By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
 The SEMA Garage Open House gives motorsports businesses and enthusiasts an insiders’ tour of the state-of-the-art facility and the equipment behind it. The multi-facility Industry Innovation Center also provides racers and businesses a convenient way to test their cars and products to ensure they meet state and federal regulations. |
The SEMA Garage’s annual Open House is one of the automotive industry’s hottest events of the year. The event gives motorsports businesses and enthusiasts an insiders’ tour of SEMA’s state-of-the-art facility and the equipment behind it. The multi-facility Industry Innovation Center also gives racers and businesses a convenient way to test their cars and products to ensure they meet state and federal regulations. In fact, this year’s Open House will feature the Garage’s new emissions compliance center.
“The SEMA Garage represents the best of our industry’s innovative prowess, showcasing the cutting-edge tools and equipment that can revolutionize the way our industry develops products,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development. “It also represents our industry’s commitment to meeting critical compliance measures, and underscores our important, long-standing relationship with state and federal regulators. It’s ironic that as we celebrate the Garage, including our new, state-of-the-art emissions center, the EPA continues to threaten the future of our industry and community with a misguided position.”
This year’s event comes as the industry continues to operate under a cloud of uncertainty regarding how it is regulated. In July 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule that would prohibit the conversion of emissions-certified vehicles into racecars and make it illegal to sell any emissions-related parts for those cars. With pressure from Congress, the EPA backed down on the specific regulation. However, the agency maintains that it has the authority to regulate street vehicles modified exclusively for the track and the businesses that make those products, despite Congressional intent.
A bipartisan bill now pending in the U.S. Congress—the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act—would make it clear now and in the future that modification of street vehicles for competition is legal and beyond the reach of EPA regulations. The RPM Act addresses any doubts regarding regulation of racecars and gives the public and racecar industry much-needed certainty regarding how the Clean Air Act is applied.
The Open House provides racing enthusiasts and SEMA members with a number of opportunities to engage with their lawmakers, customers, families and friends about the RPM Act and the need to protect the future of motorsports.
Open House guests are encouraged to:
- Put on a “Save Our Racecars” button, take a photo and share it via social media using #RPMAct and #SaveOurRacecars hashtags.
- Find the RPM Act kiosk, where they can send an email to lawmakers about the need to support the RPM Act.
- Take an RPM Act postcard that includes information and a link to a valuable website, where photos, videos and media materials can be downloaded and used to spread the word.
Can’t make it to the Open House? Learn how you can help support the RPM Act.