Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Daigo Saito won the Formula DRIFT Round 7 season finale at Irwindale Speedway.

Formula DRIFT Round 7: Daigo Saito Wins Finale and Chris Forsberg is Crowned Champion

Formula DRIFT returned to Irwindale Speedway for the 2014 Pro Championship season finale, where Daigo Saito in the Achilles Radial Lexus SC430 took the event victory. Chris Forsberg in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z won his second career championship. Round 7: Final Fight featured the Pro Championship, PRO 2 Championship, Offset Kings car show and more.

Entering the event, Forsberg led the Pro Championship chase by 26 points. As the competition progressed through the night both Fredric Aasbo and Forsberg would meet in the Top 4 to control their championship destiny. Aasbo in one of the tightest battles of the evening got the better of Forsberg for the fourth time this season in head-to-head battles, yet he needed to win the entire event to win the championship.

The No. 1 qualifier, Forrest Wang in the Get Nuts Lab/Hankook/STR Racing Nissan S14 went against Daigo Saito in the Top 4. In a close battle, Saito edged out Wang to make it into the Finals against Aasbo. In another closely fought battle, Saito beat out Aasbo, to win his third consecutive victory at Irwindale Speedway, having won the event in 2012 and 2013, and helping to award Forsberg with his second Pro Championship.

	The 2014 NMCA WEST Flowmaster Drag Racing Series ends October 24–26, at the recently reopened Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California.

Auto Club Dragway to Host the Biggest NMCA WEST Drag Race and Autocross Event of the Year

The 2014 NMCA WEST Flowmaster Drag Racing Series ends with a giant drag race and autocross, October 24–26, at the recently reopened Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California. The third-annual Unlimited Products NMCA WEST World Street Finals is the last event of the year where race teams will battle it out on the drag strip to get the points they need to win the end-of-the-year championship. Events include the Garrett Turbo Pro Mod cars, TREMEC True Street class, Edelbrock Super Quick, ProCharger Street Outlaw, Granatelli Motor Sports Mustang Madness, FSC Pro Comp, Calvert Racing Quick Street and Mickey Thompson True 10.5.

35 Events to Fill PRI Race Industry Week Schedule

The 27th annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show will run from December 11–13, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, but starting December 9, attendees can interact with experts from around the racing industry via conferences, seminars and other events.

Six major events will take place in conjunction with this year’s Show: The Advanced Engineering and Technology Conference (AETC), the International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress, Claude Rouelle’s OptimumG Vehicle Dynamics & Data Acquisition seminar, the Race Track Business Conference, Education Day organized by SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC); and the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow National Championship. In addition, PRI Management Seminars will help provide proven, practical strategies on motorsports marketing, small business management, race engine business operations and opportunities in the vintage racing market.

By SEMA Editors

	The SDC booth is located in the Central Hall just behind the Ford display, in the raised meeting room #20579.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) team will be out in full force during Show week to offer free data-management consultations in booth #20579.

“We have a really strong team attending this year, including a couple of new additions who are very focused on providing the best in customer training and support,” said Jon Wyly, SDC CEO. “It's a great opportunity to get some face-to-face time with the SDC, including deep technical dives with our industry-leading data experts who will be in attendance. If you have questions about the industry ACES and PIES standards, need more information about how to join or just want to get a good solid introduction to our services, we have the people available to make it happen.”

The SDC is scheduling meetings every hour from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. all four days of the Show (until 4:00 p.m. on Friday). The SDC booth is located behind the Ford display in Central Hall, in the raised meeting room #20579.

Request a meeting time now!

"The SEMA Data Co-op is the only industry-owned and -operated product-data repository, complete with state-of-the-art tools and expert assistance to get your data in order," said Jim Graven, director of membership. "We really enjoy the opportunity to meet with companies who have struggled with their data, or just don't know where to start. And data receivers love our program, which provides unlimited data exports at no charge to SEMA members."

For more information, contact Jim Graven at JimG@SemaDataCoop.org or call 888-958-6698, ext 4.

By SEMA Editors

	The SDC booth is located in the Central Hall just behind the Ford display, in the raised meeting room #20579.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) team will be out in full force during Show week to offer free data-management consultations in booth #20579.

“We have a really strong team attending this year, including a couple of new additions who are very focused on providing the best in customer training and support,” said Jon Wyly, SDC CEO. “It's a great opportunity to get some face-to-face time with the SDC, including deep technical dives with our industry-leading data experts who will be in attendance. If you have questions about the industry ACES and PIES standards, need more information about how to join or just want to get a good solid introduction to our services, we have the people available to make it happen.”

The SDC is scheduling meetings every hour from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. all four days of the Show (until 4:00 p.m. on Friday). The SDC booth is located behind the Ford display in Central Hall, in the raised meeting room #20579.

Request a meeting time now!

"The SEMA Data Co-op is the only industry-owned and -operated product-data repository, complete with state-of-the-art tools and expert assistance to get your data in order," said Jim Graven, director of membership. "We really enjoy the opportunity to meet with companies who have struggled with their data, or just don't know where to start. And data receivers love our program, which provides unlimited data exports at no charge to SEMA members."

For more information, contact Jim Graven at JimG@SemaDataCoop.org or call 888-958-6698, ext 4.

By SEMA Editors

	The SDC booth is located in the Central Hall just behind the Ford display, in the raised meeting room #20579.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) team will be out in full force during Show week to offer free data-management consultations in booth #20579.

“We have a really strong team attending this year, including a couple of new additions who are very focused on providing the best in customer training and support,” said Jon Wyly, SDC CEO. “It's a great opportunity to get some face-to-face time with the SDC, including deep technical dives with our industry-leading data experts who will be in attendance. If you have questions about the industry ACES and PIES standards, need more information about how to join or just want to get a good solid introduction to our services, we have the people available to make it happen.”

The SDC is scheduling meetings every hour from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. all four days of the Show (until 4:00 p.m. on Friday). The SDC booth is located behind the Ford display in Central Hall, in the raised meeting room #20579.

Request a meeting time now!

"The SEMA Data Co-op is the only industry-owned and -operated product-data repository, complete with state-of-the-art tools and expert assistance to get your data in order," said Jim Graven, director of membership. "We really enjoy the opportunity to meet with companies who have struggled with their data, or just don't know where to start. And data receivers love our program, which provides unlimited data exports at no charge to SEMA members."

For more information, contact Jim Graven at JimG@SemaDataCoop.org or call 888-958-6698, ext 4.

By SEMA Editors

	The SDC booth is located in the Central Hall just behind the Ford display, in the raised meeting room #20579.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) team will be out in full force during Show week to offer free data-management consultations in booth #20579.

“We have a really strong team attending this year, including a couple of new additions who are very focused on providing the best in customer training and support,” said Jon Wyly, SDC CEO. “It's a great opportunity to get some face-to-face time with the SDC, including deep technical dives with our industry-leading data experts who will be in attendance. If you have questions about the industry ACES and PIES standards, need more information about how to join or just want to get a good solid introduction to our services, we have the people available to make it happen.”

The SDC is scheduling meetings every hour from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. all four days of the Show (until 4:00 p.m. on Friday). The SDC booth is located behind the Ford display in Central Hall, in the raised meeting room #20579.

Request a meeting time now!

"The SEMA Data Co-op is the only industry-owned and -operated product-data repository, complete with state-of-the-art tools and expert assistance to get your data in order," said Jim Graven, director of membership. "We really enjoy the opportunity to meet with companies who have struggled with their data, or just don't know where to start. And data receivers love our program, which provides unlimited data exports at no charge to SEMA members."

For more information, contact Jim Graven at JimG@SemaDataCoop.org or call 888-958-6698, ext 4.

Here’s one of the first uncovered looks at a prototype for the ’16 Ford Explorer facelift. Shot by the pros at KGP photography, these images reveal some of the design changes involved in the mid-cycle update.

The first prototypes for the facelifted Explorers have been running with heavy camo for about six months now. These new shots are a significant step forward, and despite the remaining graphic wrap and paint affixed to the prototypes, new details are visible.  

Range Rover Overtones No More

This unshrouded Explorer's new headlights and taillights seem to have a simple shape, a departure from the current "eyebrow" treatments that mimic the headlight designs of most Range Rovers. The new headlights clearly get a more angular shape, while the taillight design looks more simplified and cohesive. The new front fascia appears to get a smaller grille than the current model, with the additional air intakes integrated more subtly into the front bumper design.

New Front Fascia Details

The current Explorer’s low-set round fog lights will go away in favor of new LED fog lights placed higher up on the front bumper, framed in with new air slits that will sit prominently at the outer corners of the front fascia. The new look brings the Explorer more in line with the look of the ’15 Ford Edge.

D-Pillar Changes in the Works

The changes applied to the Explorer's rear end look a bit more understated, although there are some interesting details around the new Explorer's D-pillar. With the vinyl camouflage removed, it appears that Ford has tacked on a fake pillar over the glass work in an effort to mimic the current design. Looking closely at the rear pillar, the backlight glass appears to reach further back than the current model, suggesting either a slightly larger rear cargo bay, or, more likely, a cleaner glass-to-glass treatment that does away with the external pillar visible on the current model.  

The current Explorer was the first Ford model to offer capacitive touch buttons on the dashboard, which have fallen out of favor over recent years. The mid-cycle revamp will give the Explorer an all-new interior, which will utilize Ford's latest technologies in conjunction with a more tactile passenger interface. The new 2.3L ecoboost engine is expected to replace the current 2.0L turbo.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Here’s one of the first uncovered looks at a prototype for the ’16 Ford Explorer facelift. Shot by the pros at KGP photography, these images reveal some of the design changes involved in the mid-cycle update.

The first prototypes for the facelifted Explorers have been running with heavy camo for about six months now. These new shots are a significant step forward, and despite the remaining graphic wrap and paint affixed to the prototypes, new details are visible.  

Range Rover Overtones No More

This unshrouded Explorer's new headlights and taillights seem to have a simple shape, a departure from the current "eyebrow" treatments that mimic the headlight designs of most Range Rovers. The new headlights clearly get a more angular shape, while the taillight design looks more simplified and cohesive. The new front fascia appears to get a smaller grille than the current model, with the additional air intakes integrated more subtly into the front bumper design.

New Front Fascia Details

The current Explorer’s low-set round fog lights will go away in favor of new LED fog lights placed higher up on the front bumper, framed in with new air slits that will sit prominently at the outer corners of the front fascia. The new look brings the Explorer more in line with the look of the ’15 Ford Edge.

D-Pillar Changes in the Works

The changes applied to the Explorer's rear end look a bit more understated, although there are some interesting details around the new Explorer's D-pillar. With the vinyl camouflage removed, it appears that Ford has tacked on a fake pillar over the glass work in an effort to mimic the current design. Looking closely at the rear pillar, the backlight glass appears to reach further back than the current model, suggesting either a slightly larger rear cargo bay, or, more likely, a cleaner glass-to-glass treatment that does away with the external pillar visible on the current model.  

The current Explorer was the first Ford model to offer capacitive touch buttons on the dashboard, which have fallen out of favor over recent years. The mid-cycle revamp will give the Explorer an all-new interior, which will utilize Ford's latest technologies in conjunction with a more tactile passenger interface. The new 2.3L ecoboost engine is expected to replace the current 2.0L turbo.

Photo credit: KGP Photography