By Becca Butler

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

Fans across the country watched behind-the-scenes interviews and got a glimpse of the 2015 SEMA Show during the SEMA Battle of the Builders® premiere on the Velocity Network earlier this week. The new one-hour TV special featured dozens of top vehicle builders and their cars and trucks as they competed for the title of the Ultimate Builder. With more than 200 entries, program finalists, by category, included:

Hot Rod:

• Bobby Alloway, ’33 Ford Roadster (Sponsored by PPG)
• Chip Foose, ’65 Impala (Sponsored by Pirelli)
• Jeremy Gerber, ’73 Camaro (Sponsored by Penske Racing)
• Alan Johnson, ’53 Studebaker (Sponsored by ARP Inc.)
• Andy Leach, ’62 Chevy Bubble Top (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Jim and Mike Ring, Mustang Fastback (Sponsored by BASF)
• Kyle Tucker, ’70 Chevy Chevelle (Sponsored by SEMA Garage)

Off-Road:

• Casey Currie, ’14 Jeep JK with JK8 Truck bed (Sponsored by BFG)
• Phil/Jeremy Gerber, ’15 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by Go Pro)
• Kenny Hauk, CJ2A - Willy’s Rock Rat (Sponsored by Omix-ADA)
• Dominic Le, Datsun Truck (Sponsored by Toyo Tires)
• Andy Leach, ’66 Half Cab Bronco (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Kevin Stearns, ’11 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by BDS Suspension)
• John Yeiser, Ford F2000 (Sponsored by Hella Inc.)

Sport Compact:

• Ryan Basseri, Honda Integra Type R (Sponsored by CSF Cooling)
• Freddie Fernandez, Nissan 240SX (Sponsored by ENEOS)
• Kevin Desirello, ’67 Datsun Roadster (Sponsored by Garrett by Honeywell)
• Eric Kozeluh, ’95 Toyota Supra (Sponsored by BBS)
• Sam Lee, BTR Edition Hyundai Veloster Turbo (Sponsored by Hyundai)
• Troy Spackman,’92 VW Corrado (Sponsored by ESAB Cutting & Welding Products)
• Neil Tjin, ’15 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec (Sponsored by Hyundai)

The program re-airs this weekend on the Velocity Network in the United States. Check your local cable or satellite provider for times and details, or visit www.semaignited.com to learn more.

By Becca Butler

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

Fans across the country watched behind-the-scenes interviews and got a glimpse of the 2015 SEMA Show during the SEMA Battle of the Builders® premiere on the Velocity Network earlier this week. The new one-hour TV special featured dozens of top vehicle builders and their cars and trucks as they competed for the title of the Ultimate Builder. With more than 200 entries, program finalists, by category, included:

Hot Rod:

• Bobby Alloway, ’33 Ford Roadster (Sponsored by PPG)
• Chip Foose, ’65 Impala (Sponsored by Pirelli)
• Jeremy Gerber, ’73 Camaro (Sponsored by Penske Racing)
• Alan Johnson, ’53 Studebaker (Sponsored by ARP Inc.)
• Andy Leach, ’62 Chevy Bubble Top (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Jim and Mike Ring, Mustang Fastback (Sponsored by BASF)
• Kyle Tucker, ’70 Chevy Chevelle (Sponsored by SEMA Garage)

Off-Road:

• Casey Currie, ’14 Jeep JK with JK8 Truck bed (Sponsored by BFG)
• Phil/Jeremy Gerber, ’15 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by Go Pro)
• Kenny Hauk, CJ2A - Willy’s Rock Rat (Sponsored by Omix-ADA)
• Dominic Le, Datsun Truck (Sponsored by Toyo Tires)
• Andy Leach, ’66 Half Cab Bronco (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Kevin Stearns, ’11 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by BDS Suspension)
• John Yeiser, Ford F2000 (Sponsored by Hella Inc.)

Sport Compact:

• Ryan Basseri, Honda Integra Type R (Sponsored by CSF Cooling)
• Freddie Fernandez, Nissan 240SX (Sponsored by ENEOS)
• Kevin Desirello, ’67 Datsun Roadster (Sponsored by Garrett by Honeywell)
• Eric Kozeluh, ’95 Toyota Supra (Sponsored by BBS)
• Sam Lee, BTR Edition Hyundai Veloster Turbo (Sponsored by Hyundai)
• Troy Spackman,’92 VW Corrado (Sponsored by ESAB Cutting & Welding Products)
• Neil Tjin, ’15 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec (Sponsored by Hyundai)

The program re-airs this weekend on the Velocity Network in the United States. Check your local cable or satellite provider for times and details, or visit www.semaignited.com to learn more.

By Becca Butler

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

Fans across the country watched behind-the-scenes interviews and got a glimpse of the 2015 SEMA Show during the SEMA Battle of the Builders® premiere on the Velocity Network earlier this week. The new one-hour TV special featured dozens of top vehicle builders and their cars and trucks as they competed for the title of the Ultimate Builder. With more than 200 entries, program finalists, by category, included:

Hot Rod:

• Bobby Alloway, ’33 Ford Roadster (Sponsored by PPG)
• Chip Foose, ’65 Impala (Sponsored by Pirelli)
• Jeremy Gerber, ’73 Camaro (Sponsored by Penske Racing)
• Alan Johnson, ’53 Studebaker (Sponsored by ARP Inc.)
• Andy Leach, ’62 Chevy Bubble Top (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Jim and Mike Ring, Mustang Fastback (Sponsored by BASF)
• Kyle Tucker, ’70 Chevy Chevelle (Sponsored by SEMA Garage)

Off-Road:

• Casey Currie, ’14 Jeep JK with JK8 Truck bed (Sponsored by BFG)
• Phil/Jeremy Gerber, ’15 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by Go Pro)
• Kenny Hauk, CJ2A - Willy’s Rock Rat (Sponsored by Omix-ADA)
• Dominic Le, Datsun Truck (Sponsored by Toyo Tires)
• Andy Leach, ’66 Half Cab Bronco (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Kevin Stearns, ’11 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by BDS Suspension)
• John Yeiser, Ford F2000 (Sponsored by Hella Inc.)

Sport Compact:

• Ryan Basseri, Honda Integra Type R (Sponsored by CSF Cooling)
• Freddie Fernandez, Nissan 240SX (Sponsored by ENEOS)
• Kevin Desirello, ’67 Datsun Roadster (Sponsored by Garrett by Honeywell)
• Eric Kozeluh, ’95 Toyota Supra (Sponsored by BBS)
• Sam Lee, BTR Edition Hyundai Veloster Turbo (Sponsored by Hyundai)
• Troy Spackman,’92 VW Corrado (Sponsored by ESAB Cutting & Welding Products)
• Neil Tjin, ’15 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec (Sponsored by Hyundai)

The program re-airs this weekend on the Velocity Network in the United States. Check your local cable or satellite provider for times and details, or visit www.semaignited.com to learn more.

By Becca Butler

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

Fans across the country watched behind-the-scenes interviews and got a glimpse of the 2015 SEMA Show during the SEMA Battle of the Builders® premiere on the Velocity Network earlier this week. The new one-hour TV special featured dozens of top vehicle builders and their cars and trucks as they competed for the title of the Ultimate Builder. With more than 200 entries, program finalists, by category, included:

Hot Rod:

• Bobby Alloway, ’33 Ford Roadster (Sponsored by PPG)
• Chip Foose, ’65 Impala (Sponsored by Pirelli)
• Jeremy Gerber, ’73 Camaro (Sponsored by Penske Racing)
• Alan Johnson, ’53 Studebaker (Sponsored by ARP Inc.)
• Andy Leach, ’62 Chevy Bubble Top (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Jim and Mike Ring, Mustang Fastback (Sponsored by BASF)
• Kyle Tucker, ’70 Chevy Chevelle (Sponsored by SEMA Garage)

Off-Road:

• Casey Currie, ’14 Jeep JK with JK8 Truck bed (Sponsored by BFG)
• Phil/Jeremy Gerber, ’15 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by Go Pro)
• Kenny Hauk, CJ2A - Willy’s Rock Rat (Sponsored by Omix-ADA)
• Dominic Le, Datsun Truck (Sponsored by Toyo Tires)
• Andy Leach, ’66 Half Cab Bronco (Sponsored by HRIA/ARMO)
• Kevin Stearns, ’11 Chevy Colorado (Sponsored by BDS Suspension)
• John Yeiser, Ford F2000 (Sponsored by Hella Inc.)

Sport Compact:

• Ryan Basseri, Honda Integra Type R (Sponsored by CSF Cooling)
• Freddie Fernandez, Nissan 240SX (Sponsored by ENEOS)
• Kevin Desirello, ’67 Datsun Roadster (Sponsored by Garrett by Honeywell)
• Eric Kozeluh, ’95 Toyota Supra (Sponsored by BBS)
• Sam Lee, BTR Edition Hyundai Veloster Turbo (Sponsored by Hyundai)
• Troy Spackman,’92 VW Corrado (Sponsored by ESAB Cutting & Welding Products)
• Neil Tjin, ’15 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec (Sponsored by Hyundai)

The program re-airs this weekend on the Velocity Network in the United States. Check your local cable or satellite provider for times and details, or visit www.semaignited.com to learn more.

By Chad Simon

Professional car builders are invited to participate in the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational during the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, where builders from across the country will showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

The third-annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, to be held March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, will feature a collection of high-performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across Southern California. For the third straight year, the Fairplex will donate its net proceeds from the event to the Alex Xydias Center (AXC) for Automotive Arts.

A new component to the main event this year will be the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, where professional car builders from across the country are invited to showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

“I conceived the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals because nobody was doing a musclecar show in this market,” said Dale Coleman, vice president, chief revenue officer at the Fairplex. “We [Fairplex] decided from day one to donate our net proceeds from this event to AXC. Over the first two years, we have donated more than $80,000. The bigger we make the event, the more we can donate to the charity. This is why we are adding the Pro Builder component.”

For more information regarding the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals and the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, visit the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals website.

Invited Pro Builders must RSVP to Len Emanuelson at 805-907-8346 or Len@AutoMediaProductions.com by Friday, February 19, 2016.

By Chad Simon

Professional car builders are invited to participate in the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational during the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, where builders from across the country will showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

The third-annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, to be held March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, will feature a collection of high-performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across Southern California. For the third straight year, the Fairplex will donate its net proceeds from the event to the Alex Xydias Center (AXC) for Automotive Arts.

A new component to the main event this year will be the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, where professional car builders from across the country are invited to showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

“I conceived the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals because nobody was doing a musclecar show in this market,” said Dale Coleman, vice president, chief revenue officer at the Fairplex. “We [Fairplex] decided from day one to donate our net proceeds from this event to AXC. Over the first two years, we have donated more than $80,000. The bigger we make the event, the more we can donate to the charity. This is why we are adding the Pro Builder component.”

For more information regarding the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals and the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, visit the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals website.

Invited Pro Builders must RSVP to Len Emanuelson at 805-907-8346 or Len@AutoMediaProductions.com by Friday, February 19, 2016.

By Chad Simon

Professional car builders are invited to participate in the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational during the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, where builders from across the country will showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

The third-annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, to be held March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, will feature a collection of high-performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across Southern California. For the third straight year, the Fairplex will donate its net proceeds from the event to the Alex Xydias Center (AXC) for Automotive Arts.

A new component to the main event this year will be the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, where professional car builders from across the country are invited to showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

“I conceived the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals because nobody was doing a musclecar show in this market,” said Dale Coleman, vice president, chief revenue officer at the Fairplex. “We [Fairplex] decided from day one to donate our net proceeds from this event to AXC. Over the first two years, we have donated more than $80,000. The bigger we make the event, the more we can donate to the charity. This is why we are adding the Pro Builder component.”

For more information regarding the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals and the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, visit the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals website.

Invited Pro Builders must RSVP to Len Emanuelson at 805-907-8346 or Len@AutoMediaProductions.com by Friday, February 19, 2016.

By Chad Simon

Professional car builders are invited to participate in the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational during the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, where builders from across the country will showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

The third-annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, to be held March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, will feature a collection of high-performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across Southern California. For the third straight year, the Fairplex will donate its net proceeds from the event to the Alex Xydias Center (AXC) for Automotive Arts.

A new component to the main event this year will be the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, where professional car builders from across the country are invited to showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

“I conceived the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals because nobody was doing a musclecar show in this market,” said Dale Coleman, vice president, chief revenue officer at the Fairplex. “We [Fairplex] decided from day one to donate our net proceeds from this event to AXC. Over the first two years, we have donated more than $80,000. The bigger we make the event, the more we can donate to the charity. This is why we are adding the Pro Builder component.”

For more information regarding the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals and the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, visit the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals website.

Invited Pro Builders must RSVP to Len Emanuelson at 805-907-8346 or Len@AutoMediaProductions.com by Friday, February 19, 2016.

By Chad Simon

Professional car builders are invited to participate in the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational during the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, where builders from across the country will showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

The third-annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals, to be held March 12–13, 2016, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, will feature a collection of high-performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across Southern California. For the third straight year, the Fairplex will donate its net proceeds from the event to the Alex Xydias Center (AXC) for Automotive Arts.

A new component to the main event this year will be the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, where professional car builders from across the country are invited to showcase their cars to compete for cash awards and the honor of being crowned Pro Builder of the Year.

“I conceived the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals because nobody was doing a musclecar show in this market,” said Dale Coleman, vice president, chief revenue officer at the Fairplex. “We [Fairplex] decided from day one to donate our net proceeds from this event to AXC. Over the first two years, we have donated more than $80,000. The bigger we make the event, the more we can donate to the charity. This is why we are adding the Pro Builder component.”

For more information regarding the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals and the Pro Builder Face-Off Invitational, visit the Street Machine & Muscle Car Nationals website.

Invited Pro Builders must RSVP to Len Emanuelson at 805-907-8346 or Len@AutoMediaProductions.com by Friday, February 19, 2016.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Intellectual Property Subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would reduce the length of design patents for automotive crash parts from 14 years to 30 months, including those previously issued. A design patent protects the unique visual ornamental characteristics of a product rather than its structure or function. Crash parts include fenders, hood, lights, side mirrors and quarter panels. 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that such parts produced by the automakers are eligible for design patent registration. The legislation faces considerable opposition in the House and no action has been scheduled to date on a similar bill in the U.S. Senate. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.