Coolest Reading Place
Hey guys, I don't know if you remember me. My name is Scott Popelka and I met you when you came to Gilbert, Minnesota, to scout for Ultimate Adventure 2004. I helped organize things in the park the day of the event, and I am also one of the park employees. I am currently doing a one-year deployment with the Minnesota National Guard. I have all my 'wheeling friends sending me your magazines, since if I wait for them to come to the BX they are a month behind. This picture is of me at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, next to a 120mm mortar that belongs to my platoon.
Sfc. Scott Popelka, HHC 2/136 CAB
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
This Just In
* SEMA recently published a profile of truck owners and their ages. We found it interesting that the average (mean) age of fullsize truck owners, at 47.06, is two years younger than midsize pickup owners, at 49.37. (SEMA's "midsize" category includes compacts like the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevy Colorado, and Ford Ranger.) Among the fullsizes, Nissan Titan owners skewed oldest at 48.96; Chevy Avalanche owners the youngest at 43.95. In the compact category, Dodge owned both ends of the spectrum, with Dakota owners oldest, at 53.73; Raider owners youngest, at 43.87.
* Recalls reported by Automotive News: Chrysler is recalling nearly a half-million '04-'06 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Libertys due to problems with the circuitry in their instrument clusters. Toyota is also launching a voluntary recall of '04-'07 Sequoia SUVs and Tundra pickups (but not the all-new Tundra) for front suspension ball-joint-assembly problems.
Environmental & Political Watch
The governmental watchdogs at SEMA's Washington, D.C., office have alerted us to legislation that could affect our vehicles. If any of these new or pending laws affects you, write your representatives and make your voice heard. If you don't know whom to contact, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) can help: www.semasan.com.
* Bills recently introduced in Illinois and Kentucky would restrict the ability of hobbyists to keep inoperable vehicles-in other words, that project truck torn apart in your yard-on private property.
* Iowa has introduced a bill banning the use of high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights. Under the proposed rule, even HIDs offered as factory equipment would have to be removed.
* Minnesota has introduced two bills that would limit a 4x4 vehicle's access to minimally maintained roads and prohibit them from operating on certain trails.
* Massachusetts has reintroduced a bill banning the use of aftermarket exhaust systems "that amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust" without giving law enforcement a set enforcement standard.
SEMA isn't the only organization keeping tabs on government interference with our hobby. ORBA, the Off-Road Business Association, alerted us to legislation proposed by California Senator Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Hilda Solis that would turn 2.4 million acres of public lands into protected wilderness areas. The California Wild Heritage Act of 2007 (S.493) is a continuation of efforts Boxer has conducted over the years to "protect" public land by designating it as "wilderness," therefore prohibiting mechanized use in the areas. As best as we can tell by wading through the text of the actual bill (damn, we're glad we're not politicians), the areas affected are contained in a number of national forest areas, from the Angeles National Forest all the way up through the Klamath and Lassen National Forests. Contact your local representatives (again, SAN can help you locate their info) to voice your opposition to this bill.