It is time to act NOW! Our Governator, Arnold, has signed the bill requiring 74 and older vehicles to pass a smog check. Not only pass, but to be upgraded to the newer standards. Time to right some letters, make some phone calls, and drop some E-mails. This does not only affect California, but other states too. Don’t think it won’t happen in your state, because it can! We need all the help we can get and that means from other people in other states. Please don’t let us down!
Below is a very informative E-mail a friend sent to me. The composer of the E-mail and my friend are both members of Santa Ynez Raodmasters, Ca. My friend owns a beautiful 58 Fairlane Retractable that is only driven in parades and to car shows. Now how is requiring this car to pass a smog check going to help reduce emissions in California?
Please read this E-mail and ACT NOW!
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“Greetings Everyone, it's JT.
Please take a moment to read this mail I have composed. I know several of you, and for those that do not know me, I only ask for a few minutes of your time. I do not mass mail ever, but this seemed important enough to warrant such a move.
For those unawares, our Governor has signed a bill requiring all vehicles 30 years and older to meet Today's Current Emission Limits. These cars 1974 and older which were exempt from smog checks would now not onlyhave to have OEM smog devices on them, but be further upgraded to meet today's ACTIVE testing limits on a drive test dyno system. Previously, these cars had to have whatever OEM smog devices on them that they were sold with. When this became unrealistic based on unavailability of parts and no way to lean them out enough to make them as clean as newer cars, they were declared exempt from testing. This allowed many classic cars to get back on the road making jobs for engine builders, machine shops, auto body, custom shops and lots of enjoyment for the weekend cruisers like me!
The new smog bill does not make sense and car-buffs know this, obviously some others do not. I suggest that we all make every effort to educate the Governor's office on how many we are, and how little we truly contribute to pollution. I personally have one of the richer tailpipes on the road, I can admit this, but other than a couple shows, the local 4th of July parade, and some races, my car remains safely tucked away, NOT on the road.
The Governor obviously was led to believe that this bill would achieve some desired result. Is it revenues? I don't believe so, the Smog program is widely known as a horrible business to make money. It is the repairs that garages can talk people into so they will pass that make a great deal of money. As a previous Snap-On Diagnostic Consultant I have an intimate knowledge of California's smog law, testing equipment required, limits allowed and how a smog business operates. While not an expert, I feel my statements certainly competant and valid. The most troubling aspect of this bill is not that we have to install OEM smog devices, but that we are expected to meet ACTIVE testing limits with them! This means dyno drive cycle testing on a large roller with your car chained down forced to chug out its worst emsiions, which even if you can cram the fuel screws into the stops, most will Fail on NOX emissions (which is what dyno testing commonly reveals).
If the Governor is going to do this to us, I say we don't stand idly by and watch it become policy. I urge all of you to take the following steps in an effort to create enough attention to this matter, to make his office have some second thoughts. I personally am the little guy in this scenario. I don't even own a house, but my ONE toy to play with, money permitting, is my '71 Plymouth Scamp. To have the right to drive this piece of American history taken away is just treasonous as far as I am concerned. When discussing this subject, let's make sure we cover a couple of factual, valid points to insure we are heard, and not considered the ranting muscle car folks (even though that is about how I feel right now).
We need to make sure we cover at least the following major points:
A) Conduct a Study like so many other subjects. Every year our state throws thousands of dollars into studies. A study to see if the "purple-winged-bugger-fly" is endangered, etc, etc. Let's ask him to suspend this bill until a comprehensive study on the TRUE effects of our cars and the numbers on the road for whatever duration can be shown. This should show that compared to diesels for instance, we are a drop in the bucket, still less by far than Gross Polluters (cars that are obviously running poorly to anyones eye).
B) Remind him of the low usage most of our cars see. If you have a daily driver muscle car, it must be in great mechanical shape, remind him of this.
C) Discuss the Economic Impact this will have on the aftermarket companies and businesses that sprang to life in the last few years. Chris of "Bel-Air Ranch" (a muscle car resto guy) in Buellton is going to basicly be out of business, instead of a great resource. There are many out there whom we all know.
D) Compliance is not Realistic for our cars, it will make them nearly undrivable and require large amounts of money most of us don't have to spend. Are we to understand that classic cars are only for those with enough money to throw into the hobby? Isn't that a bit discriminatory?
E) Investment Value of our cars will be harmed. If you can't drive them what are they worth? More? Probably not, most folks want to at least take a car out once in awhile.
F) Gross Polluter Enforcement is an alternative. Has he forgotten the discretionary right of any Peace Officer to ticket a car which is smoking or otherwise an obviously polluting as a "Gross Polluter"? Maybe we should remind him so he can approach the issue from this stance. Increase penalties for these vehicles, not those that run well.
Let's make sure your input is HEARD by taking the following steps:
1 - E-mail the Governor using his own handy form found here:
http://www.govmail.ca.gov/ When you have finished your mail but Before you click Send, Highlight the entire text by tapping Control-A, then Copy it by tapping Control-C. Open a word processor program and tap Control-V, this should Paste all of your letter into the document so you can Print it and go to #2!
2 - US Mail the Governor the same letter you printed, so if his aides intercept all e-mails, they can't hide the pile of letters on his desk, that printed letter goes here:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
3 - Call the Governor's Office to let him know your opposition, it is just one more way to create more "Buzz" of displeasure at this bill: Phone: 916-445-2841 You may press "5" to voice your opinion about a "hot issue", then press "0" to speak to a representative from 9am to 5pm any business day. Pressing "7" allows you to speak with a representative for general subject matter. Pressing "2" will let you speak about various subject matter. I recommend calling about 9:10am to elinimate the need to sit on Hold.
4 - FAX the Governor a copy of that letter so once again, someone has to see and deal with the number of opposers to this bill: Fax: 916-445-4633
5 - Mail Calif's First Lady! If Arnold will not listen, maybe the real force behind the Governor, his wife, will listen. You can send her a mail here:
First Lady Maria Shriver
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
6 - Send Calif's First Lady a FAX at the same number as well, directed to her: Fax: (916) 445-4633
7 - Write the Editor of the Paper you enjoy reading the most, as well as your favorite publication, and keep it factual, it will get printed. Look for my thoughts in the SY News soon!
8 - Lobby for Support from various organizations that "have an Ax to grind" on the matter. Summit Racing and Jegs for instance, are very concerned with this bill as Californians care about hot rodding and do millions in purchases each year with such companies. I spoke to the area manager of Summit Racing in Sparks, NV, and he is VERY concerned about this, I was promised he would be sending this info through their chain of command.
I Have Done All of These Things!
In closing I want to thank those of you who read this far, and say that while I have tried to keep this mail factual and to the point, this move has REALLY turned me off. I have already done every step I suggest above and if you know of another way to call attention to this subject let me know! It makes me wonder what is going on in Sacramento, because this just seems off the wall. If you value your car, you better speak up now, or we may not be enjoy them at all. If enough of us are heard, and the system still works, we may be able to get a reprieve until a better solution is found than this accross the board slash. Thank you for your time."
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Ok Californians, and other states to follow I’m sure, 
Here come the crack-pot environmentalists! 
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hehehehehe
