Compiled by SEMA Editors

Ultra 4, KOTH Promoter Announces New Short-Course Off-Road Series

Veteran short-course race series director Lee Perfect and race promoter Dave Cole of Hammerking Productions have announced a new series—the Great American Short Course (GAS), powered by OPTIMA Batteries. The partnership is designed as a strategic path forward to grow short-track racing after the 2020 racing season. GAS begins in 2021 with four events on existing and well-known short course tracks near major metropolitan centers. The complete schedule will be announced at a later date. GAS plans to hit two West Coast tracks in the spring, with events tentatively planned for April and May, and two venues in the fall, with dates slated for October and November. For more information, visit greatamericanshortcourse.com.

2022 Lucas Dirt Speedweeks Dates Announced

Officials have revealed the dates for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 2022 Speedweeks, set for January 27–February 12, in Georgia and Florida. Competitors will visit four tracks over 17 days, with 14 nights of racing action at Golden Isles Speedway, Bubba Raceway Park, All-Tech Raceway, and East Bay Raceway Park. Event purses range from $5,000 up to $15,000, and Wrisco Industries Inc. has announced a $4,000 Speedweeks Points Fund, which will allow teams the chance to earn bonus money at the end of the event. For more information, visit lucasdirt.com.

Motul Lubricants to Enter Partnership With GoGoGear.com Racing Team

Motul Lubricants will be the official lubricant of the GoGoGear.com Racing Team for this year’s racing season. The team runs a six-car effort in the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) with two BMW M3s, two Hyundai Genesis Coupes and two Honda Civics. The team has had success in the past winning the driver championship in 2013 with their BMW, 2014 with their Hyundai, and 2016 with their BMW, and 2019 and 2020 in their Hyundai. The driver lineup for the 2021 season has not been finalized for the team. Larry Bani will drive one of the BMWs in the Super Touring class. Gary Sheehan will try to win again in the Hyundai. Reza Arsham will drive one of the Honda Civics. The team’s first race of 2021 will be April 10, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The races can be seen on Final Drive TV which is available on Comcast Cable, AT&T U-Verse, Dish Network, DirecTV and Roku. They can also be seen on www.youtube.com/finaldrivetv.

Hot Shot’s Secret Announces Title Sponsorship of Hole Shot Diesel Series on the West Coast

Diesel drag racing is returning to the West Coast after a two-year hiatus with a new series and title sponsor. Hot Shot’s Secret has announced the title sponsorship of the Hole Shot Diesel Series. With the closure of the National Hot Rod Diesel Association (NHRDA), the West Coast was without a diesel race series. This first season of the new series will start with five to seven races, and the organizers plan to add more races over the upcoming seasons.

The growth of diesel drag racing is currently exploding on the East Coast with the Outlaw Diesel Super Series (ODSS), and the organizers of the new Hole Shot Diesel Series plan to complement, rather than compete, with ODSS. As such, they will try to limit any overlap of diesel drag-racing events, incorporate ⅛-mile passes instead of ¼-mile, run the same classes and rules, and in conjunction with ODSS, ultimately develop an East vs. West World Finals event, where top points winners from both series will face-off at the end of the season.

The Hot Shot’s Secret Hole Shot Diesel Series season opener kicks off Saturday, April 24, with the Golden State Diesel Fest presented by Diesel World at the Sacramento Raceway Park. Live streaming of the inaugural event will be provided by Diesel World Magazine.

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.

By Jay Carpio, Fredy Ramirez & Carr Winn

"Carr Parts" is dedicated to builders. It's about quick tips and tricks and the newest must-have products. It's about visiting with a fellow builder, walking around their project and getting an up-close look at their handy work. It's also about our industry sharing their passion for turning a wrench and taking time to give advice to fellow gearheads. Episode three features award-winning Young Gun Kyle Kuhnhausen, showcasing his top five tools.    

For more information about Kyle and all the Young Guns visit www.semayoungguns.com.

SEMA's video team is currently in production on future episodes of "Carr Parts" and we'd love to hear from you. Do you have a tip, trick or advice you can share with our audience? Drop us a note at marketing@semaignited.com and we'll connect with you.

We can't wait to find the next guest for "Carr Parts." And finally...keep building.

By Linda Spencer

SEMA members are invited to measure an ’18 Nissan Patrol Y61, which is not sold in the United States, but is popular to customize in both the Middle East and Australia. The truck, desired for its off-road (typically sandy terrain) prowess and on-road comfort, has been imported by SEMA into the United States through a temporary waiver (as it is not U.S.-spec’d).

Available for measuring is the five-speed manual transmission and a 4.8L petrol six-cylinder engine. There is no charge for members to measure the vehicles. 

This rugged vehicle, manufactured in Japan, is extremely popular in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Middle East. The Nissan Patrol Y61, little changed from the model that has been on sale since 1997, is popular not only in the Middle East but also in Australia and New Zealand. New-vehicle sales in these markets stopped in 2016, but with 900 per month sold in the region during its heyday in Australia, there are numerous Y61s still on the road down under. The Nissan Patrol is available in the United States for six more months (SEMA imported the truck under the U.S. government waiver program to measure vehicles that do not meet U.S. NHTSA and EPA standards).

For the past 10 years since its inception, the SEMA International Vehicle Measuring Program’s (IVMP) goal has been to make it easier for members to access popular international vehicles not sold in the United States. The Patrol is the seventh vehicle made available through this program, which SEMA launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

To measure the truck, contact Stephanie Martinez at stephaniem@sema.org. For more information about SEMA’s international programs or to suggest a new overseas venue or international vehicle to include in the lending program, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org, SEMA’s senior director, international and government affairs.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A 2020 law in California requires private employers with over 100 employees to report certain pay and workforce data to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) by March 31, 2021, and annually thereafter. The Pay Reporting Portal will open for submissions beginning February 16. DFEH has also published a Portal User Guide and reporting template to assist employers with their filings.

Under the new law, employers must report to DFEH pay and hours-worked data by establishment, job category, gender, race and ethnicity. The new measure is designed to motivate employers to consider pay inequities along gender, racial and ethnic lines within their own workforce and promote compliance with existing anti-discrimination laws.

For more information on the program, please visit DFEH’s FAQ webpage.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

On February 4, Grand County Administrator Chris Baird and Mike Kelso, president of Red Rock 4 Wheelers (RR4W), had a conversation, wherein the county administrator assured the president of RR4W that the county ordinance that was hindering the Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) event would be amended on February 16, which will allow the event to proceed.

The Grand County Commission administrator has requested that EJS attendees, RR4W members and the four-wheeling community send letters to the county commission in support of the amendment to the ordinance here: commission@grandcountyutah.net.

Volunteers are making plans and getting registration on the website set to open.

Registration Dates:

• Leader/Helper Pre-registration: Tuesday, February 16, 10:00 a.m. (MST)
• Member Registration: Friday, February 19, 10:00 a.m. (MST)
• General Registration: Tuesday, February 23, 10:00 a.m. (MST)

Register now.

By Ashley Reyes

Arun Coumar is the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest Spotlight member. Coumar is the founder of Driven Performance Advisors, a company that helps shops and manufacturers in the performance and restyling industries grow their businesses by providing best practices for systems, processes and financial management.

Coumar grew up in and around shops as a customer and enthusiast his whole life. Having begun working with automotive aftermarket companies in 2018, he then founded Driven Performance Advisors in 2020.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Arun Coumar: Wake up early.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

AC: Sharing a drive in unique, fast, beautiful cars of self-expression is my favorite activity in the world.

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

AC: Preparing for the track underneath my e46, or at the track inside my e46.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

AC: Prepared with a clear idea of who I am talking to and what I believe we can both get out of the meeting.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?

AC: I would want to go to lunch with social media influencer Garrett Mitchell, aka Cleetus McFarland. Buying a racetrack at 25 years old is pretty incredible.

Here’s a first look at the ’21 Ford Bronco two-door with the fastback soft top. The model here is a Badlands trim without the sasquatch package, meaning that it’s riding on the stock 33-in. wheels and tires.

Outside of the strange exhaust tip and bright-yellow tow/recovery hooks (that appear to be spray painted), the model seen here is production ready, and the fastback soft top does not look out of place on the two-door model. In fact, it looks pretty good and combines with the Bronco’s upright lines.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’21 Ford Bronco two-door with the fastback soft top. The model here is a Badlands trim without the sasquatch package, meaning that it’s riding on the stock 33-in. wheels and tires.

Outside of the strange exhaust tip and bright-yellow tow/recovery hooks (that appear to be spray painted), the model seen here is production ready, and the fastback soft top does not look out of place on the two-door model. In fact, it looks pretty good and combines with the Bronco’s upright lines.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

  By Ashley Reyes

Submissions are being accepted for SEMA-member companies to participate in the 2021 Ford Project Vehicle Program.

Open to SEMA member company manufacturers, designers and/or retailers dedicated to supporting new product development, companies must be willing to actively promote the vehicle with their products through an established marketing plan and be financially capable of spending promotional dollars.

The Ford booth at the 2021 SEMA Show will highlight the following vehicles in addition to its existing lineup. The provided links below will allow you to research these products as well as find high-resolution images for your proposal rendering.

• ’21 Ford Bronco (2-Door/4-Door)
• ’21 Ford Bronco Sport
• ’21 Ford Transit
• ’21 Ford Super Duty
• ’21 F-150 (with Pro Power Onboard)
• ’21 Ford Ranger
• ’21 Mach E
• ’21 Ford Expedition
• ’21 Ford Mustang (2.3L EcoBoost/5.0L GT)

Information for the above models can be found at Ford’s media website.

2021 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 8, 2021
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 7, 2021

All project vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Please submit your project request in two parts:

1.  E-mail a one-page project summary—must be received by February 15, 2021.

Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme.
• Vehicle modifications.
• New product development.
• Promotional plan.
• Vehicle display location at the 2021 SEMA Show.

2. E-mail, mail or send a link to where the files can be download of a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 8, 2021.

Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering, and past project vehicles examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A Manufacturer or Designer/Restyler dedicated to supporting new product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2021 Las Vegas SEMA Show.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability Insurance, $3 million in automotive liability insurance, $1 million employer liability and demonstrate workers compensation coverage; an umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its Dealers for display, at the owner’s discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development.
2. Modifications to the vehicle.
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event).
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies).
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle.
6. Social Media exposure with statistics.
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration.

Please submit Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579        
Dearborn, MI 48124    
Attn: Nick Terzes and Kyle Ebner                      
semainfo@ford.com

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) named Melanie Barsness as this week’s #SheIsSEMA Spotlight Member. Barsness is an account executive at Hemmings, a media production and motor news company geared toward publishing high-quality content and publications for the collector-car enthusiast.

Having always wanted to work in an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and fun, Barsness joined Hemmings in July 2020, and is new to the industry. Get to know how she got here, and what she has planned for the future in her Q&A with SEMA.  

SEMA: How many years have you been in the industry and what was your first industry job?

Melanie Barsness: This is my first gig in the automotive industry. The warm welcome by this community has been amazing! After 12+ years of focusing my advertising/marketing efforts on a hyper-local clientele, it has been fun to pivot and turn my attention to clients looking to reach audiences on a national scale.

SEMA: What are three qualities that got you to where you are today? How have these qualities benefited you?

MB: I’m a military spouse, so I’ve had to stay open-minded and flexible when it came to building my own career. With each move, I felt like I was starting over. (Anybody remember when remote work wasn’t a thing?) Looking back, I now realize that I was fortunate to have had those experiences with organizations all around the country; and solving for clients in various industries was fun!

Without having gone through the process of rebuilding my career every few years, I without a doubt would not be where I am today. So back to the question. Three qualities that got me where I am today: resilience (being okay with starting over), optimism (taking whatever life throws at me and making the best of it), and self-confidence (being brave enough to put myself out there, whether it’s jumping into a new industry, meeting new people or sharing crazy ideas with clients).

SEMA: What is the best career advice you have received? How has this advice helped you either professionally or personally?

MB: I had a mentor who always quizzed me, “What’s the No. 1 key to success in both business and in life?” He’d pay money for a correct answer by the way! The answer is, “You are what you think about.” He got it past me a couple of times, then I made a few bucks off him.

SEMA: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?

MB: I’ve always wanted to work in an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and fun—the automotive industry certainly lends itself to that! Now that I’m fortunate to work remote, I look forward to staying in the industry for many years to come, and I’m excited to continue to learn, grow and give back!

SEMA: Who was the most influential person on your career/goals?

MB: The most influential person on my career was a boss who believed in me more than I believed in myself. He continually challenged me to get out of my comfort zone, take on more responsibilities and have confidence to speak up. At the time, I was working at a daily newspaper which was very much a male-dominated environment. It’s difficult to explain—it’s as if my self-confidence was always a part of me; it just needed a little push. I am so grateful for the years I worked under his leadership. Anytime I’m presented with the opportunity to lift someone else up, I happily pay it forward by offering encouragement and celebrating wins (even the small ones!).

Do you know, or are you, a woman with a career in the automotive industry? Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN’s #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and recognized on the www.sema.org/she-is-sema website.