The Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to pass regulations that would prohibit the conversion of street cars into racecars. Meant as an attempt to curb greenhouse gases, the proposed regulation will significantly impact racing enthusiasts and the aftermarket industry should it pass.
Cars currently used strictly for racing are exempt from the EPA’s emissions standards set for normal street vehicles. That said, the Specialty Equipment Market Association is fighting the proposal and considers it a “threat to modified racecars and parts suppliers.”
SEMA reports the proposal was bundled in with an unrelated legislation titled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles–Phase 2.” According to SEMA, the proposal would also prohibit the sale of emissions-related parts for use on converted vehicles. The EPA plans to release a finalized version of the proposal this summer, while SEMA states it will continue to fight the proposal’s passage.
“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 CEO Chris Kersting in a statement. “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.”
