Compiled by SEMA Editors

Eddie Motorsports Hires Larry Ashley as Operations Manager

Eddie Motorsports has announced a new addition to the team. Larry Ashley, new operations manager, joined the team August 2. He brings more than 33 years of professional experience in the automotive aftermarket, having worked in key management positions at various companies that have revolutionized certain areas of the aftermarket. Some recognizable brands include California Custom USA, American Products Co., TMI Products and most recently POL Performance Online.

Pep Boys Awards $100,000 in Scholarships to 15 Aspiring Automotive Technicians Across the United States

Pep Boys has announced the 15 recipients of its annual Find Your Drive $100,000 scholarship program. The company increased its investment during this 100th year in business to $100,000 to celebrate its centennial and continue its emphasis of the critical “Race to 2026” initiative—a program designed to recruit and support the talented technicians in the automotive industry and close America’s skills gap. The 2021 scholarship winners will have a special opportunity to participate and be recognized during the #PepBoysRoadTrip—a custom Pep Boys-branded bus that is traveling across the country and visiting the communities the company serves.

This year’s scholarship program included five $10,000 scholarships to qualified students studying to become professional automotive technicians in major metro areas: Houston; Los Angeles; Orlando; Philadelphia; and Caguas, Puerto Rico. Students receiving $10,000 scholarships for the 2021–22 academic year are:

• Valentin Davy, Miami, Florida – Universal Technical Institute, Orlando, Florida
• Jonathan Cotto, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico – Mech-Tech College Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Eli Alvarez, Hutto, Texas – Texas State Technical College, Waco, Texas
• Julien Vargas, Lehighton, Pennsylvania – Universal Technical Institute, Exton, Pennsylvania
• Cecilia Ledesma, El Monte, California – Rio Hondo College, Whittier, California

The additional 10 $5,000 scholarships were awarded to qualified students in other areas of the United States. Students receiving $5,000 scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year are:

• John Paul Jansen, Bellevue, Nebraska – Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
• Kasey Tarantino, Pennsburg, Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
• Hannah Armstrong, Shamrock, Texas – Universal Technical Institute, Irving, Texas
• Esperanza Murguia, San Dimas, California – Universal Technical Institute, Avondale, Arizona
• Daniel Gorski, Chicago, Illinois – Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois
• Mark Jones, Mountainside, New Jersey– Ohio Technical College, Cleveland, Ohio
• Erick Poole, Waukegan, Illinois – Lincoln Technical Institute, Melrose Park, Illinois
• Nicail Andres Ruiz Alcaide, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Mech-Tech College, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Derek Deddo, Midlothian, Illinois – Lincoln Technical Institute, Melrose Park, Illinois
• Zachariah Riehle, Milan, Indiana – University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio

This year, the Find Your Drive scholarship committee also reviewed applications and selected winners from among those who had applied through the University of the Aftermarket Foundation—a non-profit organization that helps provide funding and helps facilitate scholarships within the aftermarket for students pursuing an automotive technician degree or certification. The annual scholarship program is part of Pep Boys’ “Race to 2026” initiative that aims to increase the number of trained technicians and help fill an industry-wide talent gap projected to grow to 46,000 over the next five years.

Amna Shahzadi Newest Member of Eleven Engineering R&D Design Team

Eleven Engineering Inc. has announced that Amna Shahzadi is now the newest member of the company’s growing research and development design team. Shahzadi has a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alberta.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

Here’s the ’22 Expedition in light camo, but with a twist. This prototype features twin exhaust tips, 22-in. rims and red calipers. Could this be our first look at an Expedition ST?

When you have a look at the Ford lineup, you’ll notice that other than the Mustang and Mustang Mach-E, the only other vehicles to brandish red calipers are the Explorer ST and the Edge ST. It appears that Ford might apply the same technique with ST as they did with the King Ranch and Timberline, which is copy and paste to any vehicle that starts with “Ex.”

If this Expedition does make it to market as an ST, power is expected to sit somewhere between 450–475 hp and be mated to a 10-speed automatic. This boost in power would easily give the Expedition ST a 0–60 in the five-second range.

Expect an official Expedition debut in the coming months with what appears to be a heavily revised lineup.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s the ’22 Expedition in light camo, but with a twist. This prototype features twin exhaust tips, 22-in. rims and red calipers. Could this be our first look at an Expedition ST?

When you have a look at the Ford lineup, you’ll notice that other than the Mustang and Mustang Mach-E, the only other vehicles to brandish red calipers are the Explorer ST and the Edge ST. It appears that Ford might apply the same technique with ST as they did with the King Ranch and Timberline, which is copy and paste to any vehicle that starts with “Ex.”

If this Expedition does make it to market as an ST, power is expected to sit somewhere between 450–475 hp and be mated to a 10-speed automatic. This boost in power would easily give the Expedition ST a 0–60 in the five-second range.

Expect an official Expedition debut in the coming months with what appears to be a heavily revised lineup.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The current digital issue of Off-Road Business magazine features unique vehicles that have been built for the back country. Other articles describe efforts by the Trails Preservation Alliance to preserve multiple-use access public lands in the West, and tips on how to organize trail clean-ups.

View the magazine.

By SEMA Editors

Showgoers booking through onPeak—the SEMA Show housing partner—receive guaranteed low rates on a wide range of hotel properties at locations on and off the Las Vegas Strip.

onPeak not only offers discounted nightly rates for SEMA Show participants, but also offers reduced resort fees so you can save even more on your stay.

Driving to the Show? See the list below for hotels offering free parking during the Show and book through onPeak to secure your stay.

When making your hotel reservations through the SEMA Show Travel & Lodging page, you are receiving the most affordable and convenient hotel options through our partnership with onPeak—the only official hotel provider for the 2021 SEMA Show. All negotiated rates provided by onPeak include resort fees and will allow you to change or cancel your reservation without any financial penalties.

More information about the SEMA Show, Tuesday–Friday, November 2–5, is available on www.SEMAShow.com.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a study that concludes the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) should receive nearly $300 million annually, rather than the $84 million currently allocated from its portion of federal gas tax receipts. The amount is based on an analysis of fuel used for non-highway recreation from the $.18-per-gallon federal taxes collected at the pump.

The U.S. Congress directed the FHWA to conduct the study so that the revenues can be adjusted. RTP funds are used to construct and maintain trails for all types of activities, including motorized, non-motorized and mixed-use trails (off-roading, snowmobiling, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, etc.).

SEMA is urging Congress to adjust RTP revenues as it considers legislation to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. SEMA also supports a stand-alone bill, H.R. 1864, Recreational Trails Full Funding Act of 2021, that would increase RTP funding to the FHWA study amount.

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will now allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. The SBA portal is designed to streamline the process and remove pressure from small lenders to handle forgiveness applications as the SBA looks to wind down the PPP loan program.

Banks responsible for originating the PPP loans must opt into direct forgiveness before their borrowers can use the SBA’s online platform. Currently, more than 500 banks have opted in and allowed their borrowers to apply for forgiveness through the SBA portal, which began accepting applications on August 4.

The deadline for seeking PPP loans ended May 31, but recipients are now seeking loan forgiveness for funds used to cover payroll, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and other costs. Loans are fully forgivable if at least 60% of loan proceeds are used on payroll costs (i.e., wages, payroll taxes, paid leave, healthcare payments, retirement and insurance contributions).

Register and apply for SBA direct forgiveness.

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, will host a Measuring Session for the ’22 Ford Maverick, August 9–12.

The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with the Ford’s all-new truck.

This Measuring Session will feature two different Maverick trim levels –

XLT

• Front-wheel drive
• 2.5L full hybrid engine
• CVT drivetrain

Lariat

• All-wheel drive
• 2.0L EcoBoost engine
• FX4 Off-Road Package
• Eight-speed automatic transmission

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 undergo an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves and practice social distancing during their appointment.

Register now!

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with American Honda Motor Co., the SEMA Garage will host a Measuring Session for the ’22 Honda Civic, August 16–20. The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with the all-new Civic sedan, which features:

• Touring Trim.
• 1.5L direct-injection turbo-charged four-cylinder engine.
• CVT drivetrain.
• Standard ADAS Honda SENSING technology.

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 undergo an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves and practice social distancing during their appointment.

Register now!

  By SEMA Editors

Exhibiting at the SEMA Show and entering at least one product in the New Products Showcase puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry. The best part: the first product you enter is free!

Entry Fees:

• The first product entered in one category in the New Products Showcase is FREE!
• Additional $75 per product category before October 8.
• After October 8, the cost is $150 per entry.
• No refunds provided after October 8.
• Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space availability basis.

Enter your new products now!

For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.