Select Committee nominations for SEMA's councils and committees are currently being accepted until March 25, 2011.

Select Committee nominations for SEMA's councils and committees are currently being accepted until March 25, 2011. There are 12 council and committee groups within SEMA, and each represents a collection of SEMA members that share a common business purpose or market segment. Councils work to identify related business goals, issues and challenges that require a special focus by the association.

Get started now by using the online nomination form here. The form is quick and easy to complete; no printing or faxing required. All nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 25, 2011.

Councils need leaders who understand their markets and have the dedication to implement change. If you have ever identified a business challenge that needs to be addressed, you can bring it to light and rally support through a council group to make a change. Chances are, many of your peers experience similar obstacles.

Here is more information about SEMA's councils and committees and the segments they represent.

For additional information on SEMA councils and committees as well as the nomination and election process, contact Arlene Wood at arlenew@sema.org.

Ford hasn't been secretive about giving the SHO more power and with this design update, more power is on the way. Brenda Priddy's team of spy-snooping shooters recently caught this sinister-looking, blacked-out ’12 Taurus SHO prototype sporting significant updates while playing in the rain.

The biggest news with the refreshed Taurus SHO should be under the hood, according to Priddy. Several months ago, at the annual SHO Convention in Dearborn, Ford's North American Car Marketing Manager Steve Ling said that the SHO's "365 hp is good. 400 is better." That hint wasn't exactly subtle, so Priddy fully expects a more potent version of the 3.5L Ecoboost lurking in this prototype.

Through the camouflage we can see a new, cross-hatch grille with the blue oval peeking out on either side of the camouflage strip. Priddy says this grille is different from the one spotted on prototypes spied last summer, and the lower intake on the new model has been redesigned and is not nearly as tall as the lower intake on the current SHO. A redesigned bumper and possibly a hood are likely hiding under the camo as well. The aggressive, 20-in. SHO wheels have also been modestly revised on this new model.

As for the rest of the Taurus line, Priddy says that a design update is coming as well, with more of an effort to differentiate the SHO from the lower trim models.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

Ford hasn't been secretive about giving the SHO more power and with this design update, more power is on the way. Brenda Priddy's team of spy-snooping shooters recently caught this sinister-looking, blacked-out ’12 Taurus SHO prototype sporting significant updates while playing in the rain.

The biggest news with the refreshed Taurus SHO should be under the hood, according to Priddy. Several months ago, at the annual SHO Convention in Dearborn, Ford's North American Car Marketing Manager Steve Ling said that the SHO's "365 hp is good. 400 is better." That hint wasn't exactly subtle, so Priddy fully expects a more potent version of the 3.5L Ecoboost lurking in this prototype.

Through the camouflage we can see a new, cross-hatch grille with the blue oval peeking out on either side of the camouflage strip. Priddy says this grille is different from the one spotted on prototypes spied last summer, and the lower intake on the new model has been redesigned and is not nearly as tall as the lower intake on the current SHO. A redesigned bumper and possibly a hood are likely hiding under the camo as well. The aggressive, 20-in. SHO wheels have also been modestly revised on this new model.

As for the rest of the Taurus line, Priddy says that a design update is coming as well, with more of an effort to differentiate the SHO from the lower trim models.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

MotorzTV to Premiere on Pursuit Channel
Duke Networks LLC's "Motorz TV" will premiere on the Pursuit Channel cable and satellite network starting Wednesday, April 6. Hosted by Chris Duke, the show will air every Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. (PDT). According to a release from Duke Networks, the Pursuit Channel is the number-one channel in satellite distribution among full-time outdoor networks. "Motorz TV" provides aftermarket installation tips step-by-step in layman’s terms, in a typical garage setting, using common tools.

Gene Winfield

Winfield Award to Be Presented at Syracuse Nationals
The Winfield Award—named after famous car customizer and builder Gene Winfield—will be presented during the 2011 Syracuse Nationals, which is set for July 15–17. All vehicles that are ’37 or newer that have been chopped, channeled or sectioned are eligible for the award. Winfield will pick 12 vehicles from the entries, and those will be reduced to the "Select Six" that will be in contention for the award. The six finalists will receive a custom award, jacket and $500. The actual Winfield Award winner will be announced on Saturday evening (July 16) during the event's annual dinner dance.

Nodson Named The Marx Group VP of Market Research
The Marx Group named John Nodson as its vice president of market research. Nodson, who has been with The Marx Group since 2009 as a market and strategy specialist, will provide the company with a dedicated leader to expand its market research department, according to company president and CEO Tom Marx. In addition to his role with The Marx Group, Nodson is the president of Sagacious Advisor Group (SAG). SAG works with management of select companies by becoming part of their team to help overcome challenges, take advantage of timely opportunities and develop new businesses.

KC Couse Joins Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines added KC Couse to its Roush Yates Performance Products division sales force. Couse has more than 30 years of racing experience throughout all motorsports, and he most recently was the drag-race manager at CV Products.

Yokohama Receives Gold Alliance Supplier Award
Yokohama Tire Corporation’s off-the-road (OTR) division was awarded a Gold Alliance Supplier award for 2010 from Birmingham, Alabama-based Vulcan Materials Company, which annually honors its top suppliers. This is the fourth-consecutive year that Yokohama has earned the honor. Vulcan is a major producer of construction aggregates, which includes crushed stone, sand and gravel used in nearly all forms of construction. “Being honored by Vulcan is extremely gratifying because the criteria for earning a Vulcan Award is based on product, service, support, ease of transaction and value, all of which we take pride in providing to our customers,” said Gary Nash, Yokohama vice president, OTR sales. “Earning their Gold award validates our efforts for maintaining a top level of service for our customers.”

HRE Unveils New Website
HRE Performance Wheels unveiled an all-new website that the company feels will help its customers highlight their passion for automobiles. Expanded content is laid out in a unique split-screen format and features photography with a lifestyle focus, fully integrated Facebook and Twitter feeds, large high-res image galleries for each wheel line broken down by consumer category (motorsport, street, luxury) and a digital concierge service for a hands-on wheel-design experience.

SEMA Member News—March/April 2011

We’ve Come a Long Way Baby!

Camee Edelbrock

When this industry began more than 75 years ago, the men were racing ’32 roadsters across the dry lakes of Southern California while the women were racing around the house, making sure they had a clean place to live and food on the table. Today, women are as much a part of this industry as the men, with roles that include driving race cars, managing businesses, building project vehicles and more.

Balancing a career and home life is more challenging than ever, but the women of the automotive specialty-equipment industry have done it with style for more than 30 years. As a woman who has literally grown up in this business, I’ve witnessed the transition firsthand. In the late ’70s, I attended many events as a representative of the Edelbrock Corp. It was a struggle in those days to get any of the customers to take me seriously. When I offered to answer a question, they simply replied, “I’ll talk to one of the guys.” In 1991, I started racing a ’66 Shelby Mustang GT-350 on the vintage racing circuit. There were no women in the B-production class in which I raced at that time, and very few who drove. Some of the guys treated me like a little sister, teaching me the ropes about road racing. Others were irritated and threatened by my presence, but only when I got close to their rear bumpers or had a faster lap time and qualified for a better starting position.

It’s a completely different story today, thanks to women such as Lynn St. James, Linda Vaughn, Lauren Fix, Courtney Hansen, Jesse Combs and others who have helped pave the way. It’s rather obvious that gender diversity is here to stay!

Here are more thoughts from some of our SBN members:

JoAnn Bortles
Owner of Crazy Horse Painting
Custom Painter/Artist

JoAnn Bortles

“When I first got involved in the auto customizing business in 1979, a longtimer in the industry gave me a friendly reality check. He said, ‘To be a woman in a traditionally male profession, be prepared to work twice as hard and be twice as good as the men.’ For 31 years, I have followed that advice, and it has served me well. There have been times when I ran into men who thought what I was doing was very cool. They would say, ‘Wow, a chick doing that kind of stuff—sure, I’ll let you work on my project!’ Then, in the ’90s, when I thought the old days and stereotyping were behind me, I had an unpleasant job experience where the men I was working with had a ‘women belong in the home, not on the job’ mentality. I was shocked. It was hard to believe that kind of thinking still existed. But it is refreshing and incredible to run into men in this industry, especially very respected and accomplished men, who look at women in this industry and know what it took for us to be here. The acceptance and acknowledgement they give means so much. The reality of being a woman who works in the hands-on end of the custom auto industry means one thing to me, hard work. This is not a 9–5 industry. For the average woman who wears many hats (mom, wife, chef, housekeeper, kid’s taxi service, etc.) working at a career that demands so much, requires serious dedication and discipline. I still work hard, put in brutal long hours and stay creative, inventive and competitive. So I guess, I’m still following that advice I got so very long ago. The upside? It has been an amazing 31 years for me. I look back at all the incredible people I have known and friends I have made, with so many priceless experiences and adventures along the way.”

LuAnne Brown
Owner of eTool Developers
Internet Marketing and Training Specialist

“I love being a woman in the automotive aftermarket! While I am not a big fan of the women’s liberation movement, I want to have the same respect and the same opportunities as our male counterparts. I have found this working in the automotive aftermarket. As in most industries, you have to prove yourself, but if you do what you say you are going to do and get the job done, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman! You do good work, you reap the rewards.”

Christina Kwan
Founder and Owner of Kwan International
Global Marketing, Public Relations

“For me, being a woman in the industry today is having the opportunity to continue the efforts of the women who have opened the doors for us. It’s our job now to not only exemplify but to exceed the expectations of what a woman is capable of in the automotive industry. My hopes are that, one day, our efforts as women won’t have to be looked upon as well-deserved respect because of being a woman but rather as an extraordinary individual who happens to be a woman.

To say that we’ve come a long way is quite an understatement, especially when you consider the turbulent economy we’ve all weathered and the technological advances that we continue to provide for men and women enthusiasts. The passion, dedication and continued love affair of this wonderful hobby is a guarantee that there will be plenty of performance, excitement and great-looking hot rods for many years to come.”

SEMA Member News—March/April 2011

We’ve Come a Long Way Baby!

Camee Edelbrock

When this industry began more than 75 years ago, the men were racing ’32 roadsters across the dry lakes of Southern California while the women were racing around the house, making sure they had a clean place to live and food on the table. Today, women are as much a part of this industry as the men, with roles that include driving race cars, managing businesses, building project vehicles and more.

Balancing a career and home life is more challenging than ever, but the women of the automotive specialty-equipment industry have done it with style for more than 30 years. As a woman who has literally grown up in this business, I’ve witnessed the transition firsthand. In the late ’70s, I attended many events as a representative of the Edelbrock Corp. It was a struggle in those days to get any of the customers to take me seriously. When I offered to answer a question, they simply replied, “I’ll talk to one of the guys.” In 1991, I started racing a ’66 Shelby Mustang GT-350 on the vintage racing circuit. There were no women in the B-production class in which I raced at that time, and very few who drove. Some of the guys treated me like a little sister, teaching me the ropes about road racing. Others were irritated and threatened by my presence, but only when I got close to their rear bumpers or had a faster lap time and qualified for a better starting position.

It’s a completely different story today, thanks to women such as Lynn St. James, Linda Vaughn, Lauren Fix, Courtney Hansen, Jesse Combs and others who have helped pave the way. It’s rather obvious that gender diversity is here to stay!

Here are more thoughts from some of our SBN members:

JoAnn Bortles
Owner of Crazy Horse Painting
Custom Painter/Artist

JoAnn Bortles

“When I first got involved in the auto customizing business in 1979, a longtimer in the industry gave me a friendly reality check. He said, ‘To be a woman in a traditionally male profession, be prepared to work twice as hard and be twice as good as the men.’ For 31 years, I have followed that advice, and it has served me well. There have been times when I ran into men who thought what I was doing was very cool. They would say, ‘Wow, a chick doing that kind of stuff—sure, I’ll let you work on my project!’ Then, in the ’90s, when I thought the old days and stereotyping were behind me, I had an unpleasant job experience where the men I was working with had a ‘women belong in the home, not on the job’ mentality. I was shocked. It was hard to believe that kind of thinking still existed. But it is refreshing and incredible to run into men in this industry, especially very respected and accomplished men, who look at women in this industry and know what it took for us to be here. The acceptance and acknowledgement they give means so much. The reality of being a woman who works in the hands-on end of the custom auto industry means one thing to me, hard work. This is not a 9–5 industry. For the average woman who wears many hats (mom, wife, chef, housekeeper, kid’s taxi service, etc.) working at a career that demands so much, requires serious dedication and discipline. I still work hard, put in brutal long hours and stay creative, inventive and competitive. So I guess, I’m still following that advice I got so very long ago. The upside? It has been an amazing 31 years for me. I look back at all the incredible people I have known and friends I have made, with so many priceless experiences and adventures along the way.”

LuAnne Brown
Owner of eTool Developers
Internet Marketing and Training Specialist

“I love being a woman in the automotive aftermarket! While I am not a big fan of the women’s liberation movement, I want to have the same respect and the same opportunities as our male counterparts. I have found this working in the automotive aftermarket. As in most industries, you have to prove yourself, but if you do what you say you are going to do and get the job done, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman! You do good work, you reap the rewards.”

Christina Kwan
Founder and Owner of Kwan International
Global Marketing, Public Relations

“For me, being a woman in the industry today is having the opportunity to continue the efforts of the women who have opened the doors for us. It’s our job now to not only exemplify but to exceed the expectations of what a woman is capable of in the automotive industry. My hopes are that, one day, our efforts as women won’t have to be looked upon as well-deserved respect because of being a woman but rather as an extraordinary individual who happens to be a woman.

To say that we’ve come a long way is quite an understatement, especially when you consider the turbulent economy we’ve all weathered and the technological advances that we continue to provide for men and women enthusiasts. The passion, dedication and continued love affair of this wonderful hobby is a guarantee that there will be plenty of performance, excitement and great-looking hot rods for many years to come.”

SEMA Member News—March/April 2011

	The staff and membership of SEMA and the HRIA can have a direct impact on safeguarding the tradition of hot rodding in America through the SEMA Hot Rod Bill. (Photo Courtesy Dennis Overholser)

There may be nothing more American than a hot rod! As the rest of the world continues to adopt elements of our unique cultural identity, there are few things left that are truly American. Classic hot rods and musclecars are 100% American made. Unfortunately, these vehicles have long struggled to find their place in the law. Too often, a lack of knowledge and experience on the part of legislators has led to bad laws that negatively impact our industry and the hobby. However, the staff and membership of SEMA and the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) can have a direct impact on safeguarding the tradition of hot rodding in America.

In many states, legislation—or the lack thereof—has created difficulty for titling and registering classic and custom vehicles. Almost all states have processes by which antiques can be registered, but few adequately provide for modified cars. In response, SEMA’s government affairs team has developed a model bill to protect hot rodding for current and future generations. Working with hobby-friendly legislators, this model legislation creates titling and registration classifications for street rods and custom vehicles, including kit cars and replicas.

Under the SEMA model, eligible vehicles are titled with the production year they most closely resemble. They must meet only the equipment requirements for that model year and are exempt from periodic vehicle inspections and emissions inspections. Beginning with Illinois in 2001, versions of the model bill have been successful in helping hobbyists title their rods in 21 states to-date. SEMA continues to work toward adding more states to that list. A copy of the bill is available on the SEMA Action Network grassroots enthusiast website.

States that have enacted the SEMA Hot Rod Bill include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Member Spotlight: Classic Instruments

The company is owned by John McLeod, a lifelong hot rodder and member of the HRIA Select Committee. Like many hot rodders, McLeod is also a drag racer at heart. His first hot rod was a ’64 Plymouth Fury Max Wedge. These days, you will find him taking part in nostalgic drag races whenever he finds an open weekend. Like most HRIA members, McLeod is more than a business owner—he is actively involved in promoting the hobby and industry of hot rodding through his own passion for classic hot rods as well as his personal involvement in SEMA and HRIA.

The involvement of kids in hot rodding is also a passion for McLeod and Classic Instruments. McLeod believes that we can help preserve our hobby and industry for years to come by exposing the next generation of car enthusiasts to classic hot rods and musclecars. He is actively involved in promoting junior drag-racing programs in the Michigan area as well as youth involvement at national car shows and local events. Classic Instruments also provides tours and educational opportunities for local teens so that they are exposed to the hot-rodding community.

If you have questions about getting involved in HRIA and youth involvement programs, McLeod is always available to talk, or you may contact Kerry Hopperstad, chairman of the HRIA’s Youth Involvement Task Force.