In order to keep mini-truck enthusiasts up to date on the myriad things happening in our sport from month to month on an inside angle, we present Inside Out. This forum is directly aimed at keeping our readers informed about items pertaining to the aftermarket as well as providing a vital link to what's happening at World Mini Truckin' Headquarters. This way, you'll know a little more of what's happening in our sport from an angle seldom seen.
Bring The Noize!Thanks to a new SEMA-sponsored law, California automobile hobbyists are now better equipped to fight unfair exhaust noise citations issued by state law enforcement officers. Legislation recently signed into law by Governor Gray Davis will provide for a statewide exhaust-noise testing program that will allow motorists to prove they comply with state noise standards. The new law requires smog-check stations that provide referee functions to perform the test. These referee stations will issue certificates of compliance for vehicles when tests of their exhaust systems demonstrate they emit no more than 95 decibels, under Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) test procedure J1169. Only those vehicles that have received a citation for an exhaust noise violation will be permitted to submit their vehicle for the test.
The law also allows courts to dismiss citations for exhaust systems that have been tested and for which a certificate of compliance has been issued. Fees charged to motorists for the certificates of compliance will pay for the testing program.
Brothers Of The Rising SunToyota and Nissan have concluded a basic agreement on the long-term, continuous transaction of hybrid systems, including technical cooperation. This agreement was made possible by both companies having found common ground in terms of philosophy and outlook in their discussion on the future popularization of hybrid vehicles. This agreement, aiming for a long-term business relationship of 10 years or longer, calls for Toyota to supply state-of-the-art hybrid system components to Nissan. In addition, aiming for long-term technological cooperation, both companies have also agreed to start exchanging information and discussing joint development of components related to hybrid systems that both Toyota and Nissan are currently developing independently.
Kustoms In ClevelandJames Koorey, owner of J.P. Kustoms in Cleveland, Ohio, recently opened his new shop, and things look like they're going great. The 3,500-sq-ft shop specializes in stock-floor body drops, body drops, airbags, air cylinders, shaving, and custom paint. For more information, contact: J.P. Kustoms Inc., 5605 Herman Ave., Ste. 3, Cleveland, OH 44102, (216) 334-2000.