“Darth Car” is a fully operational version of the Star Wars-themed Hot Wheels car based on a C5 Corvette.

By Monika Earle

SEMA members and guests at the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Conference Kick-Off event will be able to get up close and have their photos taken with the “Darth Car,” a fullsize, fully operational version of the Star Wars-themed Hot Wheels car based on a C5 Corvette.

The vehicle, which has been road-tested at speeds up to an 80-mph cruise, has just been confirmed for the August 30 event taking place at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. All SEMA members are invited to attend, where they will be able to have their photo taken with the vehicle in the newly renovated SEMA Garage. Featuring a fully loaded photo studio with an infinity wall large enough to fit a vehicle, the SEMA Garage also includes a brand-new emissions lab with cutting-edge equipment, new FARO 3D scanner and Stratasys 450 3D printer, state-of-the-art training center and more.

The SEMA Garage emissions lab will be unveiled for the first time during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the PWA Conference Kick-Off on Sunday, August 30. All SEMA members are invited to attend, where they will be able to tour the facility, see all the equipment in action, and have their photos taken with the Darth Car.

To attend, visit www.sema.org/pwa-reception or contact Rachael Salazar at 909-978-6728.
 

	“Darth Car” is a fully operational version of the Star Wars-themed Hot Wheels car based on a C5 Corvette.

By Monika Earle

SEMA members and guests at the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Conference Kick-Off event will be able to get up close and have their photos taken with the “Darth Car,” a fullsize, fully operational version of the Star Wars-themed Hot Wheels car based on a C5 Corvette.

The vehicle, which has been road-tested at speeds up to an 80-mph cruise, has just been confirmed for the August 30 event taking place at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. All SEMA members are invited to attend, where they will be able to have their photo taken with the vehicle in the newly renovated SEMA Garage. Featuring a fully loaded photo studio with an infinity wall large enough to fit a vehicle, the SEMA Garage also includes a brand-new emissions lab with cutting-edge equipment, new FARO 3D scanner and Stratasys 450 3D printer, state-of-the-art training center and more.

The SEMA Garage emissions lab will be unveiled for the first time during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the PWA Conference Kick-Off on Sunday, August 30. All SEMA members are invited to attend, where they will be able to tour the facility, see all the equipment in action, and have their photos taken with the Darth Car.

To attend, visit www.sema.org/pwa-reception or contact Rachael Salazar at 909-978-6728.
 

By Michael Hart

	Joanne Lipman

You can start on Monday morning, November 2, with a writer and former deputy managing editor at The Wall Street Journal, who will offer a “Communication Roadmap for Men and Women.” As a journalist, Joanne Lipman set out to learn about how men and women relate in the workplace. She discovered that, while there are plenty of career-advice books for women, there’s not too much advice out there for the men who work with them and don’t always understand their female counterparts.

Gene Marks

Nevertheless, Lipman eventually found many companies where the men and women did work well together—and she’s ready to tell you how your company can become one of them.

Later in the day, Gene Marks, an expert on dealing with changes in the economy, will discuss “The Next 2 Years: Your People.” Marks knows that the business world moves quickly and turning that reality into an opportunity will depend on whether you have the right employees with you. Every day, there are new issues and challenges in managing people. In his talk, Marks will tell you what you need to do to hire and keep the best people available—not in the distant future, but over the next two years, which he says may be the most important time in the life of your company.

	Bridget Brennan

Then on Wednesday, during Keynote & Coffee, the SEMA Show’s popular series in which thought leaders in business and industry help you get an early start on your day with stimulating perspectives, Bridget Brennan, CEO of the Female Factor, will clue you in on the tremendous buying power held by Millennial women.

As women born between 1980 and 2000 begin to take their place in society, they are making a tremendous number of buying decisions, all with a perspective influenced by social media and technology that older women consumers never had. How do you reach this new target audience? Brennan will tell you.

View a complete list of SEMA Show Education sessions available.

By Michael Hart

	Joanne Lipman

You can start on Monday morning, November 2, with a writer and former deputy managing editor at The Wall Street Journal, who will offer a “Communication Roadmap for Men and Women.” As a journalist, Joanne Lipman set out to learn about how men and women relate in the workplace. She discovered that, while there are plenty of career-advice books for women, there’s not too much advice out there for the men who work with them and don’t always understand their female counterparts.

Gene Marks

Nevertheless, Lipman eventually found many companies where the men and women did work well together—and she’s ready to tell you how your company can become one of them.

Later in the day, Gene Marks, an expert on dealing with changes in the economy, will discuss “The Next 2 Years: Your People.” Marks knows that the business world moves quickly and turning that reality into an opportunity will depend on whether you have the right employees with you. Every day, there are new issues and challenges in managing people. In his talk, Marks will tell you what you need to do to hire and keep the best people available—not in the distant future, but over the next two years, which he says may be the most important time in the life of your company.

	Bridget Brennan

Then on Wednesday, during Keynote & Coffee, the SEMA Show’s popular series in which thought leaders in business and industry help you get an early start on your day with stimulating perspectives, Bridget Brennan, CEO of the Female Factor, will clue you in on the tremendous buying power held by Millennial women.

As women born between 1980 and 2000 begin to take their place in society, they are making a tremendous number of buying decisions, all with a perspective influenced by social media and technology that older women consumers never had. How do you reach this new target audience? Brennan will tell you.

View a complete list of SEMA Show Education sessions available.

By Michael Hart

	Joanne Lipman

You can start on Monday morning, November 2, with a writer and former deputy managing editor at The Wall Street Journal, who will offer a “Communication Roadmap for Men and Women.” As a journalist, Joanne Lipman set out to learn about how men and women relate in the workplace. She discovered that, while there are plenty of career-advice books for women, there’s not too much advice out there for the men who work with them and don’t always understand their female counterparts.

Gene Marks

Nevertheless, Lipman eventually found many companies where the men and women did work well together—and she’s ready to tell you how your company can become one of them.

Later in the day, Gene Marks, an expert on dealing with changes in the economy, will discuss “The Next 2 Years: Your People.” Marks knows that the business world moves quickly and turning that reality into an opportunity will depend on whether you have the right employees with you. Every day, there are new issues and challenges in managing people. In his talk, Marks will tell you what you need to do to hire and keep the best people available—not in the distant future, but over the next two years, which he says may be the most important time in the life of your company.

	Bridget Brennan

Then on Wednesday, during Keynote & Coffee, the SEMA Show’s popular series in which thought leaders in business and industry help you get an early start on your day with stimulating perspectives, Bridget Brennan, CEO of the Female Factor, will clue you in on the tremendous buying power held by Millennial women.

As women born between 1980 and 2000 begin to take their place in society, they are making a tremendous number of buying decisions, all with a perspective influenced by social media and technology that older women consumers never had. How do you reach this new target audience? Brennan will tell you.

View a complete list of SEMA Show Education sessions available.

	SEMA’s Battle of the Builders competition is the ultimate test of vehicle modification craftsmanship and artistry.

By Becca Butler

Vehicle builders competing in the second annual SEMA Battle of the Builder competition are giving fans a first look at the vehicles they believe will steer them to winning the title of the top builder. Check out the gallery of SEMA Battle of the Builders vehicles. Continue to revisit the gallery as it will be updated prior to the Show.

From hot rods to sport compact to off-road trucks, the competition is the ultimate test of craftsmanship and artistry when it comes to vehicle modification and innovation. The inaugural event was featured in hundreds of newspapers, magazines, websites and national television, as nearly 125 builders showcased their jaw-dropping builds and battled for the right to call themselves America’s top automotive builder.

The competition this year is open to all builders with a booth, display or feature vehicle at the 2015 SEMA Show. Exhibitors are encouraged to have their builders enter the competition, as products on the vehicles gain immense media exposure through the competition as well. Deadline to apply is Monday, September 7. For more information and to register, visit www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

	SEMA’s Battle of the Builders competition is the ultimate test of vehicle modification craftsmanship and artistry.

By Becca Butler

Vehicle builders competing in the second annual SEMA Battle of the Builder competition are giving fans a first look at the vehicles they believe will steer them to winning the title of the top builder. Check out the gallery of SEMA Battle of the Builders vehicles. Continue to revisit the gallery as it will be updated prior to the Show.

From hot rods to sport compact to off-road trucks, the competition is the ultimate test of craftsmanship and artistry when it comes to vehicle modification and innovation. The inaugural event was featured in hundreds of newspapers, magazines, websites and national television, as nearly 125 builders showcased their jaw-dropping builds and battled for the right to call themselves America’s top automotive builder.

The competition this year is open to all builders with a booth, display or feature vehicle at the 2015 SEMA Show. Exhibitors are encouraged to have their builders enter the competition, as products on the vehicles gain immense media exposure through the competition as well. Deadline to apply is Monday, September 7. For more information and to register, visit www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

	SEMA’s Battle of the Builders competition is the ultimate test of vehicle modification craftsmanship and artistry.

By Becca Butler

Vehicle builders competing in the second annual SEMA Battle of the Builder competition are giving fans a first look at the vehicles they believe will steer them to winning the title of the top builder. Check out the gallery of SEMA Battle of the Builders vehicles. Continue to revisit the gallery as it will be updated prior to the Show.

From hot rods to sport compact to off-road trucks, the competition is the ultimate test of craftsmanship and artistry when it comes to vehicle modification and innovation. The inaugural event was featured in hundreds of newspapers, magazines, websites and national television, as nearly 125 builders showcased their jaw-dropping builds and battled for the right to call themselves America’s top automotive builder.

The competition this year is open to all builders with a booth, display or feature vehicle at the 2015 SEMA Show. Exhibitors are encouraged to have their builders enter the competition, as products on the vehicles gain immense media exposure through the competition as well. Deadline to apply is Monday, September 7. For more information and to register, visit www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

By Monika Earle

The SEMA Garage has teamed up with FARO, the world's most trusted source for 3D measurement and imaging, to offer SEMA members unparalleled access to powerful engineering and rapid prototyping tools. The FaroArm is a portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) that allows manufacturers easy verification of product quality by performing 3D inspections, tool certifications, CAD comparison, dimensional analysis, reverse engineering, and more.

Available through the SEMA Garage services, this all-new FARO Edge ScanArm HD allows members to leverage the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology available. The new system includes innovative blue laser technology for industry-leading speed, accuracy and data resolution.

“We’re excited about bringing this new technology to the SEMA Garage,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development. “The 3D laser scanner really expands the list of possibilities for SEMA manufacturers to be able to develop products quickly and affordably.”

The tool can be used to reverse engineer and digitize existing parts, delivering incredibly accurate measurements for use in modern manufacturing and design techniques. “Simply bring your part or vehicle to the SEMA Garage, or schedule time for our engineers to visit your facility, and our staff will do the rest,” said Spagnola. “Scan and design services are always performed with full confidentiality between SEMA and our members.”

Further extending the potential of this technology, the SEMA Garage also offers cutting-edge 3D printing services on a Stratasys Fortus 450mc. Members can scan a part, create CAD files, make digital modifications and print a revised prototype—all under one roof.

Demonstrations of the FARO Edge ScanArm HD will take place during the upcoming PWA Conference Kick-Off Reception at the SEMA Garage, Sunday, August 30. SEMA members will have a first-hand look at the rapid prototyping and scanning services, the upgraded emissions lab and the expanded training center, which are all available to help manufacturers develop their products ahead of the upcoming SEMA Show.

To learn more about SEMA Garage Scanning services, contact Matt Cordato at mattc@sema.org or 909-978-6731.