The following is an announcement sent on behalf of Interlink Media Senior Vice President, Street Performance, Motorsports and Rod and Restoration Groups, Doug Evans:

"It gives me a great deal of pleasure to announce the following changes in the Street Performance and Motorsports Group of Source Interlink Media:

Jerry Pitt has been promoted to the position of Editorial Director of Hot Rod, Car Craft, Popular Hot Rodding, Engine Masters, Chevy High Performance and 5.0 Mustang Magazines. Jerry has done a fabulous job as publisher of Hot Rod and brings both years of editorial experience as well business experience to his new role.

Bruce Miller has been promoted to the position of Hot Rod publisher. Bruce is a seasoned veteran of the company and also brings the added experience from his time at Newsweek to his new position. Bruce will continue to be based in Detroit.

John Gallagher will take on the additional responsibility of handling Popular Hot Rodding and Engine Masters as publisher. John will also continue as publisher of Car Craft."

Filler for eNews

Filler for eNews

"This has been a busy several months for spy photos of trucks," spy photographer Brenda Priddy tells us. "First we caught the 2009 Dodge Ram, and shortly afterwards, Ford's 2009 F-150. Actually, we've just arrived at the point in time when the 2009 models are trickling out of the secure proving grounds and hitting the streets for real-world testing.

"Although still camouflaged, more interior and exterior details are coming through. Some F-150 prototypes have shown different grilles, but the one you see here under the camo is the REAL thing.

"We're expecting one, or maybe both, of Ford's new 5.8L and 6.2L BOSS V8s will make its way into the F-150. Eventually Ford's new 4.4L Lion diesel motor will also show up under the hood, a first for the F-150 lineup. The new F-150's styling will be more evolutionary than revolutionary, with bolder fender flares and a 'power dome' hood. Some may even refer to it as a 'Super Duty Lite,' with a smaller version of the Super Duty's bold three-bar grille with vents on the side."

Want to run a Solstice in SCCA? General Motors Performance Division engineers will conduct a technical seminar on building a Pontiac Solstice race car for Sport Car Club of America (SCCA) racing. Attendees will learn how to optimize a Solstice or Solstice GXP equipped with the available Z0K production option, receive details for use in producing aftermarket parts and components for Solstice performance applications, and receive a copy of the new Solstice Performance book available at GM dealerships. 

The seminar takes place Wednesday, October 31, 7:00 a.m.–7:30 a.m., in the Las Vegas Convention Center, room N242.

For a complete list of all of the seminars at the 2007 SEMA Show, click here.

Working with member companies and several other trade associations, SEMA submitted extensive comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to regulate certain paint-surface coating operations at the local level. In general, SEMA and the other association’s support the rule, in which the EPA backed away from regulating paints that contain heavy metals (hazardous air pollutants or HAP) at the retail level.

The EPA will instead require best industry practices (spray booths, high power spray guns, ventilators) when using paints containing HAPs. SEMA and other associations recommended that the EPA include a small volume exemption (250 gallons per year) so as to focus on the larger source emitters. This would effectively remove smaller business operations and the hobbyist community from the scope of the rule (the agency was unclear on whether the rule applied to hobbyists).

SEMA and other associations also recommended that the EPA require self-certification rather than having thousands of potential companies send in forms to register and certify with the agency. For additional information and to receive a copy of SEMA’s comments, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Members of the House Natural Resources Committee met to consider legislation that would set aside an unprecedented 24 million acres of public lands in the Northern Rockies. This land would be designated as “wilderness” and by definition, motorized recreation would be strictly prohibited in these areas.

This proposal has been reintroduced numerous times over the last 12 years. While the bill has bipartisan support, the sponsors of the measure and a vast majority of the co-sponsors are from eastern states. The breadth and magnitude of lands affected by this bill has turned this into an east-west debate. During the hearing, Congressional members representing the affected states expressed their vehement opposition to the bill. In addition, representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management testified on the administration’s opposition to the measure.  While it is safe to assume that the bill, as written, will not become law under the current administration, this could change in the future depending on which party controls Congress and the White House.

Wilderness legislation is consequential to SEMA members since it potentially denies access to off-roaders and the equipment that they purchase. SEMA continues to support land-use decisions that allow local stakeholders to participate in the decision-making process.  Within that context, SEMA supports compromise approaches on wilderness areas that balance the need to preserve access to appropriate motorized recreation while protecting some of our nation’s natural wonders. Details: Jason Tolleson at jasont@sema.org or Petra Smeltzer at petras@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule to clarify that no horn marking is required unless the horn control is situated in a location other than in the middle of the steering wheel. In this case, the location would need to be identified with a specified horn symbol in a color that stands out clearly against the background.

The NHTSA believes the motoring public expects the horn to be in the center, thus the driver only needs to be alerted when it is in a different location. Motor vehicle controls, telltales and symbols (including the horn symbol) are regulated under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 101. For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will now require at least 90 days advance notice from anybody who intends to manufacture, import or process mercury for use in aftermarket auto products. While the automakers are now using chemical substitutes, mercury is still found in some switches for aftermarket products, such as lighting equipment and antilock braking systems. The mercury can be subsequently released into the environment as the vehicle and its parts are dismantled, recycled and scrapped. The EPA rule applies to elemental mercury in the following uses:

• Convenience-light switches, such as those in vehicle trunks and interior lights, in new motor vehicles, and in new aftermarket replacement parts
• Switches in anti-lock brakes in new motor vehicles and in anti-lock brake aftermarket replacement parts in motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2003
• Switches in active ride-control systems in new motor vehicles and in control systems as aftermarket replacement parts for vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2003

Exempt from the rule are switches manufactured as aftermarket replacement parts for anti-lock brake and ride-control systems in vehicles manufactured before January 1, 2003. The EPA said there is no mercury-free alternative for midlife replacement of anti-lock brake and ride-control switches. Details: Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

DRIVER SWAPS: With just four races remaining in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, CNC Haas Racing has released driver Jeff Green. He will be replaced by veteran Jeremy Mayfield, who will drive the team’s No. 66 next season. As a result, Craftsman Truck Series regulars Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner will split time in the Bill Davis Racing Toyota vacated by Mayfield.

THE CHAMP: Doing what he had to do, Kimi Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix and collected the World Driving Championship by a single point. However, he could lose that title if Team McLaren wins its appeal regarding the fuel used in the cars of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, which finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton. If those two drivers, were penalized and Hamilton elevated two positions, he would claim the championship.

CLOSING DOWN: The RUSPORT Champ Car World Series team will close its doors after the Mexico City season finale, leaving the embattled series without another regular entry in its championship.

WENT HOME: Twenty-seven days after the worst crash of his racing career, 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force left the Baylor University Medical Center and flew home to California on Saturday. He will continue therapy there and hopes to return to the cockpit next season.

HIRED: Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd has signed a driver-development contract with Chip Ganassi Racing and is expected to compete in both the IndyCar Series and the Grand Am Rolex Series for sports cars.

DIED: Longtime Los Angeles Times motorsports reporter Shav Glick died Friday at age 87.

NUMBER ONE: World of Outlaws point-leader Donny Schatz retained the top spot in the NSSN Power Rankings for the fourth-straight week, edging NASCAR Nextel Cup point-leader Jeff Gordon.

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