SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.

SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive

Wild Outdoor Headers

Hot Rod magazine’s LeRoi Smith took this photo in the spring of 1963 outside of Barr’s Muffler Shop in Studio City, California, for an article on building a cost-effective exhaust system for an Olds-powered hot-rod roadster. That’s Bobby Barr in the foreground talking to Jerry Eames by the tube bender. This photo is an outtake from the shoot; in the photo that appeared in the magazine, Barr and Eames are far more intent on their work.

According to Smith, the whole exhaust system—the open headers plus cut-outs to glasspack-filled pipes running under the car—cost just $150.

“Here’s what you need to build the wildest set of outside headers (lakes pipes) in town,” he wrote. “Curved tubing is available at speed shops; header flanges, short adapters are from C-T Automotive. Flared tubes were rolled by local sheetmetal shop from 18-gauge steel.”

Piece of cake and a template that can still be followed today by hot-rod builders. For this particular car, the finished exhaust system was removed, ground smooth and taken to a nearby chrome plater for finishing, “which usually adds another $50 to $75 to total cost,” Smith wrote. Okay, that part has changed over the years.

The roadster, a ’29 Model A on Deuce rails, may look familiar to longtime car-magazine readers. It belonged to Sam Conrad, who was one of the original members of the L.A. Roadsters car club. When Conrad bought the car as a teenager, it was powered by a Flathead. He made quite a few changes to the car over the years as it morphed into the state seen here. Fellow club members Smith, Dick Scritchfield, Neal East and Steve Kelly helped Conrad build the car. With friends like those, it’s no wonder the car got a fair share of ink.

Smith wrote several tech articles featuring Conrad’s roadster for Hot Rod in 1963. The car also appeared twice in Popular Hot Rodding in articles written by Scritchfield and Smith. By then, Conrad’s car was a potent machine, its Olds mill sending 550 hp to the rear wheels. The hot rod was capable of running 11.60 seconds at 124 mph in the quarter-mile and returning 15-mpg fuel economy on long-distance cruises. This exhaust system, in its final chrome-plated form and contrasting with the roadster’s midnight-blue paint, makes Conrad’s roadster easy to spot in those magazine stories and more from the era.

SEMA News—February 2015

Fast Facts

Ashley Ailsworth was appointed SEMA’s corporate counsel. Ailsworth, a recent graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, first came to SEMA in 2009 as an entry-level researcher in the SEMA Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C. In her new capacity, she will serve as an adjunct to the SEMA general counsel and will provide assistance on a variety of issues and projects to enable the association to carry out its mission in compliance with applicable laws.

Wes-Coast Marketing announced that Scott Bisch is the newest addition to its team. Bisch has more than 30 years of sales experience, the majority of which was spent in the automotive aftermarket industry. He has previous manufacturer experience with companies such as Extang, Surf City Garage and Meguiar’s, providing him with a solid understanding of the retail and WD experience, with a focus on new-product distribution and line expansion. Wes-Coast Marketing, Upland, CA; 909-946-6899.

Anne Johnson joined Truck Accessories Group LLC West as district sales manager for the Northwestern United States and British Columbia, Canada. Johnson has been in the automotive aftermarket industry for more than 26 years. She is a former co-owner of California Truck Works Inc. Johnson has served on the SEMA Board of Directors and on the select committee of the Truck and Off-Road Alliance. Truck Accessories Group, Elkhart, IN; 574-522-5337.

Air Lift Co. appointed Chip Rabey as its group marketing manager. He will oversee the company’s marketing department to guide product promotion, marketing communications, new-product initiatives and partner-relationship development of towing and performance vehicle products. Rabey brings 21 years of marketing experience to Air Lift, with previous posts in distribution, agency and trade association environments. Air Lift Co., Lansing, MI; 517-322-2144.

VP Racing Fuels Inc. appointed Kelley Hendel as its general manager of consumer products. Based at the company’s corporate headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, Hendel will oversee customer service and support for distributors, dealers and retail customers. Hendel has been with VP Racing Fuels since 1995, most recently managing operations and customer service for the seven-state Western sales region. In a related move, Josh Hoffner was promoted to office manager for the VP Western Region office, replacing Hendel. VP Racing Fuels, Elmendorf, TX; 210-635-7744.

Jerome Lentz of Challenger Lifts was elected chairman of the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) board of directors for 2015. Voting took place at ALI’s annual membership meeting in November in Las Vegas. Lentz’s 2015 term will be his third as chairman of the ALI board. Returning board members for 2015 include Jeff Kritzer of BendPak Inc., Peter Liebetreu of Hunter Engineering Co., Stet Schanze of Gray Manufacturing Co. Inc. and O’Gorman. New members include Stan Poweska of PKS Equipment & Engineering Inc., Matt Webster of Vehicle Service Group and Associate Class representative Gary Wainwright of Weco Inc. Automotive Lift Institute Inc., Cortland, NY; 607-756-7775.

Flaming River has received certification for ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems standards. The ISO 9000 family of quality management system standards ensures that Flaming River Industries Inc. meets or exceeds customer needs and the standards of manufacturing excellence as set forth by the guidelines of ISO 9000 and OEM standards per regulatory authorities. Flaming River, Berea, OH; 440-826-4488.

Slamstop announced an expansion in the United States, with a new headquarters, distribution center and certified installer network. The company reported that the launch was influenced by its recent success during the 2014 SEMA Show. Michael Oakes, now vice president of business development and sales at Slamstop, explained that the company is starting quickly with its U.S. company, Slamstop USA LLC, through the development of a Southern California-based distribution and customer service center as well as an installation facility. Oakes will join CFO Dmitry Iurgens and Director of Marketing Anton Dyshkant as they continue to raise awareness about Slamstop.

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions announced that John Scott of 360 Tint in San Antonio, Texas, won the Chrome Sweet Chrome grand-prize full-car makeover, which includes installation of an Avery Dennison car wrap of Scott’s choosing, Giovanna wheels, a DUB audio package and Croftgate cleaning supplies. 360 Tint, which specializes in window tints, graphic wraps and paint-protection films, plans to customize its company car—a ’07 Chevy HHR LTD Panel SS Front. The promotion highlighted the versatility of vehicle wrap films. Enthusiasts entered the promotion through text messages and an online form prior to and during the 2014 SEMA Show. Avery Dennison, Mentor, OH; 800-282-8379.

BMW’s i3—an electric car built with a lightweight, carbon-fiber passenger cell and an aluminum drive module—was named Green Car Journal’s 2015 Green Car of the Year at the L.A. Auto Show. Green Car of the Year finalists included the Audi A3 TDI, the Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel, the Honda Fit and the VW Golf. The award is widely recognized as the auto industry’s most important environmental accolade. The first all-electric vehicle to win Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year, the i3 benefits from BMW’s years-long “project i” initiative, which focuses on future mobility and strategies for sustainable transportation. While the i3 is designed as a battery-electric car, its optional REx gasoline engine-generator enables extended driving range with electricity created on board.

Rigid Industries LED Lighting entered a joint marketing partnership with A.R.E. Accessories—the result of both companies working together on industry project truck builds. They include the Wounded Warrior project truck, professional angler Justin Lucas’s 2014 Tundra SR5 Double Cab and A.R.E.’s 2014 Fishing Team Toyota Tundra. A.R.E. Accessories recently began offering Rigid Industries’ E-series LED light bars as optional equipment on its fiberglass MX-series truck caps. Rigid Industries, Gilbert, AZ; 480-655-0100.

Brian Huck was promoted from vice president of marketing and sales to president and chief operating officer of The Eastwood Co. In his new role, Huck will oversee the entire Eastwood Co. business unit, including channels, product development and the expansion into retail, which also includes strategic planning, acquisitions and business development. He will be based out of Eastwood’s corporate headquarters in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Eastwood Co., Pottstown, PA; 610-705-5402.

Weld named Richard Greenblatt the company’s new vice president of operations. Greenblatt has more than 30 years of experience in production, machining, operations and manufacturing management. In addition, the company added Keith Kern as general manger for the its new Weld Complete Custom Wheels (CCW) Forged Performance division. Kern joins Weld with a history in the performance wheel and accessory industry, most recently as the director of sales and marketing for Billet Specialties Inc. Weld also recently acquired CCW of Holly Hill, Florida—a manufacturer of premium forged road race, sports car and luxury car wheels—creating CCW Forged Performance. Weld Racing, Kansas City, MO; 800-788-9353.

Husky Liners received the 2014 Data Geek of the Year award from RealTruck.com. The award was presented at the 2014 SEMA Show and is part of RealTruck.com’s vendor awards series. Now in their second year, the awards honor partner companies that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the areas of communication, problem solving and support while providing high-quality products and top-notch customer service. Only one company per category won, and the winners represent the partners that stood out during the September 2013 to August 2014 period. RealTruck.com, Jamestown, ND; 877-216-5446.

Tuff Stuff Performance Accessories announced that Tim Andrews accepted the position of national sales manager. Andrews is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in the performance aftermarket. His previous industry experience included positions as vice president of sales for Fidanza, sales director of Global Performance Parts and, most recently, as North American territory manager for Superpro Suspension and Mantic Clutch. Tuff Stuff, Cleveland, OH; 800-331-6562.

Covercraft kicked off the celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary with a special display featuring a 1965 Mustang at the 2014 SEMA Show. Founded by Bob Lichtmann in 1965 in San Fernando Valley, California, Covercraft was the pioneer in custom vehicle covers. Still family-owned and now headquartered in Oklahoma, Covercraft offers more than 80,000 custom patterns and a complete line of interior and exterior vehicle protection solutions. Covercraft, Pauls Valley, OK.