In 2016, the motorsports community scored a big victory to protect Americans’ right to transform street vehicles into dedicated race cars.
The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act of 2016 was instrumental in drawing attention to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed regulation banning the conversion of street-driven vehicles into competition-only race cars. Concerned citizens sent over 200,000 letters to their elected representatives, urging support of the RPM Act.
The EPA ultimately withdrew that regulation.
Even so, Congress did not pass the RPM Act last year.
Bills that did not become law at the end of 2016, like the RPM Act, must be reintroduced for consideration in 2017. The RPM Act has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC). H.R. 350, “Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017” (RPM Act) has bipartisan support from 73 other representatives. With the support of 14 sponsors, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), introduced a companion bill, S.203/“Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017” (RPM Act) in the Senate. The bill ensures that transforming motor vehicles into race cars used exclusively in competition does not violate the Clean Air Act.
Passage of the RPM Act also supports the innovation that fuels the aftermarket industry. Race technologies make their way into production cars. Turbochargers and superchargers improve performance without increasing emissions or decreasing fuel efficiency. Better tires and brakes, aerodynamic styling, and lightweight materials like carbon fiber were born in competition cars and have made street cars safer and more fun.
The aftermarket industry is once again asking for your support.
Even if you have already sent a letter, the new session of Congress means that new letters are needed. It’s easy and only takes a minute. We urge you to use the form at www.sema.org/rpm.
Thanks for edifying the general public about this! It is vital we continue to enjoy our hobbies as individuals. If this were to fail, millions of street rods would be taken off the streets, or be altered back to its original state. This would truly be an injustice for all of us. Thank you for fighting the fight, and I will do my part in keeping our street machines safe from the EPA !