Thread: Possible End of Pro Drag racing

... in Canada

Mods...please do not bury this post in some sub forum


For those that don't know...and any Canadian members ...let get this stopped.

http://www.grandbendmotorplex.com/08-end-of-racing.html


this is well worth the long read.....


Racers, it seems the sky is truly falling. The Government of Canada is planning to implement a total and permanent ban on the use of leaded fuels for competition purposes, effective January 1st, 2009.
If this happens, Professional Drag Racing in Canada is over. Immediately, completely and forever. This isn’t the same as the challenges we’ve faced in the past. This time, they’re dropping the ‘Big One’.
No Pro Mod, No Pro Stock, No Top Fuel or Nitro Funny Car and no American competitors in any of our sportsman classes. Only Alcohol Funny Cars would remain unscathed.
Although many Canadian sportsman competitors run their cars effectively on unleaded racing fuel or methanol, any of our competitors using leaded fuel have two choices. Change or quit.
The legislation arrived in our office last week. We took the time to read the document from start to finish to make sure we weren’t overreacting. Then we talked to fuel suppliers, the IHRA and local politicians, including London’s Bud Polhill; a long-time drag racing advocate in the Canadian fuel wars.
What makes this bill viciously unfair is, they indicate that there may be increased health risks associated with leaded fuels than previously thought, and are advocating this change without any actual testing or proof. The US, Britain and Australia must not put much faith in this new information as they have no changes planned in their Leaded fuel for competition vehicles policies at volumes 10 to 100 times the annual Cdn volume. Also the passing of this bill does not eliminate leaded fuel, it only eliminates our portion, which is 1.5% of the leaded fuel consumed in Canada (these are the Govt’s own numbers right in the report – see Industry profile) the remaining 98.5% is used as aviation fuel and they have been given a permanent exemption. (this includes private pleasure planes, etc.)
Bottom line, it’s as bad as it seems. The Canadian Government are legislating Canada’s largest racing facilities out of business. The document can be found on the Government of Canada website, under Canada Gazette Part 1, Dec. 22, 2007.
The link to the document is: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/200.../regle1-e.html
If you’re passionate about our sport, I can only beg you to call, write and email every politician you can think of, and let them know how you feel about your sport being forced out of existence.YOU NEED TO DO THIS ASAP AS THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS ACTION CLOSES ON FEB 13th , 2008 and it will then be scheduled for a vote. Make sure the companies that tailor their businesses around the performance industry know as well. They’ve got a big stake in this too.
This is the link that takes you to the current Members of Parliament.
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfP...ent&Language=E
On the left side of the page, you will see a text box labeled; Quick Search. Type in the name of your City or County to go to your local representative.
Some of Canada’s smaller tracks may in fact survive, as their facilities are geared toward handling smaller events, slower cars and fewer spectators. Canada’s Super-Tracks, that have invested millions and continue to invest in their facilities on a yearly basis, like Castrol Raceway and Grand Bend Motorplex will, in all likelihood, cease to be. Picture the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, without the Maple Leafs and the Raptors.
You know, it’s funny. No matter how many storms you weather, you never really believe that ‘one big wave’ is going to hit, until you’re already upside down in the freezing water.
To all the Drag racing competitors, crew and fans; thank you for your support and let’s have a great year of racing in 2008. It may very well be our last

Is the Drag Racing Forum classified as "some sub forum"?

Moved to Drag Racing Forum.

Reaper, I read the entire document and agree, this happens its going to jack a lot of stuff up in the N. American racing seasons. Will be getting this out to some of my suppliers dealing in the Drag Racing Field.

Originally Posted by CAT3

Reaper, I read the entire document and agree, this happens its going to jack a lot of stuff up in the N. American racing seasons. Will be getting this out to some of my suppliers dealing in the Drag Racing Field.

Thanks Cat3 everything we can do helps.....

Hi Reaper

Wrote a nice letter to my MP here in Edmonton expressing my dismay.I asked for his opinion on this matter, so it may help me with my decision on who I vote for on the next election.
Awaiting the much anticipated generic form letter *thanking me for my email...and will try to get back to as soon as possible...bla bla bla...*
I will post a reply when I get one.

Cheers,

Tony

Please sign it ...and send out to anyone that enjoys the sport.as a spectator or racer..... the more the better ...Make sure your MP's hear your dissapproval

Many have come on board to this fight.... Jay Leno, VP fuels, NHRA IHRA, SEMA...the list is getting longer...papers are also printing this proposal to let the public know

http://www.petitiononline.com/Snakepit/petition.html

almost 4000 and counting .......lets get it higher...time is ticking

even signatures from the USA can help....since it would seriously effect the US racers coming up to canada to race at national events...........and lets hope that the USA does not use Canada as an example and try the same thing.. Lets get this stopped or at least amended a little longer until such time as a alternate can (if) is created and produced

Originally Posted by BiG-T

Is the Drag Racing Forum classified as "some sub forum"?

Moved to Drag Racing Forum.

And yes it is with 71 views.....on an important issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by ReaperRacing

And yes it is with 71 views.....on an important issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I viewed it.

Petition signed...

My son and I both signed it...and I hope he still has the chance to enjoy the sport, even after I am gone...

Cheers, and thanks for posting the petition Reaper

Tony

That sucks !! I will post this on the northwest dragbike forum .

Well wholly by geezus I received a reply from our wonderful MP here in Edmonton.

Ottawa
February 22, 2008

Dear Mr. Blue,

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the racing industry and how it would be affected by a ban on the importation of leaded fuels.

While the government would prefer, in the long term, to see a transition from leaded fuels to unleaded fuels in the racing industry, the purpose of these amendments is not to force this transition. If you look at the amendments carefully, you will note that it is an amendment to extend the exemption that competitive automobiles receive for the importation of leaded fuel.

You should also note that it is part of a pattern of extending this exemption and that the government is fully aware of the consequences of not extending the exemption, quoted below from the document that you provided:

"Stakeholder feedback provided in 2007, supported by survey data, indicate that expiry of the competition vehicle exemption on January 1, 2008, is likely to result in the cancellation of racing events dependant on leaded gasoline, with concomitant direct and indirect impacts on revenue and employment. Some race tracks have already begun to organize and promote racing events for the 2008 season, including events featuring vehicles using leaded gasoline; it is therefore expected that the impact of expiry would be significant in the absence of an additional transition period."

It is unlikely that this situation will change in the near term and you can be assured that the government will be taking the racing industry’s views into account the next time these regulations come up for review.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch and share your views. Input from constituents is tremendously important to me, and I will be sure to keep your comments in mind.



Sincerely,

Laurie Hawn, MP

Edmonton Centre

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

And then I replied back with...

Mr. Hawn

Thank you for taking the time to respond.
What still amazes me is why did this 1.5% ever become an issue in the first place? Are there not bigger fish in the sea to go after. This is a recreation that is enjoyed by many across this great country of ours, and brings recognition, and capital to many cities across this country, including ours. I would really hate to see this topic continually being debated over and over, using up your time, and our tax paying dollars, as well as to justify an environmental agents employment by standing at a local race track to sample the air quality.
I want my son, and my sons children, to be able to enjoy in their lives the spectacle of drag racing, as I enjoyed with my dad.
Is it really worth the effort for the 1.5%...
Trust me, no one will want to go see the hybrid races...

Regards,

Tony