"The Relay" Online Newsletter
July 2018 Issue

This is the monthly online newsletter for the car club council. All car hobbyist events are listed on this site under "Calendar." Just click on the link above to view the list of car shows and other activities.

President's Message

July 1st two bills become law - the exhaust freedom bill and the military surplus vehicle titling and registration bill. The exhaust freedom law means you can use aftermarket exhaust parts on any vehicle registered as an antique - the vehicle must be registered as an antique and not just a vehicle 25+ years old. You also need to make sure your exhaust system functions properly. The military surplus vehicle titling and registration bill was pushed SEMA and SEMA has similar bills on other states. Apparently many of these vehicles are off-road and it was difficult to get them titled and registered.

I was only able to get to a couple of shows in June. I usually get to many more but something called a 30th wedding anniversary and necessary trip got in the way. I will get the June shows that I missed this year next year.

If you've seen the calendar you know that there are even more events than in previous years. If you do send in an event be sure to check and make sure it looks like the others on the list. We do not use flyers as that would be a ton of work. And all events are checked by a human before they are posted. And yes people do send in fake events. Just like a lot of things we have to watch out for the fakes.

It's summer car season so get out there and enjoy your special vehicle(s)!

3rd Annual MuscleCAR Club of Richmond Show
See all the photos

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be Monday, August 27th at 6:30 PM at a location to be announced in the August newsletter.

What's A Jiggle Pin?

A jiggle pin fits in a small hole in the thermostat and helps air bleed out of the cooling system. The jiggle pin should be located at the top of a vertically mounted thermostat.

Car Hobbyist News

This July 1st the antique vehicle exhaust bill becomes state law. You are now free to select and install aftermarket exhaust parts. Keep in mind that the exhaust system must operate properly.

Also becoming law is the military vehicle bill. This will allow titling and registration of off-road military vehicles so that you can drive and use them. SEMA backed the bill and there have been similar bills introduced in other states. Apparently some of those surplus vehicles were difficult to title and register.

Think fooling with emissions is no big deal? You may recall from 2015 the Volkswagen exhaust emissions cheating. This is an excerpt from Fortune in 2015: About 580,000 VWs in the U.S.—and almost 10.5 million more worldwide—weren’t really “green” at all. As the world began to learn in September, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a shocking “notice of violation,” the vehicles met emissions standards for dangerous oxides of nitrogen, known collectively as NOx, only when running their paces in an artificial, indoor lab setting. Volkswagen has admitted this. Software in the engine recognized the telltale signs of the testing regimen and turned up the emissions-reduction equipment when its exhaust was under scrutiny. But once the car was driven onto actual roads, the equipment adjusted and the vehicle disgorged up to 40 times the permissible levels of NOx.

For seven years Volkswagen’s advertising campaigns flogged these vehicles’ bogus eco-friendly credentials in print, media, and even Super Bowl commercials. In one memorable example, the “green police” stop a long line of smog-belching cars but wave a lone, righteous diesel from VW’s Audi division through with a cheery, “You’re good to go, sir.” Just recently this story was in the news again as Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler, head of the Volkswagen Group, was arrested. German prosecutors reportedly arrested Stadler due to a potential risk that he might seek to suppress or tamper with evidence related to the scandal. The prosecutors’ office said that Stadler had been seen by a judge “who has ordered him to be remanded in custody.” Even Stadler's apartment was raided. Volkswagen the previous week agreed to pay a fine of 1 billion euro ($1.2 billion). There are pending investigations in 55 countries. Yes, governments take emissions very seriously plus they are going to get a lot of money out of the Volkswagen Group - the automaker has earmarked more than 27 billion euro in fines, buybacks, and costs. That’s $32.4 billion in US dollars.

The tariffs of President Trump could have an effect on cars and parts. This is from SEMA: President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to investigate whether imported automobiles and auto parts pose a threat to America’s national security. The DOC investigation applies to all types of cars and parts—new cars, classic cars, OEM parts and specialty auto parts. The DOC will issue its findings and recommendations for presidential actions, if any. Such a recommendation could include imposing global tariffs of up to 25% on all automobiles and auto parts imported into the United States. The SAN opposes the threatened tariffs. The comment period ended on June 29th so we should soon find out the DOC’s decision.

Four US senators, Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and James Lankford and Jim Inhofe, both of Oklahoma; have called for an investigation of National Science Foundation grants, saying the federal agency had ventured beyond science and into political advocacy, particularly with its support of a program to encourage TV weathercasters to report on global warming. The demand for an investigation came the same day that NBC News reported how Climate Central had helped educate more than 500 TV weathercasters across the country on global warming and the impacts it is having on everything from temperatures to the growth of poison ivy to the amount of pollen in the air. The organization’s six-year-old program with TV weather reporters is called “Climate Matters.” It will be interesting to see where this goes as the news media has taken a hit from President Trump's fake news accusations.

9th Annual Drive It Forward Cruise-In
See all the photos

Imported Automobiles and Auto Parts That Could Trigger 25% Tariffs

President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to investigate whether imported automobiles and auto parts pose a threat to America’s national security. The DOC investigation applies to all types of cars and parts—new cars, classic cars, OEM parts and specialty auto parts.

The DOC will issue its findings and recommendations for presidential actions, if any. Such a recommendation could include imposing global tariffs of up to 25% on all automobiles and auto parts imported into the United States. The SAN opposes the threatened tariffs.

Tariffs are a direct tax on American companies and consumers.

Imports of autos and auto parts do not threaten American security. Imposing a 25% tariff on these products risks economic harm and the threat of retaliatory tariffs.

The specialty and performance parts industry is made up primarily of small businesses that have no impact on domestic industrial capacity and national security.

Tariffs would endanger the automotive hobby, which is enjoyed by millions of Americans.

Millions of American workers are employed within the industry segment that imports automobiles and auto parts.

Millions of American workers are also employed domestically in producing automobiles and auto parts that are exported to the global marketplace. Tariffs would endanger those manufacturing jobs.

The comment period ended June 29th. We will soon find out what DOC has decided.

News From SEMA

Click the link for the story on the proposed legislation.

Congress Introduces Bill to Help Prevent E15 (Ethanol) Misfuelling

Louisiana Bill to Allow Military Surplus Vehicle Registration Sent to Governor

Michigan Bill to Ease Towing Restrictions Becomes Law

Oklahoma Bill to Create Titling for HUMVEES Dies in Committee

Michigan Introduces Bill to Allow Military Vehicle Titling

Collector Car Appreciation Day: July 13, 2018

—Post and share this video PSA for tips on setting up your tribute:

Paw Paw Show
See all the photos

Trooper Gets Praise From Pulling Over Slow Driver in Left Lane

1965 Chevy Chevelle

Losses and Lessons: A multiple-car collision is double trouble for a rare 1954 Siata 200CS

From Hagerty
VEHICLE INVOLVED: 1954 Siata 200CS

WHAT WENT WRONG: Rare classic cars aren’t immune to typical fender benders—it just costs a lot more to repair them. After working on a customer’s 1954 Siata 200CS, valued at more than $500,000, a mechanic took the Italian sports car for a test drive. While stopped at an intersection, the Siata was rear-ended by another car and shoved into the rear of the vehicle in front of it.

DAMAGE/LOSS: Although no one was injured, the mechanic may want to get an EKG just to make sure his heart didn’t suffer any trauma. As for the Siata, the multiple collisions caused major damage to both the front and rear of the hand-built masterpiece. Vehicle damage totaled $354,000, which Hagerty paid.

LESSON: Whether you’re driving a rare Societa Italianà Applicazioni Techniche Automobilistiche (SIATA) or a common Volkswagen Beetle, always maintain a safe distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This is particularly important when you’re driving a smaller car, since there are a lot of high-riding SUVs and pickup trucks on the highway, and they might not see you. Also keep your foot on the brake whenever you’re stopped so that if you are rear-ended you’re less likely to hit a vehicle in front of you.

Rambler American convertible

Don't Text and Drive

When council delegates met with the State Police Safety Division in November 2016 I was surprised to hear that the State Police don't believe the no texting while driving law can be enforced. I've seen several people texting and driving and in two cases the person was driving so slowly that traffic backed up behind them. Here is one horror story from MSN.

An Ohio woman who drifted off a road while texting and struck and killed two teenage girls has been sentenced to six years in prison. Twenty-five-year-old Natasha Boggs, of New Franklin, asked for forgiveness before being sentenced in Akron.

Boggs pleaded guilty in March to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and one count each of vehicular assault and attempted tampering with evidence for the deaths of 14-year-old Taylor Galloway, of Akron, and 14-year-old Amber Thoma, of Coventry Township, in May 2017. A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured.

They were struck alongside a road with no sidewalks in Summit County’s Coventry Township.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports Angela Galloway, Taylor's mother, was emotional when she spoke before the courtroom.

"Natasha robbed my daughter of the life she should have had," Galloway said. "I will never see Taylor grow up. No prom or graduation, falling in love for the first time or a family of her own."

Boggs cried as Galloway called her selfish, saying she deleted texts from her phone immediately after the deadly collision. The Galloway family urged the judge to give Boggs the maximum sentence of nine years behind bars.

Angela Galloway was unmoved by Boggs' crying.

“Those tears are not for Taylor. They are tears for Natasha and loss of freedom,” Galloway said. “We are facing life alone and she gets maybe nine years. Where’s the justice in that? … I don’t think nine years is too much to ask for the lives of two beautiful girls.”

Boggs addressed family members with a shaky voice.

“I just want to say I’m truly sorry. I never meant for anything to happen,” she said. “I can’t forgive myself. I’m truly sorry.”

Defense attorney Daniel Funk argued that Boggs was not speeding, drunk or impaired at the time of the crash.

“This is a tragedy for all,” he said. “This is an accident. Nothing more. Nothing less. This is awful.”

Boggs received credit for the 11 months she’s spent in jail, making her prison sentence just over five years. Her driver’s license was suspended for five years.

Win A 1957 Thunderbird - info below

Win A 1957 Thunderbird

SPIRIT OF FLIGHT MUSEUM TO GIVE AWAY A 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD
Proceeds will help restore a rare Lockheed 12A

The Spirit of Flight museum recently received the gift of a fully restored 1957 Ford Thunderbird. The museum now plans to give it away to a lucky winner!

“We are incredibly grateful that a 1957 Thunderbird was gifted to the museum,” said Gordon Page, President of the Spirit of Flight Center. “The donor saw our Lockheed 12A aircraft project and wanted to do something to help get it back into the air. We had no idea they would give us a collector car to raffle off to help the process.”

The Starmist Blue Thunderbird has only 35,000 miles and was fully restored in 2006. It has a 312 cubic inch V-8 engine and automatic transmission, and it is loaded with features including hard and soft tops.

“We plan to hand over the keys to the car at our 10th Annual Spirit of Flight Day event on July 14, 2018,” said Gordon Page. “I can’t wait to see the look on the winners face,” added Page.

People can enter to win the car by making a donation to the non-profit Spirit of Flight Foundation at spiritofflight.tapkat.org/wina1957fordthunderbird.

You can also enter by mailing in the attached form.

All proceeds help restore the 1936 Lockheed 12A Electra Jr. that the museum acquired earlier this year.

Good luck, and thanks for your support!

1956 Ford Victoria

Chevy C-10

Support the RPM Act

Sign at this link: www.votervoice.net/SEMA/campaigns/45394/respond

2017 marks a new session of Congress. Bills that did not become law at the end of 2016 must be reintroduced for consideration.

UPDATE TO THE RPM ACT - click link below
www.sema.org/epa-news

Protect Your Right to Buy Ethanol Free Fuel

Below is a link to Fuel Testers - a website that is opposed to more ethanol in gasoline and would like to preserve our ability to purchase gasoline free of ethanol.
www.fuel-testers.com/petition_e15.html

Pontiac Firebird

Ford 5-window coupe

DMV Titling Information

As promised I have a document about titling antique vehicles posted below for download. This contains information from the DMV speakers at the August 2015 meeting and some other information that I hope you will find useful. If in doubt about anything email or call the DMV administrators in the document; I have their contact information listed. And for the millionth time be sure to check to see if the VIN matches the VIN on the vehicle before buying it. This can save you a lot of trouble - just ask anyone who has purchased a vehicle without a matching VIN. There is also valuable info on purchasing an older vehicle from a non-title state. If you are thinking about buying a vehicle from a non-title state be sure to read it. Link to the document: Antique Vehicle Titling and Registration. I also have a bill of sale for use in buying or selling an antique vehicle: Bill of Sale; and a bill of sale for use if the signatures need to be notarized: Bill of Sale.

You may also find these links useful. The following link goes to the National Insurance Crime Bureau where you can put in a VIN that will be checked for fraud and theft at no cost. The link is www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck. You should do some research on the vehicle you are thinking about buying, check the VIN to make sure it matches the vehicle and of course make sure the VIN on the vehicle and title match.

The next link goes to Stolen Car Reports, another free service. At this site you can register a stolen vehicle. You can also search a zip code, city or area for the vehicles that were stolen from that area. The link is www.stolencarreports.com/report/Search.

Antique Plate Info Flyer Online

The council delegates have approved the flyer with information on antique plates and a link to it is online here: flyer opens to a new window. Council members and antique owners may print the flyer for their own reference or distribute it to those who own or are considering registering a vehicle as an antique. It will remain on the site for an undetermined time. Council delegates will review the effectiveness of the flyer at a later date.

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