Hopperstad Customs
	Fatman Fabrications
	Santini Paint & Body
	No Joke Upholstery

SEMA News—November 2011

Hot-Rod Builders Race for the Children

After the SEMA Show, 13 custom pinewood cars will be up for auction via eBay, and the proceeds will go to the children’s charities Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp.

Participating builders included industry luminaries Art Morrison, Fatman Fabrications, Fesler Concepts, Hollywood Hot Rods, Hopperstad Customs, Johnny’s Auto Trim, Kaucher Kustoms, No Joke Upholstery, Rich Evans Designs, Santini Paint & Body, Spanky’s Hot Rods, Spitzer Concepts and Street Vizions.

The HRIA Builder’s Challenge cars were crafted by an incredible class of hot-rod builders, but in the end Derek White of Street Vizions successfully defended his title, winning the series of races for the second consecutive year. Rich Evans Designs was the runner up.

“All the guys at the shop had a great time building the pinewood derby car for the Builder’s Challenge,” White said.

“When John Menzler from COMP Cams and Eric Saltrick from Steele Rubber Products asked us to compete two years ago, we never thought we would win, but to win two years in a row really surprised us. It’s for a great cause, and we hope to keep doing it. All of the other competitors are great…I guess we’ll have to watch out for Rich Evans next year, since he has been the closest to us so far.”

Each pinewood derby builder was given four months to complete the car, with no design limitations or rules imposed except that the car had to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems were allowed.

Saltrick, an HRIA member, has been involved in the Pinewood Drag Races since its inception in 2008 and coordinated the hot-rod builder event. The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when Saltrick, fellow HRIA member Menzler and HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“They all jumped at the opportunity,” Saltrick said. “We wanted to get the hot-rod community involved, and we have many hot-rod builders lined up to do it again next year. We’ve also got young builders involved to help give them some exposure.”

The 2011 HRIA Builder’s Challenge was a huge hit, according to Love.

“The creativity and craftsmanship on these cars is truly amazing, and the racing this year was closer than ever,” he said. “Plan to come by and see them up close at the SEMA Show. HRIA will again work with eBay to auction these one-of-a-kind creations to benefit the children of Victory Junction Camp and Childhelp. Both of these charities do a tremendous job, and this program is another example of HRIA’s membership really stepping up to support our youth and these worthwhile organizations.” The eBay auction will take place November 1–10. Simply search “HRIA Pinewood” on eBay for your chance to own a custom hot rod from a legendary builder.

Spanky’s Hot Rods

At first glance of these photos from the photographers at Brenda Priddy & Co., this might appear to be a mule for the upcoming Dodge compact—often referred to as the Dodge Hornet. However, Priddy's team says that this is actually an early developmental mule for an all-new Fiat-based CUV.

Sitting higher and with much larger wheel arches than the “compact” mules, this CUV mule confirms earlier reports in Automotive News about Dodge replacing both the Grand Caravan and Avenger with a CUV, according to Priddy & Co., and these photos indicate that it will be based on a Fiat platform.

From all reports, Priddy expects the new CUV to arrive sometime in 2013, likely as a ’14 model.

Photo: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Co.

At first glance of these photos from the photographers at Brenda Priddy & Co., this might appear to be a mule for the upcoming Dodge compact—often referred to as the Dodge Hornet. However, Priddy's team says that this is actually an early developmental mule for an all-new Fiat-based CUV.

Sitting higher and with much larger wheel arches than the “compact” mules, this CUV mule confirms earlier reports in Automotive News about Dodge replacing both the Grand Caravan and Avenger with a CUV, according to Priddy & Co., and these photos indicate that it will be based on a Fiat platform.

From all reports, Priddy expects the new CUV to arrive sometime in 2013, likely as a ’14 model.

Photo: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Co.

SEMA has received word of the October 20 passing of Dick Van Cleve at the West Los Angeles Veteran's Administration Hospital after a long illness.

SEMA has received word of the October 20 passing of Dick Van Cleve at the West Los Angeles Veteran's Administration Hospital after a long illness. He had just celebrated his 80th birthday, surrounded by family, approximately two weeks prior.

Van Cleve served as the association's vice president of marketing in the late ’80s, and was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1996. He was also a devoted SEMA and Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) volunteer and was instrumental in the success of the SEMA Golf Tournament as a fundraising event for the SEMA Scholarship Foundation.

In addition to Van Cleve's dedication to these industry associations, he was owner of Van Cleve & Associates, a marketing and advertising firm based in Valley Village, California. Earlier in his career, Van Cleve was lauded as a top advertising representative for Car Craft magazine, and eventually became publisher of its parent, Hot Rod magazine.

Van Cleve is survived by his children John (wife, Julie), Karen (husband, Kenny DeMartines) and Craig; and granddaughters Jessika Simo (husband, Matt), Andrea Cohen (husband, Tony), Megan Van Cleve and Tara Maynard; as well as great grandchildren Sage, Jewel and Violet Cohen. He was preceded in death by his son Mark and granddaughter Stacie Van Cleve.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, November 19, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 10800 Moorpark St., North Hollywood, CA 91602, 818-766-3838. Honoring his wishes, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations in his name be made to the parish's St. Charles Altar Servers Program.

The following announcement was submitted by American Express.

American Express OPEN is all about helping small businesses grow. So this year at the SEMA Show we’re going to shine a spotlight on the latest rising stars in the industry and give them a stage to get noticed. These artists will gain exposure and recognition among their peers, thanks to the help of American Express OPEN.  

Three artists will take the stage throughout the Show to design and paint a car hood using airbrush. On the last day of the Show, a panel of judges will determine the winner and award someone the title of the first-ever Rising Star of SEMA. Artists will be judged on originality, element of art and craftsmanship. These car hoods will be transformed into works of art right before your eyes.

Attendees, we invite you to stop by the AMEX OPEN booth in the silver lot, Booth #61169, to view the artists in action as they bring their airbrush designs to life on these car hoods. Attendees will have the opportunity to enter and win one of the three custom-painted hoods by the artists. Winners will be contacted on the last day of the Show. The AMEX OPEN booth will also feature two graffiti car hoods where you, the attendees, will have the opportunity to showcase your artistic ability and leave their mark on the AMEX OPEN Silver lot for 2011.

Artists

Matt Andrews is a freelance airbrush artist and the owner of Hypnotic Air, where he creates cutting-edge designs and artwork that will last for years to come. He is a native and resident of Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University in 2001 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing. After graduation, Andrews taught himself the fine use of airbrush. Practice led him to the career he has today, and he has been professionally painting since 2004. 

Scott MacKay is the owner and operator of Thin Air GraFx in Amesbury, Massachusetts. For the past 22 years, he has worked almost exclusively with an airbrush, specializing primarily in motorcycle and automotive graphic design and paint for the past 11 years. MacKay is a winner of numerous awards, the latest being the 2010 House of Kolor Prestigious Painter Award.

Blake McCully is the owner/operator of Cross-Eyed Airbrushing. He earned a degree in graphic design at the Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and then attended the prestigious masters of illustration program at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA). This education provided McCully with graphic, illustration, painting, typography and advertising skills. He has added to his résumé by teaching his trade, and has trained four apprentices, but currently finds greater success in working solo.

The following announcement was submitted by American Express.

American Express OPEN is all about helping small businesses grow. So this year at the SEMA Show we’re going to shine a spotlight on the latest rising stars in the industry and give them a stage to get noticed. These artists will gain exposure and recognition among their peers, thanks to the help of American Express OPEN.  

Three artists will take the stage throughout the Show to design and paint a car hood using airbrush. On the last day of the Show, a panel of judges will determine the winner and award someone the title of the first-ever Rising Star of SEMA. Artists will be judged on originality, element of art and craftsmanship. These car hoods will be transformed into works of art right before your eyes.

Attendees, we invite you to stop by the AMEX OPEN booth in the silver lot, Booth #61169, to view the artists in action as they bring their airbrush designs to life on these car hoods. Attendees will have the opportunity to enter and win one of the three custom-painted hoods by the artists. Winners will be contacted on the last day of the Show. The AMEX OPEN booth will also feature two graffiti car hoods where you, the attendees, will have the opportunity to showcase your artistic ability and leave their mark on the AMEX OPEN Silver lot for 2011.

Artists

Matt Andrews is a freelance airbrush artist and the owner of Hypnotic Air, where he creates cutting-edge designs and artwork that will last for years to come. He is a native and resident of Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University in 2001 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing. After graduation, Andrews taught himself the fine use of airbrush. Practice led him to the career he has today, and he has been professionally painting since 2004. 

Scott MacKay is the owner and operator of Thin Air GraFx in Amesbury, Massachusetts. For the past 22 years, he has worked almost exclusively with an airbrush, specializing primarily in motorcycle and automotive graphic design and paint for the past 11 years. MacKay is a winner of numerous awards, the latest being the 2010 House of Kolor Prestigious Painter Award.

Blake McCully is the owner/operator of Cross-Eyed Airbrushing. He earned a degree in graphic design at the Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and then attended the prestigious masters of illustration program at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA). This education provided McCully with graphic, illustration, painting, typography and advertising skills. He has added to his résumé by teaching his trade, and has trained four apprentices, but currently finds greater success in working solo.

The following is an important alert to SEMA Show exhibitors who have booked hotel accommodations through a travel agency doing business as IEP Group (otherwise known as International Events), an independent entity not connected with SEMA or the SEMA Show.

It has come to our attention that in at least some instances, hotel room reservations made through the IEP Group have not been booked with the respective hotels or are incomplete bookings. If you have made your hotel room reservations through IEP Group, or with any other independent booking agency, we urge you to immediately contact the hotel directly to confirm that your reservation has been properly booked and that any advance payment requirement is in order.

In the event you find that your hotel reservation through IEP Group or any other independent booking agency is not complete, or that any required advance payment has not been applied to your reservation, contact SEMA Show Manager Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702-303-1199 so that we may try to assist you in securing alternate hotel accommodations for the 2011 SEMA Show.

If you have made your 2011 SEMA Show hotel reservations through Travel Planners, the official SEMA Show housing affiliate, you may disregard this notice. If you have any questions for Travel Planners, however, you can reach them at 877-690-9214. They have customer service agents that will be able to assist you with any questions and are fully aware of the situation with the IEP Group.  

Although independent vendors who solicit SEMA Show attendees are beyond the control of the association, we seek to keep you informed when we become aware of issues with such vendors and will do our best to help you find solutions to make your SEMA Show experience a success. Please remember that the best means to assure smooth operations and a successful event is to work with the official SEMA Show hotel booking agency, Travel Planners, and with the other official service providers.

It is our sincere hope that your SEMA Show preparations are going well—please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. By all indications we are expecting a very exciting and value-packed SEMA Show again this year. Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.  

–SEMA Show Management

The following is an important alert to SEMA Show exhibitors who have booked hotel accommodations through a travel agency doing business as IEP Group (otherwise known as International Events), an independent entity not connected with SEMA or the SEMA Show.

It has come to our attention that in at least some instances, hotel room reservations made through the IEP Group have not been booked with the respective hotels or are incomplete bookings. If you have made your hotel room reservations through IEP Group, or with any other independent booking agency, we urge you to immediately contact the hotel directly to confirm that your reservation has been properly booked and that any advance payment requirement is in order.

In the event you find that your hotel reservation through IEP Group or any other independent booking agency is not complete, or that any required advance payment has not been applied to your reservation, contact SEMA Show Manager Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702-303-1199 so that we may try to assist you in securing alternate hotel accommodations for the 2011 SEMA Show.

If you have made your 2011 SEMA Show hotel reservations through Travel Planners, the official SEMA Show housing affiliate, you may disregard this notice. If you have any questions for Travel Planners, however, you can reach them at 877-690-9214. They have customer service agents that will be able to assist you with any questions and are fully aware of the situation with the IEP Group.  

Although independent vendors who solicit SEMA Show attendees are beyond the control of the association, we seek to keep you informed when we become aware of issues with such vendors and will do our best to help you find solutions to make your SEMA Show experience a success. Please remember that the best means to assure smooth operations and a successful event is to work with the official SEMA Show hotel booking agency, Travel Planners, and with the other official service providers.

It is our sincere hope that your SEMA Show preparations are going well—please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. By all indications we are expecting a very exciting and value-packed SEMA Show again this year. Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.  

–SEMA Show Management

The following is an important alert to SEMA Show exhibitors who have booked hotel accommodations through a travel agency doing business as IEP Group (otherwise known as International Events), an independent entity not connected with SEMA or the SEMA Show.

It has come to our attention that in at least some instances, hotel room reservations made through the IEP Group have not been booked with the respective hotels or are incomplete bookings. If you have made your hotel room reservations through IEP Group, or with any other independent booking agency, we urge you to immediately contact the hotel directly to confirm that your reservation has been properly booked and that any advance payment requirement is in order.

In the event you find that your hotel reservation through IEP Group or any other independent booking agency is not complete, or that any required advance payment has not been applied to your reservation, contact SEMA Show Manager Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702-303-1199 so that we may try to assist you in securing alternate hotel accommodations for the 2011 SEMA Show.

If you have made your 2011 SEMA Show hotel reservations through Travel Planners, the official SEMA Show housing affiliate, you may disregard this notice. If you have any questions for Travel Planners, however, you can reach them at 877-690-9214. They have customer service agents that will be able to assist you with any questions and are fully aware of the situation with the IEP Group.  

Although independent vendors who solicit SEMA Show attendees are beyond the control of the association, we seek to keep you informed when we become aware of issues with such vendors and will do our best to help you find solutions to make your SEMA Show experience a success. Please remember that the best means to assure smooth operations and a successful event is to work with the official SEMA Show hotel booking agency, Travel Planners, and with the other official service providers.

It is our sincere hope that your SEMA Show preparations are going well—please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. By all indications we are expecting a very exciting and value-packed SEMA Show again this year. Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.  

–SEMA Show Management

The following is an important alert to SEMA Show exhibitors who have booked hotel accommodations through a travel agency doing business as IEP Group (otherwise known as International Events), an independent entity not connected with SEMA or the SEMA Show.

It has come to our attention that in at least some instances, hotel room reservations made through the IEP Group have not been booked with the respective hotels or are incomplete bookings. If you have made your hotel room reservations through IEP Group, or with any other independent booking agency, we urge you to immediately contact the hotel directly to confirm that your reservation has been properly booked and that any advance payment requirement is in order.

In the event you find that your hotel reservation through IEP Group or any other independent booking agency is not complete, or that any required advance payment has not been applied to your reservation, contact SEMA Show Manager Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702-303-1199 so that we may try to assist you in securing alternate hotel accommodations for the 2011 SEMA Show.

If you have made your 2011 SEMA Show hotel reservations through Travel Planners, the official SEMA Show housing affiliate, you may disregard this notice. If you have any questions for Travel Planners, however, you can reach them at 877-690-9214. They have customer service agents that will be able to assist you with any questions and are fully aware of the situation with the IEP Group.  

Although independent vendors who solicit SEMA Show attendees are beyond the control of the association, we seek to keep you informed when we become aware of issues with such vendors and will do our best to help you find solutions to make your SEMA Show experience a success. Please remember that the best means to assure smooth operations and a successful event is to work with the official SEMA Show hotel booking agency, Travel Planners, and with the other official service providers.

It is our sincere hope that your SEMA Show preparations are going well—please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. By all indications we are expecting a very exciting and value-packed SEMA Show again this year. Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.  

–SEMA Show Management