SEMA ADVOCATES MODEL STATE STREET ROD / CUSTOM VEHICLE REGISTRATION BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 18, 2001) - SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market 
Association, will work with the Street Rod Marketing Alliance (SRMA) to pursue 
model legislation in selected states. The legislation would provide specific 
registration classes for street rods and custom vehicles.

The model bill provides for special license plates, mandates only the specific 
equipment required by the state during the vehicle's model year, exempts street 
rods and custom cars from emissions tests, and requires an initial safety 
inspection based on criteria established in part by the local hobbyist 
community.

"Twenty-two states still don't recognize street rods and customs as a distinct 
class of vehicles," noted SRMA Select Committee Member Del Austin, of Primedia. 
"Rod and custom owners are very proud of their cars and have invested an 
enormous amount of time, money and thought into their construction. They 
deserve to have their efforts and commitment to the hobby formally recognized - 
by a street rod designation on their license plate, for example. By working 
together, SRMA hopes to ensure that the hobby and industry are strong and 
secure for future generations of enthusiasts." Austin also serves as the SRMA's 
legislative liaison to the SEMA Government Affairs office.

The SRMA recently voted to expand its market scope to include custom vehicles, 
also known as street-modified vehicles. This action will provide this segment 
of the car hobby with a strong united voice and a SEMA council through which 
their specific needs can be addressed. Street-modified vehicles are, by the 
model bill's definition, at least 25 years old but manufactured after 1948 or 
vehicles built to resemble one from that era. Vehicles built before 1949 or 
those built to resemble a pre-1949 vehicle and altered from the manufacturers 
original design are termed street rods.

"The model bill will be pushed by SEMA in the coming legislative sessions in 
states without registration classifications for these vehicles or with laws 
that lack sufficient recognition of these classes of vehicles," said SEMA 
Director of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. "We've already begun efforts to 
work with the state legislatures in Rhode Island and New York on this 
initiative. We intend to add Illinois and others in the coming months." 

SRMA is a SEMA council dedicated to protecting and developing the street rod 
and street-modified hobby. Its members include manufacturers, fabricators, 
publishers, dealers and car clubs.

SEMA represents the $24.86 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade 
association is composed of more than 4,900 member companies, and is the 
authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for 
automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides 
appearance, performance, safety, comfort, convenience and technology products 
for passenger cars, minivans, pickups, SUVs and recreational vehicles. It's a 
specialty market as old as the automobile and as new as cutting-edge 
technology.