Thu, 10/08/2015 - 11:35
By SEMA Editors

 SEMA Cares Jeep
The SEMA Cares Jeep—which will be featured in Omix-ADA/Rugged Ridge’s Off Road Success Center—was custom designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD Magazine, Rugged Ridge, SEMA Cares and built by DUB Garage.
  
Omix-ADA will showcase a custom Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited built in support of SEMA Cares at its Off-Road Success Center (Booth #34000) at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 3–6.

The custom Jeep marks the third time Omix-ADA has partnered with SEMA Cares over the past three years—first with a donation of $50,000 in support of charities related to the SEMA community in 2013, and last year with the first custom-built Jeep Wrangler with all proceeds going to the charity.

This year’s Jeep will serve as a conversation piece and a step toward furthering awareness for SEMA Cares’ charitable efforts within the automotive aftermarket. The SEMA Cares Jeep, transformed from a standard four-door Jeep Wrangler JK into a one-of-a-kind “ready when you are” Jeep, was custom designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD Magazine, Rugged Ridge, SEMA Cares and built by DUB Garage. The Jeep is outfitted with a number of unique Rugged Ridge products, including its aggressively styled Spartan Grille, XHD modular front bumper, complete with Stinger LED light bars and more.

“We’re proud to partner once again with SEMA Cares,” said Henk Van Dongen, director of marketing at Omix-ADA. “SEMA Cares does so much to help ensure the continued success and growth of our industry by actively engaging the future generation of enthusiasts and industry professionals. We couldn’t be happier to support this committee that gives back not only to the industry, but also to the community.”

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Returning for its fourth year to the SEMA Show, the Off-Road Success Center provides a forum for business owners and decision makers within the Jeep and off-road market to freely exchange ideas, learn new concepts for success and network with industry professionals. Omix-ADA invites everyone to come out to the Off-Road Success Center to see the live custom Jeeps, support SEMA Cares in its outreach programs, and learn how to thrive in the growing Jeep and off-road market.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares. For more information on Omix-ADA, Rugged Ridge, or the Off Road Success Center at the 2015 SEMA Show, visit www.Omix-ADA.com or call 770-614-6101.
Thu, 10/08/2015 - 11:04

By Michael Hart

  hot rod
A SEMA Show panel discussion of some of the industry’s most famous and successful hot-rod builders will include: Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop; Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers; Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy; Alan Johnson, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop; and Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop.
  

If you’re starting your career as a builder, or even just thinking about it, you can’t miss Thursday morning’s session on “Building Tomorrow’s Hot Rod” at the SEMA Show.

Rick Love of Vintage Air will lead a panel discussion with some of the industry’s most famous and successful builders.

“These are six of the premier builders in the industry today,” Love said. “Every award you can win is represented in that group.”

Joining Love on the panel will be:

  • Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop
  • Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers
  • Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy
  • Alan Johnson, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop
  • Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop

Love said the traditional hot-rod and street-machine segment of the industry is undergoing something of a revival today.

“So this is an opportunity for a young person starting out in his shop, or a young builder, or just somebody who aspires to be a builder to hear from the best in the business,” he said.

Love said he will begin by asking all the panelists how they got started, what’s the best advice anybody ever gave them and what’s the best advice they have for any ambitious builder today before opening the discussion for questions from what is sure to be a standing-room-only crowd.

There should be some interesting anecdotes too.

“It’s going to be an entertaining session,” Love said. “I’ve been with this bunch of guys before, so I know there’ll be some pretty good banter among them.”

Not only is the panel diverse in terms of geography—with builders from Southern California all the way to Alabama and Chicago—it also represents the wide range of styles in hot-rod building today.

“There’s nobody that builds a more traditional hot rod than a Bobby Alloway or a Pete Chapouris,” Love said.

But you’ve also got somebody like Trepanier, who is famous for his Bonneville street liners.

“You just have a whole lot of segments of the hot-rod industry represented in that bunch of guys,” Love said.

Register now to attend this session. View a complete list of SEMA Show education sessions available.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 11:04

By Michael Hart

  hot rod
A SEMA Show panel discussion of some of the industry’s most famous and successful hot-rod builders will include: Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop; Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers; Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy; Alan Johnson, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop; and Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop.
  

If you’re starting your career as a builder, or even just thinking about it, you can’t miss Thursday morning’s session on “Building Tomorrow’s Hot Rod” at the SEMA Show.

Rick Love of Vintage Air will lead a panel discussion with some of the industry’s most famous and successful builders.

“These are six of the premier builders in the industry today,” Love said. “Every award you can win is represented in that group.”

Joining Love on the panel will be:

  • Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop
  • Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers
  • Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy
  • Alan Johnson, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop
  • Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop

Love said the traditional hot-rod and street-machine segment of the industry is undergoing something of a revival today.

“So this is an opportunity for a young person starting out in his shop, or a young builder, or just somebody who aspires to be a builder to hear from the best in the business,” he said.

Love said he will begin by asking all the panelists how they got started, what’s the best advice anybody ever gave them and what’s the best advice they have for any ambitious builder today before opening the discussion for questions from what is sure to be a standing-room-only crowd.

There should be some interesting anecdotes too.

“It’s going to be an entertaining session,” Love said. “I’ve been with this bunch of guys before, so I know there’ll be some pretty good banter among them.”

Not only is the panel diverse in terms of geography—with builders from Southern California all the way to Alabama and Chicago—it also represents the wide range of styles in hot-rod building today.

“There’s nobody that builds a more traditional hot rod than a Bobby Alloway or a Pete Chapouris,” Love said.

But you’ve also got somebody like Trepanier, who is famous for his Bonneville street liners.

“You just have a whole lot of segments of the hot-rod industry represented in that bunch of guys,” Love said.

Register now to attend this session. View a complete list of SEMA Show education sessions available.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 11:04

By Michael Hart

  hot rod
A SEMA Show panel discussion of some of the industry’s most famous and successful hot-rod builders will include: Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop; Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers; Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy; Alan Johnson, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop; and Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop.
  

If you’re starting your career as a builder, or even just thinking about it, you can’t miss Thursday morning’s session on “Building Tomorrow’s Hot Rod” at the SEMA Show.

Rick Love of Vintage Air will lead a panel discussion with some of the industry’s most famous and successful builders.

“These are six of the premier builders in the industry today,” Love said. “Every award you can win is represented in that group.”

Joining Love on the panel will be:

  • Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop
  • Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers
  • Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy
  • Alan Johnson, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop
  • Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop

Love said the traditional hot-rod and street-machine segment of the industry is undergoing something of a revival today.

“So this is an opportunity for a young person starting out in his shop, or a young builder, or just somebody who aspires to be a builder to hear from the best in the business,” he said.

Love said he will begin by asking all the panelists how they got started, what’s the best advice anybody ever gave them and what’s the best advice they have for any ambitious builder today before opening the discussion for questions from what is sure to be a standing-room-only crowd.

There should be some interesting anecdotes too.

“It’s going to be an entertaining session,” Love said. “I’ve been with this bunch of guys before, so I know there’ll be some pretty good banter among them.”

Not only is the panel diverse in terms of geography—with builders from Southern California all the way to Alabama and Chicago—it also represents the wide range of styles in hot-rod building today.

“There’s nobody that builds a more traditional hot rod than a Bobby Alloway or a Pete Chapouris,” Love said.

But you’ve also got somebody like Trepanier, who is famous for his Bonneville street liners.

“You just have a whole lot of segments of the hot-rod industry represented in that bunch of guys,” Love said.

Register now to attend this session. View a complete list of SEMA Show education sessions available.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 10:45

By Michael Hart

  education
  

Larry Blair had one simple thing to say to business owners thinking of heading to one of the SEMA Show conference sessions in the business technology track. “Don’t worry,” Blair said, “I’m not going to geek out on you.”

However, Blair, from Goals HQ, and Bob Corwin of Alliant Insurance do have important lessons for business owners or those who make the long-term purchasing decisions for their companies. They’ll be at the SEMA Show to explain “in business-owner terms” what you need to know to make informed decisions about when and how to invest in the latest business technologies.

In his session on “Cloud Computing—Is It Right for My Business?” Blair plans to tell business owners what they need to know to understand whether it’s the right technology for their companies and how much it might cost them.

“More and more, business systems will be cloud-based going forward,” he said, “and that’s nothing to fear.”

And, as Blair said, while top executives can leave the technology details to others, they’re still the ones who need to make the decisions about when it’s the right investment for their companies—and that’s the kind of information you’ll leave his session knowing about.

It’s the same with Corwin. He doesn’t plan to scare anybody to death in “Get the 411 on the 911 of Cyber Security Hackers,” but he does want business owners and executives to know what to do to protect their data from intrusion.

“It’s probably one of the biggest issues in business commerce today,” Corwin said, “and anybody who uses a computer in their business, which is everybody, is vulnerable.”

He said United States businesses probably experience 40,000 to 50,000 “hacks” (instances of data intrusion) each day. Corwin said there are three options a business owner can take to deal with the threat:

  • Eliminate it. In other words, never use a computer in your business, which isn’t going to happen, according to Corwin.
  • Transfer it. That is, buy enough insurance to protect yourself against liability.
  • Do the best you can to improve your data security, which is what Corwin will talk about in his conference session.

Register now to attend these two business technology sessions. View a complete list of SEMA Show education sessions available.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 10:45

By Michael Hart

  education
  

Larry Blair had one simple thing to say to business owners thinking of heading to one of the SEMA Show conference sessions in the business technology track. “Don’t worry,” Blair said, “I’m not going to geek out on you.”

However, Blair, from Goals HQ, and Bob Corwin of Alliant Insurance do have important lessons for business owners or those who make the long-term purchasing decisions for their companies. They’ll be at the SEMA Show to explain “in business-owner terms” what you need to know to make informed decisions about when and how to invest in the latest business technologies.

In his session on “Cloud Computing—Is It Right for My Business?” Blair plans to tell business owners what they need to know to understand whether it’s the right technology for their companies and how much it might cost them.

“More and more, business systems will be cloud-based going forward,” he said, “and that’s nothing to fear.”

And, as Blair said, while top executives can leave the technology details to others, they’re still the ones who need to make the decisions about when it’s the right investment for their companies—and that’s the kind of information you’ll leave his session knowing about.

It’s the same with Corwin. He doesn’t plan to scare anybody to death in “Get the 411 on the 911 of Cyber Security Hackers,” but he does want business owners and executives to know what to do to protect their data from intrusion.

“It’s probably one of the biggest issues in business commerce today,” Corwin said, “and anybody who uses a computer in their business, which is everybody, is vulnerable.”

He said United States businesses probably experience 40,000 to 50,000 “hacks” (instances of data intrusion) each day. Corwin said there are three options a business owner can take to deal with the threat:

  • Eliminate it. In other words, never use a computer in your business, which isn’t going to happen, according to Corwin.
  • Transfer it. That is, buy enough insurance to protect yourself against liability.
  • Do the best you can to improve your data security, which is what Corwin will talk about in his conference session.

Register now to attend these two business technology sessions. View a complete list of SEMA Show education sessions available.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 10:45

By Michael Hart

  education
  

Larry Blair had one simple thing to say to business owners thinking of heading to one of the SEMA Show conference sessions in the business technology track. “Don’t worry,” Blair said, “I’m not going to geek out on you.”

However, Blair, from Goals HQ, and Bob Corwin of Alliant Insurance do have important lessons for business owners or those who make the long-term purchasing decisions for their companies. They’ll be at the SEMA Show to explain “in business-owner terms” what you need to know to make informed decisions about when and how to invest in the latest business technologies.

In his session on “Cloud Computing—Is It Right for My Business?” Blair plans to tell business owners what they need to know to understand whether it’s the right technology for their companies and how much it might cost them.

“More and more, business systems will be cloud-based going forward,” he said, “and that’s nothing to fear.”

And, as Blair said, while top executives can leave the technology details to others, they’re still the ones who need to make the decisions about when it’s the right investment for their companies—and that’s the kind of information you’ll leave his session knowing about.

It’s the same with Corwin. He doesn’t plan to scare anybody to death in “Get the 411 on the 911 of Cyber Security Hackers,” but he does want business owners and executives to know what to do to protect their data from intrusion.

“It’s probably one of the biggest issues in business commerce today,” Corwin said, “and anybody who uses a computer in their business, which is everybody, is vulnerable.”

He said United States businesses probably experience 40,000 to 50,000 “hacks” (instances of data intrusion) each day. Corwin said there are three options a business owner can take to deal with the threat:

  • Eliminate it. In other words, never use a computer in your business, which isn’t going to happen, according to Corwin.
  • Transfer it. That is, buy enough insurance to protect yourself against liability.
  • Do the best you can to improve your data security, which is what Corwin will talk about in his conference session.

Register now to attend these two business technology sessions. View a complete list of SEMA Show education sessions available.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 10:04

By SEMA Editors

  hrot
Sponsored by Aeroquip, Rancho Alamitos High School of Garden Grove, California, qualified to compete in the Engine Challenge National Championship, clocking in an average time of 25:21.
  

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge has put 12 events in the books for 2015. Throughout these events, held from Florida to California, 40 teams have qualified to compete for the Engine Challenge National Championship. In order to qualify, these teams, comprised solely of high-school students, must complete a performance engine rebuild in less than 35 minutes. Twenty-three of the 40 qualifying teams will compete in the first round of semi-final competition, held at the 2015 SEMA Show, November 3–6. A second round of semi-final competition will be held at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, December 10–12, with the remaining teams competing there.

In 2014, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow converted to a Dual Championship format where the top two SEMA teams faced the top two PRI teams in an epic showdown. With the success of this new format, Hot Rodders has expanded the amount of teams from four to eight in 2015.

Rancho Alamitos High School of Garden Grove, California, qualified with Team Aeroquip, clocking in at 25:21, and Team Scorpion Racing with a time of 26:04. Rancho Alamitos Coach David Le is thrilled to be a part of the Engine Challenge Dual Championship. He sees first-hand the benefits that the Engine Challenge provides.

“Not only is the Engine Challenge beneficial to our students, it is also beneficial to our city and the future automotive program,” Le explained. “Until we started competing, automotive wasn’t a sought-after class. We’ve only focused on kids graduating and passing their classes, not figuring out that what keeps these kids in school are these [extracurricular] classes. On top of that, these kids have the amazing opportunity to travel across the country to compete and meet students from other schools and states. It opens up their world. Some of these kids’ parents never went to college and they’re stuck making minimum wage, and that’s all these kids ever see. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program opens new doors to them. It really gives value to our schools.”

A total of $3.8 million in scholarship opportunities will be available to the teams competing in the Dual Championship. The University of Northwestern Ohio, Ohio Technical College and the School of Automotive Machinists are all returning college sponsors.

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting supports the efforts of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and feels the Engine Challenge provides value to the industry as a whole.

“Hot Rodders of Tomorrow demonstrates that even in the age of video games and non-stop phone messaging, if you give young people a shot at hands-on action in the automotive realm, they will jump at the opportunity,” he said. “SEMA is pleased to be able to support this great program that provides lessons in auto mechanics and teamwork while helping kids with their education and career options.”

“We are excited to have so many teams qualified for the 2015 Dual Championship,” added Rodney Bingham of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow. “We are truly blessed to be able to help so many students get scholarships for them to change their lives!”

Get updates and more at www.HotRoddersofTomorrow.com.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 10:04

By SEMA Editors

  hrot
Sponsored by Aeroquip, Rancho Alamitos High School of Garden Grove, California, qualified to compete in the Engine Challenge National Championship, clocking in an average time of 25:21.
  

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge has put 12 events in the books for 2015. Throughout these events, held from Florida to California, 40 teams have qualified to compete for the Engine Challenge National Championship. In order to qualify, these teams, comprised solely of high-school students, must complete a performance engine rebuild in less than 35 minutes. Twenty-three of the 40 qualifying teams will compete in the first round of semi-final competition, held at the 2015 SEMA Show, November 3–6. A second round of semi-final competition will be held at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, December 10–12, with the remaining teams competing there.

In 2014, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow converted to a Dual Championship format where the top two SEMA teams faced the top two PRI teams in an epic showdown. With the success of this new format, Hot Rodders has expanded the amount of teams from four to eight in 2015.

Rancho Alamitos High School of Garden Grove, California, qualified with Team Aeroquip, clocking in at 25:21, and Team Scorpion Racing with a time of 26:04. Rancho Alamitos Coach David Le is thrilled to be a part of the Engine Challenge Dual Championship. He sees first-hand the benefits that the Engine Challenge provides.

“Not only is the Engine Challenge beneficial to our students, it is also beneficial to our city and the future automotive program,” Le explained. “Until we started competing, automotive wasn’t a sought-after class. We’ve only focused on kids graduating and passing their classes, not figuring out that what keeps these kids in school are these [extracurricular] classes. On top of that, these kids have the amazing opportunity to travel across the country to compete and meet students from other schools and states. It opens up their world. Some of these kids’ parents never went to college and they’re stuck making minimum wage, and that’s all these kids ever see. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program opens new doors to them. It really gives value to our schools.”

A total of $3.8 million in scholarship opportunities will be available to the teams competing in the Dual Championship. The University of Northwestern Ohio, Ohio Technical College and the School of Automotive Machinists are all returning college sponsors.

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting supports the efforts of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and feels the Engine Challenge provides value to the industry as a whole.

“Hot Rodders of Tomorrow demonstrates that even in the age of video games and non-stop phone messaging, if you give young people a shot at hands-on action in the automotive realm, they will jump at the opportunity,” he said. “SEMA is pleased to be able to support this great program that provides lessons in auto mechanics and teamwork while helping kids with their education and career options.”

“We are excited to have so many teams qualified for the 2015 Dual Championship,” added Rodney Bingham of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow. “We are truly blessed to be able to help so many students get scholarships for them to change their lives!”

Get updates and more at www.HotRoddersofTomorrow.com.

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 10:04

By SEMA Editors

  hrot
Sponsored by Aeroquip, Rancho Alamitos High School of Garden Grove, California, qualified to compete in the Engine Challenge National Championship, clocking in an average time of 25:21.
  

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge has put 12 events in the books for 2015. Throughout these events, held from Florida to California, 40 teams have qualified to compete for the Engine Challenge National Championship. In order to qualify, these teams, comprised solely of high-school students, must complete a performance engine rebuild in less than 35 minutes. Twenty-three of the 40 qualifying teams will compete in the first round of semi-final competition, held at the 2015 SEMA Show, November 3–6. A second round of semi-final competition will be held at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, December 10–12, with the remaining teams competing there.

In 2014, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow converted to a Dual Championship format where the top two SEMA teams faced the top two PRI teams in an epic showdown. With the success of this new format, Hot Rodders has expanded the amount of teams from four to eight in 2015.

Rancho Alamitos High School of Garden Grove, California, qualified with Team Aeroquip, clocking in at 25:21, and Team Scorpion Racing with a time of 26:04. Rancho Alamitos Coach David Le is thrilled to be a part of the Engine Challenge Dual Championship. He sees first-hand the benefits that the Engine Challenge provides.

“Not only is the Engine Challenge beneficial to our students, it is also beneficial to our city and the future automotive program,” Le explained. “Until we started competing, automotive wasn’t a sought-after class. We’ve only focused on kids graduating and passing their classes, not figuring out that what keeps these kids in school are these [extracurricular] classes. On top of that, these kids have the amazing opportunity to travel across the country to compete and meet students from other schools and states. It opens up their world. Some of these kids’ parents never went to college and they’re stuck making minimum wage, and that’s all these kids ever see. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program opens new doors to them. It really gives value to our schools.”

A total of $3.8 million in scholarship opportunities will be available to the teams competing in the Dual Championship. The University of Northwestern Ohio, Ohio Technical College and the School of Automotive Machinists are all returning college sponsors.

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting supports the efforts of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and feels the Engine Challenge provides value to the industry as a whole.

“Hot Rodders of Tomorrow demonstrates that even in the age of video games and non-stop phone messaging, if you give young people a shot at hands-on action in the automotive realm, they will jump at the opportunity,” he said. “SEMA is pleased to be able to support this great program that provides lessons in auto mechanics and teamwork while helping kids with their education and career options.”

“We are excited to have so many teams qualified for the 2015 Dual Championship,” added Rodney Bingham of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow. “We are truly blessed to be able to help so many students get scholarships for them to change their lives!”

Get updates and more at www.HotRoddersofTomorrow.com.