MAGAZINE

OP-ED

All that's ok for now - the net doesn't cost much and since our readers have style there can't be too many of them or they'd be common!

That style is driven by the absence of a need to have style. Really cool people know they're cool and don't have to prove it to anybody. If the trend-setters say ' ya gotta have this gadget to be up-to-date', cool folks can live without it. Fashion will cycle back anyway.

Back to the pitch, here: we are a tiny group in the auto scheme of things and BINGO! Some Al Gore-inspired legislator says "Cars bad, old cars worse. There's the problem. Let's test 'em."

OK. Some of them are not too clean; but the overwhelming lot of special interest cars are maintained pretty righteous, in good time and tune. Who wants the shame of havin' a smoke belcher ?

Most of this iron is used only recreationally; most of them are owned by multiple-car owners, ergo one guy can only drive one car at a time , and if there's only one driven at a time, by multiple car owners, and only recreationally, then how productive is it to test them all? Look to the cumulative mileage accomplished by all collector cars in the country.It's peanuts. If those bureaucratic rascals want to put their invasive efforts to productive use, let's pick another segment of the motor population. How about pre-'80 Ford Vans? Unload the sixteen humans, cite them for no current registration and take them directly to test? Here in Cali they've got a 1-800-CUTSMOG line that you use to rat on nasty cars and trucks. I got tired of always saying "A pre-'85 Ford van, blue, license number blah- blah" The mileage accumulated here in just those vans (there are other culprits, e.g. mid 70's GM cars with 12 inch wheels hanging outside and O-ring tires) has to be 10 times the old car mileage.

Most of them aren't currently registered and probably are not insured. Would you cats run your piece without insurance?

When a car club association or SEMA or somebody asks you to send a letter to your legislator - DO IT !!!!