1, Waukesha
Parking Lot Gone Wild II
Sponsor: Wisconsin Corvette Club & Kettle
Moraine Corvette Club
Information: 262/965-5255
Check out this early July 2007 event
MASSACHUSETTS
July 4–8, Worcester
New England Summer Nationals
Information: www.summernationals.com
NEWLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
Note: The following state bills are not laws. They were recently introduced and are currently under consideration by the respective state legislatures:
ANTIQUE AND CUSTOM VEHICLES
Massachusetts SB 2060: Creates a $36 registration fee for antique vehicles that’s collected every two years.
South Carolina SB 679: Reduces the number of antique vehicle sales a dealer must make before he or she is issued an antique dealer license plate.
EMISSIONS/INSPECTIONS
Massachusetts SB 2046: Exempts new vehicles from inspection for 24 months or 24,000 miles after their date of purchase, whichever comes first.
New York SB 5347: Establishes the Climate Change Solutions Program Act to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from all sources, including vehicles.
Vermont HB 540: Requires new vehicles to be labeled with emissions information, with a score for each vehicle’s emissions for buyers to compare vehicles.
EQUIPMENT
New York SB 4606: Prohibits the attachment of grille guards to the chassis of a motor vehicle. Violation would result in a fine and failure of motor-vehicle inspection.
HYBRIDS
New York SB 5074: Exempts new motor vehicles meeting the clean-vehicle standard from retail sales and compensating use taxes.
New York AB 7626: Exempts the sale of hybrid vehicles and high-efficiency vehicles from state sales and compensating use taxes, and authorizes cities and counties to grant such exemptions.
LIGHTING
Alabama HB 599: Prohibits any vehicle except an authorized emergency vehicle from displaying a blue light visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle.
OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES
Louisiana HB 747: Prohibits the operation of off-road vehicles on public roads, including the shoulders of such roads.
New York SB 5303: Creates the all-terrain vehicles trail development, maintenance and enforcement fund for the operation and registration of such vehicles. Creates an additional fee when registering all-terrain vehicles to contribute to the fund.
RACING
Louisiana SB 215: Changes the racing reference in Louisiana code from “race” to “street race” and increases the penalties for street racing resulting in injuries.
SCRAPPAGE
Louisiana HB 783: Authorizes the owner or manager of a salvage pool or salvage disposal sale to dispose of abandoned, stored or junked motor vehicles.
Attention Car Clubs, Event Organizers and Enthusiasts!
Put SAN on Your Mailing List!
We’d like to know what’s going on with SEMA Action Network clubs and enthusiasts across the country; what charity events you’re involved in; when and where the rod runs, car shows, trail rides, rallies and tech meetings are held; and what legislative and regulatory issues concern club members and individual enthusiasts.
One of the best ways to keep us abreast of what’s going on and what’s important to the vehicle hobbies nationwide is for us to receive your club newsletters and updates. Please consider placing SEMA on your mailing list. Send correspondence to: SEMA Action Network, 1317 F Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004-1105. Or by e-mail to san@sema.org.