Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews Douglas Glad, Hotrod Network content director.

Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews Douglas Glad, Hotrod Network content director.

By Della Domingo

Pietro Gorlier (center left), head of parts and service for MOPAR FCA-Global, and Judy Curran (center right), Ford director for engineering, planning and strategy, accept their SEMA Awards from SEMA executive leadership for the 2016 SEMA Show’s hottest-trending vehicles across several categories. Awards went to the Ford Mustang as the Hottest Coupe, the Dodge Charger as the Hottest Sedan, the Ford Focus as the Hottest Hatch, the Jeep Wrangler as the hottest 4x4-SUV, and the Ford F-Series as the Hottest Truck.

SEMA Show exhibitors have cast their votes and selected the finalists for the SEMA Award, an honor presented to the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. The award will be presented in five categories, including Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV, and Hottest Hatch, Tuesday, October 31—the opening day of the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The top three finalists in each category are:

• Hottest Coupe: Acura NSX, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang
• Hottest Sedan: Audi A7, Cadillac CTS-V, Dodge Charger
• Hottest Truck: Chevrolet Colorado, RAM Pickups, Ford F-Series
• Hottest 4x4/SUV: BMW X5, Chevrolet Tahoe, Jeep Wrangler
• Hottest Hatch: Audi A5, Ford Focus, Honda Civic

Through the SEMA Awards, SEMA exhibitors that make the products and accessories for today’s popular models identify the vehicle platforms they believe are best for accessorizing.

The program creates awareness for aftermarket products and is an example of the ongoing collaboration SEMA has with automakers and aftermarket manufacturers to bring quality products to market. SEMA also helps aftermarket manufacturers with product development through the SEMA Garage, measuring sessions and technology transfer.

For additional information about the SEMA Award program, visit www.sema.org/semaaward.

By Della Domingo

Pietro Gorlier (center left), head of parts and service for MOPAR FCA-Global, and Judy Curran (center right), Ford director for engineering, planning and strategy, accept their SEMA Awards from SEMA executive leadership for the 2016 SEMA Show’s hottest-trending vehicles across several categories. Awards went to the Ford Mustang as the Hottest Coupe, the Dodge Charger as the Hottest Sedan, the Ford Focus as the Hottest Hatch, the Jeep Wrangler as the hottest 4x4-SUV, and the Ford F-Series as the Hottest Truck.

SEMA Show exhibitors have cast their votes and selected the finalists for the SEMA Award, an honor presented to the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. The award will be presented in five categories, including Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV, and Hottest Hatch, Tuesday, October 31—the opening day of the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The top three finalists in each category are:

• Hottest Coupe: Acura NSX, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang
• Hottest Sedan: Audi A7, Cadillac CTS-V, Dodge Charger
• Hottest Truck: Chevrolet Colorado, RAM Pickups, Ford F-Series
• Hottest 4x4/SUV: BMW X5, Chevrolet Tahoe, Jeep Wrangler
• Hottest Hatch: Audi A5, Ford Focus, Honda Civic

Through the SEMA Awards, SEMA exhibitors that make the products and accessories for today’s popular models identify the vehicle platforms they believe are best for accessorizing.

The program creates awareness for aftermarket products and is an example of the ongoing collaboration SEMA has with automakers and aftermarket manufacturers to bring quality products to market. SEMA also helps aftermarket manufacturers with product development through the SEMA Garage, measuring sessions and technology transfer.

For additional information about the SEMA Award program, visit www.sema.org/semaaward.

By Della Domingo

Pietro Gorlier (center left), head of parts and service for MOPAR FCA-Global, and Judy Curran (center right), Ford director for engineering, planning and strategy, accept their SEMA Awards from SEMA executive leadership for the 2016 SEMA Show’s hottest-trending vehicles across several categories. Awards went to the Ford Mustang as the Hottest Coupe, the Dodge Charger as the Hottest Sedan, the Ford Focus as the Hottest Hatch, the Jeep Wrangler as the hottest 4x4-SUV, and the Ford F-Series as the Hottest Truck.

SEMA Show exhibitors have cast their votes and selected the finalists for the SEMA Award, an honor presented to the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. The award will be presented in five categories, including Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV, and Hottest Hatch, Tuesday, October 31—the opening day of the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The top three finalists in each category are:

• Hottest Coupe: Acura NSX, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang
• Hottest Sedan: Audi A7, Cadillac CTS-V, Dodge Charger
• Hottest Truck: Chevrolet Colorado, RAM Pickups, Ford F-Series
• Hottest 4x4/SUV: BMW X5, Chevrolet Tahoe, Jeep Wrangler
• Hottest Hatch: Audi A5, Ford Focus, Honda Civic

Through the SEMA Awards, SEMA exhibitors that make the products and accessories for today’s popular models identify the vehicle platforms they believe are best for accessorizing.

The program creates awareness for aftermarket products and is an example of the ongoing collaboration SEMA has with automakers and aftermarket manufacturers to bring quality products to market. SEMA also helps aftermarket manufacturers with product development through the SEMA Garage, measuring sessions and technology transfer.

For additional information about the SEMA Award program, visit www.sema.org/semaaward.

The RPM Act of 2017 needs your support. Even if you wrote to Congress in 2016, SEMA urges all race fans and businesses to take action again. Go to www.sema.org/RPM to support the RPM Act of 2017 and secure the future of racing today!

The RPM Act of 2017 needs your support. Even if you wrote to Congress in 2016, SEMA urges all race fans and businesses to take action again. Go to www.sema.org/RPM to support the RPM Act of 2017 and secure the future of racing today!

The RPM Act of 2017 needs your support. Even if you wrote to Congress in 2016, SEMA urges all race fans and businesses to take action again. Go to www.sema.org/RPM to support the RPM Act of 2017 and secure the future of racing today!

The RPM Act of 2017 needs your support. Even if you wrote to Congress in 2016, SEMA urges all race fans and businesses to take action again. Go to www.sema.org/RPM to support the RPM Act of 2017 and secure the future of racing today!

By SEMA Editors

As SEMA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Steve McDonald was the chief association advocate on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the $41.2 billion specialty automotive industry.

Steve McDonald, a valued member of the SEMA executive team, passed away unexpectedly on September 26. He was 56. As Vice President of Government Affairs for SEMA, Steve was the chief association advocate on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the $41.2 billion specialty automotive industry. Over the past 20 years, he played a primary role in promoting and expanding SEMA’s government affairs missions at both state and federal levels.

Steve helped create the SEMA Action Network (SAN), with outreach to auto enthusiasts nationwide, along with the State Automotive Enthusiasts Leadership Caucus, a nonpartisan group of more than 700 lawmakers who share a common love for automobiles. He also drafted model state legislation covering issues like vehicle titling/registration, exhaust noise, inoperable vehicles, altered height and nitrous oxide. Most recently, he played a key role in passage of the federal replica car law and industry efforts to enact the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act.

Among his co-workers and throughout the industry he was known as a loyal friend with a wry sense of humor and a fierce dedication to his work.

Prior to joining SEMA, Steve was a government affairs consultant for the Redding Firm, where he helped serve advocacy needs for a divergent client list. A former U.S. Department of State staffer, he served as a legislative assistant for a prominent Washington D.C.-based law firm, where he helped represent trade associations and business groups. He attended the Ecole Internationale de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland and earned his degree in Government and Politics at the University of Maryland College Park.

The son of Vincent C. McDonald and the late Ann Noel McDonald, Steve is survived by his brother Vincent T. McDonald (Natalie), Kerry M. D'Ascoli (Gerry), John K. McDonald (Kristin); and Kelsey, Norah, Gerry, Noelle, Jack and Annie. He will also be remembered by his fiancée, Manya Petropaki, and devoted friend Marley.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Living Beyond Breast Cancer (www.LBBC.org), 40 Monument Rd., Suite 104, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.