Dept Of Trans seminar by IMA last Wed

[Lynn A McCarty]

My new wife Sheila and I attended an IMA http://indianamotorsports.org/ seminar last week concerning DOT regulations for not only Indiana, but traveling across the US in a tow vehicle. There were some NHRA Sportsmen, circle track, sprint car, and guys representing John Force, Don Shumacher, Lucas :Oil racing teams. Also Lonnie from Showhauler and a consultant ex-State Police officer which is really for professional teams to hire. Also at the meeting was Amy a representative from the DOT which seemed to be somewhat knowledgeable although not about certain details. There was also an very young attorney that represents the Indiana State Police not a police officer.

As we talked, it was very apparent to most of us that probably 90% of all racers are grossly illegal to operate on Indiana highways. NHRA was asked to attended and no one came. It seems that all over the US police are starting to stage road blocks to National Events similar to the incident at North Carolina where Bruton Smith got involved. Going straight to the governor is what it took, but IMA recommends a grass roots level approach. I believe both are in order.

Some really disturbing revelations here the major ones are:
*Over 10,000lbs total vehicle weight makes you commercial no exceptions
*If you are an RV absolute length limit for IN is 60 feet some states 65 feet.
*If you are a commercial truck doing motorsports no length limit.
*GVW 16,000 and 26,000 lbs., you need a chauffeur license
*GVW over 26,000 you need a CDL
*California has special regulations for exhaust particulate emissions requiring capture.
*Amy & her State Police partner insisted that these are Federal Department of DOT and states have very little wiggle room.

Many State Police are targeting National Events due to revenue enhancement tactics. We need to address this as a body. The representative from John Force who does the vehicles full time said they had to make the decision NO RVs pulling race cars! It simply isnt legal in most cases. I informed the whole group that there are over 1000 race cars at Indy and probably 90% are illegal based on what I heard. The general consensus of the group was agreement. I tried to gain the entire group's help to come together to help the Sportsman as I know people like John Force cares about the sportsman racer.

This is boring and cheesy, but you might want to view the talking video link below called StartPoint. It really creates more questions than answers, but there are phone numbers to call.

http://www.in.gov/dor/4394.htm (again if you are over 10,000 gvw you are commercial)

Sheila being an attorney really doesnt think any of them presented actual studies of the law, nor is it clear in any of these instances what the laws actually are. As the website states (proudly) there is a truck load of information to wade through. In any case we are subject to the police officer who stops us. It is up to a $25,000 fine if you are considered a commercial enterprise and ignoring the laws.