By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Postal Service has increased the price for mailing a first-class letter from $.46 to $.49 beginning January 26, 2014. The cost for mailing a standard-size postcard will increase by one penny to $.34. Pricing for standard mail, periodicals, package services and extra services are scheduled to increase September 26. The increases are intended to generate $2 billion in incremental annual revenue for the USPS.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In comments to a proposal issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, SEMA commended the agency for removing provisions in the regulations that were in conflict with a 2011 law to provide for the titling of street rods and custom vehicles. Currently, the state does not allow the titling of vehicles that do not have "a body, motor and frame manufactured by a motor vehicle manufacturer."

Kit cars and replicas are often fabricated from the “ground up” with new materials that were not manufactured by a recognized car manufacturer. The 2011 law, a product of SEMA-model legislation, provides that vehicles made to resemble older vehicles, but which have been altered from those older vehicle's original manufacturer's designs, or constructed from non-original materials, may be titled as street rods and custom vehicles. The regulatory proposal to ensure vehicles without an original manufacturer body, motor and frame can be titled under the street-rod and custom-vehicle law is expected to be formally adopted in the near future.

The DMV also clarified that vehicles altered from original steel bodies will not be required to carry a title with a “replica” brand. Under a previous interpretation, it appeared that all street rods and custom vehicles would be required to carry a replica title.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In comments to a proposal issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, SEMA commended the agency for removing provisions in the regulations that were in conflict with a 2011 law to provide for the titling of street rods and custom vehicles. Currently, the state does not allow the titling of vehicles that do not have "a body, motor and frame manufactured by a motor vehicle manufacturer."

Kit cars and replicas are often fabricated from the “ground up” with new materials that were not manufactured by a recognized car manufacturer. The 2011 law, a product of SEMA-model legislation, provides that vehicles made to resemble older vehicles, but which have been altered from those older vehicle's original manufacturer's designs, or constructed from non-original materials, may be titled as street rods and custom vehicles. The regulatory proposal to ensure vehicles without an original manufacturer body, motor and frame can be titled under the street-rod and custom-vehicle law is expected to be formally adopted in the near future.

The DMV also clarified that vehicles altered from original steel bodies will not be required to carry a title with a “replica” brand. Under a previous interpretation, it appeared that all street rods and custom vehicles would be required to carry a replica title.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In comments to a proposal issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, SEMA commended the agency for removing provisions in the regulations that were in conflict with a 2011 law to provide for the titling of street rods and custom vehicles. Currently, the state does not allow the titling of vehicles that do not have "a body, motor and frame manufactured by a motor vehicle manufacturer."

Kit cars and replicas are often fabricated from the “ground up” with new materials that were not manufactured by a recognized car manufacturer. The 2011 law, a product of SEMA-model legislation, provides that vehicles made to resemble older vehicles, but which have been altered from those older vehicle's original manufacturer's designs, or constructed from non-original materials, may be titled as street rods and custom vehicles. The regulatory proposal to ensure vehicles without an original manufacturer body, motor and frame can be titled under the street-rod and custom-vehicle law is expected to be formally adopted in the near future.

The DMV also clarified that vehicles altered from original steel bodies will not be required to carry a title with a “replica” brand. Under a previous interpretation, it appeared that all street rods and custom vehicles would be required to carry a replica title.

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

By SEMA Editors

	Bill Hays

SEMA Hall of Famer Bill Hays, 86, passed away December 21, 2013.

A full-time firefighter during the pioneer years of California drag racing, Hays' fascination with clutches and drag racing led him to develop a clutch that would hold more power. In the mid ’50s, working out of a two-car garage owned by a racer named Calvin Rice, the business of Hays Clutches was born. The name would continue to grow and soon be seen on many of the “Legends of Drag Racing” cars.

Hays' contributions to racing clutch technology include safety issues and innovative performance for the street and track. His clutch designs carried over into other lines. He was also behind the technologies at Centerforce. His innovations were lauded with the SEMA Best New Performance Street Product Award and Hot Rod magazine’s Best New Performance Product Award (for the dual-friction design), and Centerforce has won PWA Manufacturer of the Year. Hays was also a URSS Rookie of the Year and raced go-karts, mini-sprints and 305 sprint cars.

In the late ’60s, Hays sold his business. He began working on ignitions and created another successful venture, Stinger Ignitions, before eventually finding his way back to clutches. When the new “Diaphragm” clutches were introduced, they had the inherent problem of “sticking over center,” so Hays developed a Centerforce weight system to fix the problem, and the byproduct was increased clamp load.

Hays was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1998. Over the years, Hays developed many other patented products, making Centerforce a prominent name in the high-performance aftermarket.

By SEMA Editors

	Ford project-vehicle requests require two components: an e-mail project summary (due February 21, 2014) and a detailed written proposal (due March 3, 2014).

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2014. The automaker requests that project-vehicle proposals be submitted in two parts, and that all proposals meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria outlined below.

2014 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 3, 2014
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2014

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

E-mail a one-page project summary—must be received by February 21, 2014. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2014 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 3, 2014. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at: www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A Manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc or fax reports will not be accepted

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2014 SEMA Show will follow later this month. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

	Ford project-vehicle requests require two components: an e-mail project summary (due February 21, 2014) and a detailed written proposal (due March 3, 2014).

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2014. The automaker requests that project-vehicle proposals be submitted in two parts, and that all proposals meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria outlined below.

2014 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 3, 2014
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2014

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

E-mail a one-page project summary—must be received by February 21, 2014. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2014 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 3, 2014. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at: www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A Manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc or fax reports will not be accepted

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2014 SEMA Show will follow later this month. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

The WD-40/SEMA Cares ’12 Foose Ford Super Duty F-350, which debuted at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, will be auctioned off next Wednesday, January 15, at 6:00 p.m. at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares ’12 Foose Ford Super Duty F-350, which debuted at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, will be auctioned off next Wednesday, January 15, at 6:00 p.m. in lot #3002 at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The custom ’12 Ford F-350 Super Duty work truck includes Foose-inspired custom front- and rear-wheel flares, side rockers and a front chin spoiler, among other upgrades. Following its debut at the 2012 SEMA Show in the WD-40 Co. booth, this vehicle went on the road for 16 months making special appearances.

Build partners included Street Scene Equipment, Magnaflow, Pro Comp, Takit, Husky Liners, LEER Accessories, BASF Paint, L&G Enterprises, Polk Audio, Audio Innovations and Katzkin.

The auction can be seen on Fox Sports or Fox Sports 2 (key in your zip code for the TV station carrying the auction). All of the proceeds from the auction will benefit SEMA Cares charities and SEMA scholarship programs. So far, WD-40/SEMA Cares vehicles have raised more than $575,000 for SEMA Cares charities.