Posted on 02/14/2016 3:09:08 PM PST by rey
Could MotoAmerica be forced to run standard exhaust systems? If the EPA has its way, then yes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking at making the practice of modifying a racing vehicle’s emission equipment illegal in the U.S.
It is already illegal practice in the U.S. to tamper with or modify any part of a road-registered vehicle that could have an effect on the emissions it produces, now it appears the EPA is looking at applying that rule to competition vehicles as well.
According to autoblog.com, the EPA’s proposal titled Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles—Phase 2 contains a wording that essentially means you could run foul of the law should you mess with any area of your competition motorcycle that would effect its emission output, like exhaust or intake.
Page 862 of the document states, “[The] EPA is proposing in 40 CFR 1037.601(a)(3) to clarify that the Clean Air Act does not allow any person to disable, remove, or render inoperative (i.e., tamper with) emission controls on a certified motor vehicle for purposes of competition. An existing provision in 40 CFR 1068.235 provides an exemption for non-road engines converted for competition use. This provision reflects the explicit exclusion of engines used solely for competition from the CAA definition of “non-road engineâ€. The proposed amendment clarifies that this part 1068 exemption does not apply for motor vehicles.â€
If the wording is then ratified to include competition vehicles, it could have serious implications for motorcycle racing and the industry as a whole. It would then mean the sale of parts such as aftermarket exhausts would be illegal under U.S. law and force racing championships such as MotoAmerica to run any and all parts that come stock from the OEM in regards to emissions control, not to mention the wide reaching implications the ruling could have on amateur racing and track days.
A press release issued on February 8 by SEMA’s (Specialty Equipment Market Association) President and CEO Chris Kersting, states, “This proposed regulation represents overreaching by the agency (EPA), runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles. Congress did not intend the original Clean Air Act to extend to vehicles modified for racing and has re-enforced that intent on more than one occasion.â€
The release continues on, stating, “SEMA submitted comments in opposition to the regulation and met with the EPA to confirm the agency’s intentions. The EPA indicated that the regulation would prohibit conversion of vehicles into racecars (and therefore motorcycles – Ed) and make the sale of certain emissions-related parts for use on converted vehicles illegal. Working with other affected organizations, including those representing legions of professional and hobbyist racers and fans, SEMA will continue to oppose the regulation through the administrative process and will seek congressional support and judicial intervention as necessary.â€
The EPA is set to publish its findings by July 2016. Needless to say, there will be a lot of people waiting on the report.
FUEPA
That dumbass, little Billy Nye, the “science guy” is already pimpin’ electric cars to NASCAR. LOL!
What about street rods? They never have anything like cat converters, etc..
How many laps before they need a charge? Or maybe the pit crew will drop a new battery in after so many laps.
Gee, I wonder how long a Cat would last on a double A Fuel Dragster. I figure about a tenth second!
Didn’t you read about Harley’s electric model. They honestly believe that it will be a big hit. The first article I read said they would have a recording of a Harley twin; seriously.
Obviously noise pollution isn’t a concern.
Look out, Tractor Pulls!
There is actually a class for electric cars (open wheel) in road racing. They are good for about 10 - 15 laps (call it 30 miles) and each team fields two or more cars.
Illegal to modify a vehicle’s exhaust. Have they noticed modification on any road Harleys lately?
I spoke to a CHP officer and asked if she has ever cited a Harley for a loud or modified exhaust. She said no though she had cited cars and trucks.
This out of control feral government won’t relent until they dictate every detail and every moment of our lives.
Will “stock” cars now have to be stock cars in the same condition the come from the dealership?
“Will “stock†cars now have to be stock cars in the same condition the come from the dealership?”
I think they already have this event on the I-5.
Never heard of it so I looked it up. It might be neat to watch but probably very quiet.
Thank you for referencing that article rey. Please bear in mind that the following critique is directed at the article and not at you.
As mentioned in related threads, please consider the following about the EPA. Even if it could be argued that the EPA sometimes comes up with good regulations, it remains that there are major constitutional problems with the EPA imo.
More specifically, although it is arguably a good idea, the states have never delegated to the feds, expressly via the Constitution, the specific power to regulate INTRAstate environmental protection issues.
And even if the states had constitutionally delegated such powers to Congress, it remains that the Founding States had made the first numbered clauses in the Constitution, Sections 1-3 of Article I, evidently a good place to hide these clauses from Congress, to clarify the following.
All federal legislative powers are vested in the elected members of Congress, not in the executive or judicial branches, or in non-elected federal bureaucrats like those running the constitutionally undefined EPA. So Congress has a constitutional ”monopoly” on federal legislative powers whether it wants it or not.
But by unconstitutionally delegating legislative powers to members of the federal government outside the legislative branch, powers that Congress does not have in this case, Congress is wrongly protecting such powers from the wrath of the voters in blatant defiance of Sections 1-3 mentioned above.
Also consider that by letting non-legislative branch officials steal legislative branch powers, including stolen 10th Amendment-protected state legislative powers, that corrupt lawmakers are wrongly letting outsiders do their dirty, unconstitutional legislative work for them in order to keep their voting records clean.
And keeping their voting records clean helps corrupt lawmakers to fool low-information patriots into reelecting them.
Remember in November !
When patriots elect Trump, Cruz, or whatever conservative they elect, they need to also elect a new, state sovereignty-respecting Congress that will not only work within its Section 8-limited powers to support the new president, but also protect the states from unconstitutional federal government overreach.
Also, consider that such a Congress would probably be willing to fire state sovereignty-ignoring activist justices.
You burn your right thigh because of catalytic converter in the stock exhaust.
You beat me.
See #17
“Is The EPA Coming To A Racetrack Near You?”
If they have booze.
And they’ll be there during their work hours so that they get paid to get drunk.
I know that when I put on an exhaust header and Abarth exhaust system on my 74 Opel Manta, I got about a 14 hp boost, and my mileage was good. Of course it had dual Webers and a cam, so it wasn’t as good as factory stock, but it beat the cr@p outa BMWs and Jags on the street! Fun car!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.