By SEMA Editors

Featuring trade show experts, including SEMA Trade Show Director Tom Gattuso, the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit is valuable for all exhibitors, but is especially beneficial to companies with limited trade show experience.

Companies looking to receive the most value from exhibiting at the SEMA Show are encouraged to participate in the 2018 SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, taking place Monday–Tuesday, June 25–26, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors will learn about the tools and resources needed to plan ahead and take advantage of the Show’s existing value-added programs.

As the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to prepare for the SEMA Show, Summit attendees work with Show experts to enhance their Show investment through in-depth planning, marketing and budgeting.

Cost for the event is intentionally low, with hotels, meals and workshops covered by SEMA. The only expense that attendees will incur is transportation to and from the event. Simply put: You get to Vegas, we’ll do the rest!

Exhibitors will also learn how to minimize costs on services such as material handling and electrical, and take advantage of promotional and sponsorship opportunities.

The event’s trade-show experts, including SEMA Trade Shows Director Tom Gattuso, highlight value-added programs and proven strategies for attracting buyers and increasing business at the Show.

For additional information about the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor-summit. To learn more about the 2018 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

The 2018 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas.

Chairperson Richard Barsamian speaks about the many ways SEMA Cares gives back to its charitable organizations.

Chairperson Richard Barsamian speaks about the many ways SEMA Cares gives back to its charitable organizations.

By Zane Clark

Nearly 400 high-school and college students are expected to attend the transportation career fair to be held March 16, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA will partner with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the TechForce Foundation to host a transportation (collision, auto service, heavy duty, etc.) career fair, March 16, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. Hundreds of high-school and college students and industry employers are expected to attend the event.

With close to 400 students registered to attend, companies interested in connecting with top talent are strongly encouraged to participate.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet with these students.

Event Details:

8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Event open to students to attend and meet industry employers.

Company Participation:

$1,000 – Company is provided a table and a copy of the student résumé registration list.

Register your company for this event by emailing brandon.eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

By Zane Clark

Nearly 400 high-school and college students are expected to attend the transportation career fair to be held March 16, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA will partner with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the TechForce Foundation to host a transportation (collision, auto service, heavy duty, etc.) career fair, March 16, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. Hundreds of high-school and college students and industry employers are expected to attend the event.

With close to 400 students registered to attend, companies interested in connecting with top talent are strongly encouraged to participate.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet with these students.

Event Details:

8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Event open to students to attend and meet industry employers.

Company Participation:

$1,000 – Company is provided a table and a copy of the student résumé registration list.

Register your company for this event by emailing brandon.eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

By Zane Clark

Nearly 400 high-school and college students are expected to attend the transportation career fair to be held March 16, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA will partner with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the TechForce Foundation to host a transportation (collision, auto service, heavy duty, etc.) career fair, March 16, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. Hundreds of high-school and college students and industry employers are expected to attend the event.

With close to 400 students registered to attend, companies interested in connecting with top talent are strongly encouraged to participate.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet with these students.

Event Details:

8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Event open to students to attend and meet industry employers.

Company Participation:

$1,000 – Company is provided a table and a copy of the student résumé registration list.

Register your company for this event by emailing brandon.eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Courtney Force took home the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the 34th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

C. Force, Torrence and McGaha Secure Victories at NHRA Arizona Nationals 

The second event of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series concluded last Sunday as Courtney Force took home the Funny Car victory at the 34th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) are also winners in their respective categories. Force emerged victorious with a run of 3.834 seconds at 337.16 mph in her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro to take down Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round. Torrence powered his Capco Contractors/Torrence Racing dragster to the Top Fuel victory with a run of 3.729 at 330.72 to take down Scott Palmer in the final round. In Pro Stock, McGaha drove to the winner’s circle with a 6.529 at 211.59 run in his Harlow Sammons Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Jason Line in the final round. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, March 15–18, in Gainesville, Florida.

Ford and Best in the Desert Sign Continued Sponsorship Agreement

Best in the Desert has announced that Ford will remain as Official Truck Sponsor of the 2018 Best in the Desert Series. Best in the Desert will continue to use Ford trucks exclusively in its operations and event promotions activities while at the same time offering an OEM-backed off-road racing contingency program exclusively for Best in the Desert racers using Ford trucks and motors. Ford’s relationship with Best in the Desert goes back to ’96.

BILSTEIN Shocks will be the title sponsor for Crandon Pro-Light world champion Ryan Beat.

BILSTEIN Shocks Named Title Sponsor for Crandon Pro-Light World Champion Ryan Beat

BILSTEIN Shocks has announced it will be the title sponsor for Crandon Pro-Light world champion Ryan Beat. BILSTEIN provides him support, resources and technology to race on the track. BILSTEIN recognized Beat as a great spokesperson for its M 9200 Series performance shocks. The technology featured in Beat's M 9200 race shocks is also used in many of BILSTEIN’s direct-fit applications.

ididit Returns as NMRA Outlaw True Street Title Sponsor

The 2018 NMRA season kicks off this weekend with the Spring Break Shootout in Bradenton, Florida. One of the classes is ididit’s Outlaw True Street—a no-time, heads-up eliminator Saturday night that covers 1/8-mile distance. Outlaw True Street vehicles must make a 30-mile road tour, be on DOT-approved tires and have street-legal steering safety features, including a horn and turn signals, in order to compete.

Hoosier Tire, Spillvak, Downforce Raise Rewards for Lucas Oil Modified Series in 2018

The 13th season for the Lucas Oil Modified Series will consist of 11 races—10 that count in the Hoosier Tire West point standings and one that doesn’t, but does offer the possibility of a nice payday to close the season, due to Hoosier Tire West, new sponsors SpillVak and Downforce Racing Products and the series’ other contingency donors. Hoosier Tire West, a partner since the formation of the series, has added $10,000 to the points fund paid to the top 15 drivers, bringing that total to $25,900, and all the added money will go to the drivers finishing second through 15th in the standings. Downforce Racing Products has stepped in to sponsor the series’ Rookie of the Year competition and SpillVak has joined the series by sponsoring the SpillVak Triple Crown. 

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Courtney Force took home the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the 34th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

C. Force, Torrence and McGaha Secure Victories at NHRA Arizona Nationals 

The second event of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series concluded last Sunday as Courtney Force took home the Funny Car victory at the 34th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) are also winners in their respective categories. Force emerged victorious with a run of 3.834 seconds at 337.16 mph in her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro to take down Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round. Torrence powered his Capco Contractors/Torrence Racing dragster to the Top Fuel victory with a run of 3.729 at 330.72 to take down Scott Palmer in the final round. In Pro Stock, McGaha drove to the winner’s circle with a 6.529 at 211.59 run in his Harlow Sammons Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Jason Line in the final round. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, March 15–18, in Gainesville, Florida.

Ford and Best in the Desert Sign Continued Sponsorship Agreement

Best in the Desert has announced that Ford will remain as Official Truck Sponsor of the 2018 Best in the Desert Series. Best in the Desert will continue to use Ford trucks exclusively in its operations and event promotions activities while at the same time offering an OEM-backed off-road racing contingency program exclusively for Best in the Desert racers using Ford trucks and motors. Ford’s relationship with Best in the Desert goes back to ’96.

BILSTEIN Shocks will be the title sponsor for Crandon Pro-Light world champion Ryan Beat.

BILSTEIN Shocks Named Title Sponsor for Crandon Pro-Light World Champion Ryan Beat

BILSTEIN Shocks has announced it will be the title sponsor for Crandon Pro-Light world champion Ryan Beat. BILSTEIN provides him support, resources and technology to race on the track. BILSTEIN recognized Beat as a great spokesperson for its M 9200 Series performance shocks. The technology featured in Beat's M 9200 race shocks is also used in many of BILSTEIN’s direct-fit applications.

ididit Returns as NMRA Outlaw True Street Title Sponsor

The 2018 NMRA season kicks off this weekend with the Spring Break Shootout in Bradenton, Florida. One of the classes is ididit’s Outlaw True Street—a no-time, heads-up eliminator Saturday night that covers 1/8-mile distance. Outlaw True Street vehicles must make a 30-mile road tour, be on DOT-approved tires and have street-legal steering safety features, including a horn and turn signals, in order to compete.

Hoosier Tire, Spillvak, Downforce Raise Rewards for Lucas Oil Modified Series in 2018

The 13th season for the Lucas Oil Modified Series will consist of 11 races—10 that count in the Hoosier Tire West point standings and one that doesn’t, but does offer the possibility of a nice payday to close the season, due to Hoosier Tire West, new sponsors SpillVak and Downforce Racing Products and the series’ other contingency donors. Hoosier Tire West, a partner since the formation of the series, has added $10,000 to the points fund paid to the top 15 drivers, bringing that total to $25,900, and all the added money will go to the drivers finishing second through 15th in the standings. Downforce Racing Products has stepped in to sponsor the series’ Rookie of the Year competition and SpillVak has joined the series by sponsoring the SpillVak Triple Crown. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A recent ORR event included (left to right) SEMA Congressional Affairs Director Eric Snyder, U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, SEMA Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs Stuart Gosswein and SEMA Research Manager Neal Billig.

The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that the outdoor recreation industry’s annual gross output is around $673 billion. This represents 2% of the nation’s total gross domestic product (GDP) and surpasses other sectors, such as agriculture, petroleum and coal and computer and electronic products. Outdoor recreation covers a variety of activities, from off-roading to biking, boating, hiking and hunting. Motorized vehicles were the largest activity within the survey of 2016 data, accounting for $59.4 billion of gross output.

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), of which SEMA is a member, applauded the release of the first-ever government analysis of the industry. The numbers translate into millions of American jobs.

The ORR was formed in February 2018 with the merger of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable, a coalition of America’s leading outdoor recreation trade associations, and the American Recreation Coalition, an organization of recreation interests that has had a significant impact on outdoor recreation for more than three decades.  

The ORR’s primary objectives are:

• Achieve recognition that outdoor recreation is a major economic player and that growth of the outdoor recreation economy is a necessary and bipartisan goal.
• Persuade the federal government to embrace a pro-recreation “culture change.”
• Increase recreational access to public lands and waters.
• Advocate for sustainable funding and increased usage of public-private partnerships.
• Boost infrastructure modernization and reduce backlogged maintenance to produce better visitor experiences.
• Continue to support responsible conservation efforts.
• Encourage the next generation’s participation in outdoor recreation activities.

ORR representatives meet frequently with federal/state lawmakers and regulators to pursue the stated objectives. Most recently, the ORR hosted a reception attended by Governors Gary Herbert (UT), John Hickenlooper (CO) and Matt Mead (WY) and Dept. of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Utah House of Representatives passed a bill to extend the emissions inspection exemption to vehicles that are model-year ’67 or older, as well as diesel vehicles ’97 or older.

The Utah House of Representatives passed a bill to extend the emissions inspection exemption to vehicles that are model-year ’67 or older, as well as diesel vehicles ’97 or older. Under current law, all gasoline and diesel vehicles six model years or older must be tested biennially, and all vehicles ’67 or older must be tested annually. The bill has been sent to the Senate Business and Labor Committee. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Daniel Ingber at stateleg@sema.org.