By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
 Under a SEMA-model bill, a nitrous-oxide system must be disconnected when operating the vehicle on public highways. |
A version of SEMA-model legislation to permit motor vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems has been introduced. Under the bill, the system must be disconnected when operating the vehicle on public highways.
For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
 Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced in Connecticut. |
Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced. Under the bill, the personal property tax on vehicles eight years old and older would be changed to a flat tax of $100 per year for vehicles between 8 and 10 years old with an assessed value of less than $10,000, and $50 per year for vehicles 10 years old and older with an assessed value of less than $8,000. Antique, rare and special-interest vehicles may be negatively affected by the bill. These vehicles are currently valued at a $500 assessment, which results in a reduced tax.
For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
| Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced in Connecticut. |
Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced. Under the bill, the personal property tax on vehicles eight years old and older would be changed to a flat tax of $100 per year for vehicles between 8 and 10 years old with an assessed value of less than $10,000, and $50 per year for vehicles 10 years old and older with an assessed value of less than $8,000. Antique, rare and special-interest vehicles may be negatively affected by the bill. These vehicles are currently valued at a $500 assessment, which results in a reduced tax.
For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
| Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced in Connecticut. |
Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced. Under the bill, the personal property tax on vehicles eight years old and older would be changed to a flat tax of $100 per year for vehicles between 8 and 10 years old with an assessed value of less than $10,000, and $50 per year for vehicles 10 years old and older with an assessed value of less than $8,000. Antique, rare and special-interest vehicles may be negatively affected by the bill. These vehicles are currently valued at a $500 assessment, which results in a reduced tax.
For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
| Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced in Connecticut. |
Legislation to lower the property tax on many older vehicles has been introduced. Under the bill, the personal property tax on vehicles eight years old and older would be changed to a flat tax of $100 per year for vehicles between 8 and 10 years old with an assessed value of less than $10,000, and $50 per year for vehicles 10 years old and older with an assessed value of less than $8,000. Antique, rare and special-interest vehicles may be negatively affected by the bill. These vehicles are currently valued at a $500 assessment, which results in a reduced tax.
For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.
Compiled by SEMA Editors
Advanced Clutch Technology Hires Nye & Associates Inc. Advertising Agency
Advanced Clutch Technology has hired Nye & Associates Inc., a full-service advertising agency specializing in providing marketing solutions to accessory and aftermarket manufacturers. In business for 38 years, over the past decade, Nye & Associates has shifted its focus to helping manufacturers navigate the sea of marketing options that exist today, including digital and traditional. The agency will assist Advanced Clutch Technology with marketing projects, including overall branding, media planning, creative, sales tools and more.
 Chris Ostrander | |
AP Exhaust Technologies Appoints New CEO and President
AP Exhaust Technologies has announced the appointment of Chris Ostrander as chief executive officer and president. Evangelos Proimos will continue as executive chairman working directly with Ostrander on developing the company’s strategic vision, organic and acquisition growth initiatives and customer relationships. Ostrander joins AP Exhaust with more than 16 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket and OEM industries. In his most recent role, he served four years as senior vice president and president of the Americas at Cooper Tire & Rubber. Prior to Cooper, he led multiple business units and sales organizations at Eaton Corp.
Inaugural Petersen Invitational at the Thermal Club, February 21–22
A fundraiser for the Petersen Automotive Museum, the private Thermal Motorsports Club near Palm Springs, California, opens its gates to enthusiasts later this month. Participants can test the Porsche Cayman S, Lexus RC F and Lotus Evora, plus ride in a Lamborghini Super Trofeo. "Driver" tickets include bring-your-own-car track time. The hosted cocktail party and dinner will honor Danny Sullivan. More information is available on Petersen's website.
Edelbrock Renews Contingency Agreement With the United States Modified Touring Series
Edelbrock LLC has announced the renewal of its contingency sponsorship agreement with the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) for the 2015 race season. Edelbrock has been an official USMTS contingency sponsor since 2013. Edelbrock will again support the USMTS with gift certificates for weekly heat races and supply cash rewards to the first-, second- and third-place national drivers at the year-end awards ceremony.
Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels to Sponsor Four Elite B.A.S.S. Anglers
In addition to the company’s role as a 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series, Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation and Bassmaster College Series event sponsor, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, has announced today its sponsorship of four of the series’ most elite anglers: Greg Hackney of Gonzales, Louisiana, a 138-tournament angler; David Walker of Sevierville, Tennessee, a 120-tournament angler; J. Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Georgia, a 103-tournament angler; and Cliff Pirch of Payson, Arizona, a 32-tournament angler.
 Randy Fisher | |
Torklift International Launches Resale Pricing Policy
Torklift International has announced the implementation of a Resale Price Policy (RPP) this week in order to protect product integrity and dealer margins at the request of hundreds of dealers and distributors.
“The policy goes into effect on Valentine’s Day,” explained Randy Fisher, Torklift International’s national sales manager. “This policy will require that certain Torklift products cannot be sold below a specified dollar amount.”
The lines included in the policy are FastGun turnbuckles, SpringLoad XL turnbuckles, Derringer Handle turnbuckles, AnchorGuard turnbuckles, SuperHitch 20k, SuperHitch 30k, SuperTruss Extensions, StableLoad, PowerArmor, Wobble Stopper, Fortress Gas Lock, GlowSteps, GlowGuide handrails and steel and aluminum Talon Tie Downs.
“Dealers who wish to become a Torklift Authorized Reseller can sign up no later than April 15, 2015,” Fisher said. “This gives a 60-day grace period for dealers to review and sign up.”
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. Fred Offenhauser |  Nile Cornelison |
 Jim Cozzie |  John Menzler |
SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.
A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”
The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.
Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.
Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.
| Fred Offenhauser | Nile Cornelison |
| Jim Cozzie | John Menzler |
SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.
A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”
The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.
Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.
Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill to permanently set the Section 179 deduction at $500,000. The House is expected to pass America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015 in the coming days. The legislation will then be referred to the U.S. Senate’s Finance Committee, which is currently pursuing comprehensive tax reform.
The House bill permits small businesses to write off 100% of their capital investments, up to $500,000, in the year the purchase was made. Because Congress only extended this provision retroactively for tax year 2014, companies are currently limited to expensing purchases up to $25,000 in 2015 and future years. The legislation also increases the number of companies eligible to take the full write off by increasing the amount a business can invest in equipment from $200,000 to $2 million. The $500,000/$2 million deduction caps would also be tied to the rate of inflation starting in 2016.
The legislation would remove small-business uncertainties about tax deductions when making long-term investments. SEMA has joined with more than 150 other groups representing various small-business interests to support this legislation.
For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill to permanently set the Section 179 deduction at $500,000. The House is expected to pass America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015 in the coming days. The legislation will then be referred to the U.S. Senate’s Finance Committee, which is currently pursuing comprehensive tax reform.
The House bill permits small businesses to write off 100% of their capital investments, up to $500,000, in the year the purchase was made. Because Congress only extended this provision retroactively for tax year 2014, companies are currently limited to expensing purchases up to $25,000 in 2015 and future years. The legislation also increases the number of companies eligible to take the full write off by increasing the amount a business can invest in equipment from $200,000 to $2 million. The $500,000/$2 million deduction caps would also be tied to the rate of inflation starting in 2016.
The legislation would remove small-business uncertainties about tax deductions when making long-term investments. SEMA has joined with more than 150 other groups representing various small-business interests to support this legislation.
For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.