By Luanne Brown

	The Builder's Challenge allows selected hot-rod builders to create one-of-a-kind miniature custom cars to be raced and then auctioned to benefit SEMA Cares charities.

Each year, some of the nation’s best hot-rod and custom-car builders create unique pinewood race cars to participate in the annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Builder's Challenge, to be held July 18, 2014, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The Builder's Challenge allows these selected hot-rod builders to create one-of-a-kind miniature custom cars to be raced and then auctioned to benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction.

2014 participants include:

• Theresa Contreras, L&G Enterprises
• Bodie Stroud, B.S. Industries
• Doug Poad, Poad Designs
• Jesse Greening, Greening Automotive
• Ty Hauer, Reisinger Custom Rebuilding
• Blake Meaux, Mo' Muscle Cars
• Will Hudson, Hudson's Rod Shop
• Doug Dwyer, Essential Marketing Services
• Keith Kaucher, Kaucher Designs
• Brent Vandervort, Fatman Fabrications
• Steve Tracy, Advanced Plating
• Josh Baker, Zinger Customs
• Derek Johnson, Unique Coaches
• Glenn See, Garage Majal
• Daniel Valjevic, Retro Designs

Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises will be the first lady builder to participate in the HRIA Builder's Challenge, and Doug Dwyer of Essential Marketing Services has designed and built an incredible Mooneyes-themed pinewood that will be sure to turn heads.

The rules for the race are very liberal, allowing the builders to apply all of their skills to create these miniature hot rods. After the Pinewood Drag Races, the cars will be put on display in the HRIA booth and at the HRIA reception at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 4–7, 2014.

The race winner, best engineered and best in show will be auctioned live during the SEMA Show's HRIA reception. Members and Showgoers can own one of these incredible collectible cars by bidding on them as a part of a silent auction in the HRIA booth at the Show.

Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, will take place Friday, July 18, 2014, at 12:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. There is no better location for Pinewood Drag Races than Pomona—home of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Auto Club Raceway.

Proceeds from the races benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Race car is easy and rewarding. Register now, and help a child in need today.

By Luanne Brown

	The Builder's Challenge allows selected hot-rod builders to create one-of-a-kind miniature custom cars to be raced and then auctioned to benefit SEMA Cares charities.

Each year, some of the nation’s best hot-rod and custom-car builders create unique pinewood race cars to participate in the annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Builder's Challenge, to be held July 18, 2014, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The Builder's Challenge allows these selected hot-rod builders to create one-of-a-kind miniature custom cars to be raced and then auctioned to benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction.

2014 participants include:

• Theresa Contreras, L&G Enterprises
• Bodie Stroud, B.S. Industries
• Doug Poad, Poad Designs
• Jesse Greening, Greening Automotive
• Ty Hauer, Reisinger Custom Rebuilding
• Blake Meaux, Mo' Muscle Cars
• Will Hudson, Hudson's Rod Shop
• Doug Dwyer, Essential Marketing Services
• Keith Kaucher, Kaucher Designs
• Brent Vandervort, Fatman Fabrications
• Steve Tracy, Advanced Plating
• Josh Baker, Zinger Customs
• Derek Johnson, Unique Coaches
• Glenn See, Garage Majal
• Daniel Valjevic, Retro Designs

Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises will be the first lady builder to participate in the HRIA Builder's Challenge, and Doug Dwyer of Essential Marketing Services has designed and built an incredible Mooneyes-themed pinewood that will be sure to turn heads.

The rules for the race are very liberal, allowing the builders to apply all of their skills to create these miniature hot rods. After the Pinewood Drag Races, the cars will be put on display in the HRIA booth and at the HRIA reception at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 4–7, 2014.

The race winner, best engineered and best in show will be auctioned live during the SEMA Show's HRIA reception. Members and Showgoers can own one of these incredible collectible cars by bidding on them as a part of a silent auction in the HRIA booth at the Show.

Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, will take place Friday, July 18, 2014, at 12:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. There is no better location for Pinewood Drag Races than Pomona—home of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Auto Club Raceway.

Proceeds from the races benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Race car is easy and rewarding. Register now, and help a child in need today.

By Della Domingo

Tim Martin	Greg Adler

Results of the 2014 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with two new members joining the group. They are Greg Adler, representing the distributor retailer category, and Tim Martin, representing the manufacturer’s category. The complete list of 2014–2015 SEMA Board of Directors are:

Chairman of the Board: Nate Shelton, Driven Performance Brands
Chairman-elect: Doug Evans, The Enthusiast Network (TEN)
Immediate-Past Chairman: Scooter Brothers, COMP Performance Group

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Jeff Bates, Bob Cook Sales
• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc.
• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers
• Kyle Fickler, Weld Racing
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing
• John Hotchkis, Hotchkis Performance
• Tim Martin, K&N Engineering
• Russell Stephens, MSD Performance
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems

John Johnson of The Spartan Group will return as secretary/treasurer, and Russ Deane of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane continues as general counsel.

The newly elected SEMA Board of Directors will be recognized during the SEMA Installation Gala, Friday, July 18, at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center, in Pomona, California. Also during the banquet, outgoing Board members JR Moore of Performance Warehouse and Steve Wolcott of ProMedia will be recognized and honored for their service and their contributions to the industry. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees—Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie, John Menzler and Fred Offenhauser.

By Della Domingo

Tim Martin	Greg Adler

Results of the 2014 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with two new members joining the group. They are Greg Adler, representing the distributor retailer category, and Tim Martin, representing the manufacturer’s category. The complete list of 2014–2015 SEMA Board of Directors are:

Chairman of the Board: Nate Shelton, Driven Performance Brands
Chairman-elect: Doug Evans, The Enthusiast Network (TEN)
Immediate-Past Chairman: Scooter Brothers, COMP Performance Group

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Jeff Bates, Bob Cook Sales
• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc.
• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers
• Kyle Fickler, Weld Racing
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing
• John Hotchkis, Hotchkis Performance
• Tim Martin, K&N Engineering
• Russell Stephens, MSD Performance
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems

John Johnson of The Spartan Group will return as secretary/treasurer, and Russ Deane of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane continues as general counsel.

The newly elected SEMA Board of Directors will be recognized during the SEMA Installation Gala, Friday, July 18, at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center, in Pomona, California. Also during the banquet, outgoing Board members JR Moore of Performance Warehouse and Steve Wolcott of ProMedia will be recognized and honored for their service and their contributions to the industry. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees—Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie, John Menzler and Fred Offenhauser.

By Della Domingo

Tim Martin	Greg Adler

Results of the 2014 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with two new members joining the group. They are Greg Adler, representing the distributor retailer category, and Tim Martin, representing the manufacturer’s category. The complete list of 2014–2015 SEMA Board of Directors are:

Chairman of the Board: Nate Shelton, Driven Performance Brands
Chairman-elect: Doug Evans, The Enthusiast Network (TEN)
Immediate-Past Chairman: Scooter Brothers, COMP Performance Group

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Jeff Bates, Bob Cook Sales
• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc.
• Luanne Brown, eTool Developers
• Kyle Fickler, Weld Racing
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing
• John Hotchkis, Hotchkis Performance
• Tim Martin, K&N Engineering
• Russell Stephens, MSD Performance
• Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems

John Johnson of The Spartan Group will return as secretary/treasurer, and Russ Deane of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane continues as general counsel.

The newly elected SEMA Board of Directors will be recognized during the SEMA Installation Gala, Friday, July 18, at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center, in Pomona, California. Also during the banquet, outgoing Board members JR Moore of Performance Warehouse and Steve Wolcott of ProMedia will be recognized and honored for their service and their contributions to the industry. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees—Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie, John Menzler and Fred Offenhauser.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

In Formula DRIFT Round 3: Miami Heat, Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR battled Chris Forsberg in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z for his second consecutive victory.

Formula DRIFT Round 3: Vaughn Gittin Takes His Second Consecutive Event Victory
Formula DRIFT entered Homestead–Miami Speedway for the first time for Round 3: Miami Heat. Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR battled Chris Forsberg in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z for his second consecutive victory. Gittin moves into second place overall in the championship standings. Forsberg retains the lead with a 10-point margin heading into the fourth round of competition. Rounding out the podium in third place was the number three qualifier, Kenny Moen in the Achilles Radial/Bridges Racing Nissan 240SX. The 2014 Formula DRIFT Championship season continues with Round 4: The Gauntlet at Wall Speedway in New Jersey, June 20–21.

NMCA Announces the All-New Chevrolet Performance Stock Class for the 2015 Season
Rollie Miller, NMCA national event director, has announced an all-new class for 2015 in both the NMCA Series and the LSX Showdown Challenge Series. The new Chevrolet Performance Stock (LS Stock) class will use the brand-new Chevrolet Performance DR525 drag-racing sealed crate engine released May 30, 2014, and featured on NMCAdigital.com. The DR525 is scheduled to go on sale August 1.

Royal Purple-sponsored driver Sarah Burgess makes her Red Bull Global Rallycross debut, June 7, at X Games in Austin at Circuit of the Americas.

Royal Purple Partners With Red Bull Global Rallycross Driver Sarah Burgess for 2014 Season
Royal Purple has announced that it will sponsor Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) driver Sarah Burgess in her inaugural foray into the rally car series for the 2014 season.

A native of Australia, Burgess has been drift racing for the past three years in the United States, most recently in the Xtreme Drift Circuit at the wheel of a ’13 Ford Mustang. Burgess is one of two female drivers competing in Red Bull GRC this season, and she welcomes the opportunity to be a role model for other women while competing in her 2.0L Ecotec-powered Chevrolet Sonic.

Red Bull Global Rallycross at the X Games in Austin will be broadcast live on ABC, June 7, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT).

Brian Deegan, in the #38 Rockstar Energy/Makita Ford, swept last weekend in Pro 2 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

Deegan Sweeps Pro 2 in Reno
Brian Deegan switched helmets from Rallycross to the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series last weekend as the trucks took on Wild West Motorsports Park near Reno, Nevada. In the #38 Rockstar Energy/Makita Ford, Deegan swept the weekend in Pro 2.

For the fifth time in the five rounds of the 2014 season, Deegan captured the pole in Pro 2 on Friday night. He qualified second in Round 5 of Pro Lites class behind RJ Anderson. On Saturday Deegan would make it a sweep in Pro 2. He qualified third in round 6 of Pro Lites. Kyle Hart, who would eventually get the win in Pro Lite, edged out Deegan for the lead.

With two more wins in Pro 2, the #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Team extends its points lead. All the action will broadcast on CBS Sports Network, Sunday, June 8, at 8 p.m. (EDT).

Deegan is ready to switch helmets again as he heads to X Games Austin for the Rallycross debut on the Circuit of America racetrack. X Games Austin will be live on ESPN and ABC June 5–8. Visit www.xgamesaustin.com for complete schedule.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

In Formula DRIFT Round 3: Miami Heat, Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR battled Chris Forsberg in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z for his second consecutive victory.

Formula DRIFT Round 3: Vaughn Gittin Takes His Second Consecutive Event Victory
Formula DRIFT entered Homestead–Miami Speedway for the first time for Round 3: Miami Heat. Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR battled Chris Forsberg in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z for his second consecutive victory. Gittin moves into second place overall in the championship standings. Forsberg retains the lead with a 10-point margin heading into the fourth round of competition. Rounding out the podium in third place was the number three qualifier, Kenny Moen in the Achilles Radial/Bridges Racing Nissan 240SX. The 2014 Formula DRIFT Championship season continues with Round 4: The Gauntlet at Wall Speedway in New Jersey, June 20–21.

NMCA Announces the All-New Chevrolet Performance Stock Class for the 2015 Season
Rollie Miller, NMCA national event director, has announced an all-new class for 2015 in both the NMCA Series and the LSX Showdown Challenge Series. The new Chevrolet Performance Stock (LS Stock) class will use the brand-new Chevrolet Performance DR525 drag-racing sealed crate engine released May 30, 2014, and featured on NMCAdigital.com. The DR525 is scheduled to go on sale August 1.

Royal Purple-sponsored driver Sarah Burgess makes her Red Bull Global Rallycross debut, June 7, at X Games in Austin at Circuit of the Americas.

Royal Purple Partners With Red Bull Global Rallycross Driver Sarah Burgess for 2014 Season
Royal Purple has announced that it will sponsor Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) driver Sarah Burgess in her inaugural foray into the rally car series for the 2014 season.

A native of Australia, Burgess has been drift racing for the past three years in the United States, most recently in the Xtreme Drift Circuit at the wheel of a ’13 Ford Mustang. Burgess is one of two female drivers competing in Red Bull GRC this season, and she welcomes the opportunity to be a role model for other women while competing in her 2.0L Ecotec-powered Chevrolet Sonic.

Red Bull Global Rallycross at the X Games in Austin will be broadcast live on ABC, June 7, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT).

Brian Deegan, in the #38 Rockstar Energy/Makita Ford, swept last weekend in Pro 2 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

Deegan Sweeps Pro 2 in Reno
Brian Deegan switched helmets from Rallycross to the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series last weekend as the trucks took on Wild West Motorsports Park near Reno, Nevada. In the #38 Rockstar Energy/Makita Ford, Deegan swept the weekend in Pro 2.

For the fifth time in the five rounds of the 2014 season, Deegan captured the pole in Pro 2 on Friday night. He qualified second in Round 5 of Pro Lites class behind RJ Anderson. On Saturday Deegan would make it a sweep in Pro 2. He qualified third in round 6 of Pro Lites. Kyle Hart, who would eventually get the win in Pro Lite, edged out Deegan for the lead.

With two more wins in Pro 2, the #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Team extends its points lead. All the action will broadcast on CBS Sports Network, Sunday, June 8, at 8 p.m. (EDT).

Deegan is ready to switch helmets again as he heads to X Games Austin for the Rallycross debut on the Circuit of America racetrack. X Games Austin will be live on ESPN and ABC June 5–8. Visit www.xgamesaustin.com for complete schedule.

	The SEMA Garage has a dyno lab and a fully certified test center, complete with expert staff who are available to help members through the process.

For one night, the SEMA Garage – Industry Innovations Center is taking a break from the scanning and development that typically takes place in the facility to welcome the $31 billion automotive specialty-equipment industry for an Open House, Thursday, July 17, in Diamond Bar, California.

“The SEMA Garage is available to help manufacturers develop automotive parts and accessories from start to finish,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs. “With the recent completion of the photo cove, the SEMA Garage is now fully operational. We want the industry to join us in celebrating this incredible building and to see all that it has to offer.”

RSVP online for the SEMA Garage Open House. 

The only facility of its kind, the SEMA Garage helps auto-parts manufacturers develop products in as little as six weeks. Members are able to gain access to new vehicle models from automakers, and have final products available for sale before the vehicle is even available to the public. Tools in the SEMA Garage include a portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM), a 3D printer, digital race car scales, a dyno and emissions lab, a training center and a photo cove stocked with an abundance of lights, strobe kits, umbrellas and more.

During the SEMA Garage Open House, members will be able to see each area and learn about all the equipment available to them.

“The SEMA Garage is the ultimate production facility,” said Spagnola. “The building was purpose-built to include state-of-the-art equipment specific to auto-parts manufacturers. We’ve further filled the SEMA Garage with tools and equipment, so that members simply need to show up and do what they do best.”

	The SEMA Garage has a dyno lab and a fully certified test center, complete with expert staff who are available to help members through the process.

For one night, the SEMA Garage – Industry Innovations Center is taking a break from the scanning and development that typically takes place in the facility to welcome the $31 billion automotive specialty-equipment industry for an Open House, Thursday, July 17, in Diamond Bar, California.

“The SEMA Garage is available to help manufacturers develop automotive parts and accessories from start to finish,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs. “With the recent completion of the photo cove, the SEMA Garage is now fully operational. We want the industry to join us in celebrating this incredible building and to see all that it has to offer.”

RSVP online for the SEMA Garage Open House. 

The only facility of its kind, the SEMA Garage helps auto-parts manufacturers develop products in as little as six weeks. Members are able to gain access to new vehicle models from automakers, and have final products available for sale before the vehicle is even available to the public. Tools in the SEMA Garage include a portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM), a 3D printer, digital race car scales, a dyno and emissions lab, a training center and a photo cove stocked with an abundance of lights, strobe kits, umbrellas and more.

During the SEMA Garage Open House, members will be able to see each area and learn about all the equipment available to them.

“The SEMA Garage is the ultimate production facility,” said Spagnola. “The building was purpose-built to include state-of-the-art equipment specific to auto-parts manufacturers. We’ve further filled the SEMA Garage with tools and equipment, so that members simply need to show up and do what they do best.”

By SEMA Editors

Source Interlink Media has announced a sweeping redesign of its brand portfolio and a new name—TEN: The Enthusiast Network.

“TEN: The Enthusiast Network speaks to who we are and what we do,” said Scott Dickey, chief executive officer. “We are the world’s premier network of enthusiast brands—we create and deliver content every day that informs, entertains, inspires and connects with enthusiasts. We are dedicated to enabling enthusiasts to pursue the passions that define their lifestyle. The company’s future focus will center on its iconic core brands and their connection with the consumer across all forms of media. We are now putting in place the foundation to operate as a truly independent content creation and media services company, and the rebranding signals both the scale of the changes and scope of our ambitions.”

TEN is investing resources in its core enthusiast brands, including Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Automobile, Surfer, GrindTV and TransWorld, to name a few. The portfolio redesign absorbs 12 legacy aftermarket print titles into the most relevant of the core brands. According to TEN, absorbing legacy aftermarket print titles that feature largely duplicative content into stronger core brands will deliver customers an engaged and valuable audience with greater efficiency and scale.

In aggregate, the portfolio changes accelerate the company’s move to a web-led, socially amplified media model. “It is not up to us to decide how our consumers choose to interact with our brands,” said Dickey. “Our job is to provide them with the content they want, where they want it and when they want it. Our business model needs to reflect this new reality.”

The portfolio changes, which will include the relocation of Automobile from Ann Arbor, Michigan, will also centralize much of the company’s production of auto-related content in its Los Angeles headquarters, increasing efficiencies and the ability to rapidly deploy content across multiple platforms. Eight-year company veteran and experienced automotive journalist Mike Floyd will become the new editor-in-chief. Current deputy editor Joe DeMatio and several members of the Automobile editorial staff will operate out of the company’s newly expanded Detroit office. The changes will consolidate the production of all in-market automotive content under the direction of Angus MacKenzie, chief content officer.
 
Longtime editor-in-chief and president of Automobile Jean Jennings will leave the company to focus on the development of her own Jean Knows Cars automotive brand, which launched in 2012. “We would like to thank and recognize Jean for her contributions to the Automobile brand over the past 29 years,” said Chris Argentieri, president, Source Interlink Media’s automotive division. “Although we are sorry to see her leave, we are excited to support Jean as she pursues her next venture in building Jean Knows Cars.”