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.

	Clint Bowyer and his team are building a "Tekked-Out Prius" in hopes of winning the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge.

Clint Bowyer, who last Saturday night secured his fourth berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a dramatic win in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, finds himself in another chase—to win the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge.

Bowyer—one of four spectacular drivers vying for victory in the vehicle-modification build competition—is pinning his hopes on what he calls his “Tekked-Out Prius.” He and his team are turning the hybrid into a model of ahead-of-the-curve ultra-high-tech interactivity.

Fans will determine by online voting which of the four modified Toyota vehicles will win the challenge—along with $50,000 to the winning driver’s charity of choice.

“When you think of a hot rod, you don’t think of a Prius,” said Bowyer. “But pressure’s always good. If you buckle under pressure, you’re not going to be in our world very long.”  

Bowyer—whose Prius is being modified under his direction by RKM Performance Center in Mooresville, North Carolina—believes that taking the high technology for which the Prius is already famous to extremes will pave the way to victory.

“A young, sophisticated global thinker meets a connected, socially conscious traveler—that’s the theme of the Tekked-Out Prius,” Bowyer said.

Among the modifications the team plans: a camera system to replace the factory side-view mirrors, with multiple 5-in. interior monitors providing visibility; a Carputer Windows-based on-board computer to operate voice and video control functions; and a custom front and rear console incorporating fiber optics.

Bowyer and his Prius will face efforts from fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, who is creating a “Rowdy”-edition Camry; NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria and her reworked Tundra Prerunner; and NHRA Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown, who is modifying a Sequoia for maximum speed.

Each is competing for the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge title and a $50,000 check from Toyota to the driver’s chosen charity. A win by Bowyer will benefit the Emporia Community Foundation, which provides services and support to improve the quality of life in Bowyer’s home town, Emporia, Kansas, and its surrounding counties.

A 28-episode online reality series has been developed around the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge. Fans can see what Bowyer’s team plans for the Tekked-Out Prius in Episode 3. New episodes are uploaded regularly at www.ToyotaRacingDreamBuild.com.

Voting will open October 20, and will continue through October 29. Fans will be able to vote once per day on Facebook, where they can also enter to win prizes, including a Toyota Racing “Dream Trip,” which will be given away to one lucky fan.

The final vehicle builds will be unveiled during a press conference at the Toyota display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, October 30. Fans will be able to tune in live to watch the entire press conference and see the winner announced in real time.

	Clint Bowyer and his team are building a "Tekked-Out Prius" in hopes of winning the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge.

Clint Bowyer, who last Saturday night secured his fourth berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a dramatic win in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, finds himself in another chase—to win the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge.

Bowyer—one of four spectacular drivers vying for victory in the vehicle-modification build competition—is pinning his hopes on what he calls his “Tekked-Out Prius.” He and his team are turning the hybrid into a model of ahead-of-the-curve ultra-high-tech interactivity.

Fans will determine by online voting which of the four modified Toyota vehicles will win the challenge—along with $50,000 to the winning driver’s charity of choice.

“When you think of a hot rod, you don’t think of a Prius,” said Bowyer. “But pressure’s always good. If you buckle under pressure, you’re not going to be in our world very long.”  

Bowyer—whose Prius is being modified under his direction by RKM Performance Center in Mooresville, North Carolina—believes that taking the high technology for which the Prius is already famous to extremes will pave the way to victory.

“A young, sophisticated global thinker meets a connected, socially conscious traveler—that’s the theme of the Tekked-Out Prius,” Bowyer said.

Among the modifications the team plans: a camera system to replace the factory side-view mirrors, with multiple 5-in. interior monitors providing visibility; a Carputer Windows-based on-board computer to operate voice and video control functions; and a custom front and rear console incorporating fiber optics.

Bowyer and his Prius will face efforts from fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, who is creating a “Rowdy”-edition Camry; NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria and her reworked Tundra Prerunner; and NHRA Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown, who is modifying a Sequoia for maximum speed.

Each is competing for the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge title and a $50,000 check from Toyota to the driver’s chosen charity. A win by Bowyer will benefit the Emporia Community Foundation, which provides services and support to improve the quality of life in Bowyer’s home town, Emporia, Kansas, and its surrounding counties.

A 28-episode online reality series has been developed around the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge. Fans can see what Bowyer’s team plans for the Tekked-Out Prius in Episode 3. New episodes are uploaded regularly at www.ToyotaRacingDreamBuild.com.

Voting will open October 20, and will continue through October 29. Fans will be able to vote once per day on Facebook, where they can also enter to win prizes, including a Toyota Racing “Dream Trip,” which will be given away to one lucky fan.

The final vehicle builds will be unveiled during a press conference at the Toyota display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, October 30. Fans will be able to tune in live to watch the entire press conference and see the winner announced in real time.

The party conventions are in the books and the much-anticipated presidential debates are around the corner as we begin the home stretch of the 2012 election. On November 6, voters will head to the polls to elect the president of the United States, 435 members of the U.S. House, 33 U.S. senators, 12 governors and thousands of state and local leaders. Although Election Day falls the week after this year’s SEMA Show, don’t let your voter registration slip through the cracks during your Show preparations.

If you have not registered to vote in your state, now is the time to do it. SEMA has compiled a complete list of voter registration and absentee ballot application forms for all 50 states. Find your state and information needed to register today!

With so much at stake for our industry, the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) encourages you to exercise your civic duty and vote. 

For more information, contact PAC Administrator Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org or 202-783-6007, ext. 19.

The party conventions are in the books and the much-anticipated presidential debates are around the corner as we begin the home stretch of the 2012 election. On November 6, voters will head to the polls to elect the president of the United States, 435 members of the U.S. House, 33 U.S. senators, 12 governors and thousands of state and local leaders. Although Election Day falls the week after this year’s SEMA Show, don’t let your voter registration slip through the cracks during your Show preparations.

If you have not registered to vote in your state, now is the time to do it. SEMA has compiled a complete list of voter registration and absentee ballot application forms for all 50 states. Find your state and information needed to register today!

With so much at stake for our industry, the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) encourages you to exercise your civic duty and vote. 

For more information, contact PAC Administrator Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org or 202-783-6007, ext. 19.

If you are looking for a booth vehicle for the 2012 SEMA Show, consider making an announcement in SEMA eNews.

If you’re looking for a vehicle for your booth, simplify your search by making an announcement in SEMA eNews. The publication is distributed to more than 100,000 industry professionals, including numerous vehicle builders and customizers.

Through an announcement in SEMA eNews, you will be able to define the type of vehicle you are looking for, helping you to reach a large number of vehicle owners and builders effectively. The vehicle builders and owners will be able to contact you directly.

To submit an announcement, you must be a 2012 SEMA Show exhibitor. Send your company's name, booth number, type of vehicle you are seeking and contact information to eNews@sema.org. Make sure to include "Seeking Project Vehicle" in the subject line of the e-mail.

More information on the SEMA Show is available at www.SEMAShow.com. Exhibitors: Access the Exhibitor Manual at www.SEMAShow.com/esm. For more information on displaying a booth vehicle, visit www.SEMAShow.com/boothvehicles.

 

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Exhibitors Looking for a Display Vehicle

AnzoUSA: Booth #20333. Looking for a UTV to display new off-road lighting. Contact: Shaun Callaway, 909-590-8618, ext. 111. Shaun@anzousa.com.

Direct Lift/VSG Group: Booth #10339. The exhibitor will have a four-post lift set up in its booth and would have the vehicle raised to full rise, setting on the locks for the duration of the Show. The product is black, so a nice, clean vehicle that would look nice under the lights is desired. Also looking for a motorcycle to be displayed on the company's motorcycle lift for the duration of the Show. The product is black, so a nice clean, bright-colored bike is desired. Contact: Donnie Bruther, 866-347-5438. dbruther@directlift.com.

Huadian Cross Country Automobile Accessories Co. Ltd.: Booth#: 36135. Looking to display a ’12 Toyota Highlander. Contact: Kevin Poon, 0086-757-23665366. ts@4x4powerful.com.

Pittman Outdoors: Booth #30218. Toyota Tacoma 6-ft. longbed truck to display the company's products. Only the truck bed will be used to showcase the company's air mattresses. No modifications, bolt-ons or attachments are needed. Contact: Rick Fletcher, 562-926-6660. rfletcher@truckairbedz.com.

REDI-Sensor: Booth #40276. Ford Raptor or Chevrolet or Ford 2500 or 3500 Series Pick. Contact: AnnaMaria Blose, 610-289-0488, ext. 4002. annamaria.blose@continental-corporation.com.

Truck Armor: Booth #37129. GMC or Chevrolet 1/2-ton Crew Cab mini or short-box pickup. Will install its stainless-steel accessories, rocker panels, grille inserts, window trim and rail guards, as well as a Bedrug and Truxedo cover. Contact: Tim O'Keefe, 605-239-4884. tokeefe@truckarmorauto.com.

VizuaLogic: Booth #11745. Rear-seat entertainment product manufacturer looking for “SEMA-worthy” booth vehicle. The company will install a headrest DVD system, backup system and possibly more, depending on the vehicle. Contact: Aaron Lyle, 951-272-1996, ext. 177. alyle@tmiproducts.com.