By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour will attract more than 4,500 collector cars and grab the attention of more than 75,000 spectators.

The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour is a spectacle unlike any other for fans of vehicular variety. In terms of sheer size and distance covered, “the world’s largest road trip” lives up to its billing. Come along with the SEMA Action Network (SAN) on the event’s 22nd annual excursion. Grab a friend and stop by our prominent display at the flamed Hot Rod bus to fight for the future of auto racing. The SAN will enlist support for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act from attendees. 

The Power Tour draws motor-vehicle enthusiasts from across the country. Covering more than 1,500 total miles, this seven-day, seven-city tour begins near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and will make its way to Kansas City, Kansas, through both highways and winding back roads. The event will attract more than 4,500 collector cars and grab the attention of more than 75,000 spectators. All kinds of hot rods, classics, custom trucks and street machines will be along for the ride. Any vehicle year, make or model is accepted.

The dates and stops are as follows:

June 11 – Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana
June 12 – Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas
June 13 – Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
June 14 – Traders Village in Grand Prairie, Texas
June 15 – Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 16 – Kansas Pavilion in Wichita, Kansas
June 17 – Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas

Find more information on tour stops and other details. We hope to see you on the road!

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour will attract more than 4,500 collector cars and grab the attention of more than 75,000 spectators.

The Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour is a spectacle unlike any other for fans of vehicular variety. In terms of sheer size and distance covered, “the world’s largest road trip” lives up to its billing. Come along with the SEMA Action Network (SAN) on the event’s 22nd annual excursion. Grab a friend and stop by our prominent display at the flamed Hot Rod bus to fight for the future of auto racing. The SAN will enlist support for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act from attendees. 

The Power Tour draws motor-vehicle enthusiasts from across the country. Covering more than 1,500 total miles, this seven-day, seven-city tour begins near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and will make its way to Kansas City, Kansas, through both highways and winding back roads. The event will attract more than 4,500 collector cars and grab the attention of more than 75,000 spectators. All kinds of hot rods, classics, custom trucks and street machines will be along for the ride. Any vehicle year, make or model is accepted.

The dates and stops are as follows:

June 11 – Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana
June 12 – Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas
June 13 – Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
June 14 – Traders Village in Grand Prairie, Texas
June 15 – Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 16 – Kansas Pavilion in Wichita, Kansas
June 17 – Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas

Find more information on tour stops and other details. We hope to see you on the road!

By Mike Imlay

The SEMA Garage is seeking SEMA-member input for a special project, “They All Started in a Garage,” to celebrate industry innovators who began in a garage and grew their business into a legacy name or brand.

The SEMA Garage is currently seeking SEMA-member input for a special project. Built around the theme “They All Started in a Garage,” the project is intended to celebrate industry innovators who began in a garage and grew their business into a legacy name or brand.

If you have a suggestion for an industry pioneer, icon or current innovator who started this way, please take a moment to submit their name to Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs. Simply state the company’s name, founder, date of startup and a brief description of their story. The staff of the SEMA Garage will take it from there.

“While we aren’t yet ready to disclose the exact nature of this project, we can say it will become a recognizable feature of the new SEMA Garage,” said Spagnola. “We envision it not only as a tribute to the innovators and risk-takers who helped build and continue to drive our industry, but as an inspiration to others seeking to bring their own ground-breaking ideas to fruition.”

All suggestions should be submitted by June 17. Further details about the project will be announced in upcoming editions of SEMA eNews.

For additional information, contact Mike Spagnola at mikes@sema.org.

By Mike Imlay

The SEMA Garage is seeking SEMA-member input for a special project, “They All Started in a Garage,” to celebrate industry innovators who began in a garage and grew their business into a legacy name or brand.

The SEMA Garage is currently seeking SEMA-member input for a special project. Built around the theme “They All Started in a Garage,” the project is intended to celebrate industry innovators who began in a garage and grew their business into a legacy name or brand.

If you have a suggestion for an industry pioneer, icon or current innovator who started this way, please take a moment to submit their name to Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs. Simply state the company’s name, founder, date of startup and a brief description of their story. The staff of the SEMA Garage will take it from there.

“While we aren’t yet ready to disclose the exact nature of this project, we can say it will become a recognizable feature of the new SEMA Garage,” said Spagnola. “We envision it not only as a tribute to the innovators and risk-takers who helped build and continue to drive our industry, but as an inspiration to others seeking to bring their own ground-breaking ideas to fruition.”

All suggestions should be submitted by June 17. Further details about the project will be announced in upcoming editions of SEMA eNews.

For additional information, contact Mike Spagnola at mikes@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

The first-ever Manufacturer of the Year award will be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show Banquet on November 3.

Nominations are now being accepted for SEMA’s prestigious annual awards. New for 2016 is the Manufacturer of the Year award. All SEMA members are invited to nominate individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on the specialty-equipment market. The award winners will be celebrated for their accomplishments at the 2016 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 3, during the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The new SEMA awards website provides photos from previous banquets and information regarding the rich history of award winners, award criteria and how to nominate industry leaders to win awards in multiple categories.

Nominate Now!

Manufacturer of the Year

SEMA has introduced the Manufacturer of the Year award this year. The winner of this award will have made outstanding strides in the manufacturing category.

Also nominate for:

• Person of the Year
• Rep Agency of the Year
• WD of the Year
• GEN-III of the Year

By SEMA Editors

The first-ever Manufacturer of the Year award will be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show Banquet on November 3.

Nominations are now being accepted for SEMA’s prestigious annual awards. New for 2016 is the Manufacturer of the Year award. All SEMA members are invited to nominate individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on the specialty-equipment market. The award winners will be celebrated for their accomplishments at the 2016 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 3, during the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The new SEMA awards website provides photos from previous banquets and information regarding the rich history of award winners, award criteria and how to nominate industry leaders to win awards in multiple categories.

Nominate Now!

Manufacturer of the Year

SEMA has introduced the Manufacturer of the Year award this year. The winner of this award will have made outstanding strides in the manufacturing category.

Also nominate for:

• Person of the Year
• Rep Agency of the Year
• WD of the Year
• GEN-III of the Year

By SEMA Editors

The first-ever Manufacturer of the Year award will be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show Banquet on November 3.

Nominations are now being accepted for SEMA’s prestigious annual awards. New for 2016 is the Manufacturer of the Year award. All SEMA members are invited to nominate individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on the specialty-equipment market. The award winners will be celebrated for their accomplishments at the 2016 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 3, during the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The new SEMA awards website provides photos from previous banquets and information regarding the rich history of award winners, award criteria and how to nominate industry leaders to win awards in multiple categories.

Nominate Now!

Manufacturer of the Year

SEMA has introduced the Manufacturer of the Year award this year. The winner of this award will have made outstanding strides in the manufacturing category.

Also nominate for:

• Person of the Year
• Rep Agency of the Year
• WD of the Year
• GEN-III of the Year

By SEMA Editors

The first-ever Manufacturer of the Year award will be presented at the 2016 SEMA Show Banquet on November 3.

Nominations are now being accepted for SEMA’s prestigious annual awards. New for 2016 is the Manufacturer of the Year award. All SEMA members are invited to nominate individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on the specialty-equipment market. The award winners will be celebrated for their accomplishments at the 2016 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 3, during the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The new SEMA awards website provides photos from previous banquets and information regarding the rich history of award winners, award criteria and how to nominate industry leaders to win awards in multiple categories.

Nominate Now!

Manufacturer of the Year

SEMA has introduced the Manufacturer of the Year award this year. The winner of this award will have made outstanding strides in the manufacturing category.

Also nominate for:

• Person of the Year
• Rep Agency of the Year
• WD of the Year
• GEN-III of the Year

By Della Domingo

Results of the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Chris Douglas from COMP Performance Group, Kyle Fickler of Aeromotive Inc. and Les Rudd from Bob Cook Sales elected to serve on the board. While Fickler is a current SEMA Board member who was re-elected to the group, Douglas and Rudd will join as the newest members.

Chris Douglas		Kyle Fickler		Les Rudd

2016–2017 SEMA Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board: Doug Evans, Luken Communications LLC
Chairman-Elect: Wade Kawasaki, Coker Group
Immediate-Past Chairman and Secretary: Nate Shelton, Driven Performance Brands
Treasurer: John Johnson, The Spartan Group

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc.
• Susan Carpenter, JR Products
• Laurel Dasher, MagnaFlow
• Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group
• Kyle Fickler, Aeromotive Inc.
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing
• Dan Kahn, Kahn Media Inc.
• Tim Martin, K&N Engineering
• Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales

Russ Deane of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane continues as general counsel.

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by all SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ reps and services.

The entire 2016–2017 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation and Gala in July. At the same time, current SEMA Board members Jeff Bates of Bob Cook Sales and Tim Watts of Superlift Suspension Systems will conclude their volunteer terms and be honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2016 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees: Matt Agosta, Chip Foose and Gary Hooker.

By Della Domingo

Results of the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Chris Douglas from COMP Performance Group, Kyle Fickler of Aeromotive Inc. and Les Rudd from Bob Cook Sales elected to serve on the board. While Fickler is a current SEMA Board member who was re-elected to the group, Douglas and Rudd will join as the newest members.

Chris Douglas		Kyle Fickler		Les Rudd

2016–2017 SEMA Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board: Doug Evans, Luken Communications LLC
Chairman-Elect: Wade Kawasaki, Coker Group
Immediate-Past Chairman and Secretary: Nate Shelton, Driven Performance Brands
Treasurer: John Johnson, The Spartan Group

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Jim Bingham, Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc.
• Susan Carpenter, JR Products
• Laurel Dasher, MagnaFlow
• Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group
• Kyle Fickler, Aeromotive Inc.
• Nick Gramelspacher, Meyer Distributing
• Dan Kahn, Kahn Media Inc.
• Tim Martin, K&N Engineering
• Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales

Russ Deane of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane continues as general counsel.

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by all SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ reps and services.

The entire 2016–2017 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation and Gala in July. At the same time, current SEMA Board members Jeff Bates of Bob Cook Sales and Tim Watts of Superlift Suspension Systems will conclude their volunteer terms and be honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2016 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees: Matt Agosta, Chip Foose and Gary Hooker.