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		The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is a nationwide partnership between vehicle clubs, enthusiasts and members of the specialty auto parts industry who want to protect their hobby. Founded in 1997, the SAN was designed to help stamp out legislative threats to the automotive hobby and pass favorable laws. To date, SAN efforts nationwide have resulted in positive outcomes on a wide range of issues, including vehicle scrappage ("clunker") laws, equipment standards, registration classifications, emissions-test exemptions, and hobbyist rights. Any Downloadable Files Associated with this Article (Click on the file name to download it)
An interview with Colby Martin, Director SEMA Action Network
Click on the Thumbnails Below to Enlarge Conducted by the Editors of No Limits eMagazine  October 2015 – reprint with permission only.  No Limits: For those of us who are closely associated with the automotive hobby, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) has been a major asset since its founding in 1997. In addition to SAN’s success on “clunker laws” and other potential restrictions on the enthusiast, what would you consider to be the biggest success in the past five years? Colby Martin: Given the SAN’s nationwide spread and unique vehicle interests, narrowing down the greatest success is difficult.  A major win for the hobby came in 2009, where the SEMA Action Network (SAN) persuaded the U.S. Congress to spare cars 25-years-old and older from the scrappage heap and expand parts recycling opportunities under the “Cash For Clunkers” program.  The network has earned quite a number of other legislative victories at the state and federal levels as well.  Despite increasingly difficult odds in some cases, strides have been made in the areas of titling and emissions requirements for collector vehicles, limiting vehicle- and property-tax increases, protecting backyard restoration projects, expanding registration plate options, fair use of specialty parts, increasing recreational access to public land and limiting federal and state-level ethanol fuel mandates.  NL: What do you view as the most pressing current issues having potentially negative impact on the hobby? CM: At the state level, measures to increase registration fees, property taxes and add a vehicle mileage tax are frequently introduced by legislatures nationwide.  Proposals seeking to restrict certain specialty parts, such as aftermarket exhaust systems, are fairly common.  In many states, the privileges and accommodations extended to vintage vehicles are under increased scrutiny and would create a negative impact on vehicle owners.  We also keep a watchful eye on the confiscation of inoperable project and parts vehicles from privately owned property.  On the Federal side, the battle against the ethanol fuel mandate has been ongoing.  Thankfully, the tide seems to be turning in our favor. NL: Just received my copy of Driving Force Online magazine. SAN is now supporting the efforts of off-road enthusiasts. Can you give us some insight into your plans? CM: Given the mounting threats to the off-road niche, the SAN is expanding and enhancing its long-standing commitment to off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. Unreasonable government actions limiting motorized recreation have been a problem. Unfortunately, restrictive land-use designations still threaten thousands of miles of roads and trails across the nation. Politicians and regulators are being lobbied from many different directions on how to manage millions of acres of federal public lands. To enhance this effort, the SAN website includes a dedicated section for off-road issues and news, which can be found at semaSAN.com/OffRoad.  We have also begun sending out a new monthly on-line newsletter, The Navigator, which is focused on keeping enthusiasts informed on key legislative and regulatory issues impacting the OHV community.  We will continue to gather and organize allies to help this important fight. NL: What can the individual hobbyist do to a.) Help further SAN’s mission and b.) React to legislative alerts for their state? CM: Individuals can help shape the course of automotive-related proposals before they become law.  While keeping car enthusiasts posted on trends throughout Legislatures nationwide, the SAN gives its members easy-to-follow guidance on influencing bills in their jurisdiction—no cost, SPAM or “catch.”  Stay informed by enlisting at semaSAN.com/Join.  When a Legislative Action Alert is distributed, answer the call and contact the included lawmakers.  Finally, spread the word about our efforts by encouraging others to follow suit and get involved.  You may forward SAN messages, reprint them in your club’s newsletter and share our posts on social media.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SEMAActionNetwork  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/semaSAN  NL: SEMA is based in California, a state that has some severe restrictions on modifications to post-1975 automobiles. With the availability of pre-1975 cars decreasing every year, is SAN thinking of trying to influence a change in those regulations? CM: The struggles of car enthusiasts in California, my home state, are legendary.  In fact, the state is the only one in the U.S. permitted to create its own more stringent clean air regulations, which often are adopted by other states.  By way of background, emissions (smog) inspections are required for all vehicles registered in the state.  However, pre-1976 model year vehicles are granted an exemption.  Many will recall a valiant effort made in 2012 to ease the restriction.  That year, legislation (S.B. 1224) to exempt all motor vehicles prior to the 1981 model year from the emissions inspection requirement was introduced.  Thousands of hobbyists joined the effort and reached out to Sacramento in support of the bill.  Unfortunately, the initial momentum was not enough to persuade further movement from lawmakers.  Had the number of voices speaking on our side been greater, it’s possible the outcome would have been different.  NL: SEMA members have done a magnificent job of developing products for improved performance and handling for the newer family of performance cars while satisfying federal and state emission and environmental laws. Does SAN work with SEMA members in the development stage of new products? CM: Yes, SEMA has untangled a variety of state and federal emissions compliance requirements while identifying a streamlined path to navigating the regulatory landscape. Emissions-related aftermarket parts are regulated by the U.S. EPA, California Air Resources Board (CARB) and various other state air quality agencies.  Through the SEMA Emissions Compliance Center, SEMA can assist product manufacturers in developing marketable, emissions-compliant products and ready them for store shelves.   This includes actual emissions testing, assistance in the analysis of test data, preparation of certification applications and other laboratory and marketing services.  In addition to E.O. certification, the center also offers basic dyno services for the purpose of performance product development as well as iterative/R&D testing.  This new facility will make the process as easy and affordable as possible. NL: The AHPS is focused on preserving the written history of the automobile by obtaining and digitally scanning documents (brochures, advertisements, magazine article and factory correspondence) to place in our digital library for future research and education. How can we and SAN work better together? CM: Organizations like AHPS have been vital to the SAN’s legislative mission since the beginning.  Over the years, we’ve armed car clubs, associations, museums, businesses and other groups with materials to increase awareness of our fight against unfair auto laws.  Be it distributing literature, repurposing news items, utilizing SAN graphics and web links, sharing social media posts or press coverage like this article, groups like AHPS are invaluable in engaging individuals in the cause.  After all, hobbyist voices are needed now more than ever! NL: You seem to be everywhere—just how many miles do you travel every year for SAN? CM: Since the SAN membership extends to all fifty states and Canada, the network covers a lot of ground.  SEMA maintains a professional staff in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the hobby in our nation’s capital and in all fifty states.  Through our legions of contacts in individual states and provinces as well as our caucus of state lawmakers, we strive to maintain an active presence in every jurisdiction.  In addition, we set up a SAN presence at a few select automotive events as well.  The most mileage I accrue at one time happens on the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour, which covers several states and roughly 1,500 miles in seven days! A very brief bio on Colby: I’ve been fortunate to make a living in an industry that I’m deeply passionate about.  Although I have been the SAN Director for nearly four years, I’ve been with SEMA for more than eleven years in various roles.  By way of background, my family brought me to the drag races at Pomona, sprint races at Ascot and sand races on the dunes of Pismo Beach before I could clearly speak my own name.  That deep-seeded affinity for the hobby, has taken many forms throughout my life.  In fact, I’ve nearly finished work on an old-fashioned, chopped ’31 Ford Model A hot rod.  My dad and I have been building it from scratch in his garage off-and-on since 2002.  It will be making its debut at the 2015 SEMA Show, so please stop by booth #60003 (outside the convention walls of Central Hall near Meguiar’s “Car Crazy” stage) to see the finished project. We at the AHPS are proud to be a member of SEMA and have known Colby Martin, our friend, since 2011. We urge all our members to support SAN Thank you Colby SEMA Action Network -- our support is needed. Colby Martin -- Director SEMA Action Network (SAN) and an Honorary Member of The Automotive History Preservation Society. SAN—Ignited We Stand!—making a strong commitment to our sport. Driving Force Newsletter.