Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

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Technology Affecting Motorsports Competition – What You Need To Know

Want to know more about how motorsports technology effects competition? The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network will host its inaugural Motorsports Tech Roundtable, featuring six roundtables that take a deep dive into this topic and many more.

Table Topic: The Use of Technology in Competition
Expert: Kevin Wells, Competition Director at Formula D
Discussion: Learn about how technology is used in the rules and regulations of motorsports through the eyes of Formula D.

The event will take place in collaboration with the Media Trade Conference January 25, 2016, from 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport, North.

RSVP today! Find out more event details, including a full list of table topics and subject matter experts.

Questions? Contact Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at BryanH@SEMA.org.

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Visit TORA's website.

ATC Truck Covers has been producing fiberglass camper shells and tonneau covers just outside of Kansas City since 1994.

TORA Member Spotlight: ATC Truck Covers

ATC Truck Covers in Ottawa, Kansas, has been active in the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) since 2011. Director of Marketing Brant Combs shared these insights about the company and its council membership.

Company Name   
ATC Truck Covers
www.atctruckcovers.com

Person interviewed:  
Brant Combs
Director of Marketing

What does your company do?   
We are a manufacturer of fiberglass truck caps, tonneau covers and cargo management systems.

How many years have you been in business?   
20 years.

What is your company history?   
ATC Truck Covers was founded by TORA Hall of Famer Bobby Combs in 1994, and has been producing fiberglass camper shells and tonneau covers just outside of Kansas City ever since. In 2006, we began offering cargo-management systems as a compliment to our truck covers. In February 2011, the manufacturing facility in Garnett, Kansas, burned to the ground in a complete fire loss, but we were able to relocate in nearby Ottawa, Kansas, in under a year. We now operate in a state-of-the-art facility where we continue to develop some of the lightest and strongest truck caps, tonneau covers and bed systems. Our facility is environmentally friendly, and uses green production practices and the latest technologies to bring you a better truck cover at a great price.

How many employees are at your company?  
Just fewer than 100.

Why are you an TORA member?  
It is very important to ATC for the light-truck aftermarket to continue to grow and thrive. TORA is a great place to help create goals, share needs, create awareness and help with positive action for our market, as well as network with other companies that deal with similar issues and challenges.   

Anything exciting you see happening in the truck market or in your company?  
It is great to see truck sales so strong. New body styles are always a nice boost for truck numbers as well as low gas prices and better MPGs. ATC is growing as well, having recently added routes into Southern California, along with expanding our product line with new window and door options and commercial truck cap and bed system models.

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Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities.

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

Twenty-one SEMA-member companies recently traveled to Shanghai, China, for the 2015 SEMA China Business Development Program, which included meetings with U.S. government officials in the area, tours of customizing shops, including a new shop that focuses on upgrading and distributing parts solely for Mustangs, Corvettes and other U.S. late-model musclecars, exhibiting in the SEMA section at the sold-out China Auto Salon (CAS) and, for the first time, participating in a measuring session featuring the winning vehicles in a SEMA-conducted survey of top customized vehicles in China that are not available in the United States.

Twenty-one SEMA-member companies recently traveled to Shanghai, China, for the 2015 SEMA China Business Development Program, which included meetings with U.S. government officials in the area, tours of customizing shops, including a new shop that focuses on upgrading and distributing parts solely for Mustangs, Corvettes and other U.S. late-model musclecars, exhibiting in the SEMA section at the sold-out China Auto Salon (CAS) and, for the first time, participating in a measuring session featuring the winning vehicles in a SEMA-conducted survey of top customized vehicles in China that are not available in the United States.

Twenty-one SEMA-member companies recently traveled to Shanghai, China, for the 2015 SEMA China Business Development Program, which included meetings with U.S. government officials in the area, tours of customizing shops, including a new shop that focuses on upgrading and distributing parts solely for Mustangs, Corvettes and other U.S. late-model musclecars, exhibiting in the SEMA section at the sold-out China Auto Salon (CAS) and, for the first time, participating in a measuring session featuring the winning vehicles in a SEMA-conducted survey of top customized vehicles in China that are not available in the United States.

By SEMA Editors

Team Weld Racing won the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Championship, posting an average time of 18:19.

WELD congratulates instructor Jim LaFevers and the team of automotive students from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center for earning the title of 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge National Champions. The national championship, which pits teams from across the country in performance engine rebuilds, recently concluded at the 2015 PRI Show in Indianapolis after qualifying events were held throughout the year.

Posting an average time of 18:19 in the engine challenge, which requires a complete teardown and rebuild, allowed Team Weld Racing to take the crown. Teams from the school in Choctaw, Oklahoma, have been consistent high finishers in the competition being just one torque wrench penalty away from winning last year, after capturing the title in 2013.

“We are proud of the students from Eastern Oklahoma Tech Center for representing WELD Racing and for winning against outstanding competition from automotive students across the country,” said Norm Young, president and CEO of WELD. “We are strong supporters of programs like the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow that encourage young people to pursue careers in our industry.”

WELD has been a HROT supporter since 2013.

For their championship, each student received a $10,000 scholarship to the post-secondary institution of their choice from Ohio Technical College, University of Northwest Ohio, Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Tech or School of Automotive Machinists. The schools allow stacking of scholarships, meaning any of the awards from previous competitions can be combined for the winning student’s educational needs.

The HROT program started in 2008 with five teams competing. This year, 153 teams competed in regional competitions for the right to claim a share of the $4.55 million offered by the educational institutions. Each team has a sponsor assigned, coming from the pool of HROT supporters. For more information, visit www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com or find them on Facebook.

By SEMA Editors

Team Weld Racing won the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Championship, posting an average time of 18:19.

WELD congratulates instructor Jim LaFevers and the team of automotive students from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center for earning the title of 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge National Champions. The national championship, which pits teams from across the country in performance engine rebuilds, recently concluded at the 2015 PRI Show in Indianapolis after qualifying events were held throughout the year.

Posting an average time of 18:19 in the engine challenge, which requires a complete teardown and rebuild, allowed Team Weld Racing to take the crown. Teams from the school in Choctaw, Oklahoma, have been consistent high finishers in the competition being just one torque wrench penalty away from winning last year, after capturing the title in 2013.

“We are proud of the students from Eastern Oklahoma Tech Center for representing WELD Racing and for winning against outstanding competition from automotive students across the country,” said Norm Young, president and CEO of WELD. “We are strong supporters of programs like the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow that encourage young people to pursue careers in our industry.”

WELD has been a HROT supporter since 2013.

For their championship, each student received a $10,000 scholarship to the post-secondary institution of their choice from Ohio Technical College, University of Northwest Ohio, Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Tech or School of Automotive Machinists. The schools allow stacking of scholarships, meaning any of the awards from previous competitions can be combined for the winning student’s educational needs.

The HROT program started in 2008 with five teams competing. This year, 153 teams competed in regional competitions for the right to claim a share of the $4.55 million offered by the educational institutions. Each team has a sponsor assigned, coming from the pool of HROT supporters. For more information, visit www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com or find them on Facebook.

The 2015 Pinewood Builders Challenge, previously held every summer during SEMA’s Installation Gala, featured two major changes. Five of the nation’s premier custom-car builders crafted miniature pinewood hot rods that raced head to head last August at the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the Builders Challenge, a Manufacturers Shootout was held for the first time ever for eight participating members of the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA).

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2015/12/mini-designer-hot-rods-take-to-the-track

The 2015 Pinewood Builders Challenge, previously held every summer during SEMA’s Installation Gala, featured two major changes. Five of the nation’s premier custom-car builders crafted miniature pinewood hot rods that raced head to head last August at the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the Builders Challenge, a Manufacturers Shootout was held for the first time ever for eight participating members of the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA).

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2015/12/mini-designer-hot-rods-take-to-the-track