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Success Starts Here: Industry Gathers to Celebrate Its Trailblazers

By Chad Simon

Banquet
About 400 members of the automotive specialty-parts industry attended the 2018 SEMA Installation & Gala, themed “Success Starts Here,” at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in Universal City, California, on July 20, to pay tribute to the specialty-equipment industry’s pioneers and dedicated volunteers.

About 400 members of the automotive specialty-parts industry attended the 2018 SEMA Installation & Gala, themed “Success Starts Here,” at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in Universal City, California, on July 20, to pay tribute to the specialty-equipment industry’s pioneers and dedicated volunteers.

Jessi Combs and Kevin Oeste served as the evening’s emcees. Honorees included the SEMA Hall of Fame class of 2018—Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors; Ed Pink, Ed Pink’s Garage; and Chris Thomson, TMG Performance Products.

The festivities kicked-off with the Pinewood Drag Races—an annual fundraiser for SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. In addition to the Build-It-For-Me (BIFM) class, the races included the Council Cup, People’s Choice, several different industry classes and Industry Cup Challenge. Children living at the Childhelp facilities and Victory Junction campers built the vehicles for the BIFM class and donors sponsored their racecars for $95.

Shortly after the races ended, SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting and Chairman of the Board Wade Kawasaki took the stage to personally recognize the efforts of outgoing Board of Directors officials and welcome the incoming Board. They included:

  • Jim Bingham of Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc. (outgoing)
  • Laurel Dasher of MagnaFlow (outgoing)
  • Russ Deane of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane, General Counsel (outgoing)
  • Susan Carpenter of CPG (outgoing)
  • Donnie Eatherly of P&E Distributors (incoming)
  • David Goch of Webster of Chamberlain & Bean LLP, General Counsel
  • Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing (outgoing)
  • Dan Kahn of Kahn Media Inc. (re-elected)
  • Brian Lounsberry of Motovicity Distribution (incoming)
  • Dr. Jamie Meyer of General Motors (incoming)
  • Steve Whipple of Edelbrock LLC (incoming)

Here’s a look at the pinewood leaderboard:

Council Cup

1st Place: Automotive Restoration Market Association (ARMO)

Build It For Me Class (cars and trucks built by kids)

1st Place: Hella

People’s Choice

Edelbrock

Industry Cup Challenge

1st Place: Hot Rod

Media Class: Hot Rod
Service Provider’s Class: LGE*CTS
Rep Agency Class: R&R Marketing
Warehouse Distributor Class: RSD
Manufacturer’s Class: A.R.E.

While the racing is over, it’s not too late to make a direct donation to Childhelp and Victory Junction via SEMA Cares.

The following photos showcase activities from the 2018 SEMA Installation & Gala:

Emcees
The Gala was emceed by industry personalities Kevin Oeste (left) and Jessi Combs (right).
 Wade Kawasaki
SEMA Board of Directors Chairman Wade Kawasaki welcomed attendees to the annual Installation & Gala.
Chris Kersting
SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) and SEMA Chairman of the Board Wade Kawasaki (right) honored longtime SEMA Counsel Russ Deane, who retired.
 Rich Barsamian
SEMA Cares Chairman Rich Barsamian encouraged guests to sponsor a Pinewood car to help raise money for children’s charities.
Jim Bingham
Outgoing SEMA Board member Jim Bingham (center) of Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc. was recognized for his contributions.
 Donnie Eatherly
Donnie Eatherly of P&E Distributors was welcomed to the SEMA Board.
Gramelspacher
Outgoing Board member Nick Gramelspacher (center) of Meyer Distributing was thanked for his efforts.
 Dan Kahn
Dan Kahn (center) of Kahn Media Inc. was re-elected to the SEMA Board of Directors.
Laurel Dasher
Outgoing SEMA Board member Laurel Dasher (center) of MagnaFlow was recognized for her contributions.
 Jamie Meyer
Dr. Jamie Meyer (center) of General Motors was welcomed to the SEMA Board of Directors.
Brian Lounsberry
Brian Lounsberry (center) of Motovicity Distribution was welcomed to the SEMA Board of Directors.
 Russ Deane
SEMA paid tribute to longtime General Counsel Russ Deane (center), who retired.
Steve Whipple
Steve Whipple (center) of Edelbrock LLC was welcomed to the SEMA Board.
 Donnie Eatherly
2018 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Donnie Eatherly.
Ed Pink
2018 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Ed Pink.
 Chris Thomson2018 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Chris Thomson.
Pinewood
The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, held in conjunction with the Installation & Gala, raised money for charities supported by SEMA Cares.
 

Board
2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors.