Makers and sellers of ATVs and motorbikes continue to suffer losses nationwide because of a well-meaning but overbroad regulation aimed at protecting children from lead.
Ever see a kid chewing on the air valve of an ATV tire? Licking the battery? Biting handlebars?
They all can contain lead and that’s the kind of effort it would take for it to endanger kids, critics of the regulation say.
Yet, an immediate halt has been placed on these motor vehicle sales. Also, there’s no grandfather provision for models already sitting in stores… Details
The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission said she would allow retailers of youth-model all-terrain vehicles to unload their older inventory despite new restrictions on lead content that prohibit sales. But it isn’t clear if acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord has the authority to grant such permission.
Ms. Nord told her compliance staff Friday to hold off on its enforcement for a year on youth ATVs. A spokesman for Ms. Nord said that, as agency chairman, she can enforce her decision. But CPSC Commissioner Thomas Moore said he hasn’t made a decision, and until he does, Ms. Nord doesn’t have authority to act… Details
To find America’s best whitewater rafting spots, we sought advice from Joe Jacobi, who in 1992 won America’s first-ever Olympic team whitewater canoeing gold medal; Brett Heyl, three-time national kayaking champ, a 2004 Olympian and a 2012 Olympic hopeful; and Scott Shipley, a whitewater park designer, freestyle kayaking legend and three-time World Cup champion. These are their favorites, some in rural settings, others near the lights and sirens of city life… Details and Pictures
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BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen lead Rally de Portugal after today’s sun-kissed opening day in the hills above the Algarve. After a strong morning in unfavourable conditions, the Finns moved ahead this afternoon and built a 15.0sec lead in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila led initially before rolling 150 metres down a hillside, escaping injury thanks to the strength of their Focus RS.
This fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship began with a spectacular speed test last night… Details