Thu, 05/05/2016 - 13:08

Compiled by SEMA Editors

formulad
Formula DRIFT presented by BlackVue announced that it has signed VP Racing Fuels as the Official Fuel of Formula DRIFT.

Formula DRIFT Signs VP Racing Fuels as Official Fuel Partner

Formula DRIFT presented by BlackVue announced that it has signed VP Racing Fuels as the Official Fuel of Formula DRIFT. VP Racing Fuels will be on-site at each round of competition distributing fuel to teams that need fuel service. VP is the official racing fuel of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, AMA Supercross, NMRA, NMCA, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models, Pirelli World Challenge, PDRA and Rally America, among more than 60 VP-sponsored series and sanctioning bodies. As part of a retail branding program, gas stations and convenience stores across the U.S. are being branded as VP Racing Fuels, with each providing distribution for VP’s other product lines.

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Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green's Jeremy McGrath will serve as the inaugural Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX ambassador.

Jeremy McGrath Named Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX Ambassador

Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green's Jeremy McGrath—the seven-time AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross champion—will serve as the inaugural Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX ambassador. The Kawasaki brand ambassador will be on hand at the event to host a Q&A session open to all JuniorMotoX participants at the track Thursday after practice. McGrath will also provide commentary to the Lucas Oil broadcast team throughout the event. More details will be provided as the May 12–14 event approaches. Kawasaki has so far confirmed that Team Green riders Jett Reynolds, Lance Kobusch, Joey Crown and Jordan Bailey are planning to attend and race for the first-ever championships at the inaugural event. The Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX, presented by Monster Energy, will also feature a live webcast of the Friday qualifiers and Saturday night main events on LucasOilRacing.TV, plus a feature show on MAVTV.

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The Touring Car class top three were Gary Sheehan, Hyundai Genesis (center); Michael Shawhan, BMW 330i (left); and Patrick Chio, Nissan 350Z (right).

Las Vegas USTCC Season Opener Full of Action

Winning the Touring class at the 2016 United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) season opener was last year’s runner-up Gary Sheehan driving the GoGoGear.com/Konig Wheels/UTI Hyundai Genesis Coupe. In the Super Touring class, VJ Mirzayan took the win driving his Achilles Motorsports BMW M3, while Larry Bani took the Sportsman class victory in his GoGoGear.com/Konig Wheels/UTI BMW M3. The GT class was won by Daniel Akhromstev in the Domport/Red Star Racing BMW M3. The racing continues next month as the USTCC teams head out to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for three days of racing, May 13–15. 

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Pro Buggy Racer Garrett George. Photo credit: Lucas Oil

Team M/T Earns Seven Podium Spots During Rounds 3 and 4 of LOORS Competition

Team M/T dominated races in the Pro Buggy class during rounds three and four of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) competition, April 23–24 at Lake Elsinore, California. Garrett George, last year’s LOORRS Pro Buggy champion and second-place rider in round one, was on top of the podium in round three. Teammates Taylor Atchison and Mike Valentine rounded out the podium positions in second and third position respectively, with Darren Hardesty Jr. in fourth. In round four of Pro Buggy action, Valentine was on top of the podium with Atchison close behind in second place. Racing in the Pro 2 class, Brian Deegan earned third place in round three and second place in round four.

WELD Renews Sponsorship of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

Recognizing the opportunity to support young people in their pursuit of an automotive career, WELD has renewed its sponsorship of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge program. WELD has been a HROT sponsor since 2013. Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is a nationwide high-school engine-building competition that engages the next generation to pursue careers in the performance aftermarket and racing. Regional competitions are held across the country where high school teams compete against the clock in a total engine rebuild. Last year, 153 teams competed in regional competitions for the right to claim a share of the $4.55 million pool of scholarships offered by supporting educational institutions. Each team has an assigned sponsor coming from the pool of HROT supporters that include many major manufacturers in the performance aftermarket, along with SEMA and PRI. Last year, the WELD-sponsored team from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center claimed the HROT national championship. To qualify for the HROT dual championships held at the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show, teams must complete a total engine rebuild in less than 35 minutes. The top two teams from the SEMA Show in November will take on the top two teams from the PRI Trade Show in December in the finale to crown the 2016 Engine Challenge champion.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 11:11

By Chad Simon

The 2016 SEMA Show Priority Booth Space Selection Process kicked off earlier this week, beginning with exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall selecting their spaces for the upcoming trade show taking place November 1–4, in Las Vegas. View the online floorplan, and watch as exhibitors secure their locations and confirm their booth numbers.

Companies that have yet to choose their booth location can check the floorplan throughout the day to see how the layout of the 2016 SEMA Show is taking shape. About an hour prior to the time to select, exhibitors are encouraged to be prepared by viewing the 2016 Show’s floorpan. Updated every 15 minutes, exhibitors can monitor their desired section to gain a general idea of where they want to display.The Priority Booth Space Selection Process will include more than 2,100 exhibiting companies at its conclusion later this month.

The Central Hall—which includes the Racing & Performance, Hot Rod Alley, Restoration Marketplace and First-Time & Featured Exhibitors sections—has been filled. The North Hall is now being filled, which features the Collision Repair & Refinish, Mobile Electronics & Technology, Restyling & Car Care Accessories and Tools & Equipment sections.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the upcoming event can visit the SEMA Show website for more information; however, these companies are not eligible to participate in the current space selection process. Exhibitors with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 11:11

By Chad Simon

The 2016 SEMA Show Priority Booth Space Selection Process kicked off earlier this week, beginning with exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall selecting their spaces for the upcoming trade show taking place November 1–4, in Las Vegas. View the online floorplan, and watch as exhibitors secure their locations and confirm their booth numbers.

Companies that have yet to choose their booth location can check the floorplan throughout the day to see how the layout of the 2016 SEMA Show is taking shape. About an hour prior to the time to select, exhibitors are encouraged to be prepared by viewing the 2016 Show’s floorpan. Updated every 15 minutes, exhibitors can monitor their desired section to gain a general idea of where they want to display.The Priority Booth Space Selection Process will include more than 2,100 exhibiting companies at its conclusion later this month.

The Central Hall—which includes the Racing & Performance, Hot Rod Alley, Restoration Marketplace and First-Time & Featured Exhibitors sections—has been filled. The North Hall is now being filled, which features the Collision Repair & Refinish, Mobile Electronics & Technology, Restyling & Car Care Accessories and Tools & Equipment sections.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the upcoming event can visit the SEMA Show website for more information; however, these companies are not eligible to participate in the current space selection process. Exhibitors with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 11:11

By Chad Simon

The 2016 SEMA Show Priority Booth Space Selection Process kicked off earlier this week, beginning with exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall selecting their spaces for the upcoming trade show taking place November 1–4, in Las Vegas. View the online floorplan, and watch as exhibitors secure their locations and confirm their booth numbers.

Companies that have yet to choose their booth location can check the floorplan throughout the day to see how the layout of the 2016 SEMA Show is taking shape. About an hour prior to the time to select, exhibitors are encouraged to be prepared by viewing the 2016 Show’s floorpan. Updated every 15 minutes, exhibitors can monitor their desired section to gain a general idea of where they want to display.The Priority Booth Space Selection Process will include more than 2,100 exhibiting companies at its conclusion later this month.

The Central Hall—which includes the Racing & Performance, Hot Rod Alley, Restoration Marketplace and First-Time & Featured Exhibitors sections—has been filled. The North Hall is now being filled, which features the Collision Repair & Refinish, Mobile Electronics & Technology, Restyling & Car Care Accessories and Tools & Equipment sections.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the upcoming event can visit the SEMA Show website for more information; however, these companies are not eligible to participate in the current space selection process. Exhibitors with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 10:47

By AJ Carney


SEMA invites industry professionals to its Town Hall Meeting in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where members and prospective members will gather at Yakima Products Inc. for an evening of tours, shop talk and networking with local industry leaders.

SEMA invites industry professionals to its General Membership and Town Hall Meeting in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where members and prospective members will gather at Yakima Products Inc., Thursday June 23, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and discussing the state of the industry.

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide both members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region. These personal interactions give members a chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. As SEMA staff interacts with attendees, they also gain valuable feedback, which helps identify how current benefits can enhance members’ business operations to better meet their needs.  

“As a new member within SEMA, my experience at the Town Hall Meeting in St. Charles (Illinois) was certainly without regret. I found the topics discussed within the panel very informative. I was able to capture industry-related subjects that are worth discussing within the Mecum organization. Debra Fickler provided me knowledge that will allow me to make an intelligent decision as to which committee to join. Lastly, what an honor it was listening to the legendary Vic Edelbrock tell his story and how he has impacted the industry for so many years.”

—Christine Giovingo, Mecum Auctions

“Hosting the SEMA Town Hall was certainly one of the best events we’ve been involved with. As a warehouse distributor (WD), having the event at our facility allowed us to network with a cross-section of industry people that we normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to. They included customers, retailers, other WDs and manufacturers. The SEMA Town Hall is an asset to our industry. It gives everyone involved the opportunity to learn more about our industry and its members in an intimate setting.”

—Daryl Sampson, Turn 14 Distribution

For more information or to register, visit SEMA's Town Hall Meetings website or contact Andrea “AJ” Carney at 909-978-6697 or andreac@sema.org.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 10:47

By AJ Carney


SEMA invites industry professionals to its Town Hall Meeting in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where members and prospective members will gather at Yakima Products Inc. for an evening of tours, shop talk and networking with local industry leaders.

SEMA invites industry professionals to its General Membership and Town Hall Meeting in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where members and prospective members will gather at Yakima Products Inc., Thursday June 23, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and discussing the state of the industry.

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide both members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region. These personal interactions give members a chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. As SEMA staff interacts with attendees, they also gain valuable feedback, which helps identify how current benefits can enhance members’ business operations to better meet their needs.  

“As a new member within SEMA, my experience at the Town Hall Meeting in St. Charles (Illinois) was certainly without regret. I found the topics discussed within the panel very informative. I was able to capture industry-related subjects that are worth discussing within the Mecum organization. Debra Fickler provided me knowledge that will allow me to make an intelligent decision as to which committee to join. Lastly, what an honor it was listening to the legendary Vic Edelbrock tell his story and how he has impacted the industry for so many years.”

—Christine Giovingo, Mecum Auctions

“Hosting the SEMA Town Hall was certainly one of the best events we’ve been involved with. As a warehouse distributor (WD), having the event at our facility allowed us to network with a cross-section of industry people that we normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to. They included customers, retailers, other WDs and manufacturers. The SEMA Town Hall is an asset to our industry. It gives everyone involved the opportunity to learn more about our industry and its members in an intimate setting.”

—Daryl Sampson, Turn 14 Distribution

For more information or to register, visit SEMA's Town Hall Meetings website or contact Andrea “AJ” Carney at 909-978-6697 or andreac@sema.org.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 10:11

By Colby Martin

Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be celebrated on July 8, 2016. At the request of SEMA, this “holiday” has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Senate Resolution recognizing that the “collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United  States.”

As in years past, a wide range of automotive events will be held to commemorate the occasion. As this annual event continues to grow worldwide, states, provinces, counties and cities are following suit with their own recognition. SEMA encourages participation throughout the month of July to honor the classics of the past and the future.

Check out the SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) latest video PSA for tips on setting up your tribute. Please share it with your friends using the following link: https://youtu.be/yyR4cF0K8Zs

CCAD Event ListingLet us know how you’ll celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day for 2016 by listing your event on the SEMA Action Network website.

Celebrate the Hobby Your Way

  • Attend an official vehicle-inspired event
  • Host your own gathering or club meeting
  • Promote a “Holiday Sale” at your business
  • Drive your special ride, new or old, wherever the destination

Plan and submit your July event at no cost, locate a listing near you and more on the website, www.semasan.com/CCAD. Participating organizers will be awarded a copy of the Congressional resolution for display at each registered event.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 10:11

By Colby Martin

Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be celebrated on July 8, 2016. At the request of SEMA, this “holiday” has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Senate Resolution recognizing that the “collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United  States.”

As in years past, a wide range of automotive events will be held to commemorate the occasion. As this annual event continues to grow worldwide, states, provinces, counties and cities are following suit with their own recognition. SEMA encourages participation throughout the month of July to honor the classics of the past and the future.

Check out the SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) latest video PSA for tips on setting up your tribute. Please share it with your friends using the following link: https://youtu.be/yyR4cF0K8Zs

CCAD Event ListingLet us know how you’ll celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day for 2016 by listing your event on the SEMA Action Network website.

Celebrate the Hobby Your Way

  • Attend an official vehicle-inspired event
  • Host your own gathering or club meeting
  • Promote a “Holiday Sale” at your business
  • Drive your special ride, new or old, wherever the destination

Plan and submit your July event at no cost, locate a listing near you and more on the website, www.semasan.com/CCAD. Participating organizers will be awarded a copy of the Congressional resolution for display at each registered event.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 10:11

By Colby Martin

Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be celebrated on July 8, 2016. At the request of SEMA, this “holiday” has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Senate Resolution recognizing that the “collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United  States.”

As in years past, a wide range of automotive events will be held to commemorate the occasion. As this annual event continues to grow worldwide, states, provinces, counties and cities are following suit with their own recognition. SEMA encourages participation throughout the month of July to honor the classics of the past and the future.

Check out the SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) latest video PSA for tips on setting up your tribute. Please share it with your friends using the following link: https://youtu.be/yyR4cF0K8Zs

CCAD Event ListingLet us know how you’ll celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day for 2016 by listing your event on the SEMA Action Network website.

Celebrate the Hobby Your Way

  • Attend an official vehicle-inspired event
  • Host your own gathering or club meeting
  • Promote a “Holiday Sale” at your business
  • Drive your special ride, new or old, wherever the destination

Plan and submit your July event at no cost, locate a listing near you and more on the website, www.semasan.com/CCAD. Participating organizers will be awarded a copy of the Congressional resolution for display at each registered event.

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 09:41

It's a triple feature at the SEMA Garage. Running concurrently with the ’17 Nissan Titan and Titan XD pickup measuring session, and just one day following the ’17 Ford Super Duty measuring session, the new ’17 Nissan Armada arrives at the SEMA Garage for exclusive member access.

With the introduction of the all-new second-generation Armada fullsize SUV—arriving at Nissan dealers nationwide in mid-2016—the last piece of Nissan’s transformation of its SUV and crossover lineup falls into place. As the largest and most powerful vehicle in the portfolio, Armada earns its flagship status by every measure—whether performance, refinement, advanced technology and even heritage. Unlike the original Armada, which was based on the Nissan Titan fullsize pickup, the new-generation design traces back to one of Nissan’s most beloved global vehicles—the Patrol.

Don't miss your opportunity to gain exclusive access to global vehicle platform. The vehicle will be production spec and modest disassembly will be permitted.