Once again the Canadian Federal Govt in all its wisdom
has decided that effective Jan 1,2009 ALL LEADED RACING FUEL
(C16, 114 Oct)will be BANNED from use in any competition vehicle in Canada.
This will be a death knell to all the NHRA & IHRA sponsored events that
both US & Cdn participants annually compete in Ontario,Quebec,BC.
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.
With the loss of revenue, the few remaining dragtstrips will close;
and "taking it to the track" will now be simply a moot figure of speech.

Excerpt from the Canada Gazette :

The proposed amendments
The proposed amendments would extend, until January 1, 2009, the exemption under subsection 3(2) of the Regulations with respect to gasoline imported, produced or sold for use in competition vehicles, from limits on the concentration of lead and phosphorus in gasoline, as specified in the Regulations (record keeping and reporting requirements would still be applicable).
The proposed amendments would provide the racing industry with a period of one year to adjust to the full provisions of the Regulations. In light of new scientific evidence regarding the impact of lead on human health, the proposed amendments would allow the continued use of leaded gasoline during the 2008 racing season, for which it is expected that racing events have already been planned, after which the Government of Canada intends to allow the exemption to expire.
The proposed amendments would also remove the provisions in subsection 4(2) of the Regulations which allow the production, import and sale of leaded gasoline for use in farm machinery, boats, and large trucks, as there has been no reported production, import or use of leaded gasoline for these purposes in recent years.
The proposed amendments would also update references to the test methods for determining the concentrations of lead and phosphorus in gasoline found in Sections 7 and 8 of the Regulations. Since the Regulations were last amended, these test methods have been reviewed and revised.
Industry
In the absence of the proposed amendments, 2008 racing events featuring competition vehicles using leaded gasoline would be cancelled, including those racing events sanctioned by major U.S. sanctioning bodies that use leaded gasoline (e.g. the IHRA and NHRA). Data show at least 12 events sanctioned by the IHRA and NHRA in 2007, located at race tracks in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia. The cancellation of racing events would have a direct, negative impact on facility revenues, in addition to indirect impacts on affiliated businesses and communities, with increased impacts on facilities that have already planned events for the 2008 season.
The cancellation of racing events is also likely to result in significant impacts for race tracks located in rural or remote locations, where economic activity affiliated with the racing facility may contribute more significantly to local economic activity when compared to facilities in more densely populated regions with more diversified economies.



If any concerned motorsports afficionado (US or CDN) would like to sign an online petition, you may do so here : http://www.petitiononline.com/Snakepit/petition.html

Stop the insanity !

thank you for your time...:)

I think it is a good idea. Leaded fuel has been known for a long time to be harmful and dangerous, and this is a practical law. Yes, some great racing series may have to be sacrificed, but with oil short anyway, they would've gone when hydrogen becomes big.

And besides, it isn't like it is impossible to adapt and keep in line with regulations.

I think it is a good idea. Leaded fuel has been known for a long time to be harmful and dangerous, and this is a practical law. Yes, some great racing series may have to be sacrificed, but with oil short anyway, they would've gone when hydrogen becomes big.

And besides, it isn't like it is impossible to adapt and keep in line with regulations.

Aston, racing only consumes 1.5% of leaded fuel still produced in
N.America. The majority of it is used by the aviation industry. So why ban only motorsports ?

Oh, and did u sign the petition ? Ok, maybe not...thanks anyway ! :)

Aston, racing only consumes 1.5% of leaded fuel still produced in
N.America. The majority of it is used by the aviation industry. So why ban only motorsports ?

Oh, and did u sign the petition ? Ok, maybe not...thanks anyway ! :)

Yeah I know, but as Tesco say, every little helps!

I didn't sign it, but I can understand why you would sign it.

I think it is a good idea. Leaded fuel has been known for a long time to be harmful and dangerous, and this is a practical law.

I tried my best to contain it, but I just can't. You're an idiot, plain and simple.

It's a damn shame jjo.. Canada is just messed up these days. One more reason to come to the US, eh?

I tried my best to contain it, but I just can't. You're an idiot, plain and simple.

It's a damn shame jjo.. Canada is just messed up these days. One more reason to come to the US, eh?

If the rest of motorsport can make do with unleaded, why is it so bad? Like I said, sports can adapt and change, and the flippant insults aren't welcomed. It is my opinion that leaded petrol isn't needed for motorsport to evolve and continue, and since when does siding with the government get me insulted? Like I said, it is my opinion, I agree the sports will be missed, but believe it is necessary. So if you don't like my opinion on this specific ruling, I'm sorry but insults aren't going to change it.

I'm 100% a motorsport fan through and through, but these sports were going to come to an end with the introduction of hydrogen soon anyway, don't think I'm a moaner.

To summarise, I can understand your reasoning, but flippant insults aren't going to change my opinion.

The rest of motorsports? You think drag racing is the only sport that uses leaded racing fuel? wow... lol




Anyway, there are plenty of alternatives... Ethanol, Alcohol... that are used in drag racing.

If the rest of motorsport can make do with unleaded, why is it so bad? Like I said, sports can adapt and change, and the flippant insults aren't welcomed. It is my opinion that leaded petrol isn't needed for motorsport to evolve and continue, and since when does siding with the government get me insulted? Like I said, it is my opinion, I agree the sports will be missed, but believe it is necessary. So if you don't like my opinion on this specific ruling, I'm sorry but insults aren't going to change it.

I'm 100% a motorsport fan through and through, but these sports were going to come to an end with the introduction of hydrogen soon anyway, don't think I'm a moaner.

To summarise, I can understand your reasoning, but flippant insults aren't going to change my opinion.

Don't kid yourself.

Banning racing fuel is just about the most pointless move towards becoming green there is. It's such a small impact on the market and the environment that all you're doing is pissing off the enthusiasts.

I'm sorry I hurt your wittle feelings I'm simply tired of hearing your bland and incorrect opinions.

Don't kid yourself.

Banning racing fuel is just about the most pointless move towards becoming green there is. It's such a small impact on the market and the environment that all you're doing is pissing off the enthusiasts.

I'm sorry I hurt your wittle feelings I'm simply tired of hearing your bland and incorrect opinions.

Can we just leave it? An argument is the last thing I want at the moment, and I'm sorry if our opinions differ, I guess it's because the ruling barely effects me. I think you are a good member and it would be foolish to argue with you.

I don't see the point in someone posting in this thread when it does not affect them. No offense or anything...

I don't see the point in someone posting in this thread when it does not affect them. No offense or anything...

Well I like to keep up to date with news, and I thought I'd post my opinion, perhaps I phrased it too strongly.

It's all good peeps...all opinions are welcome !
Us car folk should stick together, no matter which side
of the pond we reside in....:cool:

Monkey, this ban would only leave alcohol funny cars, no ?
That would pretty much kill the other classes...:cry:

It's all good peeps...all opinions are welcome !
Us car folk should stick together, no matter which side
of the pond we reside in....:cool:

Monkey, this ban would only leave alcohol funny cars, no ?
That would pretty much kill the other classes...:cry:

I didn't mean to discredit any of the motorsports involved, and I'm sorry if I came across too harsh. Plus I understand that with what little research I've done, my opinion can hardly be considered on equal terms with those of the more experienced. However, I agree we shouldn't argue over this.

I think they should just convert every motor vehicle back to leaded fuels. Then we can go back to cheap gas and big block V8's. That way we can stop talking about running out of petrol and just do it already. We are but a very small part of this World which has existed far longer than we have. To even think that we truly have such a massive effect on the globe and that our burning of fossil fuels is truly going to be the bane of man kind then I think you are a moron. There is just as much research to show that Global Warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon and that we as humans have little to no impact on it than there is showing otherwise. Even the president and founder of the Nation Weather Service has gone on record stating that Global Warming is the biggest farce in the history of man kind and that the scientific community as well as the government should be ashamed of themselves.

^^^

Werd ! :smt023

Guess I've got less than a year to finally get my ride on the strip & into the low 12's
(must work on my 60ft.) before the local venues close from lack of participants....
Dangit, I hate this green revolution ! :mad:

I think this is a case of government officials with to much time on their hands. So they do something that will please everyone who isn't effected and piss off all of those who are.
Seriously, how many people outside of the motor racing community and car enthusiasts actually knew that they were using leaded fuel?

This type of useless government intervention for the aptly put, green revolution, annoys me more than almost anything else.

Edit: Signed the petition.
Can't those who stand to lose money, such the drag strip owner and people who sell performance parts to drag racing teams or even regular people sue for a loss of revenue? Or even overturn the ruling.

Well I like to keep up to date with news, and I thought I'd post my opinion, perhaps I phrased it too strongly.Yes, you did.

It's all good peeps...all opinions are welcome !
Us car folk should stick together, no matter which side
of the pond we reside in....:cool:

Monkey, this ban would only leave alcohol funny cars, no ?
That would pretty much kill the other classes...:cry:Any car that runs on high octane leaded racing fuel can run ethanol.

For someone with "astonmartin" in their handle to approve the banning of leaded racing fuel (a miniscule percentage of total lead emissions) demonstrates total hypocrisy in SCF. Bicycle your tree-hugging weenie posterior outta here!

I hope your "nanny state" (I want my Mommy!) government BANS Astons as wastefull and unnecessary before you ever get to drive one. May you live out your motoring life driving a slow, boring, 2-cyl, chicken-manure-methane-fueled Yugo with a 40 lb catalytic converter! I hope a GATSO perches on your mailbox to boot!

Ignorance can be fixed. STUPID is permanent.

PS. Anyone quoting global warming crapola that has never taken and passed a chemistry course/lab might not be stupid. They are definitely IGNORANT.

PPS. Bring on the ethanol. High octane/renewable. Corn/food prices are already rising.

PPPS. If it doesn't already exist, I will start a Caribou Extermination Fund; if that's what it takes to drill for more oil.

^^^ Dude settle down. It's just a username.

What's with all the arguments & petty bickering on here lately? (yes , I have been a part of this also)

Well , I'm in Australia & ANDRA wouldn't let something like this happen to our great motorsport so it's all good down under!!

^^ YAY!!!!!!! I hope to go to a drag race soon, just to watch for now...

won't there still be street car classes able to run? :D

Honestly I think its a good intention being handled badly. We should definately move away from lead based fuels. We should be moving to alternative fuels in general. But the fact is the technology is still developing to a point where the average consumer will be happy.

I could udnerstand saying "hey drag racers you got 10 years to change/develope your technology away from lead based fuels, and if you do it we will give you a little incentive,"

Something to encourage them to change the sport and reward them for doing it. Not just saying well change now, and if you die, then guess your just **** out of luck.

I dont know if thats practical or if it could works. But every one needs to be making a move to a different fuel base. And no one should be put into a position where they will be put out of business because of it.

Lets kill all the caribou to drill for oil? Thats definitely not ignorant...

For someone with "astonmartin" in their handle to approve the banning of leaded racing fuel (a miniscule percentage of total lead emissions) demonstrates total hypocrisy in SCF. Bicycle your tree-hugging weenie posterior outta here!

I'm not an eco-warrior.

I hope your "nanny state" (I want my Mommy!) government BANS Astons as wastefull and unnecessary before you ever get to drive one. May you live out your motoring life driving a slow, boring, 2-cyl, chicken-manure-methane-fueled Yugo with a 40 lb catalytic converter! I hope a GATSO perches on your mailbox to boot!

Whoah...racist comments towards England...not needed.

Ignorance can be fixed. STUPID is permanent.

PS. Anyone quoting global warming crapola that has never taken and passed a chemistry course/lab might not be stupid. They are definitely IGNORANT.

I never said I believed in global warming, and, ur, I don't. You can't dissprove the fact that oil is going down the drainhole though.

PPS. Bring on the ethanol. High octane/renewable. Corn/food prices are already rising.

PPPS. If it doesn't already exist, I will start a Caribou Extermination Fund; if that's what it takes to drill for more oil.

I'm not after an argument here, and it is pretty immature to come in fighting for one.

^^ YAY!!!!!!! I hope to go to a drag race soon, just to watch for now...

won't there still be street car classes able to run? :DYes they can... and so can Top Fuel.

Originally Posted by astonmartin138
Whoah...racist comments towards England...not needed.

lol someone doesn't understand the terms race and racism...

Ok so this doesn't involve me directly but isn't there a whole load of ways to prevent knock without using lead ? Or am I missing something that makes it a big issue ?