By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

Dave McClelland, 85, the voice of the NHRA through the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s, both on television and at the racetrack, passed away May 22 of natural causes. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, which was quiet and peaceful. 

For many years, Dave McClelland served as emcee for the annual SEMA Awards Gala and SEMA Show Banquet.

McClelland, whose skills, talent, and charm reached all corners of the motorsports world and was always everyone’s first choice as an emcee—including several years as emcee for the annual SEMA Awards Gala and SEMA Show Banquet—was honored with hall of fame enshrinements and awards that spanned his more than 60 years in the broadcasting business. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1994.

McClelland continued to be a master of ceremonies and do voice-over work for clients, including NHRA, SEMA, NASCAR, ISCA, AARWBA, PWA, Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, R.J. Reynolds, Petersen Automotive Museum, International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Championship Auto Shows, Petersen Publishing Company, Emap, Primedia, ProMedia, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Castrol, Mopar, Toyota, Shelby Automobiles, Meguiar’s, The California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation, Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital and many other organizations.

McClelland was enshrined in the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1994.

Away from the microphone, McClelland’s motorsports career runs the gamut from track operator to founder of the Super Chevy shows to serving as the NHRA’s director of communications. He has been involved with drag racing since 1955; a racer himself, his dragster is in the NHRA museum. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors and as chairman for Racers for Christ, and was a recipient of the SEMA Industry Icon Award and the Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team Award, as well as the NHRA Good Hand Award, Don Prudhomme Award, Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association Award and Goodguys Hot Rod Hero.

McClelland is survived by his wife of 64 years, Louise; son Kevin and his wife Lisa; son Mike and his wife Laurie; daughter Melissa Knight and her husband Tony; granddaughters Ashley and Sara McClelland; grandsons David McClelland and his wife Brittiney; Daniel McClelland and his wife Shirley; Matthew and Ryan Knight; and great granddaughters Alana and Mylah Knight.

McClelland was inducted into the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Hall of Fame in 2012.

Services will be private, but a celebration of life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Racers for Christ or the Drag Racing Association for Women (DRAW).

Results of the 2022 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Rich Butler of R&R Marketing Consultants, Norris Marshall of BluePrint Engines, Kathryn Reinhardt of 4WP/Pro Comp and Melanie White of Hellwig Products elected to serve on the Board. Reinhardt and White are current SEMA Board members who were re-elected onto the group, and Butler and Marshall will join as new SEMA Board Members, replacing outgoing Board members Chris Douglas of Edelbrock Group and Les Rudd of Bob Cook Sales

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ rep and services.

The SEMA Board of Directors for 2022–2023 will be as follows:

Manufacturer:

• Norris Marshall – CEO, BluePrint Engines
• Kathryn Reinhardt – director of retailer marketing, 4WP/Pro Comp
• Melanie White – president, Hellwig Products

Manufacturer Rep:

• Rich Butler – CEO, R&R Marketing Consultants

2022–2023 SEMA Board of Directors:

Board Officers:

• Chairman – James Lawrence, CEO, Power Automedia
• Chair-elect – Kyle Fickler, director of sales and new business development, Driven Racing Oil
• Immediate Past-Chair/Secretary – Tim Martin, CEO, Aftermarket Advisors
• Treasurer – Les Rudd, president – Bob Cook Sales

Board Members:

• Rich Butler – CEO, R&R Marketing Consultants
• Lindsay Hubley – managing partner, Lodestone Events LLC
• Norris Marshall – CEO, BluePrint Engines
• Larry Montante – vice president, category management, Keystone Automotive Operations
• Kim Pendergast – CEO, Magnuson Superchargers
• Brian Reese – president and CEO, T Sportsline
• Kathryn Reinhardt – director of retailer marketing, 4WP/Pro Comp
• Ted Wentz III, CEO – Quadratec Inc.
• Steve Whipple – director of private-label sourcing, Jegs High Performance
• Melanie White – president, Hellwig Products

Outgoing Board Members:

• Chris Douglas, Edelbrock Group
• Les Rudd, president, Bob Cook Sales

The entire 2022–2023 SEMA Board of Directors and outgoing Board members will be honored and recognized during the 2022 SEMA Awards Gala, July 29, in Anaheim, California. All SEMA members and industry professionals are invited to join the celebration by purchasing tickets at www.sema.org/gala.

Buyers are already registered from eight countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland as well as the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Belgium to meet with U.S. brands traveling on the inaugural SEMA Nordic trip, scheduled for August 24–28, in Stockholm Sweden.  

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet officials of the European Drag Racing Series and more.

Exhibit at a SEMA table-top show and at festival sponsored by Sweden’s largest distributor, visit distributors, retailers and garages of performance and classic car restoration, attend the famed Swedish classic car cruise, meet officials of the European Drag Racing Series and more!

Prices start at $3,860 and include meals, hotel and exhibition costs (with the immediate $1,200 federal grant for qualified companies). Additional state funding may also be available.

Schedule:

Wednesday, August 24

• Evening opening dinner and trade buyer panel.

Thursday, August 25

• U.S. government briefing breakfast.
• One-on-one meetings with trade buyers.
• Evening networking event.

Friday, August 26

• Tour resellers/workshops.
• Dinner (attend famed evening classic car cruise in downtown Stockholm).

Saturday, August 27

• Exhibiting/Enthusiast day at “The Big Hansen Day.”

Sunday, August 28

• Use this day to visit buyers, sight see or head back home.
• Program officially over

SEMA Nordic participants will exhibit at a tabletop display much like the one pictured above at the first SEMA Australia trip.

Register now!

For more information contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit sema.org/nordic. 

Three industry legends will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame: Walker Evans, Jack Roush and Robert Eugene "Gene" Winfield.

Created in 1969, SEMA Hall of Fame honors are bestowed on trailblazers who have significantly impacted and enhanced the growth of the automotive industry. Its members are considered heroes, and each individual has a unique story to tell. The industry is invited to join in honoring the new SEMA Hall of Fame members during the 2022 SEMA Awards Gala (previously known as the SEMA Installation Gala), on July 29, in Anaheim, California.

Walker Evans: Walker Evans began off-road racing in 1969 and became the first off-road racer to win the Baja 1000 as a driver of a fullsized truck in 1979. Over the course of his career, he has won more than 150 off-road desert and short course races, including championships in the Baja 500, Baja 1000, Fireworks 250, Mint 400 and Parker 400. Beyond racing, Evans is a pioneer in the off-road market, having collaborated closely with automakers such as Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge; worked with major tire manufacturers and suppliers; developed purpose-built products to meet off-road racers’ needs; and paved the way for new opportunities and growth. In 2004, Evans joined SEMA as a delegate on a visit to China to develop new business opportunities and partnerships for the industry. Evans is a role model who inspires young members to deal with emerging technologies and intense legislation, and promotes innovation and creativity in sustaining SEMA, as well as the racing and high-performance industries.

Jack Roush: For more than 40 years, Jack Roush has been committed to winning on and off the race track. Early in his career, he founded Roush & Gapp—a race team he formed with Wayne Gapp that won multiple championships in NHRA, IHRA and AHRA Pro Stock drag racing. Later, he established Jack Roush Performance Engineering and began supplying racing engines and components for drag, oval-track, and hill-climb cars as well as for offshore power boat contenders. In 1984, Roush was commissioned by the Ford Motor Co. to develop cars and engines for the SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA Camel GT racing series. Roush further expanded his Roush Racing operations in 1988, before establishing Roush Fenway Racing in 2007. The team has claimed two NASCAR Cup Championships, four NASCAR Xfinity championships and one NASCAR Truck Series title. Roush also made major safety contributions to stock-car racing, including the development of roof flaps to prevent rollovers. In addition to his racing successes, Roush is founder and chairman of Roush Enterprises, a global supplier of product development services, including design, engineering, prototyping, testing and manufacturing. He also oversees Roush Performance Products, a supplier of aftermarket performance parts, and he manages Roush CleanTech, a manufacturer of alternative fuel systems.

Robert Eugene "Gene" Winfield: Robert Eugene "Gene" Winfield is an American automotive customizer and fabricator who has been involved in the industry for more than 70 years. He started building hot rods in the backyard of his mother’s house in the ’40s, and came to national prominence in 1959 with a stunning quad-headlight take on a ’56 Mercury two-door hardtop immortalized as the Jade Idol. Besides fashioning his own unique brand of customs, Winfield became famous for inventing the fade paint job. Winfield also played a key role in promoting custom car modifications to the general public by supplying modified cars for movies and TV shows, including a vehicle in the iconic 1982 film "Blade Runner." No fewer than three Winfield creations have won the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award, which is the Best Picture Oscar of the hot-rod world. Revered as “The King of Kustoms,” Winfield was featured in the first DVD in a series called “The Kings of Kustoms”—a documentary highlighting car customizers.

In addition to formally introducing Evans, Roush, and Winfield as SEMA Hall of Fame members during the 2022 SEMA Awards Gala, the annual event on July 29 will include recognitions of the newly elected and the outgoing SEMA Board members. All SEMA members and industry professionals are invited to join the celebration by purchasing tickets at www.sema.org/gala.

By Ashley Reyes

Automotive aftermarket engineers and product developers are invited to join the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) for an upcoming webinar, where participants will improve their understanding of diesel aftertreatment and how it relates to product design, system development and environmental compliance.

“Diesel Engine Emissions and Aftertreatment Systems” takes place on May 31, at 1:00 p.m. (PDT), and includes a high-level system overview and deep dive into the details of component performance.

Attendees will hear Dr. Andrea Strzelec, Director Master of Engineering in Engine Systems (MEES) and Polymer Engineering (MEPE) Programs, College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, as she shares:

• Regulatory drivers for emissions control.
• A description of emissions formation in diesel engines.
• An overview of functions of the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment devices. 

Dr. Strzelec will answer participant questions live. Learn more and register here. 

By Ashley Reyes

Parts manufacturers and women in the automotive industry still have time to submit their applications to get involved with the 2022 SBN All-Female Vehicle Build.   

Applications are being accepted from females in the automotive industry who would like to volunteer on the build, and from SEMA-member companies that would like support the build through parts donations. 

The project will begin in June in Southern California, where women will modify all aspects of a Ford Bronco 4-door Wildtrak provided by Bronco Brand, Ford’s outdoor brand of Built Wild and only-4x4 vehicles.  

Applications are being accepted from females in the automotive industry who would like to volunteer on the build, and from SEMA-member companies that would like support the build through parts donations.   

Learn more and get involved by visiting the online application. An email will be sent to all volunteers shortly to notify them of more details regarding each task force’s responsibilities and time commitments.

Women will modify all aspects of the vehicle, including the engine, chassis, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint, before it is showcased at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.  

By Ashley Reyes

As part of its commitment to helping automotive aftermarket engineers, programmers and product developers work and adapt to new vehicle technology, the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) is hosting a brand new four-day event filled with in-depth training and quality meetings related to everything from ADAS to emissions, and CNC equipment to 3-D printing, as well as the suspension lifecycle.

Taking place August 16–19 at new SEMA Garage in Detroit, the ETTN Networking, Education, Resources, Development (N.E.R.D.) Symposium will connect engineers with product and service providers in one-on-one meetings, include in-depth education sessions and offer meaningful opportunities to meet with other engineers who share common concerns and challenges.

“The ETTN N.E.R.D. Symposium is a hyper-focused event for engineers who want to be on the forefront of the industry’s advanced vehicle technology,” said ETTN Director Nicole Bradle. “This event will provide hands-on education and networking for engineers to gain deeper knowledge on products relevant to their line of work. Attendees will also benefit from having dedicated time to talk to providers in the industry, which they normally do not have access to at any other event.”

Participants will attend the SEMA Garage Detroit Grand Opening celebration, where they will receive a private tour of the new facility and discover what new resources will be available.

Engineers, programmers, product developers and product and service providers interested in attending the event can learn more and register here by July 22.

By Ashley Reyes

With electric vehicles gaining momentum, there is vast opportunity for automotive aftermarket companies to capitalize on the EV market. Most major OEMs have already announced significant plans to convert the majority of their current fleet over to electric power, and each year they add new EV models to their lineup.

To provide automotive aftermarket companies the foundational knowledge to grow and evolve their business to meet the needs of EV consumers, SEMA will host a live webinar on the key components of an EV powertrain on May 25, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Attendees will learn the functions of each EV powertrain component and how batteries, motors, charging and other technology are evolving during the live webinar with Brent Dreher, NVH/durability manager at Faraday Future—a California-based global shared intelligent mobility ecosystem company. Dreher will answer participant questions live.

Register here.

SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2022 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block.

Making hotel reservations in the Block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

A number of non-casino properties, such as Vdara, are offering discounted rates for SEMA Show guests.

All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show Block come with a low-price guarantee. To help ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay, or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the the most affordable price available.

The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are more than 45 hotels available in the block. For more information on the hotels listed below, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

Looking for a quiet, no-frills hotel stay? There are a number of non-casino properties that are offering discounted rates for SEMA Show guests.

Check these out and book today:

• Courtyard Las Vegas Convention Center - $290 per night
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Convention Center Las Vegas $298 - per night
• Hilton Grand Vacations Flamingo - $282 per night
• Hilton Grand Vacations on Paradise (Convention Center) - $281 per night
• Hilton Grand Vacations Club on Strip $225 per night
• Las Vegas Marriott - $309 per night
• Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel - $314 per night
• Residence Inn Las Vegas Convention Center by Marriott - $279 per night
• Spring Hill Suites Las Vegas Convention Center - $299 per night
• Trump - $234     per night
• Vdara - $238 per night
• Westin - $223 per night

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2022 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.