Posted on 09/14/2004 2:05:49 PM PDT by martin_fierro
Car Buffs Have Bill in Headlights
Jay Leno, others fight measure to end smog check exemption for older vehicles
By Miguel Bustillo, Times Staff Writer
Comedian Jay Leno, the host of television's "Tonight Show," called Assemblywoman Sally Lieber's office earlier this year and delivered a monologue that wasn't funny at all.
Lieber, a Democrat from Mountain View, was sponsoring legislation to end a California exemption that spares many old cars from smog checks. Leno, an avid car collector, considered the bill stupid, and let Lieber's legislative director know it.
"He was really angry," said the staffer, Marva Diaz. "I thought someone was playing a joke on me. He didn't sound like the person I had seen on TV."
It was indeed Leno, however — and he called again a few weeks later to remind Lieber of his opposition to the measure, which now sits on the desk of his Hollywood pal, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who must make a decision on it by the end of this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Hmmmmm.
So9
As the owner of a 1969 vehicle that needn't meet any standard, I'm with Jay.
A lot of people in CA are driving (probably illegally) s-boxes that shouldn't be on the road and are not "classic" unless you consider black, billowy emissions blowing out the tailpipe "classic."
what does this have to do with anything? why would leno care about smog checks? by the headline i was expecting something deeper.
Nah. Arnie won't bite.
Because I and others arent going to bend over while the envirowacko's keep taking away our freedoms.
In this instance the right to own an f'n vehicle.
I just moved to Minnesota, which canceled its smog inspections for cars a few years ago. What a relief. I like owning older cars.
MN's only applied to the central metro (dim-controlled areas
anyway)
I'm with you. I own a '57 Bel-Air. There is no reason not to continue with the exemption, since these cars are no longer produced and very few of them are on the road at any given time anyway.
Leno hasn't missed a chance to joke about Gov Doofus etc while he was spending average wage earners money BUT now it's his bunch of classic cars on the line & he's all bent out of shape. Not soooo funny now is it Jay? (However, I am with him on this issue)
I am ditching my 97 explorer very soon in favor of an old car. I am sick of paying thousands for computer problems and smog control devices that, when malfunctioning, do not allow the vehicle to pass smog controls, which are even higher now.
It is BS.
This is a very stupid lawa. I have a classic 50 shoebox Ford. Drive it less than 100 miles a year. How much pollution can the older cars actually put out when most people who own these automobiles don't exactly drive them every day.
At the press Arnold sitting behind the wheel of some antique car will say that if he did not veto the bill the owners of these cars would no longer be able to collect and preserve this aspect of American History. As someone who loves American and the history of American, Arnold could not allow himself to sign such legislation.
Although born and raised there this is just another reason...that I'm glad we moved.
FRegards,
My Shi*-box is worth more every month it's driven, can you say that about your rice burner?
My Shi*-box has served well for 45 years and is now undergoing a second frame-up. Unlike the 'me-too' four doors that infest the parking lots until paid up then get replaced for another 40 grand cycle.
My new shi*-box has an open top and is much less aged - still under the cut off but every time the state plays with smog laws the doors are opened for them to rescind today's reasonable compromise.
If you've looked into it lately, many of today's new cars/SUV's simply cannot be maintained once the as-issued doo dads cra*-out...changes will have to be made, compromises will have to be made, or the things will become disposable by fiat. (not a pun)
[As it is now a VW can't even be smogged if you have an aftermarket RADIO!]
Finally, note that these eco-nazis and news writers imply that "classic" stopped somewhere around 1969....clue, when I was growing up they said the same thing about 1934, then 1941, then 1950, then of course, it was 1957. I'm guessing that some computer geek, chip-switching, future Freeper will have similar pangs over 2006.
one man's s-box is another man's beloved classic.
You should have heard what they said about kids with T-Buckets.
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