By SEMA Editors

Arnold "Arnie" Kuhns--the motorsports safety pioneer and founder of SFI Foundation--has passed away. He was 83. Kuhns was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2002 and the SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Hall of Fame in 2016.

In 1984, Kuhns was approached by his peers in the automotive industry to lead the newly formed SFI Foundation to address the increasing concern of inferior parts that posed a risk to safety at the race track. He developed what was, at the time, an innovative system to create minimum performance testing standards for race products.

Initially, SFI had only two employees managing four product standards for one sanctioning body. Now, SFI testing and certification has grown to more than 100 quality-assurance specifications utilized by hundreds of international sanctioning bodies.

During his career, Kuhns served as president of the International Council of Motorsports Sciences (ICMS) and was an active member of the NFPA 610 Committee for Safety at Motorsports Venues and the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.

Kuhns was honored with several accolades, including the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) George Snively Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports Safety (1995); the United States Auto Club Jack O'Neal Award for Motorsports Safety (1996); awarded an NHRA Wally for Valued Personal Contributions to the Sport of Drag Racing and High Performance Industries (2002); British Drag Racing Hall of Fame's Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award (2018); and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) John Melvin Motorsport Safety Award (2021). 

By SEMA Editors

Sources have caught the '24 Jeep Gladiator, which features a refreshed grille and alterations to the rear end.

Camouflage covered the interior dashboard, instrument panel and center stack, which might indicate a revamped cabin.

'24 VW Golf Breaks Cover

Sources have sighted the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf undergoing testing with minimum camouflage in Austria.

The changes to the front show a new bumper layout, a redesigned lower grille and sleeker headlight units. At the rear is a new bumper design and revised inner graphics for the taillights.

The '24 model is expected to be the final internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered Golf before VW transitions to exclusively electric vehicles (EV) in 2033.

In addition to cab updates such as physical controls on the steering wheel, a new touchscreen display and digitally controlled "Smart Air Vents," the new Golf is expected to offer a more extensive range of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA members are invited to submit their nominations for the prestigious SEMA Industry Awards, which recognize outstanding businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry.

By recognizing the companies and individuals who have developed innovative solutions that meet the needs of passionate automotive enthusiasts everywhere, SEMA promotes the vitality of the specialty-equipment market and the achievements of its members.

Nominations are now open for:  

• Person of the Year: Established to honor a person for their outstanding contributions to the automotive specialty-equipment market.  
• Manufacturer of the Year: Honors a manufacturing company for its outstanding contributions and innovations.  
• Channel Partner of the Year: Honors a sales channel partner for its outstanding service to the sales, distribution, retail and/or e-commerce channel(s) of the industry. This includes maintaining proper inventories to service its respective channel and exceeding standards in providing suppliers with input and regular communication to help their products and programs succeed. 
• Gen-III Innovator of the Year: Honors a young, entrepreneurial individual, 40 years old or younger, who is creating innovative breakthroughs within the area(s) of industry opportunities, advancement, best business practices, technology and/or trends. 
• Content Creator of the Year: Honors a content creator for their outstanding contributions to the automotive culture and for creating a positive impact with automotive enthusiasts. 

The Industry Awards are presented to honorees during the SEMA Show, October 31-November 3, 2023. The Kickoff Breakfast, held Tuesday, October 31, will honor the Manufacturer of the Year and Channel Partner of the Year. On Thursday, November 2, the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet will be highlighted by the Gen-III Innovator of the Year, Person of the Year and Content Creator of the Year presentations.

Recognize the hard work and dedication of the people and businesses who make a difference in our industry and nominate now. Submissions close July 14.

Note: You can also submit a recommendation form if you don’t have all the requested information to complete the nomination form. When you submit a recommendation form, the awards committee sends a nomination form to the person or business you recommend so they can complete their nomination.

By Ashley Reyes

Designing wheels can be challenging. So what can designers do--within the confines of a circle--that will meet buyers' needs for both style and functionality?

Wheel and tire industry members are invited to learn new approaches to wheel designs that will sell in the live webinar "How to Design the Latest Wheels Fashion" on Thursday, June 15, at 9:00 a.m. PDT. 

Led by industry experts and presented by the SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC), the webinar will inspire participants to create new designs. Attendees will discover the following:

• New design inspiration, from classic styles to cutting-edge innovations.
• Key principles of the design process.
• Examples of design failures and successes.
• How to overcome the challenges of creating something new within the confines of a circle.
• Physical challenges to designing wheels.
• The lifespan of design trends.

The webinar includes a Q&A with presenters Aston Liyanarchi of Liyanarchi Design, Scott Weiss of Konig American, George Finch of The Carlstar Group LLC and Alex Martinez of MetaMartini. Register now!

By SEMA Editors

Registration for the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, is open at SEMAShow.com/register. Show management is dedicated to making the event as cost-effective as possible for all. Register by June 30 for just $40. Registration is $60 through September 29 and $120 after that date.

Registering early allows attendees to take advantage of the best rates and receive all the necessary information to plan their SEMA Show experience. Early registration also ensures that attendees will receive their badges in the mail before this year's event.

This year's SEMA Show will offer an attendee and buyer experience like no other automotive trade show on the planet. The event is the best place to see thousands of the newest automotive performance products from new and iconic exhibitors, discover the latest product and vehicle trends, and tailor a professional development plan with best-in-class education programs led by subject-matter experts, thought leaders and industry leaders.

Get started on your road to the 2023 SEMA Show by registering today at SEMAShow.com/register!

International Buyers and Attendees

International travelers can request a letter of invitation during the registration process. Unsure if you will require a visa from your country of origin? Use the U.S. Department of State's handy Visa Wizard to determine your needs. In addition, many countries are eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. If you are traveling from any eligible country, register for your Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval before your travel.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact customer service at 866-229-3687. International callers dial direct +1-224-563-3154 or email aapexsema@csreg.zohodesk.com. Service is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. CDT.

By SEMA Editors

Each year, the SEMA Show displays hundreds of vehicles throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center as part of the unique Feature Vehicle Display program. The cars come from various categories and applications, allowing manufacturers to expand their footprint at the SEMA Show well beyond their booth.

Each vehicle accepted will also be featured in the SEMA Show app displaying the vehicle's image, make, model, year, color, products used as part of the build, builder's name, and the name and booth number of the sponsoring exhibitor company.

Applications are now open for the 2023 SEMA Show Feature Vehicle Display program here. For the complete rules, visit here.

When completing the Feature Vehicle application, you can request information on how you may enter your vehicle for the SEMA Battle of the Builders (BOTB). The competition is judged by industry experts, with awards presented to individuals who have demonstrated extreme talent, creativity and craftsmanship in modifying cars, trucks, SUVs, sport compacts and luxury and exotic builds.

Submit your Feature Vehicle Display application by Friday, July 28. Additional vehicles will be considered on a space-available basis. Exhibiting companies with multiple vehicle application submissions will be asked to rank vehicles based on priority.

For a complete list of SEMA Show deadlines, visit here.

For more information on the Feature Vehicle application, contact Maurice O'Connell at mauriceo@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage Detroit is excited to announce a Measuring Session for the newly designed '23 Ford SuperDuty.

SEMA members will be allowed to test-fit prototypes, 3D scan and measure, and have a close-up experience with their builds.

This event will feature two '23 Ford SuperDuty Truck platforms:

F-250 SRW 4x4 Super Cab

• 6.8L DEVAT NA PRI V8 Engine
• FX4 Package
• Upfitter Switches
• BOXLINK option
• Cloth seats
• 4.2-in. productivity screen
• 8-ft. pickup box 

F-350 SRW 4x4 Crew Cab

• 6.7L Hi Output Diesel Power Stroke
• Tremor Off Road and Lariat Ultimate Package
• Pro Power Onboard-2Kw
• Roof clearance lights
• Leather seats
• 12-in. productivity screen 
• 6-ft. pickup box 

In addition, SEMA has also recently added new, highly anticipated OEM CAD data into the Tech Transfer program. More details can be found at semagarage/techtransfter.

Event Dates: June 27–29, 2023 

This will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage Detroit in Plymouth, Michigan. The event will require scheduled appointments.

Due to high demand, all appointments will be time limited. Please only register two attendees per member company. A follow-up email will be sent to confirm additional attendees.

Visit the link below for event registration details:

Click here to register.

By SEMA Editors

Nancy Edelbrock, the wife of Vic Edelbrock Jr. of the Edelbrock Group, has passed away. She was 86. 

Along with raising their three daughters, Camee, Christi and Carey, Nancy would join Vic at the SEMA Show and races to promote the company. She was an integral part of Edelbrock, even if she didn't have an official title. She was referred to as "the Real Boss" by Vic and played an essential role in supporting and nurturing the growth of the iconic Edelbrock brand. 

Vic often asked Nancy for her opinions on Edelbrock. Nancy was also fluent in Spanish and would translate Vic's speeches during celebrations to make everyone feel welcome. Nancy's grace, elegance and commitment to excellence were instrumental in shaping the company's success.

Edelbrock Group consists of brands Edelbrock, COMP Cams, FAST, TCI Automotive, Russel and Lunati. 

For more information and photos, visit Edelbrock's announcement here or edelbrockgroup.com.

By Laura Pitts

Attendees of the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, can expect an expanded SEMA Education program as part of a new SEMA initiative to create a more robust career- and professional-development program year-round.

The SEMA Show Education program will feature thought-provoking sessions, allowing attendees to tailor their program with a customizable learning journey of skill development and competency-based industry education.

In addition, SEMA Education has announced an exclusive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative that will transform the learning experience with women and diverse speakers. The DEI program is highlighted by three sessions beginning with the "Women in Automotive Symposium" (Wednesday, November 1, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.). Attendees will engage, discover and connect with industry leaders and subject-matter experts on various industry topics during 15-minute, rapid-fire-style sessions. In addition, there will be a lineup of "micro-seminars," including "Becoming Certified Woman-Owned Enterprise," "Self-Branding: The ACTION Behind Building Your Personal Brand," "The Power of Mentorship, Sponsorship and Allyship as a Strategy for Success," and "Make the Jump! Four Steps to Becoming the Authority in Your Industry."

In addition, "NextGen in Motorsports--Showcasing the Next Generation in Motorsports" (Wednesday, November 1, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.) will focus on the young racers breaking barriers and setting records. Attendees will hear how they have overcome adversity and achieved success as they share inspiring and entertaining anecdotes about their backgrounds, experiences and life stories. Attendees will gain insights as they learn about career pathways in motorsports and how racers are encouraging their peers to step into the world of auto competition.

Finally, "Reimagining Your Customer, and Your Brand, for Effective Product, Marketing and Business Strategies" (Monday, October 30, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) will provide a deeper and alternate understanding of customer leads to better direct product, pricing and strategic business decisions for future success. In this session led by Toyota North America's Marcus Umlauff (General Manager - Truck Strategy) and Michael L. Moore (General Manager, Vehicle Marketing and Communications), attendees will explore the newfound definition of the "customer" and effective ways to message them using values, attitudinal and multicultural-based strategies.

Stay tuned for more on the world-class SEMA Education program for 2023, including the announcement of the keynote speaker, partner education tracks and more details.

SEMA Show management is dedicated to making the event as cost-effective as possible for all. Register at SEMAShow.com/register by June 30 for just $40. Registration is $60 through September 29 and $120 after that date.

By SEMA Editors

Lifestyle brand RealTruck Inc.-- the premier manufacturer and retailer of aftermarket truck parts and accessories--will kick off National Get Outdoors Day (Saturday, June 10) by introducing its roster of outdoor enthusiasts who "live and breathe the RealTruck way of life." The RealTruck Crew features off-roaders and overlanders, extreme sportsmen and women, truck enthusiasts and others whose passion is to live and explore.

"It's core to our brand DNA to inspire truck owners and followers to get 'Out in the Real' and experience life off the grid," said Tony Ambroza, chief growth officer at RealTruck. 

RealTruck also recently featured female crew members on International Women's Day with its "Women in the Real" campaign, which features women from various outdoor industries, including overlanding's Priya Mareedu.

The RealTruck sales team recently visited the SEMA Garage in Detroit, Michigan. Read about that here.

Industry Veteran Vic Wood Joins Sander Engineering

Longtime industry veteran Vic Wood has joined Sander Engineering, the drag-racing manufacturer based in Torrance, California, according to published reports. 

Wood comes from Race Winning Brands, where he served as regional tech support manager.

Bartec USA Hires Cody Rainwater for Southwestern Region

Bartec USA--the provider of tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) equipment for OE assembly plants--has announced Cody Rainwater will oversee the Southwestern region.

Based in Las Vegas, Rainwater brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry at various levels, including auto sales and service.