Source Interlink Names Scott Burgess as Detroit Editor for Motor Trend
Source Interlink Media has hired Scott Burgess as the new Detroit editor for Motor Trend magazine. Burgess will be Motor Trend’s Motor City expert, responsible for covering everything from vehicle launches to press briefings, as well as identifying and analyzing industry trends big and small. He will report directly to Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Edward Loh.

“We are extremely excited to have Scott Burgess join Team Motor Trend,” said Loh. “He brings deep connections throughout the industry, years of experience in print and online journalism, and an entertaining, yet informative writing style that will prove invaluable as he covers the automotive epicenter that is Detroit.”

Burgess has been a Detroit-based journalist for eight years, covering the auto industry for organizations, including The Detroit News, AOL Autos and Autoblog, where he worked as an editor, reporter and critic. Burgess has been featured as an automotive expert on television and radio and in international publications. 

	Classic Industries is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a display of the company's latest project, OPEN AIR—a supercharged ’56 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible—and the rest of its resto-mod collection at the 2013 Grand National Roadster Show.

Classic Industries Celebrates 35 Years With "Open Air" Project
Classic Industries is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a display of the company's latest project, OPEN AIR—a supercharged ’56 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible—along with the rest of its extensive resto-mod collection at the 2013 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California (January 25–27). OPEN AIR debuted at the 2012 SEMA Show and is featured on the upcoming season of SPEED TV’s Emmy-nominated "Chop Cut Rebuild." It is the sixth of a multi-vehicle project series that includes the ’69 CAMOTION Camaro, ’66 INNOVATION Nova, ’64 SWEET IMOTION Impala, ’53 Classic Industries SHOP TRUCK and ’72 TWISTED Plymouth Duster.

“This collection is our way of showing the limitless possibilities available to any enthusiast with one of our automotive restoration catalogs. Our team has worked very hard over the years to build these unique vehicles, and we are proud to be displaying them all together for the first time,” said Ray Yager, Classic Industries Merchandising Director. “We’re hoping everyone will come out to Pomona to join the celebration of our 35th anniversary at the 2013 Grand National Roadster Show.”

Performance Improvements Selects Steve Ager as Purchasing Manager
Performance Improvements announced that Steve Ager has joined the company as purchasing manager. According to the company, Ager has worked more than 20 years in all aspects of the performance industry. He has also served as a judge on the SEMA Show New Products Committee.

Performance Improvements President Bob McJannett is pleased to bring Ager on board. "Steve’s proven track record of success will help grow our company to the next level. In 2013, Performance Improvements is going to launch several new product categories as well as implement a new computer system. Steve’s expertise will prove to be invaluable!” 

	Holley's HP EFI engine control unit will come as standard equipment on the Chevrolet Performance’s COPO Camaro factory-built race cars in 2013.

Holley's EFI Chosen as Standard Equipment for 2013 COPO Camaro
Holley Performance Products' HP EFI engine control unit (ECU) will come as standard equipment on all of Chevrolet Performance’s COPO Camaro factory-built race cars in 2013, marking the third Holley-brand product to make it onto the COPO Camaro. Holley’s Hi-Ram intake Manifold was standard equipment on all ’12 naturally aspirated COPO Camaros, and Earl’s brand transmission coolers were on all ’12 COPO Camaros as well. All three products will be used on ’13 COPO Camaros.

COPO Powertrain Program Manager Robin Wright said, "The Holley LS 'Hi-Ram' intake Manifold is a significant performance element for the COPO Camaro. The addition of Holley's HP EFI Engine Management System for 2013 will increase user-friendliness, and COPO customers will truly enjoy features like lb./hr.-based fueling and self-tuning fuel table strategies plus internal data logging with 2GB of memory.”

Petersen Museum's Shelby Tribute Cruise-in This Weekend
The Carroll Shelby Tribute Cruise-in at the Petersen Automotive Museum, presented by Hillbank Motor Sports and Superformance, takes place this Saturday, January 12, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. There will be VIP Shelby vehicle parking (Cobras, Shelby Mustangs, Tigers, etc.) and preferred parking for show cars. A People’s Choice Award will be presented, and the Petersen Museum will extend discounted admission to all show participants. Breakfast and lunch will be available at Johnny Rockets, located in the museum lobby, and chili will be served in honor of Carroll Shelby.

“Few individuals in the auto industry have the iconic status of Carroll Shelby,” says Terry Karges, executive director of the Petersen. “This is the first birthday since his passing in May, and we knew that we had to host a tribute to celebrate the life of a man whose impact on our industry has been enormous.”

Parking is free for all Shelbys, Shelby replicas, hot rods, classics or other special-interest vehicles, and their drivers will receive two-for-one admission to the Petersen. For more information on the Carroll Shelby Tribute, call 949-900-1960.

SEMA Member News—January/February 2013

Changes: The Network for Professional Agents and Representatives

Pierre Pfeffer of Amp Research accepted the award for MRN’s STAR (Sales Team Annual Recognition) award, which honors a manufacturer that demonstrates best practices and a true partnership in working with professional reps.

Jon Wyly (upper left) of the SEMA Data Co-Op led one of several discussions during the Rep Technology Roundtable. Wyly spoke to the group about making the connection between product data management and sales growth.

Bernard Bolisig (back to camera) of Upshift Marketing also led one of the roundtable discussions. His topic was the use of e-Commerce to maintain sales relevance in the current economy.

The SEMA organization that serves manufacturers’ reps in the automotive aftermarket industry has changed from the Manufacturers’ Representatives Council to the Manufacturers’ Representatives Network (MRN). The new name reflects the group’s desire to better serve the needs of the membership by becoming an individual-based professional network, compared to its previous agency-based membership format.

“MRN is very excited about these changes and feels this will best serve, promote and elevate our industry,” said MRN Chairman Thomas Jourdan of True High Performance Sales.

A critical component to the decision was the ability to reach more industry professionals and, as a result, better address the challenges and opportunities confronting the rep industry.

MRN’s vision statement is as follows: MRN is a community of manufacturer agents that seeks to promote the benefits and relevance of the profession. We will do this by collaborating with all segments of the specialty-equipment market on the importance of our community; strengthening our community through engaging industry professionals; and being a catalyst for communicating solutions impacting the industry and its segments.

MRN Honors AMP Research and Mr. Phone, Herb Goldstein

The late Herb Goldstein, better known as Mr. Phone, was the 2012 inductee into the MRN Hall of Fame. Goldstein had a long and illustrious career as a high-performance manufacturers’ rep. He represented many major names in that sector on a national basis and is credited with not only bringing those manufacturers to market but also helping carry them into national prominence with his marketing skills.

Goldstein earned his nickname for the nearly constant long-distance phone calls he would make to every high-performance customer in the country. He was a powerful and creative salesman who came from a rep family. His father, Jack, had a long career on the West Coast.

In his time, Goldstein was perhaps the best-known performance rep in the entire country. In addition to his career as a manufacturers’ rep, he also invested in several manufacturing enterprises.

Rep Technology Roundtable Takes Center Stage

Traditionally known as the Rep Conference, the 2012 event also saw its share of change. The MRN leadership made the decision to modify the format for the conference back to an exclusive rep event. The format was less formal and focused on more intimate roundtable discussions that provided industry peers and competitors with the opportunity to discuss issues in an open forum. The opening session was led by Bryan Shirley, CPMR, who introduced the nearly 100 attendees to the thought leaders who would guide conversations. Experts and topics included:

• Improve your Brand: Effective and Practical Online Solutions; Luanne Brown, eTool Developers
• Product Data: Product Data Management and Sales Growth—Making the Connection; Jon Wyly, SEMA Data Co-op
• e-Commerce: Remaining Relevant in Today’s Economy; Bernard Bolisig, Upshift Marketing
• Apps: Business Apps that Boost Productivity; Tyler Tanaka of Cie Studios
• Market Research: Identifying Information to Help Your Business; Gavin Knapp, SEMA
• MRN: What is the Manufacturers’ Representative Network?; Joel Rosenthal, MRN IPC/Advisor
• Insurance: Addressing Risk and Building a Solution; Franco Ganino of Alliant Insurance Solutions
• Practical Advice for Complicated Issues in Your Rep Firm: Buy-Sell Valuations, Outside Sales Compensation, Contracts, Commissions; Stump Bryan

Special thanks to the event sponsors for their generous support.

• Premier Sponsor: Bob Cook Sales
• Supporting Sponsors: Considine Sales & Marketing and The Kayes Co.

SEMA News—January 2013

FROM THE HILL
By Dan Sadowski

“A Woman’s Place Is in the Garage”

Congresswoman Jackie Speier Supports SEMA Mustang Build During Visit to 2012 SEMA Show

From left) Sherry Kollinen, Ford Motor Co.; Rose Kawasaki, SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Chair-elect; Rep. Jackie Speier; and SBN Chair and SEMA Person of the Year Marla Moore at the Ford Mustang Build—Powered by Women exhibit during the 2012 SEMA Show. SBN sponsored the project in partnership with Ford Motor Co. and Source Interlink Media. The completed Mustang was auctioned off on eBay with all proceeds benefiting the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) took time from her busy election-year schedule to speak at the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) breakfast and tour the 2012 SEMA Show. Rep. Speier was elected to Congress in 2008 and represents most of San Mateo County, including a portion of San Francisco. She previously served in both the California State Assembly and Senate.

At the SEMA Show, Rep. Speier briefed PWA members on the “Marketplace Equity Act,” legislation that would require companies selling goods via the Internet and catalogs to collect sales tax in the same manner as brick-and-mortar retailers. Rep. Speier is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Under a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, states cannot currently force retailers to collect use taxes unless the company has a physical presence in the state or Congress authorizes collection. Given its diverse membership, SEMA has not taken a position on the proposed legislation to authorize collection.

Escorted by staff from SEMA’s government affairs office, Rep. Speier toured the SEMA Show floor and visited with exhibitors from her district, including GoPro (San Mateo) and Everlast Power Equipment (South San Francisco). These visits provided a snapshot of how SEMA members are impacting both the local and national economy.

Rep. Speier also met with SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Chairman Marla Moore, Chair-Elect Rose Kawasaki and Ford Motor Co. representative Sherry Kollien at the SEMA Mustang Build—Powered by Women display in the Ford booth. Under the direction of SBN and built entirely by SBN members in partnership with Ford Motor Co. and Source Interlink Media, the project was designed to shine a light on women working in the automotive specialty-equipment market.

	Rep. Jackie Speier met with students from the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) program at the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center.				Rep. Jackie Speier visits with constituent Jamie Oliver (left) at the GoPro booth in the Central Hall. GoPro is headquartered in Rep. Speier’s Congressional District.

“The SEMA Mustang Build is a great showcase for the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network and the women working in the automotive aftermarket,” Speier said. “This project demonstrates the growing potential and influence of women in the industry, and I applaud this effort to encourage women to pursue careers in the automotive field. The positive result of the Mustang Build is clear evidence that women are an important part of SEMA’s leadership.”

More than 40 SEMA-member companies donated products and services for the build, which includes custom paint, customized wheels, a custom leather interior, high-performance suspension and a new supercharger autographed by industry legend Vic Edelbrock.

Before departing, Rep. Speier toured the Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) and met with students from Clemson University’s ICAR program.

The VTC served as a venue to connect emerging-technology enthusiasts with the aftermarket’s advanced-technology offerings. It was also a forum to discuss a variety of issues, from high-performance synthetic oils to vehicle-to-vehicle sensors that warn drivers about impending collisions. The VTC included a display of a self-driving car equipped by Google Inc. with sophisticated 360-degree sensors.

SEMA is pleased to welcome members of Congress and other elected officials to the SEMA Show. For more information about inviting your elected representatives to the SEMA Show next year, please contact SEMA Director of Congressional Affairs Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

SEMA News—January 2013

FROM THE HILL
By Dan Sadowski

“A Woman’s Place Is in the Garage”

Congresswoman Jackie Speier Supports SEMA Mustang Build During Visit to 2012 SEMA Show

From left) Sherry Kollinen, Ford Motor Co.; Rose Kawasaki, SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Chair-elect; Rep. Jackie Speier; and SBN Chair and SEMA Person of the Year Marla Moore at the Ford Mustang Build—Powered by Women exhibit during the 2012 SEMA Show. SBN sponsored the project in partnership with Ford Motor Co. and Source Interlink Media. The completed Mustang was auctioned off on eBay with all proceeds benefiting the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) took time from her busy election-year schedule to speak at the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) breakfast and tour the 2012 SEMA Show. Rep. Speier was elected to Congress in 2008 and represents most of San Mateo County, including a portion of San Francisco. She previously served in both the California State Assembly and Senate.

At the SEMA Show, Rep. Speier briefed PWA members on the “Marketplace Equity Act,” legislation that would require companies selling goods via the Internet and catalogs to collect sales tax in the same manner as brick-and-mortar retailers. Rep. Speier is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Under a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, states cannot currently force retailers to collect use taxes unless the company has a physical presence in the state or Congress authorizes collection. Given its diverse membership, SEMA has not taken a position on the proposed legislation to authorize collection.

Escorted by staff from SEMA’s government affairs office, Rep. Speier toured the SEMA Show floor and visited with exhibitors from her district, including GoPro (San Mateo) and Everlast Power Equipment (South San Francisco). These visits provided a snapshot of how SEMA members are impacting both the local and national economy.

Rep. Speier also met with SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Chairman Marla Moore, Chair-Elect Rose Kawasaki and Ford Motor Co. representative Sherry Kollien at the SEMA Mustang Build—Powered by Women display in the Ford booth. Under the direction of SBN and built entirely by SBN members in partnership with Ford Motor Co. and Source Interlink Media, the project was designed to shine a light on women working in the automotive specialty-equipment market.

	Rep. Jackie Speier met with students from the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) program at the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center.				Rep. Jackie Speier visits with constituent Jamie Oliver (left) at the GoPro booth in the Central Hall. GoPro is headquartered in Rep. Speier’s Congressional District.

“The SEMA Mustang Build is a great showcase for the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network and the women working in the automotive aftermarket,” Speier said. “This project demonstrates the growing potential and influence of women in the industry, and I applaud this effort to encourage women to pursue careers in the automotive field. The positive result of the Mustang Build is clear evidence that women are an important part of SEMA’s leadership.”

More than 40 SEMA-member companies donated products and services for the build, which includes custom paint, customized wheels, a custom leather interior, high-performance suspension and a new supercharger autographed by industry legend Vic Edelbrock.

Before departing, Rep. Speier toured the Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) and met with students from Clemson University’s ICAR program.

The VTC served as a venue to connect emerging-technology enthusiasts with the aftermarket’s advanced-technology offerings. It was also a forum to discuss a variety of issues, from high-performance synthetic oils to vehicle-to-vehicle sensors that warn drivers about impending collisions. The VTC included a display of a self-driving car equipped by Google Inc. with sophisticated 360-degree sensors.

SEMA is pleased to welcome members of Congress and other elected officials to the SEMA Show. For more information about inviting your elected representatives to the SEMA Show next year, please contact SEMA Director of Congressional Affairs Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

SEMA News—January 2013

FROM THE HILL
By Dan Sadowski

“A Woman’s Place Is in the Garage”

Congresswoman Jackie Speier Supports SEMA Mustang Build During Visit to 2012 SEMA Show

From left) Sherry Kollinen, Ford Motor Co.; Rose Kawasaki, SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Chair-elect; Rep. Jackie Speier; and SBN Chair and SEMA Person of the Year Marla Moore at the Ford Mustang Build—Powered by Women exhibit during the 2012 SEMA Show. SBN sponsored the project in partnership with Ford Motor Co. and Source Interlink Media. The completed Mustang was auctioned off on eBay with all proceeds benefiting the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) took time from her busy election-year schedule to speak at the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) breakfast and tour the 2012 SEMA Show. Rep. Speier was elected to Congress in 2008 and represents most of San Mateo County, including a portion of San Francisco. She previously served in both the California State Assembly and Senate.

At the SEMA Show, Rep. Speier briefed PWA members on the “Marketplace Equity Act,” legislation that would require companies selling goods via the Internet and catalogs to collect sales tax in the same manner as brick-and-mortar retailers. Rep. Speier is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Under a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, states cannot currently force retailers to collect use taxes unless the company has a physical presence in the state or Congress authorizes collection. Given its diverse membership, SEMA has not taken a position on the proposed legislation to authorize collection.

Escorted by staff from SEMA’s government affairs office, Rep. Speier toured the SEMA Show floor and visited with exhibitors from her district, including GoPro (San Mateo) and Everlast Power Equipment (South San Francisco). These visits provided a snapshot of how SEMA members are impacting both the local and national economy.

Rep. Speier also met with SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Chairman Marla Moore, Chair-Elect Rose Kawasaki and Ford Motor Co. representative Sherry Kollien at the SEMA Mustang Build—Powered by Women display in the Ford booth. Under the direction of SBN and built entirely by SBN members in partnership with Ford Motor Co. and Source Interlink Media, the project was designed to shine a light on women working in the automotive specialty-equipment market.

	Rep. Jackie Speier met with students from the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) program at the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center.				Rep. Jackie Speier visits with constituent Jamie Oliver (left) at the GoPro booth in the Central Hall. GoPro is headquartered in Rep. Speier’s Congressional District.

“The SEMA Mustang Build is a great showcase for the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network and the women working in the automotive aftermarket,” Speier said. “This project demonstrates the growing potential and influence of women in the industry, and I applaud this effort to encourage women to pursue careers in the automotive field. The positive result of the Mustang Build is clear evidence that women are an important part of SEMA’s leadership.”

More than 40 SEMA-member companies donated products and services for the build, which includes custom paint, customized wheels, a custom leather interior, high-performance suspension and a new supercharger autographed by industry legend Vic Edelbrock.

Before departing, Rep. Speier toured the Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) and met with students from Clemson University’s ICAR program.

The VTC served as a venue to connect emerging-technology enthusiasts with the aftermarket’s advanced-technology offerings. It was also a forum to discuss a variety of issues, from high-performance synthetic oils to vehicle-to-vehicle sensors that warn drivers about impending collisions. The VTC included a display of a self-driving car equipped by Google Inc. with sophisticated 360-degree sensors.

SEMA is pleased to welcome members of Congress and other elected officials to the SEMA Show. For more information about inviting your elected representatives to the SEMA Show next year, please contact SEMA Director of Congressional Affairs Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

	The 2013 racing season will begin Saturday night, April 6, with a "Grand Re-Opening Night" of racing at Irwindale Speedway.

Irwindale Speedway Announces NASCAR Sanction Agreement for 2013 Racing Season
The 2013 racing season will begin Saturday night, April 6, with a "Grand Re-Opening Night" of racing at Irwindale Speedway featuring NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks and an evening-ending Demolition Derby.

Late last year, Speedway management announced an alliance with Kern County Raceway Park—the new half-mile oval racetrack that's just completing construction near Bakersfield. Both tracks are working together to coordinate schedules and competition rules to allow teams in a number of divisions to compete at both tracks during the upcoming season.

Irwindale Competition Director, Mike Atkinson, will soon announce divisional meetings at the track for car owners and drivers. Applications for 2013 NASCAR licenses for drivers and crewpersons are now available at the Speedway office during regular business hours. Call 626-358-1100.

Ross Martin finished second at the Amsoil Championship Snocross Pro Open Final.

Martin Finishes Second at AMSOIL Championship Snocross Pro Open Final
Ross Martin made his way to the podium in last Friday night's AMSOIL Championship Snocross Pro Open Final at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. Martin had a super start off the line, came off the first straight away in second and flew for 22 laps, ultimately finishing second.

NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Announces 2013 Season Schedule
NHRA officials announced the 2013 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series schedule, with several new tracks being added, including Mission Raceway in Mission, British Columbia, and Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah.

Entering its sixth season, the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series features Nostalgia Funny Cars and Dragsters and is quickly becoming a fan-favorite series among drag-racing enthusiasts across the United States.

The season-opening March Meet will be held March 7–10 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, followed by the Arizona Fuel & Gas Championships, which has been pushed back to April 13–14 at Speedworld Dragstrip in Northwest Phoenix.

The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has been added to the Top Fuel points-earning stops as well as the inaugural New England Hot Rod Reunion, giving racers in the class five events at which to accumulate points. They will count their best four of five events toward the year-end championship. The new stops at Mission Raceway and Rocky Mountain Raceways will both feature the Nostalgia Funny Car class, giving those racers six events at which to compete. They will count their best five of six events. Rocky Mountain Raceways will also host Group 1; that will be the season-ending event for those racers.

The 2013 schedule features 12 events and will end in the same spot it begins—at Auto Club Famoso Raceway—with the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, October 18–20.

Additionally, the series will make two stops at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, for the annual Ignitor Nitro Opener and Nightfire Nationals, visit Sacramento Raceway in July, and have an additional stop at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, where the Group 2 champions will be crowned.

Tulsa Raceway Park (Oklahoma) has been added to the schedule as the site of an affiliated event with its annual Nostalgia Nitro National Reunion, which is scheduled for September 13–14. Racers will not score points toward the series championship at this event.

The Amsoil Eagle River World Championship in Eagle River, Wisconsin, will be held January 17–20, from there to Aspen, Colorado, for the Winter X Games,
January 24–27, then back to the Amsoil National Snocross Tour in Deadwood, South Dakota, February 1–2.

	Jennifer Pare, of Bully Dog’s sponsored racing team Leighton Motorsports, took two back-to-back wins at the Amsoil Championship Snocross event held in Shakopee, Minnesota, January 4–5.

Pare Takes Back-to-Back Wins at AMSOIL Championship Snocross
Jennifer Pare, of Bully Dog’s sponsored racing team Leighton Motorsports, took two back-to-back wins at the Amsoil Championship Snocross event held in Shakopee, Minnesota, January 4–5. Andy Lieders took the win in the Pro Lite Final on Friday night. Lieders lost a commanding race-long lead when his sled swapped and he was forced off the track. Still, he finished second in Pro Lite.

In the Pro Open Class, rookie Colby Crapo landed in the top five in the qualifying round and competed in the main events on January 4–5.

Trevor Leighton wound up with a career-best finish as a Pro in eighth place. He also came in with the top three in the qualifying run.

	The 2013 racing season will begin Saturday night, April 6, with a "Grand Re-Opening Night" of racing at Irwindale Speedway.

Irwindale Speedway Announces NASCAR Sanction Agreement for 2013 Racing Season
The 2013 racing season will begin Saturday night, April 6, with a "Grand Re-Opening Night" of racing at Irwindale Speedway featuring NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks and an evening-ending Demolition Derby.

Late last year, Speedway management announced an alliance with Kern County Raceway Park—the new half-mile oval racetrack that's just completing construction near Bakersfield. Both tracks are working together to coordinate schedules and competition rules to allow teams in a number of divisions to compete at both tracks during the upcoming season.

Irwindale Competition Director, Mike Atkinson, will soon announce divisional meetings at the track for car owners and drivers. Applications for 2013 NASCAR licenses for drivers and crewpersons are now available at the Speedway office during regular business hours. Call 626-358-1100.

Ross Martin finished second at the Amsoil Championship Snocross Pro Open Final.

Martin Finishes Second at AMSOIL Championship Snocross Pro Open Final
Ross Martin made his way to the podium in last Friday night's AMSOIL Championship Snocross Pro Open Final at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. Martin had a super start off the line, came off the first straight away in second and flew for 22 laps, ultimately finishing second.

NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Announces 2013 Season Schedule
NHRA officials announced the 2013 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series schedule, with several new tracks being added, including Mission Raceway in Mission, British Columbia, and Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah.

Entering its sixth season, the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series features Nostalgia Funny Cars and Dragsters and is quickly becoming a fan-favorite series among drag-racing enthusiasts across the United States.

The season-opening March Meet will be held March 7–10 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, followed by the Arizona Fuel & Gas Championships, which has been pushed back to April 13–14 at Speedworld Dragstrip in Northwest Phoenix.

The Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has been added to the Top Fuel points-earning stops as well as the inaugural New England Hot Rod Reunion, giving racers in the class five events at which to accumulate points. They will count their best four of five events toward the year-end championship. The new stops at Mission Raceway and Rocky Mountain Raceways will both feature the Nostalgia Funny Car class, giving those racers six events at which to compete. They will count their best five of six events. Rocky Mountain Raceways will also host Group 1; that will be the season-ending event for those racers.

The 2013 schedule features 12 events and will end in the same spot it begins—at Auto Club Famoso Raceway—with the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, October 18–20.

Additionally, the series will make two stops at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, for the annual Ignitor Nitro Opener and Nightfire Nationals, visit Sacramento Raceway in July, and have an additional stop at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, where the Group 2 champions will be crowned.

Tulsa Raceway Park (Oklahoma) has been added to the schedule as the site of an affiliated event with its annual Nostalgia Nitro National Reunion, which is scheduled for September 13–14. Racers will not score points toward the series championship at this event.

The Amsoil Eagle River World Championship in Eagle River, Wisconsin, will be held January 17–20, from there to Aspen, Colorado, for the Winter X Games,
January 24–27, then back to the Amsoil National Snocross Tour in Deadwood, South Dakota, February 1–2.

	Jennifer Pare, of Bully Dog’s sponsored racing team Leighton Motorsports, took two back-to-back wins at the Amsoil Championship Snocross event held in Shakopee, Minnesota, January 4–5.

Pare Takes Back-to-Back Wins at AMSOIL Championship Snocross
Jennifer Pare, of Bully Dog’s sponsored racing team Leighton Motorsports, took two back-to-back wins at the Amsoil Championship Snocross event held in Shakopee, Minnesota, January 4–5. Andy Lieders took the win in the Pro Lite Final on Friday night. Lieders lost a commanding race-long lead when his sled swapped and he was forced off the track. Still, he finished second in Pro Lite.

In the Pro Open Class, rookie Colby Crapo landed in the top five in the qualifying round and competed in the main events on January 4–5.

Trevor Leighton wound up with a career-best finish as a Pro in eighth place. He also came in with the top three in the qualifying run.

SEMA News—January 2013

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archive

60 Years

It has been 60 years since the first Corvette rolled off its assembly line in Flint, Michigan. A month before that first Vette was built, a Belgian-born engineer named Zora Arkus-Duntov joined Chevrolet.

It would be hard to overstate the importance of Duntov’s influence over the Corvette. The two-seater was hurried into production back in 1953 after a show-car version drew rave reviews at GM’s Motorama event in New York. Though it was clad in an innovative fiberglass body, the Corvette was assembled beneath the skin using what was available in Chevy’s parts bin, including a fairly anemic 150hp Blue Flame six-cylinder engine and a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.

It is testament to Duntov’s innovative thinking—as well as his persistence—that the Corvette was a true sports car just four short years later, able to compete with the best Europe had to offer on the street and the track. Duntov’s efforts at raising the Corvette’s performance bar weren’t limited to production models, either. He was responsible for several Corvette prototypes and racing cars, including the gorgeous ’57 SS Corvette seen here.

What sometimes gets lost in the telling of Duntov’s legend is his key role in the development of the performance aftermarket. Just months after his hiring, he drafted a memo to his supervisor titled “Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders & Chevrolet.” In it, Duntov laid out what every teenaged car nut at the time knew: that Ford cars and parts to hop up Ford engines dominated the performance scene. The connection between young men and their hot rods established the kind of brand loyalty that kept them buying Fords as their age and means increased.

Duntov believed Chevrolet had an opportunity to get on hot rodders’ radar screens with its upcoming overhead-valve V8—especially if Chevy accompanied the introduction of the engine with “ready-engineered parts for high output,” he wrote. “This means the development of a range of special parts—camshafts, valves, springs, manifolds, pistons and such which will be made available to the public.” Should rodders be able to easily modify the new V8, Duntov reasoned, “the appeal of the new will take hold and not having the stigma of expensiveness like the Cadillac or Chrysler, a swing to Chevrolet may be anticipated.”

Duntov admitted that there was little connection between Chevrolet and high performance in 1953. “But possibly the existence of the Corvette provides the loophole,” he said in the memo. “If the special parts are carried as RPO [regular production order] items for the Corvette, they undoubtedly will be recognized by the hot rodders as the very parts they were looking for to hop up the Chevy.”

It took a while to convince the GM brass, but Duntov persisted, using the Corvette to roll out performance parts that would become state-of-the-art, high-demand pieces for rodders and racers of all kinds.

As the Corvette celebrates its 60th anniversary, it is still powered by a small-block Chevrolet V8 engine. The fifth-generation V8 displaces 6.2 liters and produces about 450 hp. Both it and the all-new, seventh-generation Corvette that surrounds it can trace their roots to that memo drafted back in December 1953.

SEMA News—January 2013

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archive

60 Years

It has been 60 years since the first Corvette rolled off its assembly line in Flint, Michigan. A month before that first Vette was built, a Belgian-born engineer named Zora Arkus-Duntov joined Chevrolet.

It would be hard to overstate the importance of Duntov’s influence over the Corvette. The two-seater was hurried into production back in 1953 after a show-car version drew rave reviews at GM’s Motorama event in New York. Though it was clad in an innovative fiberglass body, the Corvette was assembled beneath the skin using what was available in Chevy’s parts bin, including a fairly anemic 150hp Blue Flame six-cylinder engine and a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.

It is testament to Duntov’s innovative thinking—as well as his persistence—that the Corvette was a true sports car just four short years later, able to compete with the best Europe had to offer on the street and the track. Duntov’s efforts at raising the Corvette’s performance bar weren’t limited to production models, either. He was responsible for several Corvette prototypes and racing cars, including the gorgeous ’57 SS Corvette seen here.

What sometimes gets lost in the telling of Duntov’s legend is his key role in the development of the performance aftermarket. Just months after his hiring, he drafted a memo to his supervisor titled “Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders & Chevrolet.” In it, Duntov laid out what every teenaged car nut at the time knew: that Ford cars and parts to hop up Ford engines dominated the performance scene. The connection between young men and their hot rods established the kind of brand loyalty that kept them buying Fords as their age and means increased.

Duntov believed Chevrolet had an opportunity to get on hot rodders’ radar screens with its upcoming overhead-valve V8—especially if Chevy accompanied the introduction of the engine with “ready-engineered parts for high output,” he wrote. “This means the development of a range of special parts—camshafts, valves, springs, manifolds, pistons and such which will be made available to the public.” Should rodders be able to easily modify the new V8, Duntov reasoned, “the appeal of the new will take hold and not having the stigma of expensiveness like the Cadillac or Chrysler, a swing to Chevrolet may be anticipated.”

Duntov admitted that there was little connection between Chevrolet and high performance in 1953. “But possibly the existence of the Corvette provides the loophole,” he said in the memo. “If the special parts are carried as RPO [regular production order] items for the Corvette, they undoubtedly will be recognized by the hot rodders as the very parts they were looking for to hop up the Chevy.”

It took a while to convince the GM brass, but Duntov persisted, using the Corvette to roll out performance parts that would become state-of-the-art, high-demand pieces for rodders and racers of all kinds.

As the Corvette celebrates its 60th anniversary, it is still powered by a small-block Chevrolet V8 engine. The fifth-generation V8 displaces 6.2 liters and produces about 450 hp. Both it and the all-new, seventh-generation Corvette that surrounds it can trace their roots to that memo drafted back in December 1953.

SEMA News—January 2013

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archive

60 Years

It has been 60 years since the first Corvette rolled off its assembly line in Flint, Michigan. A month before that first Vette was built, a Belgian-born engineer named Zora Arkus-Duntov joined Chevrolet.

It would be hard to overstate the importance of Duntov’s influence over the Corvette. The two-seater was hurried into production back in 1953 after a show-car version drew rave reviews at GM’s Motorama event in New York. Though it was clad in an innovative fiberglass body, the Corvette was assembled beneath the skin using what was available in Chevy’s parts bin, including a fairly anemic 150hp Blue Flame six-cylinder engine and a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.

It is testament to Duntov’s innovative thinking—as well as his persistence—that the Corvette was a true sports car just four short years later, able to compete with the best Europe had to offer on the street and the track. Duntov’s efforts at raising the Corvette’s performance bar weren’t limited to production models, either. He was responsible for several Corvette prototypes and racing cars, including the gorgeous ’57 SS Corvette seen here.

What sometimes gets lost in the telling of Duntov’s legend is his key role in the development of the performance aftermarket. Just months after his hiring, he drafted a memo to his supervisor titled “Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders & Chevrolet.” In it, Duntov laid out what every teenaged car nut at the time knew: that Ford cars and parts to hop up Ford engines dominated the performance scene. The connection between young men and their hot rods established the kind of brand loyalty that kept them buying Fords as their age and means increased.

Duntov believed Chevrolet had an opportunity to get on hot rodders’ radar screens with its upcoming overhead-valve V8—especially if Chevy accompanied the introduction of the engine with “ready-engineered parts for high output,” he wrote. “This means the development of a range of special parts—camshafts, valves, springs, manifolds, pistons and such which will be made available to the public.” Should rodders be able to easily modify the new V8, Duntov reasoned, “the appeal of the new will take hold and not having the stigma of expensiveness like the Cadillac or Chrysler, a swing to Chevrolet may be anticipated.”

Duntov admitted that there was little connection between Chevrolet and high performance in 1953. “But possibly the existence of the Corvette provides the loophole,” he said in the memo. “If the special parts are carried as RPO [regular production order] items for the Corvette, they undoubtedly will be recognized by the hot rodders as the very parts they were looking for to hop up the Chevy.”

It took a while to convince the GM brass, but Duntov persisted, using the Corvette to roll out performance parts that would become state-of-the-art, high-demand pieces for rodders and racers of all kinds.

As the Corvette celebrates its 60th anniversary, it is still powered by a small-block Chevrolet V8 engine. The fifth-generation V8 displaces 6.2 liters and produces about 450 hp. Both it and the all-new, seventh-generation Corvette that surrounds it can trace their roots to that memo drafted back in December 1953.