Vote. It's Your Right
By now I'm sure you're wondering what's going on with the red circle and slash mark on this month's cover. No, we're not saying we don't like first-gen Camaros-and no, we're definitely not saying ban cool wheelies. It's quite the opposite, really, and longtime readers know that I'm a big-time fan and avid supporter of pushing horsepower.
So what are we doing? Let's just say our entire Performance Automotive Group, which includes well over 40 publications, ranging from trucks to motorcycles and street machines, are working together with the SEMA Action Network (SAN) to send out an important message regarding our sport: Join SAN and stand up for your hobby. How can you do this? It's simple, really; with the November elections right around the corner, it's more important than ever to know whom you're voting for.
What you may or may not know is that SAN works actively with local car clubs, individuals, and aftermarket manufacturers on the federal, state, and local level to ensure that our street machines can stay on the road. The laws are constantly changing and SAN is always on top of new legislation that could affect our hobby. Some of the issues I'm talking about include exhaust noise levels, engine transplants (such as LS configurations), nitrous, and emissions.
Admittedly, there's a lot of information to absorb, and unfortunately, depending on where you're getting your information, some of it can be a bit skewed to downright misleading. This is where SAN comes into play and can be a personal guide. For starters, be sure to read over the information that we've gathered together with SAN. It'll give you a better idea of what is going on in our performance world and what we're trying to achieve. From there, go to semasan.com and join. It doesn't cost you anything and only takes a few minutes of your time.
You'll find that the site is very user friendly and filled with the current laws, pending changes, and how to contact your local legislator(s). My personal favorite part of the site is having instant access to the list of state and federal legislators who support our hobby.
Again, if you're passionate about your ride, be it a cruiser, race car, resto, or a Pro Touring beast that does it all, then I strongly urge you to join. SEMA is an impressive organization and I'm also proud to be a part of its Young Executives Network (YEN), and as of today-you can count me in as an SAN member.