End of Drag Racing In Canada????????
01-11-2008, 10:41 AM
#1
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End of Drag Racing In Canada????????
Found this today over at www.raceosca.com
The End of Canadian Drag Racing?
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. (which 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/2007/20071222/html/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 20th , 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/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Langua ge=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.
Take care and play safe.
Ron Biekx; General Manager, Grand Bend Motorplex
The End of Canadian Drag Racing?
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. (which 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/2007/20071222/html/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 20th , 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/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Langua ge=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.
Take care and play safe.
Ron Biekx; General Manager, Grand Bend Motorplex
01-11-2008, 12:49 PM
#4
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Sorry for being a n00b since I haven't owned a car that runs leaded for 20 years but is the conversion that hard? In the import world its always been about the unleaded.
Even the hot rodding mag True Street Challenge is about running on pump 91. The rip 9-flat in full weight cars.
Trust me I'm not on the side of the Feds this is another slap in the face all in a panic when they banned 2-strokes. Now the 4s are faster?
Even the hot rodding mag True Street Challenge is about running on pump 91. The rip 9-flat in full weight cars.
Trust me I'm not on the side of the Feds this is another slap in the face all in a panic when they banned 2-strokes. Now the 4s are faster?
01-11-2008, 01:12 PM
#5
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lead runs cooler......thats it.
What the big thing is, is there will be hardly any competitors comming from the US, as they can still use lead (75%+ cars still use lead at the track)
No money comming from the big guys in the US comming here racing, means the tracks arn't gonna stay open. Plain and Simple.
So, us going to unleaded isn't the big problem, its the fact that others won't have to.
This is the same as all the bodyshops having to switch to waterborne, as per the new V.O.C. laws they want to impement in 2009.
Mike
(BTW: Rick i'm fwding it on to GTAMC)
What the big thing is, is there will be hardly any competitors comming from the US, as they can still use lead (75%+ cars still use lead at the track)
No money comming from the big guys in the US comming here racing, means the tracks arn't gonna stay open. Plain and Simple.
So, us going to unleaded isn't the big problem, its the fact that others won't have to.
This is the same as all the bodyshops having to switch to waterborne, as per the new V.O.C. laws they want to impement in 2009.
Mike
(BTW: Rick i'm fwding it on to GTAMC)
01-11-2008, 01:25 PM
#6
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so the tracks close down and street racing becomes a big issue again. you know they wanna cut out street racing and then they try to practically shut down the tracks. guess what, the tracks close people and street racing is ognna become a huge problem
01-11-2008, 02:25 PM
#9
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Rep Power: 687 exactly. They wanna keep it off streets... but there forcing the tracks to close... doesnt make sense.
Hope they realize it sooner or later
01-11-2008, 03:41 PM
#10
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Rep Power: 714 I for one will continue to run pump/meth injection if they ever do make leaded fuel illegal, or I'll make the jump to straight meth and focus on making some serious power!
01-11-2008, 04:13 PM
#11
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there are lots of fuels out there and ways around lead...........
as stated, the big US guys use leaded fuels.
Its gonna happen everwhere, it just we may suffer, untill others are compliant too!
(and it will happen, NASCAR has already done testing, and will chage over)
Pro Racing Fuels
VP Racing Fuels
as stated, the big US guys use leaded fuels.
Its gonna happen everwhere, it just we may suffer, untill others are compliant too!
(and it will happen, NASCAR has already done testing, and will chage over)
Pro Racing Fuels
VP Racing Fuels
01-11-2008, 04:57 PM
#12
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Location: Hamilton
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Rep Power: 714 Some of you may be old enough to remember the last time they banned leaded race fuel back in the early 90s.
Cayuga had an IHRA national event and San Air Quebec had a long time running NHRA national event.
The fuel ban forced both to pull the races out of Canada.
The ban was lifted a year later but it was too late. Both NHRA and IHRA would not come back.
It took 10 years before IHRA gave us an event again. Still waiting on NHRA but with a new ban, it wont happen.
01-11-2008, 06:13 PM
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god i just can't wait to leave this place... doesnt sports car and touring cars now use unleaded? i sure hope so so at least mosport, tremblant and calabogie can stay around
01-12-2008, 12:23 AM
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Post #1000
No I don't give a flying f*ck about this thread. I just picked one to display my message.
Go back to all your "the world is against me because i drive a fast car and i street race cause im cool so why they gotta hate on my h22 swaped hatch and my amber jdm corners i don't know why my civic is so hated its the best car in the world one day it will be a collectors item i think im gonna sell my 89 crx for like 10gs next week even tho its worth so much more and im losing so much money god this forum is such a piece of crap hahaha" bitching.
No I don't give a flying f*ck about this thread. I just picked one to display my message.
Go back to all your "the world is against me because i drive a fast car and i street race cause im cool so why they gotta hate on my h22 swaped hatch and my amber jdm corners i don't know why my civic is so hated its the best car in the world one day it will be a collectors item i think im gonna sell my 89 crx for like 10gs next week even tho its worth so much more and im losing so much money god this forum is such a piece of crap hahaha" bitching.