SEMA News—October 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

The Senter of it All

There are names synonymous with automotive performance: Iskenderian, Edelbrock, Hilborn, Weiand. Those who know Louis Senter and understand his achievements in performance and the automotive aftermarket rank him right up there with those other pioneers. Yet his isn’t the same kind of household name in this industry. That’s because when Louis and his brother Sol took on Jack Andrews as a partner in their new Los Angeles speed shop in the mid ’40s, they named it Ansen Engineering, a combination of the principles’ last names.

When people connect Louis with Ansen, the recognition is immediate. The Ansen name is probably most closely linked to the Sprint slotted aluminum wheel Louis developed in 1963, but his company also manufactured pistons, rods, cranks and other engine parts; the first floor-shift conversion kit (called the Posi-shift); and a bellhousing that became a compulsory piece of safety equipment in the NHRA. It’s that scattershield, hooked to a small-block Chevy engine, that Louis is displaying in this photo taken in April 1959 by Petersen Publishing Company’s Eric Rickman.

Yet even those accomplishments only scratch the surface of Louis’ performance legacy. He wasn’t just an engineer and fabricator; he was a racer, too, running on the dry lakes, at
Bonneville, and in midgets and sprint cars. He was among the first to sell speed parts via mail order, printing his first catalog in 1945. He has been involved with the Indianapolis 500 for decades and operated dragstrips in Santa Ana and Saugus. He worked with George Barris building TV and show cars.

In 1963, Louis was among the aftermarket manufacturers who formed what was then called the Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association—now SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1978, with several other men whose names still mean performance to this day: George Hurst, Ed Iskenderian, Boots Mallory and Harry Weber. Louis’ name does, too. You just have to know where to look.

SEMA News—October 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

The Senter of it All

There are names synonymous with automotive performance: Iskenderian, Edelbrock, Hilborn, Weiand. Those who know Louis Senter and understand his achievements in performance and the automotive aftermarket rank him right up there with those other pioneers. Yet his isn’t the same kind of household name in this industry. That’s because when Louis and his brother Sol took on Jack Andrews as a partner in their new Los Angeles speed shop in the mid ’40s, they named it Ansen Engineering, a combination of the principles’ last names.

When people connect Louis with Ansen, the recognition is immediate. The Ansen name is probably most closely linked to the Sprint slotted aluminum wheel Louis developed in 1963, but his company also manufactured pistons, rods, cranks and other engine parts; the first floor-shift conversion kit (called the Posi-shift); and a bellhousing that became a compulsory piece of safety equipment in the NHRA. It’s that scattershield, hooked to a small-block Chevy engine, that Louis is displaying in this photo taken in April 1959 by Petersen Publishing Company’s Eric Rickman.

Yet even those accomplishments only scratch the surface of Louis’ performance legacy. He wasn’t just an engineer and fabricator; he was a racer, too, running on the dry lakes, at
Bonneville, and in midgets and sprint cars. He was among the first to sell speed parts via mail order, printing his first catalog in 1945. He has been involved with the Indianapolis 500 for decades and operated dragstrips in Santa Ana and Saugus. He worked with George Barris building TV and show cars.

In 1963, Louis was among the aftermarket manufacturers who formed what was then called the Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association—now SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1978, with several other men whose names still mean performance to this day: George Hurst, Ed Iskenderian, Boots Mallory and Harry Weber. Louis’ name does, too. You just have to know where to look.

SEMA News—October 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

The Senter of it All

There are names synonymous with automotive performance: Iskenderian, Edelbrock, Hilborn, Weiand. Those who know Louis Senter and understand his achievements in performance and the automotive aftermarket rank him right up there with those other pioneers. Yet his isn’t the same kind of household name in this industry. That’s because when Louis and his brother Sol took on Jack Andrews as a partner in their new Los Angeles speed shop in the mid ’40s, they named it Ansen Engineering, a combination of the principles’ last names.

When people connect Louis with Ansen, the recognition is immediate. The Ansen name is probably most closely linked to the Sprint slotted aluminum wheel Louis developed in 1963, but his company also manufactured pistons, rods, cranks and other engine parts; the first floor-shift conversion kit (called the Posi-shift); and a bellhousing that became a compulsory piece of safety equipment in the NHRA. It’s that scattershield, hooked to a small-block Chevy engine, that Louis is displaying in this photo taken in April 1959 by Petersen Publishing Company’s Eric Rickman.

Yet even those accomplishments only scratch the surface of Louis’ performance legacy. He wasn’t just an engineer and fabricator; he was a racer, too, running on the dry lakes, at
Bonneville, and in midgets and sprint cars. He was among the first to sell speed parts via mail order, printing his first catalog in 1945. He has been involved with the Indianapolis 500 for decades and operated dragstrips in Santa Ana and Saugus. He worked with George Barris building TV and show cars.

In 1963, Louis was among the aftermarket manufacturers who formed what was then called the Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association—now SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1978, with several other men whose names still mean performance to this day: George Hurst, Ed Iskenderian, Boots Mallory and Harry Weber. Louis’ name does, too. You just have to know where to look.

SEMA News—October 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

The Senter of it All

There are names synonymous with automotive performance: Iskenderian, Edelbrock, Hilborn, Weiand. Those who know Louis Senter and understand his achievements in performance and the automotive aftermarket rank him right up there with those other pioneers. Yet his isn’t the same kind of household name in this industry. That’s because when Louis and his brother Sol took on Jack Andrews as a partner in their new Los Angeles speed shop in the mid ’40s, they named it Ansen Engineering, a combination of the principles’ last names.

When people connect Louis with Ansen, the recognition is immediate. The Ansen name is probably most closely linked to the Sprint slotted aluminum wheel Louis developed in 1963, but his company also manufactured pistons, rods, cranks and other engine parts; the first floor-shift conversion kit (called the Posi-shift); and a bellhousing that became a compulsory piece of safety equipment in the NHRA. It’s that scattershield, hooked to a small-block Chevy engine, that Louis is displaying in this photo taken in April 1959 by Petersen Publishing Company’s Eric Rickman.

Yet even those accomplishments only scratch the surface of Louis’ performance legacy. He wasn’t just an engineer and fabricator; he was a racer, too, running on the dry lakes, at
Bonneville, and in midgets and sprint cars. He was among the first to sell speed parts via mail order, printing his first catalog in 1945. He has been involved with the Indianapolis 500 for decades and operated dragstrips in Santa Ana and Saugus. He worked with George Barris building TV and show cars.

In 1963, Louis was among the aftermarket manufacturers who formed what was then called the Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association—now SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1978, with several other men whose names still mean performance to this day: George Hurst, Ed Iskenderian, Boots Mallory and Harry Weber. Louis’ name does, too. You just have to know where to look.

SEMA News—October 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

The Senter of it All

There are names synonymous with automotive performance: Iskenderian, Edelbrock, Hilborn, Weiand. Those who know Louis Senter and understand his achievements in performance and the automotive aftermarket rank him right up there with those other pioneers. Yet his isn’t the same kind of household name in this industry. That’s because when Louis and his brother Sol took on Jack Andrews as a partner in their new Los Angeles speed shop in the mid ’40s, they named it Ansen Engineering, a combination of the principles’ last names.

When people connect Louis with Ansen, the recognition is immediate. The Ansen name is probably most closely linked to the Sprint slotted aluminum wheel Louis developed in 1963, but his company also manufactured pistons, rods, cranks and other engine parts; the first floor-shift conversion kit (called the Posi-shift); and a bellhousing that became a compulsory piece of safety equipment in the NHRA. It’s that scattershield, hooked to a small-block Chevy engine, that Louis is displaying in this photo taken in April 1959 by Petersen Publishing Company’s Eric Rickman.

Yet even those accomplishments only scratch the surface of Louis’ performance legacy. He wasn’t just an engineer and fabricator; he was a racer, too, running on the dry lakes, at
Bonneville, and in midgets and sprint cars. He was among the first to sell speed parts via mail order, printing his first catalog in 1945. He has been involved with the Indianapolis 500 for decades and operated dragstrips in Santa Ana and Saugus. He worked with George Barris building TV and show cars.

In 1963, Louis was among the aftermarket manufacturers who formed what was then called the Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association—now SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1978, with several other men whose names still mean performance to this day: George Hurst, Ed Iskenderian, Boots Mallory and Harry Weber. Louis’ name does, too. You just have to know where to look.

By Michael Hart

A SEMA Show education session will focus on how to both manage Millennials in the workplace and make them great customers.

Millennials represent the largest generation in the history of the United States. The oldest members of it are just now in their early 30s, meaning the automotive aftermarket industry will be dealing with them for some time to come as both customers and employees. That’s why Jamie Notter, author of When Millennials Take Over: Preparing for the Ridiculously Optimistic Future of Business, said, “Anybody who is involved in leadership or management needs to pay attention to this topic.”

Notter will speak at the 2015 SEMA Show in a conference session entitled “Changing the Conversation Around Millennials,” which will include a discussion among a panel of young people to give attendees actionable strategies for how to both manage them in the workplace and make them great customers.

Managers at all levels need to be ready as Millennials begin to move through the ranks, senior-level managers because of the need to change their company’s culture and mid-level managers because they have already begun to lead them as employees.

This is one of three important conference sessions dealing with the generation. While Notter will talk primarily about the Millennial generation’s impact in the workplace, Brad Smith of Experian and Bridget Brennan of Female Factor will lead sessions that focus on the impact of young people in the marketplace. Smith, Experian’s director of automotive market statistics, will demonstrate with data and some in-depth analysis how aftermarket companies can successfully target this demographic.

As Notter pointed out, “This generation grew up with unparalleled abundance,” and, as they begin lifetimes of making choices about their automobiles, will probably never settle for the most cost-efficient options, offering up many opportunities for companies interested in doing business with them.

Brennan will talk about this newest generation of women and give attendees some perspective on how they make their purchasing decisions. During her Keynote & Coffee presentation, she will explain some of the cultural forces that have shaped millennial women, and how you can apply that knowledge to your marketing and sales efforts.

By better understanding the Millennial driver and the Millennial employee, Notter said, aftermarket companies can make preparations now for all the changes ahead that will be dictated by this generation.

“This is not a group that comes just for a paycheck,” he said. “They want something deeper.”

Sign up now for the Millennial sessions and view a complete list of SEMA Show Education sessions available.

By Michael Hart

A SEMA Show education session will focus on how to both manage Millennials in the workplace and make them great customers.

Millennials represent the largest generation in the history of the United States. The oldest members of it are just now in their early 30s, meaning the automotive aftermarket industry will be dealing with them for some time to come as both customers and employees. That’s why Jamie Notter, author of When Millennials Take Over: Preparing for the Ridiculously Optimistic Future of Business, said, “Anybody who is involved in leadership or management needs to pay attention to this topic.”

Notter will speak at the 2015 SEMA Show in a conference session entitled “Changing the Conversation Around Millennials,” which will include a discussion among a panel of young people to give attendees actionable strategies for how to both manage them in the workplace and make them great customers.

Managers at all levels need to be ready as Millennials begin to move through the ranks, senior-level managers because of the need to change their company’s culture and mid-level managers because they have already begun to lead them as employees.

This is one of three important conference sessions dealing with the generation. While Notter will talk primarily about the Millennial generation’s impact in the workplace, Brad Smith of Experian and Bridget Brennan of Female Factor will lead sessions that focus on the impact of young people in the marketplace. Smith, Experian’s director of automotive market statistics, will demonstrate with data and some in-depth analysis how aftermarket companies can successfully target this demographic.

As Notter pointed out, “This generation grew up with unparalleled abundance,” and, as they begin lifetimes of making choices about their automobiles, will probably never settle for the most cost-efficient options, offering up many opportunities for companies interested in doing business with them.

Brennan will talk about this newest generation of women and give attendees some perspective on how they make their purchasing decisions. During her Keynote & Coffee presentation, she will explain some of the cultural forces that have shaped millennial women, and how you can apply that knowledge to your marketing and sales efforts.

By better understanding the Millennial driver and the Millennial employee, Notter said, aftermarket companies can make preparations now for all the changes ahead that will be dictated by this generation.

“This is not a group that comes just for a paycheck,” he said. “They want something deeper.”

Sign up now for the Millennial sessions and view a complete list of SEMA Show Education sessions available.

By Michael Hart

A SEMA Show education session will focus on how to both manage Millennials in the workplace and make them great customers.

Millennials represent the largest generation in the history of the United States. The oldest members of it are just now in their early 30s, meaning the automotive aftermarket industry will be dealing with them for some time to come as both customers and employees. That’s why Jamie Notter, author of When Millennials Take Over: Preparing for the Ridiculously Optimistic Future of Business, said, “Anybody who is involved in leadership or management needs to pay attention to this topic.”

Notter will speak at the 2015 SEMA Show in a conference session entitled “Changing the Conversation Around Millennials,” which will include a discussion among a panel of young people to give attendees actionable strategies for how to both manage them in the workplace and make them great customers.

Managers at all levels need to be ready as Millennials begin to move through the ranks, senior-level managers because of the need to change their company’s culture and mid-level managers because they have already begun to lead them as employees.

This is one of three important conference sessions dealing with the generation. While Notter will talk primarily about the Millennial generation’s impact in the workplace, Brad Smith of Experian and Bridget Brennan of Female Factor will lead sessions that focus on the impact of young people in the marketplace. Smith, Experian’s director of automotive market statistics, will demonstrate with data and some in-depth analysis how aftermarket companies can successfully target this demographic.

As Notter pointed out, “This generation grew up with unparalleled abundance,” and, as they begin lifetimes of making choices about their automobiles, will probably never settle for the most cost-efficient options, offering up many opportunities for companies interested in doing business with them.

Brennan will talk about this newest generation of women and give attendees some perspective on how they make their purchasing decisions. During her Keynote & Coffee presentation, she will explain some of the cultural forces that have shaped millennial women, and how you can apply that knowledge to your marketing and sales efforts.

By better understanding the Millennial driver and the Millennial employee, Notter said, aftermarket companies can make preparations now for all the changes ahead that will be dictated by this generation.

“This is not a group that comes just for a paycheck,” he said. “They want something deeper.”

Sign up now for the Millennial sessions and view a complete list of SEMA Show Education sessions available.

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities.

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

NHRA News

BROWN, WORSHAM, SKILLMAN, ARANA JR. SCORE WINS IN ST. LOUIS: Antron Brown extended his mastery of Gateway Motorsports Park by racing to his fourth consecutive Top Fuel victory at the facility last Sunday during the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. Del Worsham (Funny Car), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners in their respective categories at the second of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship event in St. Louis. Brown defeated Dave Connolly in the final round to take his 53rd career victory and his fifth win overall at the track with a performance of 3.721 seconds at 325.92 mph in his Matco Tools dragster to Connolly’s trailing run of 3.753 at 328.94 in the C&J Energy Services dragster.

"There are two words: truly blessed," said Brown. "When [track owner] Curt Francois and [general manager] Chris Blair brought this track back [in 2011], they brought it back better than ever. You can put a slew of runs together that are quick and fast because you’re not worried about the track not being there. The class is so competitive right now that you’re going home if you throw out a high 3.7."

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP HITS CRITICAL HALFWAY POINT AT NHRA KEYSTONE NATIONALS: The 31st annual NHRA Keystone Nationals will be a key race for drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as they have only four races left to stake their claim for the world championship, October 1–4, at Maple Grove Raceway. The lucrative event, which is the third of six playoff races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, will feature drivers trying to continue their momentum from the opening two races of the Countdown—the NHRA Carolina Nationals and the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. This year’s edition of the famed event will feature side-by-side racing as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle compete for their share of the $1.2 million purse and the vital Mello Yello Series points. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Matt Hagan (Funny Car); Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2.

LANGDON STILL HAS HIGH HOPES HEADING TO NHRA KEYSTONE NATIONALS: The 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has not been a conventional one for Shawn Langdon by any means. But even as his resolve has been tested on multiple occasions, the 2013 Top Fuel world champion continues to push forward during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Now sitting in 10th place in the Top Fuel standings, Langdon will try to get his playoff run jump-started driving the 10,000hp Sandvik Coromant/Red Fuel dragster at this weekend’s 31st annual NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

"The goal is to compete for a championship, and I won’t give up on that until the door is completely closed," Langdon said. "At this point it’s starting to become a little bit of a longshot, but you look at how tight it is and I’m only a round and a half out of third place. We’ve got a great car and since we tested at Indy, we’ve made six good runs down the track. We have a car that can compete."

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2.

He Said, She Said

—Pro Stock rookie Drew Skillman on racing to his first career victory in his Ray Skillman Chevy Camaro when he defeated his teammate Erica Enders. It was a rematch from the final in Indianapolis, which Enders won. In this matchup, Skillman powered past Enders’ Elite Motorsports Camaro, which lost traction early in the run, with his winning pass of 6.529 at 211.63.

Inside the Numbers

3.899: Number in seconds of the Funny Car elapsed time national record set by Del Worsham in his DHL Toyota Camry in St. Louis. Worsham earned 20 bonus points for establishing the record and raced to the event victory. It is his second consecutive win in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. He now has a 90-point lead over two-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan. "In my 25 years of racing, I don’t know if I’ve ever driven a Funny Car that made that many good runs," Worsham said. "The team assembling it, the tune-up, and what [team owner] Connie Kalitta has given us here has been unreal. When I came back to Funny Car racing [in 2012], this is the dream I had."

Did You Know

"No one is out of this championship yet," said Force, who is currently fifth in the Funny Car points standings. "A good race in Reading gets you right back into the middle of this countdown. Momentum is great, but really you just need consistency. The weather will be cool and we need to run quick and we can do that. (Crew Chief) Jon Schaffer is giving me a good race car, and I am working on getting better on the tree."