The Council and Network awards—presented during the SEMA Show—honor the individuals, companies and products that have proven themselves as leaders in their business segments.

By SEMA Editors

Nominations for SEMA’s council and network awards are being accepted now through August 7. The awards, for presentation at the 2015 SEMA Show, honor the individuals, companies and products that have proven themselves as leaders in their business segments. Any employee of a council-member company and all network members can nominate those who deserve recognition for their outstanding dedication and service to the industry.

“One of the greatest benefits that our councils and networks offer is the ability to recognize peers for their contributions to SEMA and the industry,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA’s vice president of councils and membership. “We do this each year on the big stage at each of the networking receptions in Las Vegas during SEMA Show week. This is members’ opportunity to reflect back on the past year and nominate the individual who epitomizes leadership and who gave back to their industry segment.”

Individuals eligible to nominate will receive an e-mail invitation for each of the councils and networks to which they belong. For a complete list of awards, along with the criteria and nomination forms for each, visit www.sema.org/council-network-awards.

By Jason Catullo

Each year, hundreds of new companies attend the SEMA Show for the first time, providing buyers access to more companies and products to meet the demands of their customers.

The SEMA Show and its 12 sections represent an immense spectrum of specialty equipment, and new exhibitors are joining the Show from every market.

Below is a list of the first-time exhibitors in the Racing & Performance section of the 2015 SEMA Show. To view all of the first-time exhibitors and their sections, visit www.SEMAShow.com/first-time-exhibitors.

Racing & Performance First-Time Exhibitors

By Jason Catullo

Each year, hundreds of new companies attend the SEMA Show for the first time, providing buyers access to more companies and products to meet the demands of their customers.

The SEMA Show and its 12 sections represent an immense spectrum of specialty equipment, and new exhibitors are joining the Show from every market.

Below is a list of the first-time exhibitors in the Racing & Performance section of the 2015 SEMA Show. To view all of the first-time exhibitors and their sections, visit www.SEMAShow.com/first-time-exhibitors.

Racing & Performance First-Time Exhibitors

By Jason Catullo

Each year, hundreds of new companies attend the SEMA Show for the first time, providing buyers access to more companies and products to meet the demands of their customers.

The SEMA Show and its 12 sections represent an immense spectrum of specialty equipment, and new exhibitors are joining the Show from every market.

Below is a list of the first-time exhibitors in the Racing & Performance section of the 2015 SEMA Show. To view all of the first-time exhibitors and their sections, visit www.SEMAShow.com/first-time-exhibitors.

Racing & Performance First-Time Exhibitors

By Jason Catullo

Each year, hundreds of new companies attend the SEMA Show for the first time, providing buyers access to more companies and products to meet the demands of their customers.

The SEMA Show and its 12 sections represent an immense spectrum of specialty equipment, and new exhibitors are joining the Show from every market.

Below is a list of the first-time exhibitors in the Racing & Performance section of the 2015 SEMA Show. To view all of the first-time exhibitors and their sections, visit www.SEMAShow.com/first-time-exhibitors.

Racing & Performance First-Time Exhibitors

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to ban the use of HFC-134a as a motor-vehicle air-conditioning system refrigerant starting with model-year (MY) 2021 new vehicles. The rule would not apply to the use of HFC-134a in vehicles already in use or the ability to continue servicing those vehicles with the refrigerant.

Although HFC-134a was approved for use years ago, other chemicals have now been identified by the EPA as being more environmentally friendly substitutes to chlorofluorocarbons that deplete the ozone layer.

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to ban the use of HFC-134a as a motor-vehicle air-conditioning system refrigerant starting with model-year (MY) 2021 new vehicles. The rule would not apply to the use of HFC-134a in vehicles already in use or the ability to continue servicing those vehicles with the refrigerant.

Although HFC-134a was approved for use years ago, other chemicals have now been identified by the EPA as being more environmentally friendly substitutes to chlorofluorocarbons that deplete the ozone layer.

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee passed legislation to extend tax breaks of key importance to SEMA members. The bill extends for two years the research and development (R&D) tax credit, which provides business a credit equal to 20% of research expenses incurred over and above the average amount the company invested in research for the prior four years. The legislation encourages businesses to make capital expenditures by providing companies a 50% bonus depreciation on qualified property purchased and placed in service before January 1, 2017.

The bill would also extend Section 179 expensing, which permits small businesses to deduct up to $500,000 in capital investments made in the year of the investment. The legislation also extends the seven-year depreciation recovery period for motorsports entertainment complexes. The bill proceeds to the Senate floor for consideration. The House of Representatives has already passed many of the same tax extender provisions.

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee passed legislation to extend tax breaks of key importance to SEMA members. The bill extends for two years the research and development (R&D) tax credit, which provides business a credit equal to 20% of research expenses incurred over and above the average amount the company invested in research for the prior four years. The legislation encourages businesses to make capital expenditures by providing companies a 50% bonus depreciation on qualified property purchased and placed in service before January 1, 2017.

The bill would also extend Section 179 expensing, which permits small businesses to deduct up to $500,000 in capital investments made in the year of the investment. The legislation also extends the seven-year depreciation recovery period for motorsports entertainment complexes. The bill proceeds to the Senate floor for consideration. The House of Representatives has already passed many of the same tax extender provisions.

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

Thanks to the efforts of the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan have each issued a proclamation designating July 2015 as “Automotive Heritage Month.” These provinces join British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia as jurisdictions that have officially recognized this celebration of collector cars.

Since 2010, the U.S. Senate has passed resolutions at SEMA’s request to acknowledge “Collector Car Appreciation Day,” which serves to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. This year’s celebration took place on July 10.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.