By Zane Clark

SEMA Education will host a seminar to review the status of tariffs on steel/aluminum, Chinese products and imported auto parts, along with renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Accord (NAFTA).

The Trump Administration has imposed and threatened to impose significant tariffs to address intellectual property theft and perceived global trade imbalances. The U.S. tariffs, along with retaliatory actions being taken by other countries, are causing significant turmoil within the auto industry, as companies seek to grapple with unexpected price hikes and supply-chain disruptions. This seminar will review the status of tariffs on steel/aluminum, Chinese products and imported auto parts, along with renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Accord (NAFTA). The speakers will provide an analysis of current international trade negotiations and efforts to combat the tariffs.

When: Wednesday, October 31, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, Upper North Hall, Room N256

Register now for this important seminar!

Sign up. Show up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

Other Recommended Seminars:

• SEMA Suggested: 3 Seminars That Address Social Media Strategy.
• SEMA Suggested: 3 Seminars to Build a Better Business.
• SEMA Suggested: 3 Seminars to Help You Hire and Retain the Right People.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Marsha Fitzgerald

Coker Tire Hires Marsha Fitzgerald as Executive Assistant to Wade Kawasaki

Coker Tire has hired Marsha Fitzgerald as executive assistant to President and COO Wade Kawasaki. While not a native of Tennessee, Fitzgerald grew up in Chattanooga during her formative years. Following graduation from college, she and her husband moved to his hometown of Tampa, Florida, where she began her first career in education as a classroom teacher, a gifted education director and principal of the preschool-elementary divisions of a large private school. Following a career change, Fitzgerald spent the next 19 years as an executive assistant in various non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education developing and honing her experience and skills supporting C-level executives.

“ToyMakerz” Celebrity David Ankin to Appear at SEMA Show, Gearing Up for Season Three of Hit Show

David Ankin will make appearances and sign autographs in the History Channel booth at the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, as the television show “ToyMakerz” announces it has entered into a partnership with A+E Television Networks (AETN) to air season three on The History Channel and FYI. Season three will kick off February 10, 2019, with Sunday morning episodes slated to air on The History Channel, reaching some 90 million homes. Immediate re-airs will occur on the FYI network in a prime-time Saturday night slot, reaching 56.1 million homes. Ankin is a master fabricator, creator and celebrity stuntman who has used ingenuity and his passion for bikes, cars, and hot rods to develop a diverse following of gearheads and motor vehicle enthusiasts of all types and families. Season 3 builds will include a twin-seat, front-engine dragster for the street, custom racing drones and a one-of-a-kind “Willys Exhibition Car.” Ankin will also appear in the KW booth at the SEMA Show, October 30, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., and speak on the Shell Pioneering Performance Stage at 11:30 a.m.

The Master of Motors winner will receive the billet “Engine-uity” trophy and $4,500 in product certificates from supporting manufacturers.

JE Pistons to Unveil Masters of Motors Competition at 2018 SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show

Beginning at the 2018 SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show, JE Pistons will recognize engine builders’ hard work, creativity and commitment to combustion with a new competition dubbed “Masters of Motors.” Judged by industry experts David Freiburger, Brian Lohnes, Steve Brulé and Mike Kojima, the competition will pit the top engines of SEMA and PRI against each other on the grounds of creativity, style, engineering and several other facets.

2018 Masters of Motors SEMA and PRI Classes include:

• Engine-uity Award (overall winner—80-lb. billet trophy)
• Sport Compact
• European
• Domestic
• Race Engine
• Nostalgia
• Power Adder

The Master of Motors winner will receive the billet “Engine-uity” trophy and $4,500 in product certificates from supporting manufacturers. All class winners will receive a $1,000 JE Pistons product certificate to be used on any set of JE pistons, rings or JE Pro Seal gaskets. Judging for Masters of Motors (SEMA) will begin Tuesday, October 30, and competitors are encouraged to register online to let judges know where to find their engines. The crowning of the inaugural Masters of Motors champion will take place October 31 at JE Pistons SEMA booth #22657 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT). Sign up for Masters of Motors.

Eric Trimble

Lubrication Specialties Inc. Announces Eric Trimble as Company’s New Marketing Coordinator  

Lubrication Specialties Inc. (LSI) has announced a new addition to the company’s marketing team. Eric Trimble has been hired as the company’s marketing coordinator and will report to Lubrication Specialties Director of Marketing Kyle Fischer. In this position, he will support all marketing endeavors, from trade-show support, media buys, public relations, advertising, social media and e-commerce. Trimble previously worked as a freelance writer for the Akron Beacon Journal and communications specialist for the Jefferson Center in Minneapolis. In 2017, he joined LSI as an account executive to grow and maintain sales for the Hot Shot’s Secret product line to commercial and industrial accounts in a 12-state territory.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

Just about a month ago, GM introduced the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison complete with factory steel bumpers, skid plates and a snorkel. Here is a first look at the Bison without its scuba gear, which gives us a better idea of what we’ll actually see on the road.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a factory spec truck, with some serious off-road capability. It features class-exclusive front and rear locking differentials and Multimatic DSSVTM dampers. The Bison gets an all-new “Chevrolet” lettered grille, which seems to take a page from the Raptor playbook. The Bison will sit on 31-in. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires paired with exclusive AEV Bison 17x8-in. aluminum rims.

According to GM, power will come from the 2.8L Duramax Turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Expect to see the Colorado ZR2 Bison on the road in the coming months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Just about a month ago, GM introduced the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison complete with factory steel bumpers, skid plates and a snorkel. Here is a first look at the Bison without its scuba gear, which gives us a better idea of what we’ll actually see on the road.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a factory spec truck, with some serious off-road capability. It features class-exclusive front and rear locking differentials and Multimatic DSSVTM dampers. The Bison gets an all-new “Chevrolet” lettered grille, which seems to take a page from the Raptor playbook. The Bison will sit on 31-in. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires paired with exclusive AEV Bison 17x8-in. aluminum rims.

According to GM, power will come from the 2.8L Duramax Turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Expect to see the Colorado ZR2 Bison on the road in the coming months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Just about a month ago, GM introduced the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison complete with factory steel bumpers, skid plates and a snorkel. Here is a first look at the Bison without its scuba gear, which gives us a better idea of what we’ll actually see on the road.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a factory spec truck, with some serious off-road capability. It features class-exclusive front and rear locking differentials and Multimatic DSSVTM dampers. The Bison gets an all-new “Chevrolet” lettered grille, which seems to take a page from the Raptor playbook. The Bison will sit on 31-in. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires paired with exclusive AEV Bison 17x8-in. aluminum rims.

According to GM, power will come from the 2.8L Duramax Turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Expect to see the Colorado ZR2 Bison on the road in the coming months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Just about a month ago, GM introduced the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison complete with factory steel bumpers, skid plates and a snorkel. Here is a first look at the Bison without its scuba gear, which gives us a better idea of what we’ll actually see on the road.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a factory spec truck, with some serious off-road capability. It features class-exclusive front and rear locking differentials and Multimatic DSSVTM dampers. The Bison gets an all-new “Chevrolet” lettered grille, which seems to take a page from the Raptor playbook. The Bison will sit on 31-in. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires paired with exclusive AEV Bison 17x8-in. aluminum rims.

According to GM, power will come from the 2.8L Duramax Turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Expect to see the Colorado ZR2 Bison on the road in the coming months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Just about a month ago, GM introduced the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison complete with factory steel bumpers, skid plates and a snorkel. Here is a first look at the Bison without its scuba gear, which gives us a better idea of what we’ll actually see on the road.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a factory spec truck, with some serious off-road capability. It features class-exclusive front and rear locking differentials and Multimatic DSSVTM dampers. The Bison gets an all-new “Chevrolet” lettered grille, which seems to take a page from the Raptor playbook. The Bison will sit on 31-in. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires paired with exclusive AEV Bison 17x8-in. aluminum rims.

According to GM, power will come from the 2.8L Duramax Turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Expect to see the Colorado ZR2 Bison on the road in the coming months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Just about a month ago, GM introduced the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison complete with factory steel bumpers, skid plates and a snorkel. Here is a first look at the Bison without its scuba gear, which gives us a better idea of what we’ll actually see on the road.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a factory spec truck, with some serious off-road capability. It features class-exclusive front and rear locking differentials and Multimatic DSSVTM dampers. The Bison gets an all-new “Chevrolet” lettered grille, which seems to take a page from the Raptor playbook. The Bison will sit on 31-in. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires paired with exclusive AEV Bison 17x8-in. aluminum rims.

According to GM, power will come from the 2.8L Duramax Turbodiesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Expect to see the Colorado ZR2 Bison on the road in the coming months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Kyle Cheng

SEMA’s new “Young Accessorizers Report” is now available through SEMA Market Research.

Young people grow into the automotive specialty-equipment industry. At age 16, only 5% accessorize or modify their vehicles. However, as they age into their 20s, they are more likely to get a license, have a vehicle and spend money on parts. By age 23, more than 30% of them are accessorizing. As young drivers get older, they gain more control over their vehicles and enter the customization culture.

Want to learn more about this emerging and important consumer segment? Interested in learning how you can more effectively reach the nearly 8 million young drivers who accessorize? Check out the new “SEMA Young Accessorizers Report,” available for free download.

Attending the 2018 SEMA Show? Want to learn more about young accessorizers? Check out the Young Enthusiasts education session, Thursday, November 1, from 10:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m., in LVCC Upper North Hall, N252. Register for the session today.

By Kyle Cheng

SEMA’s new “Young Accessorizers Report” is now available through SEMA Market Research.

Young people grow into the automotive specialty-equipment industry. At age 16, only 5% accessorize or modify their vehicles. However, as they age into their 20s, they are more likely to get a license, have a vehicle and spend money on parts. By age 23, more than 30% of them are accessorizing. As young drivers get older, they gain more control over their vehicles and enter the customization culture.

Want to learn more about this emerging and important consumer segment? Interested in learning how you can more effectively reach the nearly 8 million young drivers who accessorize? Check out the new “SEMA Young Accessorizers Report,” available for free download.

Attending the 2018 SEMA Show? Want to learn more about young accessorizers? Check out the Young Enthusiasts education session, Thursday, November 1, from 10:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m., in LVCC Upper North Hall, N252. Register for the session today.