No Leaded Gas for Racers in Canada January 1st 2009

I received the following message from the Grand Bend Message Board today.

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 link to the government document is:
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20071222/html/regle1-e.html

Somehow I can't see NHRA or IHRA having 2 sets of rules, on for Canada and one for the US.

For any Canadian drivers who want the whole article and complete links e-mail me at maureenrieger@hughes.net and I will send you the e-mail.

Maureen

 

All I can say is wow...looks like there will be a lot of racecars for sale, and a bunch of those 165 race tracks turning into condos. Crappy deal, big time crappy deal...

 

Is there anyway to fight this legislation? Let us know if you need any help. I am not a citizen of Canada, but am willing to help anyway possible. An attack on drag racing is an attack on my way of life.

 

If this does indeed pass it would be a great set back; however, there are alternatives. One word = ethanol!

I know, I know, there is going to be a bunch of you guys dissing on me about this but I have been running it in my SuperComp for the past seven years and it does work great! The octane rating is between 114 and 117 @ 100% race grade.

I am only mentioning this if you need an alternative to the current race fuel available. Just trying to help, if you don't like the suggestion then don't pursue the possibility

There are more and more plants being constructed every year and Canada is getting their share.

I have made numerous attempts at getting organizations like VP Racing Fuels and Torco Racing Fuels to look into working with plants to provide a race grade ethanol that could be available at race events for the racers.

This is currently being done for the Indy racing league and has real possibilities. If you are interested and want to know more, you can check out EPIC's website at www.drivingethanol.org or if you are interested in checking out my personal website it is www.tsrdragster.com

Regardless, good luck eh!

 

If you are interested in Helping

If anyone is interested in stopping this legislation, please go to the following link and e-mail any one of the members of parliment listed. The more they hear from the racers, the more likely they are to listen.
I sent my e-mail to the Member of Parliment for my area with the emphasis on organized drag racing being an alternative to street racing. Like most places we are having a problem with street racers, however our police and communities have been promoting the tracks as a safe alternative.
I mentioned that if this law goes through, tracks will close and the street racing and associated deaths and injuries will increase.
Don't know if this will help, but certainly contacting the MPP's can't hurt.
If you read the link - the legislation is directed right at racers, not at anyone else.
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20071222/html/regle1-e.html
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?
Thanks for the offers of help.
Maureen