SEMA Members Celebrate Fourth Annual Collector Car Appreciation Day

SEMA News—October 2013

SEMA Members Celebrate Fourth Annual Collector Car Appreciation Day

	SEMA-member company representatives, automotive media and local car enthusiasts joined SEMA staff for the association’s fourth-annual Collector Car Appreciation Day celebration at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California.

On July 12, 2013, SEMA-member companies joined with SEMA staff and thousands of enthusiasts to celebrate the fourth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). Official events were held in the United States, Canada and Australia to commemorate the day, designated by a SEMA-requested U.S. Senate resolution.

Sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the U.S. Senate resolution recognized “that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.” Lawmakers in states, provinces, counties and cities have followed the Senate’s lead by adopting their own resolutions. This year’s participants included: Michigan; New Mexico; New York; Manitoba, Canada; Nova Scotia, Canada; Las Vegas, Nevada; Madera County, California; York County, Virginia; and Washington Parish, Louisiana.

The official events included car club cruise-ins, open houses at SEMA-member companies, specialty shows at automobile museums and “drive your collector car to work” displays. Scores of other unofficial events included car shows, picnics and other gatherings. A detailed summary and online photo gallery of CCAD celebrations are available on the SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) website at www.semaSAN.com.

CCAD is supported by SEMA and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization and Hot Rod Industry Alliance.

SEMA Director of Congressional Affairs Dan Sadowski (center) presented Senate Resolution 176 to Carlisle Events Co-Owner and President Bill Miller (right) and Co-Owner Lance Miller (left) at the 2013 All-Chrysler Nationals CCAD celebration in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

SEMA-Member Companies That Hosted Events

American Collectors Insurance Inc.Cherry Hill, New Jersey
BASF Corp., Huntsville, Alabama
Camaro Central/Firebird Central/Muscle Car Industries, Richmond, Kentucky
Coker Tire Co., Chattanooga, Tennessee
Carlisle Events, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Eastwood Co., Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Extreme Automotive, Corona, California
The Filling Station, Lebanon, Oregon
Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, Columbus, Ohio
Hagerty Operation Ignite!, Orange County, California•Hemmings Motor News, Bennington, Vermont
ididit Inc., Tecumseh, Michigan
Kee Auto Top Manufacturing Co., Charlotte, North Carolina
MSD Performance, El Paso, Texas
Nancy Perry Productions, Glendale, Arizona
ProMedia Events, Santa Ana, California
Speedway Motors, Lincoln, Nebraska
Ron’s Performance Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Source Interlink Media, Tampa, Florida; Irvine, California; El Segundo, California
Steele Rubber Products, Denver, North Carolina
Volkswagen Group of America, Auburn Hills, Michigan

ididit Inc. honored CCAD during the company’s Cruisin’ to Columbus Tour, which began in Tecumseh, Michigan, and finished at the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

Nate Shelton (second right), chief marketing officer of Flowmaster and SEMA Chairman of the Board, helped celebrate CCAD at the NMRA/NMCA Muscle Car Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. Shelton is pictured with fellow SEMA Board member and ProMedia Events owner Steve Wolcott (right) and the winners of NMCA’s People’s Choice Best of Show award, Steve and Bev West, with their ‘72 Chevelle SS.			Volkswagen Group of America in Auburn Hills, Michigan, attracted a diverse group of vehicles for its Collector Car Work Cruise-In.

The Crazy Cruiser’s Car Club hosted its fourth-annual CCAD event at the Wicked Wheel Restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida. The group was joined by special guest and honorary club member Russ Deane, SEMA’s general counsel (left).			The Old Salem AACA chapter line up members’ cars on the track at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

The City of Longwood, Florida, hosted a collector car cruise to celebrate CCAD.			Extreme Automotive in Corona, California, hosted a CCAD open house at its shop.

MSD Performance in El Paso, Texas, celebrated CCAD with a movie and cruise night.			An array of vehicles gathered at a “Drive Your Collector Car to Work” event at Source Interlink Media’s office in Tampa, Florida.

Christian Robinson, SEMA Political Action Committee manager (right), presented Senate Resolution 176 to Steele Rubber Products President Matt Agosta (left) during the company’s event in Denver, North Carolina.			Wayne County Cruisers battled through the rain to hold its cruise from Goldsboro to the Hwy 55 Burgers and Shakes restaurant in Mount Olive, North Carolina.

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Tom Brooks

	Virginia Congressman Rob Wittman (left) and Tom Brooks of Truckin’ Thunder discuss SEMA’s legislative priorities.

Tom Brooks is the founder and president of Truckin’ Thunder, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Brooks is an eight-year member of the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) President’s Club and previously served on SEMA’s Board of Directors.

“Over my many years working with the staff of SEMA’s office in Washington, D.C., my respect for their diligence and lobbying skill has grown,” Brooks said.

“At special events, such as the Childhelp National Day of Hope Luncheon and the SEMA Washington Rally, the staff has arranged meetings for me with the Senators and Congressmen from my home state of Virginia. I believe my membership in the SEMA PAC President’s Club is one of the best investments I’ve made, and I urge each of you to support SEMA PAC.”

For more information about SEMA PAC, contact SEMA PAC Manager Christian Robinson by phone at 202-783-6007 x20 or via e-mail at christianr@sema.org.