By SEMA Editors
SEMA News annually canvasses the leaders of the association’s councils and networks for the December issue to seek their views about how the industry is shaping up for the coming year. The chairs of each group provide responses based on what their organizations and their companies are seeing within their marketplaces. Their responses provide helpful insights for businesses in every segment of the marketplace.
By SEMA Editors
 Justin Deltener |
RealTruck.com Names Justin Deltener Vice President
RealTruck.com announced that Justin Deltener will be promoted to vice president, effective January 1, 2016. As vice president, Deltener will be responsible for managing the regular operations and administration of the company, working with managers and company executives to set strategic goals, and spearheading initiatives geared toward further company growth and development.
Hired as chief technology officer in 2008, Deltener has been instrumental in creating RealTruck.com’s back-end order-management and fulfillment system, the development of the company’s website, and the founding of the RealTruck Fargo office, among other accomplishments.
 Abdallah (Abdul) Ibrahim was named the Mitchell 1/ASE Technician of the Future. |
Abdallah (Abdul) Ibrahim Named Mitchell 1/ASE Technician of the Future
Abdallah (Abdul) Ibrahim of Wiggins, Colorado, was named the Mitchell 1/Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Technician of the Future as part of November’s 2015 ASE Fall Board of Governors Meeting and Annual Technician Awards in Scottsdale, Arizona. The award package from Mitchell 1 includes a $500 cash prize, a $2,000 gift certificate for a one-year subscription to ProDemand and roundtrip airfare and accommodations for Ibrahim and a guest to attend the ASE Board of Governors meeting.
Ibrahim has been an automotive and diesel technician for three years. He is currently working with his father at his auto shop in Wiggins and attending Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, where he is working toward an associate’s degree in diesel service technology. He also holds an associate’s degree in automotive service technology from Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
 Suzanne C. Liseo |
Suzanne C. Liseo Named Permatex Associate Product Manager
Permatex has named Suzanne C. Liseo associate product manager. Liseo will be responsible for supporting the product management team handling Permatex’s various product lines and markets, domestically and internationally. She will also have a strong focus on new product development. In addition to assisting product management, Liseo will also be handling customer/sales data (NPD & POS), line reviews, promotions, as well as price list maintenance and management.
Truck Hero Inc. Acquires N-FAB Parts and Accessories
Truck Hero Inc. has announced the acquisition of N-FAB Parts and Accessories, making it the ninth acquisition on the Truck Hero platform. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Truck Hero is a supplier of branded light-duty truck accessories for pickup bed applications. Since its formation, the company has grown organically and via acquisition from two truck-bed cover brands into a diverse portfolio of seven major bed-cover and truck-cap brands and a bedliner brand. N-FAB was previously owned by Thomas Fichter.
 Shelly Urwiler |
TWG Hires New Vice President of Sales
The Wheel Group /Wheel-1 has added Shelly Urwiler to its national sales force. Urwiler has been in the wheel, tire and accessory business for more than 40 years, and has worked for many well-known wheel companies. He brings many years of experience, knowledge and relationships to the company. His main focus for TWG/W-1 will be expanding business with national and small chain stores. Wheel-1 has 19 warehouse locations in the United States and Canada.
Petersen Automotive Museum Partners With TEN to Include Historic Photo Archive
In conjunction with the grand reopening on December 7, the Petersen Automotive Museum announced an important media partnership with TEN: The Enthusiast Network. TEN will house its photo archive—which includes historical Petersen Publishing material—in the new Robert E. Petersen Library & Research Center at the Petersen Automotive Museum. TEN will also serve as the presenting sponsor of the museum’s Hot Rod and Customs Gallery. For the museum’s reopening, MindOverEye—a division of TEN—developed three videos for each of the museum’s three floors centered around “Artistry,” “Thrill of Motorsports,” and “Road to Stardom.”
The TEN archives, which will eventually be available to the public, are a vital component of the new Hot Rod and Customs Gallery. The TEN photo archive will be the largest automotive enthusiast archive in the world and include 8 million images from 1955-1997, with thousands of rare, never-before-seen photos. At the heart of the photo archive is imagery from Petersen Publishing.
 Three autographed Duel in the Desert helmets from the Goodguys 18th Southwest Nationals will be auctioned off to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation AutoCross for Kids. |
Speedway Motors and Goodguys to Auction Three Autographed “Duel in the Desert” Helmets
Speedway Motors—the official speed shop of Goodguys—will auction off the three remaining Duel in the Desert helmets from the Goodguys 18th Southwest Nationals to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation AutoCross for Kids. These special helmets—autographed by two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. and nine-time Pikes Peak Hill Climb champion Robby Unser, as well as Brian Hobaugh, SCCA solo champion; Mary Pozzi; Bret Voelkel; and Danny Popp—are up for grabs to three lucky bidders. Opening bids are $25 with a guaranteed buyout of $500 per helmet. The auction ends December 19. All proceeds will go to the Austin Hatcher Foundation.
SR Parts Joins Power Heavy Duty
Power Heavy Duty welcomes SR Parts as its newest member company. Established in 2001 and based in Laredo, Texas, the company is operated by Sylvia Benavides, president, and Ricardo Rivera, vice president. The addition of SR Parts to Power Heavy Duty provides the organization with a strategic new point of distribution in South Texas, and includes a customer base of fleets, independent service facilities, municipalities and owner-operators. The company’s inventory includes chrome accessories, LED lighting, mud flaps, cargo tie-down equipment, all major transmission and differential replacement parts, suspension replacement parts, air coils, air springs, shock absorbers, brake chambers, mirrors, steering wheels and various other truck and trailer parts.
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.
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
This is the ’17 Ford F-350, caught in base XL trim with the 8-ft. bed. Ford has revealed most of its ’17 F-series lineup, but this bad boy was left in the cold.
Call this the Contractor's Special, because this version of the F-350 should be a fixture among the set using pickups for construction, repair and other projects—a market Ford has had a lock on for years.
Like the new four-door Super Duty trucks, the F-350 gets styling more in line with the F-150 that was shown nearly two years ago. It shares a cab with that model, too, meaning more space inside the truck for people. But the big news is a revised structure with high-strength steel and, of course, an aluminum body. Payload figures will be up, which is probably most important in the version of the truck seen here.
Expect to see the first F-350s by the middle of 2016.
Photo credit: Brian Willaims, SpiedBilde
Compiled by SEMA Editors
NMRA Announces New Index Class for 2016
The NMRA competition department has announced a new index class for the 2016 season. With a working title of “Ford Muscle,” this new championship class will debut at the season opener in Bradenton, Florida, March 3–6, at the 22nd Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout presented by Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine. However, the name of the class has not been decided. The NMRA team is asking for help in naming this new class. Suggestions will be accepted until December 13, and NMRA racers and fans will decide with a vote the following week. Name the new NMRA championship index class.
 Kyle Busch |
Kyle Busch Wins 2015 Sprint Cup Championship
Even after a serious crash the day before the February Daytona 500, which required months of rehabilitation and 11 missed races, Kyle Busch won the 2015 Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup began in September and started with 16 drivers, included 10 races, three elimination rounds and a four-way battle for the NASCAR Championship that included 43 contenders in the final event.
DIESEL Motorsports Partners with Performance Business Media
Performance Business Media, a full-service advertising agency specializing in motorsports, has announced a newly forged partnership with DIESEL Motorsports, as the official advertising agency for the only sanctioning body of diesel drag racing and sled pulling in the United States.
VP Racing Fuels Partners With StayWet to Promote Track Conditioner
VP Racing Fuels has announced an agreement with Dane Miller, developer of StayWet, to produce, market and distribute a track-conditioning product for dirt-track racing. As part of the agreement, Miller will license use of the product name and formula to VP and will be employed by VP for two years to help introduce and promote the product and train VP personnel.
According to Miller, the mission of StayWet track conditioner is “all about the show and improving the experience of drivers and spectators alike.” The mission is accomplished through improved soil compaction, soil adhesion and reduced dust. By improving cohesion of the soil molecules to keep them more compactly grouped and resistant to shearing, StayWet prevents holes and ruts from forming on the track. StayWet’s enhanced adhesion serves to make the track surface sticky so tires can grip the racing surface better. The net effect is a quantum improvement in track performance. VP also intends to promote a second soil treatment product formulated for road construction, cement plant and landfill applications. While keeping dust controlled, this version is designed to keep ground packed for a longer duration for heavy equipment mobility.
2016 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Presenters Named
Some of drag racing’s most illustrious personalities have been tabbed to present members of the “Class of 2016” to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame (IDRHoF). The event will be held at the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites in Gainesville, Florida, the evening of Thursday, March 17, 2016. Included in the cast of presenters are three Top Fuel dragster World Champions and a Funny Car World Champion.
Ray Goodman will be a co-presenter to his friend and driver Preston Davis and International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) six-time Top Fuel World Champion Clay Millican. Inductee Jack Doyle will be presented by IDRHoF member Roger Gustin. The late Marvin Miller’s presentation will be handled by Steve Gibbs, who will present Miller’s son Steve. Two-time NHRA/Mello Yellow World Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown will present Mark Oswald, who has served as a co-crew chief for both of Brown’s championships. Presenting Briton Dennis Priddle will be Don Garlits—founder/CEO/curator of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. Early Funny Car legend Gaspar Ronda will be presented by 2012 NHRA/Mello Yellow World Top Fuel Champion Jack Beckman. The Founder’s Award will be presented by Garlits and long-time nominating committee member Harry Hibler to Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood for his life-long dedication to the sport.
The honorees are selected by a committee of veteran drag-racing and performance industry figures. The selection committee consists of: Gibbs (retired vice president, NHRA), Hibler (president, Zircon Corp.), Ted Jones (Masters Entertainment, retired president, IHRA) and Greg Sharp (curator, Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum). Garlits carries a tie-breaker vote for the selection committee, if required.
Race Your LS for a Chance to Win a ’69 Camaro RS/SS Roller Vehicle
The National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) has announced a partnership with Real Deal Steel to offer LS and modern-LT racers the chance to win a custom-built ’69 Camaro RS/SS roller vehicle. All 2016 Chevrolet Performance Challenge Series class racers who finish the season in the Top-10 in their respective classes will be eligible to win. With five classes to choose from, each eligible racer has a 1:50 chance to take home the ’69 Camaro RS/SS. The Real Deal Steel/NMCA ’69 Camaro RS/SS roller features products from some of the leading performance manufacturers in the United States, including an all-steel GM licensed ’69 Camaro body complete with exterior sheet metal from Auto Metal Direct and prep from All Bare Media Blasting. Chris Alston’s Chassisworks supplied the performance front frame clip, while the shortened rear end was handled by Moser Engineering. Mickey Thompson provided the tires, which are mounted on Weld Racing wheels, which offer a glimpse of the Wilwood Engineering brakes. Steering needs are covered by an ididit column topped off with an AutoPro USA/Volante custom wheel. Finally, a Chevrolet Performance Connect & Cruise 480hp LS3 crate engine system complete with a Super Magnum T56 6-speed transmission was supplied by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center.
For more information on the Real Deal Steel/NMCA ’69 Camaro RS/SS roller vehicle giveaway, including complete contest rules, sponsor information and more, log on to www.NMCAdigital.com/69camaro.