Thu, 05/03/2018 - 10:00

By SEMA Editors

Pinewood
Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation & Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, in Universal City, California.

The 2018 Pinewood Drag Racing season is now open! Each year, hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. To learn more and register, visit www.sema.org/pinewood.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation & Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, in Universal City, California. The finals are held during the cocktail reception, shortly before the banquet begins.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Build It For Me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It For Me (BIFM) or Stock Class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in the industry.

SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races special features include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and the Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off, with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member, the greater their chances of winning.

If you’re the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend the build day at Childhelp Village West in Beaumont, California, Saturday, May 5, where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating are invited to contact lindsayb@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today!

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 10:00

By SEMA Editors

Pinewood
Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation & Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, in Universal City, California.

The 2018 Pinewood Drag Racing season is now open! Each year, hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. To learn more and register, visit www.sema.org/pinewood.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation & Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, in Universal City, California. The finals are held during the cocktail reception, shortly before the banquet begins.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Build It For Me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It For Me (BIFM) or Stock Class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in the industry.

SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races special features include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and the Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off, with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member, the greater their chances of winning.

If you’re the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend the build day at Childhelp Village West in Beaumont, California, Saturday, May 5, where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating are invited to contact lindsayb@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today!

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 10:00

By SEMA Editors

Pinewood
Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation & Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, in Universal City, California.

The 2018 Pinewood Drag Racing season is now open! Each year, hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. To learn more and register, visit www.sema.org/pinewood.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation & Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, in Universal City, California. The finals are held during the cocktail reception, shortly before the banquet begins.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Build It For Me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It For Me (BIFM) or Stock Class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in the industry.

SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races special features include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and the Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off, with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member, the greater their chances of winning.

If you’re the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend the build day at Childhelp Village West in Beaumont, California, Saturday, May 5, where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating are invited to contact lindsayb@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today!

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:53

The ninth annual SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit will take place in Las Vegas, Monday, June 25–Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:53

The ninth annual SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit will take place in Las Vegas, Monday, June 25–Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:50

Voting for the election will be conducted through an online voting service, May 8–May 22.

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:50

Voting for the election will be conducted through an online voting service, May 8–May 22.

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:45

By SEMA Editors

35 Under 35
If you know an industry leader under the age of 35 as of September 1, 2018, SEMA News would like to hear from you.

For the sixth consecutive year, SEMA News is looking to highlight top-tier talent in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. We need your input. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2018—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media, or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

It is very likely that SEMA members are currently working with creative and talented young professionals who are already moving the industry in new and different directions. They might be people who have played key roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach, improve product development, energize marketing efforts or upgrade customer interaction.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that might become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed. These are people who know what’s going on at the ground level, who see opportunities that are now forming and who travel in circles that may be very different from those of our “old-school” industry leaders.

Winners will be chosen based on their business success, contribution to their organization, industry knowledge and community involvement. We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2018 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 31, 2018.

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:45

By SEMA Editors

35 Under 35
If you know an industry leader under the age of 35 as of September 1, 2018, SEMA News would like to hear from you.

For the sixth consecutive year, SEMA News is looking to highlight top-tier talent in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. We need your input. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2018—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media, or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

It is very likely that SEMA members are currently working with creative and talented young professionals who are already moving the industry in new and different directions. They might be people who have played key roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach, improve product development, energize marketing efforts or upgrade customer interaction.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that might become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed. These are people who know what’s going on at the ground level, who see opportunities that are now forming and who travel in circles that may be very different from those of our “old-school” industry leaders.

Winners will be chosen based on their business success, contribution to their organization, industry knowledge and community involvement. We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2018 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 31, 2018.

Thu, 05/03/2018 - 09:42

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Product Manager: Hastings Manufacturing Co. is hiring a product manager responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the company’s product lines. This position works closely with marketing, engineering, sales and operations to ensure continuity in product offerings and company goals, and is also responsible for adhering to and promoting the company values by performing duties in a manner that is consistent with being a leader and supporting the continued growth of the company. The ideal candidate will have five or more years of prior product development experience in a retail automotive, hardware or farm store environment. Prior engine component experience is a plus.

Technical Salesperson: AAM Competition LLC is hiring a technical salesperson responsible for answering technical questions in regard to different turbochargers, their application and power levels. The ideal candidate will have more than two years of sales experience, be an expert in turbochargers and have a good understanding of vehicle engines and have the ability to explain technical information to a non-technical audience.

Test Lab Technician: Fox Factory Inc. is hiring a test lab technician to support product development activities within the test lab and support all Fox divisions. The role requires direct interaction with Fox technicians, engineers and managers at all levels. A high school diploma or GED and one to three years’ applicable experience in a related field are required. Candidates must have a high degree of technical, hands-on ability with complex assemblies and components.

Customer Service Specialist: Energy Suspension is hiring a customer service specialist responsible for automotive product application information, technical assistance, order processing and responding to emails. Occasional travel to local trade shows and events is required. Candidates must have basic automotive knowledge and prior customer service experience. Bilingualism is a plus.

Controller: McLeod Racing is hiring a controller to report directly to the CEO and be responsible for all aspects of McLeod’s accounting functions and hiring, recruiting and training additional accounting personnel as McLeod grows. The ideal candidate must have excellent communication and accounting skills and significant experience in both general accounting and MRP systems. Sage/MAS experience and strong knowledge of GAAP and inventory control/accounting are required. Candidates must be college graduates with an accounting degree and have a minimum of 10 years of accounting experience with a history of increasing job responsibilities. A CPA is preferred.