By SEMA Editors

Bruce Crower

Bruce Crower of Crower Racing Cams & Equipment Co., located in San Diego, has passed away. Crower is a member of the SEMA Hall of Fame Class of 2019 and will be inducted posthumously next Friday at the SEMA Installation & Gala in Anaheim, California.

Crower began making performance parts for himself and his fellow hot rodders more than 60 years ago. Today, Crower Cams and Equipment Company Inc. is still driven by Crower's passion to make things go faster, resulting in a multimillion-dollar organization that produces high-performance aftermarket parts for a wide variety of cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and antiques.

From the mounting of the 671 Blower on his Hudson to the Crower Glide Clutch and wings on Don Garlits’ race car, Crower is credited with advancing the industry’s speed, safety and overall innovation.

Over his career in the automotive performance and drag racing markets, Crower has been recognized for his numerous contributions, including the 1977 SAE Louis Schwitzer award for innovation and engineering excellence for both his automatic clutch and the flat-8 engine; in 1993, he was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame; and won a 2007 PopSci Invention Award from Popular Science for his six-stroke internal-combustion engine.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Read more about Crower in the August issue of SEMA News magazine. 

By SEMA Editors

Bruce Crower

Bruce Crower of Crower Racing Cams & Equipment Co., located in San Diego, has passed away. Crower is a member of the SEMA Hall of Fame Class of 2019 and will be inducted posthumously next Friday at the SEMA Installation & Gala in Anaheim, California.

Crower began making performance parts for himself and his fellow hot rodders more than 60 years ago. Today, Crower Cams and Equipment Company Inc. is still driven by Crower's passion to make things go faster, resulting in a multimillion-dollar organization that produces high-performance aftermarket parts for a wide variety of cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and antiques.

From the mounting of the 671 Blower on his Hudson to the Crower Glide Clutch and wings on Don Garlits’ race car, Crower is credited with advancing the industry’s speed, safety and overall innovation.

Over his career in the automotive performance and drag racing markets, Crower has been recognized for his numerous contributions, including the 1977 SAE Louis Schwitzer award for innovation and engineering excellence for both his automatic clutch and the flat-8 engine; in 1993, he was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame; and won a 2007 PopSci Invention Award from Popular Science for his six-stroke internal-combustion engine.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Read more about Crower in the August issue of SEMA News magazine. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Coastal Commission heard the voices of thousands of OHV enthusiasts when it voted to continue permitting OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA).

The California Coastal Commission heard the voices of thousands of OHV enthusiasts when it voted to continue permitting OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). During its July 11 meeting in San Luis Obispo, the Commission rejected staff recommendations to further restrict motorized recreational access, with the eventual goal of prohibiting OHV and motorized vehicles at Oceano Dunes SVRA.  

Oceano Dunes encompasses nearly 3,600 acres along the Pacific Ocean, of which OHV use is now limited to 1,500 acres or less. Oceano Dunes became a state OHV park in the ’80s and is the only such park on California’s coast. SEMA submitted written comments and also asked OHV businesses and enthusiasts to contact the Commission to highlight the importance of allowing responsible OHV use at Oceano Dunes without unreasonable restrictions.

As a result of emails, letters and the many enthusiasts who appeared at the July 11 meeting, the Commission voted 8–2 against a prohibition on night riding, additional fencing to restrict OHV use, eliminating unlimited OHV use on holidays and increased enforcement efforts focused on vehicle use and speed limit. The Commission also voted down a proposal to provide year-round protection to a 300-acre endangered species area, which is currently protected on a seasonal basis, and future closures for the purpose of dust control.  

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Coastal Commission heard the voices of thousands of OHV enthusiasts when it voted to continue permitting OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA).

The California Coastal Commission heard the voices of thousands of OHV enthusiasts when it voted to continue permitting OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). During its July 11 meeting in San Luis Obispo, the Commission rejected staff recommendations to further restrict motorized recreational access, with the eventual goal of prohibiting OHV and motorized vehicles at Oceano Dunes SVRA.  

Oceano Dunes encompasses nearly 3,600 acres along the Pacific Ocean, of which OHV use is now limited to 1,500 acres or less. Oceano Dunes became a state OHV park in the ’80s and is the only such park on California’s coast. SEMA submitted written comments and also asked OHV businesses and enthusiasts to contact the Commission to highlight the importance of allowing responsible OHV use at Oceano Dunes without unreasonable restrictions.

As a result of emails, letters and the many enthusiasts who appeared at the July 11 meeting, the Commission voted 8–2 against a prohibition on night riding, additional fencing to restrict OHV use, eliminating unlimited OHV use on holidays and increased enforcement efforts focused on vehicle use and speed limit. The Commission also voted down a proposal to provide year-round protection to a 300-acre endangered species area, which is currently protected on a seasonal basis, and future closures for the purpose of dust control.  

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Coastal Commission heard the voices of thousands of OHV enthusiasts when it voted to continue permitting OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA).

The California Coastal Commission heard the voices of thousands of OHV enthusiasts when it voted to continue permitting OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). During its July 11 meeting in San Luis Obispo, the Commission rejected staff recommendations to further restrict motorized recreational access, with the eventual goal of prohibiting OHV and motorized vehicles at Oceano Dunes SVRA.  

Oceano Dunes encompasses nearly 3,600 acres along the Pacific Ocean, of which OHV use is now limited to 1,500 acres or less. Oceano Dunes became a state OHV park in the ’80s and is the only such park on California’s coast. SEMA submitted written comments and also asked OHV businesses and enthusiasts to contact the Commission to highlight the importance of allowing responsible OHV use at Oceano Dunes without unreasonable restrictions.

As a result of emails, letters and the many enthusiasts who appeared at the July 11 meeting, the Commission voted 8–2 against a prohibition on night riding, additional fencing to restrict OHV use, eliminating unlimited OHV use on holidays and increased enforcement efforts focused on vehicle use and speed limit. The Commission also voted down a proposal to provide year-round protection to a 300-acre endangered species area, which is currently protected on a seasonal basis, and future closures for the purpose of dust control.  

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. The measures currently await consideration by Governor Gina Raimondo.

All motor vehicles 25 model years old and older are eligible for courtesy YOM plates in Rhode Island.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. The measures currently await consideration by Governor Gina Raimondo.

All motor vehicles 25 model years old and older are eligible for courtesy YOM plates in Rhode Island.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. The measures currently await consideration by Governor Gina Raimondo.

All motor vehicles 25 model years old and older are eligible for courtesy YOM plates in Rhode Island.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

The Rhode Island legislature passed SEMA-supported bills (S.B. 621/H.B. 5888) to allow vehicles with year of manufacture (YOM) tags to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. The measures currently await consideration by Governor Gina Raimondo.

All motor vehicles 25 model years old and older are eligible for courtesy YOM plates in Rhode Island.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By Kristopher Porter

Nominations are now being accepted for SEMA’s prestigious annual awards—take some time to learn about the award categories and submit your nomination.

The awards to be presented at the 2019 SEMA Show are: GEN-III Innovator, Manufacturer of the Year, Person of the Year, Rep Agency of the Year and WD of the Year.

Submit your nominations.

The awards honor individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on the specialty-equipment market industry within the past year. The award winners will be celebrated for their accomplishments at the 2019 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 7, during the 2019 SEMA Show.

Be sure to check out the SEMA Industry awards site where you can gain knowledge of the rich history of award winners, read about the award criteria, view photos from previous banquets and nominate industry leaders to win awards in multiple categories.