EPA Prohibits Conversion of Road Cars to Racecars?

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

Assuming this is legit it could literally end motorsports as we know it now. Only cars specifically built for racing(like F1) would be able to run catless or with custom tuning. Possibly click bait, even if it's not I don't see it getting passed

No, everyone would just rip around in stock miatas and FRS's. It would just become a game of suspension over power on the track is all. However I don't think it would be as fun

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

Assuming this is legit it could literally end motorsports as we know it now. Only cars specifically built for racing(like F1) would be able to run catless or with custom tuning. Possibly click bait, even if it's not I don't see it getting passed

If it wasn't directly from SEMA I would certainly question it's validity but they are not known for publishing clickbait articles since that is not how they make their cash.
They state that the "final" law should be released in July of this year so this has been in the works with the government for quite a while (unless the US government works way faster than ours) so the fact that it is just coming out now means that SEMA is truly concerned. I would think that they have been fighting it quietly up to this point but are now worried enough to make it public. That does not bode well!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

In Alberta we have never had testing but glad to hear its easy to bypass for the enthusiasts. They should have a special license that car guys can get the let us modify our cars without worrying about that stuff

We need to be concerned about this (well you do since I stay stock/dealer mods anyway) since if this passes in the US then it is just a matter of time until it comes here. Something like this would be Federal so the different Provincial laws would be trumped.

[Ashikabi]

How would nascar operate? Aren't those cars "technically" road cars?

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

We need to be concerned about this (well you do since I stay stock/dealer mods anyway) since if this passes in the US then it is just a matter of time until it comes here. Something like this would be Federal so the different Provincial laws would be trumped.

Yeah but what about all those guys who spent 100K + on full track builds and then all those enthusiasts that are 30k ish into track build and all the drag guys ect. They would have to allow existing modified cars to remain the way they are already or they are going to have a lot of upset people.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

How would nascar operate? Aren't those cars "technically" road cars?

HAHAHA they are cuz they drive on a road/track I guess?

[Ashikabi]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

HAHAHA they are cuz they drive on a road/track I guess?

Well it's what: the Camry and Impala right now? If they are presumably super modified street cars, then they would be forced to use stock engine/intake/exhaust right? If they don't count because they are specially manufactured for racing then just ignore this I guess

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Yeah but what about all those guys who spent 100K + on full track builds and then all those enthusiasts that are 30k ish into track build and all the drag guys ect. They would have to allow existing modified cars to remain the way they are already or they are going to have a lot of upset people.

The the Government started worrying about pissing people off when?


I am sure there would be a "Grandfather rule" for existing cars much the same as cars before a certain year (don't remember what it was) were except when the Ontario Drive Clean laws came out.

[ScoobsMcGee]

If I'm remembering correctly, this isn't the first time the EPA tried to shut down car modification:

http://copyright.gov/1201/2015/USCO-...CO_re_1201.pdf

The first attempt, leveraging DMCA, was shot down around the time the VW diesel nonsense broke. A bunch of opposition outlets pointed out that VW's cheat system probably wouldn't have been discovered had ECU fiddling been illegal, and their platform completely disintegrated (Google it and choose your own clickbait article). This is just round 2. Really, there have probably been more than two attempts, and there almost certainly will be more attempts after this one. I'll be paying attention to how this unfolds, but wouldn't suggest getting your "End is neigh!" sandwich boards out just yet.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

How would nascar operate? Aren't those cars "technically" road cars?

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

HAHAHA they are cuz they drive on a road/track I guess?

NASCAR has not used "stock" vehicles in at least 40 years. The original "Stock cars" were exactly that once, a car off the dealer lot with only factory authorized parts permitted. Not been that way in a long time and the cars now are so far from stock that they really don't even count as what they are badged under.


Based solely on the wording of the little snippet we have I don't think they could even make a "race" car separate from their regular production cars and get away with it. It would still have to pass all of the emission standards as their "normal" versions.

"Certified motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines andtheir emission control devices must remain in their certified configuration even if they are used solely for competition or if they become nonroad vehicles or engines”. 80 Fed. Reg. 40138, 40565 (July 13, 2015).

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

Well it's what: the Camry and Impala right now? If they are presumably super modified street cars, then they would be forced to use stock engine/intake/exhaust right? If they don't count because they are specially manufactured for racing then just ignore this I guess

They are built from the ground up there is nothing stock about them. Its basically a manufacturer engineering competition within very very tight rule set. I am a bit of nascar fan myself, mainly by default as my father aswell as really good friends are both huge fans of nascar lol.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

So I did more research because I have a snow day off

This is the official bill:
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-201...2015-15500.pdf

If you take a few minutes and read the proposal, you'll see that it applies to "heavy duty" highway vehicles with a GVWR above 8500lbs.


Page 40527 "As noted above, the exemption provisions of 40 CFR part 1068, subpart C, already apply for heavy-duty highway engines. EPA is proposing to add a clarification that the exemption from the tampering prohibition for competition purposes does not apply to heavy-duty highway vehicles. This aligns with the statutory provisions for the racing exemption."

So it's a proposed ban on setting up heavy-duty highway vehicles (eg semis and HD trucks) for racing, while clarifying that other vehicles can indeed be modified for racing.


"This proposed action would affect
companies that manufacture, sell, or
import into the United States new
heavy-duty engines and new Class 2b
through 8 trucks, including combination
tractors, all types of buses, vocational
vehicles including municipal,
commercial, recreational vehicles, and
commercial trailers as well as 3⁄4-ton
and 1-ton pickup trucks and vans. The
heavy-duty category incorporates all
motor vehicles with a gross vehicle
weight rating of 8,500 lbs or greater, and
the engines that power them, except for
medium-duty passenger vehicles
already covered by the greenhouse gas
standards and corporate average fuel
economy standards issued for light-duty
model year 2017–2025 vehicles"

[bcj]

I guess that new diesel modding show will be off to a rocky start

[cdrazic93]

so you mean i cant put rockets on my big rig? fml.