THE CANADIAN FUEL CRISIS?
Fri, 2008-01-11 13:54
Canadian fuel regulations have always been considered forward thinking
by those deeply concerned about the environment. Since 1990, Canadian
officials have exempted several industries from the conversion from
leaded fuels to unleaded fuels – specifically airlines, farms, boat,
trucks and eventually competitive motorsports. Fuels for the exempted
industries is imported, mostly from the United States.
A fourth extension of the exemption for competitive motorsports has now been proposed, however that exception is proposed to last only one year, with all competitive motorsports vehicles required to use unleaded fuels starting in 2009.
According to Ron Biekx, General Manager, Grand Bend Motorplex, a one year exception is a death sentence to the top levels of professional drag racing and the tracks hosting those classes. Canadian fuel regulations have always been considered forward thinking by those deeply concerned about the environment. Since 1990, Canadian officials have exempted several industries from the conversion from leaded fuels to unleaded fuels – specifically airlines, farms, boat, trucks and eventually competitive motorsports. Fuels for the exempted industries is imported, mostly from the United States.
A fourth extension of the exemption for competitive motorsports has now been proposed, however that exception is proposed to last only one year, with all competitive motorsports vehicles required to use unleaded fuels starting in 2009.
According to Ron Biekx, General Manager, Grand Bend Motorplex, a one year exception is a death sentence to the top levels of professional drag racing and the tracks hosting those classes.
“If this happens, Professional Drag Racing in Canada is over. Immediately, completely and forever. This isn’t the same as the challenges we’ve faced in the past. This time, they’re dropping the ‘Big One’.
No Pro Mod, No Pro Stock, No Top Fuel or Nitro Funny Car and no American competitors in any of our sportsman classes. Only Alcohol Funny Cars would remain unscathed.
“Although many Canadian sportsman competitors run their cars effectively on unleaded racing fuel or methanol, any of our competitors using leaded fuel have two choices. Change or quit,” said Biekx on the track's website.
Biekx believes the Canadian government is being unfair to his industry, citing the laws of other countries as being far less severe on competitive motorsports. According to government sources the total consumption of unleaded fuel by competitive is a minuscule 1.5 percent of the total leaded fuel consumed, with the remaining 98.5 percent consumed by the aviation sector which enjoys a permanent exception.
Clearly the banning of leaded fuel in competitive motorsports would be a serious blow to drag racing in Canada and to the IHRA which sanctions three major events in the country.
Further information on the this matter can be found at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20071222/html/regle1-e.html
A fourth extension of the exemption for competitive motorsports has now been proposed, however that exception is proposed to last only one year, with all competitive motorsports vehicles required to use unleaded fuels starting in 2009.
According to Ron Biekx, General Manager, Grand Bend Motorplex, a one year exception is a death sentence to the top levels of professional drag racing and the tracks hosting those classes. Canadian fuel regulations have always been considered forward thinking by those deeply concerned about the environment. Since 1990, Canadian officials have exempted several industries from the conversion from leaded fuels to unleaded fuels – specifically airlines, farms, boat, trucks and eventually competitive motorsports. Fuels for the exempted industries is imported, mostly from the United States.
A fourth extension of the exemption for competitive motorsports has now been proposed, however that exception is proposed to last only one year, with all competitive motorsports vehicles required to use unleaded fuels starting in 2009.
According to Ron Biekx, General Manager, Grand Bend Motorplex, a one year exception is a death sentence to the top levels of professional drag racing and the tracks hosting those classes.
“If this happens, Professional Drag Racing in Canada is over. Immediately, completely and forever. This isn’t the same as the challenges we’ve faced in the past. This time, they’re dropping the ‘Big One’.
No Pro Mod, No Pro Stock, No Top Fuel or Nitro Funny Car and no American competitors in any of our sportsman classes. Only Alcohol Funny Cars would remain unscathed.
“Although many Canadian sportsman competitors run their cars effectively on unleaded racing fuel or methanol, any of our competitors using leaded fuel have two choices. Change or quit,” said Biekx on the track's website.
Biekx believes the Canadian government is being unfair to his industry, citing the laws of other countries as being far less severe on competitive motorsports. According to government sources the total consumption of unleaded fuel by competitive is a minuscule 1.5 percent of the total leaded fuel consumed, with the remaining 98.5 percent consumed by the aviation sector which enjoys a permanent exception.
Clearly the banning of leaded fuel in competitive motorsports would be a serious blow to drag racing in Canada and to the IHRA which sanctions three major events in the country.
Further information on the this matter can be found at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20071222/html/regle1-e.html
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