Given the events of the last two years that ultimately led to the demise of Pontiac, there is no doubt that our little corner of the collector-car hobby knows what loss feels like. Many of the same forces in our government that contributed to the early retirement of GM's Performance Division have been actively trying to reduce our rights and activities as collector-car and musclecar owners. Not only are our new Pontiacs gone, but some elected officials in state and federal governments would like to see our vintage Pontiacs gone too.
Let's not wave the white flag, however, because like everything else in life, there are two sides to the story. For every senator or congressman who would like to see us all ride bicycles to the cruise-in, there are other legislators who appreciate what our collector Pontiacs mean to American history, the economy, and us.
And there are organizations like the Specialty Equipment Market Association, better known as SEMA, which picked up the gauntlet in 1997 to fight for our rights as collector-car hobbyists, via the SEMA Action Network. What follows is SEMA's take on the current issues facing our hobby, and what we can do to ensure our rights are protected and voices are heard, from the state legislatures to Capitol Hill.
What The Sema Action Network (SAN) Does
The SAN is a partnership between enthusiasts, vehicle clubs, and members of the specialty automotive-parts industry in the U.S. and Canada who have joined forces to promote hobby-friendly legislation and oppose unfair laws. With nearly 40,000 members, 3 million contacts, and an ability to reach 30 million hobbyists through print and press, the SAN is the premier organization defending the rights of the vehicle hobby. The SAN is free to join with no obligations or commitments.
Only the SAN has the experience, the resources, and the dedicated network of enthusiasts to stop unreasonable bills from becoming law and keep the hobby free from overly restrictive government regulation. Its comprehensive set of tools and resources include: a professional government affairs staff in Washington, D.C., that works in all 50 states and at the federal level; a full-time research staff that monitors every bill introduced in every state; tailored action alerts sent to hobbyists with bill information, speaking points, and legislator contact information; the SEMA SAN website, which features tracked legislation, action alerts, guidance on letter writing, lobbying elected officials, land-use policies, warranty denial, and a means by which you can identify your legislators; the award-winning monthly legislative newsletter Driving Force; pro-hobby model legislation crafted by SEMA SAN staff, the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, and the Congressional Motorsports Caucus.
The SAN sponsors the Hot Rod Power Tour bus, travels to car shows and events, raises awareness through automotive media, operates a Facebook group and a Twitter page, and distributes issue brochures to car clubs and businesses. It further supports car clubs by advertising their shows and charitable events in Driving Force.
In its 13-year history, the effect of the SAN on shaping government policy has been enormous. It has successfully enacted street rod and custom vehicle (including kit cars and replicas) registration and titling laws in 20 states; protected classic vehicles waiting to be restored on private property from confiscation; safeguarded legal off-road nitrous-oxide use with SAN model legislation; defended hobbyists' right to use more durable aftermarket exhaust systems; junked state-level "Cash for Clunkers" legislation; and enacted legislation to lower taxes and fees for hobbyist vehicles.
The current economic and legislative environment is emboldening governments to become more aggressive with their anti-auto hobby legislation, which means that the hobby needs the SEMA Action Network now more than ever. Join the SAN at www.semasan.com
The Issues That Affect You
Scrappage
Most scrappage programs allow "smokestack" industries to avoid reducing their own emissions by buying pollution credits generated through purchasing older cars and, typically, having them crushed into blocks of scrap metal. Hobbyists suffer from the indiscriminate destruction of older cars and parts, which anyone undergoing a restoration project can attest. America safeguards its artistic and architectural heritage against indiscriminate destruction, and our automotive and industrial heritage deserves the same protection.
Scrappage programs focus on vehicle age rather than actual emissions produced, which is based on the erroneous assumption that all old cars are dirty cars. However, the true culprits are "gross polluters"-vehicles of any model year that are poorly maintained. Scrappage programs ignore better options like vehicle maintenance, repair, and upgrade programs that maximize the emissions systems of existing vehicles.