Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Kurt Rezzetano in the No. 37 Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Performance Ford Mustang Boss 302. Photo courtesy of Jay Bonvouloir.

Kurt Rezzetano Captures First Career Pirelli World Challenge GTS Win

Kurt Rezzetano captured his first career Pirelli World Challenge GTS win on May 16 at the 10-turn Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. The 29-lap GTS round-seven race was part of the Remo Ferri Group Canadian Grand Prix presented by Replay XD event. Driving the No. 37 Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Performance Ford Mustang Boss 302, Rezzetano took the lead in turn eight of the first lap and never looked back. Teammate Andrew Aquilante, driving the No. 32 Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Performance Ford Mustang Boss 302, finished fourth in the 17-car GTS field. Jack Roush Jr., who represents Capaldi Racing, finished in sixth place.

Olsbergs MSE Ford Returns to Red Bull Global Rallycross to Defend Title

Olsbergs MSE is set to begin its 2015 title defense this weekend at the Red Bull Global Rallycross season opener in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This year, 2014 champion Joni Wiman returns to the series with OMSE for his second championship campaign. He is joined by rookie Sebastian Eriksson. They will both drive 2015 Red Bull/Bluebeam Ford Fiesta ST rallycross machines.

OMSE, which is headquartered in Sweden, has won every Global Rallycross championship title since the United States-based series started in 2011. The team has been preparing this week with a final round of vehicle testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, near the team's new U.S. home base in North Carolina. OMSE is also fielding Lites drivers in Red Bull Global Rallycross. American Austin Cindric and Swede Oliver Eriksson are committed to the program this year. Full coverage of the 2015 Red Bull Global Rallycross season opener is broadcast live on NBC Sunday, May 31, at 3:00 p.m.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Marx Group Advisors Represents OE Plus in Acquisition by Motorcar Parts of America

Marx Group Advisors has announced its representation of OE Plus Ltd. in its sale to Motorcar Parts of America. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. OE Plus is a supplier of remanufactured and new starters and alternators to the automotive aftermarket.

Gulf Racing Fuels Teams with J.R. Granatelli & Granatelli Motor Sports

Gulf Racing Fuels has announced a partnership with Granatelli Motor Sports to be its chief marketing partners and distributors for its new and improved leaded and unleaded street and racing fuels. The relationship between Granatelli and Gulf dates back to the ’60s when they teamed up to compete in both USAC and Formula One. Gulf Racing Fuels has developed a complete line of ethanol-free fuels for street and racing with octane ratings of 105, 110 and 116—all of them safe for street use and modern-day catalytic converters, yet potent enough to feed engines upwards of 2,500 hp, according to the company.

WELD Strengthens Distributor Program to Ensure Quality,Made in the USA Products for Consumers

WELD has developed a new certified dealer program to help counter the importation of knockoff and counterfeit overseas products that claim to be genuine WELD wheels. According to Norm Young, WELD president and CEO, only genuine WELD wheels are built using the company’s approved materials, construction techniques and quality standards. He points out that imitation wheels may not perform as well, with the potential for premature failures and safety issues.

	Tenneco’s Monroe Ride & Drive program provides industry professionals with undercar education designed to increase confidence in the inspection and replacement of ride-control components.

Tenneco Monroe Ride & Drive Program Continues to Drive Undercar Education

Tenneco’s Monroe Ride & Drive program—an undercar training and business growth program now in its 14th year—is projected to attract nearly 10,000 attendees to its 47-event tour this year. The training program provides industry professionals with undercar education designed to increase confidence in the inspection and replacement of ride-control components. Attendees can complete the Monroe “Quick-Strut Challenge,” a hands-on installation challenge where participants are invited to install a Monroe Quick-Strut replacement assembly on a ’01 Toyota Camry.

The undercar training program provides a behind-the-wheel session that allows attendees to explore the ride and handling differences in new versus worn ride-control components. The vehicles featured in this year’s driving sessions include a pair of ’09 BMW 328i sedans, ’11 GMC Acadia SUVs and ’11 Chrysler Town & Country minivans.

Pirelli Receives Ford Motor Co. Green Pillar World Excellence Award

Ford has honored Pirelli as a top-performing global supplier during the 17th annual World Excellence Awards. Pirelli was presented with a Green Pillar Award by Hau Thai-Tang, Ford Motor Co. group vice president, global purchasing. The award recognizes Pirelli’s leadership in sustainability and support of Ford’s “Reinventing Green” brand pillar. Ford recognized 52 top-performing suppliers for achieving excellence in key areas, including quality, cost, performance and delivery. The World Excellence Awards were given in 10 categories.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

April from Crystal Ninja visits SEMA Central to discuss the added style and attention that are the result of adding Swarovski crystals to vehicle projects.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. SEMA Show 2014 drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers. The 2015 SEMA Show will be held Tuesday–Thursday, November 3–6. 

April from Crystal Ninja visits SEMA Central to discuss the added style and attention that are the result of adding Swarovski crystals to vehicle projects.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. SEMA Show 2014 drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers. The 2015 SEMA Show will be held Tuesday–Thursday, November 3–6. 

April from Crystal Ninja visits SEMA Central to discuss the added style and attention that are the result of adding Swarovski crystals to vehicle projects.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. SEMA Show 2014 drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers. The 2015 SEMA Show will be held Tuesday–Thursday, November 3–6. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year. Separate legislation to allow motor-vehicle owners to petition the director of revenue for approval to only fasten a license plate on the rear of the vehicle also died. Both bills would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Missouri in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. Further, the bills would have helped protect the aesthetic contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on fabricated and some original bumpers, etc.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate died when the legislature adjourned for the year. Separate legislation to allow motor-vehicle owners to petition the director of revenue for approval to only fasten a license plate on the rear of the vehicle also died. Both bills would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Missouri in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. Further, the bills would have helped protect the aesthetic contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on fabricated and some original bumpers, etc.

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