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All Roads Lead to Bristol
SEMA Action Network Enlists Support of New Members on Annual Tour
The weather is warmer and the days are getting longer and that can only mean one thing—it’s a good time for a car show. Each year the SEMA Action Network (SAN) hits the road for the mother of all car shows with the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour to enlist more people into its legislative efforts.
Leaving from the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 6, the highways will be filled with hot rods as the tour visits seven cities in six states before pulling into the Bristol Motor Speedway on June 12. In its 15th year, the Power Tour will bring hobbyists together from across the United States and Canada on this 1,100-mile journey.
“I look forward to meeting with thousands of enthusiasts and car clubs who understand the importance of getting involved to protect our hobby,” said SAN Director Jason Tolleson. “Whether they are long-time SAN supporters or hearing about it for the first time, it’s great to connect with those who help drive our legislative efforts.”
For information on the event, visit www.hotrod.com.
2009 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour
June 6 - Madison, WI
June 7 - Racine, WI
June 8 - South Bend, IN
June 9 - Warren, MI
June 10 - Dayton, OH
June 11 - Somerset, KY
June 12 - Bristol, TN
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. Among its members is Wyoming State Representative Mike Gilmore.
After building cars part-time with two friends in rented shops or their garages for 25 years, Gilmore figured that the best way to retire was to open a custom car shop. Gilmore commented that since opening the shop, “we found that we don’t have time to work on our own cars.”
When he’s not representing the citizens of Natrona County in the State Legislature, Gilmore can be found working on one of the many projects at the shop. Some of the more interesting ones include a ’69 Mustang ground-up restoration in which the customer wanted 500 hp with all the comforts of a new Mercedes. They also recently finished a ’69 Chevelle ground-up resto-mod with a 572 big-block, six-speed transmission and 9-inch rearend.When Gilmore does have time to himself—you can find him in his ’37 Ford pickup with a ’53 Flathead engine.
In bringing his knowledge as a custom car builder to the legislature, Gilmore joined fellow caucus members Representatives Pat Childers and Stan Blake in passing the SEMA Street Rod/Custom Vehicle bill earlier this year. The new law will permit street rods and custom vehicles to be titled based on the production year they most closely resemble.
LEGISLATIVE QUICK HITS
Connecticut Property Taxes: A SAN-supported bill has been introduced in the Connecticut State Legislature to provide an exemption from property taxes for antique, rare and special-interest vehicles. The bill is pending in the Joint Transportation Committee for consideration. Connecticut law defines an “antique, rare or special- interest motor vehicle” as a motor vehicle 20 years old or older, which is being preserved because of historic interest and is not altered or modified from the original manufacturer’s specifications.
North Carolina Street Rods/Customs: The North Carolina House Transportation Committee passed a version of SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, replicas and custom vehicles. The bill is the product of negotiations between SEMA and the hobbyist network in North Carolina and retains the key components of the SEMA-model bill while relieving vehicle owners of unfair title branding and inspection concerns. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured on or after 1949. The measure also allows replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle intended to be replicated.
North Carolina Scrappage: The SAN is opposing North Carolina legislation that would implement a state vehicle scrappage program for passenger vehicles that are at least 14 years old. Participants would receive around $1,000–$1,500 to scrap their car and purchase a current year vehicle under 10,000 lbs. or one from the previous three model years. The participant’s family income must be less than 300% of the current federal poverty level. All trade-in vehicles could be destroyed, regardless of their historical value or collector interest. If this effort is successful, hobbyists could be denied the availability of vintage cars and parts for restoration projects.
Oregon Aftermarket Parts: The Oregon House Environment and Water Committee approved an alternative to legislation that originally sought to prohibit the sale and distribution of aftermarket motor-vehicle parts if alternatives are available that “decrease greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.” Under the alternative, negotiated between SEMA and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the bill would only give the department authority to adopt the present California certification process for aftermarket emissions-related parts, allowing parts manufacturers to meet one uniform standard, rather than a patchwork of multiple state standards. The amended legislation will also incorporate a California law that requires state regulators to develop a tire fuel-efficiency program for passenger-car and light-truck replacement tires. As in California, Oregon will include a SEMA-drafted provision to exempt 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.
Texas Street Rods/Customs: SEMA-model legislation to create new vehicle registration and titling classifications for street-rod and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for them was approved by the Texas House Transportation Committee. Unfortunately, the measure was not considered by the House of Representatives prior to a pre-determined cut-off date for bill consideration.
OFF-ROAD NEWS
SAN Sounds Off Against Super-Sized Wilderness Bill
What does a lawmaker from Manhattan have to do with closing off 19 million acres in the Rocky Mountains to motorized recreation? That’s the exactly what the SAN and people within the OHV community are questioning in what is dubbed as the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.
The proposed bill would designate about 24 million acres of national forest system and other federal lands as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, wildland recovery areas and biological connecting corridors between pockets of wild vegetation. Of that, about 19 million acres would get the wilderness designation. By law, wilderness areas generally prohibit roads and the use of motorized vehicles.
Introduced by Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), the bill would impact large portions of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and parts of eastern Oregon and eastern Washington. While elected officials from those areas were prominent in making known their opposition, most of the 75 cosponsors on the bill represent areas east of the Mississippi River or are from California.In addition to staunch opposition at a recent hearing from Congressional members from affected states, concerns were also raised by U.S. Forest Service officials who stated that the bill conflicts with ongoing efforts to develop land-management regulations in the affected areas.
The SAN has submitted comments in opposition to the bill and will continue to urge members of Congress to adopt land-use policies that have the support and participation of local communities and government authorities in the decision-making process.
HEY, THAT'S MY CAR!
Jailhouse Jimmy
1960 GMC 1000 Pickup
Owner: Arthur Throckmorton
Las Vegas, Nevada
I’m 45 years old and have been selling GMC trucks for 14 years. After just finishing a restoration of my ’65 Buick Special Station Wagon, I was looking for parts online when I came across a ’60 GMC 1000 Fenderside long-bed pickup. I’ve always wanted a GMC truck built the year I was born. I have looked, and they are far and few between.
I contacted the seller and offered $800. My requirements were that the truck starts, drives down the road and stops. I would take care of the rest. Once everything was agreed to I traveled to Neptune, New Jersey, to pick up my truck with the goal of driving it back cross-country. Needless to say, my toolbox was my checked luggage for the flight there. In spite of driving in November with no heat, I beat the odds everyone laid against me and made it home in one piece.
Although I still had big bills from the restoration on the station wagon, my employer at the time suggested I restore it quickly and use it for promotional purposes. I agreed thinking it would be a straightforward restoration, which in fact it wasn’t.
After two years into it, I ended up getting the truck into the shop at Nevada State Prison in Indian Springs. This was my third vehicle restoration with guys behind bars. Six months later my classic truck was reborn, just in time to take it on the 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour. Since then I’ve taken it to truck shows in Southern California, and it has officially become a coast-to-coast truck. This old GMC will keep on truckin’ for another 50 years!
CLUB SPOTLIGHT
Reading, Writing and...Street Rods
Wisconsin Club Donates Tools to High School Auto Shop Program
Looking for a meaningful way to spread its gifting, Rods-N-Relics Car Club members enjoy contributing to the benefit of young, future auto technicians.
For the club’s membership, that means annual gifting on a rotating basis to one of four Ozaukee County high school automotive tech classes. This year, it was Carl L. Hader’s classroom at Grafton High School. Classroom instructor Hader was given the assignment to pick out what he thought would help his students the most. The gift was $2,000 in new merchandise. Like all instructors offered this opportunity in past years, Hader had no problem working up a “wish list.”
Funds are raised at the club’s annual show, which will be held on Saturday, June 27, in Lime Kiln Park in Grafton, Wisconsin. In its 19th year, the Rods-N-Relics car show is considered by old car fans as one of the very best in the area. Held in a beautiful park setting alongside the Milwaukee River, car owners come from great distances to compete for custom handmade-wood Rods-N-Relics car show trophies.
“lt is our desire that young high school students acquire the skills and thereby hold their interests in automobiles,” said club President Jeff Higgins.
For more information, visit www.rodsnrelics.org.
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:
Fuel
Michigan SB 485: All fuel sold in Michigan would need to contain at least 2% ethanol. Fuels used for historic vehicles would be exempt.
Inspection
Massachusetts HB 4027: Would add an exhaust noise test to be determined by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to the required vehicle inspection.
New York SB 4416: Examination of windows for violation of New York’s tinting laws would be included in the annual vehicle inspections.
North Carolina SB 857: The annual vehicle safety inspection would be repealed while maintaining the requirements for emissions inspections. It also creates an exemption from emissions testing for vehicles less than four years old.
Pennsylvania HB 1172: Classic vehicles would be exempt from needing a certificate of inspection before being registered.
Insurance
New York SB 4320: Vehicles equipped with side-door airbags would receive a reduction on insurance premiums.
Miscellaneous
California SCR 25: Would designate the month of April as Automotive Career Month.
Canada C 319: Would prohibit the manufacture, importation and sale in Canada of a vehicle unless equipped with a speed limiter that is engaged to set a maximum speed not greater than 150 kph.
Pennsylvania HB 1112: Motor-vehicle manufacturers would be required to disclose if a vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder. Also sets guidelines for retrieval of the data.
Pennsylvania HB 1203: Would allow antique vehicles to use Department of Transportation approved vintage license plates from the year listed on a vehicle’s title.
Taxes
Louisiana HB 424: Would exempt new-vehicle purchases with an MPG of 40 or better from state sales and use taxes.
Michigan HB 4701: The interest paid from the purchase of a new vehicle could be deducted from the vehicle owner’s taxes.
Michigan HR 54 & HCR 14: A resolution that would urge the U.S. Congress to oppose a tax system based on a vehicle’s miles traveled.
Tires
Pennsylvania HB 1378: From November 1–April 15, retractable metal studs in tires would be allowed for use on state roads.
EVENTS
Arizona
June 17–20, Prescott
28th Annual National Meet
Sponsor: National Antique Oldsmobile Club
Information: www.antiqueolds.org/nationals.html or 928/636-2405
California
June 6, Chino Hills
The Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show
Sponsor: Porsche 356 Club
Information: www.porsche356club.org or 909/628-1217
June 7, Fremont
19th Annual Mopar Rally
Sponsor: Mopar Alley
Information: www.moparalley.org/index.php?q=node/130 or 510/656-2366
June 7, Valley Center
17th Annual Buicks Car Show
Sponsor: Buicks Grand National Racing Association
Information: 714/772-6201
June 20, Anaheim
27th Annual F-100 Western Nationals
Sponsor: Orange County Pickups Limited
Information: www.f100westernnationals.com or 714/493-0703
June 26–28, Bald Mountain
Moonlight Madness
Sponsor: Clovis Independent 4 Wheelers
Information: www.clovis4x4.com or 559/389-0145
June 28, Van Nuys
All GM Show & Swap Meet
Sponsor: Los Angeles Chapter of the Buick Club of America
Information: www.buickclub.org/losangeles/news1.htm or 818/999-6626
Colorado
June 5–7, Loveland
12th Colorado Nationals
Information: www.good-guys.com or 925/838-9876
June 26-28, Pueblo
Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals
Sponsor: National Street Rod Association
Information: www.nsra-usa.com
Connecticut
June 7, Waterford
British by the Sea
Sponsor: Connecticut MG Club
Information: www.mgclub.homestead.com or 860/482-6464
June 7, Windsor Locks
23rd Annual Car Show and Aircraft Exhibit
Sponsor: Connecticut Council of Car Clubs
Information: www.ctccc.net/2009show.php or 860/623-3906
Georgia
June 13, Macon
4th Annual Fort Hawkins Open Car Show
Information: 478/757-8552
Illinois
June 27–28, Springfield
Midwest 4 Wheel Jamboree Nationals
Information: www.4wheeljamboree.com/event/97 or 317/236-6515
June 26–28, Collinsville
24th Annual Monte Carlo Nationals
Sponsor: National Monte Carlo Owners Association
Information: www.montecarloclub.com/Monte_Nationals_Page.htm
Indiana
June 5–7, Indianapolis
30th All-Ford Car Show
Sponsor: Mustang Club of Indianapolis
Information: www.indymustangclub.com/racetoindy or 317/244-2933
June 12–14, Indianapolis
21st Hot Rod Nationals
Information: www.good-guys.com or 925/838-9876
June 20, Flora
Hog-Jog Cruise-In
Sponsor: Idlers
Information: 574/967-4666
June 21-26, Merrillville
2009 M.A.R.C. National Meet
Sponsor: Model A Restorer’s Club
Information: www.2009marcmeet.com
Massachusetts
June 21, Fitchburg
30th Anniversary Father’s Day Antique & Classic Auto Meet
Sponsor: Mid-State Antique Auto Club
Information: www.midstateaac.org or 978/534-7127
Michigan
June 20, Livonia
8th Annual Charity 4x4 Truck Show & Shine
Sponsor: Wolverine Four-Wheelers of Southeast Michigan
Information: www.wolverine4wd.org or 248/797-7835
June 28, Milford
5th Annual Gathering of Early’s
Sponsor: The Vintage Chevy Van Club
Information: http://vintage-vans.com/BakersAward.html
Minnesota
June 6, Pequot Lakes
Pequot Lakes Cherry Car Show
Information: 218/568-4488
Nevada
June 18–21, Stateline
7th Annual Corvettes at Lake Tahoe Car Show
Sponsor: Lake Tahoe Corvette Club
Information: www.laketahoecorvetteclub.org or 775/885-8360
June 20, Reno
23rd Annual Classics in Paradise Car Show
Sponsor: Classic Chevys Club of Reno
Information: www.classicchevyclubreno.com/ClassicsInParadise/CIP_show.php or 775/424-6824
New Jersey
June 13, Pompton Plains
27th Annual Thunderbird Car Show
Sponsor: North Jersey Thunderbird Association
Information: http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/njtbird/about.html or 732/432-6797
June 28–29, Augusta
7th Annual Motor Jamboree
Sponsor: Freewheelers Car Club 1
Information: www.freewheelerscarclub.com/welcome.html or 973/347-1419
New Mexico
June 6, Carlsbad
Car-A-Fair 2009
Sponsor: Carlsbad Automotive Restoration Society
Information: www.carsclubofcarlsbad.com or 575/887-8853
June 20, Albuquerque
2nd Annual Duke City Mopar Fest
Sponsor: Mopar Muscle Club of New Mexico
Information: http://moparclub.com/mopar_fest/moparfest.htm or 505/896-8115
New York
June 13–14, Greece
35th Anniversary Auto Show
Sponsor: Street Machines of Rochester
Information: http://streetmachinesofrochester.com/main.htm or 585/663-0393
June 20–21, Cazenovia
EuroCar 2009
Sponsor: MG Car Club of Central New York & Jaguar Club of North America
Information: www.mgcarclub.com/cny or www.jcna.com or 607/734-4471
June 26–28, Rhinebeck
18th East Coast Nationals
Information: www.good-guys.com/events/eventDetails.aspx?eventid=09-606 or 925/838-9876
North Carolina
June 6, Cary
2nd Annual Buick–Olds–Pontiac-Cadillac Show
Sponsor: Tarheel Tigers Pontiac Club
Information: www.tarheeltigers.org or 919/453-0030
June 18–20, Lenoir
11th Annual T-Bucket Nationals
Sponsor: National T-Bucket Alliance
Information: www.nationaltbucketalliance.com/events/2009 or 575/365-7259
June 27, Concord
Hot Summer Nights
Sponsor: East Coast Cruisers
Information: http://eccruisers.org/main/page_hot_summer_nights.html or 980/622-7553
Ohio
June 7, Marion
16th Annual Shoot the Loop
Sponsor: Flywheels Car Club
Information: 740/244-6117
Pennsylvania
June 5–7, Carlisle
Carlisle All-Ford Nationals
Information: www.carlisleevents.com/ce/events/ford-nationals/index.asp or 717/243-7855
June 5-7, York
Street Rod Nationals East
Sponsor: National Street Rod Association
Information: www.nsra-usa.com
June 14, Bloomsburg
18th Annual Auto Show
Sponsor: Dream Machines Motor Club
Information: www.thedmmc.org/DreamMachines/CarShow2009.htm or 570/275-0748
June 27, Trexlertown
16th Annual Classy Cruisers Show & Shine
Sponsor: The Classy Cruisers Club
Information: www.classycruisersclub.com/carshow.htm or 610/691-1196
June 14, Washington
Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC Truck Show
Sponsor: Western PA Chapter of Pontiac-Oakland Club International
Information: 412/833-1441 or 724/843-5195
South Dakota
June 17, Sioux Falls
2009 Automania
Information: www.automaniasiouxfalls.com or 605/338-4009
Tennessee
June 26–28, Nashville
4th Nashville Nationals
Information: www.good-guys.com/events/eventDetails.aspx?eventid=09-607 or 925/838-9876
Utah
June 19–20, Helper
2009 Helper Outlaw Car Show & Cruise
Sponsor: The Butch Cassidy Gang Car Club
Information: http://helpercityoutlawcarshows.com/services.html or 435/630-6771
June 27, West Haven
8th Annual Car Show
Information: 801/731-7232 or 801/725-6095
Virginia
June 12–14, Hampton Roads
The Li’l Red & Warlock Nationals 2009
Sponsor: Li’l Red Express & Warlock Owners Club
Information: 757/875-5270 or 757/826-5410
Washington
June 5–7, Wenatchee
Pacific Can-Am Zone Meet
Sponsor: Studebaker Drivers Club Pacific Can-Am Zone
Information: www.sdc-nw.org/UpcomingEvts/CanAm09/zone.htm or 509/548-1900
Wisconsin
June 6, Burlington
2009 June Oldsmobile Show
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Club of Wisconsin
Information: 262/628-1733
June 27, Grafton
19th Annual Car–Truck–Motorcycle Show
Sponsor: Rods-N-Relics Car Club
Information: www.rodsnrelics.org or 262/242-3834
Ontario, Canada
June 6, Toronto
7th Annual CCFBG Show & Shine
Sponsor: Camaro Country F-Body Group
Information: www.ccfbg.com
June 12–14, Niagara Falls
21st Annual Ontario Camaro Nationals
Sponsor: Ontario Camaro Club
Information: www.ontariocamaroclub.com/2009-nationals.php or 905/473-9948
Early July 2009 Events
Iowa
July 3–5, Des Moines
18th Heartland Nationals
Information: www.good-guys.com/events/eventDetails.aspx?eventid=09-602 or 925/838-9876
Ohio
July 4, Xenia
44th Annual Car Show & Swap Meet
Sponsor: Greene County Antique and Classic Car Club & Miami Valley Chapter, National Corvette Restorers Society
Information: http://greenecountyantiqueandclassiccarclub.com/julyshow.htm or 937/429-0717
Utah
July 4, Tooele
8th Annual 4th of July Car Show
Information: 435/830-9714
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 at san@sema.org.