The ’16 Ford Focus RS is coming to the SEMA Garage. The all-new, third-generation, high-performance all-wheel-drive hatch features a specially tuned 2.3L EcoBoost engine delivering well in excess of 315 hp, along with the most powerful Ford RS braking system ever. This pre-production Focus RS will be available exclusively to SEMA members. 

By Carr Winn and Mark Schaal

Off-road racer Erik Miller's car took first place this year at the 10th annual King of the Hammers (KOH). Miller’s vehicle worked relentlessly finishing the 165 mile course in 7 hours, 30 minutes and 55 seconds.

“This motor sang the whole day,” Miller said Friday afternoon, 25 minutes before second place finisher Jason Scherer would cross the finish line. “I knew if we kept it smart, kept it conservative, that's what you have to do here.”

Third-place finisher was Raul Gomez (8:23:57), who broke away from Shannon Campbell (8:26:18) in the latter stage of the race after Campbell ran into technical difficulties.

History also was made at this year’s Hammers as Bailey Campbell (8:45:18), the 19-year-old daughter of Shannon Campbell was the top female KOH driver ever, finishing fifth, and the only female racing this year.

“I'm so freaking excited,” she said to media photographers crowded around her vehicle. The teenage racer beat sixth-place finisher Jason T. Shipman (8:49:15) by about four minutes, who actually finished earlier than Campbell because he started earlier.

Read on for more information on the 2016 King of the Hammers.

By Carr Winn and Mark Schaal

Off-road racer Erik Miller's car took first place this year at the 10th annual King of the Hammers (KOH). Miller’s vehicle worked relentlessly finishing the 165 mile course in 7 hours, 30 minutes and 55 seconds.

“This motor sang the whole day,” Miller said Friday afternoon, 25 minutes before second place finisher Jason Scherer would cross the finish line. “I knew if we kept it smart, kept it conservative, that's what you have to do here.”

Third-place finisher was Raul Gomez (8:23:57), who broke away from Shannon Campbell (8:26:18) in the latter stage of the race after Campbell ran into technical difficulties.

History also was made at this year’s Hammers as Bailey Campbell (8:45:18), the 19-year-old daughter of Shannon Campbell was the top female KOH driver ever, finishing fifth, and the only female racing this year.

“I'm so freaking excited,” she said to media photographers crowded around her vehicle. The teenage racer beat sixth-place finisher Jason T. Shipman (8:49:15) by about four minutes, who actually finished earlier than Campbell because he started earlier.

Read on for more information on the 2016 King of the Hammers.

By SEMA Editors

Titan will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations with three cabin configurations—Crew Cab, King Cab and Single cab—and three bed lengths—5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft. Similar to Titan XD, Titan will be available in five trim levels—S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

Now that the all-new flagship XD model of Nissan’s reimagined Titan family of pickups is on dealer lots, Nissan is turning its attention to the upcoming “standard” (half-ton) version of Titan at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show with a special photography release.

“There’s a strong family resemblance between Titan XD and the standard Titan, with their shared rugged exterior style,” said Rich Miller, director of product planning for trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles, Nissan North America Inc., and chief product specialist for Titan and Titan XD. “Titan will compete in the heart of the fullsize pickup segment—the half-ton—while the Titan XD provides a unique solution for customers by bridging the cost and capability gap between traditional half-ton and full heavy-duty pickups. Together, Titan and Titan XD will cover nearly 85% of the total fullsize truck market.”

Titan is built on a separate chassis from Titan XD, and is approximately 228.1 in. long (14.7 in. less than XD) and 79.5 in. wide (same as XD), with the cab size shared between the two vehicles. “The Titan and Titan XD do not share any common chassis components,” added Miller. “Even the lug nuts are different.”

Titan will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations with three cabin configurations—Crew Cab, King Cab and Single cab—and three bed lengths—5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft. Similar to Titan XD, Titan will be available in five trim levels—S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

The Titan will be powered by Nissan’s 5.6L Endurance V8 gasoline engine capable of 390 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine will be mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 gasoline engine will also be available (details to be announced at a later date).

The Nissan Titan will be assembled in Canton, Mississippi, with the 5.6L V8 gasoline assembled in Decherd, Tennessee. The truck goes on sale in summer 2016.

By SEMA Editors

Titan will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations with three cabin configurations—Crew Cab, King Cab and Single cab—and three bed lengths—5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft. Similar to Titan XD, Titan will be available in five trim levels—S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

Now that the all-new flagship XD model of Nissan’s reimagined Titan family of pickups is on dealer lots, Nissan is turning its attention to the upcoming “standard” (half-ton) version of Titan at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show with a special photography release.

“There’s a strong family resemblance between Titan XD and the standard Titan, with their shared rugged exterior style,” said Rich Miller, director of product planning for trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles, Nissan North America Inc., and chief product specialist for Titan and Titan XD. “Titan will compete in the heart of the fullsize pickup segment—the half-ton—while the Titan XD provides a unique solution for customers by bridging the cost and capability gap between traditional half-ton and full heavy-duty pickups. Together, Titan and Titan XD will cover nearly 85% of the total fullsize truck market.”

Titan is built on a separate chassis from Titan XD, and is approximately 228.1 in. long (14.7 in. less than XD) and 79.5 in. wide (same as XD), with the cab size shared between the two vehicles. “The Titan and Titan XD do not share any common chassis components,” added Miller. “Even the lug nuts are different.”

Titan will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations with three cabin configurations—Crew Cab, King Cab and Single cab—and three bed lengths—5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft. Similar to Titan XD, Titan will be available in five trim levels—S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

The Titan will be powered by Nissan’s 5.6L Endurance V8 gasoline engine capable of 390 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine will be mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 gasoline engine will also be available (details to be announced at a later date).

The Nissan Titan will be assembled in Canton, Mississippi, with the 5.6L V8 gasoline assembled in Decherd, Tennessee. The truck goes on sale in summer 2016.

By SEMA Editors

Titan will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations with three cabin configurations—Crew Cab, King Cab and Single cab—and three bed lengths—5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft. Similar to Titan XD, Titan will be available in five trim levels—S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

Now that the all-new flagship XD model of Nissan’s reimagined Titan family of pickups is on dealer lots, Nissan is turning its attention to the upcoming “standard” (half-ton) version of Titan at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show with a special photography release.

“There’s a strong family resemblance between Titan XD and the standard Titan, with their shared rugged exterior style,” said Rich Miller, director of product planning for trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles, Nissan North America Inc., and chief product specialist for Titan and Titan XD. “Titan will compete in the heart of the fullsize pickup segment—the half-ton—while the Titan XD provides a unique solution for customers by bridging the cost and capability gap between traditional half-ton and full heavy-duty pickups. Together, Titan and Titan XD will cover nearly 85% of the total fullsize truck market.”

Titan is built on a separate chassis from Titan XD, and is approximately 228.1 in. long (14.7 in. less than XD) and 79.5 in. wide (same as XD), with the cab size shared between the two vehicles. “The Titan and Titan XD do not share any common chassis components,” added Miller. “Even the lug nuts are different.”

Titan will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations with three cabin configurations—Crew Cab, King Cab and Single cab—and three bed lengths—5.5, 6.5 and 8 ft. Similar to Titan XD, Titan will be available in five trim levels—S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

The Titan will be powered by Nissan’s 5.6L Endurance V8 gasoline engine capable of 390 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine will be mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 gasoline engine will also be available (details to be announced at a later date).

The Nissan Titan will be assembled in Canton, Mississippi, with the 5.6L V8 gasoline assembled in Decherd, Tennessee. The truck goes on sale in summer 2016.

By AJ Carney

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide both members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region.

SEMA invites industry professionals to its Town Hall Meeting in Miami where members and prospective members will gather at National Performance Warehouse, Wednesday, March 9, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and the SEMA team.

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide both members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region. These personal interactions give members a chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. As SEMA staff interacts with attendees, they also gain valuable feedback, which helps identify how current benefits can enhance members’ business operations to better meet their needs.

For more information or to register, visit SEMA's Town Hall Meetings website or contact Andrea “AJ” Carney at 909-978-6697 or andreac@sema.org.

By AJ Carney

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide both members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region.

SEMA invites industry professionals to its Town Hall Meeting in Miami where members and prospective members will gather at National Performance Warehouse, Wednesday, March 9, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and the SEMA team.

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide both members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region. These personal interactions give members a chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. As SEMA staff interacts with attendees, they also gain valuable feedback, which helps identify how current benefits can enhance members’ business operations to better meet their needs.

For more information or to register, visit SEMA's Town Hall Meetings website or contact Andrea “AJ” Carney at 909-978-6697 or andreac@sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

VP Racing Fuels Appoints Anna Crowder as Quality Control Manager

VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced the appointment of Anna Crowder as quality control manager, reporting to Chris Taylor, director of specialty chemicals. Based at the company’s plant in Elmendorf, Texas, Crowder will be responsible for overseeing the ISO certification for VP’s Texas facility and working on quality assurance for all company divisions and product lines. Along with an M.S. in chemistry, Crowder brings more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sector. Most recently she taught courses dealing with quality in a laboratory environment at Fort Sam Houston’s Medical Education Training Center in San Antonio, prior to which she was a quality assurance leader working with the FDA on ISO 9001 inspections of the manufacture of over-the-counter drugs. Crowder also spent 10 years as lab director for the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department in addition to 10 years in laboratory management focused on cancer research and reference laboratories.

CURT Manufacturing Acquires Luverne Truck Equipment and its Retrac Mirror Division

CURT Manufacturing LLC has announced the acquisition of Luverne Truck Equipment. Luverne is one of the largest domestic manufacturers of truck accessories, offering a wide selection of front-end protection, side steps, splash guards, mirrors and more. Luverne is headquartered in Brandon, South Dakota, and has been designing and manufacturing American-made truck accessories since 1963.

Hypotherm’s “Spark Something Great” program aims to ensure the next generation of welders and metal fabricators know how to properly cut and gouge with plasma by making the newest generation of cutting equipment and standardized instruction available to schools.

Hypertherm Now Accepting 2016 “Spark Something Great” Educational Grant Applications

Hypertherm—a U.S.-based manufacturer of plasma, laser and waterjet cutting systems—is now accepting applications for its “Spark Something Great” educational grant program. Now in its second year, the program aims to ensure the next generation of welders and metal fabricators know how to properly cut and gouge with plasma by making the newest generation of cutting equipment and standardized instruction available to schools. The grant program will award a Powermax45 plasma cutting and gouging system, along with the full “Plasma Cutting Technology: Theory and Practice” curriculum kit to 10 schools in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Applications for 2016 are due on or before April 1 with grant decisions communicated by May 2.

Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels Continues Sponsorship With B.A.S.S.

Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels announced today its continued sponsorship relationship with B.A.S.S. to include a role as supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series, as well as Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation and Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops. Along with displaying its products and providing promotional material at B.A.S.S. events, the company will offer the Dick Cepek Rolling Forward Award to Elite Series anglers, and will award $1,000 to the angler who makes the largest gain in Angler of the Year standings from tournament to tournament. Dick Cepek-sponsored Elite Anglers for the season include Clifford Pirch, David Walker, J. Todd Tucker and Justin Lucas.

Champion Oil Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Champion Brands LLC has announced that special pricing, new distribution programs, product specials and a spectacular factory open-house event May 5–6 will be part of its year-long 60th Anniversary celebration. During Champion’s 52-week promotion, which started in January, current and new customers will be eligible for many types of promotions and an opportunity to win Champion Products by registering at events or online. During this 60th year, Champion will sponsor national races, regional events, race teams and drivers.

Rancho “Lift Kit Rewards!” Promotion Available for Sales of Rancho Performance Suspension Systems

The Rancho “Lift Kit Rewards!” promotion—awarding up to $75 for each qualifying lift kit and ride control sale from March 1–June 30, 2016—allows counter professionals to earn Visa Prepaid Card rewards for the sales of Rancho lift kits. To earn a $75 Visa Prepaid Card, counterpeople must sell a qualifying Rancho lift kit and parts invoiced at $1,600 or more. To earn a $50 Visa Prepaid Card, counterpeople must sell a qualifying Rancho lift kit and parts invoiced at $800 to $1,599. Counterpeople will be rewarded with one Visa Prepaid Card at the end of the promotion, equal to all of the rewards for sales sold during the program period. Participants can earn up to $1,500 through this redemption. The Rancho shocks that can be combined with a qualifying lift kit during the promotional period include Rancho  RS5000 or RS5000X shocks, RS7000MT shocks or struts and RS9000XL shocks or struts. Parts also can include stabilizers, coil springs, leaf springs, blocks and bolts. A qualifying lift kit must be included on every invoice submitted for the promotion. Contact your Rancho representative to obtain a Rancho “Lift Kit Rewards!” scorecard. Completed scorecards and copies of sales invoices must be postmarked and mailed to Rancho program headquarters by July 31, 2016.

National Performance Warehouse-Sponsored 6th Annual FAST Expo in Miami Keeps Growing

National Performance Warehouse (NPW), with headquarters in Miami, recently brought vendors, jobbers, retailers, installers and enthusiasts together for an educational and fun day of cars, trucks, products and prizes. More than 3,500 people enjoyed a giant car show and laid claim to several hundred door prizes while discovering the latest and greatest in maintaining, accessorizing and repairing vehicles of every make and model. More than 250 guests attended a pre-show award and appreciation dinner where Bumper to Bumper, AAM Parts Pro and Horsepower Sales performance jobbers were presented with Rep of the Year and Supplier of the Year in the performance and traditional categories. In attendance was Eric Sills, who becomes Standard Motor Products’ new CEO this spring. He was awarded the 2015 NPW Person of the Year.

A brand-new, state-of-the-art video board in the middle of the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, will display the Toyo Tires name during all events.

Toyo Tires Expands Anaheim Ducks Partnership

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has announced that after several seasons as a sponsor, the tire company is now the Official Tire of the Anaheim Ducks. The official tire designation comes with an increased presence inside Honda Center—the team’s home arena in Anaheim, California. As a part of the new multi-year agreement, the Toyo Tires name has been added to the marquee directly outside the main entrance of Honda Center on Katella Avenue. This is in addition to the signage already on the marquee next to the 57 freeway. The Toyo Tires name will also be seen inside Honda Center as the logo rotates on two LED rings before and after all events, and on signage around the concourse. A brand-new, state-of-the-art video board in the center of the arena will also display the Toyo Tires name during all Honda Center events.

Prolong Taps Manufacturers’ Reps to Further Expand U.S. Distribution

Prolong Super Lubricants has retained several leading manufacturers’ representative firms to expand its distribution to ensure Prolong products are more easily accessible to customers around the United States. Prolong’s expanded reach into the performance warehouse and traditional warehouse distributor channels is in addition to its current distribution through mass merchants and select auto-parts retail chains. Prolong is now working with West Coast-based Pacific Marketing, SRS Marketing, which will cover the East Coast, and Thomas Sales and Marketing in the Midwest.

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.

Caught testing for the first time, here’s the ’17 Ford F-350 sporting base XL trim in a single-cab dually diesel configuration. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-Series lineup, but this beast has yet to be seen.

Call this the Haulers Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for automotive transport, hauling lawn equipment and landscapers—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.

Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.

Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde