The deadline to submit your company’s Exhibit Space Rental Application and deposit is March 31, 2017, to participate in the 2017 SEMA Show Early Space Selection, which will take place May 1–19, 2017.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require all motor vehicles to be equipped with a factory installed or equivalent aftermarket muffler was introduced.

Indiana already requires that exhaust systems be “in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise or smoke.” Among other things, the bill fails to recognize that factory replacement parts or comparables are not always readily available for all motor vehicles and that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.

Learn more about the Indiana bill requiring factory-installed or equivalent mufflers.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require all motor vehicles to be equipped with a factory installed or equivalent aftermarket muffler was introduced.

Indiana already requires that exhaust systems be “in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise or smoke.” Among other things, the bill fails to recognize that factory replacement parts or comparables are not always readily available for all motor vehicles and that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.

Learn more about the Indiana bill requiring factory-installed or equivalent mufflers.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The new Trump Administration directed all government agencies to freeze issuance of any new regulations pending review. The freeze does not apply to emergency situations or other urgent circumstances.

Regulations that are in progress but have not yet taken effect are also frozen for 60 days pending review of fact, law and policy. In addition to the Administration’s action, Congress already has the ability to pass a resolution with a simple majority vote that rejects any major rulemaking issued in the last 6 months.

Given the President will likely sign the resolution into law, Congress is expected to use this authority in the near future. Seeking to expand this power, the House has passed the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act," that would require congressional approval of regulations before they can take effect.

The House has also passed the "Regulatory Accountability Act," that would require federal agencies to identify the objective of a proposed rule and choose the lowest-cost alternative. It may prove difficult to pass these bills in the U.S. Senate since a 60-vote super-majority will likely be required.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The new Trump Administration directed all government agencies to freeze issuance of any new regulations pending review. The freeze does not apply to emergency situations or other urgent circumstances.

Regulations that are in progress but have not yet taken effect are also frozen for 60 days pending review of fact, law and policy. In addition to the Administration’s action, Congress already has the ability to pass a resolution with a simple majority vote that rejects any major rulemaking issued in the last 6 months.

Given the President will likely sign the resolution into law, Congress is expected to use this authority in the near future. Seeking to expand this power, the House has passed the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act," that would require congressional approval of regulations before they can take effect.

The House has also passed the "Regulatory Accountability Act," that would require federal agencies to identify the objective of a proposed rule and choose the lowest-cost alternative. It may prove difficult to pass these bills in the U.S. Senate since a 60-vote super-majority will likely be required.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship offers dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Students can apply at www.sema.org/scholarships. The submission deadline is March 1, 2017.

Dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will be given out, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The program also includes a loan-forgiveness aspect that offers financial awards to employees of SEMA-member companies who have completed and are paying off a loan for a program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program within the United States.

“The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is a way for us to help develop the future innovators and leaders of the aftermarket industry,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We encourage all students working toward a career in our industry to apply and take advantage of this great program.”

For more information on the program, contact Juliet Marshall, SEMA manager of education projects, at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship offers dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Students can apply at www.sema.org/scholarships. The submission deadline is March 1, 2017.

Dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will be given out, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The program also includes a loan-forgiveness aspect that offers financial awards to employees of SEMA-member companies who have completed and are paying off a loan for a program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program within the United States.

“The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is a way for us to help develop the future innovators and leaders of the aftermarket industry,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We encourage all students working toward a career in our industry to apply and take advantage of this great program.”

For more information on the program, contact Juliet Marshall, SEMA manager of education projects, at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

By Juan Torres

Kyle Tucker turned an all-steel Willys that has been a drag race car all of its life into a contender in this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

After winning the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro, Kyle Tucker and his staff at Detroit Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina, worked effervescently on a ’41 Willys in the hope that they could regain the title.

“Battle of the Builders is now the big thing for car builders,” Tucker said. “To be in the Top 10 with the best of the best and the who’s who in the automotive industry is a really big deal."

To accomplish their goal, the crew opted not to build a fiberglass Willys and instead put together an unconventional all-steel model using a car that had always been drag raced. They built the front fenders, hood, rear fenders, deck lid and a roof section from scratch because the car was beaten up from drag racing. Though builders often remove the trim, door handles, locks and hinges from a Willys, Tucker decided to leave them on and eventually laser-scanned and machined a scaled version of the original steering wheel from billet aluminum before adding a custom-machined shift lever, tach housing and speaker grilles.

Their attention to detail and meticulous work was obvious at first sight. “I like a car to sit right and have the correct tire and wheel look and to drive right,” said Tucker. “A lot of people can make a car look awesome, but for a car to look awesome and drive right, that’s what I want.”

Behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and stories of the 2016 Battle of the Builders competition will be showcased in an hour-long TV special that will air 10:00 p.m. (EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. Mark your calendars, set your DVR and tell your friends not to miss the show!

For more information, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

By Juan Torres

Kyle Tucker turned an all-steel Willys that has been a drag race car all of its life into a contender in this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

After winning the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro, Kyle Tucker and his staff at Detroit Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina, worked effervescently on a ’41 Willys in the hope that they could regain the title.

“Battle of the Builders is now the big thing for car builders,” Tucker said. “To be in the Top 10 with the best of the best and the who’s who in the automotive industry is a really big deal."

To accomplish their goal, the crew opted not to build a fiberglass Willys and instead put together an unconventional all-steel model using a car that had always been drag raced. They built the front fenders, hood, rear fenders, deck lid and a roof section from scratch because the car was beaten up from drag racing. Though builders often remove the trim, door handles, locks and hinges from a Willys, Tucker decided to leave them on and eventually laser-scanned and machined a scaled version of the original steering wheel from billet aluminum before adding a custom-machined shift lever, tach housing and speaker grilles.

Their attention to detail and meticulous work was obvious at first sight. “I like a car to sit right and have the correct tire and wheel look and to drive right,” said Tucker. “A lot of people can make a car look awesome, but for a car to look awesome and drive right, that’s what I want.”

Behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and stories of the 2016 Battle of the Builders competition will be showcased in an hour-long TV special that will air 10:00 p.m. (EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. Mark your calendars, set your DVR and tell your friends not to miss the show!

For more information, visit www.semashow.com/botb.

By Juan Torres

Kyle Tucker turned an all-steel Willys that has been a drag race car all of its life into a contender in this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

After winning the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in 2014 with a ’69 Camaro, Kyle Tucker and his staff at Detroit Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina, worked effervescently on a ’41 Willys in the hope that they could regain the title.

“Battle of the Builders is now the big thing for car builders,” Tucker said. “To be in the Top 10 with the best of the best and the who’s who in the automotive industry is a really big deal."

To accomplish their goal, the crew opted not to build a fiberglass Willys and instead put together an unconventional all-steel model using a car that had always been drag raced. They built the front fenders, hood, rear fenders, deck lid and a roof section from scratch because the car was beaten up from drag racing. Though builders often remove the trim, door handles, locks and hinges from a Willys, Tucker decided to leave them on and eventually laser-scanned and machined a scaled version of the original steering wheel from billet aluminum before adding a custom-machined shift lever, tach housing and speaker grilles.

Their attention to detail and meticulous work was obvious at first sight. “I like a car to sit right and have the correct tire and wheel look and to drive right,” said Tucker. “A lot of people can make a car look awesome, but for a car to look awesome and drive right, that’s what I want.”

Behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and stories of the 2016 Battle of the Builders competition will be showcased in an hour-long TV special that will air 10:00 p.m. (EST), February 6, on the Velocity Network. Mark your calendars, set your DVR and tell your friends not to miss the show!

For more information, visit www.semashow.com/botb.