The 2012 brochure for the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) is now available for download at the newly redesigned website www.globalsymposium.org. GAAS 2012 is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, May 16 and 17 at the Hyatt Regency near Chicago.

The annual two-day GAAS brings together industry leaders and experts to examine the issues and trends affecting the worldwide automotive aftermarket and influencing its future.

This year's brochure highlights the 25 speakers and panelists featured, as well as the GAAS 2012 theme: “One Industry, Endless Opportunities.” GAAS chairman Dennis Welvaert said the GAAS steering committee felt the 2012 program should include content that focuses on all the steps in the aftermarket supply chain in North America.

"We want manufacturers, resellers, program groups, parts stores and installers to hear from their customers and suppliers as to the critical things that are affecting the business," explained Welvaert. "We also want to discuss critical issues like the quality of aftermarket parts, how to tackle the parts proliferation issue and how we can best use things like social media and the Internet to market products more successfully."

Welvaert added, "In addition, we will have a review of the economy and the megatrends that will affect the industry for the next several years. This will help all attendees plan better for the future."    

Members of the associations that sponsor GAAS are eligible for discounted registration fees of $200 off regular rates when they register by Friday, April 13, 2012. A complete list of registration fees is available at www.globalsymposium.org/registration.shtml.

For more information, visit www.GlobalSymposium.org or call 301-654-6664.

The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Industry Association (TIA) and University of the Aftermarket. Polk is the corporate sponsor of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. GAAS is made possible through the generous support of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.

Despite amendments drafted by SEMA to ensure that the bill would not hurt legitimate historic vehicle owners, the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee will not move forward with legislation that originally threatened to further limit the use of these cars. It’s likely that House lawmakers will set the bill aside for a summer study. The Senate will follow suit. SEMA has committed to bill sponsor Delegate Kirill Reznik that it will continue to participate in efforts to help enact a version of the bill next year that will allow these vehicles continued eligibility for the historic class upon their 20th year; not require collector insurance policies and retain the “occasional use” provision. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Despite amendments drafted by SEMA to ensure that the bill would not hurt legitimate historic vehicle owners, the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee will not move forward with legislation that originally threatened to further limit the use of these cars. It’s likely that House lawmakers will set the bill aside for a summer study. The Senate will follow suit. SEMA has committed to bill sponsor Delegate Kirill Reznik that it will continue to participate in efforts to help enact a version of the bill next year that will allow these vehicles continued eligibility for the historic class upon their 20th year; not require collector insurance policies and retain the “occasional use” provision. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A bill that originally provided a fair cap on property taxes paid by owners of antique and classic motor vehicles was amended and approved by the West Virginia State Legislature March 10 with a new $5,000 assessed value for all of these cars. The previous version of the bill contained an assessed value provision of $1,000, which meant that the maximum actual property tax paid by antique or classic motor vehicle owners would only be about $30 per year.

Under the version that was approved by the entire Legislature March 10, and sent to the governor for his consideration, the actual maximum tax paid would be $150. This bill now only benefits antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth more than $5,000. It would penalize antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth less than $5,000. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A bill that originally provided a fair cap on property taxes paid by owners of antique and classic motor vehicles was amended and approved by the West Virginia State Legislature March 10 with a new $5,000 assessed value for all of these cars. The previous version of the bill contained an assessed value provision of $1,000, which meant that the maximum actual property tax paid by antique or classic motor vehicle owners would only be about $30 per year.

Under the version that was approved by the entire Legislature March 10, and sent to the governor for his consideration, the actual maximum tax paid would be $150. This bill now only benefits antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth more than $5,000. It would penalize antique and classic vehicle owners whose cars are worth less than $5,000. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates was approved by the Virginia State Legislature and now has been sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law. Additional amendments to the bill drafted by SEMA will now totally exempt from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars that are stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair. Vehicles stored within a structure would remain exempted from the tax. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates was approved by the Virginia State Legislature and now has been sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law. Additional amendments to the bill drafted by SEMA will now totally exempt from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars that are stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair. Vehicles stored within a structure would remain exempted from the tax. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	SEMA Board of Directors elections are taking place in May. Pictured above is SEMA's current Board of Directors.

Eleven individuals will be running for seats on the SEMA Board of Directors. With the election taking place in May, the candidates are vying for five open seats within three categories. Candidates and categories are as follows:

Distributor/Retailer Category (2 open seats):

• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc. (incumbent)
• Tom Brooks, Truckin’ Thunder Inc.
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing

Services Category (1 open seat):

• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers (incumbent)
• Bob Moore, J&B Service (incumbent)
• Bill Holland, Holland Communications

Manufacturer’s Category (2 open seats):

• John Hotchkis, Hotchkis Performance (incumbent)
• Adrian Murray, Painless Performance (incumbent)
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems (incumbent)
• Tracie Nunez, Advanced Clutch Technology Inc.
• Russell Stephens, MSD Performance

Photos and backgrounds of all of the candidates will be posted on www.sema.org in early May.

Election materials, including online voting instructions, will be sent to the primary contacts at eligible SEMA-member companies in early May. Voting will close in mid-June.

For more information about the 2012-2013 SEMA Board of Directors election, contact Judi Ritchie at judir@sema.org, 909-978-6671, or Arlene Wood at arlenew@sema.org, 909/978-6689.

	SEMA Board of Directors elections are taking place in May. Pictured above is SEMA's current Board of Directors.

Eleven individuals will be running for seats on the SEMA Board of Directors. With the election taking place in May, the candidates are vying for five open seats within three categories. Candidates and categories are as follows:

Distributor/Retailer Category (2 open seats):

• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc. (incumbent)
• Tom Brooks, Truckin’ Thunder Inc.
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing

Services Category (1 open seat):

• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers (incumbent)
• Bob Moore, J&B Service (incumbent)
• Bill Holland, Holland Communications

Manufacturer’s Category (2 open seats):

• John Hotchkis, Hotchkis Performance (incumbent)
• Adrian Murray, Painless Performance (incumbent)
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems (incumbent)
• Tracie Nunez, Advanced Clutch Technology Inc.
• Russell Stephens, MSD Performance

Photos and backgrounds of all of the candidates will be posted on www.sema.org in early May.

Election materials, including online voting instructions, will be sent to the primary contacts at eligible SEMA-member companies in early May. Voting will close in mid-June.

For more information about the 2012-2013 SEMA Board of Directors election, contact Judi Ritchie at judir@sema.org, 909-978-6671, or Arlene Wood at arlenew@sema.org, 909/978-6689.

	The Terminator/GT500 Shootout will bring together some of the fastest Cobras and GT500s in the U.S.

NMRA to Host VMP Tuning Terminator/GT500 Shootout at Maryland Event
The NMRA has announced that VMP Tuning will sponsor a special Terminator/GT500 Shootout at the NMRA Maryland event that will take place at Maryland International Raceway May 4–6, 2012. The Terminator/GT500 Shootout will bring together some of the fastest Cobras and GT500s in the U.S. to compete in a heads-up winner-take-all format at the newest NMRA Keystone Automotive event on the schedule.

VMP Tuning put up the cash for the Terminator/GT500 class:

• $400 Win + Contingency + Acrylic Award
• $200 Runner Up + Contingency + Plaque
• $100 Semis
• $50 Quarters

Posi Performance will give away a custom supercharger port job—a $700 value. An award will be given away to each of the competitors who run closest to 9, 10, 11 and 12 seconds.

	Aeromotive Fuel Systems will sponsor an LSX Top Qualifier award at the first two Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series events.

Aeromotive to Present LSX Top Qualifier Awards
NMCA has announced that Aeromotive Fuel Systems will sponsor an LSX Top Qualifier award at the first two Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series events. The first LSX series event will take place at the Ross Racing Pistons NMCA season opener in Bradenton, Florida, March 15–18, 2012, and the second LSX event will take place at the Chevy High Performance (All-GM) Nationals in Commerce, Georgia, June 1–3, 2012. Aeromotive will give away the following awards as a part of their LSX Top Qualifier Program:

• Drag Radial – $300 Product Certificate
• All Motor – $300 Product Certificate
• Real Street – $300 Product Certificate
• LSX Rumble – $150 Product Certificate
• 5th-Gen Camaro Challenge – $150 Product Certificate

The top qualifiers for the LSX Rumble Class and the 5th-Gen Camaro Challenge class will be the competitor who ran closest to their index in the first round of qualifying. Aeromotive will add an extra $100 to each racer's product certificate if they have an Aeromotive product on their race car. To be eligible for the Aeromotive LSX Top Qualifier program, racers must have an Aeromotive decal on their race car.

	Three-time winner Lyonel Kent returns to ALARA at Sebring. Photo: Al Merion

Kent Rejoins ALARA Line-Up for Playboy MX-5 Cup Opener at Sebring
ALARA Racing has announced the return of three-time SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup race winner Lyonel Kent to the team for the season opening doubleheader at Sebring International Raceway, March 14–16, as part of the American Le Mans Series 60th Anniversary Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring.

After a year absence from the series, Kent hopes for a repeat performance of his last Playboy MX-5 Cup race at the 2010 season finale at Miller Motorsports Park. Kent, who will drive the No. 12 ALARA Racing Mazda MX-5, ended the season with a pair of podium finishes, including a dominant race win in the final race of the season.

Kent joins an ALARA Racing lineup that already includes veteran drivers Ara Malkhassian in the No. 11 ALARA Racing MX-5, Tim Probert (No. 26 ALARA Racing MX-5) and Harrison Williams (No. 00 Albrecht & Associates/Morgan Keegan MX-5). The veteran trio is joined by series rookie Brent Mosing (driving the No. 10 Frank’s International machine piloted last season by his brother, Jeff).

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels Returns as 2012 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Sponsor
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels has returned to the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) as a 2012 series sponsor. Through this program, Mickey Thompson will provide Baja tires and track-side support to racers and continue to work collaboratively with teams in the Super-Lite, Pro-Lite Unlimited and Pro-Buggy Unlimited classes to test and prove their off-road tire products. The company also plans to introduce the Baja Pro tire developed for the Pro 2 and Pro 4 Unlimited racing classes planned for introduction at the season opener.

Jacob Person and Drew Britt, who competed in the Super Lite class and earned several podium finishes throughout the season on Mickey Thompson ATZ Plus tires, were also recognized for 2011 series success.