Wizards Products Hires Harris Rabren and John Darlington
Wizards Products hired Harris Rabren as national sales manager and John Darlington as business development manager for the company's Automotive Products Group. Wizards reports that Rabren has extensive experience in the paint, body and equipment (PBE) industry, which includes roles with ITW Evercoat, Sherwin-Williams and DeVilbiss. Darlington has 25 years of PBE sales experience and has a proven ability to develop new markets using his refinish industry knowledge. 

	Scosche Industries hired Jason Kemmerer as the company's director of product management for automotive.

Scosche Hires Car Audio Industry Veteran Jason Kemmerer
Scosche Industries named car audio industry veteran Jason Kemmerer its director of product management – automotive. The company reports that Kemmerer brings an extensive background of market analysis and product development strategies to Scosche, and that the hire reaffirms its ongoing dedication to the automotive aftermarket and will enhance the company’s current team of aftermarket professionals. Kemmerer will be responsible for expanding the current line of automotive products and the direction of new-product development. He will oversee the car audio product development and technical support teams and work closely with marketing and sales teams to develop targeted marketing strategies and ensure sell-through.

Justice Brothers Inc. Inducted Into Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame
The Justice Brothers Inc. was inducted into the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place during the 19th Annual "Gas Up" and Dry Lakes Racing ceremony at Mendenhall Museum in Buellton, California, April 18. The sponsor of the annual event is Gold Coast Roadster & Racing Club, which solicited votes from 12 Southern California Timing Association clubs, the Bonneville-Mirage dry lakes 200-mph club, current Hall of Fame members and the USFRA and ECTA associations.

Direct Lift to Giveaway Free Trip to Attend Barrett-Jackson Auction in Las Vegas
Direct Lift, the official lift of the Barrett-Jackson Auctions, is giving away a trip for two to the Las Vegas auction in September. One winner and a guest will be flown to Las Vegas to attend the Barrett-Jackson Auction, September 20–22, 2012. The prize includes airfare, hotel accommodations, tickets to the Barrett-Jackson auction and spending money. To enter, visit www.facebook.com/DirectLift. The contest is open to U.S. residents over the age of 18. Full details and contest rules are available through the Direct Lift Facebook page. The sweepstakes ends August 15, 2012.

	Lingenfelter will donate $5 from each purchase of its new line of pink merchandise to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Lingenfelter Launches New Merchandise in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness 
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) launched a new line of pink merchandise in support of breast cancer awareness. The merchandise features the LPE logo and pink ribbon design and includes pink tie-dye T-shirts, baseball hats with pink rhinestones and custom pink lanyards. Lingenfelter will donate $5 from each purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To support the new apparel launch, Lingenfelter is opening his private car collection for participants in the Hot Rod Power Tour to visit June 1, 2012, from 10:00 a.m–6:00 p.m. Lingenfelter merchandise will be available for sale and donations will be accepted for breast cancer research. 

NEWS NUGGETS

WE’RE HEADED TO HOT-LANTA: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season—the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The NHRA is offering a limited number of NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs for the event, featuring a great day of fun and racing action for a family of four, including two adult and two child seats, preferred parking, four hot dogs, four small Coca-Colas and an event program. The NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs are available in limited quantities for each day of the event, with Friday priced at $82 and Saturday or Sunday at $114. The NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs must be purchased in advance. As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass for the event. For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

BERNSTEIN AND FORCE TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME: The International Motorsports Hall of Fame announced that two NHRA greats, Kenny Bernstein and John Force, and NASCAR legend Richard Childress will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Thursday, May 3, at Talladega Motor Speedway. Both NHRA legends will be inducted due to their success on the track and their contributions on and off the racetrack to the motorsports community.

FULL THROTTLE ENERGY DRINK JOINS FORCES WITH THE USO TO RECOGNIZE AMERICA’S TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES: Full Throttle Energy Drink and the USO share a common ground in helping hardworking families, which has led the organizations to join in an impactful partnership aimed to celebrate and honor the efforts of our country’s military heroes. The new collaboration will include custom USO-centric Full Throttle packaging and point-of-sale materials, co-branded traditional and digital media and USO integration and experiential interactivity at Full Throttle’s NHRA event footprint. To help inaugurate the project, Full Throttle will make a $250,000 contribution to the USO in a check presentation during the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on May 5 in Commerce, Georgia. Fittingly, “the Sarge,” as U.S. Army Top Fuel driver and seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher is affectionately known, will be on hand to help make the announcement.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, May 4–6: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season—one of NHRA’s long-established events. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS, HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, May 18–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its eighth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Shane Gray (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

TOYOTA NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, May 31–June 3: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its ninth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 732-446-7800 or log on to RacewayPark.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID			INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A LITTLE LUCK: Brandon Bernstein knows what it’s like to win races, but he hasn’t had that feeling since October 2009, and he wants it back for him and his MavTV team. As the NHRA heads to Atlanta Dragway, where Bernstein won in 2007, he is ready to have things start falling his way. “These guys know how to win. If I can drive the way I know how to drive, the way I’ve been driving my whole career, eventually things will fall into place for us. We should have more round-wins than we’ve earned so far, and we’ve come up on the wrong end of the races that are decided by thousandths of a second, but that will swing back our way. I have the feeling that once we break through, the win lights will come in bunches. We’re sure hoping that starts this weekend. We’re ready.”			6: JOHN FORCE RACING PERFECT SIX-FOR-SIX: John Force won the season-opener in Pomona, California, Mike Neff won last weekend in Houston and Robert Hight won the four races between, giving JFR a perfect score so far this season. Atlanta Dragway, the NHRA’s next stop, happens to be a track that has been extremely friendly to JFR; the team has collected 10 wins there in the past 19 seasons.

DID YOU KNOW…

PLAY BALL: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria will be on center stage as part of pre-game ceremonies at Turner Field May 3, when the Atlanta Braves take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger, will be a guest of primary sponsor NAPA Auto Parts and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. DeJoria, driver of the Patron Tequila Funny Car, will then make the announcement to the players to take the field and join Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez at home plate for the presentation of the evening’s starting lineup.

NEWS NUGGETS

WE’RE HEADED TO HOT-LANTA: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season—the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The NHRA is offering a limited number of NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs for the event, featuring a great day of fun and racing action for a family of four, including two adult and two child seats, preferred parking, four hot dogs, four small Coca-Colas and an event program. The NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs are available in limited quantities for each day of the event, with Friday priced at $82 and Saturday or Sunday at $114. The NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs must be purchased in advance. As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass for the event. For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

BERNSTEIN AND FORCE TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME: The International Motorsports Hall of Fame announced that two NHRA greats, Kenny Bernstein and John Force, and NASCAR legend Richard Childress will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Thursday, May 3, at Talladega Motor Speedway. Both NHRA legends will be inducted due to their success on the track and their contributions on and off the racetrack to the motorsports community.

FULL THROTTLE ENERGY DRINK JOINS FORCES WITH THE USO TO RECOGNIZE AMERICA’S TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES: Full Throttle Energy Drink and the USO share a common ground in helping hardworking families, which has led the organizations to join in an impactful partnership aimed to celebrate and honor the efforts of our country’s military heroes. The new collaboration will include custom USO-centric Full Throttle packaging and point-of-sale materials, co-branded traditional and digital media and USO integration and experiential interactivity at Full Throttle’s NHRA event footprint. To help inaugurate the project, Full Throttle will make a $250,000 contribution to the USO in a check presentation during the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on May 5 in Commerce, Georgia. Fittingly, “the Sarge,” as U.S. Army Top Fuel driver and seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher is affectionately known, will be on hand to help make the announcement.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, May 4–6: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season—one of NHRA’s long-established events. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS, HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, May 18–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its eighth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Shane Gray (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

TOYOTA NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, May 31–June 3: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its ninth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 732-446-7800 or log on to RacewayPark.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID			INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A LITTLE LUCK: Brandon Bernstein knows what it’s like to win races, but he hasn’t had that feeling since October 2009, and he wants it back for him and his MavTV team. As the NHRA heads to Atlanta Dragway, where Bernstein won in 2007, he is ready to have things start falling his way. “These guys know how to win. If I can drive the way I know how to drive, the way I’ve been driving my whole career, eventually things will fall into place for us. We should have more round-wins than we’ve earned so far, and we’ve come up on the wrong end of the races that are decided by thousandths of a second, but that will swing back our way. I have the feeling that once we break through, the win lights will come in bunches. We’re sure hoping that starts this weekend. We’re ready.”			6: JOHN FORCE RACING PERFECT SIX-FOR-SIX: John Force won the season-opener in Pomona, California, Mike Neff won last weekend in Houston and Robert Hight won the four races between, giving JFR a perfect score so far this season. Atlanta Dragway, the NHRA’s next stop, happens to be a track that has been extremely friendly to JFR; the team has collected 10 wins there in the past 19 seasons.

DID YOU KNOW…

PLAY BALL: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria will be on center stage as part of pre-game ceremonies at Turner Field May 3, when the Atlanta Braves take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger, will be a guest of primary sponsor NAPA Auto Parts and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. DeJoria, driver of the Patron Tequila Funny Car, will then make the announcement to the players to take the field and join Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez at home plate for the presentation of the evening’s starting lineup.

NEWS NUGGETS

WE’RE HEADED TO HOT-LANTA: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season—the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The NHRA is offering a limited number of NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs for the event, featuring a great day of fun and racing action for a family of four, including two adult and two child seats, preferred parking, four hot dogs, four small Coca-Colas and an event program. The NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs are available in limited quantities for each day of the event, with Friday priced at $82 and Saturday or Sunday at $114. The NHRA Nitro Generation Fan Packs must be purchased in advance. As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass for the event. For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

BERNSTEIN AND FORCE TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME: The International Motorsports Hall of Fame announced that two NHRA greats, Kenny Bernstein and John Force, and NASCAR legend Richard Childress will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Thursday, May 3, at Talladega Motor Speedway. Both NHRA legends will be inducted due to their success on the track and their contributions on and off the racetrack to the motorsports community.

FULL THROTTLE ENERGY DRINK JOINS FORCES WITH THE USO TO RECOGNIZE AMERICA’S TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES: Full Throttle Energy Drink and the USO share a common ground in helping hardworking families, which has led the organizations to join in an impactful partnership aimed to celebrate and honor the efforts of our country’s military heroes. The new collaboration will include custom USO-centric Full Throttle packaging and point-of-sale materials, co-branded traditional and digital media and USO integration and experiential interactivity at Full Throttle’s NHRA event footprint. To help inaugurate the project, Full Throttle will make a $250,000 contribution to the USO in a check presentation during the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on May 5 in Commerce, Georgia. Fittingly, “the Sarge,” as U.S. Army Top Fuel driver and seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher is affectionately known, will be on hand to help make the announcement.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, May 4–6: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season—one of NHRA’s long-established events. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS, HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, May 18–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its eighth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Shane Gray (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

TOYOTA NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, May 31–June 3: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its ninth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 732-446-7800 or log on to RacewayPark.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID			INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A LITTLE LUCK: Brandon Bernstein knows what it’s like to win races, but he hasn’t had that feeling since October 2009, and he wants it back for him and his MavTV team. As the NHRA heads to Atlanta Dragway, where Bernstein won in 2007, he is ready to have things start falling his way. “These guys know how to win. If I can drive the way I know how to drive, the way I’ve been driving my whole career, eventually things will fall into place for us. We should have more round-wins than we’ve earned so far, and we’ve come up on the wrong end of the races that are decided by thousandths of a second, but that will swing back our way. I have the feeling that once we break through, the win lights will come in bunches. We’re sure hoping that starts this weekend. We’re ready.”			6: JOHN FORCE RACING PERFECT SIX-FOR-SIX: John Force won the season-opener in Pomona, California, Mike Neff won last weekend in Houston and Robert Hight won the four races between, giving JFR a perfect score so far this season. Atlanta Dragway, the NHRA’s next stop, happens to be a track that has been extremely friendly to JFR; the team has collected 10 wins there in the past 19 seasons.

DID YOU KNOW…

PLAY BALL: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria will be on center stage as part of pre-game ceremonies at Turner Field May 3, when the Atlanta Braves take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger, will be a guest of primary sponsor NAPA Auto Parts and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. DeJoria, driver of the Patron Tequila Funny Car, will then make the announcement to the players to take the field and join Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez at home plate for the presentation of the evening’s starting lineup.

During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

2011 SEMA Person of the Year John Menzler officiated last year's Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors.

Hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry will gather to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where the newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time.

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in. Both the new Hall of Fame members and new Board members will be announced in the near future.

Tickets and information are available at www.sema.org/galatix, or from Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org, 909/978-6684. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction Camp provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Also benefitting Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp is the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors. Taking place at 12:00 p.m. that same day, the event includes four categories. In addition to three levels in which individuals may build and submit pinewood cars, there is also a “Build It for Me” category where individuals may sponsor a car that was built by a child. Register online.

During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

2011 SEMA Person of the Year John Menzler officiated last year's Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors.

Hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry will gather to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where the newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time.

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in. Both the new Hall of Fame members and new Board members will be announced in the near future.

Tickets and information are available at www.sema.org/galatix, or from Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org, 909/978-6684. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction Camp provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Also benefitting Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp is the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors. Taking place at 12:00 p.m. that same day, the event includes four categories. In addition to three levels in which individuals may build and submit pinewood cars, there is also a “Build It for Me” category where individuals may sponsor a car that was built by a child. Register online.

During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

2011 SEMA Person of the Year John Menzler officiated last year's Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors.

Hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry will gather to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where the newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time.

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in. Both the new Hall of Fame members and new Board members will be announced in the near future.

Tickets and information are available at www.sema.org/galatix, or from Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org, 909/978-6684. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction Camp provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Also benefitting Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp is the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors. Taking place at 12:00 p.m. that same day, the event includes four categories. In addition to three levels in which individuals may build and submit pinewood cars, there is also a “Build It for Me” category where individuals may sponsor a car that was built by a child. Register online.

During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

2011 SEMA Person of the Year John Menzler officiated last year's Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors.

Hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry will gather to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where the newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time.

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in. Both the new Hall of Fame members and new Board members will be announced in the near future.

Tickets and information are available at www.sema.org/galatix, or from Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org, 909/978-6684. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction Camp provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Also benefitting Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp is the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors. Taking place at 12:00 p.m. that same day, the event includes four categories. In addition to three levels in which individuals may build and submit pinewood cars, there is also a “Build It for Me” category where individuals may sponsor a car that was built by a child. Register online.