Nice One, Sir David!

Governments have a knack for sucking the joy out of collector car ownership. Our own Ontario Ministry of Transport has a committee that decides what you can have put on your custom ordered license plate. They've made some truly bad judgement calls lately earning the public's wrath and forcing Minister Jim Bradley to overturn the recent decision to ban REV JO's licence plate despite her ownership of over ten years.
This has been topped by Sir David King, Great Britain's chief economic advisor. When asked by a female reporter what further steps she could be take to reduce emissions, he wise cracked, "Stop admiring men who drive Ferraris." Nice one, Sir David!
Let's see, latent sexist commentary mixed with heavily implied bimbo reference topped with all the authority on environmental pollution granted by a man who is chief economic adviser. Sir David created a chuckle with this reply and it made it in most papers. He wisely stepped away from discussing real problems like making emerging nations such as China and India comply with industrial pollution standards. Both nations are economic power houses that refuse to be denied. Who can stop them when everyone depends on them for low and middle price goods? Instead of talking about that, he used a hoary image of cad's sportscar and a fatuous female supposedly enthralled with both.
I strongly urge car enthusiasts to be pro active in defending your right to enjoy your collector car. Governments are only too eager to step on your freedom in the name of progress for the people. Join SEMA, defend your right to drive the vehicle of your choice. And to Sir David, I suggest you stick to economics.

Car Heaven part 2...a new alliance needed??

Recently, I posted my observation about Car Heaven's website and their method of recycling cars in an environmentally responsible manner. I was annoyed to learn that something called automotive fluff is placed in landfills. Fluff, for those who don't know, is a mixture of non metallic pieces comprising foam, textiles, plastics, rubber and glass. It bothered me because most auto plastics are volatile organic compounds and shouldn't go in the ground at all. I decided to talk to someone at Car Heaven and find out why the plastics couldn't be handled. I'll never be able to accept all those engine blocks and transmissions being chopped up, but that's Car Heaven's mandate so I won't bother with that one.
Ms. Tara Lynn Nava from the Ontario branch of Car Heaven replied and said they've been trying for the seven years to work with the Ontario Automotive Recycling Association to ensure that the vehicle donated to Car Heaven are responsibly handled. Currently there is no infrastructure in Canada that supports the separation and waste management of fluff content.
I did research on the web and learned that ABS and polypropylene plastic not only can be recycled, they have ready, paying markets. It's unfortunate Car Heaven has been working at this problem from one angle. It seems to me the next step would be to examine the way interior and glass components are handled by the salvage yard operator to avoid contamination. Then the plastics can be dealt with by a plastic recycling specialist to properly handle this waste which is in fact,a commodity. Several plastic recyclers list ABS and polypropylenes as plastics they're in need of and one sold 40,000 tonnes of ABS to Ohio in one month. They're searching for more! A plastics manufacturer would not only be able to advise them how to set up a good system for recycling, they could also keep them in the loop about new polymers that need to be handled differently such as the talc enriched door panels being used in the UK. Car Heaven has succesfully managed a relationship with GM and OARA. The next step should close the circle and get the plastics out of the earth for good.

Antique Cars & Parts Flea Market 40th show

On Sunday morning,I went to the HASC 40th annual Antique Cars & Parts Swap Meet and Flea Market held at the Int Centre in Mississauga.If the weather had cooperated it would have been jammed to the rafters. Unfortunately a snow storm the night before scared away some vendors and a few customers! Damn shame, I say. The parts selection was good and there were a few interesting cars for sale in the corral.
I liked the 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix in metallic maroon with black vinyl roof. It looked sharp. A pair of early post war Buicks looked pretty nasty and were likely good for parts instead of restoring. But the parts! That's what was great. I saw no less than three complete Chevrolet tripower carb systems from the late fifties for sale, a long block 1973 Ford 351 Cleveland and lots of related parts, all sorts of chrome and dress up goodies old and new. I almost bought a Buick tach from 1962.
Other stuff? How about complete NOS GM stainless steel door edge guards, tru five Chevy hood ornaments, 1950s Merc hubcaps and a running Model T touring ragtop in need of restoration?
Lots of vendors there including Old Autos, Lant Ins, Whetter-Oaklin, Graves Auto and scads of manuals, brochures, gas station memorabilia galaore. A very good visit and I urge you to go next time.