By Amelia Zwecher

A competition honoring Mac Short, an aviation pioneer, will be held May 14, 2017, at the Western Museum of Flight at the Torrance Airport in Southern California, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (PDT).

Following Short’s death in 1948, his widow and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) SoCal created the Mac Short Award in his memory. The award consists of a traveling plaque and a cash prize to a talented Southern California engineering student or outstanding team contributing the most to engineering each year. The winner is determined by a panel of judges who evaluate design reports and engineering project presentations. The SAE Southern California section is actively seeking judges who can potentially hire entry-level engineers.

For those who are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact sae.macshort.competition@gmail.com or chris.beyer@csulb.edu.

View the event flyer for more information.

By Katie Carson

Just as last year, this year’s PRO group will tour Mcity—the world’s first full-scale simulated urban environment designed for testing autonomous and driverless vehicles in real-world situations.

The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) is hosting a General Membership Meeting on June 15 at the Detroit Metro Airport Marriot in Detroit. The meeting serves as an opportunity for council members to address restyling industry challenges and trends and weigh in on the needs of its member companies. PRO-member company employees are encouraged to attend to gain insight into council initiatives and network with industry friends, select committee members and SEMA staff.

As an added bonus, attendees will tour both the American Center for Mobility and the innovative Mobility Transformation Facility, more commonly known as Mcity, at the University of Michigan. The 32-acre facility is located on campus, and is the first of its kind in testing new automated vehicle technologies and their capabilities to safely maneuver actual roadways. Public access to Mcity is limited, but PRO meeting attendees will enjoy a guided private tour of the facility.

The day kicks off with breakfast at the Detroit Metro Airport Marriot, Thursday, June 15, at 8:00 a.m, with the shuttle taking off for the Mcity tour immediately following. After the tour, the group will reconvene at the hotel for the meeting. In the evening, meeting attendees will relax at Publix Field at Comerica Park for a Detroit Tigers baseball game.

RSVP now!

For more information, contact Senior Manager of Councils Allan Keefe at 909-978-6696 or allank@sema.org.

By Katie Carson

Just as last year, this year’s PRO group will tour Mcity—the world’s first full-scale simulated urban environment designed for testing autonomous and driverless vehicles in real-world situations.

The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) is hosting a General Membership Meeting on June 15 at the Detroit Metro Airport Marriot in Detroit. The meeting serves as an opportunity for council members to address restyling industry challenges and trends and weigh in on the needs of its member companies. PRO-member company employees are encouraged to attend to gain insight into council initiatives and network with industry friends, select committee members and SEMA staff.

As an added bonus, attendees will tour both the American Center for Mobility and the innovative Mobility Transformation Facility, more commonly known as Mcity, at the University of Michigan. The 32-acre facility is located on campus, and is the first of its kind in testing new automated vehicle technologies and their capabilities to safely maneuver actual roadways. Public access to Mcity is limited, but PRO meeting attendees will enjoy a guided private tour of the facility.

The day kicks off with breakfast at the Detroit Metro Airport Marriot, Thursday, June 15, at 8:00 a.m, with the shuttle taking off for the Mcity tour immediately following. After the tour, the group will reconvene at the hotel for the meeting. In the evening, meeting attendees will relax at Publix Field at Comerica Park for a Detroit Tigers baseball game.

RSVP now!

For more information, contact Senior Manager of Councils Allan Keefe at 909-978-6696 or allank@sema.org.

By Chad Simon

Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation and Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California.

The 2017 Pinewood Drag Races season is now open! Each year, hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. To learn more and register, visit www.sema.org/pinewood.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation and Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California. There’s no better location for drag racing than Pomona—home of NHRA’s famed 1/4-mile and the NHRA Museum. The finals are held during the cocktail reception, shortly before the banquet begins.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Build It For Me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It For Me (BIFM) or Stock Class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in the industry.

SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races special features include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and the Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off, with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member, the greater their chances of winning.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact lindsayb@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today!

By Chad Simon

Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation and Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California.

The 2017 Pinewood Drag Races season is now open! Each year, hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. To learn more and register, visit www.sema.org/pinewood.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation and Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California. There’s no better location for drag racing than Pomona—home of NHRA’s famed 1/4-mile and the NHRA Museum. The finals are held during the cocktail reception, shortly before the banquet begins.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Build It For Me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It For Me (BIFM) or Stock Class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in the industry.

SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races special features include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and the Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off, with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member, the greater their chances of winning.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact lindsayb@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today!

By Chad Simon

Held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation and Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California.

The 2017 Pinewood Drag Races season is now open! Each year, hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood cars, with 100% of the proceeds going to qualified SEMA Cares charities. To learn more and register, visit www.sema.org/pinewood.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation and Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California. There’s no better location for drag racing than Pomona—home of NHRA’s famed 1/4-mile and the NHRA Museum. The finals are held during the cocktail reception, shortly before the banquet begins.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Build It For Me (BIFM), Stock and Unlimited. Members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It For Me (BIFM) or Stock Class, or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds, and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in the industry.

SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races special features include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and the Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off, with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member, the greater their chances of winning.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact lindsayb@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today!

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Governor Jim Justice signed into law legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways.

Legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways was signed into law by Governor Jim Justice. The bill also raises the number of permissible auxiliary passing lamps and auxiliary driving lamps from one to two. The new law requires that light bars be turned off when vehicles are being operated on roads and highways, and promotes the fact that aftermarket lighting systems are manufactured to improve off-road safety. 

For details. contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Governor Jim Justice signed into law legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways.

Legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways was signed into law by Governor Jim Justice. The bill also raises the number of permissible auxiliary passing lamps and auxiliary driving lamps from one to two. The new law requires that light bars be turned off when vehicles are being operated on roads and highways, and promotes the fact that aftermarket lighting systems are manufactured to improve off-road safety. 

For details. contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Governor Jim Justice signed into law legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways.

Legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways was signed into law by Governor Jim Justice. The bill also raises the number of permissible auxiliary passing lamps and auxiliary driving lamps from one to two. The new law requires that light bars be turned off when vehicles are being operated on roads and highways, and promotes the fact that aftermarket lighting systems are manufactured to improve off-road safety. 

For details. contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Linda Spencer

Participating buyers will have an opportunity to visit accessory, performance and off-road retailers and wholesalers during the 2017 SEMA Australia Business Development Program in Melbourne.

Three more slots remain for the 2017 SEMA Australia Business Development Program, to be held May 23–27, in Melbourne. Buyers of engine products, exterior accessories, lighting, wheel/tire, exhaust, interior styling, suspension, drivetrain, truck accessories, auto detailing, restoration and brake products are pre-registered to attend, and may be eligible for a $1,000 grant.

Schedule:

May 23: Briefing with U.S. government officials.
May 24: SEMA Business Development Program Opens at the Park Hyatt Melbourne.
May 25: Visit accessory, performance and off-road retailers and wholesalers. Evening networking reception with Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA).    
May 26: Breakfast meeting with enthusiast press, and an evening delegation dinner.      
May 27: (Optional) Private meetings with buyers, depart for the United States.

The cost to attend is $4,300 per company (one employee), which includes a turnkey booth at the SEMA Australia Business Development Program, four nights’ hotel and meals (airfare and airport transportation are not included). The federal grant drops the cost to $3,300.

View the 2016 SEMA Australia post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Australia Business Development Conference. (Click on this link to learn how to qualify/self-certify for the grants).

For questions about any of SEMA’s overseas trips, including the SEMA Australia Business Development Program, May 23–27, 2017, and the SEMA China Business Development Program, September 6–10, 2017, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.