Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews SEMA Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Bingham during the 2015 SEMA Show.

Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews SEMA Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Bingham during the 2015 SEMA Show.

By SEMA Editors

Chevrolet has extended the submissions deadline for its SEMA Design Awards Program. Builders are urged to contact Rich Downing with any immediate questions and submissions.

The deadline for initial submissions for this year’s Chevrolet SEMA Design Awards Program has been extended. Please see submission process, requirements, vehicles/themes of interest, award categories and award benefits below:

Submission Process:

• Contact Rich Downing with initial submissions prior to September 15 to be considered for inclusion in pre-SEMA Show marketing activities.
• Submit final or as close to final photographs (front ¾, rear ¾, engine and interior), theme/content description and intended vehicle display location to Rich Downing by October 14, 2016, to be considered for an award.

Requirements:

• Preservation of the production Chevrolet emblem, if originally equipped, on the front of vehicle (gold or black bowtie for current vehicles).
• Use of a Chevrolet powertrain (mixing or matching fuel types and generations is acceptable).
• Willing to support Chevrolet marketing activities.
• Your plan for additional promotion and events for the vehicle beyond the 2016 SEMA Show.
• Use of current model-year Chevrolet vehicles, Chevrolet Performance Parts, accessories and crate engines is recommended, but not required.

Vehicles/Themes of Interest to Chevrolet:

• ’16 Camaro, Colorado (gas and diesel), Silverado (LD and HD), Tahoe, Suburban, Cruze and Trax.
• Innovative Chevy crate engine usage or integration.
• Innovative use of Chevy Performance Parts & Accessories.
• Innovative new technology integration.

Award Categories: (six total)

• Chevy SEMA Car of the Year.
• Chevy SEMA Truck of the Year.
• Chevy SEMA People’s Choice.
• Chevy SEMA Classic of the Year.
• Best use of Chevy Performance crate engine.
• Best use of Chevy Performance parts and accessories.

Award Benefits:

• Announcement of awards program details at Chevrolet media reveal.
• Exclusive award recipients reveal and reception.
• Announcement and coverage of award recipients on Chevrolet.com, TheBLOCK.com and other social media channels.
• Exclusive video of award recipients with GM Design team members during the SEMA Show.
• Detailed feature article on TheBLOCK.com during the month of November.
• Exclusive photo book featuring behind-the-scenes images of builders and GM design.

Note: The winner must provide release and consent as requested by GM, including but not limited to publication of the winner’s work, winner’s name, likeness and voice as a condition to receiving the above award and benefits.

By SEMA Editors

Chevrolet has extended the submissions deadline for its SEMA Design Awards Program. Builders are urged to contact Rich Downing with any immediate questions and submissions.

The deadline for initial submissions for this year’s Chevrolet SEMA Design Awards Program has been extended. Please see submission process, requirements, vehicles/themes of interest, award categories and award benefits below:

Submission Process:

• Contact Rich Downing with initial submissions prior to September 15 to be considered for inclusion in pre-SEMA Show marketing activities.
• Submit final or as close to final photographs (front ¾, rear ¾, engine and interior), theme/content description and intended vehicle display location to Rich Downing by October 14, 2016, to be considered for an award.

Requirements:

• Preservation of the production Chevrolet emblem, if originally equipped, on the front of vehicle (gold or black bowtie for current vehicles).
• Use of a Chevrolet powertrain (mixing or matching fuel types and generations is acceptable).
• Willing to support Chevrolet marketing activities.
• Your plan for additional promotion and events for the vehicle beyond the 2016 SEMA Show.
• Use of current model-year Chevrolet vehicles, Chevrolet Performance Parts, accessories and crate engines is recommended, but not required.

Vehicles/Themes of Interest to Chevrolet:

• ’16 Camaro, Colorado (gas and diesel), Silverado (LD and HD), Tahoe, Suburban, Cruze and Trax.
• Innovative Chevy crate engine usage or integration.
• Innovative use of Chevy Performance Parts & Accessories.
• Innovative new technology integration.

Award Categories: (six total)

• Chevy SEMA Car of the Year.
• Chevy SEMA Truck of the Year.
• Chevy SEMA People’s Choice.
• Chevy SEMA Classic of the Year.
• Best use of Chevy Performance crate engine.
• Best use of Chevy Performance parts and accessories.

Award Benefits:

• Announcement of awards program details at Chevrolet media reveal.
• Exclusive award recipients reveal and reception.
• Announcement and coverage of award recipients on Chevrolet.com, TheBLOCK.com and other social media channels.
• Exclusive video of award recipients with GM Design team members during the SEMA Show.
• Detailed feature article on TheBLOCK.com during the month of November.
• Exclusive photo book featuring behind-the-scenes images of builders and GM design.

Note: The winner must provide release and consent as requested by GM, including but not limited to publication of the winner’s work, winner’s name, likeness and voice as a condition to receiving the above award and benefits.

By SEMA Editors

Chevrolet has extended the submissions deadline for its SEMA Design Awards Program. Builders are urged to contact Rich Downing with any immediate questions and submissions.

The deadline for initial submissions for this year’s Chevrolet SEMA Design Awards Program has been extended. Please see submission process, requirements, vehicles/themes of interest, award categories and award benefits below:

Submission Process:

• Contact Rich Downing with initial submissions prior to September 15 to be considered for inclusion in pre-SEMA Show marketing activities.
• Submit final or as close to final photographs (front ¾, rear ¾, engine and interior), theme/content description and intended vehicle display location to Rich Downing by October 14, 2016, to be considered for an award.

Requirements:

• Preservation of the production Chevrolet emblem, if originally equipped, on the front of vehicle (gold or black bowtie for current vehicles).
• Use of a Chevrolet powertrain (mixing or matching fuel types and generations is acceptable).
• Willing to support Chevrolet marketing activities.
• Your plan for additional promotion and events for the vehicle beyond the 2016 SEMA Show.
• Use of current model-year Chevrolet vehicles, Chevrolet Performance Parts, accessories and crate engines is recommended, but not required.

Vehicles/Themes of Interest to Chevrolet:

• ’16 Camaro, Colorado (gas and diesel), Silverado (LD and HD), Tahoe, Suburban, Cruze and Trax.
• Innovative Chevy crate engine usage or integration.
• Innovative use of Chevy Performance Parts & Accessories.
• Innovative new technology integration.

Award Categories: (six total)

• Chevy SEMA Car of the Year.
• Chevy SEMA Truck of the Year.
• Chevy SEMA People’s Choice.
• Chevy SEMA Classic of the Year.
• Best use of Chevy Performance crate engine.
• Best use of Chevy Performance parts and accessories.

Award Benefits:

• Announcement of awards program details at Chevrolet media reveal.
• Exclusive award recipients reveal and reception.
• Announcement and coverage of award recipients on Chevrolet.com, TheBLOCK.com and other social media channels.
• Exclusive video of award recipients with GM Design team members during the SEMA Show.
• Detailed feature article on TheBLOCK.com during the month of November.
• Exclusive photo book featuring behind-the-scenes images of builders and GM design.

Note: The winner must provide release and consent as requested by GM, including but not limited to publication of the winner’s work, winner’s name, likeness and voice as a condition to receiving the above award and benefits.

By Katie Carson

Voting for SEMA’s councils and networks is now open. Awards will be presented during their individual receptions at the 2016 SEMA Show.

Voting for Council and Network Awards is now open. The primary contact for each council member company has been sent a ballot to cast a vote for their company while each individual network member has been sent a ballot to cast their vote. The councils and networks will hand out their annual awards at the 2016 SEMA Show. Vote for a deserving company or individual within your niche.

If you have any questions about your ballot, please contact Kristen Fregoso at kristenf@sema.org or 909-978-6681.

Awards to be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show:

ARMO

• ARMO Business of the Year
• ARMO Person of the Year

ETTN

• ETTN Genius Award
• ETTN Techie Award
• ETTN Ambassador Award

HRIA

• HRIA Hall of Fame
• HRIA Industry Recognition Award
• HRIA Business of the Year

TORA

• TORA Hall of Fame
• TORA Retailer of the Year
• TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence

MRN

• MRN Hall of Fame
• Sales Team Annual Recognition (STAR) Award

PRO

• Manufacturer of the Year
• Nat Danas Person of the Year
• Restyler of the Year
• Jim Borré Lifetime Achievement Award

SBN

• Athena Woman of the Year
• Athena Champion Award

WTC

• WTC Hall of Fame

YEN

• Vanguard Award
• Young Executive of the Year

By Katie Carson

Voting for SEMA’s councils and networks is now open. Awards will be presented during their individual receptions at the 2016 SEMA Show.

Voting for Council and Network Awards is now open. The primary contact for each council member company has been sent a ballot to cast a vote for their company while each individual network member has been sent a ballot to cast their vote. The councils and networks will hand out their annual awards at the 2016 SEMA Show. Vote for a deserving company or individual within your niche.

If you have any questions about your ballot, please contact Kristen Fregoso at kristenf@sema.org or 909-978-6681.

Awards to be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show:

ARMO

• ARMO Business of the Year
• ARMO Person of the Year

ETTN

• ETTN Genius Award
• ETTN Techie Award
• ETTN Ambassador Award

HRIA

• HRIA Hall of Fame
• HRIA Industry Recognition Award
• HRIA Business of the Year

TORA

• TORA Hall of Fame
• TORA Retailer of the Year
• TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence

MRN

• MRN Hall of Fame
• Sales Team Annual Recognition (STAR) Award

PRO

• Manufacturer of the Year
• Nat Danas Person of the Year
• Restyler of the Year
• Jim Borré Lifetime Achievement Award

SBN

• Athena Woman of the Year
• Athena Champion Award

WTC

• WTC Hall of Fame

YEN

• Vanguard Award
• Young Executive of the Year

By Katie Carson

Voting for SEMA’s councils and networks is now open. Awards will be presented during their individual receptions at the 2016 SEMA Show.

Voting for Council and Network Awards is now open. The primary contact for each council member company has been sent a ballot to cast a vote for their company while each individual network member has been sent a ballot to cast their vote. The councils and networks will hand out their annual awards at the 2016 SEMA Show. Vote for a deserving company or individual within your niche.

If you have any questions about your ballot, please contact Kristen Fregoso at kristenf@sema.org or 909-978-6681.

Awards to be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show:

ARMO

• ARMO Business of the Year
• ARMO Person of the Year

ETTN

• ETTN Genius Award
• ETTN Techie Award
• ETTN Ambassador Award

HRIA

• HRIA Hall of Fame
• HRIA Industry Recognition Award
• HRIA Business of the Year

TORA

• TORA Hall of Fame
• TORA Retailer of the Year
• TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence

MRN

• MRN Hall of Fame
• Sales Team Annual Recognition (STAR) Award

PRO

• Manufacturer of the Year
• Nat Danas Person of the Year
• Restyler of the Year
• Jim Borré Lifetime Achievement Award

SBN

• Athena Woman of the Year
• Athena Champion Award

WTC

• WTC Hall of Fame

YEN

• Vanguard Award
• Young Executive of the Year

By Kenalyn Ang

The SEMA Custom Car Camp taught campers basic vehicle mechanics by giving them a chance to assemble and disassemble Traxxas RC cars.

The first-ever SEMA Custom Car Camp was hosted at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, from July 18–22. The camp was designed to introduce kids ages 10–13 to the possibilities of the automotive industry and give them hands-on experience in the custom car hobby.

“The car camp demonstrates how you can start with RC cars and use them as a stepping stone to an actual car,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA vice president of councils and membership.

Inspired by another car camp called Nitro X Camp in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the SEMA Board of Directors established the first of its kind here in Southern California. The board hoped to focus on how to infect kids with the car bug. With smartphones, new transportation options and affordability of car ownership serving as deterrents, there has been a perception that fewer young people are discovering a passion for cars. SEMA hoped to diminish that perception with this program.

“Through this summer camp pilot program, we test drive one of many ways that the industry can reach and influence the next generation,” said Ridnouer.

The Custom Car Camp taught campers basic vehicle mechanics by giving them a chance to assemble and disassemble Traxxas RC cars. Campers saw the possibilities of 3D printing, as SEMA staff engineers and members used CAD software to print out parts the campers designed and customized for their model cars. Students could visualize their ideas in CAD files onscreen.

“[Seeing] the ideas they had and to be able to watch them on a projector, that stuff just blew the kids away,” said lead camp counselor and Nitro X Camp leader Byron Byker.

Teen mentors were available to introduce campers to real-life cars with custom tires and paint jobs.

“The counselors are involved in the industry,” said Ridnouer. “Some have custom cars of their own.”

Campers individually customized their RC cars in preparation for the final race at the end of the week and also took turns using real tools, such as an impact drill, to work on an actual car. The experience truly opened their eyes to the industry as they were encouraged to pursue any budding interests in cars.

“When they go home, they’re watching the cars go by. They’re starting to identify cars, and now they want to go to a race. They go back to school and tell their friends, and it goes from there. One little moment is going to affect them for life,” said Byker.

The Custom Car Camp was developed out of a love for cars and can serve as the backbone to get kids interested in the automotive industry.

“While they may not be at the same level of understanding as some of our members, the kids have the same interest in finding out the impact of any change to the vehicle, which we think is really cool,” said Ridnouer.

The SEMA Custom Car Camp was a successful first run, as it provided a safe and fully equipped space for kids to pursue any ideas they may have had, whether it be designing, constructing or assembling something related to the automotive world.

As Byker said, “There’s never a bad idea, and man, do the kids shine.”

For more information on the SEMA Custom Car Camp, visit www.sema.org/camp.

By Kenalyn Ang

The SEMA Custom Car Camp taught campers basic vehicle mechanics by giving them a chance to assemble and disassemble Traxxas RC cars.

The first-ever SEMA Custom Car Camp was hosted at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, from July 18–22. The camp was designed to introduce kids ages 10–13 to the possibilities of the automotive industry and give them hands-on experience in the custom car hobby.

“The car camp demonstrates how you can start with RC cars and use them as a stepping stone to an actual car,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA vice president of councils and membership.

Inspired by another car camp called Nitro X Camp in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the SEMA Board of Directors established the first of its kind here in Southern California. The board hoped to focus on how to infect kids with the car bug. With smartphones, new transportation options and affordability of car ownership serving as deterrents, there has been a perception that fewer young people are discovering a passion for cars. SEMA hoped to diminish that perception with this program.

“Through this summer camp pilot program, we test drive one of many ways that the industry can reach and influence the next generation,” said Ridnouer.

The Custom Car Camp taught campers basic vehicle mechanics by giving them a chance to assemble and disassemble Traxxas RC cars. Campers saw the possibilities of 3D printing, as SEMA staff engineers and members used CAD software to print out parts the campers designed and customized for their model cars. Students could visualize their ideas in CAD files onscreen.

“[Seeing] the ideas they had and to be able to watch them on a projector, that stuff just blew the kids away,” said lead camp counselor and Nitro X Camp leader Byron Byker.

Teen mentors were available to introduce campers to real-life cars with custom tires and paint jobs.

“The counselors are involved in the industry,” said Ridnouer. “Some have custom cars of their own.”

Campers individually customized their RC cars in preparation for the final race at the end of the week and also took turns using real tools, such as an impact drill, to work on an actual car. The experience truly opened their eyes to the industry as they were encouraged to pursue any budding interests in cars.

“When they go home, they’re watching the cars go by. They’re starting to identify cars, and now they want to go to a race. They go back to school and tell their friends, and it goes from there. One little moment is going to affect them for life,” said Byker.

The Custom Car Camp was developed out of a love for cars and can serve as the backbone to get kids interested in the automotive industry.

“While they may not be at the same level of understanding as some of our members, the kids have the same interest in finding out the impact of any change to the vehicle, which we think is really cool,” said Ridnouer.

The SEMA Custom Car Camp was a successful first run, as it provided a safe and fully equipped space for kids to pursue any ideas they may have had, whether it be designing, constructing or assembling something related to the automotive world.

As Byker said, “There’s never a bad idea, and man, do the kids shine.”

For more information on the SEMA Custom Car Camp, visit www.sema.org/camp.