A NATIONAL EVENT IS JUST A DREAM
We run a '32 Bantam Spitzer altered at our local IHRA track
in Wisconsin. We would love to try it out at a National
event in Joliet, but due to the rules at NHRA it is not
financially possible. We will have to look at the possibility
of an IHRA event. We go to the U.S. Nationals every year
as spectators but our chances of ever running at a National
event is now nil.
Tom Ales
Larsen, WI
REBILAS GETS AN 'A'
The photo coverage of Seattle's Goodguys race is unreal!
Thanks to Mark Rebilas and DRO for giving us true art.
Dave Wallace Jr.
AND ANOTHER ONE
Wow! Great photos by Mark Rebilas of the Goodguys race.
Dramatic lighting and some really different angles than
we are used to seeing.
Tom Schiltz
DOT, CHAPTER AND VERSE
This is not meant to be confrontational with your article
but a review of my experience and the way I feel about the
situation.
Federal regulations Title 23 chapter 1 sec: 658.5 definitions
states:
Commercial motor vehicle is designed or regularly used to
carry freight, merchandise, or more than ten passengers,
whether loaded or empty, including busses but NOT INCLUDING
VEHICLES used for van pools, or VEHICLES BUILT AND OPERATED
AS RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.
Your class C minihome
is built on a van chassis and the gvwr for your vehicle
is put on by the van mnfg. not the motor home manufacture.
There are two certificates of origin with every purpose-built
motor home, the vehicle is titled as a recreational vehicle
using both C.O.R. but following the manufacture of the motor
home part not the chassis part. Your unit is a motor home
not a commercial vehicle, and as such has to abide by the
federal rule of 20,000 lbs per axle for weight requirements.
A recreational vehicle is described as every motor vehicle
primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational
camping or travel as defined in American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) Standards A119.2 and A119.5. The basic
entities are: travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper,
motor home and park trailer. This is a definition found
in Tennessee regulations.
I realize sooner or later the federal and states will begin
to try and regulate the motor home buisness/motorhomes/toter
homes but I wish we were not drawing their attention to
it so much. I have a toter home and have since 1996. Before
purchasing I contacted the Kentucky DOT and explained what
I was doing and they had no problem or regulation concerning
this type of vehicle.
I also have been pulled over in Illinois and asked to go
back to the scales but after confirming with the weigh master
what type of vehicle I was driving he determined I did not
need to go back to the scales.
I am sure at some time I will be pulled over again and
could possibly be ticketed. I have to travel to Georgia
this weekend for a race and have to travel through Tennessee
to get there. Tennessee is one of the states I fear the
most.
I more than likely this winter in preparation for the future
will conform to commercial DOT requirements required or
not. As a result of your articles I have started using a
log book and made sure triangles etc. are on board.
Thanks for your research and input on this subject.
Sincerely,
Dennis Hargett
