Compiled by SEMA Editors

Motor State Distributing to Present the 2020 Race & Performance Expo

Race & Performance Expo (RPEXPO) has announced that Motor State Distributing has become the presenter of the 2020 RPEXPO. After a year without a venue, RPEXPO has signed with the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois, to hold the 12th Annual Race & Performance Expo, February 21–23, 2020. A trade-only day for Motor State’s resellers will be held Friday, February 21, while the expo will be open to the public and trade the remaining two days.

Kyle Obermeier

RideTech Hires Kyle Obermeier as Engineering Project Manager

RideTech has announced the appointment of Kyle Obermeier as engineering project manager. In this newly created role, Obermeier brings comprehensive experience from his United States Marine Corps and manufacturing background. He served five years in the military as a jet engine mechanic and spent the last 12 years working in product-development and project-management roles for office/hospitality furniture manufacturers.

MIA’s Business of the Year Award was presented to the Alcon Group.

The Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) Celebrates Excellence at Annual Business Awards

Marking its 25th anniversary, the Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) hosted its annual Business Excellence Awards at the NEC Birmingham, January 10. The Awards Dinner closed the first day of Autosport International—Europe’s largest preseason motorsport show, with 400 guests celebrating winners in seven categories. The MIA presented the main Business of the Year Award, partnered by Xtrac, to the Alcon Group, suppliers of hydraulic and electronic brake and clutch systems and engine components to the elite of global motorsport.

Performance Business Media Partners With Aeromotive

Aeromotive has enlisted aftermarket industry marketing firm Performance Business Media (PBM) for its public relations and marketing needs. PBM will facilitate, create and distribute product and press releases on behalf of Aeromotive, as well as provide consulting for various new digital media opportunities, including utilizing user-generated content in new ways.

The Custom Automotive Network announced the election results for its 2019 board of directors.

CAN Announces Board of Directors Election Results

The Custom Automotive Network (CAN) has announced the election results for its 2019 Board of Directors. Royal Coburn, owner and general manager at TruckTech Distributing, will continue to serve on the CAN Board as the newly elected treasurer for the 2019–2020 term. Having served as board liaisons for the last two years, Cary Redman of Edelbrock, Mike Stickney of Westin Automotive and Rich Butler of R&R Marketing Consultants will serve as directors for one-year terms in 2019. New board members elected to serve a two-year term include Adrian Murray, president of Painless Performance Products; Denise Waddingham, regional sales and corporate relations manager of Dee Zee Inc.; and Chris Fellows, director of internet solutions at DCi.

Rightline Gear Moki Door Step Debuts on ABC’s “Shark Tank”

Zach Brown and his wife Alyssa accepted a $3 million buyout for the Moki Doorstep from Daymond John, the Fubu CEO more famously known for his role as one of the key investors on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” He originally came up with the idea to assist his wife in accessing her rooftop snowboarding gear. However, it didn’t take long for Brown to realize that the device had dozens of applications, from loading and strapping down car-top cargo bags and boxes, paddle sports, snow sports and biking gear, to washing and waxing vehicle roof tops. He quickly teamed up with his uncle to finalize the original design and file the product’s patent, (which has since been granted). Soon after, Brown launched the Moki Doorstep Kickstarter campaign, where he received $110,000 in pledges from more than 2,000 backers. This campaign caught the eye of recreational and automotive aftermarket manufacturer Rightline Gear. Soon, the two devised a partnership, with Brown’s initial design laying the foundation for what is today known as the Rightline Gear Moki Door Step—an all-weather foot platform that universally hooks to a vehicle’s door latch, allowing for safe, easy rooftop access. Brown’s innovative design debuted on ABC’s “Shark Tank” Sunday, January 6, and the episode is viewable on www.abc.go.com.

SCOSCHE Industries Receives 2019 CES Innovations Award

SCOSCHE Industries received a 2019 CES Innovations Award for its BTFREQ Bluetooth FM transmitter with Alexa built-in and power-delivery charger. The annual CES Innovation Awards program celebrates outstanding product design and engineering in brand-new consumer technology products. The Scosche BTFreq is designed to deliver several technology solutions, including in-vehicle hands-free communications, entertainment, Power Delivery and Alexa—Amazon’s cloud-based voice service.

Tom Lehner

Bridgestone Americas Inc. Names Tom Lehner Vice President of Government Relations

Bridgestone Americas Inc. has announced that Tom Lehner has been named vice president, government relations. Lehner will be responsible for the strategic direction and management of the company’s government relationships, including political affairs and public policy advocacy, as well as developing government relations strategies for Latin America and Canada. In addition, he will advise on compliance, risk, legislation and policy issues within the industries Bridgestone serves and lead the company’s involvement in national industry trade associations. Prior to joining Bridgestone, Lehner spent more than five years as vice president of public policy for the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), where he represented the largest manufacturing sector in the U.S. in support of issues such as connected vehicles, fuel economy and telematics operations among others.

Big O Tires Expands Footprint With First Stores in Texas

Big O Tires has expanded into the state of Texas by its franchisee Chris Monteverde. The brand now has more than 455 independently owned and operated locations in 25 states. Monteverde, an existing franchisee of the Big O Tires brand with 19 locations in California, now owns and operates 27 locations in two states. The locations were formerly NTB Tire & Service Center locations and will be converted to Big O Tires over the next few months. 

IDIDIT LLC Purchases Schroeder Steering

IDIDIT LLC has purchased Schroeder Steering as it positions itself for another record-breaking sales year in 2019. The acquisition included all inventory, machines, castings, molds, prints, specifications and original tooling owned by Schroeder, along with 75 years of manufacturing knowledge to be implemented at IDIDIT, LLC’s Tecumseh, Michigan, facility. IDIDIT was also given immediate full and exclusive authorization to continue the production of the quick release and steering box products by Gary Schroeder, founder of Schroeder Steering. 

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.

By Rachel Tatum    

Kyle Tucker was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual “SEMA Battle of the Builders” competition for his ’69 Chevy Camaro.

Missed the premiere airing? Watch the most recent “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special, as it re-airs on MotorTrend TV (formerly Velocity Network), Friday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m. (PST)/7:00 p.m. (EST). Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at many of the top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.

Hosted by Tanner Foust and Adrienne “AJ” Janic, the program features footage of vehicles being built prior to the 2018 SEMA Show, insight from expert judges as they review the submissions and personal stories from builders, including those who are up-and-coming. Learn more about the builders’ journey to “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” by tuning in Friday, January 25, at 7:00 p.m. (EST) on MotorTrend or via the MotorTrend app.

Learn more about the competition and watch additional videos at www.semaignited.com.

By Rachel Tatum    

Kyle Tucker was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual “SEMA Battle of the Builders” competition for his ’69 Chevy Camaro.

Missed the premiere airing? Watch the most recent “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special, as it re-airs on MotorTrend TV (formerly Velocity Network), Friday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m. (PST)/7:00 p.m. (EST). Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at many of the top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.

Hosted by Tanner Foust and Adrienne “AJ” Janic, the program features footage of vehicles being built prior to the 2018 SEMA Show, insight from expert judges as they review the submissions and personal stories from builders, including those who are up-and-coming. Learn more about the builders’ journey to “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” by tuning in Friday, January 25, at 7:00 p.m. (EST) on MotorTrend or via the MotorTrend app.

Learn more about the competition and watch additional videos at www.semaignited.com.

By Rachel Tatum    

Kyle Tucker was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual “SEMA Battle of the Builders” competition for his ’69 Chevy Camaro.

Missed the premiere airing? Watch the most recent “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV special, as it re-airs on MotorTrend TV (formerly Velocity Network), Friday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m. (PST)/7:00 p.m. (EST). Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at many of the top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.

Hosted by Tanner Foust and Adrienne “AJ” Janic, the program features footage of vehicles being built prior to the 2018 SEMA Show, insight from expert judges as they review the submissions and personal stories from builders, including those who are up-and-coming. Learn more about the builders’ journey to “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” by tuning in Friday, January 25, at 7:00 p.m. (EST) on MotorTrend or via the MotorTrend app.

Learn more about the competition and watch additional videos at www.semaignited.com.

By Della Domingo

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is now ACES 4.0 compliant, making it more efficient than ever for participating parts manufacturers and resellers to communicate details that will help get products to market quickly and easily.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is now ACES 4.0 compliant, making it more efficient than ever for participating parts manufacturers and resellers to communicate details that will help get products to market quickly and easily.

The updated data standards target engine-based manufacturers by separating data for engine blocks, bore and stroke into their own tables. Individual tables allow users to search more efficiently, particularly when bore/stroke are not relevant to fitment. Also included in ACES 4.0 are greater details between medium- and heavy-duty vehicles based on the weight class of the chassis.

“One of the best features of ACES is being able to search for products without having to go further than you need to,” said Jim Graven, SDC senior director of membership. “For instance, you typically do not need to know which engine a truck has to order a set of step bars, but you will need to know cab length. Cab length isn’t important for choosing an air filter, but engine is. Expanding the table options allows users to only map what is necessary.”

As part of SDC’s ACES updates, users are also now able to utilize digital asset imagery at the year/make/model level. The image or asset, which is ideal for manufacturers with many fitment options per part number, may be specific to a certain body type or engine, or it may be used for graphical fitment or performance details.

Future updates to ACES that are expected in the spring include new classifications for systems such as engine or transmission, allowing users to bypass year, make and model.

Since its inception in 2012, the SDC has helped thousands of businesses share and communicate product details quickly and efficiently. The industry-owned and -operated data repository gives members access to tools that manage a product’s weight, size and application, as well as its price, shipping and UPC codes. Details about the SDC are available at www.semadatacoop.org or by contacting Graven at 888-958-6698, ext. 4, or jimg@semadatacoop.org.

By Della Domingo

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is now ACES 4.0 compliant, making it more efficient than ever for participating parts manufacturers and resellers to communicate details that will help get products to market quickly and easily.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is now ACES 4.0 compliant, making it more efficient than ever for participating parts manufacturers and resellers to communicate details that will help get products to market quickly and easily.

The updated data standards target engine-based manufacturers by separating data for engine blocks, bore and stroke into their own tables. Individual tables allow users to search more efficiently, particularly when bore/stroke are not relevant to fitment. Also included in ACES 4.0 are greater details between medium- and heavy-duty vehicles based on the weight class of the chassis.

“One of the best features of ACES is being able to search for products without having to go further than you need to,” said Jim Graven, SDC senior director of membership. “For instance, you typically do not need to know which engine a truck has to order a set of step bars, but you will need to know cab length. Cab length isn’t important for choosing an air filter, but engine is. Expanding the table options allows users to only map what is necessary.”

As part of SDC’s ACES updates, users are also now able to utilize digital asset imagery at the year/make/model level. The image or asset, which is ideal for manufacturers with many fitment options per part number, may be specific to a certain body type or engine, or it may be used for graphical fitment or performance details.

Future updates to ACES that are expected in the spring include new classifications for systems such as engine or transmission, allowing users to bypass year, make and model.

Since its inception in 2012, the SDC has helped thousands of businesses share and communicate product details quickly and efficiently. The industry-owned and -operated data repository gives members access to tools that manage a product’s weight, size and application, as well as its price, shipping and UPC codes. Details about the SDC are available at www.semadatacoop.org or by contacting Graven at 888-958-6698, ext. 4, or jimg@semadatacoop.org.

Linda Vaughn is a legend in the automotive aftermarket industry and takes time during the 2018 SEMA Show to talk about some of the experiences she's had throughout the years.

Linda Vaughn is a legend in the automotive aftermarket industry and takes time during the 2018 SEMA Show to talk about some of the experiences she's had throughout the years.

The SEMA Garage and SEMA International invite members to a measuring session featuring the ’19 RAM, ’18 Nissan Patrol Y61 Safari and ’16 Australian-Spec Ford Ranger.

The SEMA Garage and SEMA International invite members to a measuring session featuring the ’19 RAM, ’18 Nissan Patrol Y61 Safari and ’16 Australian-Spec Ford Ranger.