ATTENTION ACCC MEMBERS & CALIFORNIA CAR ENTHUSIASTS

THE 2008 ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA CAR CLUBS, INC. LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE TOWE AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM 2200 FRONT STREET, SACRAMENTO.
MAY 7-9, 2008

THE AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS:
MAY 6, 2008 10:00 AM - 2:00PM- CAPITOL CAR SHOW AND SHINE on the west steps of the State Capitol.

MAY 7 - 8, 2008 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - PRESENTATIONS FROM CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, DEPT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VARIOUS LEGISLATORS, AND OTHER GUEST SPEAKERS. There will be a tour of Towe Automobile Museum and catered lunches.

MAY 9, 2008 TOUR - TBA. - It is very critical that we get representation from as many clubs and car enthusiasts as possible. We need to show our legislators and regulators that we are serious ab out saving our cars. There are some issues that are detrimental to the car hobby. In California, (Roadside sensing and a bill to bring the exempted cars back into the Smog Check Program in certain parts of the state; annual smog inspections for vehicles 15 years and older and Vehicle Amnesty.) If you want to keep the hobby alive in California, we strongly encourage you to send a delegate to the conference.

VISIT THE WEBSITE www.acccdefender.org or call Bob Stearns at 916-276-4081

Contact Ralph B. if you are interested in participating in this event. 432-5383

NEW MEMBERS
Are you new to the club? This guy wants to meet you!

Dave G. is the club's New Members Chairperson. He can help you learn 'the ropes' of the club. But he can't do that if he hasn't met you. He's usually at the Friday morning breakfast meeting. So come and say "Hi Dave! What's new? Oh, wait...I am!"

Here is the tale of how the computer ate my homework. If you go to the Friday breakfast or the general meeting, you know I have been out of town for a week. I wrote my President's Message, entirely about the dangers of SB 1549, on Kelly's laptop while I was out of town, intending to send it to Diane by email. In it, I urged everyone to write to all the members of the Transportation Committee, voicing opposition. I tried to send it by paying for WiFi (and two Lattes) at Starbucks. It did not go through, but I didn't know until I called Diane. Then I went trolling for an unsecured WiFi by some apartments (it does work and is free!), but still could not get it to send. So I get back here and retrieve my emails on my desktop, only to find you should not write to Legislature's Transportation Committee, but to Bob Stearns of ACCC at taznova@netzero.net. Maybe my computer knew I was screwing up and refused to send it. Scary thought.

Okay, enough with my hard luck story, what about SB 1549? Label it HAZARDOUS TO COLLECTOR CAR HEALTH. This bill would make annual smog checks required on ALL vehicles 15 years old and older if they are located in the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. The exemption for 1976 and older cars will be rescinded if you live there and your '32 rod will be tested along with your '02 SUV. Okay, you say, you're not in that district, so it won't affect you. Why should you worry here in Nevada County? Because it is only the beginning. The justification for this bill is that the air is bad there. It is also often bad here. Once the wall protecting collector cars is breached, we're no longer protected from the flood of changes that will follow. Forcing collector cars to conform to the draconian smog laws is not reasonable. Our engines were not made in a way to run at the currently-allowable emission levels. I remember when I had to get my '63 Vette passed when I first registered it in my name in 1987. To get it to pass, the testing station adjusted the air/fuel ratio on the FI unit. When I drove out, it ran like a sick VW Bug (0-60 in six minutes) and I almost got hit as I pulled out on the street. And that is a bone-stock engine! Imagine what it will mean to those engines that are not stock. This is a bad law, one that will set our hobby on the road to ruin. More detailed information on the law and what you can do to stop it is in this newsletter. Even if you are not into writing letters, now is the time to do so. If you don't bother, don't complain if, in the near future, you can no longer register and drive your car.

'Nuff said, I'm outta here.

General Meeting Minutes
Monday, March 31, 2008 • Salvation Army - 6 p.m.

Board Members Present: Sheila A., Larry E., Terry E., Dave G., Edie H., Ron N., Karen S. Board Members Excused: Ralph B., Ron C.

Call To Order: The meeting was called to order by Vice-President, Larry E. There were 30 members/spouses present.

New Members Present: We welcomed new members, Christy B.
Guests Present: There were no guests present.

Approval of Minutes of the last meeting (in Newsletter) and of Tonight's Agenda.

Treasurer's Report - Sheila A. gave a brief Treasurer's Report (Report handed out to attendees.)

Other Board Member Reports:
Terry E., Events chair, reviewed the April and May events. He indicated that a leader is needed for the Daffodil Hill run. It needs to be done in the next week or so if anyone is interested, please contact him. The Mystery Tour dates have been changed to Oct. 17-19.

Car show heads, Thane A. and Duke K. reported that the 'Grass Alliance' had met and although there has been nothing done yet to the lawns at the fairgrounds, several solutions have been proposed. These include re-plugging/re-seeding program as well as a grass Òsurcharge: to charge those who use the grass. Maintaining the lawns seem to be the issue. Another meeting has been scheduled to look at further options.

Ron N. outlined the shows where the engine will be towed this year. He will email a list to Diane B. who will put it up on the website.

OLD BUSINESS
1. Golden Rule - We did not place first again this year. We do not plan participating again.
2. Additional Ideas to ensure members know dues are due by due date. Several ideas were circulated that would help members remember when dues are due.
3. Penn Valley Rodeo - Janene P. reported that the 17th of May is the Penn Valley Rodeo. The organizers would like to have several of our cars parade from Western Gateway Park to the Rodeo site, and that would be the extent of the participation. Contact her for additional information.

NEW BUSINESS
• Schedule Conflict- Mc Clelland AFB and the Townsmen Car Show -Both are on May 31- We try not to schedule conflicting events, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Both promise to be great runs, and anticipate a good club representation at both.
• Haggarty's Model Building Contest - Ron N.- Haggarty's has contacted Ron N. and asked for 5 kids between the ages of 8-14 who'd like to construct a plastic automobile model. The cars would be put into competition locally, then the 1st place model would be sent to Haggarty. They will select the top 5 models, and those winners (and their families) will win an all-expenses paid to Monterey to attend the Concourse de Elegance, August 13-14. The winning clubs will also get $500. Contact Ron N. to get a model, or more information.
• ITEM ADDED: HAN and the Swap Meet - Larry E. reported that Butch Gardner has guaranteed us a comp-ed space at the Hot August NightÕs Swap Meet at Lawler Events Center this summer. Plan on working the booth sometime over the time HAN is open.
• ITEM ADDED: Alexander Rossi - If you're interested in going to Willows to see Alexander Rossi, and the formula cars, contact Ron N. no later than April 11. Cost is $225 per couple, and the event will be held at Thunder Hill in Willows on May 9. Antonio Ferrari and the chief engineers of Ferrari will be on hand.

Ron P. announced that Rita B. is hosting an after-car-show party at her home on April 26, following the Downtown Car Show. Call her for directions and details.

There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m.