Mark Your Calendars
Thu, 11/15/2012 - 10:14
Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities. Click on an item for more details.

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

GM Names Design Award Winners at 2012 SEMA Show
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 16:59

General Motors presented its Chevrolet Design Awards in 13 categories at the 2012 SEMA Show. The awards honor manufacturers and customizers for their innovation, creativity and contributions to the specialty-equipment industry.

  foose
Foose Design won the Design Award for Best GM Vehicle of the Show for the ’48 Blue Cadillac "Eldo Rod."
   

2012 Chevrolet Design Award Winners

Award Category
Builder Vehicle/Component
Best GM Vehicle of the Show Foose Design, Chip Foose 1948 Blue Cadillac "Eldo Rod"
Best Chevrolet Corvette
 Rad Ride Design, Troy Trepanier 1958 Black Corvette
Best Chevrolet Sports Car 
Tjin Edition, Neil Tjin 2013 Brown Camaro 1 LE
Best New Chevrolet Mini Car (Spark) DSO Eyewear, Chris Magnum
 2013 Pearl White Spark
Best Chevrolet Small Car (Sonic) 
Fear One Customs, Roger Tessman
2013 Grey/Teal Sonic
Best New Chevrolet Compact Car (Cruze) 
DSO Eyewear, Chris Magnum
2013 Black Cruze
Best New Chevrolet Exterior 
Rockstar Garage, Nic Ashby
 2013 Yellow/Black Camaro Convertible
Best New Chevrolet Interior 
Rick Bottom Designs, Rick Bottom
2013 Yellow Pearl Camaro Convertible
Best New GM Resto-Mod Vehicle Mac Bernd
1969 Orange Camaro
Best New Chevrolet Product Vortech Superchargers, Randolph Riley
2013 Camaro 1LE V8 Supercharger System
Best New Chevrolet Accessory 3d Carbon, Ernie Bunnell, Billy Longfellow 2013 Spark Body Kit
Best New High-Performance Chevrolet Product 
Peddars Suspensions, Peter Basica
2013 Spark Suspension
Most Innovative Chevrolet Product 
Enemy to Fashion, Caleb Clark
2013 Spark
Tanner Foust Wins Global Rallycross Championship
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 16:00
  automobile trade show, auto show, automobile events, sema show
Tanner Foust defended his Global Rallycross Championship title with season-finale win on the purpose-built rallycross course constructed at the 2012 SEMA Show.
   
Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust successfully defended his Global Rallycross Championship title with a season-finale win last Tuesday at the 2012 SEMA Show.

"This was a whole team effort," said Foust. "The Global Rallycross Championship was very competitive, and it is a credit to the strength of the Ford Fiesta that we were able to bring home this championship and the manufacturer's title again in 2012."

Racing took place under the lights on a rallycross course constructed at the Las Vegas Convention Center in downtown Las Vegas. The course featured a 30%–70% mix of dirt and tarmac more similar to the traditional tracks Foust has faced in two European Rallycross Championship seasons. For this round, the traditional 70-ft.-gap jump was constructed from dirt.

"It was awesome to have this race at the SEMA Show," said Foust. "We finally got to show the core group of professionals in the automotive industry what the rallycross hype is all about."

The title fight came down to a tight contest between Foust and his teammate Brian Deegan. The two have traded split-seconds in competition before. In 2010, Foust won the two gold medals for rally car racing competition at X Games, while Deegan earned a pair of silvers. They swapped positions in 2011.

Foust's overseas competition experience played to his benefit in Las Vegas. He has run full rallycross campaigns in both Europe and the United States for the past two years. He had a pair of wins and took third place overall in the European Rallycross Championship this season—despite having to miss three rounds due to scheduling conflicts.

In Las Vegas on Tuesday, Foust won both of his heat races to bypass the Last Chance Qualifier and advance directly to the Final. After an exciting battle with fellow Ford driver Ken Block, Foust took the lead with one lap to go. But his championship bid was momentarily denied when Block's Fiesta caught fire, prompting a red flag and race restart. In the re-run of the Final, a determined Foust led from start to finish, fending off a capable challenge from teammate Deegan.

"I could hear the crashing behind me as I led through the first corner and I knew there was a battle going on," said Foust. "But I never saw another car out there."

It was the second 2012 win for Foust in the six-round championship. He stood on the top step of the podium a month ago in Las Vegas. He was the only repeat winner in the field on Tuesday. Foust also scored the Discount Tire America's Tire Cup. A trophy and prize purse of $25,000 were awarded to the driver who earned the top points tally in three select events in the six-round series: Texas, New Hampshire and Las Vegas.
Tanner Foust Wins Global Rallycross Championship
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 16:00
  automobile trade show, auto show, automobile events, sema show
Tanner Foust defended his Global Rallycross Championship title with season-finale win on the purpose-built rallycross course constructed at the 2012 SEMA Show.
   
Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust successfully defended his Global Rallycross Championship title with a season-finale win last Tuesday at the 2012 SEMA Show.

"This was a whole team effort," said Foust. "The Global Rallycross Championship was very competitive, and it is a credit to the strength of the Ford Fiesta that we were able to bring home this championship and the manufacturer's title again in 2012."

Racing took place under the lights on a rallycross course constructed at the Las Vegas Convention Center in downtown Las Vegas. The course featured a 30%–70% mix of dirt and tarmac more similar to the traditional tracks Foust has faced in two European Rallycross Championship seasons. For this round, the traditional 70-ft.-gap jump was constructed from dirt.

"It was awesome to have this race at the SEMA Show," said Foust. "We finally got to show the core group of professionals in the automotive industry what the rallycross hype is all about."

The title fight came down to a tight contest between Foust and his teammate Brian Deegan. The two have traded split-seconds in competition before. In 2010, Foust won the two gold medals for rally car racing competition at X Games, while Deegan earned a pair of silvers. They swapped positions in 2011.

Foust's overseas competition experience played to his benefit in Las Vegas. He has run full rallycross campaigns in both Europe and the United States for the past two years. He had a pair of wins and took third place overall in the European Rallycross Championship this season—despite having to miss three rounds due to scheduling conflicts.

In Las Vegas on Tuesday, Foust won both of his heat races to bypass the Last Chance Qualifier and advance directly to the Final. After an exciting battle with fellow Ford driver Ken Block, Foust took the lead with one lap to go. But his championship bid was momentarily denied when Block's Fiesta caught fire, prompting a red flag and race restart. In the re-run of the Final, a determined Foust led from start to finish, fending off a capable challenge from teammate Deegan.

"I could hear the crashing behind me as I led through the first corner and I knew there was a battle going on," said Foust. "But I never saw another car out there."

It was the second 2012 win for Foust in the six-round championship. He stood on the top step of the podium a month ago in Las Vegas. He was the only repeat winner in the field on Tuesday. Foust also scored the Discount Tire America's Tire Cup. A trophy and prize purse of $25,000 were awarded to the driver who earned the top points tally in three select events in the six-round series: Texas, New Hampshire and Las Vegas.
Have You Registered Your Trademark? Here Is a Low-Cost Option
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 15:59

Protecting the intellectual property rights of members is a top SEMA priority. The process begins when companies establish certain legal rights by obtaining patents, and by registering their trademarks and copyrights with government agencies in the United States and other countries.

With respect to trademarks, SEMA urges companies to register their most valuable marks at the federal level with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Federal registrations provide nationwide coverage and are legally admissible evidence showing that the owner has the exclusive and, eventually, incontestable right to use the trademark. 

Nevertheless, there are instances when it may be useful to register your less valuable marks at the state level. Some primary reasons are that the typical fee is minimal, the time to register is usually quick, the examination process may not be as stringent as that at the federal level and a company employee can file the modest paperwork with state officials. While the protection and evidentiary value of state registrations are generally limited to one particular state, a state registration may nonetheless provide a good defense to third parties adopting confusingly similar trademarks, and it may discourage potential infringers since state registrations typically appear in trademark search reports.

Whether you are test-launching a new product or seeking to secure a minimum level of protection in advance of securing a federal registration, registering the mark in one or several states may be a useful tool. View the list of trademark offices for all 50 states.

A basic guide to protecting your patents, trademarks and copyrights is available at www.sema.org/ipr.

Questions may be directed to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Have You Registered Your Trademark? Here Is a Low-Cost Option
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 15:59

Protecting the intellectual property rights of members is a top SEMA priority. The process begins when companies establish certain legal rights by obtaining patents, and by registering their trademarks and copyrights with government agencies in the United States and other countries.

With respect to trademarks, SEMA urges companies to register their most valuable marks at the federal level with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Federal registrations provide nationwide coverage and are legally admissible evidence showing that the owner has the exclusive and, eventually, incontestable right to use the trademark. 

Nevertheless, there are instances when it may be useful to register your less valuable marks at the state level. Some primary reasons are that the typical fee is minimal, the time to register is usually quick, the examination process may not be as stringent as that at the federal level and a company employee can file the modest paperwork with state officials. While the protection and evidentiary value of state registrations are generally limited to one particular state, a state registration may nonetheless provide a good defense to third parties adopting confusingly similar trademarks, and it may discourage potential infringers since state registrations typically appear in trademark search reports.

Whether you are test-launching a new product or seeking to secure a minimum level of protection in advance of securing a federal registration, registering the mark in one or several states may be a useful tool. View the list of trademark offices for all 50 states.

A basic guide to protecting your patents, trademarks and copyrights is available at www.sema.org/ipr.

Questions may be directed to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Job-Hunting? Top Automotive Jobs Here
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 15:57

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

  • AAM Competition LLC, located in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is hiring a sales and marketing manager responsible for the entire AAM Competition product line sales program. The successful candidate will have performance products sales experience, five year's general sales experience and knowledge of the automotive aftermarket industry.
  • American Eagle Wheel Corp., located in Indianapolis, is hiring sales personnel with exceptional communication skills, strong sales experience, excellent organizational skills and ability to meet and exceed quotas. Wheel and tire experience is a must.
  • Diamond Eye Performance, located in Athena, Oregon, is hiring a sales support/engineering assistant. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills and the ability to work with customers to solve technical support problems over the phone. Good mechanical knowledge and the ability to work with automotive exhaust systems are required.
  • Meezer Group, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is hiring a Mustang mechanic. Responsibilities include repairs, parts installations, maintenance, diagnostics, supervising other mechanics and traveling to race meetings. This job will be offered at first for a six-month term.

More automotive job listings.

Job-Hunting? Top Automotive Jobs Here
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 15:57

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

  • AAM Competition LLC, located in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is hiring a sales and marketing manager responsible for the entire AAM Competition product line sales program. The successful candidate will have performance products sales experience, five year's general sales experience and knowledge of the automotive aftermarket industry.
  • American Eagle Wheel Corp., located in Indianapolis, is hiring sales personnel with exceptional communication skills, strong sales experience, excellent organizational skills and ability to meet and exceed quotas. Wheel and tire experience is a must.
  • Diamond Eye Performance, located in Athena, Oregon, is hiring a sales support/engineering assistant. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills and the ability to work with customers to solve technical support problems over the phone. Good mechanical knowledge and the ability to work with automotive exhaust systems are required.
  • Meezer Group, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is hiring a Mustang mechanic. Responsibilities include repairs, parts installations, maintenance, diagnostics, supervising other mechanics and traveling to race meetings. This job will be offered at first for a six-month term.

More automotive job listings.

Job-Hunting? Top Automotive Jobs Here
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 15:57

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

  • AAM Competition LLC, located in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is hiring a sales and marketing manager responsible for the entire AAM Competition product line sales program. The successful candidate will have performance products sales experience, five year's general sales experience and knowledge of the automotive aftermarket industry.
  • American Eagle Wheel Corp., located in Indianapolis, is hiring sales personnel with exceptional communication skills, strong sales experience, excellent organizational skills and ability to meet and exceed quotas. Wheel and tire experience is a must.
  • Diamond Eye Performance, located in Athena, Oregon, is hiring a sales support/engineering assistant. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills and the ability to work with customers to solve technical support problems over the phone. Good mechanical knowledge and the ability to work with automotive exhaust systems are required.
  • Meezer Group, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is hiring a Mustang mechanic. Responsibilities include repairs, parts installations, maintenance, diagnostics, supervising other mechanics and traveling to race meetings. This job will be offered at first for a six-month term.

More automotive job listings.

Job-Hunting? Top Automotive Jobs Here
Thu, 11/08/2012 - 15:57

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

  • AAM Competition LLC, located in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is hiring a sales and marketing manager responsible for the entire AAM Competition product line sales program. The successful candidate will have performance products sales experience, five year's general sales experience and knowledge of the automotive aftermarket industry.
  • American Eagle Wheel Corp., located in Indianapolis, is hiring sales personnel with exceptional communication skills, strong sales experience, excellent organizational skills and ability to meet and exceed quotas. Wheel and tire experience is a must.
  • Diamond Eye Performance, located in Athena, Oregon, is hiring a sales support/engineering assistant. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills and the ability to work with customers to solve technical support problems over the phone. Good mechanical knowledge and the ability to work with automotive exhaust systems are required.
  • Meezer Group, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is hiring a Mustang mechanic. Responsibilities include repairs, parts installations, maintenance, diagnostics, supervising other mechanics and traveling to race meetings. This job will be offered at first for a six-month term.

More automotive job listings.