Mid Coast Show

So today I get this Manila like envelope from the Bath Rec. Dept with a flyer for the Mid Coast Show. Along with the Flyer was other info and Blah Blah Blah about how great their show is, was or will be. Clearly stamped on this wonderful info packet was the .61 bulk rate postage. But wait another little stamp that says...

...POSTAGE DUE .44

Great way to promote your show, piss me off before you tell me I can't put up my Canopy.

I'm Coming to your Show and my Admission will be $9.56 and I'm paying in pennies.

The Plot Thickens

LD 1306 is out and Scheduled for Public Hearing on the 12th of April at 1pm before the Transportation Committee. You can read the full text here, http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billtexts/HP095801.asp .

The Summary is easier reading but does not really do the language justice. Here is the Summary,

This bill amends the definition of "antique auto" to include that the vehicle may be used for occasional personal use and that it may not have undergone a change in some of the component parts of the vehicle. It amends the definition of "custom vehicle" by changing the number of years of age that would constitute a custom vehicle from 30 years to 25 years. It removes the weight limit of what constitutes a custom vehicle and indicates that the exemptions adopted by the Chief of the State Police apply to a custom vehicle. The bill also directs the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles to invite the participation of representatives of antique auto, street rod and custom vehicle organizations to review the affidavit that must be filed with the bureau when registering an antique auto, custom vehicle, horseless carriage or street rod and to report to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature with its findings.

The Language in this Bill is Horrific, the "undergone a change in some of the component parts of the vehicle" is absolutely not the language promised and I DO NOT Agree with it. However after talking to the MCAA Rep. that wrote this drivel, it was explained to me that he submitted a draft that had "Modified" and "Altered" used in the wording and after two attempts at the wording the Revisers Office came up with this. He will not stand by his own bill if the wording does not change. Think "Spell Check" gone "Politically Correct".

The portion of the Bill that I do Support is the formation of the stakeholders group to help clarify and come to a viable conclusion in closing the loophole. This could lead to a correction that would actually work. It would be better to let us handle it rather than the State, which could be compared to calling a Plumber to be the Electrician. In the mean time the Right Reverend Fudgewhistle and his followers are rallying against this bill, insisting that it is a plot by State Officials and paid lobbyists to make it more difficult to register and enjoy Antique Automobiles. Even going so far as to call it "a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing".

If that is True I'm the Ogre under the Bridge.

The soup is turning to stew, and I'm not in charge of Stirring the pot.

History Lesson

I have searched for an exact date of inception and basically run into brick walls but the general consensus is that the Antique Auto Plate came about in the mid-1950s. At that time the Antiques that qualified were 1916 and up to the mid-1930s. These were registered under Title 457 of the State statutes where they still are to this very day. Title 457 is the Speciality Vehicle Registration pigeon hole that has caused much controversy in recent years including this year. More on that in a bit.

In the ensuing years after the issue of the Antique Auto Plate, a group of younger "tiquers" were making modifications to their vehicles. This really did nothing to endear themselves into the hearts and minds of the MOAL or the AACA (Maine Obsolete Auto League & Antique Automobile Club of America respectively). As the tension between the groups grew, the younger "tiquers" became Street Rodders and approached the State Police and Legislators to get their own plate. This time frame is also believed to coincide with the founding of the NSRA in the 1970s.

By the end of the 70s the Street Rod Plate was a fact of life, the Tiquers were happy and so were the new guys "the rodders". Only one problem, the Registration criteria was also listed in Title 457.

Title 457 was originally for Antique Autos which by definition are a limited use vehicle. Street Rods at the behest of the rodders were not limited use and were indeed made to be inspected by the Chief of the State Police again at the behest of the Street Rodders.

In the year of our lord 2005 the Custom Auto plate saw the light of day and this to is listed in 457 and again in 458b. These enthusiasts working with the MCAA and a large contingent of Rodders wanted the same rights and permissions that the rodders had and that is what they got.

The controversy lies in the fact that Title 457 is for limited use vehicles which do not need to be inspected. This was a good thing in the 1950s. In 2011 it is not such a good thing and has caused a rift of sorts between the Customs/Rodders and the "tiquers". This Anti-Inspection contingent is basically led by, You Guessed It, the Right Reverend Fudgewhistle and the Church of Holy Misinformation.

The belief of the Reverend is that because the language of Title 457 is based on the limited use definition and because the registration criteria for Street Rods and Customs is also listed in Title 457 they to are Limited use. Thus his sermon from the mount is that Antiques, Street Rods & Customs are all limited use. Being limited use they need not be inspected.

I'll Continue this later.

Loophole

I have been trying to write this for at least a week. I have been working on a way to keep it short so as not to loose you in some long diatribe. I have not come up with a way, so I'll sell it in small increments.

It started a few months ago with an editorial article in a major publication asking a question. The Question was, "can our hobby be outlawed"? The answer was yes. This subject continued with different wording through every major Auto Enthusiast Magazine, coming to the exact same conclusion. They can Legislate us out of existence.

The main purpose of these articles and editorials was to get the word out on how to contact your legislators. The articles also stated ways to keep the wolves at bay by introducing legislation in favor of our hobby. As we all know if we don't introduce a way to police ourselves, the state will, in a much more restrictive manner than we really want. Or possibly by imposing a fee so exorbitant we could no longer afford to be in the hobby.

In our state we have a system that works on the committee/public hearing format, which in itself is a good system as long as you know the ins and outs. A person or an organization can talk a legislator into sponsoring a bill which then goes to the committee that is in charge of the subject matter. At some point a public hearing is scheduled and those Proponents and Opponents are able to expend their respective opinions before the committee.

The organization that has introduced the most legislation that is Pro-Hobby is SEMA or in our state the Maine Custom Automobile Association. They have worked with Stakeholders and State Agencies to get legislation passed that will assure our hobby continues for years to come, but have also battled other agencies that want us to fade into history. I myself have worked with the MCAA and at times have been in opposition to some of their agenda.

A loophole exists in our hobby that allows several hundred vehicle owners to circumvent the rules and regulations, by allowing them to register their older vehicles as Antiques. These vehicles have either been deemed unsafe by Motor Vehicle Inspection regulations or the owner has made some modification as to cause it to be un-inspectable. Most of these are the former and really raise the ire of the State Agencies in charge of Vehicle Inspection and Registration. The Agencies have murmured quite often that they need to close this loophole in any way they can.

In a move to Preempt the state, the MCAA has gotten a piece of legislation Sponsored that will help in partial closure of the loophole. This will be done with a wording change to existing language and the formation of a stakeholders group consisting of hobbyist organizations, state agencies and individuals who have an interest in our hobby. Ultimately, this group will work together in coming to a viable plan with those parties involved to close this wound.

As soon as I get the final language we will continue this. With a little history lesson.

HELLO! Are you out there?

Anyway the Rev. Fudgewhistle is beating a Bee's Nest to death and I'm hanging out waiting for the Fallout.

Update on the Kora Shrine Car Show, as you all know it has been cancelled and here is the official Statement from the Website.

Important Update on the Kora Car Show
The Kora Car Show & Fly In has been cancelled for 2011. The nobles and members of the Car Show Committee met recently and decided that we needed to take a closer look at this event. It was decided to cancel the event for the 2011 year and re-visit the question later to determine if it is something Kora wishes to continue.
If you have any comments either way, please send us your comments at http://www.korashriners.org/Kora-Car-Show-and-Fly-In/Contact-Us/

Let's be nice as it may come back and be worse than it was.

Got an e-mail for all of you Big Daddy Caddy lovers, having to do with a World Record Attempt for the largest Cadillac Parade in celebration of Orleans County Vermont's native son Henry Leland the inventor of both the Cadillac and the Lincoln Automobiles. Born and raised in Barton Vermont Leland developed the Caddy and later went on to form the Lincoln Motor Co. to build airplane engines for WWI. Anyway get some more info at http://vermontsocfnews.blogspot.com/

As the season draws nearer some of the shows being posted on several sites are lacking in details IE Kezar Falls and Durham just to mention a couple. Please get the Details out ASAP or e-mail a flyer to here or to the Road Scholars at http://roadscholars.webs.com/ . If you get info on a new Show get it to us and it usually is posted within 24 hours of reception.

Bonney Eagle finally updated its web site and it looks like the usual mumbo jumbo of promised changes and almost got it right this time. Only time will tell.

Wake up out there, Spring is here and I'm smelling fresh fuel and new oil. That just means it's about that time.

Once Upon a Time

You all remember the tales of Capt. Nutsack and his nefarious minions of "all that was evil". It has been awhile since we wrote the stories that made us laugh. Of course these same tales also caused us to pause and realize that this was nervous laughter and the truth was actually being told.

Yesterday, I received a Phone call from another character in our hobby who will be now known as the Rev. Fudgewhistle. I met the Rev. Fudgewhistle several years ago at a public hearing in Bugusta pertaining to our right to drive Street Rods and Customs. His bible of choice at that time was the statute book circa 1955 which he misquoted chapter and verse.

At his "Church of the Holy Misinformation", he and his deacons have decided to start a campaign that in all likelihood would drag our hobby into the nether regions and into the great oblivion that is Hobby Hell. After his last defeat in 03, when the Transportation Committee heard from his testimony "for" his proposed bill (which the sponsor didn't even show up for) and 25 against, causing this to get the "Ought Not to Pass" heading, he has been quiet. We all wished that he had gone away, but like a bad Penny or sexually transmitted disease he is back.

Quoting from his Statute Pulpit (which was partly repealed in 93 and 03), stating the misinformation that says the Street Rods and Customs are limited use and not required to be inspected he thought he would be embraced by the hobby but found out differently.

He wished to gain favor with me and others among us, to help him show the error of our ways to others. After having him tell me that I was misinformed and had formed a opinion that was wrong, I stopped his sermon and left him to his own voice on the line.

The Reverend Fudgewhistle has since contacted several members of the Road Scholars and other Clubs in his endeavor to gain favor with the hobbyists. So far his reception has been as icy as a January rain storm.

More from the Rev. Fudgewhistle in the future I'm sure.