Here is a brief look at some of news and updates from around the specialty-equipment industry. Companies featured this week: Rosen Electronics, Echomaster, MSD, Stage 8 and more.

Ten of the nation’s best custom-car and hot-rod builders created miniature pinewood hot rods that lit up the track this past summer at the fourth-annual Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Pinewood Builder’s Challenge during SEMA’s Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser.

Legislation to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles, and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners was signed into law by Governor Scott Walker.

The deadline to register for the all-new ’14 Kia Soul Measuring Session is next Friday, January 3. Registration and more information are available online. The Measuring Session takes place January 8, at Kia Motors North America, in Irvine, California.

SEMA News annually turns to the leaders of the association’s councils and networks for the December issue to seek their views about how the industry is shaping up for the coming year. The chairs or chairs-elect of each group provide responses based on what their organizations and their companies are...

SEMA invites industry professionals to the first stop of the 2014 Town Hall tour, where members and prospective members will gather at Flowmaster, B&M & Hurst Warehouse in Sacramento, California, Wednesday, January 29, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. for an evening of networking with local industry leaders...

The 2014 Re-designed Toyota Highlander will be available for SEMA manufacturing members to measure and examine through an upcoming Measuring Session, Wednesday, January 22, at Toyota’s Warehouse in Gardena, California. Learn more and register for the session online.

The 2013 SEMA Show left no doubt that the automotive specialty-equipment industry is stronger than ever.