By SEMA Editors

Art Chrisman

The Petersen Automotive Museum honored Art Chrisman with the 2015 Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual SEMA Awards Breakfast in Las Vegas. Barry Meguiar, president of Meguiar’s Car Care Products and host of the popular, long-running “Car Crazy” show on the Velocity Network, announced the award with Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. Chrisman accepted the award from Meguiar via a video that was shown to the capacity crowd of thousands in Las Vegas.

Chrisman got his start just after World War II in his family’s garage in Compton, California. He followed the examples set by his uncle Jack Chrisman and his brother Lloyd Chrisman, who had been building cars and racing them on the dry lakes of Southern California. In 1955, Chrisman became one of the first men to do 140 mph on a dragstrip while driving his famous “25” car at Famosa Raceway in Bakersfield. After that, he built what would be one of his most famous cars, “Hustler,” which broke the 180-mph barrier and was the first car to run a parachute.

Chrisman was also one of the original five charter members of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club—a feat he accomplished in 1952 while driving Chet Herbert’s “Beast” at an official speed of 235.910 mph. After his racing career, he took a position with Autolite and became renowned as the guru of reading spark plugs. He continued to support the industry in this capacity for some time, eventually returning to building cars in his shop in Santa Ana, California.

Reflecting on his career, Chrisman said, “When I got into racing on the dry lakes, I never could have imagined that it would change my life like it did. This is beyond my wildest dreams. I did it because I wanted to do it, not to make money or be a hero. I feel so fortunate to have had the success that I did and to still be here today to appreciate what the younger guys are doing.”

Karges added, “Art Chrisman has been instrumental in shaping a sport that we all know and love. He was one of Robert E. Petersen’s personal heroes. Art’s contributions to racing and the automotive aftermarket are immeasurable, and the Petersen Automotive Museum is proud to honor Art Chrisman with the 2015 Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Previous winners of the Petersen Award include Carroll Shelby, George Barris, Andy Granatelli, The Ford Family, Vic Edelbrock, Jack Roush, Ed “Isky” Iskenderian, Bill “Speedy” Smith, Alex Xydias, Wally Parks and Ed Pink.

By SEMA Editors

Art Chrisman

The Petersen Automotive Museum honored Art Chrisman with the 2015 Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual SEMA Awards Breakfast in Las Vegas. Barry Meguiar, president of Meguiar’s Car Care Products and host of the popular, long-running “Car Crazy” show on the Velocity Network, announced the award with Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. Chrisman accepted the award from Meguiar via a video that was shown to the capacity crowd of thousands in Las Vegas.

Chrisman got his start just after World War II in his family’s garage in Compton, California. He followed the examples set by his uncle Jack Chrisman and his brother Lloyd Chrisman, who had been building cars and racing them on the dry lakes of Southern California. In 1955, Chrisman became one of the first men to do 140 mph on a dragstrip while driving his famous “25” car at Famosa Raceway in Bakersfield. After that, he built what would be one of his most famous cars, “Hustler,” which broke the 180-mph barrier and was the first car to run a parachute.

Chrisman was also one of the original five charter members of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club—a feat he accomplished in 1952 while driving Chet Herbert’s “Beast” at an official speed of 235.910 mph. After his racing career, he took a position with Autolite and became renowned as the guru of reading spark plugs. He continued to support the industry in this capacity for some time, eventually returning to building cars in his shop in Santa Ana, California.

Reflecting on his career, Chrisman said, “When I got into racing on the dry lakes, I never could have imagined that it would change my life like it did. This is beyond my wildest dreams. I did it because I wanted to do it, not to make money or be a hero. I feel so fortunate to have had the success that I did and to still be here today to appreciate what the younger guys are doing.”

Karges added, “Art Chrisman has been instrumental in shaping a sport that we all know and love. He was one of Robert E. Petersen’s personal heroes. Art’s contributions to racing and the automotive aftermarket are immeasurable, and the Petersen Automotive Museum is proud to honor Art Chrisman with the 2015 Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Previous winners of the Petersen Award include Carroll Shelby, George Barris, Andy Granatelli, The Ford Family, Vic Edelbrock, Jack Roush, Ed “Isky” Iskenderian, Bill “Speedy” Smith, Alex Xydias, Wally Parks and Ed Pink.

By Carr Winn and Clint Simone

The SEMA News video team was out in full force last week collecting video highlights from the 2015 SEMA Show. Whether it was on the SEMA Show floor, outside, at the SEMA Cruise or part of SEMA Ignited, the industry was in full swing providing plenty of action throughout the week of the SEMA Show.

As the official SEMA Show after-party, SEMA Ignited provides the public with a rare opportunity to get up close and take photos with the cars, trucks and SUVs from the SEMA Show. The 2015 event featured vehicle demonstrations, automotive celebrities and on-stage entertainment. Here’s a look at the action from Ignited.

Here are additional SEMA Show videos featuring exhibitor highlights and announcements from the last week's Show.

• Mickey Thompson Announces Parternship With Roush
• Wheel Vintiques Brings 1970 GTO Judge to the 2015 SEMA Show
• Bobby Alloway Unveils C3 Corvtte
• Local Motors Introduces World's First 3D-Printed Car
• Richard Petty Presents "Wrap Like a King" Award
• Toyota Unveils UUV
• Honda Offers Sneak Peek at New Ridgeline

To read the complete lineup of announcements and news from the 2015 SEMA Show, visit www.sema.org/sema-enews/2015/45.

By Carr Winn and Clint Simone

The SEMA News video team was out in full force last week collecting video highlights from the 2015 SEMA Show. Whether it was on the SEMA Show floor, outside, at the SEMA Cruise or part of SEMA Ignited, the industry was in full swing providing plenty of action throughout the week of the SEMA Show.

As the official SEMA Show after-party, SEMA Ignited provides the public with a rare opportunity to get up close and take photos with the cars, trucks and SUVs from the SEMA Show. The 2015 event featured vehicle demonstrations, automotive celebrities and on-stage entertainment. Here’s a look at the action from Ignited.

Here are additional SEMA Show videos featuring exhibitor highlights and announcements from the last week's Show.

• Mickey Thompson Announces Parternship With Roush
• Wheel Vintiques Brings 1970 GTO Judge to the 2015 SEMA Show
• Bobby Alloway Unveils C3 Corvtte
• Local Motors Introduces World's First 3D-Printed Car
• Richard Petty Presents "Wrap Like a King" Award
• Toyota Unveils UUV
• Honda Offers Sneak Peek at New Ridgeline

To read the complete lineup of announcements and news from the 2015 SEMA Show, visit www.sema.org/sema-enews/2015/45.

By Carr Winn and Clint Simone

The SEMA News video team was out in full force last week collecting video highlights from the 2015 SEMA Show. Whether it was on the SEMA Show floor, outside, at the SEMA Cruise or part of SEMA Ignited, the industry was in full swing providing plenty of action throughout the week of the SEMA Show.

As the official SEMA Show after-party, SEMA Ignited provides the public with a rare opportunity to get up close and take photos with the cars, trucks and SUVs from the SEMA Show. The 2015 event featured vehicle demonstrations, automotive celebrities and on-stage entertainment. Here’s a look at the action from Ignited.

Here are additional SEMA Show videos featuring exhibitor highlights and announcements from the last week's Show.

• Mickey Thompson Announces Parternship With Roush
• Wheel Vintiques Brings 1970 GTO Judge to the 2015 SEMA Show
• Bobby Alloway Unveils C3 Corvtte
• Local Motors Introduces World's First 3D-Printed Car
• Richard Petty Presents "Wrap Like a King" Award
• Toyota Unveils UUV
• Honda Offers Sneak Peek at New Ridgeline

To read the complete lineup of announcements and news from the 2015 SEMA Show, visit www.sema.org/sema-enews/2015/45.

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

By Chad Simon

The winner of the Battle of the Builders® competition was announced Friday evening, November 6, 2015, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party—in front of a crowd more than 15,000 strong at the main stage in the Gold Lot across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The three finalists included Bobby Alloway and his ’33 Ford Roadster, Chip Foose and his ’65 Chevy Impala, and Alan Johnson and his ’53 Studebaker. In the end, it was Alloway who was named Top Builder.

“This has to be the biggest award I have ever won,” Alloway said. “We were being judged by our peers—guys that can do and have done the same as I. That’s big!”

Introduced at the SEMA Show last year, the SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition began with more than 200 vehicle builders and car customizers entering 260 custom cars competing for the coveted title of Top Builder. Builders who made it to the Top 10 round of competition selected amongst themselves the Top Builder. Production teams were on-site to film various television programs that will air nationwide early next year.

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

By Chad Simon

The winner of the Battle of the Builders® competition was announced Friday evening, November 6, 2015, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party—in front of a crowd more than 15,000 strong at the main stage in the Gold Lot across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The three finalists included Bobby Alloway and his ’33 Ford Roadster, Chip Foose and his ’65 Chevy Impala, and Alan Johnson and his ’53 Studebaker. In the end, it was Alloway who was named Top Builder.

“This has to be the biggest award I have ever won,” Alloway said. “We were being judged by our peers—guys that can do and have done the same as I. That’s big!”

Introduced at the SEMA Show last year, the SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition began with more than 200 vehicle builders and car customizers entering 260 custom cars competing for the coveted title of Top Builder. Builders who made it to the Top 10 round of competition selected amongst themselves the Top Builder. Production teams were on-site to film various television programs that will air nationwide early next year.

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

By Chad Simon

The winner of the Battle of the Builders® competition was announced Friday evening, November 6, 2015, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party—in front of a crowd more than 15,000 strong at the main stage in the Gold Lot across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The three finalists included Bobby Alloway and his ’33 Ford Roadster, Chip Foose and his ’65 Chevy Impala, and Alan Johnson and his ’53 Studebaker. In the end, it was Alloway who was named Top Builder.

“This has to be the biggest award I have ever won,” Alloway said. “We were being judged by our peers—guys that can do and have done the same as I. That’s big!”

Introduced at the SEMA Show last year, the SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition began with more than 200 vehicle builders and car customizers entering 260 custom cars competing for the coveted title of Top Builder. Builders who made it to the Top 10 round of competition selected amongst themselves the Top Builder. Production teams were on-site to film various television programs that will air nationwide early next year.

The three Battle of the Builders® finalists—(L-R) Bobby Alloway, Chip Foose and Alan Johnson—were seen with “Overhaulin’s” Adrienne Janic and Chris Jacobs prior to the announcement of the 2015 Battle of the Builders® winner.

By Chad Simon

The winner of the Battle of the Builders® competition was announced Friday evening, November 6, 2015, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party—in front of a crowd more than 15,000 strong at the main stage in the Gold Lot across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The three finalists included Bobby Alloway and his ’33 Ford Roadster, Chip Foose and his ’65 Chevy Impala, and Alan Johnson and his ’53 Studebaker. In the end, it was Alloway who was named Top Builder.

“This has to be the biggest award I have ever won,” Alloway said. “We were being judged by our peers—guys that can do and have done the same as I. That’s big!”

Introduced at the SEMA Show last year, the SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition began with more than 200 vehicle builders and car customizers entering 260 custom cars competing for the coveted title of Top Builder. Builders who made it to the Top 10 round of competition selected amongst themselves the Top Builder. Production teams were on-site to film various television programs that will air nationwide early next year.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Wayne Murray

Edelbrock Promotes Wayne Murray to President

Edelbrock has announced the promotion of Wayne Murray to the position of president of Edelbrock LLC. Murray has been with Edelbrock for 46 years. He has worked in numerous manufacturing roles from his start on the production line to his previous role as the vice president of manufacturing, which he has held since 1983. Murray has helped keep Edelbrock on the leading edge of aluminum sand-cast manufacturing and machining. His focus will be to continue Edelbrock's current growth and operational strategies. He will continue to directly oversee all of Edelbrock's manufacturing and foundry operations, as well as the role of managing and driving operational efficiencies within the organization. Edelbrock's previous president, John Colaianne will assume the role of CEO and continue to be involved in day-to-day company operations.

Universal Car Keys was voted “Best New Product” at the 2015 Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo in Las Vegas.

AAPEX Buyers Award Universal Car Keys as “Best New Product”

Solid Keys USA announced that its newest product release, Universal Car Keys, was voted “Best New Product” at the 2015 Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. AAPEX announced the winners of the 2015 New Product Showcase during the General Session held at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. A panel of AAPEX buyers determined the winning entries by a vote that took place Tuesday, November 3.

“We’re glad we did as well as we had hoped. There were hundreds of great products competing, but the Universal Car Key is such a unique and special product we knew it would be a hit. We’re glad the AAPEX panel of buyers recognized our unique value proposition the world's first Universal Car Keys and Universal Car Remotes bring automotive key replacement back into the hands of retailers and repair professionals something that’s been absent for decades,” said Mark Lanwehr, president, Solid Keys USA.

Trail repair being performed at the Tabeguache Connector via a Rugged Ridge Trail Access Program grant.

Omix-ADA Pledges to Create, Maintain and Protect With Renewed Rugged Ridge Trail Access Program for 2016

Omix-ADA has announced it will continue grant funding for its Rugged Ridge Trail Access Program for the 2016 calendar year. The program makes grants of up to $5,000 available to organizations helping to advance the off-road hobby. First announced at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the company has awarded more than $60,000 to date to a number of non-profit off-road organizations in support of the off-road hobby and public-land access, including: Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), Stay the Trail, Colorado OHV Coalition (COHVCO), Blue Ribbon Coalition and Piston's Wild.

Designed to “Create, Maintain and Protect,” the two-year success of the program has encouraged President and Owner Al Azadi to continue to reach greater heights, starting with grant approvals for 2016. Each of the grants—which come as part of Azadi’s  larger philanthropic effort—were designated for use toward education, stewardship, litigation or any other activity advocating the conservation of public land and access to recreational trails.

Bob and Pat Bondurant have entered into a partnership to introduce the Bondurant Racing School as “The Official High Performance Driving School of Dodge/SRT.”

Bondurant Embarks on a New Era of Partnership With Dodge SRT

Bob Bondurant and FCA US LLC, through its Dodge and SRT brands, have entered into a partnership to introduce the Bondurant Racing School as “The Official High Performance Driving School of Dodge/SRT.” On day one, all drivers will be assigned the 485-hp Dodge Challenger SRT 392, followed by day two and/or three in the Dodge Viper TA 2.0. After day two, the instructor determines if the acquired skills may or may not advance the qualified driver into the Viper ACR—a street-legal track car. The 707hp Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcats will be equally offered for the third-day option, along with the Viper ACR. The fourth day will be open track in the car of your choice. The staff will assist and guide participants through the SCCA and race license steps.

Rancho Dealers Earn Trip to Las Vegas for 2015 SEMA Show

Top members of the “Rancho Rewards” program—a business-building program for performance parts businesses—earned a Rancho-sponsored trip to the 2015 SEMA Show. The Rancho Rewards program combines an extensive package of marketing and merchandising materials with an incentive program to help drive sales of Rancho suspension systems, shocks, struts and accessories. The Rancho Rewards program also includes a 5% cash-back rebate on qualifying purchases and exclusive, member-only promotions. Membership in the annual program is $79.99 and is only available to traditional, brick-and-mortar performance parts businesses. The Rancho Rewards package includes high-impact, point-of-sale materials, including banners, mini catalogs, brochures and more. The program also provides online marketing support through a dealer locator listing on the Rancho website plus access to industry-leading technical assistance. Minimum-purchase restrictions apply to qualify for the Rancho 5% cash-back rebate. To register for the 2016 Rancho Rewards program, contact your Rancho sales representative or call Rancho Rewards dealer concierge Melanie Hoit at 435-879-8208.

The Trueray wire wheel is being re-introduced, now hand-built in limited production.

After 25 Years, the Trueray Wire Wheel Returns

First introduced in 1974, the Trueray wire wheel was a coveted direct-bolt-on option. After an absence of 25 years, Truespoke Wire Wheels by Motorsport Inc. is re-introducing this classic design, now hand-built in limited production. Dealer opportunities are also available. The wheel is available in 13–18-in. diameters, with 60 straight-lace spokes. Each set includes a choice of “dome”- or “hex”-style caps with Trueray chrome medallions, which are identical to the originals. The wheel can be purchased with copper, nickel or chrome plating for a variety of rear-wheel drive vehicles.

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.