Boost your branding efforts by participating in the 2012 SEMA News Product and Catalog Showcase featured in the June issue of SEMA News.

Generate buzz for your products and services by participating in the 2012 SEMA News Product and Catalog Showcase featured in the June issue of SEMA News.

The offer builds on the success of the 2011 Product & Catalog Showcase, and the association provides more boost to your branding efforts by keeping the participation price the same as last year.

The Product and Catalog Showcase remains one of the most cost-effective ways to advertise in SEMA News magazine, helping members reach more customers specific to the specialty-equipment market.

Provide a four-color image of your new product or your catalog cover, along with about 75 words of text, and we'll build a 1/6-page ad for you. The cost is $250. Space is limited, so don't delay. View the online version of the 2011 SEMA News Product & Catalog Showcase, featured in the November 2011 issue of SEMA News.

To get started, contact Motor Media at 818-248-4449 or e-mail sales@motormediainc.com.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposal to require the installation of a brake-throttle override (BTO) system on all new passenger cars and light trucks. The agency intends to update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 124, Accelerator Control Systems, to address instances of unintended vehicle acceleration. The BTO system would be triggered when the gas pedal and brake are simultaneously applied, or when the accelerator control system is disconnected. The updated rule would not address instances in which the driver accidentally presses down on the accelerator rather than applying the brakes. Many new vehicles already have a BTO system. The NHTSA would provide two or three years for all light-duty vehicles to have the equipment once the rule is finalized. 

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposal to require the installation of a brake-throttle override (BTO) system on all new passenger cars and light trucks. The agency intends to update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 124, Accelerator Control Systems, to address instances of unintended vehicle acceleration. The BTO system would be triggered when the gas pedal and brake are simultaneously applied, or when the accelerator control system is disconnected. The updated rule would not address instances in which the driver accidentally presses down on the accelerator rather than applying the brakes. Many new vehicles already have a BTO system. The NHTSA would provide two or three years for all light-duty vehicles to have the equipment once the rule is finalized. 

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

SEMA-supported legislation to provide vehicle owners the option of using vintage, original model-year license plates on antique and classic vehicles was signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett. Under the new law, an application fee of $75 would be charged to use year-of-manufacture plates. The law provides that vintage plates must have been issued by the state of Pennsylvania between the years 1906 and 1975, must be provided by the vehicle owner and legible from a reasonable distance. There is no obligation to pay the fee for model-year license plates. Antique vehicle owners may still apply for special antique, classic or collectible plates that bear the designation "antique vehicle."  

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide vehicle owners the option of using vintage, original model-year license plates on antique and classic vehicles was signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett. Under the new law, an application fee of $75 would be charged to use year-of-manufacture plates. The law provides that vintage plates must have been issued by the state of Pennsylvania between the years 1906 and 1975, must be provided by the vehicle owner and legible from a reasonable distance. There is no obligation to pay the fee for model-year license plates. Antique vehicle owners may still apply for special antique, classic or collectible plates that bear the designation "antique vehicle."  

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

California legislation to exempt all motor vehicles prior to the ’81 model year from the emissions inspection requirement has been granted reconsideration after failing to be approved by a Senate Transportation and Housing Committee vote. The bill failed on a 3–4 vote, with two committee members not voting. The bill will be reconsidered in a future committee hearing. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

California legislation to exempt all motor vehicles prior to the ’81 model year from the emissions inspection requirement has been granted reconsideration after failing to be approved by a Senate Transportation and Housing Committee vote. The bill failed on a 3–4 vote, with two committee members not voting. The bill will be reconsidered in a future committee hearing. 

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	Ray Harrington

Ray Harrington, founder and president of Harrington Mold and California Pony Cars (CPC), passed away February 13, 2012, due to heart failure.

Born November 19, 1947, in Ontario, California, Harrington attended high school in 1965 when baby boomers were coming of age and Ford’s new Mustang started rolling into showrooms everywhere. Although Harrington was taken with the new Mustang, his first love during his college years was mold making. He gained experience in several mold-making shops in the Inland Empire for many years as a seasoned journeyman before founding Harrington Mold in 1976.

Because Harrington also possessed an obsession for classic automobiles, designing and producing reproduction Mustang parts became a natural extension of his Harrington Mold operation. His first reproduction Mustang part was the standard ’64½–’66 outside rearview mirror, which answered the call for a durable reproduction mirror that wouldn’t fall apart. With this success came the vision to produce an array of reproduction parts. His next undertaking was the ’65 Mustang gas cap followed by an extensive line of reproduction parts that is still sold today. Over the years, CPC’s product line has expanded to classic and late-model Mustang parts and accessories, including a retro wheel line.

On a personal level, Harrington was a health and exercise enthusiast. He participated in several competitive races, including the La Jolla Half Marathon in 2004, 2005 and 2010 and the Claremont Village Freedom 5000 in 2001. He was looking forward to running in the 2012 La Jolla Half Marathon. Harrington is survived by his wife, daughter, mother and sister.

HIGHT LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY AT ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY: The hottest Funny Car driver on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit is Robert Hight. The California native has won the last four races and holds a commanding lead in the points standings as the series moves to ultrafast Royal Purple Raceway near Houston for the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 27–29. With his fourth consecutive win, Hight joined some elite company in the NHRA record books. Only four other Funny Car drivers have claimed four wins in a row: Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Cruz Pedregon. Prudhomme’s mark of seven wins in a row in ’75–’76 stands as the record in the category. The most consecutive Funny Car wins in a single season is five, held jointly by Prudhomme, Pedregon and Force.

NHRA ORIGINALS NOW AVAILABLE AT WALMART STORES NATIONWIDE: NHRA and JEM Sportswear have announced that Walmart stores nationwide are stocking the NHRA Originals vintage T-shirts for men. This marks yet another expansion of the classic line of NHRA Originals vintage men’s T-shirts that debuted last fall. Walmart is the largest retail outlet currently participating in the NHRA Originals program, operating 629 stores across the United States. Depicting a class front-engine dragster and the NHRA Championship Drag Racing logo, the gray-heather color men’s shirt is exclusively available at all Walmart stores nationwide. Sizes range from small to XXL.

TRAXXAS HITS IGNITION ON 1/8-SCALE RC FUNNY CARS: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing fans around the country have been awaiting a John Force Racing RC Funny Car model since the new partnership between Traxxas and JFR was announced in early January. At the third-annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals last weekend, fans got their first peek at the four JFR Traxxas Funny Cars during a photo shoot beside the Traxxas fan experience zone. Traxxas earlier revealed a collection of fully assembled, ready-to-race Traxxas RC Ford Mustang Funny Cars; the new models run 70-plus mph and are designed to convey realistic effects of the class. The cars have all the current logos and paint schemes from the 2012 JFR Ford Mustang Funny Cars.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 27–29: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the sixth race of the season. Winners from 2011 were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 281-383-RACE (7223) or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

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) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). 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 battle 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.

HE SAID, SHE SAID			INSIDE THE NUMBERS
HOTTEST DRIVER IN TOP FUEL: Spencer Massey and his FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel team have won three of five races this season and became the national speed record holder after a pass of 332.18 mph Sunday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Said the points leader, “It’s unbelievable. We blistered a 330 mph right after Tony Schumacher ran 330 in front of us and we did it twice. I can’t believe it right now. It just shows how awesome my team is right now.” Schumacher became the first driver to break the 330-mph barrier, but Massey set the record with his 332.18 mph pass during the final round of eliminations.			330: SCHUMACHER FIRST TO BREAK THE BARRIER: Tony Schumacher became the first Top Fuel driver to crack the 330-mph mark he ran 330.23 mph during the opening round of eliminations Sunday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina.

DID YOU KNOW …

GETTING CLOSER TO MAKING HISTORY: Erica Enders made her sixth final-round appearance during the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals but fell short of earning her first win in Pro Stock. When Enders scores that victory, she will make history as the first woman to triumph in Pro Stock. Enders’ first wins in Super Gas and Jr. Dragster both occurred at her home track, which happens to be Royal Purple Raceway near Houston—site of the next stop in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

HIGHT LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY AT ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY: The hottest Funny Car driver on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit is Robert Hight. The California native has won the last four races and holds a commanding lead in the points standings as the series moves to ultrafast Royal Purple Raceway near Houston for the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 27–29. With his fourth consecutive win, Hight joined some elite company in the NHRA record books. Only four other Funny Car drivers have claimed four wins in a row: Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Cruz Pedregon. Prudhomme’s mark of seven wins in a row in ’75–’76 stands as the record in the category. The most consecutive Funny Car wins in a single season is five, held jointly by Prudhomme, Pedregon and Force.

NHRA ORIGINALS NOW AVAILABLE AT WALMART STORES NATIONWIDE: NHRA and JEM Sportswear have announced that Walmart stores nationwide are stocking the NHRA Originals vintage T-shirts for men. This marks yet another expansion of the classic line of NHRA Originals vintage men’s T-shirts that debuted last fall. Walmart is the largest retail outlet currently participating in the NHRA Originals program, operating 629 stores across the United States. Depicting a class front-engine dragster and the NHRA Championship Drag Racing logo, the gray-heather color men’s shirt is exclusively available at all Walmart stores nationwide. Sizes range from small to XXL.

TRAXXAS HITS IGNITION ON 1/8-SCALE RC FUNNY CARS: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing fans around the country have been awaiting a John Force Racing RC Funny Car model since the new partnership between Traxxas and JFR was announced in early January. At the third-annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals last weekend, fans got their first peek at the four JFR Traxxas Funny Cars during a photo shoot beside the Traxxas fan experience zone. Traxxas earlier revealed a collection of fully assembled, ready-to-race Traxxas RC Ford Mustang Funny Cars; the new models run 70-plus mph and are designed to convey realistic effects of the class. The cars have all the current logos and paint schemes from the 2012 JFR Ford Mustang Funny Cars.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 27–29: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the sixth race of the season. Winners from 2011 were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 281-383-RACE (7223) or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

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) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). 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 battle 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.

HE SAID, SHE SAID			INSIDE THE NUMBERS
HOTTEST DRIVER IN TOP FUEL: Spencer Massey and his FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel team have won three of five races this season and became the national speed record holder after a pass of 332.18 mph Sunday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Said the points leader, “It’s unbelievable. We blistered a 330 mph right after Tony Schumacher ran 330 in front of us and we did it twice. I can’t believe it right now. It just shows how awesome my team is right now.” Schumacher became the first driver to break the 330-mph barrier, but Massey set the record with his 332.18 mph pass during the final round of eliminations.			330: SCHUMACHER FIRST TO BREAK THE BARRIER: Tony Schumacher became the first Top Fuel driver to crack the 330-mph mark he ran 330.23 mph during the opening round of eliminations Sunday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina.

DID YOU KNOW …

GETTING CLOSER TO MAKING HISTORY: Erica Enders made her sixth final-round appearance during the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals but fell short of earning her first win in Pro Stock. When Enders scores that victory, she will make history as the first woman to triumph in Pro Stock. Enders’ first wins in Super Gas and Jr. Dragster both occurred at her home track, which happens to be Royal Purple Raceway near Houston—site of the next stop in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.