Black and White Wheeler
Time to familiarize yourself with yet another set of headlights in your rearview mirror as Ram Truck has announced a Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service package for law enforcement and other emergency agencies. The newest Ram model features a selection of severe-duty-adapted equipment available on the ’12 Ram 1500 and several unique features. The Special Service Ram 1500 includes 100,000-mile sparkplugs and a larger oil cooler to protect the engine. To handle the high electric loads, the Ram 1500 Special Service Truck includes a 220-amp alternator and a unique wire harness is capable of providing power, ground, and fusing for a variety of law enforcement lighting, siren, computer, modem, radar, or camera systems. The unique instrument panel houses a certified speedometer with engine hour and idle hour meter and a 110-volt inverter. The Ram 1500 Special Service truck is offered exclusively in a Crew Cab configuration and additional welds in the front door structures handle the weight of ballistic material used by law enforcement vehicle upfitters. Powering the new package is the 5.7L Hemi V-8 with a column-shifted six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. Other features include steel wheels wrapped with LT265/70R17 Goodyear tires, a 3.92 axle ratio, a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, and a payload rating of 1,455 pounds.
Email Trail
It’s a little known fact that Four Wheeler’s Senior Editor Ken Brubaker is perhaps the least vocal, yet most fanatical Chevy S-10 addict and supporter on the planet. His devotion is often prodded and mocked by the rest of the staff. Here is the latest of what surfaced during an entertaining volley of staff emails.
Holman: I think we should run a cover with an S-10 on fire.
Cappa: That shouldn’t be hard to find. Although what’s the appeal? I’d rather just walk out of the store to the parking lot and see one burning in person (there is bound to be one) than buy a magazine with a pic of one burning.
Holman: I’d rather just light one on fire myself, post it to YouTube, and get rich off the viral hits.
Brubaker: Note to self: Scan Craigslist. Find S-10 four-door. Purchase. Drive for several years with no problems. Possibly drive around the world.
Cappa: ... leaving behind a trail of rusty metal bits, random loosened fasteners, and oil stains, like breadcrumbs, so you can make it home again.
Holman: … then wake up from nightmare to realize that this is not possible and you wouldn’t really want to anyway. In Ken’s defense, we tested the ’89 Chevy S-10 Baja in Four Wheeler of the Year. It lost.
Brubaker: Not so fast, pal. The ZR2 won in ’94.
Cappa: Against what? Maybe that was one of those years where there was only one entry.
Mickey Thompson Is Excellent
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels is a 2011 Ford Product Excellence Award winner for the ’11 Ford F250 4x4 Project “Big Rig” featured at the 2011 SEMA Show. The award was created to recognize excellence in project vehicle execution. Following Ford’s assessment of all the Ford project vehicles featured at the SEMA Show this year, the Mickey Thompson project truck was selected based upon the following criteria: new product development, vehicle appearance, marketability/fit with the brand, use of automotive aftermarket parts, and vehicle display. FW
Legislative Notes
SEMA Action Network Streamlines Website To Help Protect Your Passion
In 1997, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) was created with the goal of protecting every niche of the automotive hobby against unfair laws and regulations. Since its inception, SAN has seen the coming of a new digital era in which SAN members rely heavily on email, social networking, and the World Wide Web to access information. To keep pace with these changes, SAN has streamlined its website, www.semasan.com, to make it easier than ever for SAN members to find the information they need to help protect their passion.
As you know, SAN is a nationwide partnership between enthusiasts, vehicle clubs and members of the specialty automotive parts industry who have joined forces to promote hobby-friendly legislation and oppose unfair laws. With over 60,000 North American members, SAN is the premier organization defending the rights of vehicle enthusiasts. SAN is free to join with no obligations or commitments.
Resources featured on the streamlined www.semasan.com include:
• Up-to-the minute action alerts with bill information, speaking points, and legislator contact information
• Archived breaking news items for a comprehensive overview of SAN efforts
• Digital copies of the SAN’s award winning monthly legislative newsletter, Driving Force
• State-by-state tracked legislation
• Guidance on federal and state issues, including land use, warranty denial, emissions inspections, ethanol, scrappage, and much more
•“Tag & Title Toolbox” – a one-stop shop for state resources listing each state’s specialty vehicle definitions, registration and titling provisions, forms, inspection criteria and other requirements and exemptions
• Printable pro-hobby model legislation crafted by SAN staff
• Information on legislators who support the automotive hobby through the Congressional Motorsports Caucus and the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus
• An automated tool for identifying and contacting your federal, state, and local representatives
• A guide to lobbying your elected officials
In its 15-year history, the effect of the SAN on shaping government policy has been enormous. Thanks to you, the SAN has successfully enacted street rod and custom vehicle (including kit cars and replicas) registration and titling laws in 22 states; protected classic vehicles waiting to be restored on private property from confiscation; defended enthusiast’s right to use more durable aftermarket exhaust systems; junked state level “Cash for Clunkers” legislation; advocated to ensure public lands remain open to responsible off-road recreation and enacted legislation to lower taxes and fees for hobbyist vehicles, among many other things.
The current economic and legislative environment is emboldening governments to become more aggressive with their anti-auto hobby legislation. States are seeking new avenues for generating revenue and new ways of dictating what you can and cannot do with your vehicles. The message government is sending is clear—the hobby needs the SEMA Action Network now more than ever.
If you aren’t already a member, enlist now in this fellowship of auto enthusiasts. Join the SAN at www.semasan.com.