Tanner Foust finishes second in the Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta at the opening round of the 2012 Global Rallycross Championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: Jakub Nitka/ERC24.com

Tanner Foust Scores Podium at Charlotte Motor Speedway
At the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust scored his first U.S. podium finish of the 2012 Global Rallycross Championship.

Foust, in his 550-plus-hp Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta, battled teammate Marcus Grönholm for the lead in a 10-car final race. He crossed the line just behind the two-time World Rally Champion.

The defending Global Rallycross Champion, Foust kept the pressure on throughout the contest, while managing overheating brakes on a track considered one of the fastest in rallycross history. He qualified in the second position and won his heat races to line up beside Grönholm in the final. Drivers competed on a course laid out on the front stretch and pit lane of the 1.5-mile oval. It featured narrow passing zones, chicanes, water hazards and a 3-ft.-tall jump.

The Charlotte event marked the first stop in a five-week stretch of European and American rallycross competition for Foust, which culminates with X Games in downtown Los Angeles, July 1.

His next stop is the Hungarian Round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship this weekend (June 2–3). Foust is favored for a top finish. He is the 2011 European Rallycross Championship runner-up, and won the first European race of the season in April.

National Speed Sport News, "RaceDay" on Fox Sports Radio Team Up
National Speed Sport News, which relaunched in March with an all-new monthly magazine, has partnered with "RaceDay" on FOX Sports Radio, hosted by industry veteran Rob D'Amico.

Beginning last Sunday, the program will be rebranded "SPEED SPORT on FOX Sports Radio," and air every Sunday from 7:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (EDT) on more than 250 FOX Sports Radio affiliates, XM Satellite Channel 169 and the American Forces Network.

The program will also stream live online at www.iheartradio.com, www.foxsports.com and via the iHeart Radio mobile app. Archives will be available at www.speedsportonfox.com and www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/radio.

In addition to collaborating on content and programming, National Speed Sport News will handle sales and marketing of the show.

	Frank Arciero (right).

Motorsports Icon Frank Arciero Passes Away
Frank Arciero passed away last Wednesday night. He began his motorsports career in 1943. His involvement included CART and the Champ Car World series. In the 1986 Indianapolis 500, one of his drivers, Randy Lanier won the Rookie of the Year and in 1987 another one of his drivers, Fabrizio Barbazza, also won the award.

Arciero's drivers included Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Jim Clark, Bobby Unser, Roger Penske, Phil Hill, Geoff Brabham, Michael Andretti, Scott Pruett, Max Papis and Dan Wheldon.

Arciero was also a successful businessman who, in 1986, opened his own winery, now called EOS Estate Winery, in Paso Robles, California.

Arciero is survived by sons Frank Jr. and Albert; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Angie.

Services were held May 30, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach, California.

	Heidi Steele will make her season debut at the 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 1–3, 2012.

Yokohama Tire Corp.-Sponsored Heidi Steele Returns to Action at SCORE Baja 500
Heidi Steele, the Yokohama Tire Corp.-sponsored off-road driver and defending Class 6 Southern California Off Road Enthusiasts (SCORE) champion, will make her season debut at the 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 1–3, 2012, in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico. As before, Steele and co-driver/Desert Assassins teammate Rene Brugger will tackle the tough Baja terrain in a Ford Ranger with off-the-shelf Geolandar M/T+ tires.

Steele, wife of Trophy-Truck veteran Cameron Steele (also competing in Baja), missed the first part of the off-road season to give birth to her first child, Cameron Kay Steele. Now she’s ready to race.

Cameron has two 800hp Geiser Brothers Trophy-Trucks entered in the Baja 500, both running on newly developed 40-in. Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S R tires specially engineered for extreme off-road conditions.

The #14 Desert Assassins Trophy-Truck will start farther back in the field. Trophy-Trucks have 26 in. of front-wheel travel and 36 in. of rear-wheel travel and can hit a top speed of 135 mph.

An injury will keep driver John Gaydosh temporarily sidelined from NHRA competition.

NHRA Pro Stock Competitor Gaydosh Temporarily Sidelined Following Surgery
Pro Stock driver John Gaydosh wants nothing more than to race at the upcoming Toyota NHRA Supernationals at the racetrack that he considers home, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.

The Pontiac GXP pilot suffered a major setback just prior to the recent NHRA event in Atlanta—the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals—when he tore a tendon in his right forearm. It was determined shortly thereafter that the painful injury would require immediate repair through surgery, and so Gaydosh went under the knife the very week he returned from racing at Atlanta Dragway.

As he continues to heal through rest and physical therapy, Gaydosh will miss the race in Englishtown and the soon-after event, the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, but he plans to rejoin NHRA competition at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago in late June and race the following weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

As the second half of the Full Throttle Drag Racing season kicks into high gear, Gaydosh intends to pick up speed and attend as many events as possible as he continues to live out his dream of driving in one of the most competitive categories in the series.

	Hexis Racing claimed double victories at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain with new 12C GT3.

Hexis Racing Claims Double Victories With 12C GT3 in FIA GT1 World Championship Race in Spain
McLaren GT customer team Hexis Racing claimed first victories for the MP4-12C GT3 last weekend with back-to-back wins at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain. A dominant performance by reigning FIA GT1 World champions Hexis in qualifying and the championship race places the French team in second position in the series after three rounds.

The weekend’s qualifying session saw a strong start from the No. 1 12C GT3, driven by Fred Makowiecki (France) and Stef Dusseldorp (Netherlands). The duo dominated the race throughout and crossed the line more than 20 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. This result secured an all-McLaren 12C GT3 front-row lock out, and another performance from both driver pairings again saw Makowiecki and Dusseldorp lead from lights to flag, while the No. 2 12C GT3 driven by McLaren GT driver Alvaro Parente (Portugal) and Grégoire Demoustier (France) claimed fourth place.

Fellow McLaren GT customer team Lapidus Racing also showed strong performance with the debut of the 12C GT3 in the International GT Open at the Nürburgring in Germany. The orange and white-liveried 12C GT3, driven by team owner Klaas Hummel and McLaren GT development driver Adam Christodoulou, showed consistent pace throughout the weekend’s two races, and the team claimed a double fourth-place finish.

	Greg Alexander returned to action in the annual Salute to Indy featuring the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway.

Greg Alexander Returns After Fire
After an expensive fire last month, Gardena, California's Greg Alexander returned to action in the annual Salute to Indy featuring the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway.

While running second late in the B main April 28, the "carbeque" happened at the Riverside County clay oval. The blaze started around the engine, but quickly spread to the cockpit. Feeling the intense heat from the flames, the 23-year-old racer quickly slid the car to a stop on the inside of turn four. He jumped out of the cockpit and began rolling on the ground. Even though the fire crew was on him and the car within seconds, the damage was extensive.

All of the car's wiring, hoses and gauges were burned and had to be replaced. Alexander's helmet and firesuit were hurt in the blaze and had to be replaced as well. Needless to say, he was done for the night even though he had earned a ticket to race in the A main.

Although Alexander emerged from the inferno uninjured, repairs and replacements took time and he was forced to sit out the race at King's Speedway in Hanford.

Chris Lock won round two of the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California.

Chris Lock Wins the Thunderhill Round of the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship
Chris Lock, driving the Roger Kraus Racing Honda Prelude, won round two of the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California. This was Lock’s first USTCC win, and he won the race as a rookie. Finishing in second position was the K-PAX/Auto Parts Warehouse Volvo C30 of Robert Thorne. Hyundai managed to score a first-ever podium finish with the help of Ali Arsham who was driving the GoGoGear.com/DelCity.net/UTI Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

	United Autosports No. 23 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 in action at Monza during the opening round.

Busy Schedule Ahead of Home Race for United Autosports at Silverstone
United Autosports heads back to home soil as it prepares for the second round of the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone this weekend.

In the Pro Cup Class, David Brabham will be joined by Matt Bell and Alvaro Parente in the No. 22 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 sportscar, while team owner and driver Zak Brown will be in the No. 23 sister car with Mark Blundell and Mark Patterson contesting the Pro/AM class.

In the build-up to the event, the team has conducted a full day of testing at Snetterton in Norfolk with drivers Brabham, Blundell and Bell behind the wheel. The team was able to get significant track time around the Norfolk circuit and managed to test the various development parts on offer from McLaren.

It was a mixed weekend for the team during the season opener in Monza, and they will be looking for a solid performance at Silverstone—home of British Motorsport and a current Formula 1TM Grand Prix Circuit. The 3.660-mile new configuration makes it one of the quickest on the calendar. More than 60 cars are expected to take to the grid.

	Tanner Foust finishes second in the Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta at the opening round of the 2012 Global Rallycross Championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: Jakub Nitka/ERC24.com

Tanner Foust Scores Podium at Charlotte Motor Speedway
At the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust scored his first U.S. podium finish of the 2012 Global Rallycross Championship.

Foust, in his 550-plus-hp Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta, battled teammate Marcus Grönholm for the lead in a 10-car final race. He crossed the line just behind the two-time World Rally Champion.

The defending Global Rallycross Champion, Foust kept the pressure on throughout the contest, while managing overheating brakes on a track considered one of the fastest in rallycross history. He qualified in the second position and won his heat races to line up beside Grönholm in the final. Drivers competed on a course laid out on the front stretch and pit lane of the 1.5-mile oval. It featured narrow passing zones, chicanes, water hazards and a 3-ft.-tall jump.

The Charlotte event marked the first stop in a five-week stretch of European and American rallycross competition for Foust, which culminates with X Games in downtown Los Angeles, July 1.

His next stop is the Hungarian Round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship this weekend (June 2–3). Foust is favored for a top finish. He is the 2011 European Rallycross Championship runner-up, and won the first European race of the season in April.

National Speed Sport News, "RaceDay" on Fox Sports Radio Team Up
National Speed Sport News, which relaunched in March with an all-new monthly magazine, has partnered with "RaceDay" on FOX Sports Radio, hosted by industry veteran Rob D'Amico.

Beginning last Sunday, the program will be rebranded "SPEED SPORT on FOX Sports Radio," and air every Sunday from 7:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (EDT) on more than 250 FOX Sports Radio affiliates, XM Satellite Channel 169 and the American Forces Network.

The program will also stream live online at www.iheartradio.com, www.foxsports.com and via the iHeart Radio mobile app. Archives will be available at www.speedsportonfox.com and www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/radio.

In addition to collaborating on content and programming, National Speed Sport News will handle sales and marketing of the show.

	Frank Arciero (right).

Motorsports Icon Frank Arciero Passes Away
Frank Arciero passed away last Wednesday night. He began his motorsports career in 1943. His involvement included CART and the Champ Car World series. In the 1986 Indianapolis 500, one of his drivers, Randy Lanier won the Rookie of the Year and in 1987 another one of his drivers, Fabrizio Barbazza, also won the award.

Arciero's drivers included Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Jim Clark, Bobby Unser, Roger Penske, Phil Hill, Geoff Brabham, Michael Andretti, Scott Pruett, Max Papis and Dan Wheldon.

Arciero was also a successful businessman who, in 1986, opened his own winery, now called EOS Estate Winery, in Paso Robles, California.

Arciero is survived by sons Frank Jr. and Albert; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Angie.

Services were held May 30, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach, California.

	Heidi Steele will make her season debut at the 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 1–3, 2012.

Yokohama Tire Corp.-Sponsored Heidi Steele Returns to Action at SCORE Baja 500
Heidi Steele, the Yokohama Tire Corp.-sponsored off-road driver and defending Class 6 Southern California Off Road Enthusiasts (SCORE) champion, will make her season debut at the 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 1–3, 2012, in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico. As before, Steele and co-driver/Desert Assassins teammate Rene Brugger will tackle the tough Baja terrain in a Ford Ranger with off-the-shelf Geolandar M/T+ tires.

Steele, wife of Trophy-Truck veteran Cameron Steele (also competing in Baja), missed the first part of the off-road season to give birth to her first child, Cameron Kay Steele. Now she’s ready to race.

Cameron has two 800hp Geiser Brothers Trophy-Trucks entered in the Baja 500, both running on newly developed 40-in. Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S R tires specially engineered for extreme off-road conditions.

The #14 Desert Assassins Trophy-Truck will start farther back in the field. Trophy-Trucks have 26 in. of front-wheel travel and 36 in. of rear-wheel travel and can hit a top speed of 135 mph.

An injury will keep driver John Gaydosh temporarily sidelined from NHRA competition.

NHRA Pro Stock Competitor Gaydosh Temporarily Sidelined Following Surgery
Pro Stock driver John Gaydosh wants nothing more than to race at the upcoming Toyota NHRA Supernationals at the racetrack that he considers home, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.

The Pontiac GXP pilot suffered a major setback just prior to the recent NHRA event in Atlanta—the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals—when he tore a tendon in his right forearm. It was determined shortly thereafter that the painful injury would require immediate repair through surgery, and so Gaydosh went under the knife the very week he returned from racing at Atlanta Dragway.

As he continues to heal through rest and physical therapy, Gaydosh will miss the race in Englishtown and the soon-after event, the Ford Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, but he plans to rejoin NHRA competition at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago in late June and race the following weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

As the second half of the Full Throttle Drag Racing season kicks into high gear, Gaydosh intends to pick up speed and attend as many events as possible as he continues to live out his dream of driving in one of the most competitive categories in the series.

	Hexis Racing claimed double victories at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain with new 12C GT3.

Hexis Racing Claims Double Victories With 12C GT3 in FIA GT1 World Championship Race in Spain
McLaren GT customer team Hexis Racing claimed first victories for the MP4-12C GT3 last weekend with back-to-back wins at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain. A dominant performance by reigning FIA GT1 World champions Hexis in qualifying and the championship race places the French team in second position in the series after three rounds.

The weekend’s qualifying session saw a strong start from the No. 1 12C GT3, driven by Fred Makowiecki (France) and Stef Dusseldorp (Netherlands). The duo dominated the race throughout and crossed the line more than 20 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. This result secured an all-McLaren 12C GT3 front-row lock out, and another performance from both driver pairings again saw Makowiecki and Dusseldorp lead from lights to flag, while the No. 2 12C GT3 driven by McLaren GT driver Alvaro Parente (Portugal) and Grégoire Demoustier (France) claimed fourth place.

Fellow McLaren GT customer team Lapidus Racing also showed strong performance with the debut of the 12C GT3 in the International GT Open at the Nürburgring in Germany. The orange and white-liveried 12C GT3, driven by team owner Klaas Hummel and McLaren GT development driver Adam Christodoulou, showed consistent pace throughout the weekend’s two races, and the team claimed a double fourth-place finish.

	Greg Alexander returned to action in the annual Salute to Indy featuring the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway.

Greg Alexander Returns After Fire
After an expensive fire last month, Gardena, California's Greg Alexander returned to action in the annual Salute to Indy featuring the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway.

While running second late in the B main April 28, the "carbeque" happened at the Riverside County clay oval. The blaze started around the engine, but quickly spread to the cockpit. Feeling the intense heat from the flames, the 23-year-old racer quickly slid the car to a stop on the inside of turn four. He jumped out of the cockpit and began rolling on the ground. Even though the fire crew was on him and the car within seconds, the damage was extensive.

All of the car's wiring, hoses and gauges were burned and had to be replaced. Alexander's helmet and firesuit were hurt in the blaze and had to be replaced as well. Needless to say, he was done for the night even though he had earned a ticket to race in the A main.

Although Alexander emerged from the inferno uninjured, repairs and replacements took time and he was forced to sit out the race at King's Speedway in Hanford.

Chris Lock won round two of the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California.

Chris Lock Wins the Thunderhill Round of the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship
Chris Lock, driving the Roger Kraus Racing Honda Prelude, won round two of the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California. This was Lock’s first USTCC win, and he won the race as a rookie. Finishing in second position was the K-PAX/Auto Parts Warehouse Volvo C30 of Robert Thorne. Hyundai managed to score a first-ever podium finish with the help of Ali Arsham who was driving the GoGoGear.com/DelCity.net/UTI Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

	United Autosports No. 23 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 in action at Monza during the opening round.

Busy Schedule Ahead of Home Race for United Autosports at Silverstone
United Autosports heads back to home soil as it prepares for the second round of the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone this weekend.

In the Pro Cup Class, David Brabham will be joined by Matt Bell and Alvaro Parente in the No. 22 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 sportscar, while team owner and driver Zak Brown will be in the No. 23 sister car with Mark Blundell and Mark Patterson contesting the Pro/AM class.

In the build-up to the event, the team has conducted a full day of testing at Snetterton in Norfolk with drivers Brabham, Blundell and Bell behind the wheel. The team was able to get significant track time around the Norfolk circuit and managed to test the various development parts on offer from McLaren.

It was a mixed weekend for the team during the season opener in Monza, and they will be looking for a solid performance at Silverstone—home of British Motorsport and a current Formula 1TM Grand Prix Circuit. The 3.660-mile new configuration makes it one of the quickest on the calendar. More than 60 cars are expected to take to the grid.

	This ’12 double-cab 4x4 manual transmission Toyota Hilux will be available to SEMA members to measure and prototype product.

Through a U.S. Commerce Department grant, SEMA members will have access to vehicles popular worldwide that are not sold in the United States in order to prototype product. This program is designed to create new exporting opportunities for U.S. manufacturers who might otherwise not have access to these vehicles. The first vehicle, already on its way to the United States is the ’12 double-cab 4x4 manual transmission Toyota Hilux—a best seller in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, throughout Europe, South Africa, southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

More than 14 million Hiluxes have been sold worldwide to date. Based on interest, SEMA will schedule additional Measuring Sessions around the country. Register now for the ’12 Toyota Hilux Measuring Session.

Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

	This ’12 double-cab 4x4 manual transmission Toyota Hilux will be available to SEMA members to measure and prototype product.

Through a U.S. Commerce Department grant, SEMA members will have access to vehicles popular worldwide that are not sold in the United States in order to prototype product. This program is designed to create new exporting opportunities for U.S. manufacturers who might otherwise not have access to these vehicles. The first vehicle, already on its way to the United States is the ’12 double-cab 4x4 manual transmission Toyota Hilux—a best seller in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, throughout Europe, South Africa, southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

More than 14 million Hiluxes have been sold worldwide to date. Based on interest, SEMA will schedule additional Measuring Sessions around the country. Register now for the ’12 Toyota Hilux Measuring Session.

Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

	This ’12 double-cab 4x4 manual transmission Toyota Hilux will be available to SEMA members to measure and prototype product.

Through a U.S. Commerce Department grant, SEMA members will have access to vehicles popular worldwide that are not sold in the United States in order to prototype product. This program is designed to create new exporting opportunities for U.S. manufacturers who might otherwise not have access to these vehicles. The first vehicle, already on its way to the United States is the ’12 double-cab 4x4 manual transmission Toyota Hilux—a best seller in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, throughout Europe, South Africa, southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

More than 14 million Hiluxes have been sold worldwide to date. Based on interest, SEMA will schedule additional Measuring Sessions around the country. Register now for the ’12 Toyota Hilux Measuring Session.

Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

	The SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser will feature the formal induction of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame class and the introduction of the newest SEMA Board of Directors.

Nick Arias Jr. will be honored and officially inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame during the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California.

Beginning in the late ’40s and through the mid-’50s, Arias learned about engines, pistons, cylinder heads and more working at Wayne Manufacturing.

Arias was also involved with the Rusetta Timing Association dry lake meets and The Screwdrivers Car Club, where he experimented with different engines and configurations while setting records and testing the limits of his share of vehicles and parts.

He started Arias Pistons in 1969 to manufacture forged pistons and components and kept refining engine configurations. In 1972, Arias introduced what was then considered a state-of-the-art Hemi-head conversion for big-block Chevys known as the "Hemi-Chevy."

His creations did not end there and included the 10L block and Hemi-head that dominated tractor pulls and drag boat races; an 8.3L powerplant for Top Fuel and Alcohol drag racing; the Howard 12-Port GMC; and many more.

Nick Arias Jr. (pictured), Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. will be formally inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame at the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on July 27, in Pomona, California.

Arias will take the stage at the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser with the rest of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame Class: Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. SEMA's Hall of Fame designation is the most prestigious honor that the Association can bestow on an individual. In addition to the induction of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame class, the gala celebration will also feature the introduction of the newest SEMA Board of Directors, and the outgoing Board members will be officially recognized and thanked for their volunteerism and service.

The SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser is part of the Association's Leadership Days—a three-day gathering of industry leaders, volunteers and SEMA staff working together to identify and address industry and business challenges, while celebrating the specialty-equipment industry and the spirit of volunteerism. Leadership Days also includes the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, where mini pinewood drag racers built by SEMA members, staff and children from Victory Junction Camp and Childhelp race against the clock for bragging rights. A worthwhile cause, proceeds from the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races benefit both Victory Junction Camp and Childhelp.

All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. Proceeds from ticket sales will also benefit Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp.

For tickets and more information, visit www.sema.org/galatix or contact Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org or 909/978-6684.

	The SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser will feature the formal induction of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame class and the introduction of the newest SEMA Board of Directors.

Nick Arias Jr. will be honored and officially inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame during the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California.

Beginning in the late ’40s and through the mid-’50s, Arias learned about engines, pistons, cylinder heads and more working at Wayne Manufacturing.

Arias was also involved with the Rusetta Timing Association dry lake meets and The Screwdrivers Car Club, where he experimented with different engines and configurations while setting records and testing the limits of his share of vehicles and parts.

He started Arias Pistons in 1969 to manufacture forged pistons and components and kept refining engine configurations. In 1972, Arias introduced what was then considered a state-of-the-art Hemi-head conversion for big-block Chevys known as the "Hemi-Chevy."

His creations did not end there and included the 10L block and Hemi-head that dominated tractor pulls and drag boat races; an 8.3L powerplant for Top Fuel and Alcohol drag racing; the Howard 12-Port GMC; and many more.

Nick Arias Jr. (pictured), Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. will be formally inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame at the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on July 27, in Pomona, California.

Arias will take the stage at the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser with the rest of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame Class: Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. SEMA's Hall of Fame designation is the most prestigious honor that the Association can bestow on an individual. In addition to the induction of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame class, the gala celebration will also feature the introduction of the newest SEMA Board of Directors, and the outgoing Board members will be officially recognized and thanked for their volunteerism and service.

The SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser is part of the Association's Leadership Days—a three-day gathering of industry leaders, volunteers and SEMA staff working together to identify and address industry and business challenges, while celebrating the specialty-equipment industry and the spirit of volunteerism. Leadership Days also includes the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, where mini pinewood drag racers built by SEMA members, staff and children from Victory Junction Camp and Childhelp race against the clock for bragging rights. A worthwhile cause, proceeds from the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races benefit both Victory Junction Camp and Childhelp.

All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. Proceeds from ticket sales will also benefit Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp.

For tickets and more information, visit www.sema.org/galatix or contact Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org or 909/978-6684.

Malcolm Johnson (left), CEO of Pennsylvania-based BrynDana International—a participant in the 2011 SEMA China Business Development program—shows buyers his company’s spray-on coating products.

Simon Atik (far right), president of Evosport, based in Huntington Beach, California, participated in the SEMA China Business Development program to assess the market for the firm’s aftermarket accessories for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari.

Participants will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.

Get in on the ground level at what is likely to be one of the largest consumer specialty product markets. The SEMA tour, from September 2–7, 2012, to two of the most important cities in regards to customization—Shanghai and Beijing—allows participants to gain insight into the growing specialty market for the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. Participants will learn what products sell, what products are in demand, and for which applications, through networking opportunities with retailers and wholesalers.

Benefits for participating SEMA members include:

• A first-hand look at the developing specialty-equipment market. The delegation will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.
• Meetings with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China during the stops in Shanghai and in Beijing.
• Qualified exhibitors will receive a U.S. grant of up to $1,500 to defray the costs of participation.
• Promote your brand to Chinese buyers now through China eNews—a periodic Chinese-language electronic newsletter sent to buyers throughout China.
• Program costs include hotel, meals, interpreters, access to buyers from throughout China and flight from Shanghai to Beijing (flights to and from the United States are not included).

Here's what past participants have said about the Chinese specialty-equipment market and the SEMA overseas one-on-one programs:

“The SEMA China program has been fantastic for us. At the 2011 event, we met many Chinese companies and, before even leaving the country, we had very firm plans to open accounts with two or three of these companies.”
–Ed Rossi, vice president of sales, Injen Technology

“We believe the market in China is largely untapped and, for those who are willing to invest the time and resources, there is significant growth potential. Through consistent participation in the SEMA program, as well as our own efforts, which grew out of the contacts we met through SEMA, we have had the unique opportunity to work closely with our Chinese customers through the very early stages of development of their performance market.”
–Rick Trudo, president and CEO, SCT Performance

“The notion that U.S. manufacturers cannot export to China has been debunked. The Chinese buyers with whom I met in Beijing are young entrepreneurs, and they are asking for high-quality U.S.-manufactured automotive products.”
–Malcolm Johnson, CEO, BrynDana International

“While the emergence of the aftermarket industry is still in its infancy stages, the obvious potentials are astonishing.”
–Simon Atik, president, Evosport

“Chinese consumers rave over Western-style products and trends, which are increasingly being reflected in their cars. Trips, such as the SEMA China Business Development Program, are a critical component in our company’s activities to develop a growing range of products to fit vehicles found on Chinese roads.”
–Scooter Brothers, CEO, COMP Performance Group

Register for the 2012 China Business Development Tour, or visit sema.org/china.

Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

Malcolm Johnson (left), CEO of Pennsylvania-based BrynDana International—a participant in the 2011 SEMA China Business Development program—shows buyers his company’s spray-on coating products.

Simon Atik (far right), president of Evosport, based in Huntington Beach, California, participated in the SEMA China Business Development program to assess the market for the firm’s aftermarket accessories for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari.

Participants will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.

Get in on the ground level at what is likely to be one of the largest consumer specialty product markets. The SEMA tour, from September 2–7, 2012, to two of the most important cities in regards to customization—Shanghai and Beijing—allows participants to gain insight into the growing specialty market for the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. Participants will learn what products sell, what products are in demand, and for which applications, through networking opportunities with retailers and wholesalers.

Benefits for participating SEMA members include:

• A first-hand look at the developing specialty-equipment market. The delegation will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.
• Meetings with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China during the stops in Shanghai and in Beijing.
• Qualified exhibitors will receive a U.S. grant of up to $1,500 to defray the costs of participation.
• Promote your brand to Chinese buyers now through China eNews—a periodic Chinese-language electronic newsletter sent to buyers throughout China.
• Program costs include hotel, meals, interpreters, access to buyers from throughout China and flight from Shanghai to Beijing (flights to and from the United States are not included).

Here's what past participants have said about the Chinese specialty-equipment market and the SEMA overseas one-on-one programs:

“The SEMA China program has been fantastic for us. At the 2011 event, we met many Chinese companies and, before even leaving the country, we had very firm plans to open accounts with two or three of these companies.”
–Ed Rossi, vice president of sales, Injen Technology

“We believe the market in China is largely untapped and, for those who are willing to invest the time and resources, there is significant growth potential. Through consistent participation in the SEMA program, as well as our own efforts, which grew out of the contacts we met through SEMA, we have had the unique opportunity to work closely with our Chinese customers through the very early stages of development of their performance market.”
–Rick Trudo, president and CEO, SCT Performance

“The notion that U.S. manufacturers cannot export to China has been debunked. The Chinese buyers with whom I met in Beijing are young entrepreneurs, and they are asking for high-quality U.S.-manufactured automotive products.”
–Malcolm Johnson, CEO, BrynDana International

“While the emergence of the aftermarket industry is still in its infancy stages, the obvious potentials are astonishing.”
–Simon Atik, president, Evosport

“Chinese consumers rave over Western-style products and trends, which are increasingly being reflected in their cars. Trips, such as the SEMA China Business Development Program, are a critical component in our company’s activities to develop a growing range of products to fit vehicles found on Chinese roads.”
–Scooter Brothers, CEO, COMP Performance Group

Register for the 2012 China Business Development Tour, or visit sema.org/china.

Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

Malcolm Johnson (left), CEO of Pennsylvania-based BrynDana International—a participant in the 2011 SEMA China Business Development program—shows buyers his company’s spray-on coating products.

Simon Atik (far right), president of Evosport, based in Huntington Beach, California, participated in the SEMA China Business Development program to assess the market for the firm’s aftermarket accessories for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari.

Participants will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.

Get in on the ground level at what is likely to be one of the largest consumer specialty product markets. The SEMA tour, from September 2–7, 2012, to two of the most important cities in regards to customization—Shanghai and Beijing—allows participants to gain insight into the growing specialty market for the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. Participants will learn what products sell, what products are in demand, and for which applications, through networking opportunities with retailers and wholesalers.

Benefits for participating SEMA members include:

• A first-hand look at the developing specialty-equipment market. The delegation will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.
• Meetings with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China during the stops in Shanghai and in Beijing.
• Qualified exhibitors will receive a U.S. grant of up to $1,500 to defray the costs of participation.
• Promote your brand to Chinese buyers now through China eNews—a periodic Chinese-language electronic newsletter sent to buyers throughout China.
• Program costs include hotel, meals, interpreters, access to buyers from throughout China and flight from Shanghai to Beijing (flights to and from the United States are not included).

Here's what past participants have said about the Chinese specialty-equipment market and the SEMA overseas one-on-one programs:

“The SEMA China program has been fantastic for us. At the 2011 event, we met many Chinese companies and, before even leaving the country, we had very firm plans to open accounts with two or three of these companies.”
–Ed Rossi, vice president of sales, Injen Technology

“We believe the market in China is largely untapped and, for those who are willing to invest the time and resources, there is significant growth potential. Through consistent participation in the SEMA program, as well as our own efforts, which grew out of the contacts we met through SEMA, we have had the unique opportunity to work closely with our Chinese customers through the very early stages of development of their performance market.”
–Rick Trudo, president and CEO, SCT Performance

“The notion that U.S. manufacturers cannot export to China has been debunked. The Chinese buyers with whom I met in Beijing are young entrepreneurs, and they are asking for high-quality U.S.-manufactured automotive products.”
–Malcolm Johnson, CEO, BrynDana International

“While the emergence of the aftermarket industry is still in its infancy stages, the obvious potentials are astonishing.”
–Simon Atik, president, Evosport

“Chinese consumers rave over Western-style products and trends, which are increasingly being reflected in their cars. Trips, such as the SEMA China Business Development Program, are a critical component in our company’s activities to develop a growing range of products to fit vehicles found on Chinese roads.”
–Scooter Brothers, CEO, COMP Performance Group

Register for the 2012 China Business Development Tour, or visit sema.org/china.

Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.