Thu, 08/04/2016 - 08:52

Compiled by SEMA Editors

ford
The Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang developed by the design and engineering teams at Ford Motor Company sold for $295,000 at the Gather of Eagles charity.

Ford Donated “Ole Yeller” Mustang Raises $295,000 to Support EAA Youth Education and Aviation

The one-of-a-kind, aviation-inspired Ford “Ole Yeller” Mustang developed by the design and engineering teams at Ford Motor Company sold for $295,000 at the Gather of Eagles charity. The auction was held during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh 2016. Hank Menke, president and CEO of OFS Brands in Huntingburg, Indiana, was the winning bidder. All proceeds from the car donation and sale benefit EAA’s youth education programs, including the Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to 2 million young people since 1992.

University of the Aftermarket Foundation Establishes Scholarships in Memory of Jim Moss

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation has announced that it will award scholarships to two students each year who are enrolling full time at a four-year college. The scholarships will be awarded in memory of Jim Moss, founder and long-time publisher of Truck Parts and Service magazine.

Moss, who passed away in April 2016, started Truck Parts and Service in July 1966 and remained at the magazine for 41 years. To recognize the significant contribution that truck dealers made to the heavy-duty aftermarket, he launched Successful Dealer magazine in 1978. An industry icon, Moss also started the Council of Fleet Specialists (CFS), which later became the Commercial Vehicle Service Network (CVSN), and was instrumental in the development of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW). In 2015, Moss received the President’s Award from CVSN.

“A group of aftermarket veterans and friends came together to honor Jim’s legacy and because of their generosity, two deserving students will be awarded scholarships each year from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation in his memory,” said Foundation Chairman Tim Lee. “This is a fitting tribute to a man who did so much to support and advance the heavy-duty aftermarket.”

cameron
Jack Cameron

Jack Cameron Joins Brake Parts Inc as National Sales Manager – Commercial Vehicle

Jack Cameron has joined Brake Parts Inc. (BPI) as national sales manager – commercial vehicle. In his new role, he will lead the company’s sales efforts in the heavy-duty and fleet aftermarket.

Previously, Cameron held a variety of roles at different companies in the aftermarket, including sales at Federal-Mogul; vice president of marketing at Dorman Products; director of sales and marketing at Ken-Tool; and general manager at The Timken Corporation. In 2007, Cameron joined the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), where he served as vice president, programs and services, as well as executive director of the Brake Manufacturers Council. He came to BPI from a commercial business development role at Genuine Parts Company.

Scott Smith Named NHRA Director of Media Relations

Scott R. Smith, who has been with the NHRA since 2002, has been named NHRA director of media relations, it was announced yesterday by NHRA Vice President of Public Relations Terry Blount.

Smith will direct the communications efforts of the NHRA, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and other entities within the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body. The position will continue to build upon the strong relationship the NHRA has with media outlets across the country.

Smith will continue to be based out of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

Truck Hero Inc. Appoints Marla Zwas as General Counsel

Truck Hero Inc. has announced the appointment of Marla Zwas as general counsel, reporting to the company’s president and chief executive officer. Bill Reminder.

Zwas joins Truck Hero with nearly 25 years of legal experience. Most recently, she was senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Flagstar Bancorp, where she led the corporate and human resources legal functions. Prior to Flagstar, she served as senior counsel, corporate affairs for Chrysler Group (now FCA). Zwas also brings automotive experience from Toyoda Gosei North America Corporation, where she was general counsel for the U.S., Mexican and Canadian operations.

Zwas holds a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. She serves on the national board of the Society for Corporate Governance and is also active in the Women’s In-House Counsel Leadership Institute.

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

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:41

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. In this week’s video, Kordell Norton of Synergy Solutions explains why teaching a sales force the skills needed to empathize with customers will build a connection that is the cornerstone needed to create a solid base of returning, satisfied consumers.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:41

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. In this week’s video, Kordell Norton of Synergy Solutions explains why teaching a sales force the skills needed to empathize with customers will build a connection that is the cornerstone needed to create a solid base of returning, satisfied consumers.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:41

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. In this week’s video, Kordell Norton of Synergy Solutions explains why teaching a sales force the skills needed to empathize with customers will build a connection that is the cornerstone needed to create a solid base of returning, satisfied consumers.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:41

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. In this week’s video, Kordell Norton of Synergy Solutions explains why teaching a sales force the skills needed to empathize with customers will build a connection that is the cornerstone needed to create a solid base of returning, satisfied consumers.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:09

By Becca Butler


Brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered a ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra into last year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Thousands of Showgoers at the 2015 SEMA Show took notice of the ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra that brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered into SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. As part of the competition, the Kozeluh brothers and their build were featured in pre-Show publications, on-site at the SEMA Show, in media outlets throughout the world and on a nationwide TV special that aired on the Velocity Network.

With nearly 300 vehicles entered into the competition, this Supra’s traditional hot-rod modifications incorporated into a turbocharged performance car is what made it stand out among the rest. With the underside just as detailed as the top, every nut and bolt was hand finished and CAD-plated. Sponsored by BBS, this vehicle included the following products:

Engine

Toyota TRD
Precision Turbo
Borg Warner
ARP Fasteners
NGK Sparkplugs

Transmission/Shifter

Tilton Clutch

Suspension

HKS

Wheels

BBS Wheels

Tires

Toyo

Brakes

Brembo

Interior

Recaro Seats

Lubricants/Fluids

Motul

Check out the above video to learn more about this build and visit the SEMA Show YouTube channel for similar videos from last year’s competition.

Open exclusively to display, feature and booth vehicles at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition is a chance to honor and highlight some of the show’s talented builders, their vehicles and the products on them. To enter the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:09

By Becca Butler


Brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered a ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra into last year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Thousands of Showgoers at the 2015 SEMA Show took notice of the ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra that brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered into SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. As part of the competition, the Kozeluh brothers and their build were featured in pre-Show publications, on-site at the SEMA Show, in media outlets throughout the world and on a nationwide TV special that aired on the Velocity Network.

With nearly 300 vehicles entered into the competition, this Supra’s traditional hot-rod modifications incorporated into a turbocharged performance car is what made it stand out among the rest. With the underside just as detailed as the top, every nut and bolt was hand finished and CAD-plated. Sponsored by BBS, this vehicle included the following products:

Engine

Toyota TRD
Precision Turbo
Borg Warner
ARP Fasteners
NGK Sparkplugs

Transmission/Shifter

Tilton Clutch

Suspension

HKS

Wheels

BBS Wheels

Tires

Toyo

Brakes

Brembo

Interior

Recaro Seats

Lubricants/Fluids

Motul

Check out the above video to learn more about this build and visit the SEMA Show YouTube channel for similar videos from last year’s competition.

Open exclusively to display, feature and booth vehicles at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition is a chance to honor and highlight some of the show’s talented builders, their vehicles and the products on them. To enter the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:09

By Becca Butler


Brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered a ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra into last year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Thousands of Showgoers at the 2015 SEMA Show took notice of the ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra that brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered into SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. As part of the competition, the Kozeluh brothers and their build were featured in pre-Show publications, on-site at the SEMA Show, in media outlets throughout the world and on a nationwide TV special that aired on the Velocity Network.

With nearly 300 vehicles entered into the competition, this Supra’s traditional hot-rod modifications incorporated into a turbocharged performance car is what made it stand out among the rest. With the underside just as detailed as the top, every nut and bolt was hand finished and CAD-plated. Sponsored by BBS, this vehicle included the following products:

Engine

Toyota TRD
Precision Turbo
Borg Warner
ARP Fasteners
NGK Sparkplugs

Transmission/Shifter

Tilton Clutch

Suspension

HKS

Wheels

BBS Wheels

Tires

Toyo

Brakes

Brembo

Interior

Recaro Seats

Lubricants/Fluids

Motul

Check out the above video to learn more about this build and visit the SEMA Show YouTube channel for similar videos from last year’s competition.

Open exclusively to display, feature and booth vehicles at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition is a chance to honor and highlight some of the show’s talented builders, their vehicles and the products on them. To enter the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:09

By Becca Butler


Brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered a ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra into last year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Thousands of Showgoers at the 2015 SEMA Show took notice of the ’97 twin-turbo Toyota Supra that brothers Eric and Marc Kozeluh—co-owners of Twins Turbo Motorsports—entered into SEMA’s Battle of the Builders. As part of the competition, the Kozeluh brothers and their build were featured in pre-Show publications, on-site at the SEMA Show, in media outlets throughout the world and on a nationwide TV special that aired on the Velocity Network.

With nearly 300 vehicles entered into the competition, this Supra’s traditional hot-rod modifications incorporated into a turbocharged performance car is what made it stand out among the rest. With the underside just as detailed as the top, every nut and bolt was hand finished and CAD-plated. Sponsored by BBS, this vehicle included the following products:

Engine

Toyota TRD
Precision Turbo
Borg Warner
ARP Fasteners
NGK Sparkplugs

Transmission/Shifter

Tilton Clutch

Suspension

HKS

Wheels

BBS Wheels

Tires

Toyo

Brakes

Brembo

Interior

Recaro Seats

Lubricants/Fluids

Motul

Check out the above video to learn more about this build and visit the SEMA Show YouTube channel for similar videos from last year’s competition.

Open exclusively to display, feature and booth vehicles at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition is a chance to honor and highlight some of the show’s talented builders, their vehicles and the products on them. To enter the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 14:45

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

garage
The SEMA Garage Open House gives motorsports businesses and enthusiasts an insiders’ tour of the state-of-the-art facility and the equipment behind it. The multi-facility Industry Innovation Center also provides racers and businesses a convenient way to test their cars and products to ensure they meet state and federal regulations.

The SEMA Garage’s annual Open House is one of the automotive industry’s hottest events of the year. The event gives motorsports businesses and enthusiasts an insiders’ tour of SEMA’s state-of-the-art facility and the equipment behind it. The multi-facility Industry Innovation Center also gives racers and businesses a convenient way to test their cars and products to ensure they meet state and federal regulations. In fact, this year’s Open House will feature the Garage’s new emissions compliance center.

“The SEMA Garage represents the best of our industry’s innovative prowess, showcasing the cutting-edge tools and equipment that can revolutionize the way our industry develops products,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development. “It also represents our industry’s commitment to meeting critical compliance measures, and underscores our important, long-standing relationship with state and federal regulators. It’s ironic that as we celebrate the Garage, including our new, state-of-the-art emissions center, the EPA continues to threaten the future of our industry and community with a misguided position.”

This year’s event comes as the industry continues to operate under a cloud of uncertainty regarding how it is regulated. In July 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule that would prohibit the conversion of emissions-certified vehicles into racecars and make it illegal to sell any emissions-related parts for those cars. With pressure from Congress, the EPA backed down on the specific regulation. However, the agency maintains that it has the authority to regulate street vehicles modified exclusively for the track and the businesses that make those products, despite Congressional intent.

A bipartisan bill now pending in the U.S. Congress—the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act—would make it clear now and in the future that modification of street vehicles for competition is legal and beyond the reach of EPA regulations. The RPM Act addresses any doubts regarding regulation of racecars and gives the public and racecar industry much-needed certainty regarding how the Clean Air Act is applied.

The Open House provides racing enthusiasts and SEMA members with a number of opportunities to engage with their lawmakers, customers, families and friends about the RPM Act and the need to protect the future of motorsports.

Open House guests are encouraged to:

  • Put on a “Save Our Racecars” button, take a photo and share it via social media using #RPMAct and #SaveOurRacecars hashtags.
  • Find the RPM Act kiosk, where they can send an email to lawmakers about the need to support the RPM Act.
  • Take an RPM Act postcard that includes information and a link to a valuable website, where photos, videos and media materials can be downloaded and used to spread the word.

Can’t make it to the Open House? Learn how you can help support the RPM Act