SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles has been reintroduced in the Texas State Legislature. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948.  

The bill has been referred to the Texas House Transportation Committee for consideration. The measure allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. In addition, the bill only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle. 

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

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles has been reintroduced in the Texas State Legislature. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948.  

The bill has been referred to the Texas House Transportation Committee for consideration. The measure allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. In addition, the bill only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle. 

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

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has officially withdrawn its proposal (Chapter Trans 123) to prohibit the registration of imported vehicles manufactured after 1967 that do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). SEMA and the SEMA Action Network opposed the proposal. U.S. law specifically exempts imported vehicles that are 25 years old and older from these safety standards. Trans 123 offered no such reasonable exemption. The regulation would only have permitted the continued registration of subject vehicles that are already legally registered in Wisconsin, but only until they are transferred to a new owner.

Among other things, the proposal failed to recognize the fact that collector vehicles are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, was inconsistent with federal law and would prohibit the registration of vehicles coming in from other states that have already been proven safe on U.S. roads.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has officially withdrawn its proposal (Chapter Trans 123) to prohibit the registration of imported vehicles manufactured after 1967 that do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). SEMA and the SEMA Action Network opposed the proposal. U.S. law specifically exempts imported vehicles that are 25 years old and older from these safety standards. Trans 123 offered no such reasonable exemption. The regulation would only have permitted the continued registration of subject vehicles that are already legally registered in Wisconsin, but only until they are transferred to a new owner.

Among other things, the proposal failed to recognize the fact that collector vehicles are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, was inconsistent with federal law and would prohibit the registration of vehicles coming in from other states that have already been proven safe on U.S. roads.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Spy shooter Brenda Priddy and her stealthy network recently caught a significantly updated Kia Soul testing near the Arctic Circle. This face-lifted compact was part of a large group of other Hyundai/Kia prototypes when these images were snagged.

While the big design trend a few years ago was fender vents, according to Priddy, lately many OEMs seem to be mimicking Audi's LED daytime running lights. Judging by the image above, Kia will not be an exception to the rule. However, Priddy reported that Kia may not have wanted us to see that particular feature as they were soon turned off after the first photos of the lights were taken.

Judging from the extensive camouflage, Priddy says the Soul will get significantly redesigned front and rear fascias. New headlights and taillights are almost certainly in store as well. The styling on the door panels may also be modestly freshened.

Watch for more details to emerge in the coming months.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

Spy shooter Brenda Priddy and her stealthy network recently caught a significantly updated Kia Soul testing near the Arctic Circle. This face-lifted compact was part of a large group of other Hyundai/Kia prototypes when these images were snagged.

While the big design trend a few years ago was fender vents, according to Priddy, lately many OEMs seem to be mimicking Audi's LED daytime running lights. Judging by the image above, Kia will not be an exception to the rule. However, Priddy reported that Kia may not have wanted us to see that particular feature as they were soon turned off after the first photos of the lights were taken.

Judging from the extensive camouflage, Priddy says the Soul will get significantly redesigned front and rear fascias. New headlights and taillights are almost certainly in store as well. The styling on the door panels may also be modestly freshened.

Watch for more details to emerge in the coming months.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance's (HRIA) Education & Training Day, to be held in conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Show 2011 March 17–19, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will take place Thursday, March 17, from 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance's (HRIA) Education & Training Day, to be held in conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Show 2011 March 17–19, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will take place Thursday, March 17, from 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance's (HRIA) Education & Training Day, to be held in conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Show 2011 March 17–19, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will take place Thursday, March 17, from 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

HIGH SPEEDS: NASCAR officials have lowered the tolerance level of the pressure-relief valve on the radiator, hopefully forcing drivers to pull out of the draft to cool down their engines and eliminate the excessive speeds seen during the Budweiser Shootout.

BIG BUCKS: Thanks to an endowment left by midget racing historian Crocky Wright, the USAC Mopar National Midget Series Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Indiana, will pay the winner $20,000 this year.

RENOVATE: Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, will be resurfaced and reconfigured later this year. As part of the project, the dogleg on the backstretch will be made even more pronounced.

GET FUELED: Beginning in 2012, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will switch from carbureted engines to fuel-injected powerplants. The series will test the technology throughout 2011 before implementing the program next year.

SEE YA LATER: Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan, won’t return to the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule in 2012.

DEUCES ARE WILD: Kurt Busch used a push from Jamie McMurray to capture the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night.

NEW FAMILY: Memphis International Raceway, previously known as Memphis Motorsports Park, has officially joined the International Hotrod Association family.

BACKING: Lucas Oil will sponsor the POWRi National Midget Series beginning this season.

NUMBER SEVEN: Bobby Gerhart drove to his seventh ARCA Racing Series victory at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night, holding off Chris Buescher for the triumph.

POLE STARTER: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 after his 186.089 mph lap at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

RIP: Veteran Indianapolis Motor Speedway announcer Tom Carnegie, who worked at the speedway from 1946 until his retirement in 2007, died Friday. He was 91.

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