Thu, 08/22/2013 - 15:18
By Monika Earle

press
The final SEMA Show press conference schedule will be announced August 29, 2013.

The 2013 SEMA Show press conference schedule is currently being finalized. All SEMA Show exhibitors who submitted applications should have received a confirmation e-mail from Della Domingo, August 19, 2013.

Exhibitors who have not received the confirmation e-mail are
advised to contact Monika Earle at monikae@sema.org or 909-978-6722 immediately.

The final SEMA Show press conference schedule will be announced August 29, 2013.

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:54

Compiled by SEMA Editors

  jones
Jesse Jones was the first to cross the line, but it was Jason Voss who took the win with a slightly quicker overall time.
  

Voss Wins, Jones Takes Second in 2013 Best in the Desert
Last weekend was the longest off-road race in the United States—the 2013 Best in the Desert, Vegas to Reno. Jesse Jones in the #76 FOX Trick Truck started the 543-mile race across the Nevada desert third off the line and the first Trick Truck out of 33. At around race mile 394, Jones ran down teammate Bryce Menzies to gain the physical lead of the race. The last 40 miles of the course were complete with switchbacks and more sharp rocks. Jones reached the finish line in nine hours and 19 minutes after he started. He was the first to cross the line, but it was Jason Voss who took the win with a slightly quicker overall time. Jones finished second overall just in front of Menzies who battled Jones for the majority of the race. Next weekend, Jones and Menzies will go head to head again with Jones' return to short-course off-road racing in his new FOX Pro-2 at the Crandon International Raceway.

Bully Dog Extends Unbeaten Streak
Bully Dog drivers Travis Ware, Austin George, Chris Kendall and Alex Klassen entered Laketown, Utah, two weeks ago, intent on taking down the competition at the latest United Pullers event.

Ware grinded out a 170-ft. 5-in. first-place finish in the Bully Dog "Doctor" EcoBoost. This allowed Doctor to lengthen its undefeated streak this season. Kendall and Blackout posted a 194-ft. 5-in. pull putting him in first place. Klassen made his season debut in the 2.6 class. His Ford roared off the line and charged down the track, spinning to a stop at 178 ft. This put him squarely in second place and solidifies his presence as a contender in future pulls. George drove Doctor all the way out to 200 ft. 1 in., but could have gone even farther. He had to let off the throttle after delivering yet another full pull because there was a tractor parked across the track.

holland
The race at Miller Motorsports Park was the fourth victory this year for Team PDG in the Western Endurance Racing Championship Series.
 
  

Holland/Zadig Win Inaugural Six-Hour Night Race in Utah
Mike Holland and Steve Zadig split the duties in the Mendeola Transaxles, Baja Designs, Factory Five Racing, Prototype Development Group, GTM #4 for the race at Miller Motorsports Park. This is the fourth victory this year for Team PDG in the Western Endurance Racing Championship Series, and the team not only won this event, but also secured the WERC title. A conservative fuel strategy by team PDG led to them travelling close to 500 miles with only one pit stop for fuel and a driver change at the 3-hour-and-15-minute mark. The next event will be November 10, 2013, at Sonoma Raceway in California, with the final WERC event being the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, December 7–8, at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California.

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:54

Compiled by SEMA Editors

  jones
Jesse Jones was the first to cross the line, but it was Jason Voss who took the win with a slightly quicker overall time.
  

Voss Wins, Jones Takes Second in 2013 Best in the Desert
Last weekend was the longest off-road race in the United States—the 2013 Best in the Desert, Vegas to Reno. Jesse Jones in the #76 FOX Trick Truck started the 543-mile race across the Nevada desert third off the line and the first Trick Truck out of 33. At around race mile 394, Jones ran down teammate Bryce Menzies to gain the physical lead of the race. The last 40 miles of the course were complete with switchbacks and more sharp rocks. Jones reached the finish line in nine hours and 19 minutes after he started. He was the first to cross the line, but it was Jason Voss who took the win with a slightly quicker overall time. Jones finished second overall just in front of Menzies who battled Jones for the majority of the race. Next weekend, Jones and Menzies will go head to head again with Jones' return to short-course off-road racing in his new FOX Pro-2 at the Crandon International Raceway.

Bully Dog Extends Unbeaten Streak
Bully Dog drivers Travis Ware, Austin George, Chris Kendall and Alex Klassen entered Laketown, Utah, two weeks ago, intent on taking down the competition at the latest United Pullers event.

Ware grinded out a 170-ft. 5-in. first-place finish in the Bully Dog "Doctor" EcoBoost. This allowed Doctor to lengthen its undefeated streak this season. Kendall and Blackout posted a 194-ft. 5-in. pull putting him in first place. Klassen made his season debut in the 2.6 class. His Ford roared off the line and charged down the track, spinning to a stop at 178 ft. This put him squarely in second place and solidifies his presence as a contender in future pulls. George drove Doctor all the way out to 200 ft. 1 in., but could have gone even farther. He had to let off the throttle after delivering yet another full pull because there was a tractor parked across the track.

holland
The race at Miller Motorsports Park was the fourth victory this year for Team PDG in the Western Endurance Racing Championship Series.
 
  

Holland/Zadig Win Inaugural Six-Hour Night Race in Utah
Mike Holland and Steve Zadig split the duties in the Mendeola Transaxles, Baja Designs, Factory Five Racing, Prototype Development Group, GTM #4 for the race at Miller Motorsports Park. This is the fourth victory this year for Team PDG in the Western Endurance Racing Championship Series, and the team not only won this event, but also secured the WERC title. A conservative fuel strategy by team PDG led to them travelling close to 500 miles with only one pit stop for fuel and a driver change at the 3-hour-and-15-minute mark. The next event will be November 10, 2013, at Sonoma Raceway in California, with the final WERC event being the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, December 7–8, at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California.

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:39
 SEMA Show, New Specialty Equipment, New Products Showcase
Buyers can obtain a wealth of product information that will be relevant well into 2014 by taking advantage of the free scanners available in the New Products Showcase area.
  

By Jason Catullo

Buyers can obtain a wealth of product information that will be relevant well into 2014 by taking advantage of the free scanners available through the SEMA Show New Products Showcase. The Show annually features the showcase where exhibitors highlight new product debuts, yearly updates and the latest versions of their best sellers. All of the products entered into the popular destinaiton for buyers are photographed and include product details and key information on how to locate and contact exhibiting manufacturers.

Provided via "Free Scanner Pickup" booths located around the New Products Showcase, buyers can scan all of the products they are interested in, while examining and researching  additional products exhibitors have to offer. There is no limit to the number of scans buyers can conduct, and the information is gathered electronically, allowing for it to be retrieved or printed immediately. With new exhibitor and product information in hand, buyers can concentrate on making deals and spend more time on the Show floor connecting with existing partners and new suppliers.

The New Product Showcase is a valuable benefit to exhibitors because it provides companies with a dedicated area to highlight their newest developments and signature products, while not limiting time in their booths. The showcase is a key stop for buyers looking to get familiar with the products and innovations that will sell in the coming year. The showcase is factor that influences buyers' purchasing decisions and supports the fact that nearly 60% of buyers plan to purchase a product introduced at the SEMA Show.

More information on the 2013 SEMA Show is available at www.SEMAShow.com.
 

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:39
 SEMA Show, New Specialty Equipment, New Products Showcase
Buyers can obtain a wealth of product information that will be relevant well into 2014 by taking advantage of the free scanners available in the New Products Showcase area.
  

By Jason Catullo

Buyers can obtain a wealth of product information that will be relevant well into 2014 by taking advantage of the free scanners available through the SEMA Show New Products Showcase. The Show annually features the showcase where exhibitors highlight new product debuts, yearly updates and the latest versions of their best sellers. All of the products entered into the popular destinaiton for buyers are photographed and include product details and key information on how to locate and contact exhibiting manufacturers.

Provided via "Free Scanner Pickup" booths located around the New Products Showcase, buyers can scan all of the products they are interested in, while examining and researching  additional products exhibitors have to offer. There is no limit to the number of scans buyers can conduct, and the information is gathered electronically, allowing for it to be retrieved or printed immediately. With new exhibitor and product information in hand, buyers can concentrate on making deals and spend more time on the Show floor connecting with existing partners and new suppliers.

The New Product Showcase is a valuable benefit to exhibitors because it provides companies with a dedicated area to highlight their newest developments and signature products, while not limiting time in their booths. The showcase is a key stop for buyers looking to get familiar with the products and innovations that will sell in the coming year. The showcase is factor that influences buyers' purchasing decisions and supports the fact that nearly 60% of buyers plan to purchase a product introduced at the SEMA Show.

More information on the 2013 SEMA Show is available at www.SEMAShow.com.
 

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:19

SEMA News—August 2013

Hey Hey

HERITAGE
By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archives

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.Dean Jeffries, custom car painter, striper and builder, died in his sleep in early May. He was 80 years old. Jeffries was among the most talented of the men who shaped car culture in the ’50s and ’60s, though his profile was somewhat lower than that of George Barris, Ed Roth or Ken “Von Dutch” Howard. He may not have been as well known, but he was versatile and skilled enough that his handiwork could be found everywhere, from Gasoline Alley at Indianapolis to Hollywood movie and TV sets.

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.

That’s right, one of the most iconic TV cars of all time came together in a little more than a week. In fact, Pontiac gave Jeffries two GTOs to build two Monkeemobiles, and both were finished in two weeks.

It helped that Pontiac provided Jeffries with convertible GTOs to work on, as their chassis were already reinforced and there were no metal tops to cut away.

Jeffries’ radical re-imagining of the GTO extended the car’s nose by nearly 2 ft. and the rear fenders by 18 in. The GTO’s stock oblong grille openings were retained, but they jutted out in a V angle much steeper than stock.

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.Jeffries kept the GTO’s 389-in. V8 but topped the engine with a massive GMC supercharger. The blown 389 reportedly made way too much power to be usable on the show, so he took the blower’s innards out and stuck a carburetor inside the case. (He kept the blower intact on the second car, though, and it was used for car shows, exhibitions and whenever the TV show’s directors had the need for Monkeemobile speed.)

The car’s front and middle seats were stock Pontiac buckets; a third seat was fashioned out of the trunk area and upholstered to match the buckets.

Though the top looks like it folds, it doesn’t and instead is framed by square steel tube. Jeffries positioned a drag chute out back, and it was deployed for the shot taken in front of his Cahuenga Boulevard shop.

Once “The Monkees” wrapped after two seasons on the air, Jeffries was offered the chance to buy back the Monkeemobiles for $1,000 each. He refused, believing at the time that he could build another one for less. Both cars are now in the hands of private collectors.

Dean Jeffries will be remembered for much more than just these two GTOs, of course. But none of his other cars—not even the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty—got the kind of exposure that these cars did at the height of Monkee-mania.

(For those interested in learning more about Dean Jeffries’ life and custom creations, Tom Cotter has written an excellent biography, Dean Jeffries: 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing & Film, published by Motorbooks.)

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:19

SEMA News—August 2013

Hey Hey

HERITAGE
By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archives

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.Dean Jeffries, custom car painter, striper and builder, died in his sleep in early May. He was 80 years old. Jeffries was among the most talented of the men who shaped car culture in the ’50s and ’60s, though his profile was somewhat lower than that of George Barris, Ed Roth or Ken “Von Dutch” Howard. He may not have been as well known, but he was versatile and skilled enough that his handiwork could be found everywhere, from Gasoline Alley at Indianapolis to Hollywood movie and TV sets.

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.

That’s right, one of the most iconic TV cars of all time came together in a little more than a week. In fact, Pontiac gave Jeffries two GTOs to build two Monkeemobiles, and both were finished in two weeks.

It helped that Pontiac provided Jeffries with convertible GTOs to work on, as their chassis were already reinforced and there were no metal tops to cut away.

Jeffries’ radical re-imagining of the GTO extended the car’s nose by nearly 2 ft. and the rear fenders by 18 in. The GTO’s stock oblong grille openings were retained, but they jutted out in a V angle much steeper than stock.

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.Jeffries kept the GTO’s 389-in. V8 but topped the engine with a massive GMC supercharger. The blown 389 reportedly made way too much power to be usable on the show, so he took the blower’s innards out and stuck a carburetor inside the case. (He kept the blower intact on the second car, though, and it was used for car shows, exhibitions and whenever the TV show’s directors had the need for Monkeemobile speed.)

The car’s front and middle seats were stock Pontiac buckets; a third seat was fashioned out of the trunk area and upholstered to match the buckets.

Though the top looks like it folds, it doesn’t and instead is framed by square steel tube. Jeffries positioned a drag chute out back, and it was deployed for the shot taken in front of his Cahuenga Boulevard shop.

Once “The Monkees” wrapped after two seasons on the air, Jeffries was offered the chance to buy back the Monkeemobiles for $1,000 each. He refused, believing at the time that he could build another one for less. Both cars are now in the hands of private collectors.

Dean Jeffries will be remembered for much more than just these two GTOs, of course. But none of his other cars—not even the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty—got the kind of exposure that these cars did at the height of Monkee-mania.

(For those interested in learning more about Dean Jeffries’ life and custom creations, Tom Cotter has written an excellent biography, Dean Jeffries: 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing & Film, published by Motorbooks.)

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 14:19

SEMA News—August 2013

Hey Hey

HERITAGE
By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archives

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.Dean Jeffries, custom car painter, striper and builder, died in his sleep in early May. He was 80 years old. Jeffries was among the most talented of the men who shaped car culture in the ’50s and ’60s, though his profile was somewhat lower than that of George Barris, Ed Roth or Ken “Von Dutch” Howard. He may not have been as well known, but he was versatile and skilled enough that his handiwork could be found everywhere, from Gasoline Alley at Indianapolis to Hollywood movie and TV sets.

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.

That’s right, one of the most iconic TV cars of all time came together in a little more than a week. In fact, Pontiac gave Jeffries two GTOs to build two Monkeemobiles, and both were finished in two weeks.

It helped that Pontiac provided Jeffries with convertible GTOs to work on, as their chassis were already reinforced and there were no metal tops to cut away.

Jeffries’ radical re-imagining of the GTO extended the car’s nose by nearly 2 ft. and the rear fenders by 18 in. The GTO’s stock oblong grille openings were retained, but they jutted out in a V angle much steeper than stock.

Arguably his best-known TV cars are the two GTO convertibles he modified for “The Monkees” TV show in 1966. We dug through the Petersen vault and came up with these shots, taken in June 1966 after a grueling 10-day build of the first GTO.Jeffries kept the GTO’s 389-in. V8 but topped the engine with a massive GMC supercharger. The blown 389 reportedly made way too much power to be usable on the show, so he took the blower’s innards out and stuck a carburetor inside the case. (He kept the blower intact on the second car, though, and it was used for car shows, exhibitions and whenever the TV show’s directors had the need for Monkeemobile speed.)

The car’s front and middle seats were stock Pontiac buckets; a third seat was fashioned out of the trunk area and upholstered to match the buckets.

Though the top looks like it folds, it doesn’t and instead is framed by square steel tube. Jeffries positioned a drag chute out back, and it was deployed for the shot taken in front of his Cahuenga Boulevard shop.

Once “The Monkees” wrapped after two seasons on the air, Jeffries was offered the chance to buy back the Monkeemobiles for $1,000 each. He refused, believing at the time that he could build another one for less. Both cars are now in the hands of private collectors.

Dean Jeffries will be remembered for much more than just these two GTOs, of course. But none of his other cars—not even the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty—got the kind of exposure that these cars did at the height of Monkee-mania.

(For those interested in learning more about Dean Jeffries’ life and custom creations, Tom Cotter has written an excellent biography, Dean Jeffries: 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing & Film, published by Motorbooks.)

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 13:37

By SEMA Editors

 foose
Chip Foose creates a rendering of the WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Ford F-150 at the SEMA Garage.
  

Chip Foose and WD-40 Co. are teaming up again, this time to design a custom off-road truck that will be the first vehicle built inside the new, state-of-the-art SEMA Garage.  

Foose Design and WD-40 Co.—through a partnership with the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts—will have leading SEMA manufacturers working alongside underprivileged teens and young adults to install parts and equipment on the Foose-inspired vehicle, dubbed the WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Ford F-150. All work for the build program will be done at the recently built SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California—a facility that allows SEMA-member companies to test and prototype parts, try its 3D modeling and printing and use its full-scale photo studio, among other things. The completed truck will eventually be put up for raffle, with all of the proceeds going to three SEMA Cares charities.

“I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work with organizations like WD-40 Co. and SEMA Cares, who continue to support the automotive trade,” said Foose, president and CEO of Foose Design. “This year, we’ll have even more hands on deck to help out with the build, and there’ll be plenty of WD-40 brand products used throughout that process.”

Instead of being auctioned like previous WD-40/SEMA Cares vehicles, the enhanced ’13 Ford F-150 Lariat will be raffled off to one lucky winner in the spring of 2014. With raffle tickets only costing $50 starting November 1, 2013, owning a Foose-inspired truck is now more accessible than ever to all automotive enthusiasts. Proceeds from the raffled vehicle will benefit three SEMA Cares charities: the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, Childhelp and Victory Junction.

“Off-roaders, truck enthusiasts and aftermarket companies have used our products for decades, for preventing mud from sticking to displacing moisture from engines,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing for WD-40 Co. “Now, we have the next generation of automotive professionals and enthusiasts getting excited about working on a vehicle that will support a great cause, and that’s something we’re proud to be a part of.”

This is the sixth vehicle WD-40 Co. and SEMA Cares have teamed up to build and the fourth vehicle Chip Foose has designed with them. To date, WD-40/SEMA Cares vehicles have raised more than $575,000 for SEMA Cares charities. 

Thu, 08/22/2013 - 13:37

By SEMA Editors

 foose
Chip Foose creates a rendering of the WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Ford F-150 at the SEMA Garage.
  

Chip Foose and WD-40 Co. are teaming up again, this time to design a custom off-road truck that will be the first vehicle built inside the new, state-of-the-art SEMA Garage.  

Foose Design and WD-40 Co.—through a partnership with the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts—will have leading SEMA manufacturers working alongside underprivileged teens and young adults to install parts and equipment on the Foose-inspired vehicle, dubbed the WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Ford F-150. All work for the build program will be done at the recently built SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California—a facility that allows SEMA-member companies to test and prototype parts, try its 3D modeling and printing and use its full-scale photo studio, among other things. The completed truck will eventually be put up for raffle, with all of the proceeds going to three SEMA Cares charities.

“I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work with organizations like WD-40 Co. and SEMA Cares, who continue to support the automotive trade,” said Foose, president and CEO of Foose Design. “This year, we’ll have even more hands on deck to help out with the build, and there’ll be plenty of WD-40 brand products used throughout that process.”

Instead of being auctioned like previous WD-40/SEMA Cares vehicles, the enhanced ’13 Ford F-150 Lariat will be raffled off to one lucky winner in the spring of 2014. With raffle tickets only costing $50 starting November 1, 2013, owning a Foose-inspired truck is now more accessible than ever to all automotive enthusiasts. Proceeds from the raffled vehicle will benefit three SEMA Cares charities: the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, Childhelp and Victory Junction.

“Off-roaders, truck enthusiasts and aftermarket companies have used our products for decades, for preventing mud from sticking to displacing moisture from engines,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing for WD-40 Co. “Now, we have the next generation of automotive professionals and enthusiasts getting excited about working on a vehicle that will support a great cause, and that’s something we’re proud to be a part of.”

This is the sixth vehicle WD-40 Co. and SEMA Cares have teamed up to build and the fourth vehicle Chip Foose has designed with them. To date, WD-40/SEMA Cares vehicles have raised more than $575,000 for SEMA Cares charities.