News | Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

“Deuce Day” Cruise-In at the Petersen to Honor Hot Rod Legends Edelbrock Jr., Chapouris

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 10:16

By SEMA Editors

Vic Edelbrock Jr.

Pete Chapouris

The Petersen Automotive Museum will commemorate the 85th anniversary of the ’32 Ford “Deuce” with a day-long car show cruise-in and celebration, Saturday, July 15.

The ’32 Ford, nicknamed “Deuce” for the second digit of its model year, was one of the first affordable production cars with a V8 engine and became a favorite of racers in post-WWII Southern California. The Petersen celebrates this iconic car every five years with a car show and cruise-in open to hot-rod fans of all types, with special parking on the top deck of the structure for ’32 Fords.

Immediately following the conclusion of the show at 4:00 p.m., a procession of deuces will rally from The Petersen to the Edelbrock Museum in Torrance, California, to pay tribute to performance icon and Los Angeles native Vic Edelbrock Jr., who helped shape the performance industry and who passed away June 9 at the age of 80.

Famed car builder and customizer Pete Chapouris first found fame with The California Kid, a ’34 Ford three-window coupe that starred in an eponymous movie alongside Martin Sheen. He later founded a series of companies and eventually helmed the rebirth of So-Cal Speed Shop. Chapouris led the restoration of several notable and award-winning cars, including the Doane Spencer Roadster, which won the first Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Hot Rod class.

One of the first engineer/racers to modify Ford’s new ’32 V8 for improved performance, Vic Edelbrock Sr. was there in 1948 when Bob Petersen launched Hot Rod magazine, and was his first customer. When Edelbrock Sr. passed away in 1962, Edelbrock Jr. took over the family business at the age of 26 and built it into a household name, with a focus on designing and manufacturing high-quality, high-performance replacement parts for the automotive and motorcycle markets all made in the United States.

A display of “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” (AMBR) winners will also be on display at Deuce Day, including the 2010 AMBR-winning ’33 Ford “Possessed,” 2000 winning ’32 Ford Roadster “0032,” and the ’23 Ford Model T Roadster “Candy Root Beer,” which was also the 1971 and 1975 AMBR winner.

Deuce Day will begin July 15, at 7:30 a.m., with a cruise-in of ’32s. The event is free to the public; ticket purchase only required for those entering their Deuces and includes entry to the museum. For more information on Deuce Day, visit www.petersen.org/32-2.

“Deuce Day” Cruise-In at the Petersen to Honor Hot Rod Legends Edelbrock Jr., Chapouris

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 10:16

By SEMA Editors

Vic Edelbrock Jr.

Pete Chapouris

The Petersen Automotive Museum will commemorate the 85th anniversary of the ’32 Ford “Deuce” with a day-long car show cruise-in and celebration, Saturday, July 15.

The ’32 Ford, nicknamed “Deuce” for the second digit of its model year, was one of the first affordable production cars with a V8 engine and became a favorite of racers in post-WWII Southern California. The Petersen celebrates this iconic car every five years with a car show and cruise-in open to hot-rod fans of all types, with special parking on the top deck of the structure for ’32 Fords.

Immediately following the conclusion of the show at 4:00 p.m., a procession of deuces will rally from The Petersen to the Edelbrock Museum in Torrance, California, to pay tribute to performance icon and Los Angeles native Vic Edelbrock Jr., who helped shape the performance industry and who passed away June 9 at the age of 80.

Famed car builder and customizer Pete Chapouris first found fame with The California Kid, a ’34 Ford three-window coupe that starred in an eponymous movie alongside Martin Sheen. He later founded a series of companies and eventually helmed the rebirth of So-Cal Speed Shop. Chapouris led the restoration of several notable and award-winning cars, including the Doane Spencer Roadster, which won the first Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Hot Rod class.

One of the first engineer/racers to modify Ford’s new ’32 V8 for improved performance, Vic Edelbrock Sr. was there in 1948 when Bob Petersen launched Hot Rod magazine, and was his first customer. When Edelbrock Sr. passed away in 1962, Edelbrock Jr. took over the family business at the age of 26 and built it into a household name, with a focus on designing and manufacturing high-quality, high-performance replacement parts for the automotive and motorcycle markets all made in the United States.

A display of “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” (AMBR) winners will also be on display at Deuce Day, including the 2010 AMBR-winning ’33 Ford “Possessed,” 2000 winning ’32 Ford Roadster “0032,” and the ’23 Ford Model T Roadster “Candy Root Beer,” which was also the 1971 and 1975 AMBR winner.

Deuce Day will begin July 15, at 7:30 a.m., with a cruise-in of ’32s. The event is free to the public; ticket purchase only required for those entering their Deuces and includes entry to the museum. For more information on Deuce Day, visit www.petersen.org/32-2.

UTV Market Update—Products, Customers and Growth

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 10:14

Still riding the wave of a recent marketplace shift, the utility task vehicle, better known as the UTV or side-by-side, is at a major crossroads. Intensive growth in product development and surging sales have helped the side-by-side to become a new staple in the off-road community.

The Long (Dirt) Road to Today

The term UTV covers several different types of vehicles, but generally, all are designed for off-road activity. The mainstream use for a UTV has been more commercial than recreational. The original UTVs were vehicles that were not necessarily fast or fun to drive but were handy enough to get the job done and versatile enough to tackle a variety of tasks.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2017/07/utv-market-update

UTV Market Update—Products, Customers and Growth

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 10:14

Still riding the wave of a recent marketplace shift, the utility task vehicle, better known as the UTV or side-by-side, is at a major crossroads. Intensive growth in product development and surging sales have helped the side-by-side to become a new staple in the off-road community.

The Long (Dirt) Road to Today

The term UTV covers several different types of vehicles, but generally, all are designed for off-road activity. The mainstream use for a UTV has been more commercial than recreational. The original UTVs were vehicles that were not necessarily fast or fun to drive but were handy enough to get the job done and versatile enough to tackle a variety of tasks.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2017/07/utv-market-update

UTV Market Update—Products, Customers and Growth

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 10:14

Still riding the wave of a recent marketplace shift, the utility task vehicle, better known as the UTV or side-by-side, is at a major crossroads. Intensive growth in product development and surging sales have helped the side-by-side to become a new staple in the off-road community.

The Long (Dirt) Road to Today

The term UTV covers several different types of vehicles, but generally, all are designed for off-road activity. The mainstream use for a UTV has been more commercial than recreational. The original UTVs were vehicles that were not necessarily fast or fun to drive but were handy enough to get the job done and versatile enough to tackle a variety of tasks.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2017/07/utv-market-update

Racing News: Torrence, Capps, Skillman and Tonglet Secure Wallys at Route 66 Raceway

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 07:37

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Steve Torrence powered his Top Fuel dragster to his fifth victory of the season last Sunday at the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters at Route 66 Raceway.

Torrence, Capps, Skillman and Tonglet Secure Wallys at Route 66 Raceway

Steve Torrence powered his Top Fuel dragster to his fifth victory of the season last Sunday at the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by K&N Filters at Route 66 Raceway. Ron Capps (Funny Car), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Top Fuel points leader Torrence secured the win with a run of 3.779 seconds at 326.08 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster to take down Antron Brown after he ran a 3.786 at 326.71 in his Matco Tools dragster in the final round. Torrence notched his 13th career victory and his third in the past four events. Leah Pritchett narrowly remains in second after a quarterfinal appearance and teammate Brown trails by just two points for the second spot in the standings.

Points leader Capps locked down his sixth victory of the season after a 4.026 at 319.67 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T to defeat teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who ran a 4.047 at 319.90 in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T in the final round. Capps has now reached three final rounds in the past four races, earning two victories in that span. Capps holds a 200-point lead over second-place Matt Hagan, who fell in the semifinals. Jack Beckman sits in third place after making a quarterfinal appearance.

In Pro Stock, Skillman notched his first victory of the season after driving to a 6.627 at 209.23 in his Ray Skillman Chevy Camaro to defeat Erica Enders, who ran a 6.655 at 207.37 in her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro in the final. Bo Butner remains in the top spot of the Pro Stock standings after the semifinal appearance, while Anderson and T. Gray round out the top three. Skillman’s victory put him in eighth in the standings, while Enders now sits at sixth after her second runner-up of the season.

Points leader Tonglet secured his fourth Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in six events with a 6.835 at 195.99 on his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki to defeat Hector Arana Jr., who ran a 6.878 at 193.29 on his Lucas Oil Buell in the finals. Eddie Krawiec remains in second following the semifinal appearance. Arana Jr. moves up to third with the runner-up, surpassing Scotty Pollacheck, who fell to fourth. The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, July 21–23.

The 2017 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Class includes Dave Ekins, Cliff Flannery, Bob Gordon and Bill Savage.

Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2017

The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) has announced the class of 2017. For the first time in ORMHOF’s 40-year history, two new inductees will join family members who have already been inducted. The class of 2017 includes motorcycle racing pioneer Dave Ekins, who will join his brother Bud Ekins in the Hall of Fame. Crandon International Off-Road Raceway founder Cliff Flannery will also be inducted this year, joining his brother Jack Flannery in the Hall of Fame. Also being honored with membership in the Hall of Fame this year are desert-racing legend Bob Gordon and off-road innovator Bill Savage. This year’s inductees were chosen from a record number of nominations. An independent panel of 20 well-respected individuals from the off-road community reviewed the nomination packets and then cast their votes, independent from the other members of the committee. The class of 2017 represents the nominees who received votes from at least two-thirds of the committee members. Ekins, Flannery, Gordon and Savage bring the number of inductees in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame to 87. They will be inducted at the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame 2017 Induction & Awards Ceremony, presented by SCORE International, October 30, at the South Point in Las Vegas. Tickets are available through the Hall of Fame website at www.ormhof.org.