By Richard Hail

The 2021 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition received more than 240 applications this year from vehicle builders vying for the top title in the prestigious contest. The exclusive competition is open to builders with vehicles displayed at the 2021 SEMA Show.

After a one-year hiatus from Las Vegas, the SEMA Battle of the Builders returns to the SEMA Show being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, November 2-5. The competition serves as the focal point for a nationwide television special and provides builders and exhibitors with increased brand awareness.

“There is pent-up demand to reconnect at the SEMA Show, which is evident through the strong participation we are seeing in the SEMA Battle of the Builders,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “It will be great to see the amazing vehicles and hear the stories behind the builds at this year’s SEMA Show.”

SEMA has once again chosen to air the Battle of the Builders television special on A+E Networks’ FYI and HISTORY’s DRIVE block. Judging this year’s competition are Cam Miller, 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders winner; Jeremiah Proffitt, a Top 12 finalist from the 2018 program; RJ DeVera from Meguiar’s; and Kyle Kuhnhausen, who placed first in the Young Guns category in 2018. The four judges will select the top builders in the hot-rod, truck/off-road, sport compact, and “Young Guns,” categories, which represents builders aged 27 or younger.

The 40 finalists will be announced Tuesday, November 2, followed by the Top 12 finalists who will be announced on Wednesday, November 3. The 12 remaining competitors will then take on judging duties to determine the ultimate winner who will be announced prior to SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party held on November 5.

For more information about the 2021 Battle of the Builders competition and to see behind-the-scenes footage and interviews of some of this year's contestants, visit www.semabotb.com or SEMA's YouTube channel. For tickets to SEMA Ignited, visit www.semaignited.com.

By Juan Torres

Details on more vehicles that media will see at the SEMA Show Vehicle Reveal are now available. Taking place Monday, November 1, from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.—the evening before the SEMA Show officially opens—the Vehicle Reveal teases about a dozen high-profile projects and gives participants an idea as to the innovation that will be on display at the exclusive business-to-business trade show.

The Nissan Z Proto Spec model includes a special Ikazuchi Yellow Pearl exterior, bronze-colored 19-in. RAYS aluminum-alloy wheels, and exclusive leather-appointed seats with yellow accents.

Rolling onto a red-carpet stage will be a ’53 Corvette-inspired carbon-fiber concept car designed by Dave Kindig. The car, one of many that Kindig will bring to the 2021 SEMA Show, includes a complete custom carbon-fiber body by Doug’s Performance, a custom Roadster Shop chassis, Lingenfelter Performance LS7 engine, custom Modern Classikk paint and a slew of other modifications. These carbon-fiber Corvettes will be available to purchase, and details will be available at its booth (#81080).

Also at the Vehicle Reveal, Nissan will showcase its iconic Z. The automaker is marking the return of the sports car with the arrival this spring of the ’23 model. Powered by a 400hp 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with standard six-speed manual transmission, the all-new Nissan Z is an enthusiast’s dream. One special edition is available, the Z Proto Spec. Limited to just 240 units in the United States, the Proto Spec model includes a special Ikazuchi Yellow Pearl exterior, bronze-colored 19-in. RAYS aluminum-alloy wheels, and exclusive leather-appointed seats with yellow accents.
 

The most iconic ’57 Chevy of all time, Project X is currently undergoing major surgery and will roll out as a transformed vehicle on Monday evening, before making its way to the General Motors booth (#23842) during SEMA Show week.

Another vehicle that will be at the Monday evening Vehicle Reveal is the famous ’57 Chevy 210 Sedan known as Project X. The most iconic ’57 Chevy of all time, Project X is currently undergoing major surgery and will roll out as a transformed vehicle on Monday evening, before making its way to the General Motors booth (#23842) during SEMA Show week.

The SEMA Show Vehicle Reveal takes place in conjunction with the Exhibitor Appreciation Reception, where exhibitors relax before launching into four consecutive days of meeting face-to-face with resellers, distributors and media from the worldwide automotive industry. Exhibitors will fill the 2.5 million sq.-ft. Las Vegas Convention Center with displays and in-person demonstrations of new products designed to enhance the performance, styling, comfort, convenience and safety of cars, trucks and SUVs. The 2021 SEMA Show, which marks the first industry-wide, in-person gathering since 2019, will include more than 1,300 exhibitors and 40,000 registered buyers to date.

For more information about the November 2–5, 2021, SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Team Vesco and reVolt Systems joined forces to set a new national speed record for an electric vehicle earlier this year. The feat was accomplished by loading 1,152 prismatic lithium-ion batteries and a pair of modified Tesla motors into Team Vesco’s 444 Little Giant streamliner. The streamliner traveled an average of 353 mph over two runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats, 12 mph faster than the current World Record (although the runs occurred over a 24-hour period rather than a one-hour period required for an official world record).

The streamliner will be on display at Booth #12475 as part of SEMA Electrified (LVCC North Hall). Click here to watch the record run.

The streamliner was driven by New York City resident Eric Ritter. Rockville, Utah-based Team Vesco led by Rick Vesco are pioneers in the field of automotive and motorcycle racing. Oceanside, CA’s reVolt Systems is founded by Eddy Borysewicz. American Track Roadster’s Greg Peek and engineer Trenton Wonsley helped design and build the vehicle’s complex powertrain. Other contributors were Al Vershave of AVS Fabrication, Jon Amo of Gates Belts, Nick Katrov of NDK Paragon, Andrew Char, Gregg Snow and Louise Noeth.

For more information, visit the Team Vesco website.  

By Juan Torres

SEMA has announced that the Chip Foose collection will be on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November, which will be the largest gathering of Foose-built vehicles ever assembled. The Chip Foose Experience exhibit, located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, will feature 20 of Foose’s most iconic restomods and completely unique creations, as well as 60 of his design sketches.
 

Chip Foose’s “Impression” won a Ridler Award.

Highlights include the ’56 Ford F-100 “FD-100” built for Foose’s “Overhaulin’” television series and the “0032,” which won the Grand National Roadster Show’s “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” award in 2000. It will also feature several Ridler Award-winning builds, including “Impression,” “Imposter,” “Grandmaster” and “Stallion.”
 

Foose’s “0032” won the Grand National Roadster Show’s “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” award in 2000.

Throughout the week of the SEMA Show, Chip Foose himself will be in the Chip Foose Experience area hand-drawing a new wheel design. Show attendees are invited to stop by and witness Foose create the design, as well as see the following Chip Foose-designed cars on display:

• Foose Design “FD-100” (“Overhaulin’” build)
• “Impression” (Ridler winner)
• “Imposter” (Ridler winner)
• “Hemisfear” (Handmade original Foose design)
• “P-32”
• ’32 Ford Roadster “0032” (2000 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster winner)
• ’33 Ford Speed 33 “Keystone Coupe”
• ’69 Chevy Camaro owned by Kevin Mayberry
• ’39 Cadillac 60 Special “Madam X”
• ’35 Chevrolet Master “Grandmaster” (Ridler winner)
• ’32 Ford 5-Window Coupe
• ’32 Muroc Roadster “Magnatude”
• ’34 Ford Coupe “Stallion” (Ridler winner)
• ’48 Cadillac “EldoRod”
• ’35 Chevrolet Phaeton “The Black Bow Tie” owned by Wes Rydell
• ’54 Plymouth Belvedere “Sniper”
• ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air “Boyd Air”
• ’74 Jaguar E-Type Roadster (Battle of the Builder category winner)
• ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air Restomod built for Mike Malone
• ’67 C10 “C/28” will be on display in the Wheel Pros booth

For more information about SEMA exhibits or to register to attend the 2021 SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com.

By Della Domingo

The SEMA Show offers exhibitors more than an opportunity to introduce their products to buyers; exhibitors can also benefit from the thousands of credentialed media attending the SEMA Show who are seeking content for their magazines, newspapers, videos, blogs and social media posts.

Participating in the New Products Showcase is a great way to generate media coverage for new and featured products.

Getting the attention of reporters at the Show can be challenging, but a good media strategy, along with a well-executed trade-show plan, can generate increased product awareness and lead to profitable sales.

Of course, every exhibitor is unique, and results will vary from company to company. Nevertheless, key strategies for SEMA Show exhibitors to connect with media at the Show include:

• Visit exhibiting media: Exhibiting media come to the four-day event to obtain content for their outlets, conduct interviews and meet with businesses on the Show floor. Companies that have newsworthy stories to share or that want to obtain media coverage and increase brand awareness are invited to visit with exhibiting media during the SEMA Show. You can find exhibiting media here:

1. ABRN | PTEN, Booth #35078
2. Autotrader Classics, Booth #11419
3. BodyShop Business, Booth #34041
4. Collision Repair Magazine, Booth #34233
5. Drive on History and FYI, Booth #81055
6. Engaged Media, Booth #23097
7. Grassroots Motorsports, Booth #22819
8. Hard Media Inc., Booth #21206
9. Hemmings Motor News, Booth #23677
10. In The Garage Media, Booth #11344
11. Modern Tire Dealer, Booth #41086
12. MotorTrend Group, Booth #81059
13. PASMAG’s Tuning 365 + Tuner Battlegrounds, Booth #22827
14. Power Automedia, Booth #20567
15. RacingJunk.com, Booth #24629
16. THE SHOP Magazine, Booth #22723
17. Tire Business, Booth #43079
18. Tire Review, Booth #43078
19. Window Film Magazine / PPFMag, Booth #54074

• Post press releases in the SEMA Show Online Media Center: By posting news releases in the SEMA Show Online Media Center, you ensure that reporters looking for Show-related news do not miss out on your story. Posting to the Online Media Center can also generate coverage from SEMA’s publications and social media outlets. Post your release today.
• Create press materials: Knowing that thousands of media outlets will be at the SEMA Show, develop materials that are geared to media rather than sales sheets. In addition to having press materials available to reporters in the booth, exhibitors are able to place press kits and releases in the official SEMA Show Media Center in room S219 at no cost.
• Share your news: The SEMA PR team is often contacted by individual reporters interested in breaking news, interactive booths, news announcements and interesting stories. The team invites exhibitors to share your stories with us, even if you don’t have a release to post on the Online Media Center. We may share the information with media when they contact us for stories they are working on. Send an email to pr@sema.org with your latest news, stories and contact information.
• Enter the New Products Showcase: In addition to showcasing products in a high-traffic area of the SEMA Show, participating in the New Products Showcase is a great way to generate media coverage for new and featured products. All exhibitors can enter a qualified product for free and have the product professionally photographed. The photos are used in SEMA publications and sent to media, who use the images in their coverage promoting the best new products from the SEMA Show. Enter the New Products Showcase here.

To learn more about all of the PR opportunities available for exhibitors, contact SEMA PR at pr@sema.org.

By Ashley Reyes

To raise awareness of vehicle accessorization for new-model cars and trucks, seven automotive restyling companies will debut one-of-a-kind accessory packages to be recognized and voted on by the industry at the 2021 SEMA Show.

This ’22 Volkswagen Atlas features a full satin-blue wrap with interior accents and custom Wheel Pros 21-in. wheels.

As part of the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Cup Challenge, restylers are tasked with creating packages for new-model vehicles that can be modified quickly and easily. Each vehicle features an affordable, easy-to-replicate package that is profitable to both the restyler and dealer and provides restylers with creative package ideas to offer in their respective markets.

Among the seven vehicles in the competition is a ’22 Volkswagen Atlas that will be customized with:

• A full satin-blue wrap with interior accents
• Custom Wheel Pros 21-in. wheels
• Rosen electronics dual rear-seat tablets
• Lowering springs

Other vehicles competing in the PRO Cup Challenge include: Automotive Concepts, ‘21 Ford Bronco; Auto Image, ’21 Ford 150; On the Rocks 4x4, ’21 Chevrolet Silverado; Integrity Customs, ‘21 Jeep Gladiator; City Kia/Vaccar Co., ’21 Kia Sorento; and Crush Customs, ‘21 Kia Telluride.

All seven competitors will be graded on build marketability, ease of reproduction, creativity and profitability by a panel of judges, while all Show attendees will have opportunity to vote for their “Fan Favorite” at the PRO booth #51085 until 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 3. The winner of the Fan Favorite and PRO Cup Challenge will be announced Wednesday during the PRO Booth Happy Hour from 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

To learn more about the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), visit www.sema.org/pro.

Toyota will bring six ’22 Toyota Tundras, each with a different trim combination, to the SEMA Garage (link) in Diamond Bar, California, for SEMA members to have a close-up look with the newly designed trucks.

The Toyota Tundra Measuring Session at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, is scheduled for November 15-19.

The ’22 Toyota Tundra trim levels are:

• Double Cab Limited – 6.5-ft. Bed – 2WD
• CrewMax SR5 – 5.5-ft. Bed – 4WD
• Crew Max Platinum – 6.5-ft. bed – 2WD
• Crew Max 1794 – 6.5-ft. bed – 4WD
• Limited CrewMax Limited – 5.5-ft. bed – 2WD
• Double Cab SR5 – 6.5-ft. Bed – 4WD

Toyota technicians will be on-site to provide disassembly of selective components.

Event Dates: November 15–19, 2021

Register here!

Please note that this will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, this event will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time-limited and subject to approval by availability.

*All registered attendees will be required to an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves, as well as practice social distancing during their appointment.

By Ashley Reyes

Sean Crary has been named the SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance’s (TORA) newest spotlight volunteer. Crary is the business development manager at ZEDER Corp., a merged entity of Fulcrum Suspensions & Redranger—a manufacturer of automotive polyurethane bushings and related accessories.

Get to know Crary in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: Why did you decide to volunteer for TORA? How has it or will it impact you?

Sean Crary: After spending more than 20 exciting years in this industry, I felt like it was time to give back and help someone else's fire—like my mentors have done for me.

SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?

SC: Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the ride. Don't be in a hurry to get to the next destination, but rather, enjoy the scenery along the way.

SEMA: What is your dream truck or off-road vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend?

SC: Knock on wood. I think I have it at the moment. My ’21 Toyota 4Runner has been a blast. It is so capable with very few modifications. Fun for the family but still able to tackle most trails with ease.

Fill out an TORA-member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the truck and off-road specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on TORA’s social media, SEMA eNews and future TORA member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

The 2021 Industry Cup Challenge, along with contributions from more than 100 companies, on-site donations at the SEMA Installation Gala, and a direct match from SEMA helped to bring in nearly $115,000 for SEMA Cares, the industry’s united voice and collective fundraising effort to support children’s charities.  

Companies compete in the Industry Cup Challenge in categories based on business type. Following, are the first-place winners in each category:   

• Manufacturer: WARN Industries 
• Warehouse Distributor: Turn 14  
• Rep Agency: Kunzman & Associates  
• Service Provider: Auto Image
• Media: Motor Trend

As all five first-place category winners competed among themselves, WARN placed first overall, earning the company the title as the 2021 Industry Cup Winner.  

Money raised from more than 40 Industry Cup competitors helped fight pediatric cancer through the Austin Hatcher Foundation, child abuse through Childhelp and children with serious medical conditions and serious illnesses through Victory Junction.

To learn more about SEMA Cares and how to support the industry’s fundraising efforts, visit www.sema.org/sema-cares.

By Della Domingo

Featuring a combination of star-studded celebrities, iconic and historic vehicles and brand-new builds featuring modern amenities, the SEMA Show Vehicle Reveal will provide media with an advance preview of the vehicles that will be showcased at the exclusive four-day SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Taking place Monday, Nov. 1, from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.—the evening before the SEMA Show officially opens—the Vehicle Reveal teases about a dozen high-profile projects and gives participants an idea as to the innovation that will be on display at the exclusive business-to-business trade show.

“With two years’ worth of innovation, the SEMA Show is going to be jam-packed with excitement,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “We never know what we’ll see at the SEMA Show until we get on the Show floor. The Monday evening Vehicle Reveal is a unique opportunity for media to get a jump on some of the vehicles and news that will be debuting.”

Ant Anstead will share a Radford Lotus Type 62/2 Gold Leaf car built in collaboration with Jenson Button at the SEMA Show Vehicle Reveal.

During the Vehicle Reveal, the SEMA Awards will be presented to recognize the hottest new vehicle models on the market for personalization. Awards are presented annually in categories for SEMA Car, SEMA 4x4/SUV, SEMA Sport Compact, and SEMA Full-Size Truck of the Year. New this year will be an award for SEMA Mid-Size Truck of the Year.

Representatives from winning automakers, who collaborate with the SEMA and its members throughout the year, will be on-site to accept the prestigious awards.

Among the celebrities at the Vehicle Reveal will be Ant Anstead, host of “Celebrity IOU: Joyride.” Anstead will showcase and share details about some of his favorite vehicle builds, including a custom ’62 Buick that has been converted into an electric car in collaboration with American actor James Marsden as a gift to his deserving friend, Will. The project is what Anstead describes as the most ambitious EV build; it maintains the appearance of a classic American car, but operates as a state-of-the-art bespoke electric vehicle with carbon-fiber parts and a brand-new Karma Revero concealed underneath.

Anstead will share another modern classic at the SEMA Show Vehicle Reveal: A Radford Lotus Type 62/2 Gold Leaf car built in collaboration with Jenson Button, 2009 Formula One World Champion and Super GT Series Champion. The coach-built car marks the return of the iconic Radford vehicles from the ’40s and ’50s. Anstead and Button will road trip in the Type 62/2 to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where they will be on hand to share details about the production of this model.

Other vehicles that will make their way down the red carpet-style runway include the new ’23 Nissan Z, a ’53 Corvette-inspired carbon-fiber concept car by Dave Kindig and some surprises from GM.

The SEMA Show Vehicle Reveal takes place in conjunction with the Exhibitor Appreciation Reception, where exhibitors relax before launching into four consecutive days of meeting face-to-face with resellers, distributors and media from the worldwide automotive industry. Exhibitors will fill the 2.5 million sq.-ft. Las Vegas Convention Center with displays and in-person demonstrations of new products designed to enhance the performance, styling, comfort, convenience and safety of cars, trucks and SUVs. The 2021 SEMA Show, which marks the first industry-wide, in-person gathering since 2019, will include more than 1,300 exhibitors and 40,000 registered buyers to date.

For more information about the November 2–5, 2021 SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com.