By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship offers dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Students can apply at www.sema.org/scholarships. The submission deadline is March 1, 2017.

Dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will be given out, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The program also includes a loan-forgiveness aspect that offers financial awards to employees of SEMA-member companies who have completed and are paying off a loan for a program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program within the United States.

“The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is a way for us to help develop the future innovators and leaders of the aftermarket industry,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We encourage all students working toward a career in our industry to apply and take advantage of this great program.”

For more information on the program, contact Juliet Marshall, SEMA manager of education projects, at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

By Juan Torres

Kyle Tucker turned an all-steel Willys that has been a drag race car all of its life into a contender in this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

After winning the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro, Kyle Tucker and his staff at Detroit Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina, worked effervescently on a ’41 Willys in the hope that they could regain the title.

“Battle of the Builders is now the big thing for car builders,” Tucker said. “To be in the Top 10 with the best of the best and the who’s who in the automotive industry is a really big deal."

To accomplish their goal, the crew opted not to build a fiberglass Willys and instead put together an unconventional all-steel model using a car that had always been drag raced. They built the front fenders, hood, rear fenders, deck lid and a roof section from scratch because the car was beaten up from drag racing. Though builders often remove the trim, door handles, locks and hinges from a Willys, Tucker decided to leave them on and eventually laser-scanned and machined a scaled version of the original steering wheel from billet aluminum before adding a custom-machined shift lever, tach housing and speaker grilles.

Their attention to detail and meticulous work was obvious at first sight. “I like a car to sit right and have the correct tire and wheel look and to drive right,” said Tucker. “A lot of people can make a car look awesome, but for a car to look awesome and drive right, that’s what I want.”

Behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and stories of the 2016 Battle of the Builders competition will be showcased in an hour-long TV special that will air 10:00 p.m. (EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. Mark your calendars, set your DVR and tell your friends not to miss the show!

For more information, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

By Juan Torres

Kyle Tucker turned an all-steel Willys that has been a drag race car all of its life into a contender in this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

After winning the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro, Kyle Tucker and his staff at Detroit Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina, worked effervescently on a ’41 Willys in the hope that they could regain the title.

“Battle of the Builders is now the big thing for car builders,” Tucker said. “To be in the Top 10 with the best of the best and the who’s who in the automotive industry is a really big deal."

To accomplish their goal, the crew opted not to build a fiberglass Willys and instead put together an unconventional all-steel model using a car that had always been drag raced. They built the front fenders, hood, rear fenders, deck lid and a roof section from scratch because the car was beaten up from drag racing. Though builders often remove the trim, door handles, locks and hinges from a Willys, Tucker decided to leave them on and eventually laser-scanned and machined a scaled version of the original steering wheel from billet aluminum before adding a custom-machined shift lever, tach housing and speaker grilles.

Their attention to detail and meticulous work was obvious at first sight. “I like a car to sit right and have the correct tire and wheel look and to drive right,” said Tucker. “A lot of people can make a car look awesome, but for a car to look awesome and drive right, that’s what I want.”

Behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and stories of the 2016 Battle of the Builders competition will be showcased in an hour-long TV special that will air 10:00 p.m. (EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. Mark your calendars, set your DVR and tell your friends not to miss the show!

For more information, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

By Juan Torres

Kyle Tucker turned an all-steel Willys that has been a drag race car all of its life into a contender in this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

After winning the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro, Kyle Tucker and his staff at Detroit Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina, worked effervescently on a ’41 Willys in the hope that they could regain the title.

“Battle of the Builders is now the big thing for car builders,” Tucker said. “To be in the Top 10 with the best of the best and the who’s who in the automotive industry is a really big deal."

To accomplish their goal, the crew opted not to build a fiberglass Willys and instead put together an unconventional all-steel model using a car that had always been drag raced. They built the front fenders, hood, rear fenders, deck lid and a roof section from scratch because the car was beaten up from drag racing. Though builders often remove the trim, door handles, locks and hinges from a Willys, Tucker decided to leave them on and eventually laser-scanned and machined a scaled version of the original steering wheel from billet aluminum before adding a custom-machined shift lever, tach housing and speaker grilles.

Their attention to detail and meticulous work was obvious at first sight. “I like a car to sit right and have the correct tire and wheel look and to drive right,” said Tucker. “A lot of people can make a car look awesome, but for a car to look awesome and drive right, that’s what I want.”

Behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and stories of the 2016 Battle of the Builders competition will be showcased in an hour-long TV special that will air 10:00 p.m. (EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. Mark your calendars, set your DVR and tell your friends not to miss the show!

For more information, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

By Juan Torres

SEMA will showcase its third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in a one-hour television special premiering 10:00 p.m. (PST/EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. This unique program makes it possible for consumers to connect with manufacturers and see the great new products and trends that debut at the leading automotive trade show in the world—the SEMA Show.

Hosted by industry personalities Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic, the program takes viewers behind the scenes of the 2016 SEMA Show, where more than 150,000 industry professionals gather to discover new products and trends. Viewers will be able to watch and join the journey of top builders as they battle around the clock to create and finish one-of-a-kind vehicles to be displayed at the annual event in Las Vegas.

With more than 250 vehicles entered into the competition and the addition of a new Young Guns distinction for builders who are 34 years old and under, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition was more exciting and intense than ever before. The Enthusiast Network (TEN) Executive Producer David Freiburger, Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off Road Editor-at-Large Fred Williams, and Meguiar’s Customer Engagement Leader RJ de Vera served as judges of the program and narrowed down the field to the Top 10 cars, with the finalists judging their fellow competitors in front of an audience at the SEMA Show.

Watch the action unfold by tuning in to the Velocity Network on Monday, February 6, at 10:00 p.m. (PST/EST), or visit www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

By Juan Torres

SEMA will showcase its third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in a one-hour television special premiering 10:00 p.m. (PST/EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. This unique program makes it possible for consumers to connect with manufacturers and see the great new products and trends that debut at the leading automotive trade show in the world—the SEMA Show.

Hosted by industry personalities Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic, the program takes viewers behind the scenes of the 2016 SEMA Show, where more than 150,000 industry professionals gather to discover new products and trends. Viewers will be able to watch and join the journey of top builders as they battle around the clock to create and finish one-of-a-kind vehicles to be displayed at the annual event in Las Vegas.

With more than 250 vehicles entered into the competition and the addition of a new Young Guns distinction for builders who are 34 years old and under, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition was more exciting and intense than ever before. The Enthusiast Network (TEN) Executive Producer David Freiburger, Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off Road Editor-at-Large Fred Williams, and Meguiar’s Customer Engagement Leader RJ de Vera served as judges of the program and narrowed down the field to the Top 10 cars, with the finalists judging their fellow competitors in front of an audience at the SEMA Show.

Watch the action unfold by tuning in to the Velocity Network on Monday, February 6, at 10:00 p.m. (PST/EST), or visit www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

By Stuart Gosswein

The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for an off-road vehicle (ORV) management plan within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA). The Glen Canyon NRA encompasses over 1.25 million acres in Utah and Arizona. A general management ORV plan was first published in 1979.

A 2008 court settlement agreement requires an updated plan which the NPS has been subsequently pursuing. The EIS evaluates the impact of five ORV management alternatives ranging from no action to an ORV ban. The NPS has recommended Alternative E, a mixed-use plan for designating specific areas for ORV use and prohibiting use in other areas. Permits would be required for all off-road travel and motor vehicles could not exceed a sound level of 96 decibels when operated.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By Stuart Gosswein

The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for an off-road vehicle (ORV) management plan within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA). The Glen Canyon NRA encompasses over 1.25 million acres in Utah and Arizona. A general management ORV plan was first published in 1979.

A 2008 court settlement agreement requires an updated plan which the NPS has been subsequently pursuing. The EIS evaluates the impact of five ORV management alternatives ranging from no action to an ORV ban. The NPS has recommended Alternative E, a mixed-use plan for designating specific areas for ORV use and prohibiting use in other areas. Permits would be required for all off-road travel and motor vehicles could not exceed a sound level of 96 decibels when operated.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By Eric Snyder

President Obama used his power under the Antiquities Act to unilaterally expand Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon and the California Coastal National Monument. Despite opposition from local residents and elected officials, the designations increase the monuments by 42,000 acres and 5,000 acres, respectively. President Obama has now designated or expanded 34 national monuments and set aside 550 million acres of public lands and waters as monuments, national parks and wilderness.

However, the fate of some of these designations is unclear, as western leaders in Congress are asking President-elect Trump to reverse many of these designations. No president has ever reversed the designations of their predecessors to date, although Congress may overturn or reduce the size of national monuments through legislation.

SEMA supports legislation to curtail the president’s power to unilaterally designate national monuments by requiring their approval by Congress and the impacted state legislature(s). The issue is consequential since national monuments automatically prohibit new roads or trails for motorized vehicles and require a new land-management plan be drafted that could lead to more road closures.

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

By Eric Snyder

President Obama used his power under the Antiquities Act to unilaterally expand Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon and the California Coastal National Monument. Despite opposition from local residents and elected officials, the designations increase the monuments by 42,000 acres and 5,000 acres, respectively. President Obama has now designated or expanded 34 national monuments and set aside 550 million acres of public lands and waters as monuments, national parks and wilderness.

However, the fate of some of these designations is unclear, as western leaders in Congress are asking President-elect Trump to reverse many of these designations. No president has ever reversed the designations of their predecessors to date, although Congress may overturn or reduce the size of national monuments through legislation.

SEMA supports legislation to curtail the president’s power to unilaterally designate national monuments by requiring their approval by Congress and the impacted state legislature(s). The issue is consequential since national monuments automatically prohibit new roads or trails for motorized vehicles and require a new land-management plan be drafted that could lead to more road closures.

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