SEMA-supported legislation to exempt vehicles more than 25 years old from the state’s annual emissions-inspection and maintenance program will be considered by the Tennessee House Conservation and Environment Committee. To qualify for the exemption, these vehicles must be registered as “antique motor vehicles.” Existing law only exempts vehicles manufactured before the ’75 model year from emissions inspection. Currently, annual emissions inspections must be passed prior to registration and renewal in the counties of Hamilton, Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson and in the city of Memphis.   

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide for an expanded-use antique-vehicle registration class that would allow antique vehicles and replicas to be driven without limitation during the warmer part of the year, from April 1 through October 31, has been approved by the Illinois House Transportation Committee. Under the bill, expanded-use antiques are limited to traveling to and from car shows, exhibitions, servicing or demonstration during the colder months, from November 1 through March 31. Regular antique-vehicle registration would still be available for a lower fee to hobbyists who would prefer operating their vehicle on a limited-use-only basis year-round. The bill will next be considered by the full Illinois House of Representatives. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide for an expanded-use antique-vehicle registration class that would allow antique vehicles and replicas to be driven without limitation during the warmer part of the year, from April 1 through October 31, has been approved by the Illinois House Transportation Committee. Under the bill, expanded-use antiques are limited to traveling to and from car shows, exhibitions, servicing or demonstration during the colder months, from November 1 through March 31. Regular antique-vehicle registration would still be available for a lower fee to hobbyists who would prefer operating their vehicle on a limited-use-only basis year-round. The bill will next be considered by the full Illinois House of Representatives. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-opposed legislation to change labeling requirements on gas pumps across the state so that labeling is only required when gasoline contains 11% or more alcohol has been introduced in Nebraska. A previous version of the bill eliminated labeling requirements all together. Current law in Nebraska requires labeling when gasoline contains 1% or more alcohol, including labels for pumps dispensing E10. If enacted, the bill would make it impossible for enthusiasts to know whether the gasoline they put into their vehicles contains any ethanol, increasing the chances of misfueling and engine damage. The bill has been approved by the Agriculture Committee and is pending on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-opposed legislation to change labeling requirements on gas pumps across the state so that labeling is only required when gasoline contains 11% or more alcohol has been introduced in Nebraska. A previous version of the bill eliminated labeling requirements all together. Current law in Nebraska requires labeling when gasoline contains 1% or more alcohol, including labels for pumps dispensing E10. If enacted, the bill would make it impossible for enthusiasts to know whether the gasoline they put into their vehicles contains any ethanol, increasing the chances of misfueling and engine damage. The bill has been approved by the Agriculture Committee and is pending on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

At the insistence of SEMA, the sponsor of legislation that would have banned the sale of certain new motor-vehicle exhaust systems has decided to withdraw the measure from further consideration. The bill would have prohibited the sale of exhaust systems and exhaust-system components that cause motor vehicles to produce noise exceeding certain noise limits. Under the bill, noise limits specified in rules adopted by the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) would have been used to determine which systems would be permitted or banned. However, in 1991, the EQC terminated its noise-control program and no noise testing procedure is currently in place. The bill would have led to significant confusion regarding compliance and enforcement. The sponsor also indicated that he may be seeking SEMA’s assistance in the future to create legislation that would allow the sale and use of aftermarket exhaust systems capable of meeting a reasonable and objective test standard. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

At the insistence of SEMA, the sponsor of legislation that would have banned the sale of certain new motor-vehicle exhaust systems has decided to withdraw the measure from further consideration. The bill would have prohibited the sale of exhaust systems and exhaust-system components that cause motor vehicles to produce noise exceeding certain noise limits. Under the bill, noise limits specified in rules adopted by the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) would have been used to determine which systems would be permitted or banned. However, in 1991, the EQC terminated its noise-control program and no noise testing procedure is currently in place. The bill would have led to significant confusion regarding compliance and enforcement. The sponsor also indicated that he may be seeking SEMA’s assistance in the future to create legislation that would allow the sale and use of aftermarket exhaust systems capable of meeting a reasonable and objective test standard. 

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The all-new ’12 Hyundai Veloster three-door compact coupe will be featured at SEMA's next measuring session April 12, 2011, from 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. at Hyundai Motor America – Service Center in Fountain Valley, California.

Attendance is by pre-registration only. Sessions will be limited to 60 minutes, no more than three companies at one time and two persons per company. Registration deadline is Friday, April 8. E-mail response with name(s), company name, address, phone number with reference to Hyundai at: measuringsession@sema.org.

Send questions to Bill Wolf, 909/978-6739 or Kelly Clancy, 909/978-6735.

The all-new ’12 Hyundai Veloster three-door compact coupe will be featured at SEMA's next measuring session April 12, 2011, from 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. at Hyundai Motor America – Service Center in Fountain Valley, California.

Attendance is by pre-registration only. Sessions will be limited to 60 minutes, no more than three companies at one time and two persons per company. Registration deadline is Friday, April 8. E-mail response with name(s), company name, address, phone number with reference to Hyundai at: measuringsession@sema.org.

Send questions to Bill Wolf, 909/978-6739 or Kelly Clancy, 909/978-6735.

SEMA Member News—March/April 2011

New MPMC Hall of Fame Members

The MPMC Hall of Fame Class of 2010 includes (from left) Jeep Worthan, John Menzler and Paul “Scooter” Brothers. Chris Fairless (far right) stood in at the induction ceremony for his longtime friend, Amy Faulk.

The Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) inducted four inaugural members to its Hall of Fame during a casual breakfast gathering at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, December 10, 2010. The four inductees were recognized as not only founding members of the MPMC, but also as active members of SEMA, the council and the industry. The affair began at 8:00 a.m., but upward of 100 people had no problem with the early call to share the special moment with the inductees.

“We chose the PRI Show for our inaugural Hall of Fame induction because that’s really the place where motorsports parts manufacturing companies gather,” said MPMC Chairman Kyle Fickler of Weld Racing. “The fact that so many people showed up at 8:00 a.m. is a clear indication of just how special these four people are to the industry. The MPMC Hall of Fame was, apparently, long overdue.”

The MPMC Hall of Fame class of 2010 included Amy Faulk of Hypertech, Paul “Scooter” Brothers of Comp Performance Group, John Menzler of Comp Cams and Jeep Worthan of AutoMeter. Congratulations go to each of the inductees along with a heartfelt thank you from the council.

Vic Wood of Hedman, and also the chair-elect of the MPMC, said that the emotion in the room was nearly overwhelming.

“Our inductees have each received various accolades during their careers,” Wood said, “but they all emphasized how special it is to be recognized by their peers, the motorsports parts manufacturers. Listening to Jeep, Scooter and John talk about their experiences, it honestly made everyone in the room stand a bit taller and be proud to be a part of the industry.”

A follow-up ceremony was held on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, during the media reception at the 2011 MPMC Media Trade Conference. The reception was held at the Embassy Suites LAX South in El Segundo, California.

Select Committee Nominations

MPMC is currently accepting nominations for its Select Committee. Select Committee members volunteer their time to organize events and projects aimed at benefitting not only MPMC members, but also the motorsports parts industry as a whole. Programs that are initiated, developed and maintained by volunteer Select Committee members include the MPMC Media Trade Conference, the MPMC Business Guidelines Manual, motorsports awareness and the MPMC Hall of Fame as well as panel discussions and seminars during SEMA Education Days at the SEMA Show. MPMC is the only SEMA council whose membership is made up entirely of manufacturing companies, many of which are founding members of SEMA. This means that every member of the council shares the same manufacturing business concerns and that the committee works with many people and companies that are directly responsible for the automotive aftermarket industry itself. If you think you might be ready to share the history, commitment and rewards of a Select Committee seat, please contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org for more information.

Other Ways to Be Involved

There are other ways to get more deeply involved in MPMC aside from serving on the Select Committee. Indeed, several MPMC members at large find time to work on any number of MPMC task forces and committees. Perhaps you would like to contribute or give back to the industry in some way but realize that you simply cannot make the commitment necessary for a Select Committee seat. There is a substantial list of other MPMC service opportunities. If there is a particular subject or issue that interests you, contact Chairman Kyle Fickler, Chairman-Elect Vic Wood or the MPMC/SEMA Council Liaison Jim Skelly to find out how easy it is to participate.

Some of the opportunities include MPMC task forces and committees, such as the MPMC Business Guidelines Manual task force, communications committee, elections/nominations task force, MPMC Hall of Fame task force, Media Trade Conference committee, motorsports awareness committee and seminar/education task force.

If even the task forces seem to be too large of a commitment for your current conditions, please take the time to enter your comments on the MPMC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/semampmc) or join the MPMC group discussions at http://my.sema.org.