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MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation 10NR17 – MRF News Release – Washington Update FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington Update The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has learned that a letter has been sent by 4 US Senators to President Obama criticizing the recent announcement by the EPA to delay the mandate that would force gasoline manufactures to move from 10% ethanol/gasoline blends to 15% ethanol in its blends. The new blend is commonly referred to as e-15. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) all signed a letter delivered to Obama yesterday, June 23rd. The senators, all from states that have a large economic interest in ethanol, stated that the gulf oil spill underlines the need for less reliance on fossil fuels and a greater need for more ethanol use. The EPA decided to push a deadline on issuing a rulemaking that would mandate the use of 15% blends across the country. The new time frame is early fall for release of the ruling. The EPA states that the new blend will be safe in auto engines manufactured after 2001, after testing just 18 vehicles. It is not clear if any of those vehicles was a motorcycle. The agency went on to state that it is also not clear if the new blend would damage vehicles earlier than 2001. Ethanol causes an engine to run hotter and get less gas mileage, but it does reduce carbon monoxide emissions making it the darling of environmentalist groups. However, air cooled engines are likely to run so hot with the new blend that engine damage is almost going to be unavoidable. The lawmakers called that first delay “unnecessary and unfortunate” in their letter but said they are more concerned about news late last week that EPA will not make a decision until later this fall. This second delay should “not be tolerated,” the lawmakers said. The letter asks Obama to “take all action necessary” to expedite the waiver petition and immediately consider an interim blend of 12 percent ethanol. The same problems arise with a 12% blend as with a 15% blend. No one knows what the compromise blend will do to motorcycles, air cooled engines, or other vehicles pre 2001. Should you hail from one of the States that the four Senators are from, the MRF encourages you to contact them and ask for proof that the new blend will not harm the engines in question. All others are encouraged to contact the White House on this important matter. “Its crucial that the American people press for more testing on this issue as Obama cabinet members have gone on record saying they ‘are confident’ this new measure will be approved” said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. White House Contact info Highway Bill At a recent meeting with Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the chief architect of the financing portion of the next Highway Authorization Bill, the MRF learned that the support for the robust financing the bill deserves is just not there. With Federal spending already at an all time high, the political will to raise any funds for the bill has slipped away for the time being. It’s unlikely at this point that a final bill will be passed before the current extension is up at the end of this year. The MRF encourages you to attend any town hall style meetings your Senators or Representatives may hold over the 4th of July break and urge them to get a bill passed soon. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation will keep you updated on these and any other issues affecting motorcyclists. I was perusing the course offerings from various motorcycle training organizations in Washington a few days ago to see what was available for you, the riders of Washington State. I know all about the general Motorcycle Safety Foundation offerings [Basic Rider Course™, along with intermediate and experienced versions] as approved by the Department of Licensing under the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program [WMSP]. What I was amazed with is the sheer number of different classes and the great opportunities out there to take our riding skills past the BRC™ offered throughout the state. There are no less than 12 different classes/curriculums available with a couple new ones that should show up in the near future. There is the BRC™ as mentioned earlier, with several places offering some version of a pre-BRC™ intro class to see if riding is something the attendee really wants to do. A few places offer a version of an additional riding course for those folks who wish to practice what they’ve learned in the BRC™ to refresh themselves before hitting the roadways. There is an intermediate version of the BRC™ that folks with some experience can take to qualify for a license testing waiver, along with an experienced course done on the students’ own bike (this also may qualify for the testing waiver). Several of the above courses have been around in some version for many years. What we’re seeing as new is all the other training that is showing up. Basic dirt bike training has been available for a few years now. To compliment that there are now intermediate and advanced trail classes, including several day ‘riding camps’ that help participants refine the skills they have. We have also 3-wheeled training available, in novice and advanced forms to accommodate those who choose to ride trikes or sidecars. Several companies are now offering more advanced closed course offerings that can take the average street rider as far as they want to go in increasing their skills. There courses are offered in controlled parking lots like the Total Control™ class and the new advanced version of the experienced course is now also being taught at a few sites around the state. You can also find closed private roads (e.g. Maryhill Loops Road), and the tracks (Pacific Raceways and Spokane County Raceway) with advanced training being held. These aren’t racer schools either, but advanced training courses meant to achieve greater proficiency in riding using higher speeds more realistic to the street without having to deal with traffic and still allowing for repetition of exercises. Now add in the future offerings of on-road training currently in development by several companies and you can see that things have never been better than they are now. To recap, I’ve provided a list of many of the above mentioned classes in no particular order. If you do a search on the web you can find something nearby that may interest you. Rolf Vitous • JumpStart or KickStart class Hello all, Unfortunately, I won’t be at this evening’s meeting. Sorry, family comes first – in this case, my daughter’s Girl Scout bridging ceremony. But there’s some important work to finish up, so I hope you will be there. Firstly: we authorized a fund to sponsor a member to attend MRF Best of the West, happening next month in Boise, Idaho. This is open to WRRA members who have not attended an MRF conference in the past. Why the condition? Those of us who have attended MRF conferences in the past have found that the networking and collaboration with advocates from across the country has kicked up our own involvement to the next level – and we want to share that experience with someone new. We’re still waiting for that volunteer to drop a note in our mailboxes…. By the way, if you recommend the person we sponsor, we have a “special gift” for you: we will pay your conference registration fee, as sort of a “finder’s fee.” This is especially helpful since MRF discontinued their ‘organizational’ sign-up (in the past, WRRA paid that and any member could attend under our banner). I can’t blame them: since we co-sponsored Best of the West, I gained a real appreciation for how much it costs to do this! The other primary task for the evening is a review of the draft by-laws, a great work product by Pete Chartrand, Rolf Vitous and others. Pete pointed out a few months ago that we really should have some definition of some of our policies and processes, and he’s right. I appreciate his willingness to take on this task. Sorry I won’t be there, but I know the work is in good hands. I hope to see you soon at a WRRA-called Ride To Eat! Watch this space for more information, soon…. Ride well, ride long, ride safe — Ian |
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