By Della Domingo

	Last year's inaugural SEMA Ignited event drew an estimated 12,000 individuals and more than 500 SEMA Show vehicles, including 168 that were entered in the premiere SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show afterparty that is open to consumers—is primed to return this year after the SEMA Show closes, Friday, November 6, 2015. Featuring a new location directly across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center, and a no-hassle route for vehicles exiting the SEMA Show, the 2015 SEMA Ignited event will be easy to get to and include vehicles, food, music, celebrities, demonstrations and the culmination of this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The inaugural event that took place in 2014 drew an estimated 12,000 individuals and more than 500 SEMA Show vehicles, including 168 that were entered in the premiere SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. The one-of-a-kind build-off features the best builders from all over the world vying for the title of the Top Builder, and was the focus of a Velocity TV special seen by more than one million fans throughout the world.

“Response to the first SEMA Ignited exceeded our expectations,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “The consumer turnout was outstanding, and the media coverage and social-media interest were greater than we could have imagined.”

Plans for 2015 include an efficient, prearranged route for vehicles exiting the SEMA Show, heightened media opportunities and added consumer-oriented activities.

“With the new location confirmed, we are looking forward to creating the greatest experience possible for those at SEMA Ignited,” said Kersting. “We’re excited about how the event is shaping up.”

The 2015 SEMA Ignited event will take place from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Additional details, including an application to compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders, are available at www.semaignited.com.

By Della Domingo

	Last year's inaugural SEMA Ignited event drew an estimated 12,000 individuals and more than 500 SEMA Show vehicles, including 168 that were entered in the premiere SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show afterparty that is open to consumers—is primed to return this year after the SEMA Show closes, Friday, November 6, 2015. Featuring a new location directly across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center, and a no-hassle route for vehicles exiting the SEMA Show, the 2015 SEMA Ignited event will be easy to get to and include vehicles, food, music, celebrities, demonstrations and the culmination of this year’s SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The inaugural event that took place in 2014 drew an estimated 12,000 individuals and more than 500 SEMA Show vehicles, including 168 that were entered in the premiere SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. The one-of-a-kind build-off features the best builders from all over the world vying for the title of the Top Builder, and was the focus of a Velocity TV special seen by more than one million fans throughout the world.

“Response to the first SEMA Ignited exceeded our expectations,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “The consumer turnout was outstanding, and the media coverage and social-media interest were greater than we could have imagined.”

Plans for 2015 include an efficient, prearranged route for vehicles exiting the SEMA Show, heightened media opportunities and added consumer-oriented activities.

“With the new location confirmed, we are looking forward to creating the greatest experience possible for those at SEMA Ignited,” said Kersting. “We’re excited about how the event is shaping up.”

The 2015 SEMA Ignited event will take place from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Additional details, including an application to compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders, are available at www.semaignited.com.

Distributors, retailers, installers and buyers can now register to attend the 2015 SEMA Show.

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. The 2014 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers.

The 2015 SEMA Show will be held November 3–November 6.

Distributors, retailers, installers and buyers can now register to attend the 2015 SEMA Show.

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. The 2014 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers.

The 2015 SEMA Show will be held November 3–November 6.

By SEMA Editors

	Murray’s Speed and Custom will help drive the HorsePower Sales’ marketing efforts by promoting the HorsePower Sales display trailer and hauler.

Murray’s Speed & Custom of Florida to Drive HorsePower Sales Marketing Efforts

With five locations across Florida, Murray’s Speed and Custom will help drive the HorsePower Sales’ marketing efforts through regional activities, including promoting the HorsePower Sales display trailer and hauler, and toll-free where-to-buy numbers, their web presence, signage and mailers.

DEE Engineering Sells BUGPACK Products Line to EMPI Inc.

DEE Engineering Inc. has decided to sell its BUGPACK Products line to EMPI Inc., which has acquired all the rights, inventory, tooling and trade names for the BUGPACK Products line. DEE Engineering will still continue to manufacture and market its PROTHANE line of urethane-based performance parts for all cars.

Richard Forness Joins R.O. Writer as General Manager

R.O. Writer—a provider of smart software solutions for automotive repair and tire shops—welcomes Richard Forness as general manager. Forness previously served as the director of national accounts for AudaExplore, where he and his team were responsible for growing revenues significantly in the collision estimating and business intelligence software industry.

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.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA News is looking for young superstars to highlight in this year's 35 Under 35.

For the fourth consecutive year, SEMA News is looking to highlight top-tier talent in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. We need your input. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2015—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media, or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2015 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 31, 2015.

It is very likely that SEMA members are currently working with creative and talented young professionals who are already moving the industry in new and different directions. They are also the ones who have played major roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies—in areas that include marketing and product development—with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach and customer interaction.

They could be budding superstars at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that are sure to become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed. These are people who know what’s going on at the ground level, who see opportunities that are now forming and who travel in circles that may be very different from those of our “old-school” industry leaders.

Winners will be chosen based on their business success, contribution to their organization, industry knowledge and community involvement. We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.