For his 2019 Battle of the Builders entry, Luke Merrill is spotlighting a ’40 Chevy two-door sedan wide body that’s been chopped. He’s building this “Tinmama” for no one other than his own mom. He’s put more than 1,000 hours of metalwork into this car that’s been in his family for almost 30 years. Originally, Merrill planned to debut this build at SEMA Show in 2018 but ran into some setbacks that convinced him to hold off until this years’ competition.

By Zane Clark

Several iconic industry personalities will be featured during this year’s version of “Brew Talks,” including (top photo, L–R): Corky Coker, Barry Meguiar, Amy Faulk (bottom photo, from top, L–R): Sean P. Holman, Brittany Williams, Aaron Kaufman and Jim Liaw.

Back by popular demand, SEMA Show Education will host “Brew Talks” on Tuesday and Wednesday of the 2019 SEMA Show.

First introduced in 2017, “Brew Talks” is based on the idea that the best conversations often happen when defenses are down and folks are belly-up at the bar. So, SEMA Education decided to roll in a cash bar for the last seminar of the day, where attendees can buy a beer or glass of wine. The guest panelists are on stage, sitting behind a bar, which faces the audience. The conversations are informal, genuine and all about story telling. The audience gets to eavesdrop on some great discussions.

This year’s bartender (moderator) will be Sean P. Holman, group content director, Truck & Off-Road Group, and co-host of “The Truck Show Podcast” for Motor Trend Group.

Joining Holman, Tuesday, November 5, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., in LVCC N258, will be specials guests, including:

• Jim Liaw, president and co-founder, Formula DRIFT Holdings LLC
• Aaron Kaufman, TV personality and owner of ArcLight Fabrication
• Brittany Williams, YouTube influencer at Lite Brite Studios and competitor in the recent Netflix series “Hyperdrive!”

On Wednesday, November 6, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., in LVCC N258, attendees will be treated to a special SEMA Hall of Fame version of “Brew Talks” featuring:

• Barry Meguiar, president, Meguiar’s Inc.
• Corky Coker, former tire salesman, collector vehicle enthusiast
• Amy Faulk, CEO, Hypertech

Space is limited. Register for both exclusive talks.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all seminars and register.

By Zane Clark

Several iconic industry personalities will be featured during this year’s version of “Brew Talks,” including (top photo, L–R): Corky Coker, Barry Meguiar, Amy Faulk (bottom photo, from top, L–R): Sean P. Holman, Brittany Williams, Aaron Kaufman and Jim Liaw.

Back by popular demand, SEMA Show Education will host “Brew Talks” on Tuesday and Wednesday of the 2019 SEMA Show.

First introduced in 2017, “Brew Talks” is based on the idea that the best conversations often happen when defenses are down and folks are belly-up at the bar. So, SEMA Education decided to roll in a cash bar for the last seminar of the day, where attendees can buy a beer or glass of wine. The guest panelists are on stage, sitting behind a bar, which faces the audience. The conversations are informal, genuine and all about story telling. The audience gets to eavesdrop on some great discussions.

This year’s bartender (moderator) will be Sean P. Holman, group content director, Truck & Off-Road Group, and co-host of “The Truck Show Podcast” for Motor Trend Group.

Joining Holman, Tuesday, November 5, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., in LVCC N258, will be specials guests, including:

• Jim Liaw, president and co-founder, Formula DRIFT Holdings LLC
• Aaron Kaufman, TV personality and owner of ArcLight Fabrication
• Brittany Williams, YouTube influencer at Lite Brite Studios and competitor in the recent Netflix series “Hyperdrive!”

On Wednesday, November 6, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., in LVCC N258, attendees will be treated to a special SEMA Hall of Fame version of “Brew Talks” featuring:

• Barry Meguiar, president, Meguiar’s Inc.
• Corky Coker, former tire salesman, collector vehicle enthusiast
• Amy Faulk, CEO, Hypertech

Space is limited. Register for both exclusive talks.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all seminars and register.

By Zane Clark

Several iconic industry personalities will be featured during this year’s version of “Brew Talks,” including (top photo, L–R): Corky Coker, Barry Meguiar, Amy Faulk (bottom photo, from top, L–R): Sean P. Holman, Brittany Williams, Aaron Kaufman and Jim Liaw.

Back by popular demand, SEMA Show Education will host “Brew Talks” on Tuesday and Wednesday of the 2019 SEMA Show.

First introduced in 2017, “Brew Talks” is based on the idea that the best conversations often happen when defenses are down and folks are belly-up at the bar. So, SEMA Education decided to roll in a cash bar for the last seminar of the day, where attendees can buy a beer or glass of wine. The guest panelists are on stage, sitting behind a bar, which faces the audience. The conversations are informal, genuine and all about story telling. The audience gets to eavesdrop on some great discussions.

This year’s bartender (moderator) will be Sean P. Holman, group content director, Truck & Off-Road Group, and co-host of “The Truck Show Podcast” for Motor Trend Group.

Joining Holman, Tuesday, November 5, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., in LVCC N258, will be specials guests, including:

• Jim Liaw, president and co-founder, Formula DRIFT Holdings LLC
• Aaron Kaufman, TV personality and owner of ArcLight Fabrication
• Brittany Williams, YouTube influencer at Lite Brite Studios and competitor in the recent Netflix series “Hyperdrive!”

On Wednesday, November 6, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., in LVCC N258, attendees will be treated to a special SEMA Hall of Fame version of “Brew Talks” featuring:

• Barry Meguiar, president, Meguiar’s Inc.
• Corky Coker, former tire salesman, collector vehicle enthusiast
• Amy Faulk, CEO, Hypertech

Space is limited. Register for both exclusive talks.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all seminars and register.

By SEMA Editors

Buyers from the United States who register online on or before Friday, October 11, save more than $50 and have their badges mailed to them in advance of the Show.

The early registration deadline for the 2019 SEMA Show is approaching, giving qualified attendees a chance to save time and money. Buyers from the United States who register online on or before Friday, October 11, save more than $50 and have their badges mailed in advance of the Show.

To receive the discounted fee of $40 per person, qualified attendees must register online. Badges will be mailed in advance to domestic buyers. International attendees who register before the Show will receive a confirmation email with a barcode that will make obtaining their badges onsite seamless and easy. Badges for other categories (including media and non-exhibiting manufacturers) are not mailed.

To qualify for buyer badges, applicants may be required to submit proof of employment in the industry. Prior year’s approval does not automatically guarantee approval for 2019, and qualifying materials may still be required.

Once approved, the badge provides access to the SEMA Show all four days of the event, as well as to the educational seminars and to SEMA Ignited—the official after-party—where the general public is allowed to attend on Friday after the Show closes.

To learn more or to apply, visit www.semashow.com/register.

By SEMA Editors

Buyers from the United States who register online on or before Friday, October 11, save more than $50 and have their badges mailed to them in advance of the Show.

The early registration deadline for the 2019 SEMA Show is approaching, giving qualified attendees a chance to save time and money. Buyers from the United States who register online on or before Friday, October 11, save more than $50 and have their badges mailed in advance of the Show.

To receive the discounted fee of $40 per person, qualified attendees must register online. Badges will be mailed in advance to domestic buyers. International attendees who register before the Show will receive a confirmation email with a barcode that will make obtaining their badges onsite seamless and easy. Badges for other categories (including media and non-exhibiting manufacturers) are not mailed.

To qualify for buyer badges, applicants may be required to submit proof of employment in the industry. Prior year’s approval does not automatically guarantee approval for 2019, and qualifying materials may still be required.

Once approved, the badge provides access to the SEMA Show all four days of the event, as well as to the educational seminars and to SEMA Ignited—the official after-party—where the general public is allowed to attend on Friday after the Show closes.

To learn more or to apply, visit www.semashow.com/register.

By SEMA Editors

Twenty-one Young Guns contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote that ends October 4.

SEMA officials concluded a nationwide tour in search of up-and-coming young vehicle builders, having selected nine winners to advance onto the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty-one young builders have also been selected to vie for a chance to win the final 10th spot as a SEMA Young Guns Regional Winner through a public fan vote that kicked off at www.semayoungguns.com on September 14.

As part of the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, previous Battle of the Builders competitors served as judges by selecting builders age 27 or younger at partnering automotive events throughout the country. One winner was selected from each of nine participating events, and a 10th winner will be selected from a pool of 21 runners-up via an online fan vote taking place September 14–October 4, 2019.

The SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, now in its second year, supports young, up-and-coming builders who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show, and allows young builders a chance to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The SEMA Battle of the Builders is a prestigious competition for vehicle builders who have cars or trucks on display at the SEMA Show, an exclusive trade-only event that brings together more than 170,000 automotive professionals from all over the world.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”

Twenty-one contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote. For three weeks, from September 14 to October 4, the public will be able to cast their votes for the builder they’d like to advance and compete in Las Vegas.

“We’re thankful to our event partners, TX2K, Formula Drift, Street Machine Nationals, Tuner Evolution, The Show and Goodguys, for attracting such amazing talent and helping us discover aspiring young builders,” said Gabriel. “It’s important to be able to highlight and support young enthusiasts and provide them an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”

This year’s Regional Program winners are:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, California
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, Illinois
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, California
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, Utah

Voting for the final spot is currently in progress and concludes October 4 at www.semayoungguns.com. All 10 Young Guns Regional Winners will compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders at the 2019 SEMA Show, the automotive industry’s premier trade event that brings together more than 171,000 professionals from the automotive customization market.

By SEMA Editors

Twenty-one Young Guns contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote that ends October 4.

SEMA officials concluded a nationwide tour in search of up-and-coming young vehicle builders, having selected nine winners to advance onto the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty-one young builders have also been selected to vie for a chance to win the final 10th spot as a SEMA Young Guns Regional Winner through a public fan vote that kicked off at www.semayoungguns.com on September 14.

As part of the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, previous Battle of the Builders competitors served as judges by selecting builders age 27 or younger at partnering automotive events throughout the country. One winner was selected from each of nine participating events, and a 10th winner will be selected from a pool of 21 runners-up via an online fan vote taking place September 14–October 4, 2019.

The SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, now in its second year, supports young, up-and-coming builders who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show, and allows young builders a chance to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The SEMA Battle of the Builders is a prestigious competition for vehicle builders who have cars or trucks on display at the SEMA Show, an exclusive trade-only event that brings together more than 170,000 automotive professionals from all over the world.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”

Twenty-one contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote. For three weeks, from September 14 to October 4, the public will be able to cast their votes for the builder they’d like to advance and compete in Las Vegas.

“We’re thankful to our event partners, TX2K, Formula Drift, Street Machine Nationals, Tuner Evolution, The Show and Goodguys, for attracting such amazing talent and helping us discover aspiring young builders,” said Gabriel. “It’s important to be able to highlight and support young enthusiasts and provide them an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”

This year’s Regional Program winners are:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, California
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, Illinois
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, California
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, Utah

Voting for the final spot is currently in progress and concludes October 4 at www.semayoungguns.com. All 10 Young Guns Regional Winners will compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders at the 2019 SEMA Show, the automotive industry’s premier trade event that brings together more than 171,000 professionals from the automotive customization market.

By SEMA Editors

Twenty-one Young Guns contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote that ends October 4.

SEMA officials concluded a nationwide tour in search of up-and-coming young vehicle builders, having selected nine winners to advance onto the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty-one young builders have also been selected to vie for a chance to win the final 10th spot as a SEMA Young Guns Regional Winner through a public fan vote that kicked off at www.semayoungguns.com on September 14.

As part of the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, previous Battle of the Builders competitors served as judges by selecting builders age 27 or younger at partnering automotive events throughout the country. One winner was selected from each of nine participating events, and a 10th winner will be selected from a pool of 21 runners-up via an online fan vote taking place September 14–October 4, 2019.

The SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, now in its second year, supports young, up-and-coming builders who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show, and allows young builders a chance to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The SEMA Battle of the Builders is a prestigious competition for vehicle builders who have cars or trucks on display at the SEMA Show, an exclusive trade-only event that brings together more than 170,000 automotive professionals from all over the world.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”

Twenty-one contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote. For three weeks, from September 14 to October 4, the public will be able to cast their votes for the builder they’d like to advance and compete in Las Vegas.

“We’re thankful to our event partners, TX2K, Formula Drift, Street Machine Nationals, Tuner Evolution, The Show and Goodguys, for attracting such amazing talent and helping us discover aspiring young builders,” said Gabriel. “It’s important to be able to highlight and support young enthusiasts and provide them an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”

This year’s Regional Program winners are:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, California
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, Illinois
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, California
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, Utah

Voting for the final spot is currently in progress and concludes October 4 at www.semayoungguns.com. All 10 Young Guns Regional Winners will compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders at the 2019 SEMA Show, the automotive industry’s premier trade event that brings together more than 171,000 professionals from the automotive customization market.

By SEMA Editors

Twenty-one Young Guns contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote that ends October 4.

SEMA officials concluded a nationwide tour in search of up-and-coming young vehicle builders, having selected nine winners to advance onto the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty-one young builders have also been selected to vie for a chance to win the final 10th spot as a SEMA Young Guns Regional Winner through a public fan vote that kicked off at www.semayoungguns.com on September 14.

As part of the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, previous Battle of the Builders competitors served as judges by selecting builders age 27 or younger at partnering automotive events throughout the country. One winner was selected from each of nine participating events, and a 10th winner will be selected from a pool of 21 runners-up via an online fan vote taking place September 14–October 4, 2019.

The SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, now in its second year, supports young, up-and-coming builders who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show, and allows young builders a chance to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The SEMA Battle of the Builders is a prestigious competition for vehicle builders who have cars or trucks on display at the SEMA Show, an exclusive trade-only event that brings together more than 170,000 automotive professionals from all over the world.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”

Twenty-one contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote. For three weeks, from September 14 to October 4, the public will be able to cast their votes for the builder they’d like to advance and compete in Las Vegas.

“We’re thankful to our event partners, TX2K, Formula Drift, Street Machine Nationals, Tuner Evolution, The Show and Goodguys, for attracting such amazing talent and helping us discover aspiring young builders,” said Gabriel. “It’s important to be able to highlight and support young enthusiasts and provide them an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”

This year’s Regional Program winners are:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, California
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, Illinois
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, California
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, Utah

Voting for the final spot is currently in progress and concludes October 4 at www.semayoungguns.com. All 10 Young Guns Regional Winners will compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders at the 2019 SEMA Show, the automotive industry’s premier trade event that brings together more than 171,000 professionals from the automotive customization market.