If you are a car enthusiast please read!!!!

[Wildrice]

I received this in an e-mail from Summit Racing.

Dear Fellow Enthusiast,

As a SEMA Member Company, we have received an Urgent Legislative Action Alert from the association. You may be interested in this legislative alert and the possible impact it will have on your hobby.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is a non-profit trade association composed of more than 6,800 member companies involved in all aspects of the automotive industry, from manufacturers to car clubs and race teams.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) protects your hobby from unfair or unnecessary legislation on national and local levels. Through distribution of information and the collective voice of automotive enthusiasts and businesses, the SEMA Action Network has successfully impacted legislation concerning scrappage laws, equipment standards, registration classifications, emissions regulations, and more.

The following information is directly from SEMA. If you would like to contact the lawmaker, follow the instructions in the alert.

Thank you for your time,

Your Friends at Summit Racing Equipment

Washington lawmakers are drafting a large economic stimulus package to help create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. They want to include a nationwide scrappage program which would give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in older cars to have them crushed, as a misguided attempt to spur new car sales. The lawmakers need to scrap this idea.

The stimulus package is being drafted right now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wants to introduce the bill on January 6 and have it approved by Congress by January 20, so that President Obama can sign it into law after he is inaugurated.

Contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY To Oppose Cash for Clunkers!

Call: 202-225-0100

Click here to send an electronic message: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Talking Points

Feel free to use any of the statements below as a starting point for your message to Speaker Pelosi.

I am [calling/writing] to urge lawmakers not to include a “Cash for Clunkers†provision in the economic stimulus bill. Owners who turn in vehicles for crushing would receive a "minimal" payment to purchase a new car. This is a misguided attempt to spur car sales and claim that the country’s air quality or fleet fuel mileage is being improved.

I work for [company name] located in [city and state]. My company is part of the specialty automotive industry, an industry which enables consumers to enhance their vehicle’s appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and safety. “Cash for Clunkers†programs deny our small businesses the availability of older cars necessary to develop and market their products and services. The programs will hurt my company and our customers.

“Cash for Clunkers†programs threaten enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects. The programs also risk destroying classic, historic and special-interest vehicles, our American heritage.

Cars turned in for scrappage often barely run, or are rarely-driven second or third vehicles that have a minimal impact on overall fuel economy or emissions.

“Cash for Clunkers†programs will reduce the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts used by low-income drivers. It will also compete with the Salvation Army, the Purple Heart and other charities that rely on vehicle donations to raise money.

“Cash for Clunkers†ignores better policy options. If Congress wants to act, support for repair and upgrade is a better choice and a win-win for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and repair shops. Significant emissions and fuel economy improvements can be achieved in older vehicles through relatively simple and inexpensive means: repaired/replaced exhaust systems, tune-ups, etc.

We hope we can count on you to reject “Cash for Clunkers.†Thank you for your consideration on this very important matter.

If you choose to send a message to Speaker Pelosi, please send a copy of your message to SEMA also:

E-mail: briand@sema.org

Fax: 202/783-6024

[MikeMc]

I received this in an e-mail from Summit Racing.

Dear Fellow Enthusiast,

As a SEMA Member Company, we have received an Urgent Legislative Action Alert from the association. You may be interested in this legislative alert and the possible impact it will have on your hobby.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is a non-profit trade association composed of more than 6,800 member companies involved in all aspects of the automotive industry, from manufacturers to car clubs and race teams.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) protects your hobby from unfair or unnecessary legislation on national and local levels. Through distribution of information and the collective voice of automotive enthusiasts and businesses, the SEMA Action Network has successfully impacted legislation concerning scrappage laws, equipment standards, registration classifications, emissions regulations, and more.

The following information is directly from SEMA. If you would like to contact the lawmaker, follow the instructions in the alert.

Thank you for your time,

Your Friends at Summit Racing Equipment

Washington lawmakers are drafting a large economic stimulus package to help create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. They want to include a nationwide scrappage program which would give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in older cars to have them crushed, as a misguided attempt to spur new car sales. The lawmakers need to scrap this idea.

The stimulus package is being drafted right now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wants to introduce the bill on January 6 and have it approved by Congress by January 20, so that President Obama can sign it into law after he is inaugurated.

Contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY To Oppose Cash for Clunkers!

Call: 202-225-0100

Click here to send an electronic message: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Talking Points

Feel free to use any of the statements below as a starting point for your message to Speaker Pelosi.

I am [calling/writing] to urge lawmakers not to include a “Cash for Clunkers†provision in the economic stimulus bill. Owners who turn in vehicles for crushing would receive a "minimal" payment to purchase a new car. This is a misguided attempt to spur car sales and claim that the country’s air quality or fleet fuel mileage is being improved.

I work for [company name] located in [city and state]. My company is part of the specialty automotive industry, an industry which enables consumers to enhance their vehicle’s appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and safety. “Cash for Clunkers†programs deny our small businesses the availability of older cars necessary to develop and market their products and services. The programs will hurt my company and our customers.

“Cash for Clunkers†programs threaten enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects. The programs also risk destroying classic, historic and special-interest vehicles, our American heritage.

Cars turned in for scrappage often barely run, or are rarely-driven second or third vehicles that have a minimal impact on overall fuel economy or emissions.

“Cash for Clunkers†programs will reduce the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts used by low-income drivers. It will also compete with the Salvation Army, the Purple Heart and other charities that rely on vehicle donations to raise money.

“Cash for Clunkers†ignores better policy options. If Congress wants to act, support for repair and upgrade is a better choice and a win-win for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and repair shops. Significant emissions and fuel economy improvements can be achieved in older vehicles through relatively simple and inexpensive means: repaired/replaced exhaust systems, tune-ups, etc.

We hope we can count on you to reject “Cash for Clunkers.†Thank you for your consideration on this very important matter.

If you choose to send a message to Speaker Pelosi, please send a copy of your message to SEMA also:

E-mail: briand@sema.org

Fax: 202/783-6024

Amen to this I just sent mine to that bitch

[Eshaver]

You know , I shoulddda known that "Ms Nancy Do- Gooder was behind this ole Union 76 Oil scheme! Seems that every time the Greenie weenies wanna do there "clean-Up" , they be pickin on the old car folks like me. That's why I would NOT support Al Gore when he ran fer President. Yep, had to hold my nose for pullin fer George cause Ann Richards said he was no good .

listen I, like Michael Savage have said this for years , the Least Government governs best or was that Thomas Jefferson? Hummmmmmmmmmmm ..... Ed Shaver

[Harold]

Instead of scrapping old cars, why don't we just start scrapping these idjit legislators?....

[old-hermit]

Amen to this I just sent mine to that bitch

A negative attitude and hastily typed e mail is just about worthless in influencing an elected official.

Pen & paper or phone call will have far better effect.

Instead of scrapping old cars, why don't we just start scrapping these idjit legislators?....

I agree whole heartedly !!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited January 1, 2009 by old-hermit

[Brendan]

Something like this seems to happen every time a new president is taking office. It usually happens more at the state level, though. If I remember correctly, California had something like this for cars that could pass smog. I don't have a problem with people turning their cars in willingly to get credit to buy a new car. That's if the car is not running properly. But most of us know how to take care of our cars and make them run in good condition for a long time.

[Eshaver]

DANG IT HAROLD , YER ON TA SOMTHIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ED SHAVER

[purplehornies]

Besides the point of scraping the "old" cars.

If the government gives you a $3,000.00 voucher to buy a new car what’s the New Car Makers responsibility to "sell" you one? Is the Government going to require GM or Chrysler to sell them to anyone with a voucher? Is that their penance for taking bail out money? What if said person has awful credit and low income ? How are they going to pay $400 per month for that subsidized car ? Will there be cheap low line cars manufactured just for this program ? Then think about all of these subsidized auto loans. Will the bank be required to make questionable loans to someone that may be undeserving just because they took bail out money, and the only reason they are even attempting to buy a new car is because they have a voucher ?

Sounds like more government maneuvering to take over both industries. And I’ll bet that there will be people complaining, 2 years from now, on some sensational “news†program about how they signed a new car loan and the lender took advantage of them. And now they can’t make the payments. Never mind they couldn’t afford it from the beginning and only did it because they have a warped sense of entitlement when it comes to government programs.

Sound familiar??

[Art Anderson]

Besides the point of scraping the "old" cars.

If the government gives you a $3,000.00 voucher to buy a new car what’s the New Car Makers responsibility to "sell" you one? Is the Government going to require GM or Chrysler to sell them to anyone with a voucher? Is that their penance for taking bail out money? What if said person has awful credit and low income ? How are they going to pay $400 per month for that subsidized car ? Will there be cheap low line cars manufactured just for this program ? Then think about all of these subsidized auto loans. Will the bank be required to make questionable loans to someone that may be undeserving just because they took bail out money, and the only reason they are even attempting to buy a new car is because they have a voucher ?

Sounds like more government maneuvering to take over both industries. And I’ll bet that there will be people complaining, 2 years from now, on some sensational “news†program about how they signed a new car loan and the lender took advantage of them. And now they can’t make the payments. Never mind they couldn’t afford it from the beginning and only did it because they have a warped sense of entitlement when it comes to government programs.

Sound familiar??

Of course, the old scrapyards are disappearing at a pretty rapid rate already. Time was when the midwest here was heavily dotted with small, one-owner yards, filled up with 40's to 60's cars, mostly left to sink into the sod up to their frames, just rusting away. These are going away quickly as their owners age, even more so as they pass away. This bill would be a financial windfall to places like these, filled with more or less unsaleable old cars, that otherwise would have gone to the crusher for the wholesale price of scrap metal--and steel scrap prices are WAY down right now, due to the glut of steel on the market already.

I can see real problems with giving vouchers for such cars turned in as well: Government vouchers have a rather checkered history--getting them can be easy, but cashing them in can be a whole 'nuther ball game--especially if payment is predicated on Congress' passing the necessary appropriation bills to honor them. But, I think there is more:

This sort of thing has been tried before--in 1931-32, first several automakers, following the lead of Henry Ford, tried buying up old clunker used cars, to send them to the smelters, for new steel to make new cars, and thus boosting (hopefully!) the then extremely anemic new car sales. It didn't work, period. Only a relative handful of the aged fleet of cars went to their last reward under those schemes.

In 1942, the War Production Board instituted a whole series of scrap drives across the US, everything from paper, to rubber, to glass, brass, copper, and you guessed it, old cars. WPB was empowered by the legislation creating these scrap drives, to force junkyards and scrap dealers to sell out, but only some of them did. The famed Allender collection of antique cars, in Detroit, was targeted by WPB to force their scrapping, but Mr Allender did prevail, in that he was able to keep his vast collection more or less intact, by giving up all the tires on them for scrap rubber. There was a flurry of photo-op moments, showing some personage donating their luxury car to a scrap drive, the most memorable one being Mrs John Whitney of Kentucky, who had her chauffeur driver her pristine Duesenberg Model J Limousine to a scrap drive at Ft Knox. Guess what? The commanding general there, grabbed onto that car as soon as Mrs Whitney was out of sight, put tires back on it, and proceeded to use it as HIS staff car, until she got word of it, and raised a HUGE stink. The Duesey was then scrapped. But, by and large, those scrap drives didn't eliminate all that many old cars from either junkyards or off the street. The Depression-era mentality seems to have been to hang onto things--"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" was the operative phrase.

But, this proposed legislation is ill-conceived, and more "feel good" than "do good", and I will oppose it as well.

Art (Who hates symbolism over substance, every time it raises its ugly head!)

On another note, somewhat related, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) is proposing a set of draconian regulations that, if implemented, could well drive any private aircraft over 12.500lbs out of the skies, and that includes such planes as warbirds, old restored airliners, and even a good many general aviation planes. Bad policy, BAD!

AA

[Eshaver]

Art, somebody should award you a medal of Valor ! Ed Shaver

[Guest Davkin]

Unless the voucher is more like $30,000 I'm not turning in my '64 El Camino to buy a brand new car! I suspect most people that don't buy new cars are in the same boat as me, they can't afford them or are unwilling to get into major debt for 5-8 years in order to buy one and a $3,000 voucher isn't going to change that fact. This proposed legislation is about everything BUT selling new cars and I'm afraid SEMA's appeal to Pelosi will be falling on deaf ears, she couldn't care less about those arguments, and serving the average American is not part of her agenda. These appeals may hold some sway with your own representative so make sure you communicate them to him/her, don't waste your time with Pelosi.

David

[Eshaver]

Well , at least someone out there reads what I scream about all the time . "DON'T BUY IT , DON'T OWN IT ,DON'T WORK ON IT IF IT'S BUILT AFTER ELVIS PRESLEY WENT TO DA GREAT GAS STATION IN DA SKY "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ed Shaver

[moparmagiclives]

It would be a very cold day in hell before my 64 hard top goes to the crusher. But as someone from the automotive field

I can see how this would posibly help some, and work out better for others. Mostly in the lines of trade in vales. If I was given the option

of 3,000 crush credits over 1000 cash....well duh. And thats one less junker I need to run through the shop . To be honest most people willing to make payments for 5 to 7 years dont plan on keeping them more than 3 or maintaing them more than 2. As far as the big 3 making entry level vehicles to go along with the credit program,

they already have the cars to sell.....and most have huge rebates as it is. All they need is big brother to hold there hands.

I work for a Chevrolet/Mopar dealer and I've seen some very goofy ideas about bail out and restructure plans from both sides.

......the funs just starting.