By SEMA Editors
Through the annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, hundreds of SEMA-member companies sponsor Pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. | |
Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 24, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The finals will be held during the cocktail reception shortly before the banquet begins.
Hundreds of SEMA-member companies sponsor Pinewood cars each year, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities.
SEMA members can race either a car or truck in three classes: Build it for me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the BIFM class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck.
Stock-class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track.
For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-three seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of SEMA’s most recognized names.
The Pinewood Drag Races also features the annual Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Builders Challenge, where some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods to be raced and then auctioned off. Council members are invited to challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member increases their chances of winning.
Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities—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 car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today.Themed “Leaders and Legends,” the 2015 SEMA Installation Gala will be held Friday, July 24, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, featuring up-and-coming industry leaders and esteemed icons from the automotive accessories world. All SEMA-member companies are invited to join the festivities, but seats are limited. Register for the event at www.SEMA.org/gala.