By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to restrict access to nearly 2.5 million acres of land in three western states, including the designation of more than 1.4 million acres of wilderness areas. The “Protecting America’s Wilderness Act,” H.R. 2546, passed by a margin of 231–183 and will now advance to the U.S. Senate, although it is unlikely to be taken up given strong Republican opposition to the bill and the White House’s veto threat. The legislation is controversial because wilderness designations provide the highest level of permanent protection available, preventing the creation of roads and trails in addition to preventing logging, mining and drilling. Listed below are key provisions of H.R. 2546:

• Colorado – The bill would set aside more than 600,000 acres of wilderness in the Centennial State. Most of the areas that the bill seeks to protect have been managed as wilderness for decades and are mid-elevation ecosystems, which are used for outdoor recreational activities and serve as critical habitats for a variety of plants and wildlife.
• Washington – The bill would designate and expand wilderness areas and rivers in Olympic National Forest, protecting more than 130,000 acres of land.

Northwest California

• The bill would expand nine existing wilderness areas in Northwest California and establish eight new ones. The legislation designates more than 1 million acres of federal land in the northwestern part of California, including more than 300,000 acres of wilderness.
• It would create a 730,000-acre South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area to promote fire-resilient forest structures and protect habitat and fisheries while allowing public access.
• The bill requires the Agriculture Department to study improvements to motorized and nonmotorized trails in non-wilderness portions of the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino national forests. The Department would also have to establish new recreational trails and study the feasibility of building new ones in those areas.
• It would establish a 14,177-acre Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area to protect and restore the area’s wilderness character while allowing public access.
• The bill would establish a 7,399-acre Horse Mountain Special Management Area to enhance recreation and conserve plants, wildlife and natural resources. The Forest Service could establish new trails in the area and would have to allow hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking and snowmobile use.
• It would direct the Interior Department to study the feasibility of allowing overnight accommodations on federal land near the northern and southern boundaries of Redwood National and State Parks.
• The bill would allow agreements with private and nonprofit groups to perform trail and campground maintenance, staff visitor centers, and conduct outreach on federal lands in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties.

Central California

• The bill would designate as wilderness more than 246,000 acres in 12 areas in the Los Padres National Forest or under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office. The Los Padres National Forest would include two of these wilderness areas totaling more than 43,000 acres, which would be designated either upon an Agriculture Department determination that any trail reconstruction or rerouting has been completed or after 20 years, depending on which takes place first.
• It creates two scenic areas totaling nearly 35,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, prohibiting roads and structures.
• The bill would establish a 400-mile Condor National Scenic Trail to provide a continuous hiking corridor connecting the northern and southern ends of Los Padres National Forest.
• It would also direct the Forest Service to study the feasibility of opening a new trail for motorized vehicles less than 50 in. to connect a highway to the existing off-road vehicle trail system in the Ballinger Canyon off-highway vehicle area.
• It would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by more than 109,000 acres, creating a San Gabriel National Recreation Area.
• The bill would expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include an area called the Rim of the Valley Unit.
• It would designate more than 30,000 acres in Angeles National Forest as wilderness.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to restrict access to nearly 2.5 million acres of land in three western states, including the designation of more than 1.4 million acres of wilderness areas. The “Protecting America’s Wilderness Act,” H.R. 2546, passed by a margin of 231–183 and will now advance to the U.S. Senate, although it is unlikely to be taken up given strong Republican opposition to the bill and the White House’s veto threat. The legislation is controversial because wilderness designations provide the highest level of permanent protection available, preventing the creation of roads and trails in addition to preventing logging, mining and drilling. Listed below are key provisions of H.R. 2546:

• Colorado – The bill would set aside more than 600,000 acres of wilderness in the Centennial State. Most of the areas that the bill seeks to protect have been managed as wilderness for decades and are mid-elevation ecosystems, which are used for outdoor recreational activities and serve as critical habitats for a variety of plants and wildlife.
• Washington – The bill would designate and expand wilderness areas and rivers in Olympic National Forest, protecting more than 130,000 acres of land.

Northwest California

• The bill would expand nine existing wilderness areas in Northwest California and establish eight new ones. The legislation designates more than 1 million acres of federal land in the northwestern part of California, including more than 300,000 acres of wilderness.
• It would create a 730,000-acre South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area to promote fire-resilient forest structures and protect habitat and fisheries while allowing public access.
• The bill requires the Agriculture Department to study improvements to motorized and nonmotorized trails in non-wilderness portions of the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino national forests. The Department would also have to establish new recreational trails and study the feasibility of building new ones in those areas.
• It would establish a 14,177-acre Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area to protect and restore the area’s wilderness character while allowing public access.
• The bill would establish a 7,399-acre Horse Mountain Special Management Area to enhance recreation and conserve plants, wildlife and natural resources. The Forest Service could establish new trails in the area and would have to allow hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking and snowmobile use.
• It would direct the Interior Department to study the feasibility of allowing overnight accommodations on federal land near the northern and southern boundaries of Redwood National and State Parks.
• The bill would allow agreements with private and nonprofit groups to perform trail and campground maintenance, staff visitor centers, and conduct outreach on federal lands in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties.

Central California

• The bill would designate as wilderness more than 246,000 acres in 12 areas in the Los Padres National Forest or under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office. The Los Padres National Forest would include two of these wilderness areas totaling more than 43,000 acres, which would be designated either upon an Agriculture Department determination that any trail reconstruction or rerouting has been completed or after 20 years, depending on which takes place first.
• It creates two scenic areas totaling nearly 35,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, prohibiting roads and structures.
• The bill would establish a 400-mile Condor National Scenic Trail to provide a continuous hiking corridor connecting the northern and southern ends of Los Padres National Forest.
• It would also direct the Forest Service to study the feasibility of opening a new trail for motorized vehicles less than 50 in. to connect a highway to the existing off-road vehicle trail system in the Ballinger Canyon off-highway vehicle area.
• It would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by more than 109,000 acres, creating a San Gabriel National Recreation Area.
• The bill would expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include an area called the Rim of the Valley Unit.
• It would designate more than 30,000 acres in Angeles National Forest as wilderness.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to restrict access to nearly 2.5 million acres of land in three western states, including the designation of more than 1.4 million acres of wilderness areas. The “Protecting America’s Wilderness Act,” H.R. 2546, passed by a margin of 231–183 and will now advance to the U.S. Senate, although it is unlikely to be taken up given strong Republican opposition to the bill and the White House’s veto threat. The legislation is controversial because wilderness designations provide the highest level of permanent protection available, preventing the creation of roads and trails in addition to preventing logging, mining and drilling. Listed below are key provisions of H.R. 2546:

• Colorado – The bill would set aside more than 600,000 acres of wilderness in the Centennial State. Most of the areas that the bill seeks to protect have been managed as wilderness for decades and are mid-elevation ecosystems, which are used for outdoor recreational activities and serve as critical habitats for a variety of plants and wildlife.
• Washington – The bill would designate and expand wilderness areas and rivers in Olympic National Forest, protecting more than 130,000 acres of land.

Northwest California

• The bill would expand nine existing wilderness areas in Northwest California and establish eight new ones. The legislation designates more than 1 million acres of federal land in the northwestern part of California, including more than 300,000 acres of wilderness.
• It would create a 730,000-acre South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area to promote fire-resilient forest structures and protect habitat and fisheries while allowing public access.
• The bill requires the Agriculture Department to study improvements to motorized and nonmotorized trails in non-wilderness portions of the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino national forests. The Department would also have to establish new recreational trails and study the feasibility of building new ones in those areas.
• It would establish a 14,177-acre Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area to protect and restore the area’s wilderness character while allowing public access.
• The bill would establish a 7,399-acre Horse Mountain Special Management Area to enhance recreation and conserve plants, wildlife and natural resources. The Forest Service could establish new trails in the area and would have to allow hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking and snowmobile use.
• It would direct the Interior Department to study the feasibility of allowing overnight accommodations on federal land near the northern and southern boundaries of Redwood National and State Parks.
• The bill would allow agreements with private and nonprofit groups to perform trail and campground maintenance, staff visitor centers, and conduct outreach on federal lands in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties.

Central California

• The bill would designate as wilderness more than 246,000 acres in 12 areas in the Los Padres National Forest or under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office. The Los Padres National Forest would include two of these wilderness areas totaling more than 43,000 acres, which would be designated either upon an Agriculture Department determination that any trail reconstruction or rerouting has been completed or after 20 years, depending on which takes place first.
• It creates two scenic areas totaling nearly 35,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest, prohibiting roads and structures.
• The bill would establish a 400-mile Condor National Scenic Trail to provide a continuous hiking corridor connecting the northern and southern ends of Los Padres National Forest.
• It would also direct the Forest Service to study the feasibility of opening a new trail for motorized vehicles less than 50 in. to connect a highway to the existing off-road vehicle trail system in the Ballinger Canyon off-highway vehicle area.
• It would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by more than 109,000 acres, creating a San Gabriel National Recreation Area.
• The bill would expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include an area called the Rim of the Valley Unit.
• It would designate more than 30,000 acres in Angeles National Forest as wilderness.

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

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

By Richard Hail

	The “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special re-airs Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. (EST) on A+E Networks’ FYI.

Set a reminder and tune in to A+E FYI for the “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special, airing Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. (EST). Viewers will see interviews with top builders as they prepare to debut their vehicles in front of more than 162,000 industry professionals. Find out their secrets to standing out among nearly 300 of the most unique vehicle builds in the world and get a sneak peek inside the halls of the exclusive trade-only SEMA Show.

The competition, which features some of the best vehicle builders across the globe, honors and recognizes the talent and craftsmanship of those with vehicles displayed at the 2019 SEMA Show. For more details about SEMA Battle of the Builders and the TV special, visit HISTORY On Demand, A+E Networks’ FYI or download the HISTORY App for your iOS or Android device.

For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders program, point your browser to www.semabotb.com or www.semayoungguns.com.

By Richard Hail

	The “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special re-airs Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. (EST) on A+E Networks’ FYI.

Set a reminder and tune in to A+E FYI for the “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special, airing Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. (EST). Viewers will see interviews with top builders as they prepare to debut their vehicles in front of more than 162,000 industry professionals. Find out their secrets to standing out among nearly 300 of the most unique vehicle builds in the world and get a sneak peek inside the halls of the exclusive trade-only SEMA Show.

The competition, which features some of the best vehicle builders across the globe, honors and recognizes the talent and craftsmanship of those with vehicles displayed at the 2019 SEMA Show. For more details about SEMA Battle of the Builders and the TV special, visit HISTORY On Demand, A+E Networks’ FYI or download the HISTORY App for your iOS or Android device.

For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders program, point your browser to www.semabotb.com or www.semayoungguns.com.

By Richard Hail

	The “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special re-airs Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. (EST) on A+E Networks’ FYI.

Set a reminder and tune in to A+E FYI for the “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special, airing Thursday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. (EST). Viewers will see interviews with top builders as they prepare to debut their vehicles in front of more than 162,000 industry professionals. Find out their secrets to standing out among nearly 300 of the most unique vehicle builds in the world and get a sneak peek inside the halls of the exclusive trade-only SEMA Show.

The competition, which features some of the best vehicle builders across the globe, honors and recognizes the talent and craftsmanship of those with vehicles displayed at the 2019 SEMA Show. For more details about SEMA Battle of the Builders and the TV special, visit HISTORY On Demand, A+E Networks’ FYI or download the HISTORY App for your iOS or Android device.

For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders program, point your browser to www.semabotb.com or www.semayoungguns.com.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Team Nitto drivers Josh Blyler, Erik Miller and Marcos Gomez swept the podium at the 2020 Nitto King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley, California.

Team Nitto Tire Sweeps Podium at 2020 King of the Hammers

Nitto Tire U.S.A. has announced that Team Nitto drivers Josh Blyler, Erik Miller and Marcos Gomez have swept the podium at the 2020 Nitto King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley, California. The King of the Hammers race marks the beginning of the 2020 Ultra4 Racing series. In the race’s unlimited 4400 class, drivers pilot custom race buggies through a course that includes both high-speed desert running and technical rock crawling. This year marks both Blyler’s first win at King of the Hammers and the second time that Nitto Tire has swept the podium, with the last sweep taking place in 2017. Taking second place was longtime Team Nitto driver and two-time King of the Hammers winner Miller with Nitto driver Gomez securing the podium sweep with a third-place finish.

2020 Contingency Program from Champion Racing Oil

Champion Racing Oil is promoting its 2020 Racing Contingency Program—a marketing tool designed to link regional and national racers in most sanctioned racing events in North America. The program includes series like the All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC), American Sprint Car Series (ASCS), World of Outlaws (WoO), United States Auto Club (USAC) and the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), among others. Champion provides contingency cash pay-outs for first-place wins, and will help to boost awareness with racer results through media channels and by creating testimonials with Champion products. Racers can apply for the Champion Racing Oil Contingency Program now through June 30.

Jesse Haines won the 4600 class at the 2020 King of the Hammers’ Every Man Challenge in his Mahindra ROXOR.

Jesse Haines Wins at King of the Hammers With His ROXOR

Off-road racer and fabricator Jesse Haines won the 4600 class at the 2020 King of the Hammers’ Every Man Challenge in his Mahindra ROXOR. This year, only 38 of the 122 vehicles that took the green flag would reach the finish line. Haines started 110th in the field, but was able to move up and finish 19th overall and first in class. The 4600 class has the most restrictive rules at King of the Hammers, requiring the factory engine, stock frame, full body, single shock, and 35-in.-tall DOT-approved tires.

For the third straight time, Doug Kalitta took home a national event win at the 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.

Kalitta, Beckman and Coughlin Start the Season With Wins at 60th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals

For the third straight time, Doug Kalitta took home a national event win at the 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com. Last Sunday’s win marks Kalitta’s 48th career win, placing him fifth in wins on the all-time Top Fuel list. Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) also took home event wins in their respective categories, marking the first time in NHRA history that the winners from the Auto Club Finals also took home wins at the Winternationals. Top Fuel veteran Kalitta went 3.698 seconds at 330.23 mph in his Mac Tools dragster to defeat JFR’s Austin Prock in the final round at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

In Funny Car, Beckman picked up the win in the finals over John Force after going 3.837 seconds at 333.33 in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. Coughlin took home the event win over Jason Line with a 6.522-second pass at 210.80. The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues on February 21–23, at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass.

Exhibitors interested in getting a jump on SEMA Show planning for 2020 can reserve booth space now.