By Ashley Reyes

Wendy Miles of THE SHOP magazine is no stranger to working on multiple passion projects at once. In fact, when it comes to long and diverse resumes, Miles will jokingly ask people if they would like to see hers in paperback or hardcover.

She will join the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) for a Facebook and Instagram live chat on Wednesday, May 4, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT), to share tips on “Balancing Striving to Be the Best at What You Do While Avoiding Burnout.”

In addition to her job responsibilities as eastern territory sales manager at THE SHOP, Miles is a select committee member with SEMA’s Truck& Off-Road Alliance (TORA), has served on the board of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) and helped start the National Trail Clean Up Day to emphasize the importance of trail maintenance and stewardship. Miles also takes Automotive Service Excellence courses at her local community college, and as a military veteran she enjoys volunteering with The Mission Continues and Team Rubicon.

During the live Q&A, viewers will get an opportunity to ask Miles questions, learn tips from her own experience on how to avoid burnout following one’s passion and join in on a lively discussion with other attendees on how to control stress and enjoy a healthy and successful career.

Live Chat Location: SBN Facebook page and SBN Instagram live (@sbn_sema)

By Ashley Reyes

Emerging entrepreneurs and innovators of new automotive products are invited to enter their companies and brand-new inventions through the 2022 SEMA Launch Pad competition at www.sema.org/launchpad.  

Dustin Woolf, owner, Woolfpack Racing, won the 2021 SEMA Launch Pad competition with his product, Natural Nitrous.

SEMA Launch Pad is a premier product-pitching competition for budding entrepreneurs in the automotive aftermarket industry. Through the program, selected applicants will be hand-picked to receive brand exposure, access to business resources and the chance to win a grand-prize package valued at $92,000 to launch their product or service into the marketplace.

“The automotive aftermarket is comprised of countless entrepreneurs who are extremely passionate in creating new products and providing solutions for enthusiastic car owners who love to modify, maintain, restore or personalize their vehicles,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing. “SEMA Launch Pad helps bring these emerging inventors to the forefront by providing a platform for them to potentially take their new creations to the next level.”

Fifteen semifinalists will be selected in June to participate in the first round of pitching and be invited to exhibit at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November. The top five finalists will pitch their products to a panel of industry judges during the SEMA Show, where a final winner will be selected.

SEMA Launch Pad is open to business owners or company-leading executives (president, CEO, CFO, COO or vice president) over the age of 18. Applicants must offer a product or service that is a functioning prototype, functioning concept or currently for sale.

Applications to participate in SEMA Launch Pad must be submitted online at www.sema.org/launchpad by June 13, 2022.

Audi is working on an all-electric A6, which is expected to be called the A6 E-tron, and it is even set to be offered in a wagon body style. The latter has been teased in concept a couple weeks ago, but our spy photographers have now caught the production version of the sedan on the German Nürburgring race track.

While this is only the second sighting of a prototype, it still reveals a few things despite being covered in camouflage. First, the headlights have an entirely different design from what can be seen on the A6 today. Instead of a single element headlight, the A6 E-tron prototype comes with split headlights.

The concept behind the A6 E-tron had a sleek look, and it was unveiled back in April 2021. It had a sloping roofline, as well as a fastback design for its rear, which will be interesting to see in production form.

If you look at the prototype, the model is impressively close to the concept if we consider shape alone, while the split headlight part is the biggest surprise in that department.

The upcoming Audi A6 E-tron is set to be built on the new PPE platform, which it will share with the future Porsche Macan EV, but also with the Q6 E-tron, not to mention other models from Audi and Porsche that we know nothing about today.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Rachel Tatum

Cody Medeisis (@cody342_/) will join SEMA Young Guns followers for an Instagram “Ask Me Anything” on Tuesday, May 3, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PDT).

Medeisis was the Young Guns division winner in the 2020 Battle of the Builders competition with his ’68 Camaro. This build was transformed for the dragstrip, featuring a 388ci LS engine outfitted with a Callies crankshaft, BoostLine connecting rods, JE pistons, Frankenstein Monster Series heads, Holley EFI, a Vortech V-7 YSi-B supercharger and a custom stainless-steel exhaust equipped with MagnaFlow mufflers and Granatelli Motorsports exhaust cutouts, producing an estimated 900 hp. Medeisis is currently working on a ’94 S10 rebuild.

Join us for this very special Ask Me Anything to learn what it’s like to compete—and win—in the Young Guns division for SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. SEMA continues to actively recruit automotive influencers for the SEMA Social Media Correspondent program. Apply now to be considered.

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Motorsports Technician
Canepa is hiring a motorsports technician with a broad knowledge base of all mechanical aspects of a vehicle, from suspension and brakes to engine and transmission. Candidates must be highly versatile with superior skills and be able to produce work of the highest quality. Exceptional diagnostic ability along with race preparation experience and the ability to work individually as well as part of a multifunctional team are required.

Regional Sales Manager
LIQUI MOLY USA currently seeks a regional sales manager for the Central Ohio region assignment of Columbus/Cleveland/Cincinnati. Occasional travel will be required. In this position, you will take an active part in the successful growth of the company.  Throughout this region, you will be responsible for sales growth, marketing efforts and business expansion. Candidates must have a minimum of five years experience in field sales management (preferably in lubricant products or the automotive aftermarket).

Sales and Marketing Manager
Bed Wood and Parts is hiring an experienced sales and marketing manager with a proven history of driving positive change in these areas of the organization and will contribute to Bed Wood’s success by creating new sales opportunities and revenue growth in the restoration, classic and late-model truck segment of the automotive aftermarket. The sales and marketing manager’s responsibilities include day-to-day sales and supervisory activities, creating engaging advertisements and marketing campaigns, emails and promotional literature, and working with third-party advertising firms to achieve the company’s sales and marketing goals.

By SEMA Editors

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

For the first time in SEMA Garage history, the team hosted a measuring session featuring an electric vehicle: the F-150 Lightning. Luis Morales, Director Of Vehicle Technology talks us through it.

Excitement for the 2022 SEMA Show is ramping as exhibitors prepare to select their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, May 2–18. Show officials will use the weeks-long process to begin building this year’s floorplan. With more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed, enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to be stronger than last year as “confirmed spaces are running 25% above 2021” explained Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.

Among the exhibiting companies at the 2022 SEMA Show are several automakers that will return with expanded activations and a bigger presence at the world’s leading automotive trade show. OEMs rely on the SEMA Show each year to introduce concepts, showcase custom builds and launch new accessory products that not only enhance their production vehicles but also provide solutions for enthusiastic car owners who love to personalize their automobiles.

“The SEMA Show is the prefect venue for OEMs to showcase their vehicle lineups and accessories to tens of thousands of qualified buyers who are looking for the latest products and trends,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA Show attendees look forward to connecting with the OEMs and learning about the products that are available to help their customers modify their rides.”

Numerous OEMs, including Chevrolet, Hummer, GMC, Toyota, Lexus and Nissan are returning to the 2022 SEMA Show with larger exhibitor displays that will not only provide more space to enrich their activations on the Show floor but also help enhance their exposure. They will be joined by Stellantis and a new OEM exhibitor in Volkswagen, who will use their booth space to showcase their vehicles and complimentary aftermarket accessories to Show attendees for the first time.

Due to a change in corporate strategy, Ford and Honda will not be displaying at the 2022 SEMA Show. We appreciate their long-time support, and while many of us are going to miss their participation at this year’s Show, we are excited to see the Show take on a new look in Central Hall. SEMA will continue to collaborate with both Ford and Honda on various SEMA programs, such as Tech Transfer and Measuring Sessions in 2022 and beyond.

The 2022 SEMA Show, held November 1-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will build on the success of last year’s event, which was the largest automotive trade show in North American since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.

“Our industry thrived in the face of the pandemic and continues to grow despite current challenges in the marketplace,” said Gattuso. “Last year’s SEMA Show showcased the resiliency of our industry, which was eager to connect in person after two years apart. Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”

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, backed by the official housing partner OnPeak, provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

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.

• Aria
• Bally's Las Vegas
• Bellagio
• Caesars Palace
• Circus Circus Hotel
• Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World
• Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
• Courtyard By Marriott (LVCC)
• Downtown Grand Las Vegas
• Elara By Hilton Grand Vacations – Center Strip
• Embassy Suites By Hilton Convention Center Las Vegas
• Encore At Wynn Las Vegas
• Excalibur
• Flamingo Las Vegas
• Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
• Harrah's Hotel and Casino Las Vegas
• Hilton Grand Vacations at the Flamingo
• Hilton Grand Vacations on Paradise (LVCC)
• Hilton Grand Vacations on the Las Vegas Strip
• Las Vegas Hilton At Resorts World
• Las Vegas Marriot
• Luxor
• MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
• Mirage
• New York-New York
• Oyo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
• Palace Station
• Paris Las Vegas
• Park MGM
• Planet Hollywood
• Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
• Residence Inn Las Vegas Convention Center By Marriott
• Sahara Las Vegas
• Springhill Suites By Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center
• The Cromwell
• The Linq Hotel
• The Palazzo
• The Signature At MGM Grand
• The Strat Hotel
• The Venetian
• Treasure Island
• Tropicana Las Vegas – A Doubletree By Hilton Hotel
• Trump International Hotel Las Vegas
• Vdara Hotel & Spa At Aria Las Vegas
• Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
• Westin
• Wynn Las Vegas

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

St. James, Paretta Launch Women In Motorsports North America

Seven-time Indy 500 driver and Automotive Hall of Fame inductee Lyn St. James and current IndyCar team owner Beth Paretta have announced the launch of the Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) organization.  

WIMNA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charity “that looks to foster mentorship, advocacy, education and growth to help ensure a successful and effective future for women in professional motorsports roles.”  

“Our strength is in our members and the breadth of their perspectives across many disciplines, including engineers, drivers, team management, PR/marketing, track operations, sponsor relations, and event promotions,” said Paretta.  

Resources include best practices at the race track, job listings and a recommended reading list. The WIMNA Mentorship Matters Program, meantime, is a monthly, fireside chat-style virtual discussion for industry members to interact with mentors and moderators. More details of the program and overall organization will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit womeninmotorsportsna.com.

Kenny Koretsky and Family Purchase Maple Grove Raceway

Veteran NHRA racer Kenny Koretsky and his family, including his sons Kenny Jr. and current Pro Stock driver Kyle, have purchased Maple Grove Raceway, located near Reading, Pennsylvania. The track has hosted NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events for nearly four decades and will host the opener to the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, September 15–18. Maple Grove also hosts regional racing throughout the season, including the upcoming NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional race on May 27–29. Koretsky, who won his first Pro Stock race in 2021 after making his class debut in 2020, discussed plans for several renovations to the facility, including general cleanup, landscaping, paving and upgrading the bathrooms, among more upgrades. For more information, visit maplegroveraceway.com.   

Paretta Autosport Announces Return to IndyCar, Partnership With Ed Carpenter Racing

The team plans to compete with its No. 16 Chevrolet-powered entry with driver Simona De Silvestro.

Paretta Autosport has announced its return to the NTT IndyCar Series and a new technical partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR). The team plans to compete with its No. 16 Chevrolet-powered entry with driver Simona De Silvestro at the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin) on June 12, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, Ohio) on July 3, and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on August 7 on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, Team Principal Beth Paretta said. Additional races may be added.

In addition, team owner Ed Carpenter—a three-time Indianapolis 500 pole sitter—will supply a car and crew members to augment the returning members of last year’s Indy 500 Paretta Autosport team. For more information, visit parettaautosport.com.

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