No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

The Conservatives in this Federal election have brought this issue to a head. In their campaign material ( in this part of Alberta at least) they state on page 3 : The exemption on leaded fuel used for racing will end January 1, 2010. I called the local Conservative candidate to confirm what the article said and his assistant returned my call stating the Conservatives are very committed to ending the use of leaded racing fuel in Canada and the time from now until January 1, 2010 is sufficient for our sport to come up with alternative fuels. When questioned about the leaded fuels used by private and small commercial airplanes - she said that will be addressed sometime in the future. She also added that we should learn from NASCAR and take advantage of what NASCAR learned about unleaded fuel.

So you see, the 1.5% of the total leaded fuel imported into Canada that we use, is now an environmental pawn in this election. My suspicion is, if this same material hasn't appeared in the other provinces, these politicians are trying to gain favour with the electorate in Alberta, and Canadian’s in general, because of the negative focus on the oil sands and resultant environmental damage. In any case- removing the exemption is on their agenda with a confirmed end date.

The environment is extremely important and has to be protected, but - why start with a relatively small segment of the population that affects the livelihood directly and indirectly of so many. Canada needs all the tourist dollars it can get, and our races certainly have done their job over the years. Obviously for the Conservatives, the appearance of doing something is more important.

For this and other reasons, I know who won’t get my vote.

Mike Semeniuk
GTHA 632

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

There is no comparison between drag racing and NASCAR in the amount of fuel used !
43 cars running 500 miles probably consume 10,000 + gallons ! I think the would be about 5 times as much ad a three day drag race....just guessing

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Word is, those 43 cars average about 4 miles per gallon. The race itself, at 500 miles (Daytona) would use a little over five-thousand gallons (actually, 5,315 gallons,) but that doesn't include qualifying. I have no idea how far these cars go in qualifying, and that might be an interesting addendum to the 5,000+ gallon figure.

Anyone want to venture a guess on the amount of fuel used in qualifying for this race?

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I find it rediculous that our Canadian government is on a leaded fuel motorsport witchhunt, in the name of the enviroment, yet the vast majority of leaded fuel is consumed by boating and farming (which are involved in most of the food we put into our bodies), and aircraft, all of which supposedly have "lifetime" exemptions in Canada. Several years ago, a team from Enviroment Canada were monitoring the air around Mission Raceway in BC, and the lead content was reported to be "negligable". You would think that the Government would have more important issues to deal with (like crime, maybe?), than harass a small number of auto racers.

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I was talking about ONE NASCAR RACE.......you compare a bunch of different races. NO COMPARISON....

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

During qualifing they use 8 gallons and during pratice they use on avarge 15 to 20 depending on laps ran my cousin works for a nascar team and they do burn a ton more fuel than we ever have

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

One question that comes to the forefront of my mind is where do the other political parties stand on this issue? Is it even an issue with them? We are less then 24 hours away from being able to make our voices heard this could be a good tme to send a message

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I e-mailed 100's of MP's a few months back the last time this flared up. Don't lay this at the door of the conservatives, they ALL gave the same response. Blaming Harper for this is about the same as blaming him for the economic crisis around the world right now.

I'm pissed about the fuel issue too, and my point was we (in Canada) will change to an unleaded race fuel in a heartbeat...AS SOON AS IT IS APPROVED BY NHRA! Any MP who e-mailed me back said if we change then nhra will have to change, I said NO! it doesn't work that way, the States runs leaded and they will not change for the "fringe" racers. We WANT to run unleaded and WANT to help the enviroment but we are not allowed to use a NON APPROVED fuel. Until NHRA changes, can we have an exemption.

Answer...no. period.

They don't understand/don't want to understand/racers are not a big enough interest group who will sway votes, so....NO. period.

It is not a conservative thing or a liberal thing or even a green party thing, politicians don't race and don't care.

I certainly hope this doesn't turn into a political thread, it appeared as if it would of been a harper bash a thon, but has remained about the issue, which is fuel. Let's keep it that way.

Steve Polhill can fill us in more on how things are progressing when he has something to pass along.

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I thought most of the "tree huggers" were in Kalifornia !!!! :-)

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Probably the best thing we can hope for out of this lot is another minority government which will most certainly happen tomorrow. It will perhaps delay the process a bit longer anyway but I think all the parties are on the same page with this issue.
It is a tough task for many politicians to put the garbage on the curb never mine understand how racing works.

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

This was a move by the socialist environmental whackados in '91 or '92, the NHRA moved the race from Sanair after '92 because leaded fuel was going to be banned in Canada the following year!
So the libs have diddled around for 16 years and did not have the wherewithal to put the actual ban into effect after losing the National event!

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

The $20 a gallon is enough to cut it's use in my car. I mix a bit with 94 octane pump unleaded. Obviously that won't pass fuel check in NHRA classes.
Maybe the fuel rules need to be looked at again in the future to allow other gas and still detect "rocket" fuel.

By the way, it's election day here today so i'm off to put my X for "None of the above" or just choose the best looking female candidate. :)

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I wonder how much petrol those politico's use up flying around in private aircraft ?? On taxpayers tab at that........:-(

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Any news on this subject from Canada?
Cam

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Many racers including myself have been fighting this ban for some time now. I can tell you that e-mails DO NOT WORK. You MUST contact your local MP and get the proper information and send a letter to the correct Ministry department. When you send a letter it HAS to be noted in the archives and stays on file forever. E-mails do not. Call your local MP and express your displeasure on this fuel ban.
Send photos of your car and team, show them what our sport does for the community as a whole. Smother them with facts about all the good aspects of our sport. Just DO NOT BE threatening or ignorant. Threatening or ignorant letters WILL GET YOU NOWHERE! and will leave a bad impression on all motorsports. I have the proper address to send the letters to, I will locate it and post it.
The aviation industry has a lifetime exemption, if they did not have leaded fuel the aircraft would be falling from the sky because the engines would freeze up. The basis of the argument that the Ministry has is the possible traces of lead present at racing facilities. This has proven to be neglegable. Meanwhile aircraft burn it eveywhere and up over all of our heads in the atmosphere!!!! Who is the bigger threat to public health here??? Their argument has too many holes in it to be accepted. Fight this ban the proper way and we will have a chance to get it overturned.

Todd Melville
Melville Racing
1577 T/STK
1971 Boss 351 Mustang

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Agree with Todd. Best is to use solid/factual data sent to the right places to difuse the arguments of all those politicians from making political capital to solely get votes.....

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Todd,
Within the last two months I have taken over management of the local drag strip with a team of volenteers. We have strong support in the business community and are trying to create a safe place for people to come and have some fun. Everything from new hemi Challangers to 4X4 diesel pick ups with a 1000 ft/lbs of torque have showed up to race as the word gets out.
In the past I have met our local MP and he seems very approachable. What I would like to have is some fact based data to present to him on the net effects of leaded fuel in racing. Being a private pilot I have an idea of how much 100LL gets burned every day across the country and I'm sure racing is a small percentage by comparison.
Please send me any information that you have that might help resolve this relative non-issue.
Thank you for your help,
Cam

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I have the address to send the letters to:

Chief Fuels Section
Oil Gas and Alternative Energy Division
Energy and Transportation
Department of the Environment
Ottawa, Ontario Canada
K1A-0H3

Here is a copy of an e-mail with more information:

Environment Canada Proposal Threatens Competition Motor Vehicles

The Canadian Department of the Environment has issued a proposal to terminate the current exemption from environmental restrictions for leaded gasoline used in competition motor vehicles. If approved, the regulation would require a ban on vehicles using leaded fuel by January 1, 2009, resulting in the likely demise of all international drag-racing competition in Canada.

“In the first call to action by the newly created SEMA Action Network-Canada, the response by enthusiasts, car clubs and businesses has been overwhelming,” said SAN Director Jason Tolleson. “We are indebted to the individuals and groups who have spearheaded the efforts against this shortsighted proposal.”

According to government figures, competition motor vehicles use only 1.5% of all leaded gasoline consumed in Canada. The aviation industry, which owns a permanent exemption from the ban, accounts for the other 98.5%. It is also worth noting that U.S., U.K. and Australia regulators have not seen the need to enact a similar ban.

Of significant concern is the negative impact a leaded fuel ban will have on local and national economies. According to data compiled by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), drag-racing competitions and related expenditures by race teams, event organizers and tourists, among others, the ban would bring with it a multimillion dollar windfall for regions hosting these events.

Comments on the proposal were due to Environment Canada by February 13, 2008. Updates on this proposal will be available in future issues of Driving Force, as well as on the SAN website, www.semasan.com.

More information:

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/200.../regle1-e.htm


This is the link that takes you to the current Members of Parliament.

http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfP...ent&Language=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.

I will find out more when I talk to MP tommorow.

Todd Melville
Melville Racing
1577 T/STK
1971 Boss 351 Mustang

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

Todd,
Thank you for the information. Our MP will be home for the summer and I will track him down and"share my concerns".
Cam

Re: No More Leaded Race Fuel after January 2010!!
 

I read this post and decided to make a point that others seem to have wrong.........Nascar is using Unleaded fuel and has been for at least a couple seasons......