By Luanne Brown
 The fifth-annual Council Cup will once again pit council versus council in the name of a very good cause—helping children in need. | |
SEMA Cares has announced the fifth-annual Council Cup, which will once again pit council versus council in the name of a very good cause—helping children in need. Which council will rise up and prove their dominance and ability to rally their members to sponsor the most Pinewood Drag Race cars? There is no doubt the heat is going to turn up as councils reach out to their members and inspire their competitive spirits. This year, the Council Cup also includes an all-new "Grudge Match," where each council designs a car that best represents their team for the ultimate Pinewood "battle royale."
Last year’s Council Cup winner, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN), is preparing their ruby-red car to defend their Pinewood Drag Races Council Cup. “We look forward to this fun event each summer at the SEMA Installation Gala, and our car is ready to race against the other councils and networks in the pursuit to retain our title,” shares Rose Kawasaki, SBN chair. “We have won two out of the four Council Cup challenge races. No matter what it takes, our goal is to keep the SBN name on the trophy. The flames on the car are real, so don’t blink during the final round because it will smoke the competition. Watch out fellow SEMA councils and networks, Team SBN is ready to rumble!”
If you're the hands-on type of council member, SEMA invites you to attend one of several build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble the cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact derby@sema.org, or visit the Pinewood Drag Races and SEMA Cares Facebook pages. Two build days remain:
- May 31, in Beaumont, California, at Childhelp. To volunteer, e-mail Susan Alfonso.
- June 10, in Randleman, North Carolina, at Victory Junction. To volunteer, e-mail Eric Saltrick.
Purchase your own Pinewood Drag Race car and help a child in need.
Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 18, 2014, at 12:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. There is no better location for Pinewood Drag Races than Pomona—home of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Auto Club Raceway.
Proceeds from the races benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.
Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Race car is easy and rewarding. Register now, and help a child in need today.