The second-annual Pinewood Drag Races inspired colorful and creative designs.

The second annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races opened with practice and tuning runs during the afternoon hours of the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. With Internet Symposium seminars and the Show 'N Shine car show going on in the adjacent convention center, pinewood racers spent several hours tuning and tweaking in search of elusive tenths of seconds.

As the evening cocktail reception opened, the stage was set for the final showdown. Amid much trash talk among competitors, final rounds began and crowned the top three in each class. They included:

Build it For Me Class

• Jeep Worthan, AutoMeter
• Tom Brooks, Agri-Cover
• Richard Churchill, PIAA Corp.

Stock

• Greg Parker, e3 Spark Plugs
• Patrick Saunders, Classic Industries
• Nicolas Hoffend, Freeman

Modified (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.83
• Vickie Hays, Microscale: 2.99
• Justin Hoffend, Freeman: 3.00

Unlimited (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.76
• Dora Fang, eBay Motors: 2.80
• Jim Cozzie, Certus Strategic Partners: 2.84

People's Choice

• Zan Martin, Martin & Company

Coordinated by the SEMA Cares Committee, the Pinewood Drag Races were also made possible by the generosity of eBay Motors, Lokar Performance Products and an army of dedicated volunteers.

Some of the 100-plus cars built by the children at ChildHelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.		Mike Spagnola Jr. again offered competitors his tuning services for donations to charity.
Defending Unlimited Class champ Jim Cozzie shares a few speed secrets with Mike Spagnola Jr.		Victory Junction Gang Camper Josh Bovee assists HRIA Chairman Dennis Overholser kick off the Pinewood Drag finals.
In a late afternoon Unlimited Class qualifying heat, Mitch Williams' Pilot Automotive car (outside right) has the slight edge on Jim Cozzie's needle-nosed racer (second from outside).		Board member and newly-inducted Hall of Fame member Jeep Worthan, here with Dora Fang from eBay Motors (left) and emcee Joe Sebergandio from MotorMedia, sponsored a pinewood car that took first place in the "Build It For Me" class.
Nicolas Hoffend with his third-place Stock Class car and award.		Justin Hoffend took third-place in the Modified class.
Zan Martin's duck car won her the People's Choice award.		Mitch Williams succeeded in his quest to dethrone Jim Cozzie and take first place in the Unlimited Class. We're guessing the Immediate Past Chairman is already back in the North Carolina lab cooking up a comeback.
A couple of competitors looking forward to next year's running.		Racing luminaries and entertainment celebs offered signature editions of pinewood cars for the cause.

	The second-annual Pinewood Drag Races inspired colorful and creative designs.

The second annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races opened with practice and tuning runs during the afternoon hours of the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. With Internet Symposium seminars and the Show 'N Shine car show going on in the adjacent convention center, pinewood racers spent several hours tuning and tweaking in search of elusive tenths of seconds.

As the evening cocktail reception opened, the stage was set for the final showdown. Amid much trash talk among competitors, final rounds began and crowned the top three in each class. They included:

Build it For Me Class

• Jeep Worthan, AutoMeter
• Tom Brooks, Agri-Cover
• Richard Churchill, PIAA Corp.

Stock

• Greg Parker, e3 Spark Plugs
• Patrick Saunders, Classic Industries
• Nicolas Hoffend, Freeman

Modified (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.83
• Vickie Hays, Microscale: 2.99
• Justin Hoffend, Freeman: 3.00

Unlimited (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.76
• Dora Fang, eBay Motors: 2.80
• Jim Cozzie, Certus Strategic Partners: 2.84

People's Choice

• Zan Martin, Martin & Company

Coordinated by the SEMA Cares Committee, the Pinewood Drag Races were also made possible by the generosity of eBay Motors, Lokar Performance Products and an army of dedicated volunteers.

Some of the 100-plus cars built by the children at ChildHelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.		Mike Spagnola Jr. again offered competitors his tuning services for donations to charity.
Defending Unlimited Class champ Jim Cozzie shares a few speed secrets with Mike Spagnola Jr.		Victory Junction Gang Camper Josh Bovee assists HRIA Chairman Dennis Overholser kick off the Pinewood Drag finals.
In a late afternoon Unlimited Class qualifying heat, Mitch Williams' Pilot Automotive car (outside right) has the slight edge on Jim Cozzie's needle-nosed racer (second from outside).		Board member and newly-inducted Hall of Fame member Jeep Worthan, here with Dora Fang from eBay Motors (left) and emcee Joe Sebergandio from MotorMedia, sponsored a pinewood car that took first place in the "Build It For Me" class.
Nicolas Hoffend with his third-place Stock Class car and award.		Justin Hoffend took third-place in the Modified class.
Zan Martin's duck car won her the People's Choice award.		Mitch Williams succeeded in his quest to dethrone Jim Cozzie and take first place in the Unlimited Class. We're guessing the Immediate Past Chairman is already back in the North Carolina lab cooking up a comeback.
A couple of competitors looking forward to next year's running.		Racing luminaries and entertainment celebs offered signature editions of pinewood cars for the cause.

	The second-annual Pinewood Drag Races inspired colorful and creative designs.

The second annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races opened with practice and tuning runs during the afternoon hours of the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. With Internet Symposium seminars and the Show 'N Shine car show going on in the adjacent convention center, pinewood racers spent several hours tuning and tweaking in search of elusive tenths of seconds.

As the evening cocktail reception opened, the stage was set for the final showdown. Amid much trash talk among competitors, final rounds began and crowned the top three in each class. They included:

Build it For Me Class

• Jeep Worthan, AutoMeter
• Tom Brooks, Agri-Cover
• Richard Churchill, PIAA Corp.

Stock

• Greg Parker, e3 Spark Plugs
• Patrick Saunders, Classic Industries
• Nicolas Hoffend, Freeman

Modified (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.83
• Vickie Hays, Microscale: 2.99
• Justin Hoffend, Freeman: 3.00

Unlimited (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.76
• Dora Fang, eBay Motors: 2.80
• Jim Cozzie, Certus Strategic Partners: 2.84

People's Choice

• Zan Martin, Martin & Company

Coordinated by the SEMA Cares Committee, the Pinewood Drag Races were also made possible by the generosity of eBay Motors, Lokar Performance Products and an army of dedicated volunteers.

Some of the 100-plus cars built by the children at ChildHelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.		Mike Spagnola Jr. again offered competitors his tuning services for donations to charity.
Defending Unlimited Class champ Jim Cozzie shares a few speed secrets with Mike Spagnola Jr.		Victory Junction Gang Camper Josh Bovee assists HRIA Chairman Dennis Overholser kick off the Pinewood Drag finals.
In a late afternoon Unlimited Class qualifying heat, Mitch Williams' Pilot Automotive car (outside right) has the slight edge on Jim Cozzie's needle-nosed racer (second from outside).		Board member and newly-inducted Hall of Fame member Jeep Worthan, here with Dora Fang from eBay Motors (left) and emcee Joe Sebergandio from MotorMedia, sponsored a pinewood car that took first place in the "Build It For Me" class.
Nicolas Hoffend with his third-place Stock Class car and award.		Justin Hoffend took third-place in the Modified class.
Zan Martin's duck car won her the People's Choice award.		Mitch Williams succeeded in his quest to dethrone Jim Cozzie and take first place in the Unlimited Class. We're guessing the Immediate Past Chairman is already back in the North Carolina lab cooking up a comeback.
A couple of competitors looking forward to next year's running.		Racing luminaries and entertainment celebs offered signature editions of pinewood cars for the cause.

	The second-annual Pinewood Drag Races inspired colorful and creative designs.

The second annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races opened with practice and tuning runs during the afternoon hours of the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. With Internet Symposium seminars and the Show 'N Shine car show going on in the adjacent convention center, pinewood racers spent several hours tuning and tweaking in search of elusive tenths of seconds.

As the evening cocktail reception opened, the stage was set for the final showdown. Amid much trash talk among competitors, final rounds began and crowned the top three in each class. They included:

Build it For Me Class

• Jeep Worthan, AutoMeter
• Tom Brooks, Agri-Cover
• Richard Churchill, PIAA Corp.

Stock

• Greg Parker, e3 Spark Plugs
• Patrick Saunders, Classic Industries
• Nicolas Hoffend, Freeman

Modified (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.83
• Vickie Hays, Microscale: 2.99
• Justin Hoffend, Freeman: 3.00

Unlimited (w/average time)

• Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.76
• Dora Fang, eBay Motors: 2.80
• Jim Cozzie, Certus Strategic Partners: 2.84

People's Choice

• Zan Martin, Martin & Company

Coordinated by the SEMA Cares Committee, the Pinewood Drag Races were also made possible by the generosity of eBay Motors, Lokar Performance Products and an army of dedicated volunteers.

Some of the 100-plus cars built by the children at ChildHelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.		Mike Spagnola Jr. again offered competitors his tuning services for donations to charity.
Defending Unlimited Class champ Jim Cozzie shares a few speed secrets with Mike Spagnola Jr.		Victory Junction Gang Camper Josh Bovee assists HRIA Chairman Dennis Overholser kick off the Pinewood Drag finals.
In a late afternoon Unlimited Class qualifying heat, Mitch Williams' Pilot Automotive car (outside right) has the slight edge on Jim Cozzie's needle-nosed racer (second from outside).		Board member and newly-inducted Hall of Fame member Jeep Worthan, here with Dora Fang from eBay Motors (left) and emcee Joe Sebergandio from MotorMedia, sponsored a pinewood car that took first place in the "Build It For Me" class.
Nicolas Hoffend with his third-place Stock Class car and award.		Justin Hoffend took third-place in the Modified class.
Zan Martin's duck car won her the People's Choice award.		Mitch Williams succeeded in his quest to dethrone Jim Cozzie and take first place in the Unlimited Class. We're guessing the Immediate Past Chairman is already back in the North Carolina lab cooking up a comeback.
A couple of competitors looking forward to next year's running.		Racing luminaries and entertainment celebs offered signature editions of pinewood cars for the cause.

Diane Nesprido	Lauren Mencarini

Permatex named Diane Nesprido senior product manager and promoted Lauren Mencarini to creative director. Nesprido, who has been with Permatex since 2003, is responsible for the company’s product management and marketing departments, oversees No Touch appearance products, Spray Nine Cleaners, and the Permatex Silicone Gasketing and Adhesive and Sealants lines, and is in charge of overall marketing communications, including trade shows and new product introductions. Mencarini has more than 20 years experience in in-house marketing communications and worked in Permatex’s creative department for the past 10 years. Before her promotion, Mencarini had been the company’s graphic design manager.

Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) and C&D have formed a new partnership that brings together Hennessey, Lonestar Motorsports Park and the newly established Tuner School all under the same management group. C&D Performance CEO Don Goldman assumed the role of CEO of HPE, Tuner School and Lonestar and will handle the companies’ business operations. HPE Founder John Hennessey will remain president of HPE and will focus on new product design, development and marketing.

The Busted Knuckle Garage, a brand of Almost There! Inc., will sponsor Kevin Parker of Parker Motorsports, the 2007 Rookie of the Year in late model stocks.

Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian recently addressed the rumor about the track being turned into an off-road racing only facility in 2010. Stated Kazarian, “Not sure who started the rumor or why, but let me assure everybody, it is absolutely not true. Like they are today, sprint cars, stock cars, motorcycles and off-road racing are all part of the future at Perris Auto Speedway.”

Jeremy Janke

Bossco International hired Jeremy Janke as operations manager. Janke’s background includes working with factories in China and facilitating product importing and exporting to major retailers around the world.

Crane Cams has reopened under the new ownership of S&S Cycle. With manufacturing and sales operations of its ignition and motorcycle lines up and running, the company is newly housed in a facility at 1640 Mason Ave. in Daytona Beach. S&S Cycle acquired Crane’s intellectual properties, patents, trademarks, camshaft masters, inventory and some equipment in April 2009.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.’s website, www.toyotires.com, won the “Best in Class” in the Consumer Goods category of the 2009 Interactive Media Awards. The awards are presented annually by the Interactive Media Council Inc., a non-profit organization consisting of web designers, programmers, advertisers and web-related professionals.

To help employers find the right talent in the least amount of time while keeping expenses in check, WyoTech has launched Corporate-Connect. The virtual recruiting tool is an online hub that allows employers to post free job campaigns, interview applicants online and build their brands with targeted users. Learn more about Corporate-Connect by visiting the website or contacting Helene DeAlleaume at WyoTech-Long Beach at 562/624-5879.

SCHEDULE TALK: There is plenty of controversy surrounding last week’s announcement of the 2010 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series schedule. The series will have more road courses than ovals for the first time in its history, and Richmond International Raceway was among those notably missing from the calendar.

NEW OLD NAME: It appears that Lowe’s Motor Speedway will again become Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2010 after its naming rights agreement with Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores runs out at the end of this year. Lowe’s has been title sponsor of the Concord, North Carolina, track for 11 years.

BIG WINNER: Bryan Clauson swept the 32nd annual Speedway Motors Belleville Midget Nationals at Belleville (Kansas) High Banks.

COMING BACK: Seven-time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One racing, replacing injured Felipe Massa on the Ferrari team.

LEAVING: BMW will pull out of Formula One at the end of the season.

A STREAK: Ron Hornaday, Jr. has won five straight races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

BUMPED UP: Despite not racing this weekend, NHRA Top Fuel driver Antron Brown jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings this week. Brown previously ranked second to Tony Stewart. The rankings appear weekly in America’s Motorsports Authority.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

SCHEDULE TALK: There is plenty of controversy surrounding last week’s announcement of the 2010 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series schedule. The series will have more road courses than ovals for the first time in its history, and Richmond International Raceway was among those notably missing from the calendar.

NEW OLD NAME: It appears that Lowe’s Motor Speedway will again become Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2010 after its naming rights agreement with Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores runs out at the end of this year. Lowe’s has been title sponsor of the Concord, North Carolina, track for 11 years.

BIG WINNER: Bryan Clauson swept the 32nd annual Speedway Motors Belleville Midget Nationals at Belleville (Kansas) High Banks.

COMING BACK: Seven-time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One racing, replacing injured Felipe Massa on the Ferrari team.

LEAVING: BMW will pull out of Formula One at the end of the season.

A STREAK: Ron Hornaday, Jr. has won five straight races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

BUMPED UP: Despite not racing this weekend, NHRA Top Fuel driver Antron Brown jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings this week. Brown previously ranked second to Tony Stewart. The rankings appear weekly in America’s Motorsports Authority.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

SCHEDULE TALK: There is plenty of controversy surrounding last week’s announcement of the 2010 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series schedule. The series will have more road courses than ovals for the first time in its history, and Richmond International Raceway was among those notably missing from the calendar.

NEW OLD NAME: It appears that Lowe’s Motor Speedway will again become Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2010 after its naming rights agreement with Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores runs out at the end of this year. Lowe’s has been title sponsor of the Concord, North Carolina, track for 11 years.

BIG WINNER: Bryan Clauson swept the 32nd annual Speedway Motors Belleville Midget Nationals at Belleville (Kansas) High Banks.

COMING BACK: Seven-time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One racing, replacing injured Felipe Massa on the Ferrari team.

LEAVING: BMW will pull out of Formula One at the end of the season.

A STREAK: Ron Hornaday, Jr. has won five straight races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

BUMPED UP: Despite not racing this weekend, NHRA Top Fuel driver Antron Brown jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings this week. Brown previously ranked second to Tony Stewart. The rankings appear weekly in America’s Motorsports Authority.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

	Immediate Past Chairman Jim Cozzie announced a unique collaboration between SEMA and Clemson University.

SEMA outgoing Chairman Jim Cozzie took the podium during the annual Board Officer’s installment ceremony prior to handing over the gavel to incoming Chair Rick Rollins, and announced one of the most innovative alliances in SEMA’s 47-year history. Cozzie outlined a partnership between California-headquartered SEMA and South Carolina-based Clemson University, which launched the $215 million International Center for Automotive Research [CU-ICAR] in 2003, to the audience of more than 500 attendees.

“The new alliance represents an unprecedented industry-academia platform for advanced vehicle technology and performance aftermarket education program development, notably forged in the midst of one of the automotive industry’s most challenging periods in history,” Cozzie said.

“The automotive original-equipment and aftermarket industries are undergoing serious transformations and will continue to evolve in the coming years. The Clemson relationship can benefit SEMA-member companies by providing vehicle technology integration; development and support to help members leverage new business opportunities.”

According to Chris Przirembel, Clemson University’s vice president for research and economic development, the partnership represents “an extraordinary opportunity for Clemson, as a major university committed to becoming one of the world’s leading automotive and motorsports research and education centers, to join with SEMA and its powerful industry membership base in a shared mission to help shape the future of the automotive performance aftermarket industry.”

As part of the agreement, Clemson University’s Campbell Graduate Engineering Center on the 250-acre CU-ICAR campus—located midway between Atlanta and Charlotte along I-85 in Greenville, South Carolina—is positioned to serve as a systems integration and testing center for SEMA and its 7,500 members.

The unique academic center houses a variety of laboratories and test cells including a 7-post shaker in an environmental chamber, a chassis dynamometer in a semi-anechoic chamber, engine test cells, an electromagnetic compatibility chamber, and a full-scale vehicle three-dimensional CMM for measuring geometric and physical coordinates of parts and vehicle surfaces.

Dr. Imtiaz Haque, executive director of the Campbell Center, which offers the only automotive engineering Ph.D. in the United States, said an “ultimate goal would be for SEMA and Clemson to collaboratively develop an integrated systems approach for designing and customizing today’s vehicles and vehicles of the future.

Among other initiatives, the graduate center will develop prototype project vehicles with the objective of demonstrating the integration of specialty-equipment and performance aftermarket components, total vehicle systems and modules, thereby creating new opportunities for interested SEMA-member companies to directly participate.”

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting said the Clemson-SEMA relationship supports SEMA’s vehicle technology strategic goals for identifying industry needs and developing effective solutions to assist members with complex vehicle technology challenges and opportunities.

“In the midst of these difficult times, we hope to collaboratively develop a clear pathway for the multi-billion automotive aftermarket industry and SEMA-member companies,” Kersting said.

Clemson University is a nationally ranked science and technology-oriented public research university known for its emphasis on collaboration, focus and a culture that encourages faculty and students to embrace bold ideas. Its teaching, research and outreach are driving economic development and improving quality of life in South Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.clemson.edu/research.

	Immediate Past Chairman Jim Cozzie announced a unique collaboration between SEMA and Clemson University.

SEMA outgoing Chairman Jim Cozzie took the podium during the annual Board Officer’s installment ceremony prior to handing over the gavel to incoming Chair Rick Rollins, and announced one of the most innovative alliances in SEMA’s 47-year history. Cozzie outlined a partnership between California-headquartered SEMA and South Carolina-based Clemson University, which launched the $215 million International Center for Automotive Research [CU-ICAR] in 2003, to the audience of more than 500 attendees.

“The new alliance represents an unprecedented industry-academia platform for advanced vehicle technology and performance aftermarket education program development, notably forged in the midst of one of the automotive industry’s most challenging periods in history,” Cozzie said.

“The automotive original-equipment and aftermarket industries are undergoing serious transformations and will continue to evolve in the coming years. The Clemson relationship can benefit SEMA-member companies by providing vehicle technology integration; development and support to help members leverage new business opportunities.”

According to Chris Przirembel, Clemson University’s vice president for research and economic development, the partnership represents “an extraordinary opportunity for Clemson, as a major university committed to becoming one of the world’s leading automotive and motorsports research and education centers, to join with SEMA and its powerful industry membership base in a shared mission to help shape the future of the automotive performance aftermarket industry.”

As part of the agreement, Clemson University’s Campbell Graduate Engineering Center on the 250-acre CU-ICAR campus—located midway between Atlanta and Charlotte along I-85 in Greenville, South Carolina—is positioned to serve as a systems integration and testing center for SEMA and its 7,500 members.

The unique academic center houses a variety of laboratories and test cells including a 7-post shaker in an environmental chamber, a chassis dynamometer in a semi-anechoic chamber, engine test cells, an electromagnetic compatibility chamber, and a full-scale vehicle three-dimensional CMM for measuring geometric and physical coordinates of parts and vehicle surfaces.

Dr. Imtiaz Haque, executive director of the Campbell Center, which offers the only automotive engineering Ph.D. in the United States, said an “ultimate goal would be for SEMA and Clemson to collaboratively develop an integrated systems approach for designing and customizing today’s vehicles and vehicles of the future.

Among other initiatives, the graduate center will develop prototype project vehicles with the objective of demonstrating the integration of specialty-equipment and performance aftermarket components, total vehicle systems and modules, thereby creating new opportunities for interested SEMA-member companies to directly participate.”

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting said the Clemson-SEMA relationship supports SEMA’s vehicle technology strategic goals for identifying industry needs and developing effective solutions to assist members with complex vehicle technology challenges and opportunities.

“In the midst of these difficult times, we hope to collaboratively develop a clear pathway for the multi-billion automotive aftermarket industry and SEMA-member companies,” Kersting said.

Clemson University is a nationally ranked science and technology-oriented public research university known for its emphasis on collaboration, focus and a culture that encourages faculty and students to embrace bold ideas. Its teaching, research and outreach are driving economic development and improving quality of life in South Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.clemson.edu/research.