B Rod or Custom's Pinewood Builders Challenge entry this year resembled a Salt Flats race car.

Some of the nation’s best custom-car and hot-rod builders recently took part in the third-annual Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Pinewood Builders Challenge. Fifteen well-known builders created one-of-a-kind miniature hot rods in the style of Pinewood derby cars. The cars were raced at the annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races in Pomona, California, with the car built by Derek White of Street Vizions winning the race. All of these cars will be on display at the annual SEMA Show and then placed on eBay for auction from October 30–November 8. All proceeds from the auction will go to support SEMA Cares and its two children’s charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction.

Larry Burchett, owner of B Rod or Custom was one hot-rod builder who participated in the Pinewood Builders Challenge. Meet Larry:

Describe the inspirations behind the design of your Pinewood car.

My son PJ and I feel very honored that B Rod or Custom Inc. was asked to be part of this worthy effort to raise money for two great charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction. It is not very often that I have the luxury to afford to donate to charity or be able to build and give away a car that is an extension of our artistic abilities. So when I was approached at last year's HRIA Awards banquet to build a Pinewood car, my son and I jumped at the opportunity to participate.

	Larry and PJ Burchett.

Describe some of the materials and resources you used to build your car.

I have been a fan of Salt Flats race cars for as long as I can remember, so when PJ and I started planning the Pinewood car, two criteria had to be met—it was going to be the fastest and the best-looking car. So with speed and style in mind, I naturally thought of the cool cars that are raced on the Salt Flats each year, thus the inspiration for the B Rod Flyer.

Why is it important for you to participate in the Pinewood Challenge?

My approach to all of the projects at B Rod is pre-planning and research. And the first thing that I always try to do is get Eric Brockmeyer to reindeer my ideas. We have worked together on several projects in the past and, amazingly, he has always captured my vision in his drawings. Once the look was decided on, the sculpting began. Naturally, part of the Pinewood kit was used, i.e., the wood, but since I am not a woodworker, I did my finish work using materials that I work with each day—body filler and plastic. Next, I asked a friend, who happens to be an engineering professor at the University of Tennessee and also races cars, to suggest the best size and design for maximum wheel performance and weight distribution. Bearings were a critical part of my wheel equation and, again, a friend who owns a bearing company stepped up. And finally, for the maximum visual excitement, the car was painted with Dupont Base/Clear, hand pinstriped and custom graphics were designed to acknowledge the contributors who graciously donated their times and materials.

SEMA News—August 2012

LEGISLATIVE AND TECHNICAL AFFAIRS

SEMA Members React to a Legacy of Legislative Successes

Some Legislative Proposals Follow Predictable Patterns

		The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, instituted in 1975, is today being used as a tool to push new motor vehicles to be progressively more efficient, eventually reaching an average of 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

Among the greatest challenges of any business is the effort and skill required to stay current or even ahead of what is popular. Predicting trends and following their progress are key elements to success not only in business, but also in politics. Just as businesses are subject to consumer sentiments and economic fluctuations, timely legislative initiatives and popular regulatory proposals can be shaped by any number of national variables and are often broadly applicable. The following are several important legislative trends affecting the automotive specialty-equipment industry that continue to feature prominently in state and federal government agendas.

Clean Vehicle Incentives

In this election year, the price of gasoline has once again emerged as a national issue, topping the list of many voters’ concerns. In the name of emissions reduction and national security, the federal government has introduced initiatives to increase the fuel efficiency of new vehicles sold in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, instituted in 1975, is today being used as a tool to push new motor vehicles to be progressively more efficient, eventually reaching an average of 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

Incentive programs to reduce emissions and consumer dependency on petroleum are not unique to the federal government, however. Legislation to reduce the sale of gas guzzlers and remove older “gross polluters” was introduced in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In New York, proposed legislation would create the Clean Vehicle Incentive Program, consisting of rebates and surcharges on the purchase of new motor vehicles based on their emissions.

Major auto manufacturers are not waiting for these proposals to become realities, however. As global oil production remains subject to unpredictable fluctuations, prices at the pump remain higher than ever. As the cost of operating a vehicle continues to require consumers to search for more fuel-efficient options, manufacturers respond to new market demands.

Large automakers are pouring resources into developing new technologies to increase efficiency while maintaining the performance and quality expected by American consumers. Most of these manufacturers are already pressing for production of vehicles that use traditional gasoline more efficiently while also introducing new and alternative fuel technologies. The push for increased fuel economy has already resulted in companies moving away from the traditional mantra of “no replacement for displacement” in favor of swap-ping V8s for turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines.

The trend of legislation and regulation pushing for increased fuel economy is one that will continue to shape the new-car market and production offerings of major manufacturers for the foreseeable future.

The Burden of Increased Government Regulation

Increased government regulation is a major point of contention in politics today. The accumulation of requirements that must be followed when providing goods or services to a consumer has become increasingly burdensome. Many states create excessive and often costly roadblocks that inhibit the timing and efficiency of a business.

In Maryland and New York, bills to further regulate and track the manufacture and use of tires by imposing additional identification numbers goes beyond the sufficient checks to insure quality and safety. In Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Georgia, legislatures considered bills that would require installers to inform consumers of the use of mechanical aftermarket parts in the repair of their vehicles.

The time and paperwork required by these proposed regulations burden the already complicated process of auto repair and place a negative stigma on many parts that are often designed to be safer and more affordable than original-manufacturer equipment.

Hobby Cars as Revenue Sources

It has been four years since the collapse of the global economy, and the fallout from the ensuing credit crunch is still reverberating across the country. As budget shortfalls become a perpetual concern, states and municipalities continue to search for ways to raise revenue.

As a result of the perceived luxury status of collector cars, registration exemptions and specialty-use provisions become easy targets. In Virginia and Washington, legislatures attempted this year to raise funds by modifying annual fees imposed on the registration of collector vehicles. Additionally, in Maryland, a bill was introduced to increase the age of vehicles that qualify for registration as historical motor vehicles, thus decreasing the number of vehicles eligible for a reduced rate.

As all levels of government across the nation continue to work to protect public services while operating on reduced budgets, the exemptions classic-car hobbyists and enthusiasts enjoy will continue to come under threat.

Read the complete story in the August issue of SEMA News. 

Some Legislative Proposals Follow Predictable Patterns

		The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, instituted in 1975, is today being used as a tool to push new motor vehicles to be progressively more efficient, eventually reaching an average of 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

Among the greatest challenges of any business is the effort and skill required to stay current or even ahead of what is popular. Predicting trends and following their progress are key elements to success not only in business, but also in politics. Just as businesses are subject to consumer sentiments and economic fluctuations, timely legislative initiatives and popular regulatory proposals can be shaped by any number of national variables and are often broadly applicable. The following are several important legislative trends affecting the automotive specialty-equipment industry that continue to feature prominently in state and federal government agendas.

Clean Vehicle Incentives

In this election year, the price of gasoline has once again emerged as a national issue, topping the list of many voters’ concerns. In the name of emissions reduction and national security, the federal government has introduced initiatives to increase the fuel efficiency of new vehicles sold in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, instituted in 1975, is today being used as a tool to push new motor vehicles to be progressively more efficient, eventually reaching an average of 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

Incentive programs to reduce emissions and consumer dependency on petroleum are not unique to the federal government, however. Legislation to reduce the sale of gas guzzlers and remove older “gross polluters” was introduced in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In New York, proposed legislation would create the Clean Vehicle Incentive Program, consisting of rebates and surcharges on the purchase of new motor vehicles based on their emissions.

Major auto manufacturers are not waiting for these proposals to become realities, however. As global oil production remains subject to unpredictable fluctuations, prices at the pump remain higher than ever. As the cost of operating a vehicle continues to require consumers to search for more fuel-efficient options, manufacturers respond to new market demands.

Large automakers are pouring resources into developing new technologies to increase efficiency while maintaining the performance and quality expected by American consumers. Most of these manufacturers are already pressing for production of vehicles that use traditional gasoline more efficiently while also introducing new and alternative fuel technologies. The push for increased fuel economy has already resulted in companies moving away from the traditional mantra of “no replacement for displacement” in favor of swap-ping V8s for turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines.

The trend of legislation and regulation pushing for increased fuel economy is one that will continue to shape the new-car market and production offerings of major manufacturers for the foreseeable future.

The Burden of Increased Government Regulation

Increased government regulation is a major point of contention in politics today. The accumulation of requirements that must be followed when providing goods or services to a consumer has become increasingly burdensome. Many states create excessive and often costly roadblocks that inhibit the timing and efficiency of a business.

In Maryland and New York, bills to further regulate and track the manufacture and use of tires by imposing additional identification numbers goes beyond the sufficient checks to insure quality and safety. In Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Georgia, legislatures considered bills that would require installers to inform consumers of the use of mechanical aftermarket parts in the repair of their vehicles.

The time and paperwork required by these proposed regulations burden the already complicated process of auto repair and place a negative stigma on many parts that are often designed to be safer and more affordable than original-manufacturer equipment.

Hobby Cars as Revenue Sources

It has been four years since the collapse of the global economy, and the fallout from the ensuing credit crunch is still reverberating across the country. As budget shortfalls become a perpetual concern, states and municipalities continue to search for ways to raise revenue.

As a result of the perceived luxury status of collector cars, registration exemptions and specialty-use provisions become easy targets. In Virginia and Washington, legislatures attempted this year to raise funds by modifying annual fees imposed on the registration of collector vehicles. Additionally, in Maryland, a bill was introduced to increase the age of vehicles that qualify for registration as historical motor vehicles, thus decreasing the number of vehicles eligible for a reduced rate.

As all levels of government across the nation continue to work to protect public services while operating on reduced budgets, the exemptions classic-car hobbyists and enthusiasts enjoy will continue to come under threat.

Read the complete story in the August issue of SEMA News. 

Some Legislative Proposals Follow Predictable Patterns

		The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, instituted in 1975, is today being used as a tool to push new motor vehicles to be progressively more efficient, eventually reaching an average of 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

Among the greatest challenges of any business is the effort and skill required to stay current or even ahead of what is popular. Predicting trends and following their progress are key elements to success not only in business, but also in politics. Just as businesses are subject to consumer sentiments and economic fluctuations, timely legislative initiatives and popular regulatory proposals can be shaped by any number of national variables and are often broadly applicable. The following are several important legislative trends affecting the automotive specialty-equipment industry that continue to feature prominently in state and federal government agendas.

Clean Vehicle Incentives

In this election year, the price of gasoline has once again emerged as a national issue, topping the list of many voters’ concerns. In the name of emissions reduction and national security, the federal government has introduced initiatives to increase the fuel efficiency of new vehicles sold in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, instituted in 1975, is today being used as a tool to push new motor vehicles to be progressively more efficient, eventually reaching an average of 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

Incentive programs to reduce emissions and consumer dependency on petroleum are not unique to the federal government, however. Legislation to reduce the sale of gas guzzlers and remove older “gross polluters” was introduced in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In New York, proposed legislation would create the Clean Vehicle Incentive Program, consisting of rebates and surcharges on the purchase of new motor vehicles based on their emissions.

Major auto manufacturers are not waiting for these proposals to become realities, however. As global oil production remains subject to unpredictable fluctuations, prices at the pump remain higher than ever. As the cost of operating a vehicle continues to require consumers to search for more fuel-efficient options, manufacturers respond to new market demands.

Large automakers are pouring resources into developing new technologies to increase efficiency while maintaining the performance and quality expected by American consumers. Most of these manufacturers are already pressing for production of vehicles that use traditional gasoline more efficiently while also introducing new and alternative fuel technologies. The push for increased fuel economy has already resulted in companies moving away from the traditional mantra of “no replacement for displacement” in favor of swap-ping V8s for turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines.

The trend of legislation and regulation pushing for increased fuel economy is one that will continue to shape the new-car market and production offerings of major manufacturers for the foreseeable future.

The Burden of Increased Government Regulation

Increased government regulation is a major point of contention in politics today. The accumulation of requirements that must be followed when providing goods or services to a consumer has become increasingly burdensome. Many states create excessive and often costly roadblocks that inhibit the timing and efficiency of a business.

In Maryland and New York, bills to further regulate and track the manufacture and use of tires by imposing additional identification numbers goes beyond the sufficient checks to insure quality and safety. In Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Georgia, legislatures considered bills that would require installers to inform consumers of the use of mechanical aftermarket parts in the repair of their vehicles.

The time and paperwork required by these proposed regulations burden the already complicated process of auto repair and place a negative stigma on many parts that are often designed to be safer and more affordable than original-manufacturer equipment.

Hobby Cars as Revenue Sources

It has been four years since the collapse of the global economy, and the fallout from the ensuing credit crunch is still reverberating across the country. As budget shortfalls become a perpetual concern, states and municipalities continue to search for ways to raise revenue.

As a result of the perceived luxury status of collector cars, registration exemptions and specialty-use provisions become easy targets. In Virginia and Washington, legislatures attempted this year to raise funds by modifying annual fees imposed on the registration of collector vehicles. Additionally, in Maryland, a bill was introduced to increase the age of vehicles that qualify for registration as historical motor vehicles, thus decreasing the number of vehicles eligible for a reduced rate.

As all levels of government across the nation continue to work to protect public services while operating on reduced budgets, the exemptions classic-car hobbyists and enthusiasts enjoy will continue to come under threat.

Read the complete story in the August issue of SEMA News. 

	The newly launched the "SEMA Show 2012" app, developed by the Show's registration company CompuSystems, also includes a feature that lets users access, track and print out appointments through their CompuSystems registration dashboard.

In past years, buyers and other SEMA Show attendees found their way to booths and exhibits through the SEMA Show's printed Pocket Guide. Now there's also an innovative new way to navigate the Show floor by using the free "SEMA Show 2012" mobile application for iPhones and Android smartphones. A great portable resource for locating exhibitors and education sessions, the app even allows users to search for exhibiting companies by product category and then communicate with them to set appointments.

Because the app was developed by CompuSystems, the Show's registration company, the "SEMA Show 2012" app also includes a special feature that lets users access, track and print appointments through their CompuSystems registration dashboard.

Below is a quick breakdown of the features and tools provided by the SEMA Show app that will enhance attendees' Show planning, helping them expand their opportunities to conduct business and connect with existing and potential customers on the Show floor. Attendees can: 

• View the floorplan
• Search for exhibitors alphabetically, by section or product category
• Create a preferred list of exhibitors 
• Create a personalized schedule
• View and add education sessions
• Receive pertinent Show messages    

To download the app, visit your appropriate smartphone marketplace or use the buttons below. 

For additional information on the SEMA Show, including attendee registration, special event schedule and tools to promote exhibitors' booths, visit www.SEMAShow.com.  

Based on the ’09 Converj Concept, Cadillac is readying the production version for a 2014 model-year launch, according to the shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. The team recently snapped these shots of the ELR out testing alongside the Chevrolet Volt (not shown).

Based on the Chevrolet Volt platform, Priddy's team says that the ELR will have a tweaked version of the Voltec powertrain and will be highly upgraded (compared to the Volt) Cadillac-style.

The new Cadillac plug-in hybrid will be built together with the Volt at the Hamtramck facility, but is expected to have more horsepower and a longer range (and possibly quicker charging) than its Chevrolet sibling. In addition, Priddy expects the price to start about $10,000 higher than the Volt.

Photo credit: Brenda Priddy & Co.

Based on the ’09 Converj Concept, Cadillac is readying the production version for a 2014 model-year launch, according to the shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. The team recently snapped these shots of the ELR out testing alongside the Chevrolet Volt (not shown).

Based on the Chevrolet Volt platform, Priddy's team says that the ELR will have a tweaked version of the Voltec powertrain and will be highly upgraded (compared to the Volt) Cadillac-style.

The new Cadillac plug-in hybrid will be built together with the Volt at the Hamtramck facility, but is expected to have more horsepower and a longer range (and possibly quicker charging) than its Chevrolet sibling. In addition, Priddy expects the price to start about $10,000 higher than the Volt.

Photo credit: Brenda Priddy & Co.

Emmy-nominated comedian Christopher Titus will headline the 2012 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet.

SEMA Showgoers will be able to see a live performance by Christopher Titus—the Emmy-nominated comedian who also performed live during this summer’s SEMA Installation Banquet in Pomona, California.

As the featured entertainer of the 2012 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Showgoers will be able to enjoy a rare performance by Titus, accompanied by a sit-down dinner and the presentation of several industry awards, Thursday, November 1, 2012. Titus currently has three one-hour comedy specials running on Comedy Central. After years of experimentation with dark and personal storytelling, he debuted his one-man show, “Norman Rockwell is Bleeding,” at the Hudson Theater in Los Angeles. It was from this performance that the dark comedy, “Titus,” was born on Fox. The show earned Titus a Writer’s Guild nomination as well as an Emmy nomination, and Newsday called him “TV’s most original voice since Seinfeld.”

The SEMA Industry Awards Banquet is open to all SEMA Showgoers. The evening starts with a cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m., followed by the gala dinner and awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $50.

Emmy-nominated comedian Christopher Titus will headline the 2012 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet.

SEMA Showgoers will be able to see a live performance by Christopher Titus—the Emmy-nominated comedian who also performed live during this summer’s SEMA Installation Banquet in Pomona, California.

As the featured entertainer of the 2012 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Showgoers will be able to enjoy a rare performance by Titus, accompanied by a sit-down dinner and the presentation of several industry awards, Thursday, November 1, 2012. Titus currently has three one-hour comedy specials running on Comedy Central. After years of experimentation with dark and personal storytelling, he debuted his one-man show, “Norman Rockwell is Bleeding,” at the Hudson Theater in Los Angeles. It was from this performance that the dark comedy, “Titus,” was born on Fox. The show earned Titus a Writer’s Guild nomination as well as an Emmy nomination, and Newsday called him “TV’s most original voice since Seinfeld.”

The SEMA Industry Awards Banquet is open to all SEMA Showgoers. The evening starts with a cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m., followed by the gala dinner and awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $50.