SEMA News—August 2019

PEOPLE

SEMA Announces Board Election Results

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 all SEMA-member companies and represent the trade association’s key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ representatives, and services. There were five open seats on the Board for the 2018 election cycle, including the chairman-elect position. Online voting opened May 14 and concluded May 28 with the following results:

Chairman-Elect Category

James Lawrence
CEO, Power Automedia

James Lawrence of Power Automedia has been elected chairman-elect and will help the SEMA Board of Directors lead the association over the next few years. Lawrence fills the position held for the past two years by Tim Martin of Aftermarket Advisors. Martin will begin his term as chairman in July. Melanie White of Hellwig Products and Kathryn Reinhardt of Pilot Automotive were also voted onto the SEMA Board of Directors, while Chris Douglas of Comp Performance Group and Les Rudd of Bob Cook Sales were re-elected to serve another term.

The entire 2019–2020 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored at the SEMA Installation & Gala in July. At the same time, outgoing SEMA Immediate Past Chair Doug Evans of Crower Cams & Equipment Co. Inc. and Board member Kyle Fickler of Aeromotive Inc. will be recognized as they conclude
their terms.

The following pages include biographical information and statements from the newly elected Board members regarding their views on issues facing the industry as well as the personal priorities they hope to bring to their work.

I am grateful and humbled to have been elected chairman-elect of SEMA thanks to the efforts of so many of you that care so deeply about our industry. I am proud to stand along side each and every one of you as we grow and we protect our future.

The real work has just begun. I appreciate deeply the kind words. At the same time, I hope that in four years we will look back, and together with the SEMA Board of Directors, we can truly appreciate THEN what we will have accomplished with SEMA and PRI.

My commitment to SEMA and PRI, SEMA members and our industry is to lead with passion and kindness. Change isn’t easy, and there are many big projects ahead of us. Only working together for a common goal will we achieve greatness. There are tough decisions that will need to be made, and every project can’t be a priority.

While it’s not a part of SEMA’s official mission statement, SEMA is in many ways the protector, leader and driver of innovation for the entire automotive aftermarket. YES, SEMA exists to support the membership. YES, SEMA exists to produce world-class trade shows. But there is something bigger than that—a stewardship of this automotive life which so many of us love so dearly. When my wife and I look at our kids and their budding love of cars, we want SEMA to be there for them to make sure that they’ll get to enjoy the same opportunities so many of us had.

I am looking forward to working together with the SEMA Board of Directors, SEMA leadership team, SEMA staff, SEMA members and automotive enthusiasts everywhere to collaborate on this mission. We will need you. This isn’t something that can be done alone.

I want to thank Russell Stephens—my fellow candidate for chair-elect—who has given so much to this industry. It has been a pleasure to go through this process with you, and I thank you for your service. Thank you to Wade Kawasaki and Tim Martin—whom I served under the last two years on the SEMA Board—who encouraged me in my volunteerism, provided me opportunities and projects, and urged me to make
a difference.

Finally, thanks to my family who endured the many late nights I spent time on this campaign and dream, but always had my back understanding that this is what I was destined to do with my life and the sacrifices weren’t always mine to make. This also includes my work family at Power Automedia who has helped me through my SEMA volunteer efforts, and has encouraged and supported me through this entire process.

Let’s make a difference.

Manufacturers Category

Chris Douglas
COO, COMP Performance Group

It’s been my honor to serve SEMA over the last three years on the Board of Directors. During my first term, I fought for the industry while pushing for greater transparency and responsiveness from the association. However, the job isn’t finished, and the years ahead will bring additional political, economic and industry evolution challenges.

As SEMA navigates these uncertain times, I seek to continue serving the membership by bringing 25 years of diverse aftermarket experience, proven leadership and accountability. My priorities include:

Legislative Affairs: I will ensure that SEMA takes a strong leadership role by proactively working with federal/state governments to eliminate and/or negate misguided regulations. We must recognize threats sooner and work to mitigate them before they threaten our membership.

Industry Growth: We must define/engage the next generation of customers and employees. As a marketer and father of two young children, I can help SEMA better understand the minds that will power the industry forward. We must also work smarter to expand engagement with the industry, domestically and abroad.

Member Value: From the SEMA Show to market research to international business programs, I will advocate for using our collective strength to create impactful resources and provide a voice for all members, particularly the small independent businesses.

I grew up in this industry, and it has shaped who I am today. From a successful career as a professional racer to earning a B.A. in marketing, the business of motorsports has been my lifelong focus. My current position as Comp Performance Group COO involves leading hundreds of team members as well as financial guidance and responsibility for many iconic brands in the aftermarket.

My accomplishments include:

• COO for Comp Performance Group, ’17–current
• Partner/COO at Xceleration Media, ’15–’18
• Vice President of Marketing for Comp Cams, ’03–’17
• Operations Director at Race-On Performance Driving School, ’00–’02
• Professional Race Car Driver (Karts, ASA, ARCA and NASCAR), ’85–’03

I’ve also served in elected leadership positions on the SEMA Board, the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council and the Young Executives Network.

Kathryn Reinhardt
Vice President of Marketing, Pilot Automotive

I ran for the SEMA Board of Directors first and foremost as an automotive enthusiast. I was born in Detroit, raised in Georgia, and have spent the last 17 years helping move aftermarket companies forward by creating successful marketing programs.

I want to be a fierce voice for every small business by providing resources for all our companies to prosper, working to stop regulatory overreach and growing our industry for the next generation of consumers. I will work hard to increase awareness and the benefits of existing SEMA programs and provide creative new opportunities to help serve your business needs.

Experience:

• Manufacturing: Having worked for a series of aftermarket manufacturers, I can relate to new product development, tariffs and regulations.
• Distribution: The speed and accuracy of distribution is deeply affected by ever-changing consumer buying habits.
• Marketing: I have my finger on the pulse of how to effectively market to consumers and create cross-marketing opportunities with fringe industries.
• Legislation/Regulation: I have firsthand experience lobbying elected officials on regulations and working with task forces to reduce government overreach.

Leadership:

• Vice President of Pilot Automotive
• Director of Marketing for MagnaFlow
• LTAA Chairwoman, 2017–2019
• SEMA Cares Committee (Pinewood Drags)
• Auto Care Scholarship Committee

Achievements:

• SEMA Person of the Year, 2015
• YEN Vanguard Award, 2015
• SBN Woman of the Year, 2014
• LTAA Chairman’s Award, 2015
• SEMA News 35 Under 35, 2013

I am prepared to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors and be your champion for change. Let’s take our $43 billion industry and work together to make it $53 billion! I will bring the vision and the drive to achieve goals and create transparency so that every member knows what SEMA is doing to support business growth.

Melanie White
President, Hellwig Products

I ran for the SEMA Board of Directors to protect the little guy, to focus on the small businesses that built this industry, and because SEMA members deserve a Board that understands what they are going through and that will fight for their needs.

Protecting Our Legacy: I am the fourth generation of my family to run Hellwig Products, which was founded by my great-grandfather in 1946. We have exhibited at the SEMA Show since its inception. My family has been committed to this industry for more than 70 years, and I am committed to ensuring that we have a bright future for years to come.

Experience: I worked my way up from sales to the shop floor to being the first female president of my company. I live in steel-toe boots and have worked the line. After running a family manufacturing company and working daily with small shops and major OEMs, I know the challenges our members face every day.

A Seat at the Table: Outside interests are reshaping SEMA and the way it represents our needs. Small businesses and real manufacturers who still make products in America need a voice on the SEMA Board. I will be the voice of small and family businesses.

Taking the Long View: Our industry tends to “ride the wave” up and down; we have been too reactive to Washington, the OEMs and changing consumer tastes. Are we prepared? Are our members? I want to make sure that both the association and our members have the tools they need to survive.

SEMA Leadership: I was the 2018 SEMA Person of the Year, and have served as chair of the Light Truck Accessory Alliance and SEMA Cares. I participated in SEMA Board meetings as a Council Board Liaison, served on six councils and networks, was a key stakeholder in the program with SEMA and Clemson University that studied stability control and suspension modifications, and I fought for the RPM Act on Capitol Hill.

Having been elected, I will fight for small businesses on the SEMA Board.

Manufacturers’ Representative Category

Les Rudd
President/CEO, Bob Cook Sales

I am honored to have this opportunity to continue my service as an incumbent on the SEMA Board of Directors. With your support we will—together—make a better SEMA!

With an impartial mindset, I will strive to support all SEMA members with vision, integrity, loyalty and honesty as we face the key issues that lie before us today. There are threats against us that many cannot see and are not aware of. In turn, I will maintain a key mindset on these issues and seek opportunities that will lead us toward a more prominent and secure future. Here is my background:

Professional Employment:

• Bob Cook Sales, ’91–present
• Representative, ’91–’03
• Partner/Principal, ’04–’13
• President, ’14–current
• National Sales Manager for TCI Automotive, ’85–’91
• Manager at Bloomfield Auto Parts and Speed, ’83–’85

Outstanding Career Achievements and SEMA Involvement:

• SEMA Board of Directors, ’16–current
• SEMA Manufacturers Rep Network Chair, ’02–’04 and ’14–’16
• SEMA Political Action Committee Presidents Club
• More Than 22 Years of SEMA Council and Network Involvement
• Certified Professional Manufacturers Rep
• Previous CAN (PWA) Board of Directors Liaison
• Member of Bob Cook Sales for Seven SEMA Rep of the Year Awards
• Numerous Rep of the Year Awards From Manufacturer Clients and Customers
• Goodguys Pros Pick, ’07 and ’08
• Super Chevy Editor’s Choice, ’08; Outstanding ’55 Award, ’08
• Numerous Committees, Task Force Memberships and Industry Recognitions

Although our industry, by choice, is a large part of my everyday life, I do spend time on other interests as well. I am an avid outdoorsman. I am a regular volunteer at my church. My wife and I have been blessed with the task of raising our two granddaughters; her patience and support allows for me to seek my dreams. Your confidence in me is an honor and is greatly appreciated.

SEMA News—August 2019

PEOPLE

By John Stewart

The SEMA Hall of Fame

A 50-Year Perspective

In honor of the SEMA Hall of Fame’s first inductee, Hall of Fame honors were originally called the Paul Schiefer “Old Timer’s Memorial Award.”

The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the SEMA Hall of Fame. Created in 1969, the Hall of Fame is the association’s highest recognition, established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, industriousness and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the industry’s growth.

In honor of the Hall’s first inductee, Hall of Fame honors were originally called the Paul Schiefer “Old Timer’s Memorial Award.” The award was named for one of SEMA’s original founding members, who pioneered safer flywheels and clutch assemblies for racing. The “old timer’s” reference alluded to a board directive that the award honor founders of the industry, since one of the criteria for the SEMA Hall of Fame award is that the candidate must have been involved in the industry and/or association for a minimum of 10 years.

In 1986, the award came to be known simply as the SEMA Hall of Fame. Though the name changed, the original intent did not. To this day, the award continues to honor and pay tribute to the leaders and legends who helped make the automotive specialty-equipment market an industry worth in excess of $44 billion annually.

Inductees are selected by a committee of their peers, who annually accept nominations and undertake the difficult task of selecting new members—an elite few without whom the industry would not be where it is. Some are pioneers; some became iconic through their work; others improved the industry through their generosity and commitment to service; but all set positive examples and made indelible contributions to the industry on a national or international scale.

In any given year, it’s not unusual for three or four people to earn induction into the Hall of Fame. New inductees are announced at the annual SEMA Installation & Gala, a prominent event that attracts a who’s who of the industry.

Later in the year, the individuals honored with Hall of Fame commendation are recognized at the SEMA Awards Banquet during the annual SEMA Show. The award’s custom-designed trophy is regarded as one of the most admired and sought-after in the automotive aftermarket.

Collectively, the Hall of Fame award recipients chronicle the history of the industry, which SEMA News celebrates by including images of every inductee in this issue. Complete profiles and photo galleries of the inductees can be found at www.semahof.com.

Matt Agosta, 2016	Bob Airheart, 1993	Don Alderson, 2001
Joe Amato, 1998	Brian Appelgate, 2003	Nick Arias Jr., 2012
Zora Arkus-Duntov, 1973	Joel Ayres, 2015	Tom Babcox, 1982
Lou Baney, 1992	Don "Bud" Barnett, 1994	George Barris, 2013
John Bartlett, 1981	Gray Baskerville, 2011	Sandy Belond, 1981
Jim Bingham, 2015	Keith Black, 1986	Raymond Bleiweis, 2008
Chuck Blum, 1997	Chuck Bobins, 1980	Steve Bolio, 2006
Louis Borick, 1995	Dan Borré, 1990	Jim Borré, 2000
Ray Brock, 1994	Paul "Scooter" Brothers, 2005	Ray Brown (right), 1991
Robert Cahill, 1997	Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 2008	"Honest Charley" Card, 1970
GiGi Carleton, 2017	Dick Cepek, 1983	Bob Chandler, 2019
Pete Chapouris, 1999	Art Chrisman, 2011	Boyd Coddington, 1995
Corky Coker, 2008	Ronald Coleman, 2000	Robert Cook, 2008
Nile Cornelison, 2014	Jim Cozzie, 2014	Harvey J. Crane Jr., 1981
Bruce Crower, 2019	Dick Day, 1990	Russ Deane, 2007
Jim Diest, 1984	Murray Diamond, 1992	Howard Douglas, 1988
Donnie Eatherly, 2018	Chris Economaki, 2011	Vic Edelbrock Jr., 1989
Vic Edelbrock Sr., 1977	Ed Elliott, 1974	George Elliott, 1990
Doug Evans, 2017	Amy Faulk, 2002	Herb Fishel, 2005
Chip Foose, 2016	George Foote, 1984	Donna Imrie Foulger, 1982
Bill France Sr., 2012	Ron Funfar, 2007	Dennis Gage, 2015
Don Garlits, 1980	Willie Garner, 1976	Angelo Giampetroni, 1993
Harvey Goldberg, 1992	Jack Goldstein (right), 1979	Andy Granatelli (center), 2001
Eric Grant, 2013	Ted Halibrand, 1983	Kenny Harman, 1979
Jack Harris, 1981	C.J. "Pappy" Hart, 1981	Jack Hart, 1978
Bill Hays	Bob Hedman, 1987	Mark Heffington, 2012
Harry Hibler, 2002	Stuart Hilborn, 1996	Stan Hiltz, 1985
Dennis Holding, 1997	Gary Hooker, 2016	Joe Hrudka, 1980
George Hurst (in coat), 1978	Ed Iskenderian, 1978	Leo Kagan, 1982
Wade Kawasaki, 2013	Bob Keller, 2004	Jim Kerr, 1996
Sheldon Konblett, 1986	Arnold Kuhns, 2002	Walter “Butch” Lahmann, 1995
Bob Larivee Sr., 2012	Burke LeSage (right), 2005	Roy Leslie, 1972
Jerry Light, 1983	Ray Lipper, 2002	Els Lohn, 1985
Boots Mallory, 1978	Dick Martin, 1993	Dick Maxwell, 2006
Dave McClelland, 1994	Jim McFarland, 2001	Bob McJannett, 2003
Richard “Dick” McMullen, 2010	Barry Meguiar, 2017	John Menzler, 2014
Dean Moon, 1988	Marla Moore, 2019	Dick Moroso, 1999
Fred C. Offenhauser, 2014	Carl Olson, 1991	Wally Parks, 1979
Bob Patteri, 1999	Bill Perry, 2009	Robert E. Petersen, 1981
Vince Piggins, 1991	Ed Pink, 2018	Joe Pisano, 1992
Don Prudhomme, 1997	Don Raleigh, 1989	Alan Reed, 1991
Roy Richter, 1974	Marvin Rifchin, 2003	P.G. “Red” Roberts, 2000
Rick Rollins, 2006	John Scafidi Sr., 1998	Paul Schiefer, 1969
Joe Schubeck, 2013	Chuck Schwartz, 2010	Louis Senter, 1978
Tom Shedden, 1983	Carroll Shelby, 1986	Nate Shelton, 2007
Ben Sigman, 1987	John Simmons, 2004	Bill Simpson, 1988
Bill Smith, 1984	Don Smith, 1987	Bob Spar, 1981
Bill Stroppe, 1985	Mickey Thompson, 1984	Chris Thomson, 2018
John Towle, 2011	Charlie Van Cleve, 2004	Dick Van Cleve, 1996
Bob Vandergriff, 2003	Jim Vaughn, 1981	Linda Vaughn, 1985
Thurston Warn, 1986	Harry Weber, 1978	Joan Weiand, 1995
Phil Weiand, 1975	Dick Wells (right), 1993	Ed Winfield, 1971
Jim Wirth, 2004	Van Woodell, 2010	Steve Woomer, 1999
Rolan "Jeep" Worthan, 2009	Henry “Smokey” Yunick, 2009	Alex Xydias, 1982

SEMA News—August 2019

PEOPLE

By John Stewart

The SEMA Hall of Fame

A 50-Year Perspective

In honor of the SEMA Hall of Fame’s first inductee, Hall of Fame honors were originally called the Paul Schiefer “Old Timer’s Memorial Award.”

The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the SEMA Hall of Fame. Created in 1969, the Hall of Fame is the association’s highest recognition, established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, industriousness and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the industry’s growth.

In honor of the Hall’s first inductee, Hall of Fame honors were originally called the Paul Schiefer “Old Timer’s Memorial Award.” The award was named for one of SEMA’s original founding members, who pioneered safer flywheels and clutch assemblies for racing. The “old timer’s” reference alluded to a board directive that the award honor founders of the industry, since one of the criteria for the SEMA Hall of Fame award is that the candidate must have been involved in the industry and/or association for a minimum of 10 years.

In 1986, the award came to be known simply as the SEMA Hall of Fame. Though the name changed, the original intent did not. To this day, the award continues to honor and pay tribute to the leaders and legends who helped make the automotive specialty-equipment market an industry worth in excess of $44 billion annually.

Inductees are selected by a committee of their peers, who annually accept nominations and undertake the difficult task of selecting new members—an elite few without whom the industry would not be where it is. Some are pioneers; some became iconic through their work; others improved the industry through their generosity and commitment to service; but all set positive examples and made indelible contributions to the industry on a national or international scale.

In any given year, it’s not unusual for three or four people to earn induction into the Hall of Fame. New inductees are announced at the annual SEMA Installation & Gala, a prominent event that attracts a who’s who of the industry.

Later in the year, the individuals honored with Hall of Fame commendation are recognized at the SEMA Awards Banquet during the annual SEMA Show. The award’s custom-designed trophy is regarded as one of the most admired and sought-after in the automotive aftermarket.

Collectively, the Hall of Fame award recipients chronicle the history of the industry, which SEMA News celebrates by including images of every inductee in this issue. Complete profiles and photo galleries of the inductees can be found at www.semahof.com.

Matt Agosta, 2016	Bob Airheart, 1993	Don Alderson, 2001
Joe Amato, 1998	Brian Appelgate, 2003	Nick Arias Jr., 2012
Zora Arkus-Duntov, 1973	Joel Ayres, 2015	Tom Babcox, 1982
Lou Baney, 1992	Don "Bud" Barnett, 1994	George Barris, 2013
John Bartlett, 1981	Gray Baskerville, 2011	Sandy Belond, 1981
Jim Bingham, 2015	Keith Black, 1986	Raymond Bleiweis, 2008
Chuck Blum, 1997	Chuck Bobins, 1980	Steve Bolio, 2006
Louis Borick, 1995	Dan Borré, 1990	Jim Borré, 2000
Ray Brock, 1994	Paul "Scooter" Brothers, 2005	Ray Brown (right), 1991
Robert Cahill, 1997	Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 2008	"Honest Charley" Card, 1970
GiGi Carleton, 2017	Dick Cepek, 1983	Bob Chandler, 2019
Pete Chapouris, 1999	Art Chrisman, 2011	Boyd Coddington, 1995
Corky Coker, 2008	Ronald Coleman, 2000	Robert Cook, 2008
Nile Cornelison, 2014	Jim Cozzie, 2014	Harvey J. Crane Jr., 1981
Bruce Crower, 2019	Dick Day, 1990	Russ Deane, 2007
Jim Diest, 1984	Murray Diamond, 1992	Howard Douglas, 1988
Donnie Eatherly, 2018	Chris Economaki, 2011	Vic Edelbrock Jr., 1989
Vic Edelbrock Sr., 1977	Ed Elliott, 1974	George Elliott, 1990
Doug Evans, 2017	Amy Faulk, 2002	Herb Fishel, 2005
Chip Foose, 2016	George Foote, 1984	Donna Imrie Foulger, 1982
Bill France Sr., 2012	Ron Funfar, 2007	Dennis Gage, 2015
Don Garlits, 1980	Willie Garner, 1976	Angelo Giampetroni, 1993
Harvey Goldberg, 1992	Jack Goldstein (right), 1979	Andy Granatelli (center), 2001
Eric Grant, 2013	Ted Halibrand, 1983	Kenny Harman, 1979
Jack Harris, 1981	C.J. "Pappy" Hart, 1981	Jack Hart, 1978
Bill Hays	Bob Hedman, 1987	Mark Heffington, 2012
Harry Hibler, 2002	Stuart Hilborn, 1996	Stan Hiltz, 1985
Dennis Holding, 1997	Gary Hooker, 2016	Joe Hrudka, 1980
George Hurst (in coat), 1978	Ed Iskenderian, 1978	Leo Kagan, 1982
Wade Kawasaki, 2013	Bob Keller, 2004	Jim Kerr, 1996
Sheldon Konblett, 1986	Arnold Kuhns, 2002	Walter “Butch” Lahmann, 1995
Bob Larivee Sr., 2012	Burke LeSage (right), 2005	Roy Leslie, 1972
Jerry Light, 1983	Ray Lipper, 2002	Els Lohn, 1985
Boots Mallory, 1978	Dick Martin, 1993	Dick Maxwell, 2006
Dave McClelland, 1994	Jim McFarland, 2001	Bob McJannett, 2003
Richard “Dick” McMullen, 2010	Barry Meguiar, 2017	John Menzler, 2014
Dean Moon, 1988	Marla Moore, 2019	Dick Moroso, 1999
Fred C. Offenhauser, 2014	Carl Olson, 1991	Wally Parks, 1979
Bob Patteri, 1999	Bill Perry, 2009	Robert E. Petersen, 1981
Vince Piggins, 1991	Ed Pink, 2018	Joe Pisano, 1992
Don Prudhomme, 1997	Don Raleigh, 1989	Alan Reed, 1991
Roy Richter, 1974	Marvin Rifchin, 2003	P.G. “Red” Roberts, 2000
Rick Rollins, 2006	John Scafidi Sr., 1998	Paul Schiefer, 1969
Joe Schubeck, 2013	Chuck Schwartz, 2010	Louis Senter, 1978
Tom Shedden, 1983	Carroll Shelby, 1986	Nate Shelton, 2007
Ben Sigman, 1987	John Simmons, 2004	Bill Simpson, 1988
Bill Smith, 1984	Don Smith, 1987	Bob Spar, 1981
Bill Stroppe, 1985	Mickey Thompson, 1984	Chris Thomson, 2018
John Towle, 2011	Charlie Van Cleve, 2004	Dick Van Cleve, 1996
Bob Vandergriff, 2003	Jim Vaughn, 1981	Linda Vaughn, 1985
Thurston Warn, 1986	Harry Weber, 1978	Joan Weiand, 1995
Phil Weiand, 1975	Dick Wells (right), 1993	Ed Winfield, 1971
Jim Wirth, 2004	Van Woodell, 2010	Steve Woomer, 1999
Rolan "Jeep" Worthan, 2009	Henry “Smokey” Yunick, 2009	Alex Xydias, 1982

SEMA News—August 2019

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa Shows Off His Prized Fords to SEMA News

Rep. LaMalfa’s “Gotta Have It Green” ’13 Boss Mustang 302 has seven-spoke Saleen wheels and modified exhaust.

While there are more than a few automotive enthusiasts in Congress, the zeal of U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) for the hobby and collection of classic vehicles puts him in a class by himself. LaMalfa started wrenching on cars during his formative years, and his passion for buying and personalizing vehicles continued to grow during the following decades.

LaMalfa’s fleet includes Ford trucks from ’34 and ’50, four Mustangs (’65, ’68, ’03, and ’13), a ’69 Torino Talladega, a ’72 Pantera, and ’55 and ’56 Thunderbirds that he maintains for his parents. SEMA and its members are fortunate to have a strong ally in Rep. LaMalfa, who has led the charge on pro-automotive hobby policies during his time as a California state legislator and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This ’50 Ford F1 pickup was on the LaMalfa family’s original South Bay ranch. The truck initially had an inline six-cylinder Flathead engine. Rep. LaMalfa removed the rust from the exterior, put some primer on it, and painted it satin red. He sourced a ’40s Lincoln V12 Flathead engine with electric fans and dual exhaust pipes. In place of the original three-speed is a T5 transmission from Speedway Motors, using a bellhousing adapter.

LaMalfa grew up working on his family’s rice farm, which is located not far from Sacramento, California, and dates to 1931. When he wasn’t working or studying, he could be found tinkering with vehicles. He credits his father and especially his grandfather’s influence for shaping him
into a gearhead.

By the age of 16, he took out a loan from a bank and purchased a pickup, which he tinkered with and drove for a few years. He took a job at a local mill while in junior college and saved up to buy a Competition Orange ’69 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, which has a 351 engine and a ram air hood. LaMalfa also put a four-speed top-loader in place of the car’s automatic transmission.

He went on to study agriculture and business at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. He put his education to work managing the family farm, which he and his family still call home. Rep. LaMalfa is a fourth-generation owner of the LaMalfa Family Partnership, which owns and operates the farm.

As a result of his experience running the farm in a state that is not known for being friendly to farmers or business, LaMalfa ran for public office for the first time in 2002, winning a seat in the California State Assembly. He went on to serve in the Assembly until 2008, and he was elected to the California State Senate in 2010.

Rep. LaMalfa helped his future wife purchase this ’65 Mustang Fastback when she was finishing college. LaMalfa stored it in his barn for years, and he recently fixed it up. In the ’80s, he swapped in a T-5 five-speed transmission from a former California Highway Patrol Mustang that he won at auction. The car is painted Shelby style, with white stripes on top of Gulfstream Aqua blue, and it has 16-in. American Torq Thrust wheels. Its 289 engine is punched out and is fitted with beautiful AFR aluminum heads that Rep. LaMalfa saw at the SEMA Show. The car is also fitted with Wilwood front disc brakes and a saddle-color Pony interior.

During his time in Sacramento, LaMalfa proved himself an ally of automotive enthusiasts, private property owners and taxpayers. As a member of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, LaMalfa was a frequent collaborator with SEMA on issues of importance to automotive enthusiasts. Most notably, he attempted to expand the smog-check testing exemption to include vehicles produced from ’76–’80.

When U.S. Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) decided to retire from Congress after representing inland Northern California for more than 25 years, he endorsed LaMalfa to be his successor. LaMalfa handily won the primary election against six other candidates and went on to win the general election by a margin of 57% to 42% during an otherwise difficult 2012 election cycle for Republicans. LaMalfa’s relationship with SEMA continued to flourish during his time in Congress, where he is a member of the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure
and Agriculture.

Fresh off his first re-election to Congress, Rep. LaMalfa attended the 2014 SEMA Show the following day. While it wasn’t his first time at the Show, it was a memorable one, as Rep. LaMalfa had the opportunity to meet Richard Petty. His conversation with “The King” was particularly special for LaMalfa, who owns a “Petty Blue” ’69 Ford Torino Talladega with a #43 on the roof. The vehicle has a 428 big-block Ford engine and was one of only 745 originally built.

Rep. LaMalfa’s ’03 Mustang Mach 1.

Rep. LaMalfa has also been a staunch supporter of the RPM Act, serving as a leading voice on Capitol Hill for protecting racing and the motorsports parts industry. Shortly after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a 2015 draft regulation stating that it is illegal to modify a street legal vehicle into a race car, Rep. LaMalfa led the charge to stop the agency in its tracks.

During a January 2016 House Agriculture Committee hearing, the congressman questioned then-EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about why the EPA was trying to shut down racing. Rep. LaMalfa’s aggressive questioning led the administrator to backtrack and confirm that it is legal to convert a motor vehicle into a race car, which ultimately led to the agency removing the provision from the final regulation.

Congressman LaMalfa was kind enough to sit down with SEMA News to talk about his collection of beloved “Blue Ovals,” which are described in the captions accompanying the pictures of his vehicles.

Rep. LaMalfa’s parents’ classic ’55 Thunderbird rolls on a set of Tru Spoke wire wheels and has been upgraded with front disk brakes, a larger front sway bar and Bilstein shocks. Future plans for the vehicle include a transmission swap for better shift control.	This ’68 Mustang California Special is highland green—the same color as the ’68 Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in the film Bullitt. Rep. LaMalfa upgraded the engine to a 351 Cleveland from the smaller 302 that came stock. The 351 features aluminum Edelbrock heads and intake, a Tremec transmission, Koni shocks and four-wheel disc brakes.
Rep. LaMalfa’s ’69 Torino Talladega serves as a campaign car in parades. It’s painted “Petty Blue” and includes a #43 decal. LaMalfa noted that Ford produced only 745 of this model in 1969. It has a 428 big-block Ford engine with special gears, along with a lengthened front nose and an aerodynamic grille. He bought the car from a family member and noted that he cleaned 40 lbs. of acorns out of it in addition to doing some rough body work. It also features NASCAR-style wheels with long racing studs and 1-in.-diameter lug nuts.	Rep. LaMalfa’s ’34 Ford truck has been on his family’s farm since he was a kid. The original Flathead V8 was replaced by a small-block Ford with a Dart block, World Products iron heads, a Ford Motorsport intake, a four-speed overdrive manual transmission and a heavy-duty rearend to give it a modern feel. The congressman adapted the original five-lug wheels to the modern 10-lug pattern, each shod in Coker 7.00-20 tires. Interestingly, the truck has a manual turn signal with an arm that goes up when a cable is pulled.
Rep. LaMalfa and Richard Petty (right) at the 2014 SEMA Show.	SEMA Board Immediate Past-Chair Wade Kawasaki (left) of Coker Group, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Rose Kawasaki (right) of Exports International posed for a picture during the 2014 SEMA Washington Rally.

SEMA News—August 2019

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa Shows Off His Prized Fords to SEMA News

Rep. LaMalfa’s “Gotta Have It Green” ’13 Boss Mustang 302 has seven-spoke Saleen wheels and modified exhaust.

While there are more than a few automotive enthusiasts in Congress, the zeal of U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) for the hobby and collection of classic vehicles puts him in a class by himself. LaMalfa started wrenching on cars during his formative years, and his passion for buying and personalizing vehicles continued to grow during the following decades.

LaMalfa’s fleet includes Ford trucks from ’34 and ’50, four Mustangs (’65, ’68, ’03, and ’13), a ’69 Torino Talladega, a ’72 Pantera, and ’55 and ’56 Thunderbirds that he maintains for his parents. SEMA and its members are fortunate to have a strong ally in Rep. LaMalfa, who has led the charge on pro-automotive hobby policies during his time as a California state legislator and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This ’50 Ford F1 pickup was on the LaMalfa family’s original South Bay ranch. The truck initially had an inline six-cylinder Flathead engine. Rep. LaMalfa removed the rust from the exterior, put some primer on it, and painted it satin red. He sourced a ’40s Lincoln V12 Flathead engine with electric fans and dual exhaust pipes. In place of the original three-speed is a T5 transmission from Speedway Motors, using a bellhousing adapter.

LaMalfa grew up working on his family’s rice farm, which is located not far from Sacramento, California, and dates to 1931. When he wasn’t working or studying, he could be found tinkering with vehicles. He credits his father and especially his grandfather’s influence for shaping him
into a gearhead.

By the age of 16, he took out a loan from a bank and purchased a pickup, which he tinkered with and drove for a few years. He took a job at a local mill while in junior college and saved up to buy a Competition Orange ’69 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, which has a 351 engine and a ram air hood. LaMalfa also put a four-speed top-loader in place of the car’s automatic transmission.

He went on to study agriculture and business at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. He put his education to work managing the family farm, which he and his family still call home. Rep. LaMalfa is a fourth-generation owner of the LaMalfa Family Partnership, which owns and operates the farm.

As a result of his experience running the farm in a state that is not known for being friendly to farmers or business, LaMalfa ran for public office for the first time in 2002, winning a seat in the California State Assembly. He went on to serve in the Assembly until 2008, and he was elected to the California State Senate in 2010.

Rep. LaMalfa helped his future wife purchase this ’65 Mustang Fastback when she was finishing college. LaMalfa stored it in his barn for years, and he recently fixed it up. In the ’80s, he swapped in a T-5 five-speed transmission from a former California Highway Patrol Mustang that he won at auction. The car is painted Shelby style, with white stripes on top of Gulfstream Aqua blue, and it has 16-in. American Torq Thrust wheels. Its 289 engine is punched out and is fitted with beautiful AFR aluminum heads that Rep. LaMalfa saw at the SEMA Show. The car is also fitted with Wilwood front disc brakes and a saddle-color Pony interior.

During his time in Sacramento, LaMalfa proved himself an ally of automotive enthusiasts, private property owners and taxpayers. As a member of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, LaMalfa was a frequent collaborator with SEMA on issues of importance to automotive enthusiasts. Most notably, he attempted to expand the smog-check testing exemption to include vehicles produced from ’76–’80.

When U.S. Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) decided to retire from Congress after representing inland Northern California for more than 25 years, he endorsed LaMalfa to be his successor. LaMalfa handily won the primary election against six other candidates and went on to win the general election by a margin of 57% to 42% during an otherwise difficult 2012 election cycle for Republicans. LaMalfa’s relationship with SEMA continued to flourish during his time in Congress, where he is a member of the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure
and Agriculture.

Fresh off his first re-election to Congress, Rep. LaMalfa attended the 2014 SEMA Show the following day. While it wasn’t his first time at the Show, it was a memorable one, as Rep. LaMalfa had the opportunity to meet Richard Petty. His conversation with “The King” was particularly special for LaMalfa, who owns a “Petty Blue” ’69 Ford Torino Talladega with a #43 on the roof. The vehicle has a 428 big-block Ford engine and was one of only 745 originally built.

Rep. LaMalfa’s ’03 Mustang Mach 1.

Rep. LaMalfa has also been a staunch supporter of the RPM Act, serving as a leading voice on Capitol Hill for protecting racing and the motorsports parts industry. Shortly after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a 2015 draft regulation stating that it is illegal to modify a street legal vehicle into a race car, Rep. LaMalfa led the charge to stop the agency in its tracks.

During a January 2016 House Agriculture Committee hearing, the congressman questioned then-EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about why the EPA was trying to shut down racing. Rep. LaMalfa’s aggressive questioning led the administrator to backtrack and confirm that it is legal to convert a motor vehicle into a race car, which ultimately led to the agency removing the provision from the final regulation.

Congressman LaMalfa was kind enough to sit down with SEMA News to talk about his collection of beloved “Blue Ovals,” which are described in the captions accompanying the pictures of his vehicles.

Rep. LaMalfa’s parents’ classic ’55 Thunderbird rolls on a set of Tru Spoke wire wheels and has been upgraded with front disk brakes, a larger front sway bar and Bilstein shocks. Future plans for the vehicle include a transmission swap for better shift control.	This ’68 Mustang California Special is highland green—the same color as the ’68 Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in the film Bullitt. Rep. LaMalfa upgraded the engine to a 351 Cleveland from the smaller 302 that came stock. The 351 features aluminum Edelbrock heads and intake, a Tremec transmission, Koni shocks and four-wheel disc brakes.
Rep. LaMalfa’s ’69 Torino Talladega serves as a campaign car in parades. It’s painted “Petty Blue” and includes a #43 decal. LaMalfa noted that Ford produced only 745 of this model in 1969. It has a 428 big-block Ford engine with special gears, along with a lengthened front nose and an aerodynamic grille. He bought the car from a family member and noted that he cleaned 40 lbs. of acorns out of it in addition to doing some rough body work. It also features NASCAR-style wheels with long racing studs and 1-in.-diameter lug nuts.	Rep. LaMalfa’s ’34 Ford truck has been on his family’s farm since he was a kid. The original Flathead V8 was replaced by a small-block Ford with a Dart block, World Products iron heads, a Ford Motorsport intake, a four-speed overdrive manual transmission and a heavy-duty rearend to give it a modern feel. The congressman adapted the original five-lug wheels to the modern 10-lug pattern, each shod in Coker 7.00-20 tires. Interestingly, the truck has a manual turn signal with an arm that goes up when a cable is pulled.
Rep. LaMalfa and Richard Petty (right) at the 2014 SEMA Show.	SEMA Board Immediate Past-Chair Wade Kawasaki (left) of Coker Group, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Rose Kawasaki (right) of Exports International posed for a picture during the 2014 SEMA Washington Rally.

SEMA News—August 2019

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa Shows Off His Prized Fords to SEMA News

Rep. LaMalfa’s “Gotta Have It Green” ’13 Boss Mustang 302 has seven-spoke Saleen wheels and modified exhaust.

While there are more than a few automotive enthusiasts in Congress, the zeal of U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) for the hobby and collection of classic vehicles puts him in a class by himself. LaMalfa started wrenching on cars during his formative years, and his passion for buying and personalizing vehicles continued to grow during the following decades.

LaMalfa’s fleet includes Ford trucks from ’34 and ’50, four Mustangs (’65, ’68, ’03, and ’13), a ’69 Torino Talladega, a ’72 Pantera, and ’55 and ’56 Thunderbirds that he maintains for his parents. SEMA and its members are fortunate to have a strong ally in Rep. LaMalfa, who has led the charge on pro-automotive hobby policies during his time as a California state legislator and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This ’50 Ford F1 pickup was on the LaMalfa family’s original South Bay ranch. The truck initially had an inline six-cylinder Flathead engine. Rep. LaMalfa removed the rust from the exterior, put some primer on it, and painted it satin red. He sourced a ’40s Lincoln V12 Flathead engine with electric fans and dual exhaust pipes. In place of the original three-speed is a T5 transmission from Speedway Motors, using a bellhousing adapter.

LaMalfa grew up working on his family’s rice farm, which is located not far from Sacramento, California, and dates to 1931. When he wasn’t working or studying, he could be found tinkering with vehicles. He credits his father and especially his grandfather’s influence for shaping him
into a gearhead.

By the age of 16, he took out a loan from a bank and purchased a pickup, which he tinkered with and drove for a few years. He took a job at a local mill while in junior college and saved up to buy a Competition Orange ’69 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, which has a 351 engine and a ram air hood. LaMalfa also put a four-speed top-loader in place of the car’s automatic transmission.

He went on to study agriculture and business at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. He put his education to work managing the family farm, which he and his family still call home. Rep. LaMalfa is a fourth-generation owner of the LaMalfa Family Partnership, which owns and operates the farm.

As a result of his experience running the farm in a state that is not known for being friendly to farmers or business, LaMalfa ran for public office for the first time in 2002, winning a seat in the California State Assembly. He went on to serve in the Assembly until 2008, and he was elected to the California State Senate in 2010.

Rep. LaMalfa helped his future wife purchase this ’65 Mustang Fastback when she was finishing college. LaMalfa stored it in his barn for years, and he recently fixed it up. In the ’80s, he swapped in a T-5 five-speed transmission from a former California Highway Patrol Mustang that he won at auction. The car is painted Shelby style, with white stripes on top of Gulfstream Aqua blue, and it has 16-in. American Torq Thrust wheels. Its 289 engine is punched out and is fitted with beautiful AFR aluminum heads that Rep. LaMalfa saw at the SEMA Show. The car is also fitted with Wilwood front disc brakes and a saddle-color Pony interior.

During his time in Sacramento, LaMalfa proved himself an ally of automotive enthusiasts, private property owners and taxpayers. As a member of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, LaMalfa was a frequent collaborator with SEMA on issues of importance to automotive enthusiasts. Most notably, he attempted to expand the smog-check testing exemption to include vehicles produced from ’76–’80.

When U.S. Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) decided to retire from Congress after representing inland Northern California for more than 25 years, he endorsed LaMalfa to be his successor. LaMalfa handily won the primary election against six other candidates and went on to win the general election by a margin of 57% to 42% during an otherwise difficult 2012 election cycle for Republicans. LaMalfa’s relationship with SEMA continued to flourish during his time in Congress, where he is a member of the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure
and Agriculture.

Fresh off his first re-election to Congress, Rep. LaMalfa attended the 2014 SEMA Show the following day. While it wasn’t his first time at the Show, it was a memorable one, as Rep. LaMalfa had the opportunity to meet Richard Petty. His conversation with “The King” was particularly special for LaMalfa, who owns a “Petty Blue” ’69 Ford Torino Talladega with a #43 on the roof. The vehicle has a 428 big-block Ford engine and was one of only 745 originally built.

Rep. LaMalfa’s ’03 Mustang Mach 1.

Rep. LaMalfa has also been a staunch supporter of the RPM Act, serving as a leading voice on Capitol Hill for protecting racing and the motorsports parts industry. Shortly after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a 2015 draft regulation stating that it is illegal to modify a street legal vehicle into a race car, Rep. LaMalfa led the charge to stop the agency in its tracks.

During a January 2016 House Agriculture Committee hearing, the congressman questioned then-EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about why the EPA was trying to shut down racing. Rep. LaMalfa’s aggressive questioning led the administrator to backtrack and confirm that it is legal to convert a motor vehicle into a race car, which ultimately led to the agency removing the provision from the final regulation.

Congressman LaMalfa was kind enough to sit down with SEMA News to talk about his collection of beloved “Blue Ovals,” which are described in the captions accompanying the pictures of his vehicles.

Rep. LaMalfa’s parents’ classic ’55 Thunderbird rolls on a set of Tru Spoke wire wheels and has been upgraded with front disk brakes, a larger front sway bar and Bilstein shocks. Future plans for the vehicle include a transmission swap for better shift control.	This ’68 Mustang California Special is highland green—the same color as the ’68 Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in the film Bullitt. Rep. LaMalfa upgraded the engine to a 351 Cleveland from the smaller 302 that came stock. The 351 features aluminum Edelbrock heads and intake, a Tremec transmission, Koni shocks and four-wheel disc brakes.
Rep. LaMalfa’s ’69 Torino Talladega serves as a campaign car in parades. It’s painted “Petty Blue” and includes a #43 decal. LaMalfa noted that Ford produced only 745 of this model in 1969. It has a 428 big-block Ford engine with special gears, along with a lengthened front nose and an aerodynamic grille. He bought the car from a family member and noted that he cleaned 40 lbs. of acorns out of it in addition to doing some rough body work. It also features NASCAR-style wheels with long racing studs and 1-in.-diameter lug nuts.	Rep. LaMalfa’s ’34 Ford truck has been on his family’s farm since he was a kid. The original Flathead V8 was replaced by a small-block Ford with a Dart block, World Products iron heads, a Ford Motorsport intake, a four-speed overdrive manual transmission and a heavy-duty rearend to give it a modern feel. The congressman adapted the original five-lug wheels to the modern 10-lug pattern, each shod in Coker 7.00-20 tires. Interestingly, the truck has a manual turn signal with an arm that goes up when a cable is pulled.
Rep. LaMalfa and Richard Petty (right) at the 2014 SEMA Show.	SEMA Board Immediate Past-Chair Wade Kawasaki (left) of Coker Group, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Rose Kawasaki (right) of Exports International posed for a picture during the 2014 SEMA Washington Rally.

By Rachel Tatum

Press conferences are a good way for exhibitors to announce breaking news to the media.

The press conference application deadline has passed and Show organizers have begun developing the official 2019 schedule. Emails were sent earlier this week to all exhibitors who submitted an application and will be considered for the official schedule. Those who did not receive an email this week and believe they submitted an application before the deadline should contact Rachel Tatum at rachelt@sema.org.

Companies will be contacted with an assigned date and time by August 16, and will need to confirm to be included on the final schedule that will be released late August.

If you have questions regarding press conferences at the 2019 SEMA Show, contact Rachel Tatum at 909-978-6669.

By Rachel Tatum

Press conferences are a good way for exhibitors to announce breaking news to the media.

The press conference application deadline has passed and Show organizers have begun developing the official 2019 schedule. Emails were sent earlier this week to all exhibitors who submitted an application and will be considered for the official schedule. Those who did not receive an email this week and believe they submitted an application before the deadline should contact Rachel Tatum at rachelt@sema.org.

Companies will be contacted with an assigned date and time by August 16, and will need to confirm to be included on the final schedule that will be released late August.

If you have questions regarding press conferences at the 2019 SEMA Show, contact Rachel Tatum at 909-978-6669.

SEMA News—August 2019

INTERNET

By Joe Dysart

Managing the World of Online Reviews

New Tools Ensure That Your Reputation Is Safeguarded

Managing the widespread proliferation of reviews online has become mission critical for nearly all businesses.

Businesses concerned about the havoc online reviews can wreak on their fortunes can take heart: The latest crop of online-review software solutions enables you to establish a powerful command center to monitor and influence your company’s reputation online.

Essentially, those best-of-breed dashboards enable you to keep tabs on every major review site on the web, see what’s being said about your company in real time, and respond lightning quick to those reviews—whether it’s to accept an accolade or to engage in critical damage control.

You’ll also be able to use many of those packages to create a reviews domain on your own website, cultivate reviews from your customers, and ensure that those reviews also get posted to the major review websites and on social media.

“We live in the consumer era, where influence has truly shifted from companies to consumers,” said Peter Mühlmann, CEO of Trustpilot (www.trustpilot.com), an online review-management solution.

Marc Ferrentino, chief strategy officer at Yext (www.yext.com), another online review-management solution, agreed: “Reviews are one of the most important signals consumers consider when choosing where to shop, eat, stay or do business.”

In fact, 85% of people searching the web for goods and services now trust online reviews as much as they do recommendations from family and friends, according to a 2017 study from BrightLocal (www.tinyurl.com/brightlocal-com-research-local). Moreover, reviews that are positive imbue trust in 73% of the people who read them, according to the study.

More ominously, BrightLocal found that a full 49% of review readers simply refuse to do business with a company that is rated below four out of five stars on review sites.

The good news for businesses looking to manage their reputations in the online review world is that it’s a buyer’s market. There are dozens of packages you can check out to determine which fits your business goals and style best. You’ll also be able to narrow the field considerably before you go that route by visiting business-oriented software review websites that feature authentic reviews of online review-management packages penned by other businesses.

Essentially, those sites offer a treasure trove of insights into the inner workings of all the major online review-management packages—their strengths and weaknesses, their quirks and perks, and whether or not a specific package is even worth your time.

The sites featuring rundowns on all the major packages include: Finances Online (www.financesonline.com), Capterra (www.capterra.com/reputation-management-software); G2 Crowd
(www.g2crowd.com/categories/online-reputation-management); Software Suggest (www.softwaresuggest.com/us/reputation-management-software); Software Advice (www.softwareadvice.com); and GetApp (www.getapp.com).

While different businesses have different needs, key features you’ll want to look for in any online review software management solution you buy include the following.

Real-Time Monitoring of All Major Review Websites: This is really job one of any decent package. A single negative review that goes viral can do significant damage to your company. So you’ll need real-time monitoring to ensure that you’re continuously aware of reviews being posted about your company in every major corner of the web. Review Trackers (www.reviewtrackers.com) is one of the many packages that offer this service.

A Reviews Domain on Your Website: Many packages, including Trustpilot (www.trustpilot.com), offer you the ability to create and manage a reviews domain on your website. That will help you offset unfair reviews that appear elsewhere.

Many online review experts recommend that you allow both positive and negative reviews about your company to appear in your reviews domain to establish the overall authenticity of the domain. But, of course, that’s a call each company needs to make for itself.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): All the new content you’ll be continually generating with a new reviews domain on your website should automatically boost your company’s rank in search returns, since search engines reward sites publishing useful content. Some packages, such as Grade.us (www.grade.us/home), take this SEO boost a step further by ensuring that the format and rendering of each review you publish on your website is SEO-optimized.

Review Solicitation: Best-of-breed packages offer the ability to solicit reviews from your customers on your website via social media, email and smartphone text as well as at your call center and other key points of interactivity with your customers. Such review solicitation modules, like the one found in PowerReviews (www.powerreviews.com), also often enable you to auto-syndicate the reviews to the major review websites or to popular social-media networks.

Easy Video Posting: Given that video is becoming an ever more powerful selling tool on the web and social media, some packages make it easy for reviewers to post video along with their review.

Q&A Capability: Some package makers such as Turnto (www.turntonetworks.com) enable people to post questions on your reviews domain, which can be answered by a company spokesperson or another reviewer. Given that users of Amazon review tools have become accustomed to that capability, they may expect the same at your reviews domain.

Sort-by-Star Rating Tool: Most Amazon.com users have also grown accustomed to being able to auto-sort reviews for any given product based on star ratings. The reason is that five-star reviews are influential. But thorough shoppers also look at the three-star and lesser-star reviews to verify that the five-star reviews ring true. Many package makers “get” this preference and include a similar star-rating sorting tool with their solutions.

Customizable Reports: Most packages come with pre-designed reports and alert systems that you’ll come to rely on regularly. As you become more familiar with the package, you may want to be able to design your own custom reports. Many packages offer such solutions.

Monitoring of Competitor Reviews: Nearly as important as what’s being said about your company is what’s being said about your competitors. Some packages such as Review Push (www.reviewpush.com) include a feature that offers you powerful insights into online reviews detailing your competitors’ triumphs and stumbles.

Easy Integration With Other Business Apps: It’s always easier when your reviews package plays nice with other software you may be using, such as Salesforce, Magento, BigCommerce, Adobe Experience Manager, Hootsuite or Wordpress.

Mobile Friendly: In this day and age, you’d assume that any online reviews-management solution worth anything would be mobile friendly. Even so, you’ll want to thoroughly test your package’s ability to perform on smartphones and similar mobile devices before you buy.

Tight Facebook and Google Integration: Given that a significant percentage of reviews appear on Facebook and Google, some package makers such as Reputology (www.reputology.com) have made it easier to deal with those reviews by giving you the ability to reply to them directly from the package dashboard.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): While AI is only very recently making its way into online review packages, it’s worth taking a look at what’s available. For example, package maker Yotpo (www.yotpo.com) recently added AI-powered widgets to its solution. They pull up reviews featuring topics that are most important to the person reading your reviews.

Joe Dysart is an internet speaker and business consultant based in Manhattan. Contact Dysart at 646-233-4089, joe@joedysart.com and www.joedysart.com.

SEMA News—August 2019

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin

Gold Country Classic

Photos Courtesy Bud Lang, Petersen Publishing Company Archive

This summer will mark the 66th year since a group of Georgetown residents looking to promote interest in their small Northern California town hosted the first Jeep Jamboree over the rocky Rubicon Trail. Since then, the owners of countless Jeeps—and Scouts, Broncos, Land Cruisers, Land Rovers and dedicated rock buggies—have made the trek, from first-timers crossing off a bucket-list rite of passage to family members following years of four-wheeling tradition.

The area around Georgetown has more to offer than just the Rubicon, though, as Hot Rod’s Bud Lang discovered over Memorial Day weekend in 1967 when he attended the Gold Country Classic. Hosted by a local club called the Sacramento Jeepers, the Classic “was developed with the family in mind,” Lang wrote in the magazine’s August 1967 issue, “catering to kids, wives and hard-core Jeepers alike.” A “hot rodder of sorts” and an admitted “flatlander,” Lang said club members did a “bang-up job (no pun intended) during all three days.”

Saturday’s driving events started with “fun games”: backing a trailer over a winding course, a slalom run, and a game where the Jeep’s passenger had to lean out and snag hoops off poles as the Jeeps drove by.

Things got more serious that afternoon with a timed cross-country event: “If you ever tried to make a sharp right-hand turn while cresting a left-leaning hillside with both front wheels off the ground, you’ll have an idea of what these poor guys and gals had to go through,” Lang wrote. “Quite a number ended up in the bushes trying to get around the course in record time, and one guy even rolled his Jeep on a turn, got back on course, and finished with one of the best e.t.’s.”

Sunday’s events started with a steep hillclimb in soil so loose that, of the “around 175 guys who tried their luck, only one succeeded, and believe it or not, he did it with a four-banger Jeep,” Lang said. The victorious climber, Sacramento Jeeper Mike Kelley, also won the obstacle course later that day.

“This event could rightfully be called a four-wheeler destruction derby,” Lang said of the obstacle course. “There’s nothing as wild as watching a four-wheel machine trying to dig its way from a 4-ft.-deep trench, filled with two feet of oozing red muck, then go bouncing over boulders, logs, around tight corners, through a pit full of loose tires, and over chuckholes and dips, ofttimes with all four wheels off the ground.”

Sure there is. Getting in there and driving it!

The weekend culminated in an “all-day trip across nearby mountains and canyons, loaded down with wives, kids, pets and goodies for a picnic lunch in the gold country.” Relaxed as it sounded, even that cruise had its adventure, as one of the Jeepers had to change a flat tire “in two feet of stream water (the flat occurring while he was fording—or is it jeeping?—the stream).”

The Gold Country Classic is no more, but the Sacramento Jeepers are still a going concern, hosting several club trips each year and promoting “family Jeeping since 1957,” says their website.