EPA Proposing Regulation to Prohibit Racecar Conversions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a regulation that would prohibit the conversion of on-road vehicles into racecars. The sale of certain racing products for use on street vehicles would also become illegal following this regulation. The proposed regulation was contained within a non-related proposed regulated titled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles – Phase 2.”
If passed, this regulation would impact all vehicles types, including sports cars, sedans, and hatchbacks, which are commonly converted for race track use. The Clean Air Act already exists to prohibit certain modifications to motor vehicles, but it is clear that vehicles built or modified for racing purposes, and not used on the streets, are not the “motor vehicles” that Congress intended to regulate.
“This proposed regulation represents overreaching by the agency, runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “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.”
SEMA has submitted comments in opposition to the regulation and has met with the EPA to confirm the agency’s intentions. Along with other impacted organizations, SEMA will continue to oppose the regulation through the administrative process and will actively seek congressional support and judicial intervention when necessary.
The EPA expects to publish final regulations by July 2016.
ETA 2/10/16: SEMA has provided a link to a petition opposing this legislation. Go here to sign it: