Exhaust Fumes: March 2015

3/29/15

The Process

As questions come in quite often in regards to legislation that affects our hobby there is a process to the messed up procedure that we call business in Bugusta.

A bill which can be listed as a LD, SR, HR or some other derivative that they use as a language in the Minion Halls of Bugusta is put forth. it goes to the revisers office who in its infinite wisdom changes the language from simple English to Politico which even the minions don't quite grasp.

From there it gets thrown to the floor of the legislature and kicked and trampled until someone decides to throw it back to a committee. The committee then puts it on their schedule for a public hearing at which "We The People" get a chance to speak their piece on the matter in three categories, for, against or neither for or against ( not sure why they need to include the fence sitters) at which point the committee in it's infinite wisdom will do one of two things.

If the opposition is large enough they will give the "ought not to pass" order and bill is virtually dead from that point, or the opposite can also pass if the proponents are many. The second thing is that it goes to a Work Session which means they are thinking about all the information given at the public hearing and will ask for some input from select proponents and opponents before deciding on what to order for lunch. It is a process that works for them but amazes me.

The Ethanol bill is scheduled for a work session. So now we order lunch and wait.

3/24/15

Well...

The last post was a little reality check for a number of reasons. The main thing to remember is participate, no matter how trivial you may think the task at hand is, participate.

I remember when the Rusty Nuts was formed. I also remember when I got a phone call from the founder and president, Dave Crawford that he had stolen members away from the club I was then the president of (Knucklebusters) and how worried he was that I would be angry about it. I showed him my anger by joining the Rusty Nuts at their next meeting.

Show your support to your club and other clubs. Participate in your Club functions as well as some other clubs function. We as a hobby need clubs as an organizational tool against those that would have our hobby cast in the hopper for whatever reason gives them a stiffy at that moment in time.

Several clubs have had that non participation disease in the past but have somehow managed to keep afloat. Several clubs have perished for whatever reason and most if not all the former members have joined other clubs. I would like to thank the Knucklebusters ahead of time for picking up the Togus Veteran's Event and keeping that going. I would also like to wish them luck in picking up some of the members of the Rusty Nuts to swell their ranks.

As you all know shit happens. This shit didn't have to happen. Participation by any and all members of a club should be an unwritten rule and common sense.

3/22/15

Will the Last One to Leave Please Turn Off the Lights

March 22, 2015

Members and Friends of the Rusty Nut Car Club.

AFTER 14 YEARS THE MEMBERS OF THE RUSTY NUT CAR CLUB HAS DECIDED TO DISBAND.

During the month of March we had two meetings to decide the future of our club. This would be my fifth year as Club President and there is no one in our club interested in taken this position. We also have a need for Treasurer and no member was interested in doing this position. We have had for the past three years trouble getting these positions filled. We have had new members join but expressed no interest being an officer of the club.

We have over 20 club members and they all agree it is time to disband the Club. Two years ago I could see this may be an issue and started to have joint meetings with the Knucklebuster Club. David Barrett President and Secretary Deb Desjardins of the Knucklebusters have been very supportive of our Club and they have done a great job with the Togus event. I have recommended to our members if they want to join another car club, consider the Knucklebusters.

We still will have the Togus Event with the Knucklebusters and other groups working on this event like the previous years. Members of the RNCC will continue to be a part of this event.

The Cruise-In at Topsham will still happen and will be a Knucklebuster event but will have RNCC members continue to work at this show. The 50/50 will still happen and the money will go the Togus event like the previous events.

The members decided to give the money left in the treasury to three groups. Money will be given to the Knucklebuster for the upcoming Togus Event. The other money will be given to Sweetser for their children’s Christmas event. We have been given to Sweetser for many years. The remaining money will be given to the Travis Mills Cruise-in event this year.

The Knucklebusters Club has offered a one year free membership to any RNCC member wishing to join their club. An application is attached.

Maybe someone will bring the club back and if so, I will have all the RNCC information.

A special THANK YOU for those of you who have supported the RNCC events.

Lee Patenaude

RNCC President

3/14/15

Be a Citizen

Assert your right to voice your opinion. Below is an urgent alert from SEMA on ETHANOL additives in our Gasoline. We have a chance to rid it from our fuel but only if you help by contacting the committee in charge.

The only ETHANOL we need in our state should be in a bottle for human consumption not in our tanks to separate like a cheap salad dressing.

Maine Bill to Prohibit Ethanol Blended Gasoline to be Considered on Thursday, March 26, 2015

In 2013, SAN-supported legislation to prohibit the sale and distribution of corn-based ethanol in Maine was signed into law. Under the new law, 10 other states or a number of states with a collective population of 30,000,000 would have to enact a similar prohibition before the Maine law could go into effect. This year, legislation (L.D. 602) has been introduced to amend the law to provide that this prohibition would take effect if only 3 other states have enacted laws that prohibit the sale of motor fuel containing corn-based ethanol. L.D. 602 will be considered by the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

If You Have Not Done So Already, We Urge You to Contact Members of the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee (Contact Info Below) Immediately to Request Support for LD 602

LD 602 recognizes that ethanol increases water formation which can then corrode metals, plastics and rubber, especially over a period of time when the vehicle is not used. Current high performance specialty parts along with pre-model year 2001 cars and parts may be most susceptible to corrosion.

LD 602 recognizes that the life span of vehicles and equipment can be dramatically reduced with the wrong fuel and that owners could be confronted with break downs. Anti-corrosion additives are available for each purchase of gasoline but can become expensive, burdensome and require consumer education.

LD 602 recognizes that there has been an inability to obtain unblended gasoline for engines that may be damaged by ethanol.

LD 602 would not take effect until at least 3 other states have enacted laws that prohibit the sale of motor fuel containing corn-based ethanol.

DON’T DELAY! Please contact members of the Maine Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee by phone or e-mail to request their support for L.D 602.

Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts. Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.

Maine Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee

To e-mail all Committee members, copy and paste the email address block below: