SEMA News—August 2021

PEOPLE

SEMA Announces New Board of Directors Members

By Mike Imlay

The SEMA Board of Directors is composed of industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by SEMA-member companies and reflect the trade association’s key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ representatives and services.

Member terms are staggered so that there is regular turnover in the Board’s composition. For the 2021 election cycle, there were 10 candidates running for six open seats, which included chair-elect, distributors/retailers, services, and manufacturers board positions. Online voting took place from May 11 through May 25 and was open to all current SEMA-member companies. Per SEMA bylaws, votes were cast by each company’s primary contact.

With the results tallied, SEMA announced that Kyle Fickler of Driven Racing Oil will become the chair-elect. In addition, Larry Montante of Keystone Automotive Operations and Steve Whipple of Jegs High Performance were elected to distributors/retailers seats; Kim Pendergast of Magnuson Superchargers and Brian Reese of Driven Lighting Group were elected to manufacturers seats; and Lindsay Hubley of Lodestone Events was elected to a services seat.

The entire Board of Directors is honored each July at the association’s Installation & Gala, which for 2021 takes place Friday, July 30, in the new West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. This year, outgoing Immediate Past Chair and Secretary Wade Kawasaki of Legendary Companies and Board members Donnie Eatherly of P&E Distributors, Dan Kahn of Kahn Media, and Brian Lounsberry of One 6 Motorsports also will be recognized for their service on the Board.

The following pages provide biographical information and statements from the newly elected Board members regarding the platforms they ran on, their views on issues confronting the industry, and their priorities for serving the association.

Chair-Elect

Kyle Fickler
Director of Sales & New Business Development
Driven Racing Oil

As SEMA Board chair-elect, I will work to maintain our right to modify our vehicles and have a place to enjoy them. This freedom can be restricted in many ways, but whether it is regulatory, legislative or societal, we need to act proactively as an industry to provide solutions. I bring SEMA members a unique perspective blended from the education of a licensed attorney, the unwavering commitment required of a business owner, and the hands-on passion demonstrated by a virtual lifetime of successful participation in motorsports and our industry.

I have served the last eight years on the SEMA Board of Directors and as SEMA treasurer, following six years as a select committee member and as chair of the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council. I’ve also served on numerous SEMA task forces and committees, including:

• SEMA Board Executive Committee
• SEMA Investment Committee
• SEMA Budget Committee (chair)
• PRI Advisory Committee
• SEMA Manufacturer of the Year Task Force (chair)
• SEMA Person of the Year Task Force
• SEMA Board Nominating Committee (chair and three-time member)
• SEMA Town Hall (host and three-time panelist)
• MPMC Rules of the Road (three-time panelist)
• MPMC Future of Performance (panelist)
• CBLC Liaison
• SEMA PAC President’s Club

Although I am a licensed attorney in Missouri and Montana, my best experience has been in service of three different industry-leading manufacturers dating back more than 25 years: director of business development for Aeromotive Inc.; vice president of sales and equity partner at Weld Racing LLC; and current director of sales and business development at Driven Racing Oil.

I am very active in motorsports, with an AHRA world championship and two NHRA national event wins to date. My wife and daughter also race, with Danika (my daughter) winning back-to-back races to start this season. When I’m not racing, you are likely to hear a story about our JK on a Badge of Honor trail. Like most gearheads, we also have plenty of projects (10) that need attention.

Our industry is what my family lives for, and I will be a capable and energetic leader serving our industry for the benefit of current and future generations.

Distributors/Retailers

Larry Montante
Vice President, Category Management
Keystone Automotive Operations

My name is Larry Montante, and I am excited to have the opportunity to serve the SEMA membership.

The market is changing, and it’s time for action with a fresh approach. I am a proven, innovative leader with 37 years of industry experience across many functions and channels, and I know the needs of the supplier, retailer and consumer.

Agenda: Leveraging my experience, passion for driving change and strategic nature, I will drive several impactful topics to be part of SEMA’s future plans.

• Preserve: Protect our industry by engaging in key legislative areas, understanding and managing market shifts that cause disruption, fostering the creative passion that drives our industry, and preparing for changes brought on by future vehicles and technologies.
• Grow: Expand our industry and increase consumer awareness, target youth markets and onboard new enthusiasts and consumers while developing plans to pursue adjacent markets.
• Engage: Drive more engagement from existing membership and grow membership; drive effectiveness and reach of SEMA communications; diversify SEMA’s influence beyond the SEMA Show and deliver more consumer reach through digital channels.

Experience:

Career: 37 years with Keystone Automotive. Well-versed in different business functions from my various leadership roles:

• Currently: vice president, category management.
• Previously: vice president, marketing; pricing and analytics director; category manager; buyer; salesperson; retail store associate; and warehouse associate, where I started my career at Keystone.

Industry: Served on the SEMA Show Committee, TORA, WTC and YEN. Hosted several SEMA events and served as an advisor to SEMA and member companies. Currently a Federated Group Executive Board member.

Accomplishments: Multiple SEMA WD of the Year Awards and more than 30 top customer awards. Launched more than 25 innovative programs, websites, loyalty programs, promotions, shows and publications. Led new brand, product and market launches. Graduate of the Wharton School Advanced Management Program.

At Work for You: As a hands-on driver of change, I will deliver fresh thinking to protect the future of our industry and promote growth.

Distributors/Retailers

Steve Whipple
Director of Private Label Sourcing
Jegs High Performance

The world has changed; undoubtedly, we won’t go back to where it was. It’s time for leadership to shape the industry of tomorrow: new thinking, new innovation, new motivation, new inspiration, new transparency and commitment—not the same old stuff. It’s not the same old world!

Passions

• Protect the Industry: Guard against being regulated out of business with unnecessary regulations and governmental overreach.
• Focus on the Future: Overcome the challenges in vehicle technology, including electric vehicles; successfully engaging the next generation of automotive enthusiasts, including customers and employees, to influence our great industry going forward.
• Provide a Passionate Voice for All SEMA Members: Whether you’re a manufacturer, a warehouse distributor, an industry service provider or a small shop fighting for your life, I will be your voice. I will serve the SEMA members passionately.

Leadership Experience

• Jegs Automotive, director of private brands–new markets (four months)
• Edelbrock, vice president, sales and marketing (21 years)
• Nitrous Oxide Systems (NOS), director, sales and marketing (two years)
• Super Shops, western states sales manager (22 years)
• 20+ years in performance core manufacturing
• 20+ years in performance distribution
• 40+ years in the performance industry

SEMA Service and Awards

• SEMA Board of Directors (three years)
• SEMA MPMC Select Committee (five years)
• SEMA WD of the Year Committee (five years)
• SEMA Rep of the Year Committee (three years)
• Attended the SEMA Washington Rally to meet with
• Congress in support of the RPM Act
• PWA 2015 Person of the Year
• SEMA MPMC 2016 and 2017 Chairman’s Award
• SEMA MPMC Hall of Fame

Personal Life

• Been married for 42 years to the same lady, Lisa.
• Have two great kids: Lindsey, 37, married to Christian; and Michael, 32, married to Kelly. I also have two “faultless” grandkids, Charlotte and Elliot.

Manufacturers

Kim Pendergast
CEO
Magnuson Superchargers

I’m Kim Pendergast, CEO and owner of Magnuson Superchargers and an entrepreneur with 44 years of experience in business and 15 years in the automotive aftermarket. Although new to the SEMA Board (replacing Dr. Jamie Meyer when he became president of PRI), I have experience on five boards in the automotive industry.

So why did I run for reelection? Simple: I believe it is critical that we protect our industry—my business and your business—from increasing attacks by the EPA and restrictive government regulations. I will be a voice in the boardroom, pushing for our industry—through SEMA—to mount an aggressive and effective response in Washington.

How? First, SEMA must grow its political action committee—and quickly. Next, SEMA must proactively and massively push back against the actions being taken against our industry through public awareness campaigns, grassroots efforts and organized, aggressive outreach campaigns at the local, state and national levels. Let them know who we are and why we are important!

As a business owner and manufacturer, I understand all too well the issues the industry is facing, and I want to address them head on. I promise to help SEMA be a strong industry advocate in Washington and make clear to America, to Congress and to regulators who we are and the immense popularity and size of our industry.

New technological trends such as electrification threaten to become political mandates. We must take the lead on these issues and make sure the aftermarket is not banned from playing a role in the future modification of vehicles.

I have been a member of SEMA since 2005 and a strong supporter of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). In 2018, I was honored with the SEMA SBN Athena Woman of the Year Award. I served as the SEMA chair of the 2017 Person of the Year Task Force as well as the 2018 Scholarship Committee.

As a Board member, I will fight for our companies and our industry as a whole.

Manufacturers

Brian Reese
President and CEO
Driven Lighting Group

With the honor of serving on the SEMA Board, my overarching commitment is to represent the best interests of all SEMA members. My focus will start with four objectives. First, keep our industry legal! Legislative threats must be met with increased proactive effort from SEMA, and I will push for that. Second, SEMA must look forward and prepare the industry for emerging trends and technology, such as vehicle electrification. I will drive SEMA to lead this charge. Third, I will push SEMA to market the thrills and excitement of the aftermarket in order to attract new enthusiasts and appeal as a career for talent so that we continue to be relevant and enticing to next generations. Finally, my door is always open—I welcome contact from the members who I am here to serve.

I bring broad and extensive experience, having worked my entire career for SEMA-member companies across several categories. Currently, I am the president, CEO and co-owner of Driven Lighting Group—the leader in aftermarket lighting. Previously, I was the president and CEO of Race Winning Brands (JE Pistons, Wiseco, Diamond Pistons, Trend, Dart, MGP, Rekluse, ProX and Manley). Prior to Race Winning Brands, I served as a vice president at Comp Performance Group, vice president at Craftsman and DieHard, and director at SLP Performance.

My SEMA volunteer experience spans more than 20 years, starting as a YEN member. I have served on three councils (SCC, SPC and ETTN), chaired two councils, was elected to the CBLC, served as a YEN Launch Pad judge, and served on several task forces and committees, including the SEMA Hall of Fame, Gen-III Innovator and SEMA Garage planning team. I have been honored with the GEN-III Innovator (2012) and YEN Vanguard (2020) awards.

I am a fanatical “car guy.” From motorcycles to Jeeps to classics to performance and racing, I am an active participant. I have built engines, painted cars, raced motocross, autocrossed, road raced and drag raced. It’s my passion, personally and professionally. Beyond SEMA, I am also an endurance athlete who enjoys precious time with my wife and son as well as traveling the world.

Services

Lindsay Hubley
Managing Partner
Lodestone Events LLC

My name is Lindsay Hubley, and I am honored to be elected to the SEMA Board of Directors. I am an experienced public trade show and consumer event strategist with a passion for the overall sustainability of the automotive aftermarket, fostering the careers of women and youth, protecting our right to modify our vehicles and OHV land-use advocacy!

I grew up in this industry, working into a leadership role in my father’s event production company­—producing events such as the Hot Rod Power Tour, the Car Craft Summer Nationals, the Sand Sports Super Show and the Off-Road Expo. Today, I am a 20-year active SEMA member and co-founder of Lodestone Events, producers of the Overland Expo series.

Over my career, I’ve produced thousands of events reaching millions of automotive enthusiasts nationwide across racing/performance, classic car, powersports and off-road. My event management background, combined with the successful pivot of a live-event business through the pandemic, makes me uniquely qualified to guide SEMA’s development of a hybrid trade show strategy that is both live and virtual, and a 365-day content plan to engage young innovators and expand SEMA’s reach.

Youth Engagement, Education and Advocacy:

• SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) Select Committee (2012–2016)
• Developed the first SEMA YEN Launch Pad (2013)
• Developed the first SEMA YEN Power Tour (2014)
• SEMA Political Action Committee Member (2015–2021)
• Curated Overland Education for the SEMA Overland Experience (2019)

Current Positions:

• Off-Road Business Association Board Member
• Tread Lightly! Education and Fundraising Partner
• Founding and Current Board Member, One Voice Foundation for Off Road Motorized Recreation

Strategic Initiatives:

• Expand SEMA’s youth engagement and global reach.
• Enhanced SEMA member benefits, including a robust year-round business education program.
• Address threats from intellectual property and trademark infringement plus the counterfeit community.
• Automotive and aftermarket industry sustainability in a looming net-zero emissions economy.
• Protect the right to modify our vehicles and motorized access to public lands.

I am an industry professional who raises the bar, questions the status quo and drives change. As a SEMA Board member, I will protect our right to innovate, modify and recreate the automobile.

SEMA News—August 2021

LEGISLATIVE AND TECHNICAL AFFAIRS

Federal Trade Commission Report Criticizes Anti-Competitive Repair Restrictions

By Stuart Gosswein

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a report to Congress in May that is highly critical of anti-competitive repair restrictions employed by manufacturers that limit consumer choice.

While the report focuses on product service and repair issues, it also has ramifications for the specialty parts industry. At stake is the consumer’s right to have a vehicle serviced, repaired—and modified.

In July 2019, the FTC held a “Nixing the Fix” workshop that formed the basis for the report on repair restrictions. The FTC considered a wide array of products ranging from printers to computers, with a focus on automobiles and mobile phones.

Consumer products are becoming harder to fix, and repairs often require specialized tools, difficult-to-obtain parts, and access to proprietary diagnostic software, according to the FTC. Repair options decrease as a result, placing an increased financial burden on lower-income and underserved populations.

The FTC said that there was “scant evidence to support manufacturers’ justifications for repair restrictions.” Manufacturer explanations for the restrictions were divided into six categories: protection of intellectual property, safety, cybersecurity, liability and reputational harm, consumer design choices, and quality of service.

The report provided examples of how manufacturer restrictions can block repairs. For example, the FTC reviewed access control technologies employed by OEMs, such as software locks, digital rights management tools, and technological protection measures. While manufacturers argue that those measures are necessary to protect proprietary hardware and copyrighted technologies, repair advocates argue that such tactics lock out independent service providers and consumers from basic repairs.

The report considered the potential for manufacturers to engage in unfair repair restrictions to limit aftermarket competition. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA), it is illegal for a manufacturer to void a warranty or deny coverage if a customer has a repair or maintenance performed by an independent repair shop or using a third-party replacement part (unless the original manufacturer provides the service or part for free).

The MMWA’s anti-tying provision is not limited to service and repair issues. It also applies to specialty parts and modifications. For example, SEMA noted in testimony submitted to the FTC’s 2019 workshop that it periodically receives complaints of auto dealerships voiding warranties if the dealership finds a specialty part (e.g., custom wheels) had been installed on the automobile, regardless of whether the specialty part caused the automobile to malfunction.

While the FTC said that the manufacturer or dealer must show that the aftermarket part caused the need for repairs before denying warranty coverage, SEMA recommended that the agency go one step further and require a written explanation.

The FTC expressed concern over whether the MMWA’s anti-tying provision is keeping pace with technological challenges that have the potential effect of tying a repair to the OEM or their authorized dealers using OEM parts. Examples provided include:

• Unavailability of parts and repair information.
• Designs that make independent repairs less safe.
• Policies or statements that steer consumers to manufacturer repair networks.
• Application of patent rights and enforcement of trademarks.
• Disparagement of non-OEM parts and independent repair.
• Software locks and firmware updates.
• End-user license agreements.

The report explored ways to expand consumer repair options. Using the MMWA as a tool, the FTC could revisit whether manufacturers are in compliance and consider whether some repair restrictions are violations of antitrust law. The FTC could update its written guidance and regulations on the topic, although the agency acknowledges that the pursuit would be challenging given the variety of repair restrictions and widespread applicability to multiple industries.

The report also identified industry self-regulation as potentially beneficial while noting that only the auto industry has created and implemented it. In 2014, trade groups representing the automakers and independent repair shops and aftermarket replacement parts manufacturers entered into a Memorandum of Understanding after Massachusetts passed a motor vehicle right-to-repair law. Manufacturers agreed to sell the diagnostic and repair information made available to their dealers to car owners and independent repair shops.

In 2020, Massachusetts voters approved a new ballot initiative to essentially expand the existing right-to-repair law to telematics. Starting with model year 2022, “manufacturers of motor vehicles sold in Massachusetts to equip any such vehicles that use telematics systems…with a standardized open access data platform” that would enable vehicle owners to authorize independent repair facilities and dealerships “to retrieve mechanical data from and send commands to the vehicle for repair maintenance and diagnostic testing.” The ballot initiative is currently subject to a court lawsuit.

The report also examined legislative approaches for expanding repair options. Several state laws were cited that require manufacturers to make available adequate service information and replacement parts to warranty stations and independent service facilities for a certain period of time. The European Union is beginning to take up the issue as well, recently adopting some regulations aimed at increasing consumer repair options in the home appliance industry (refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.).

The FTC concluded that it will pursue appropriate law enforcement and regulatory options to address unfair repair restrictions as well as consumer education. The FTC also stands ready to work with legislators, either at the state or federal level, to protect consumers’ rights and choices in repairing products that they own.

Vehicle Modifications

While the FTC report is generally focused on service and repair issues, consumers also have the right to modify their vehicles without fearing warranty coverage denial based on the installation of a specialty auto part.

Federal warranty laws prevent vehicle manufacturers, dealers and others from unjustly denying warranty coverage. Regarding aftermarket parts, the spirit of the law is that warranty coverage cannot be denied simply because such parts—replacement or specialty—are present on the vehicle or have been used. The warranty coverage can be denied only if the aftermarket part caused a malfunction or damage for which warranty coverage is sought. If disputes arise, they are generally over facts and technical opinions rather than interpretations of the law.

Federal Warranty Laws

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(c)): This federal law regulates consumer warranties. The essence of the law concerning aftermarket auto parts is that a vehicle manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services that are identified by brand, trade or corporate name (such as the vehicle maker’s brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge.

The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law’s protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty. Further, consumers are advised to be aware of any specific terms or conditions stated in the warranty that may result in its being voided. The law states in relevant part:

“No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name….”

Clean Air Act Warranty Provisions (42 U.S.C. S 7541(c)(3)(B))

The federal Clean Air Act requires vehicle makers to provide two emissions-related warranties: a production warranty and a performance warranty.

The production warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle is designed, built and equipped so that it conforms to emissions requirements at the time of sale.

The performance warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle will comply with applicable emissions requirements as tested under state vehicle emissions inspection programs for the specified warranty periods. The performance warranty is conditioned on the vehicle being properly maintained and operated.

As with the MMWA, vehicle manufacturers may not refuse warranty repairs under the Clean Air Act’s performance and defect warranties merely because aftermarket parts have been installed on the vehicle. The only circumstance under which the vehicle manufacturer can void the emissions warranties is if an aftermarket part causes the warranty claim.

Manufacturer warnings to their dealers are another way in which consumer choice may be limited. For example, the automakers periodically issue warnings that put dealers on notice that the use of non-
authorized parts or non-authorized vehicle modifications may void the manufacturer’s warranty obligation and create liability exposure for the dealer.

While most of the warnings do not cross the line of violating the MMWA’s prohibition of tying sales of branded products and services as a condition of warranty coverage, the FTC has flagged several warnings in recent years. In those cases, the agency placed the automaker on notice that it must change the warnings or face FTC legal action.

Technology is ever-evolving. Whether it is addressing cybersecurity concerns or controlling data, SEMA is working with its industry partners to make sure consumers always have the right to modify their vehicles and enjoy their rides.

For more information, visit www.semasan.com/resources/warranty-issues.

SEMA News—August 2021

LEGISLATIVE AND TECHNICAL AFFAIRS

Putting Out Fire…With Gasoline!

Government Actions Ignite Epic Auto Advocacy Movement

By Colby Martin

“Save Our Race Cars” is the banner uniting the automotive masses as legislative advocates. The latest phase of the saga to ensure that the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act becomes law has shattered previous efforts with viral strength. Many will recall first learning of the unreasonable interpretation of the Clean Air Act by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2016, which has sent a chill through the automotive community ever since. The race to pass the RPM Act has now taken on a groundbreaking pace.

When seeking influence on any public policy such as the RPM Act, the most important measure of horsepower often comes from the voters affected by the law. After all, politicians rely on constituent opinion—that’s us—when making decisions.

For elected officials, the math is simple: More individuals sharing a common issue means more of those enthusiasts weighing in at the polls. Thus, lawmakers are looking to be attached to proposals that are likely to be popular and ultimately enacted into law. An eager electorate holding policymakers accountable is key to swaying favor—a fact that is especially true at the federal level, where incredible volumes are required to cut through the noise.

A passionate and like-minded group of advocates working together can wield huge influence on how we’re governed. Enthusiasts comprise a significant population and are invested in our industry’s political capital and its future. Tapping into that collective energy and channeling the power of their individual votes forms the mission of the SEMA Action Network (SAN). Representing the auto hobby’s legislative voice, the SAN continues to build strength in numbers nationwide. Amid constant threat, this unified legion sticks up for a thriving marketplace when it matters most. More than two decades of legislative victories and communication with hundreds of hobby-friendly lawmakers reinforce why outreach works.

Unlike years past, 2021 brought with it uniquely challenging circumstances for fans of cars and trucks far and wide. Widespread uncertainty, doubt and anger following a series of difficult world events spawned an edgy undercurrent. Tensions were further stoked by numerous cases between the EPA and aftermarket manufacturers.

In one recent lawsuit, the EPA again maintained that once a vehicle has been certified as a street vehicle, it cannot be converted into a racing vehicle, even if it is trailered to the track and is never driven on public roads. While the EPA maintains that it won’t enforce against modified vehicles used on the track, the agency still contends that it has the authority to do so if it chooses.

As a result, the early months of 2021 had the makings of a perfect storm, where the RPM Act was the logical safe harbor: It provides permanent certainty for racers and businesses that produce and sell race parts.

The SAN has experienced an all-out explosion of its contact base. It has grown by 250% overall in recent months and now numbers more than 300,000 individuals ready to weigh in on public policy. At long last, this grassroots force holds a distinct advantage in the eyes of politicians, with far more voters demanding a resolution this year than any other.

Word travels online at light speed, for better and for worse. The digital blitz by racers and fans made the U.S. Congress acutely aware of just how formidable and highly concerned our industry is at present. And it’s ready for battle.

The RPM Act must pass this year, and the odds have never looked more in our industry’s favor. Congress simply can’t ignore the surge of support from racers and fans—the constituents who elected its members to office—demanding action to bring the bill across the finish line for good.

This momentum must be sustained with newly reintroduced legislation eligible for consideration in the current session of Congress. SEMA worked in close coordination with U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) as they introduced H.R. 3281 along with 46 other original sponsors. A similar effort is underway in the U.S. Senate. Please do your part—keep up the heat!

Fuel The Fire

It’s go time, so don’t let off the accelerator. Your drive is as important as ever, so please sign the letter at SaveOurRacecars.com. Even if you’ve previously contacted your lawmakers about the RPM Act, we need your voice once again now that the bill has officially returned in 2021. The million letters sent are working and resulted in the legislation’s reintroduction this session. Tell your lawmakers to do their part to finally save racing from government threat by supporting and passing the RPM Act into law this year.

Don’t Get Burned

Concerned with protecting your business against emissions enforcement? Find full details and background on the subject in “Is There Something in the Air,” which appeared in the June 2021 issue of SEMA News (www.sema.org/june_2021/something_air).

What Laid the Foundation?

Action by the EPA

In 2015, the EPA proposed a rulemaking that included language suggesting that once a vehicle has been certified as a street vehicle, it cannot be converted into a racing vehicle even if that vehicle is trailered to the track and is never driven on public roads.

Following a huge SEMA-led public outcry, the EPA withdrew the draft provision in April 2016 and noted that it had “no interest in vehicles that begin their existence as normal, EPA-certified production vehicles used on public roads and are then permanently converted to sanctioned competition-use only vehicles.”

However, the EPA continues to assert that the Clean Air Act (CAA) does not allow a motor vehicle to be converted into a racing vehicle used solely for competition.

The agency created a national compliance program and announced that enforcement against high-performance parts, including superchargers, tuners and exhaust systems, is a top priority for this year and beyond.

Clean Air Act

Introduced in 1970, the CAA regulates, among other things, motor vehicles on streets and highways throughout the United States.

The CAA’s anti-tampering provision in Section 203 of the act prohibits selling parts intended for use with or as part of any motor vehicle or motor-vehicle engine where the principal effect of the part or component is to bypass, defeat or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor-vehicle engine in compliance with regulations.

For 45 years, the CAA’s anti-tampering provision applied only to motor vehicles driven on public roads, and street vehicles were allowed to be converted into dedicated race cars that were never driven on the street again.

  SEMA News—August 2021

REQUIRED READING

By Juan Torres

Technology and Innovation on Display

Since 1967, manufacturers of automotive aftermarket parts have relied on the SEMA Show to debut their products and conduct business, so after having to spend more than a year mostly separated, the industry is eager to reconnect at the 2021 SEMA Show.

Companies exhibiting at this year’s SEMA Show have already selected their booth spaces and are preparing to bring nearly two years’ worth of innovation and new technology to share with attendees. The exhibits will be housed throughout the four halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, including the newly constructed West Hall and the outside areas. Below are some of the publications that look forward to the SEMA Show every year to highlight what’s new in the industry.

Street Trucks Because the SEMA Show is a trade-only event, John Mata Jr. felt that it was his duty to filter through the many new products at the SEMA Show and highlight the ones that would appeal to his readers. His final report included descriptions and photos of more than 40 new parts for 2020.
Window Film Editor Emmariah Holcomb referred to the SEMA Show as “the mecca of everything aftermarket” in her comprehensive report for Window Film. Readers learned about new products and trends in the automotive film industry, including highly popular paint-protection films.
Tomorrow’s Technician In his in-depth report on cooling systems, Brendan Baker described how some companies have developed thinner radiators to fit into reduced spaces. One of the manufacturers of such products is Proform Parts, which debuted its Slimline radiator at the SEMA Show.
Heard on Social Media “Come see Equalizer Auto Glass Tools at SEMA! They have new products, and there will be live demos of their Auto Glass Tools.”—Autobody News, via Facebook “If you want to do some modifications on your truck in the near future, SEMA is the place to look for ideas, inspiration and the newest innovations.”—Truckin’, via Facebook “Check out Induction Innovations’ demonstrations of some of their new products—including the Mini-Ductor Venom HP and two new coil packs.”—BodyShop Business, via Twitter “ATI now has a Super Case for those who use a Turbo 350 transmission. Check it out right here.”—Dragzine, via Facebook

SEMA News—August 2021

BUSINESS

Restomodding: Business Is Still Booming

Marrying Classic-Car Styling With Modern Performance

By Chad Simon

The consensus is clear: The transition to electric vehicles is currently underway and will eventually make a hard push into the restomod segment of the industry. Also worth noting, other than some supply-chain issues with getting parts, the COVID-19 pandemic that has plagued the world over the past year and a half has not quenched consumer thirst for wanting to restore classic cars using modern technology.

We spoke with three leaders who specialize in building, customizing and restoring classic vehicles to discover the latest industry trends and what the future holds as well as how the builders established their reputations, source their parts and create partnerships. Here’s what they had to say.

An Exploding Market

While the term “restomodding” might be relatively new, the actual practice has been around ever since hot rodding began, explained Dustin Foust, owner of Classic Restorations, which specializes in ’72 and older domestic vehicles. In the ’50s and ’60s, people put ’60s engines into ’30s cars. Today, the market for a restored and upgraded one-off classic is still strong and constantly expanding.

“It’s something that never decreases in value, so it’s definitely a good investment in a booming industry right now,” Foust said.

If anything, during the pandemic, Foust received more phone calls from people who were stuck at home with a project sitting in the garage, and they wanted to finally do something with it. He noted that now his only real obstacle is getting parts, which is an industry-wide problem. Before the pandemic, lead times were a day or two, but now they’re a week or two and sometimes up to two months.

There aren’t many shops in southeast Indiana, where Classic Restorations is located. The next reputable shop might be 100 mi. away, but the tightly knit restomod community is growing to keep up with demand.

“We’re all friends with each other,” Foust said. “When we see each other at shows, it’s not like they’re our enemy or our competition. There’s more than enough work to go around for everybody. If we find a better way to do something, we share it with each other.”

Tony Arme, owner of American Legends Hot Rods, hasn’t slowed down a bit. He has a backlog of work, which again shows the resilience this market has exhibited over the past couple of years. The business is divided into two: upgrades and repairs, and building cars from scratch—mostly ’60s-era musclecars.

Arme believes that the restomod market and custom-car world are blowing up because it comes down to the personalization and creativity of the car.

“You can see 169 Camaros parked in a lot at a show, and none of them are the same, whereas you go to Cars & Coffee, see 15 McLarens lined up, and it’s just ‘what color do you want?’” Arme said. “In the custom-car world, physically building the cars is so much different than going to a dealership. Everything we do has 10 options—what color this, what part that—and it’s easy to make it your own.”

According to Jeremiah Proffitt, owner of Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers, the market for a one-off restored vehicle is just as good or better than he can ever remember it being. Other than the aforementioned difficulty in getting some parts, the pandemic hasn’t really affected business.

“Whenever people are uncomfortable with what’s going on around them, they turn to what’s important to them,” Proffitt said. “For many people, automobiles are one of those things they get excited about when they’re unsure of what else is going to happen around them.”

Proffitt—whose schedule is booked 18 months in advance—has met friends and colleagues from all over the world at the SEMA Show, and everybody who’s legit, honest and cares about their customers is busy cranking out cars, according to him.

“If you’re good, know how to add value, and your craftsmanship is at a high level, you’re probably going to be successful,” Proffitt said. “Nobody started in this business because they heard it was the best way to make money. Everybody who’s in this is doing it because it’s a passion. The people who are good at it and can make it over that first hump are experiencing success.”

Who Are the Clients?

Foust’s clients are mostly older people who grew up with these types of cars but maybe couldn’t afford one at the time they were new. Now they have the means.

On the other hand, Arme’s customer demographic is all over the place, from their middle 30s to 70s in age.

“We do some stuff for athletes, business owners and retired guys who did well for themselves,” Arme said. “You used to be able to say the trend for a certain car was a specific age group, but we’re seeing some of the older guys build stuff that a younger guy would build and vice versa.”

Proffitt’s clients are mostly 50–65-year-old professionals who have started to free up some room in their budgets to build something they’ve been thinking about building for a long time. His projects are relatively expensive, especially for the 4x4 restomod market, which requires enough discretionary income to spend $100,000 to $200,00 on a car.

“They’re going to use the vehicles, even if they’re just weekend warriors,” Proffitt said. “These clients are not high-end car collectors who are just going to add it to their collections. They usually have a connection to or a memory of a vehicle from their past, and they’re trying to recreate an experience. My grandfather had an FJ40 when I was little; now I want to recreate those memories for my kids and my grandkids, which seems to be a common theme for most of our clients.”

Latest Trends

According to Foust, everybody loves the lines on classic cars from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s because they were individual, as opposed to today’s cookie-cutter cars. They want yesterday’s looks with today’s technology, including air conditioning, brakes, suspension and modern fuel-injected engines.

“If you’re used to driving a new car every day and you hop in an old one, you’re going to feel a big difference in performance and how it drives and stops,” Foust said.

Arme believes that people are more interested in convenience—especially with new cars.

“You go to a dealership and buy a brand-new Escalade or Corvette or Camaro, and just some of the amenities that those cars have, how they drive and how foolproof they are, is more or less what our customers are looking for in the old cars, too,” he said.

Many of the higher-end builds are getting modern chassis along with the latest drivetrain platforms and more one-off components. Arme believes that people are drawn to the exclusiveness of having something that nobody else has.

“One of our customers lives in an extremely nice neighborhood,” he said. “You’ll see 10 Lamborghinis driving around on any given weekend, but you’ll never see one of these custom one-off cars, so at some level, it’s about having something that somebody else can’t have. You can’t just go out and get one; it takes us roughly two years to build a car.”

Everybody wants the best of all worlds, according to Proffitt. By combining today’s technology with older vehicles, a ’71 car can be made practical and fun to drive with a higher level of comfort, including better seats, a nicer stereo and instrumentation, more responsive brakes and a more powerful engine.

“We’re capable of higher speeds and also lower [off-road] speeds, more traction and articulation, and better off-road ability,” Proffitt said. “We take everything that everybody has learned about improving automotive function and put it all into one old car, and we end up with something that’s pretty darn cool.”

Over the past five years, Proffitt has seen a push to preserve a vehicle’s value by keeping it closer to the original manufacturer’s DNA or vision but still making improvements within those parameters by using newer components or enhancing the old ones. The clients for those vehicles tend to stay away from LS swaps and other conversions that take the vehicle so far away from its roots. However, that’s not always possible, because sometimes Proffitt has to think outside the box to build what people want. Some want improved drivability with a classic look, while others want to make it look like their vehicle hasn’t been modified until you open the hood or look underneath the chassis.

Then there are those who want to enhance the function of their vehicle for a purpose, such as overlanding, rock crawling or off-roading. Taking those vehicles so far from what the OEM had in mind can destroy their value, but it’s okay because the clients have a vision in their mind of what they want to do with the car, Proffitt explained.

“When I talk to clients, I first find out their goals, what’s important to them, and their long-term vision for the vehicle,” he said. “Then I’ll take them to completely different directions through the build. So if somebody called me and said, ‘My dad bought this Land Cruiser new, and I want it to last another 50 years and continue to appreciate in value,’ then they say they put an LS3 in it, I’d say those two things don’t align. We’re going to take it one way or the other.”

Building Connections

Because automotive restoration is a tight-knit community, Foust believes that it’s easy to tell which companies attend shows to help support the industry, and he tries to use those companies whenever possible.

“From doing it for so many years, you learn what companies are good and what companies you don’t like to work with,” he said. “A lot of it is also internet research for certain things that may be outside the box.”

For Arme, sourcing parts is all about repetition. A culture is instilled in the company about how things are supposed to be done, such as using parts they know work so that they don’t have to see a car come back to the shop.

“Doing shows like SEMA, seeing new products released and vendors we use or have used in the past is really where we get some of our ideas,” Arme said. “We just try to use new or innovative products. Depending on what it is, it will push us in a different direction.

“We used to use a gauge company pretty exclusively, and another one came out with some products that we felt were a lot cooler, so we’re now pretty much using only them. I’m not afraid to give somebody a shot if it looks like an amazing product. You’ve just got to try it sometimes to know whether it’s any good or it just looks good.”

Forming business partnerships is a little tricky, according to Proffitt, who concedes that his company struggles with more vendors than those it has success with. Proffitt likes to work with people who know what their products do and how they fit and are willing to offer their support. He said that many of his best relationships were either initially developed and established at the SEMA Show or were nurtured there.

“The companies that think they’re doing us a favor by existing and don’t provide support, we just phase them out,” Proffitt said. “We use companies that are going to take care of us, show an interest in what we’re doing and want to provide both the parts and the service. If we reach out to a company and realize it’s going to be a lot of brain damage to work with and get stuff, we just don’t use it.”

Promoting the Business

Foust doesn’t advertise. Instead, Classic Restorations gets most of its clients via word of mouth and attending shows throughout the country.

According to Arme, his builds market themselves. American Legends Hot Rods has Facebook and Instagram pages to show its work, but having its builds win awards on a national level helps solidify that its cars are well built.

“It’s hard to do in this industry anymore, but we try to do stuff that hasn’t been done before—a different twist on something versus just pulling pages out of magazines and saying, ‘I want that and that and that and that,’ and then trying to puzzle-piece a car together,” Arme said. “A Mustang we did a while back wouldn’t be the first musclecar with a Ferrari engine in it, but stuff like that is more or less what we want to try to do to set us apart from the rest.”

The off-road automobile restoration community is a small world, according to Proffitt. Many clients hear about Proffitt’s Restoration Land Cruisers from chit-chat, either in-person or online, and not as a direct result of any money spent on advertising. The company has a YouTube series called “Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers TV.”

“It’s a show that we make along the same lines as any automotive restoration show you’d see on the Discovery Channel, except that there’s no deadlines or fake drama,” Proffitt said. “We get out in the shop, talk about the projects, feature the vehicles that we build, and talk to the techs. Almost every serious client I talk to leads off their conversation with, ‘I watched the last three episodes of your show, and now I’m ready to start the project.’ Even though it’s intended to be more entertainment, I think it’s a pretty key marketing element for us, because people get comfortable that we’re not going to steal their money and close up shop or go bankrupt like so many shops do.”

Looking to the Future

Foust believes that many OEMs will go electric within the next 10 years or so and questions how much longer the internal-combustion engine will last.

“I hope it lasts forever, but I can also see customers wanting to incorporate electric technology into these classic cars,” Foust said. “There are some companies that have already done it, but I can see it becoming more prevalent in the future. With electric motors, everything is instantaneous, and the performance is definitely there.”

He also believes that the biggest obstacle right now to going fully electric is battery technology and where to put them in older cars without losing an entire trunk. According to Foust, the technology will become more widespread once batteries become more compact, user-friendly and easier to change.

The future of restomodding can go many different ways, according to Arme, who also believes that electric cars and even hybrids could become more of a factor.

“We’re looking at doing a hybrid car just to be in on that trend if we need to be,” Arme said. “We don’t want to get left behind on any sort of thing, but the quality and amount of detail that those cars are getting seems to go up every year. The electronics are getting a little fancier as far as what they control, along with the amount of stuff that’s machined out of billet.”

American Legends Hot Rods utilizes 3-D printing, especially for prototyping and making interior components. Arme envisions that along with 3-D printing, CNC machining will also become more standard.

Restomodding will continue to grow, but it’s going to have to change and develop, according to Proffitt. For example, increasing the availability of electric motors and lowering their cost will help to achieve the goal of decreasing emissions; however, people are never going to stop wanting to customize their vehicles.

“The only real question is when are we going to run out of vehicles to build,” he said. “That’s going to be the only thing that could limit what businesses like ours are doing in the future—just finding good-quality, solid vehicles to build in the first place. I don’t think anybody’s going to restore an ’85 Oldsmobile Omega or an ’05 Toyota Camry. At some point, there’s not going to be as much to work on, but I don’t know if it’s going to be in my lifetime or my kids’ lifetimes.”

Proffitt also agrees that electric is the future of mass transit and may one day find its way into both drag and stock-car racing. The enthusiast market for diesel and gasoline engines is still going to be there, and there’s no reason to try to shut them down, according to Proffitt, but gas-powered classic restored vehicles are going to be a very small percentage of the vehicles on the road once there are fewer gas stations and more charging stations.

What’s In the Garage?

Tony Arme, American Legends Hot Rods: “One of the coolest cars we’re doing right now is a ’59 Chrysler 300, which is an extremely rare car. It’s a big old boat with large fins—a typical cruiser-style car—but we’re going to build more of a Pro Touring-style car. We’re removing much of the chrome and doing a lot of stuff that we would do to a high-end Pro Touring musclecar as far as flushing out glass and shaving bits and pieces and kind of refining the whole car. It’s going to be well over 1,000 hp, and it sits on a custom chassis. It’s pretty over the top.”

Dustin Foust, Classic Restorations: “The ’56 Thunderbird we’re working on is a complete factory restoration—all original. The Model T is basically a mechanical restoration. We went through the drivetrain, all the wiring, and put a new interior in it. We also did a 12-volt conversion and added new bearings. The ’39 Ford is a street rod. It’s got a ’11 Mustang drivetrain in it. We’re basically doing all the wiring and electronic stuff. We’ve also got a ’60 Ford Sunliner, which has been a several-year build. It’s got a fully custom twin-turbo Boss 9 engine. We’re actually building it to compete for the Autorama Ridler Award.”

Jeremiah Proffitt, Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers: “We’re cranking out probably 25 full body-off restorations a year. We have three Cummins R2.8 restomods that are leaving right now. They’re highly custom parts-intensive, set up to be respectable off-road and awesome on-road. Then we have an EMP-hardened FJ40 that we just built for fun. It’s a military-themed rig, but we decided to go overboard on the detail and have it be ‘military chic.’ Lots of yellow, zinc and gold on a tan and brown flat platform with a Cummins Tier 1 diesel and minimal electronics. We call it the EMP40, and it will be at the SEMA Show this year.

“The next one we’re building will set a record for the most expensive Land Cruiser we’ve ever built. It’s a 14-in.-stretched FJ40 with an industrial injection Cummins 4VT.

“One more project that I’m really excited about is a ’61 FJ28 four-door Land Cruiser wagon, of which there are only three in the world. It was restored very poorly, so we’re in the process of disassembling it and finding out all the horrible things that were done to it. But I want to make it something amazing—unlike anything else.”

Sources

American Legends Hot Rods
11002 N. 23rd Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85029
623-213-7288
https://alhotrods.com
Owner: Tony Arme
Number of employees: 7
Specializes in building and restoring ’60s-era musclecars.

Classic Restorations
6225 Highway 150
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119
812-923-0129
www.classicrestorations-online.com
Owner: Dustin Foust
Number of employees: 3
Specializes in restoring and customizing ’72 and older domestic vehicles.

Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers
21474 Austin Rd.
Austin, CO 81410
970-596-7363
www.resurrectionlandcruisers.com
Owner: Jeremiah Proffitt
Number of employees: 19
Specializes in building and restoring Toyota Land Cruisers.

SEMA News—August 2021

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT NEW PRODUCTS

By SEMA News Editors

The Newest Parts and Products From the 2020 SEMA360

In the first two decades of the 21st century, the automotive sphere has become increasingly digital and cloud-based in its use of technology, and that change has been likewise reflected in the tools and equipment aftermarket. The very definition of a “tool” has expanded beyond the basic impact wrench and scissor lift to include laptops, software and sensor-recalibration equipment. Regardless of type, though, having the proper tools and equipment at hand is crucial for enthusiast builders and modifiers to bring their dreams to fruition.

As a market segment, tool and equipment manufacturers are substantial players, comprising hundreds of companies within a global industry that’s forecast to rise to nearly $10 billion in sales by 2028, according to a 2021 survey published by Data Bridge Market Research.

What follows here are the newest tools and equipment products that were featured in the online New Products Showcase at last year’s SEMA360.

View all of the products featured in the Tools & Equipment section in the  2020 SEMA360 New Products Showcase.

Adenna LLC
EasyTask Refillable Sanitizing System

Finding a premoistened wipe with a preferred cleaning solution can be difficult, so why not make your own? Add cleaning or disinfectant solution to a roll of Adenna solvent-resistant spun lace wipers for a durable wet wipe. Two times larger than normal presaturated wipes: 10x12 in.; 275 sheets. GrabBox features a handle.

888-323-3662
www.adenna.com
PN: N-ETA100CZGW

Apollo Sprayers International Inc.
DR1000

The Apollo DR1000 HVLP Turbo Spray Disinfectant System is designed for automotive, light commercial and in-home use. The compact and portable system weighs only 7.5 lbs. and delivers COVID-19 disinfectant and sanitizing solutions via an ultra-fine, high-volume, atomized mist without over-saturation. Both 110V and 240V models are available for global use.

760-727-8300
www.drsprayers.com
PN: DR1000-110-6

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Badass Workbench
3Bay Doublewide

The 3Bay Doublewide is the latest addition to the Badass Workbench line. The bench works perfectly as an island feature in a shop. Designed with six bays of drawers (three on each side), there are tons of storage packed into this model. Comes standard with a 1/2-in. plate-steel top that can be used for heavy work or welding applications. U.S.A.-made.

866-547-1123
www.badassworkbench.us
PN: 3BAYDOUBLEWIDE

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Bartec USA
Tech600Pro

Bartec USA says that the wireless capacities of the Tech600 make it the fastest tool available in North America. TPMS relearns take just seconds. Connect the wireless VCI to the OBDII port and the make/model/year are detected and decoded in mere seconds, and the tool is ready for action. The graphical user interface makes the Tech600Pro very easy to learn and operate.

586-685-1300
www.bartecusa.com
PN: WRT600PRO

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Big Ass Fans
Cold Front

Cold Front evaporative coolers provide rapid, effective relief from dry heat. Lowers the air temperature of a space by up to 33°F (18°C) and, combined with Big Ass overhead fans, delivers ultimate workplace comfort. Uses standard 110V power supply. Suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces. Industry-leading five-year warranties.

877-BIG-FANS
www.bigassfans.com

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Channellock Inc.
968 Forged Wire Stripper

The Channellock 968 Forged Wire Stripper is forged for durability and to outlast traditional wire strippers. Channellock’s Xtreme Leverage Technology requires considerably less force to cut than traditional high-leverage designs. The 968 is 100% made in the U.S.A. with U.S. steel.

800-724-3018
www.channellock.com

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CollisionRepairTools.com
Astra PowerLift and Move

The Astra PowerLift and Move mobile scissor lift combination dolly is an amazing piece of equipment that really proves valuable. In a dealership/service center, lifting a vehicle off the ground has many benefits. It’s perfect for collision-repair centers for minor detrimming, measuring, inspecting, reassembly, minor body work or for detailers.

949-945-2163
www.astra123.com
PN: A-ASTRA-AE500R

50416_1.jpg

Colourlock North America
ColourScannerPro

The ColourScannerPro is a very compact, Bluetooth-tethered tool for formula selection. It enables the user to scan leather colors and immediately view fitting formula suggestions, making color mixing a breeze. The device comes calibrated with the company’s up-to-date formula database, containing more than 500 formulations. Colourlock North America is aiming for 5,000.

+447739579694
www.colourlock.com

53905_1.jpg

CTech Manufacturing
Mini Cart

Going in and out of a trailer and across rough terrain with an entire loadout of tools has never been easier. Lightweight aluminum mini carts and mini nitro carts were designed with ultimate mobility in mind. Each cart rolls on a dedicated chassis featuring FlatFree wheels and a push/pull/tow steering handle.

715-355-8842
www.ctechmanufacturing.com
PN: custom

52668_1.jpg

DashLogic
SensorTap IAT/Baro Relocation Module

Allows the relocation of the IAT and/or Baro sensors on GM vehicles with a four-wire MAF. Now users can move the IAT further down the air tract for better accuracy when using water/meth injection or put it within the manifold for supercharged applications. Blow-through boosted setups can break out the Baro sensor as well.

801-709-6300
www.dashlogic.com
PN: STB75CL

50649_1.jpg

The Detail Guardz Car Care Products
Visiera Face Shield

The Visiera face shield is said to be the perfect tool to keep safe when working with polish, chemicals or helping to keep safe from COVID-19. This premium face shield is manufactured in Canada and is extremely comfortable to wear. Its flexible and adjustable headband allows for the perfect fit on basically any head shape or size.

905-624-5504
www.thedetailguardz.com
PN: VISIERA

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DWD2 Clean Air
Protect Mold Treatment Spray

Use it in air vents, a vehicle’s fresh-air intake and as a full-release mold- and bacteria-eliminating fogger. Formulated to disinfect and protect, it’s an all-natural mold treatment spray for vehicles. It is entirely safe around children and pets because it is nontoxic, unlike other chemical products.

714-432-0007
www.dwd2.com
PN: 5979 CP2004

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Dyme PSI
Rattlesnake Hose Design Toolkit

The Rattlesnake toolkit is an easy-to-use system to help users design, order and receive a crimped, fully tested, high-performance hose assembly. No catalogs, no mistakes, no leftovers, no stress. It provides a complete range of replicas of the company’s hoses and fittings so that users can prototype exactly what’s needed, and the company sends the user the real part. Easy.

909-267-8742
www.dymepsi.com
PN: RSTK10

View all of the products featured in the Tools & Equipment section in the  2020 SEMA360 New Products Showcase.

SEMA News—August 2021

BUSINESS

Racing Toward Electric

Electric Vehicles in Racing and Performance

By Fredy Ramirez

If you ask any driver his or her goal in a race, the answer is usually the same—finish first. Encompassing that feeling, the advent of the electric vehicle (EV) is now bringing opportunities that were seemingly decades away.

“I’m a racer,” said Steve Huff of Huff Motorsports. “All I cared about was how fast it was going. I didn’t care how fast it was going to slow down. I just cared about getting to the finish line first.”

The most notable example may be Volkswagen’s domination of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018 with its prototype fully electric I.D. R vehicle. Posting a time of 07:57.148, it beat the previous record by more than a minute and remains the only vehicle to break the 8-min. mark.

Although it may not have been the first attempt at racing with a fully electric vehicle, it showed the potential of what a fully electric race car could do if given the right amount of time and resources. That put manufacturers on notice, and it didn’t take long for there to be movement from major players in the industry.

“From a Ford Motor Company perspective, electrification is huge to us,” Ford Performance Motorsport Supervisor Brian Novack said. “I think we are spending $11.5 billion over the next few years in improving our electric vehicle lineup.”

OEMs such as Ford have begun investing heavily in the electrification of their lineups. Ford Performance focused on…well, performance. It developed prototypes in the all-electric propulsion Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 and the Mustang Mach-E 1400.

“The seat-of-the-pants feeling of that type of electric power is just unbelievable,” said RTR Vehicles founder, motorsports champion and professional fun-haver Vaughn Gittin Jr. “It’s perspective-shattering.”

The Cobra Jet 1400 put down an 8.27-sec. quarter-mile time, reaching a top speed of 168 mph in its first outing. Ford accomplished that feat with help from the aftermarket.

Cascadia Motion provided motor-inverter packages that run at 800 volts and up to 700 amps for a maximum output of 350kW per motor. With 1,500 peak horsepower came the opportunity for an advanced management system. AEM-EV assisted Ford Performance in developing an advanced data and control system specifically for the Cobra Jet 1400.

“That’s part of what those demonstrators are,” Novack said. “It’s to show what Ford Motor Company is capable of. From a Ford Performance standpoint, it’s about us learning as much as we can about a super-high-powered electric vehicle and what it takes to get that done.”

The Mach-E 1400 demonstrations showed the ability of an electric vehicle in comparison to that of a gas-powered vehicle. The seven motors in the Mach-E 1400, pushing out 1,400 hp, kept up in almost every major racing category with some of Ford’s best vehicles. Again, the aftermarket played a role, with RTR Vehicles assisting with the aerodynamic development of the vehicle.

“If an electric vehicle with similar power and weight shows up to the starting line next to a combustion engine with similar power and weight, the combustion engine has zero chance,” Gittin said.

Electric vehicles are also starting to infiltrate the dragstrip. Huff and his team at Huff Motorsports designed the first all-electric dragster to break the 200-mph mark. The vehicle started life as a four-cylinder EcoBoost-powered dragster that quickly became a fully electric vehicle. The team at Huff Motorsports started with two electric motors and soon realized the difficulty of controlling them and collecting data.

“We were waiting for an industry leader to have a product that we could use to expand and make all the power we wanted,” Huff said.

At that point, the aftermarket came to help in the form of Cascadia Motion and AEM-EV. Cascadia Motion once again provided the motor inverter package for the dragster that now featured four motors. AEM-EV’s PDU-8 and VCU 300 allowed Huff and his team to accurately control the motors and accurately collect data.

“Their products allowed us to do something we couldn’t do a year ago, which was accurately control four inverter controllers and subsequently four motors,” Huff said.

A few months ago, electric vehicles landed in the off-road community when Kyle Seggelin entered his 4Runner that featured a Nissan Leaf powertrain in the King of the Hammers competition. That marked the first time an electric vehicle competed and finished a race at the event. The rig included parts built by Seggelin and his team.

“Hopefully, that will drive some of the OEMs to get involved with it as well, and we will see a handful of electric vehicles out there racing King of the Hammers,” said Loren Healy, a five-time Ultra4 Champion and two-time King of the Hammers winner. “I know it’s piqued our interest.”

The opportunities in developing parts for EVs are starting to arrive, with companies such as AEM-EV getting a head start. For now, the focus is on making the vehicle faster. Who knows what the future holds, but the aftermarket will be there to make it better.

For more information on racing and performance, follow these sources on social media:

• @stevehuffmotorsports
• @vaughngittinjr
• @loren_healy
• @bailey_cole_racing
• @fordperformance

  SEMA News—August 2021

INDUSTRY NEWS

 Photos courtesy SpiedBilde, Brian Williams. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

’22 Ford Raptor R While Ford debuted the third-generation Raptor in February, it gave us a look at only the tamer version with the 3.5L EcoBoost. These shots show that the Raptor R will have a unique grille and appears to have beefier trailing arms. It’s rumored that the rims are exclusive to the R, and as everyone knows by now, it’ll have the heart and soul of the GT500: the Predator 5.2L supercharged V8. According to sources, the R will pump out around 725 to 750 hp (the GT500 puts out 760 hp). The ’21 F-150 Raptor will be assembled at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant and will be available at dealers this summer. The Raptor R is expected to debut later this year, with an on-sale date in 2022.
’22 Ferrari 812 GTO   Here’s the Ferrari 812 GTO (Versione Speciale), caught thinly disguised while out on a test run in Maranello, Italy. Last year, Ferrari was seen testing a cobbled-together mule that consisted of an 812 Superfast. Fast forward to today, and we have what appears to be the fruit of that labor—an 812 GTO. The GTO badge was last seen in 2011, so after a decade in retirement, the 812 GTO seems to make sense. Power is expected to come from the 6.5L V12 found in the 812 Superfast, which pumps out 789 hp and 530 lb.-ft. of torque, although the GTO is expected to come with more than 800 hp.
’21 Ford F-150 This is a ’21 Ford F-150 with an intricate autonomous vehicle (NextDroid.com) setup on the roof of its cab. The configuration appears to feature a substantial number of cameras, sensors and LIDAR equipment, making us wonder what Ford is up to. It could be that Ford is testing the technology’s feasibility on what could eventually become a larger vehicle platform, such as a truck-based delivery van or a similar work vehicle. Earlier this month, Ford officially announced BlueCruise—a hands-free highway driving solution that aims to rival Tesla’s AutoPilot and GM’s SuperCruise. Could the prototype seen here foreshadow a more advanced version of BlueCruise?

SEMA News—August 2021

INTERNATIONAL

In-Person Events Are Back

Meet With Mexican and Latin American Buyers

By Linda Spencer

Mexico’s expected economic growth rate in 2021 has just been revised upward as Latin America’s second-largest economy, along with the surrounding region, has begun to recover from the sharp downturn caused by COVID-19. While experts predict that the regional economies won’t fully recover until 2022, the quickening pace of the upturn is good news. As the region begins to reopen, U.S. suppliers looking to connect with Mexican and Latin American trade buyers can do so at two upcoming events: the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November, and the INA PAACE Automechanika Show in December.

With air travel now permitted between the two countries, Americans can travel to the 2021 INA PAACE Automechanika Show, which is Latin America’s largest trade-only show featuring the automotive aftermarket. It will be held this year at a special time and location: December 1–3, in the San Luis Potosí Convention Center in San Luis Potosí, Mexico (about 260 mi. north of Mexico city).

San Luis Potosí is easily accessible and is a hub for various automotive plants, including General Motors and BMW, along with more than 250 Tier 1 suppliers. In 2022, the show will revert to its usual summer schedule at Centro Citibanamex, Mexico City, Mexico.

U.S. suppliers can also meet buyers from Mexico and Latin America without even leaving the United States at the in-person 2021 SEMA Show, to be held November 2–5. The event will feature a special Latin America roundtable on Monday, November 1, before the Show opens.

Mexico is home to a wide range of enthusiasts whose interests run from track, street and off-road racing to classic-car events. Daniel Garcia Solis of V8 Magazine, which features classic cars, noted that he has participated in INA PAACE Automechanika for many years to promote the magazine and contact new fans and collectors of classic cars.

“Every year, we also put a car in a SEMA booth at INA PAACE Automechanika,” he said.

He noted that “the enthusiasm for having a car 30, 40 or more years old that is very well preserved or restored really resonates in Mexico. It will surely be a passion for many generations after our time.”

He also noted that more readily available vaccines have resulted in an explosion of classic and collectible car congregations during the first half of the year.

“Surely by 2022, we will have a return to 100% of musclecar enthusiasts,” he said.

He added that, as with many hobbies and sectors, it has been difficult getting parts into Mexico, including from the United States, due to closed borders, closed nonstrategic activities, and bans on gatherings. However, as the peak of the contagion passes, buying, selling and searching for accessories has started to resume.

“Last year was a pretty difficult year,” said Manuel Alvarez, president of Big Country. “The market was pretty much shut down for three or four months, but we continued to supply our customers throughout last year. One of the things we discovered was a tremendous increase in consumers discovering or rediscovering the outdoors as restaurants and movie theaters closed down.”

He added that there was an uptick in anything having to do with going off-road and camping. Sales for the company’s own brands of Go Rhino and Big Country, as well as the well-known international brands it distributes throughout Mexico (including the Truck Hero product lines, Warn, Rigid and ARB, among others)doubled and tripled.

“Our e-commerce sales have increased 30%,” Alvarez added, and he noted that sales at the company’s two brick-and-mortar accessory shops that provide full installation services in Guadalajara and Mexico City have grown exponentially.

As for off-road events, Alvarez said that everything had been canceled in 2020 but is all on once again this year. Big Country sponsors the BOSCO jamborees, and its products are used on the event vehicles. In addition, the world-famous SCORE Baja 1000 will be held November 15–20, and will run from Ensenada to La Paz, Baja California Sur.

Mexico is also home to an F1 race. The Mexican Grand Prix will be held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City the last weekend in October. Mexican drivers have reached the top echelon of racing with Sergio Pérez Mendoza, nicknamed “Checo,” winning the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing. Mexico is also home to the 12-race NASCAR Peak Mexico Challenge Series.

As 2021 sees the resumption of motorsports events, the wide array of businesses supplying products to support these popular pastimes are busier than ever.

For more information on the INA PAACE Automechanika show, contact caitlin.clements@usa.messefrankfurt.com or visit https://ina-paace-automechanika-mexico-city.us.messefrankfurt.com. For more information on the SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com or the article “Reconnecting Globally and in Person at the 2021 SEMA Show” in the July issue of SEMA News on www.semanews.com.

Selected Light-Truck Sales, Mexico 2018–2020

*2018 figures include Ram 1500-4000. Source: INEGI, BestsellingBlogs

SEMA News—August 2021

PEOPLE

Champion of the Aftermarket Industry

State Senator Mark Maynard

By Caroline Fletcher

Although Congress tends to garner the headlines, some of the most important issues that affect the automotive aftermarket are controlled by the states. Issues such as vehicle titling and registration, exhaust noise, optional equipment, inoperable vehicles and many more are regulated on a state-by-state basis. If you want to be able to title and register your vintage Humvee (or HMMWV) but no process currently exists for registering former military vehicles in your state, you can turn to your state legislators to ask for help.

West Virginia State Senator Mark Maynard, an active member of SEMA’s State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, is not just a lawmaker who’s willing to listen to the concerns of automotive enthusiasts—he’s an enthusiast himself.

Sen. Maynard was first elected to the West Virginia legislature in 2014, beating the incumbent Democratic candidate (who at that time was the longest-serving member of the West Virginia Senate) by only a few hundred votes. Now serving in his second term, Sen. Maynard has proven himself to be a staunch ally to SEMA.

As a small-business owner and lifelong “gearhead,” Sen. Maynard understands firsthand the struggles SEMA members face. During his time in the West Virginia Senate, he has been the lead sponsor on numerous bills to support and promote off-roading and motorsports in the state. Several of those bills have been supported by the SEMA Action Network.

Promoting outdoor recreation, including OHV use, is a priority for Maynard. In the last year alone, he has worked on legislation to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation in West Virginia, develop a West Virginia Statewide Motorized Trail, encourage public access and use of state roads and trails, and request the construction of an off-highway vehicle trail to parallel the Appalachian Hiking Trail.

It’s clear that, as an avid off-road enthusiast, Sen. Maynard is able to use his passion and knowledge to his advantage as a legislator. He was also awarded the first-ever Stephen B. McDonald Legislator of the Year award at the 2018 SEMA Show.

Sen. Maynard recently took some time to do an interview with SEMA News, which appears below. State lawmakers represent fewer constituents than federal lawmakers, and thus are often more accessible. Sen. Maynard invited readers with questions or comments to contact him at mark.maynard@
wvsenate.gov.

SEMA News: We suspect that any representative at the state or federal level is inundated with information and requests. How can we cut through all the noise and help our representatives better understand our industry?

Mark Maynard: If there is something very important on someone’s mind, they could spend less than 15 minutes and accomplish every method of contact for their legislator: email, phone call, and a letter. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find a contact database for all of the representatives in your state to allow you to send one email to all legislators, but with copy-and-paste, you can reach many legislators with the same message.

You can also save the email addresses of all of your legislators in a document so that you can copy and paste them using the CC or BCC function whenever you have a message. In West Virginia, for example, you could get your point across in less than five minutes to 134 legislators. But my main recommendation is belonging to an association that can keep you updated and represent you on topics related to your industry.

SN: That is very interesting. To be honest, we’ve often had the sense that our representatives are so overwhelmed with constituent feedback that our single message isn’t going to make any difference, but as we talk about this, our realization is that maybe our messages have more resonance than we realized.

MM: Absolutely! I am not overwhelmed; I have a manageable amount of messages and feedback. I share my email address and phone number readily and have really tried to get it out there. I receive a manageable number of text messages every day. We try hard to keep an eye on feedback, especially when we’re in session. That’s when it’s really important for constituents to contact their legislators, when they are in session. Grassroots efforts can have a big impact on a bill.

SN: As electric and hybrid vehicles gain popularity, there will inevitably be some attention from regulators looking at motorsports. How can we make sure that the internal-combustion engine is specifically protected in motorsports applications?

MM: That’s a great question. The idea of the internal-combustion engine not being a part of motorsports, that actually almost brings a tear to my eye. I embrace all forms of motorsports, electric or otherwise, but my first love is the rumble of an internal-combustion engine. It’s going to take a grassroots effort for constituents to say, “No, we will not allow these engines to go away.” I’d hate to see it come to this someday, but it’s one thing if we lose the cars on the street, but we’re going to have to stand firm to not allow the electric engine to ever be exclusive.

SN: Another important issue for segments such as off-road racing is land access. You were recently appointed as a board member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. How can we make certain we have access to the land needed for different forms of competition?

MM: You know, it once again comes back to your state and federal legislators. They are in control of this land, but when it comes right down to it, they share control.

State and federal agencies are technically in charge, and the legislators can make the greatest arguments in the world [for land usage for motorsports], but if these agencies don’t agree, then it doesn’t happen. They are considered the experts, and their opinion many times outweighs the points made by a legislator or a committee. I can have the greatest ideas in the world for land access, but when the Department of Natural Resources says it’s bad, the idea goes down in flames most of the time.

I’ve talked about contacting your legislators, but in many cases, the head of a state agency actually has much more authority than the legislature—but they are known as bureaucrats for a reason. They are often appointed and in a position to do good things, and sometimes when you think outside the box, it’s not always a good thing. So this bureaucrat could risk his position if he gets a little too radical and tries to make things happen. But for an individual to try to make things happen, contacting your state and federal agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and either the U.S. Forest Service or the Department of the Interior (DOI), those are avenues.

The fight for land usage is becoming a pretty big job. I have scheduled meetings in Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the DOI stressing the importance of land access. If I lived closer to D.C., I would be there once a month, knocking on their doors.

And one more thing: Go to the Capitol. I know it’s difficult now with the COVID situation, but go to Washington, set up an appointment with your legislators, and talk to them. Stress to them the importance of land usage for off-road sports. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. That’s still true.

››› Promoting outdoor recreation, including OHV use, is a priority for State Sen. Mark Maynard. In the last year alone, he has worked on legislation to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation in West Virginia, develop a West Virginia Statewide Motorized Trail, encourage public access and use of state roads and trails, and request the construction of an off-highway vehicle trail to parallel the Appalachian Hiking Trail.

››› West Virginia State Senator Mark Maynard is an active member of SEMA’s State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.

Courtesy WV Legislative Photography/Will Price