there is a professor in the chem dept here that has a sizable EPA grant to
develope a fast (sub micro-second) means to measure tail-pipe emissions.
The idea is to measure the emmision on freeway on-ramps.

if you want more techincal details, pmail me.
-matthew

Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
University of Idaho
www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356

On Thu, 20 Dec 2001, Mike Finkbiner wrote:

> I think that there would be a lot of value in taking some old junkers off
> the road.  Car & Driver had an article on this a few months ago, and IIRC
> they found that this would be a lot cheaper method of cleaning up the air
> than any possible improvements to new cars, because of the huge amount of
> tailpipe pollutants which are produced by poorly maintained older cars.
>
> The problem is how to do it in a reasonable manner.
>
> Car & Driver's recommendation was to institute mobile sniffer units, to
> track down those vehicles which are producing a lot of pollution.  The
> owners could be given the choice of bringing it up to the standard it had
> when new, or turning it in for a scrapping fee.  They wouldn't be cruising
> the back roads in Idaho, but would be looking in the cities where the
> problem is concentrated.
>
> It sounds like the government is going to take a simpler approach, which is
> typical, but will make it a lot harder on hobbyists.  If you are going to
> write your congress critter about this, I would recommend proposing an
> alternative, rather than just opposing the plan.
>
> Mike Finkbiner
> '87 Westy
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Rico Sapolich said -
>
> In a message dated 12/20/01 1:09:21 AM, goodolevolk@YAHOO.COM writes:
>
> <<  This section 803 scrappage funding is a misguided attempt to improve the
>   overall fuel economy of the country1s vehicle fleet and represents a
>   significant threat to our hobby and industry. >>
>
> What odd convolutions those who worship the "invisible guiding hand" of a
> free economy will use to validate government intervention into its workings.
> At least when such an invasion fattens the purses of those first in line at
> the feeding trough.  Under the guise of saving the environment, they have
> found a way to help the progeny of Henry Ford and his fellow club members
> sell more cars.
>
> Is less energy, because that is what we are really talking about here,
> consumed to manufacture and use a new car or to restore and use an old car?
> <SNIP>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
>