The Performance Racing Industry Show is a great place to see and learn about the very latest in race parts.

The Show is also an educational experience through its seminars and conferences, which cover a full range of topics ranging from safety to sponsorship.

The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) gave a presentation of profound importance to every corner of motor racing. Government regulation of off-highway motorsports and SEMA's effort to prevent it.

SEMA Government Affairs specialists Steve McDonald and Stuart Gosswein, with legal counsel Russ Deane were on hand to present information on the status of pending legislation in Congress called the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (HR 4715/S 2659 or the "RPM Act") and the events that led to this action.

At issue is a 2015 reinterpretation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 by the US Environmental Protection Agency that EPA believes makes it illegal to convert emissions-certified motor vehicles to full time competition use.

SEMA's response was a successful petition drive which prompted EPA to withdraw this language from the final regulation. However, EPA stubbornly maintains that it remains illegal to convert a street/emissions legal vehicle into a full time race vehicle whose only purpose is on-track competition, and they have the authority to enforce their position.

This position has consequences for any business that manufacturers, distributes, sells, installs, and services the parts and components that it takes to build a full competition vehicle that has production origins. And should it take hold, the impact on grassroots/sportsman drag racing, from tracks to participants will be severe.

In response, SEMA, with the assistance of 148 Congressional co-sponsors crafted the RPM Act in mid-2016. The bill provides clarity in federal law, and ensures the race industry remains free of agency intrusion.

SEMA and its legislative partners believe the best chance for success in Congress and with the incoming administration is in early 2017. As a result it is mobilizing it's forces to accomplish full passage of The RPM Act into law. Additionally, according to Deane, SEMA is planning legal action to prevent EPA from carrying out ongoing and future enforcement action against manufacturers and other links in the supply chain, on the grounds that EPA's actions violate the Constitution.