By the early 1960s, Jeffries had made a name for himself as a custom painter and pinstriper. He learned the delicate art of striping by observing Ken “Von Dutch” Howard, and he shared shop space for a number of years with George “King of the Kustomizers” Barris, where his handiwork was applied to a number of famous hot rods, including Barris’ Ala Kart roadster pickup and the blue ’32 Ford that appeared on the cover of the Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe” album. It was Jeffries who painted the numbers and “Little Bastard” name on James Dean’s ill-fated Porsche 550 Spyder. Jeffries also helped Carroll Shelby promote his first Cobra by painting—and repainting—the prototype car in different colors to make it seem like Shelby had several of the hot sports cars.

Jeffries’ artistic talents weren’t limited to California hot rods and sports cars. A longtime fan of the Indianapolis 500, he striped and painted Indy roadsters prior to the race for years. At one point in the early ‘60s, Jeffries said that he painted 21 of the 33 cars on the Indy grid, and his race-car paint work garnered national attention when he appeared on the cover of the June 1961 issue of Hot Rod magazine lettering A.J. Foyt’s roadster.

But right around the time of Dick Day’s photo session, Jeffries was laying the groundwork for a career change. He was eager to do more than just paint a car; he wanted to create one, a groundbreaking custom car that would elevate him to the stature of Barris and other well-known builders.

It was in 1963 that Jeffries hand-fashioned the Mantaray, a sleek, asymmetrical, bubble-topped styling statement that did, indeed, catapult him into the big leagues of car building. Movie and TV studios took notice, and Jeffries would go on to build the Monkeemobile, the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty and many, many more.

Jeffries was never the public-relations master that Barris was, never blew his own horn about his work, even when others took credit for it. So back then, and even now to some degree, he’s something of an unsung hero among the influential painters and customizers of the ‘60s, despite appearing on magazine covers and in photoshoots like Day’s. 

By the early 1960s, Jeffries had made a name for himself as a custom painter and pinstriper. He learned the delicate art of striping by observing Ken “Von Dutch” Howard, and he shared shop space for a number of years with George “King of the Kustomizers” Barris, where his handiwork was applied to a number of famous hot rods, including Barris’ Ala Kart roadster pickup and the blue ’32 Ford that appeared on the cover of the Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe” album. It was Jeffries who painted the numbers and “Little Bastard” name on James Dean’s ill-fated Porsche 550 Spyder. Jeffries also helped Carroll Shelby promote his first Cobra by painting—and repainting—the prototype car in different colors to make it seem like Shelby had several of the hot sports cars.

Jeffries’ artistic talents weren’t limited to California hot rods and sports cars. A longtime fan of the Indianapolis 500, he striped and painted Indy roadsters prior to the race for years. At one point in the early ‘60s, Jeffries said that he painted 21 of the 33 cars on the Indy grid, and his race-car paint work garnered national attention when he appeared on the cover of the June 1961 issue of Hot Rod magazine lettering A.J. Foyt’s roadster.

But right around the time of Dick Day’s photo session, Jeffries was laying the groundwork for a career change. He was eager to do more than just paint a car; he wanted to create one, a groundbreaking custom car that would elevate him to the stature of Barris and other well-known builders.

It was in 1963 that Jeffries hand-fashioned the Mantaray, a sleek, asymmetrical, bubble-topped styling statement that did, indeed, catapult him into the big leagues of car building. Movie and TV studios took notice, and Jeffries would go on to build the Monkeemobile, the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty and many, many more.

Jeffries was never the public-relations master that Barris was, never blew his own horn about his work, even when others took credit for it. So back then, and even now to some degree, he’s something of an unsung hero among the influential painters and customizers of the ‘60s, despite appearing on magazine covers and in photoshoots like Day’s. 

By the early 1960s, Jeffries had made a name for himself as a custom painter and pinstriper. He learned the delicate art of striping by observing Ken “Von Dutch” Howard, and he shared shop space for a number of years with George “King of the Kustomizers” Barris, where his handiwork was applied to a number of famous hot rods, including Barris’ Ala Kart roadster pickup and the blue ’32 Ford that appeared on the cover of the Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe” album. It was Jeffries who painted the numbers and “Little Bastard” name on James Dean’s ill-fated Porsche 550 Spyder. Jeffries also helped Carroll Shelby promote his first Cobra by painting—and repainting—the prototype car in different colors to make it seem like Shelby had several of the hot sports cars.

Jeffries’ artistic talents weren’t limited to California hot rods and sports cars. A longtime fan of the Indianapolis 500, he striped and painted Indy roadsters prior to the race for years. At one point in the early ‘60s, Jeffries said that he painted 21 of the 33 cars on the Indy grid, and his race-car paint work garnered national attention when he appeared on the cover of the June 1961 issue of Hot Rod magazine lettering A.J. Foyt’s roadster.

But right around the time of Dick Day’s photo session, Jeffries was laying the groundwork for a career change. He was eager to do more than just paint a car; he wanted to create one, a groundbreaking custom car that would elevate him to the stature of Barris and other well-known builders.

It was in 1963 that Jeffries hand-fashioned the Mantaray, a sleek, asymmetrical, bubble-topped styling statement that did, indeed, catapult him into the big leagues of car building. Movie and TV studios took notice, and Jeffries would go on to build the Monkeemobile, the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty and many, many more.

Jeffries was never the public-relations master that Barris was, never blew his own horn about his work, even when others took credit for it. So back then, and even now to some degree, he’s something of an unsung hero among the influential painters and customizers of the ‘60s, despite appearing on magazine covers and in photoshoots like Day’s. 

Likewise, the Performance Racing Industry publication has enjoyed a circulation of 25,500 and is viewed as providing the hard-core racing segment with outstanding editorial content. In terms of providing great value to PRI’s customers, there really hasn’t been much missing!

That’s why SEMA was eager to take the hand-off from Steve Lewis as he prepared the transition of these two great industry institutions. Now that the acquisition has been formalized, we can say that we are very pleased to carry forward the spirit and culture of PRI so that it can continue to flourish. Our goals in this acquisition are simple:

1. Provide PRI with resources and support so that the show and magazine can continue to be leaders in returning great value to the hard- core racing segment.
2. Build the association’s relationship with the businesses in the PRI segment so that more companies will tap into the great services and benefits SEMA provides.
3. Establish a collaborative relationship between the talented folks in SEMA and PRI to innovate and improve the key offerings of each.

The current team at PRI will continue to serve its customers and produce the PRI Trade Show—only now with the resources of SEMA to boost its capabilities. John Kilroy, a 20-year veteran of Laguna Coast Publishing, has been promoted to the role of Vice President/General Manager and will oversee day-to-day operations.

Likewise, the SEMA Show will continue in its quest to return value through its unique gathering of all aspects of the automotive specialty-equipment market. The SEMA Show will be the SEMA Show, and the PRI Show will be the PRI Show—with the unique and distinct nature of each event. Of course, we wouldn’t have pursued the acquisition unless we believed that this would also create an opportunity to better serve the businesses that make up the industry. SEMA has always had strong support from the performance racing market, and this gives us a chance to deepen and improve our relationships.

Many previous and current SEMA board members have been instrumental in helping to build PRI. They appreciate the legacy of the brand, so we can expect to receive good guidance as we move forward, with every opportunity to make both shows and publications the best they can be long into the future.

Earlier this month, it was announced that SEMA has acquired the highly successful PRI Trade Show and Performance Racing Industry magazine. I’d like to share with SEMA News readers some of the thinking behind this move and highlight the benefits and value it will provide for the industry.

Likewise, the Performance Racing Industry publication has enjoyed a circulation of 25,500 and is viewed as providing the hard-core racing segment with outstanding editorial content. In terms of providing great value to PRI’s customers, there really hasn’t been much missing!

That’s why SEMA was eager to take the hand-off from Steve Lewis as he prepared the transition of these two great industry institutions. Now that the acquisition has been formalized, we can say that we are very pleased to carry forward the spirit and culture of PRI so that it can continue to flourish. Our goals in this acquisition are simple:

1. Provide PRI with resources and support so that the show and magazine can continue to be leaders in returning great value to the hard- core racing segment.
2. Build the association’s relationship with the businesses in the PRI segment so that more companies will tap into the great services and benefits SEMA provides.
3. Establish a collaborative relationship between the talented folks in SEMA and PRI to innovate and improve the key offerings of each.

The current team at PRI will continue to serve its customers and produce the PRI Trade Show—only now with the resources of SEMA to boost its capabilities. John Kilroy, a 20-year veteran of Laguna Coast Publishing, has been promoted to the role of Vice President/General Manager and will oversee day-to-day operations.

Likewise, the SEMA Show will continue in its quest to return value through its unique gathering of all aspects of the automotive specialty-equipment market. The SEMA Show will be the SEMA Show, and the PRI Show will be the PRI Show—with the unique and distinct nature of each event. Of course, we wouldn’t have pursued the acquisition unless we believed that this would also create an opportunity to better serve the businesses that make up the industry. SEMA has always had strong support from the performance racing market, and this gives us a chance to deepen and improve our relationships.

Many previous and current SEMA board members have been instrumental in helping to build PRI. They appreciate the legacy of the brand, so we can expect to receive good guidance as we move forward, with every opportunity to make both shows and publications the best they can be long into the future.

Earlier this month, it was announced that SEMA has acquired the highly successful PRI Trade Show and Performance Racing Industry magazine. I’d like to share with SEMA News readers some of the thinking behind this move and highlight the benefits and value it will provide for the industry.

Likewise, the Performance Racing Industry publication has enjoyed a circulation of 25,500 and is viewed as providing the hard-core racing segment with outstanding editorial content. In terms of providing great value to PRI’s customers, there really hasn’t been much missing!

That’s why SEMA was eager to take the hand-off from Steve Lewis as he prepared the transition of these two great industry institutions. Now that the acquisition has been formalized, we can say that we are very pleased to carry forward the spirit and culture of PRI so that it can continue to flourish. Our goals in this acquisition are simple:

1. Provide PRI with resources and support so that the show and magazine can continue to be leaders in returning great value to the hard- core racing segment.
2. Build the association’s relationship with the businesses in the PRI segment so that more companies will tap into the great services and benefits SEMA provides.
3. Establish a collaborative relationship between the talented folks in SEMA and PRI to innovate and improve the key offerings of each.

The current team at PRI will continue to serve its customers and produce the PRI Trade Show—only now with the resources of SEMA to boost its capabilities. John Kilroy, a 20-year veteran of Laguna Coast Publishing, has been promoted to the role of Vice President/General Manager and will oversee day-to-day operations.

Likewise, the SEMA Show will continue in its quest to return value through its unique gathering of all aspects of the automotive specialty-equipment market. The SEMA Show will be the SEMA Show, and the PRI Show will be the PRI Show—with the unique and distinct nature of each event. Of course, we wouldn’t have pursued the acquisition unless we believed that this would also create an opportunity to better serve the businesses that make up the industry. SEMA has always had strong support from the performance racing market, and this gives us a chance to deepen and improve our relationships.

Many previous and current SEMA board members have been instrumental in helping to build PRI. They appreciate the legacy of the brand, so we can expect to receive good guidance as we move forward, with every opportunity to make both shows and publications the best they can be long into the future.

Earlier this month, it was announced that SEMA has acquired the highly successful PRI Trade Show and Performance Racing Industry magazine. I’d like to share with SEMA News readers some of the thinking behind this move and highlight the benefits and value it will provide for the industry.

Likewise, the Performance Racing Industry publication has enjoyed a circulation of 25,500 and is viewed as providing the hard-core racing segment with outstanding editorial content. In terms of providing great value to PRI’s customers, there really hasn’t been much missing!

That’s why SEMA was eager to take the hand-off from Steve Lewis as he prepared the transition of these two great industry institutions. Now that the acquisition has been formalized, we can say that we are very pleased to carry forward the spirit and culture of PRI so that it can continue to flourish. Our goals in this acquisition are simple:

1. Provide PRI with resources and support so that the show and magazine can continue to be leaders in returning great value to the hard- core racing segment.
2. Build the association’s relationship with the businesses in the PRI segment so that more companies will tap into the great services and benefits SEMA provides.
3. Establish a collaborative relationship between the talented folks in SEMA and PRI to innovate and improve the key offerings of each.

The current team at PRI will continue to serve its customers and produce the PRI Trade Show—only now with the resources of SEMA to boost its capabilities. John Kilroy, a 20-year veteran of Laguna Coast Publishing, has been promoted to the role of Vice President/General Manager and will oversee day-to-day operations.

Likewise, the SEMA Show will continue in its quest to return value through its unique gathering of all aspects of the automotive specialty-equipment market. The SEMA Show will be the SEMA Show, and the PRI Show will be the PRI Show—with the unique and distinct nature of each event. Of course, we wouldn’t have pursued the acquisition unless we believed that this would also create an opportunity to better serve the businesses that make up the industry. SEMA has always had strong support from the performance racing market, and this gives us a chance to deepen and improve our relationships.

Many previous and current SEMA board members have been instrumental in helping to build PRI. They appreciate the legacy of the brand, so we can expect to receive good guidance as we move forward, with every opportunity to make both shows and publications the best they can be long into the future.

Earlier this month, it was announced that SEMA has acquired the highly successful PRI Trade Show and Performance Racing Industry magazine. I’d like to share with SEMA News readers some of the thinking behind this move and highlight the benefits and value it will provide for the industry.

Likewise, the Performance Racing Industry publication has enjoyed a circulation of 25,500 and is viewed as providing the hard-core racing segment with outstanding editorial content. In terms of providing great value to PRI’s customers, there really hasn’t been much missing!

That’s why SEMA was eager to take the hand-off from Steve Lewis as he prepared the transition of these two great industry institutions. Now that the acquisition has been formalized, we can say that we are very pleased to carry forward the spirit and culture of PRI so that it can continue to flourish. Our goals in this acquisition are simple:

1. Provide PRI with resources and support so that the show and magazine can continue to be leaders in returning great value to the hard- core racing segment.
2. Build the association’s relationship with the businesses in the PRI segment so that more companies will tap into the great services and benefits SEMA provides.
3. Establish a collaborative relationship between the talented folks in SEMA and PRI to innovate and improve the key offerings of each.

The current team at PRI will continue to serve its customers and produce the PRI Trade Show—only now with the resources of SEMA to boost its capabilities. John Kilroy, a 20-year veteran of Laguna Coast Publishing, has been promoted to the role of Vice President/General Manager and will oversee day-to-day operations.

Likewise, the SEMA Show will continue in its quest to return value through its unique gathering of all aspects of the automotive specialty-equipment market. The SEMA Show will be the SEMA Show, and the PRI Show will be the PRI Show—with the unique and distinct nature of each event. Of course, we wouldn’t have pursued the acquisition unless we believed that this would also create an opportunity to better serve the businesses that make up the industry. SEMA has always had strong support from the performance racing market, and this gives us a chance to deepen and improve our relationships.

Many previous and current SEMA board members have been instrumental in helping to build PRI. They appreciate the legacy of the brand, so we can expect to receive good guidance as we move forward, with every opportunity to make both shows and publications the best they can be long into the future.

Earlier this month, it was announced that SEMA has acquired the highly successful PRI Trade Show and Performance Racing Industry magazine. I’d like to share with SEMA News readers some of the thinking behind this move and highlight the benefits and value it will provide for the industry.

SEMA Member Takes Active Role in Legislative Process

Under Washington law, a “horseless carriage” is a vehicle that is more than 40 years old and is owned and operated as a collector vehicle; a “collector vehicle” is any motor vehicle that is more than 30 years old; a “custom vehicle” is any motor vehicle that is at least 30 years old and of a model year after 1948 or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle at least 30 years old and of a model year after 1948 and has alterations to one or more of the major component parts; a “parts car” is a motor vehicle that is owned by a collector to furnish parts for restoration or maintenance; and a “street rod” is a motor vehicle that is a 1948 or older vehicle or a vehicle manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949 and has alterations to one or more of the major component parts.

“Customers of restoration and customization shops have the right to be notified of costs in a timely fashion,” said SEMA Vice President for Government Affairs Steve McDonald.

“Under a SEMA-drafted provision to the new law, restoration and custom shops will be allowed to bill at least every two weeks on a time-and-materials basis. Shops would be able to accurately inform customers of actual costs and materials, removing the vagueness associated with shops attempting to guess probable time for unique tasks and probable costs for unique and in some cases yet-to-be-fabricated, parts.”

	Surrounded by members of the Washington state custom and restoration business community, Governor Chris Gregoire signs into law a bill to exempt restoration and custom shops from the written estimate requirement.

“It was an honor testifying in committee in favor of the bill and being involved in the political process to create positive change,” Jack said.

“This new law, as sponsored by Senators Mike Carrell and Jerome Delvin, recognizes that restoration and custom shops constitute a small portion of shops that work on vehicles and fulfill a unique niche that does not conform to that of standard repair shops. The law will allow us to bill our customers fairly and on a timely basis for the actual work done on these unique vehicles without the unreasonable expectation created by adherence to a written estimate requirement.”

Similar legislation is currently pending in New York and New Jersey and will continue to be pursued by SEMA in states that regulate restoration and custom shops under the same rules that govern straight repair businesses. 

SEMA Member Takes Active Role in Legislative Process

Under Washington law, a “horseless carriage” is a vehicle that is more than 40 years old and is owned and operated as a collector vehicle; a “collector vehicle” is any motor vehicle that is more than 30 years old; a “custom vehicle” is any motor vehicle that is at least 30 years old and of a model year after 1948 or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle at least 30 years old and of a model year after 1948 and has alterations to one or more of the major component parts; a “parts car” is a motor vehicle that is owned by a collector to furnish parts for restoration or maintenance; and a “street rod” is a motor vehicle that is a 1948 or older vehicle or a vehicle manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949 and has alterations to one or more of the major component parts.

“Customers of restoration and customization shops have the right to be notified of costs in a timely fashion,” said SEMA Vice President for Government Affairs Steve McDonald.

“Under a SEMA-drafted provision to the new law, restoration and custom shops will be allowed to bill at least every two weeks on a time-and-materials basis. Shops would be able to accurately inform customers of actual costs and materials, removing the vagueness associated with shops attempting to guess probable time for unique tasks and probable costs for unique and in some cases yet-to-be-fabricated, parts.”

	Surrounded by members of the Washington state custom and restoration business community, Governor Chris Gregoire signs into law a bill to exempt restoration and custom shops from the written estimate requirement.

“It was an honor testifying in committee in favor of the bill and being involved in the political process to create positive change,” Jack said.

“This new law, as sponsored by Senators Mike Carrell and Jerome Delvin, recognizes that restoration and custom shops constitute a small portion of shops that work on vehicles and fulfill a unique niche that does not conform to that of standard repair shops. The law will allow us to bill our customers fairly and on a timely basis for the actual work done on these unique vehicles without the unreasonable expectation created by adherence to a written estimate requirement.”

Similar legislation is currently pending in New York and New Jersey and will continue to be pursued by SEMA in states that regulate restoration and custom shops under the same rules that govern straight repair businesses.