SEMA News—October 2015

EDUCATION

Recognizing and Supporting The Future of The Industry

Scholarship winners, students and faculty attended a welcome luncheon during the 2014 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded $150,000 to 58 individuals this year. This includes 45 SEMA scholarships presented to current students, and 13 loan-forgiveness awards presented to employees of SEMA-member companies. On behalf of the industry, we offer congratulations and continued success to the following award winners.

The online application for the 2016 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund will accepted now through April 1, 2016.

To apply or for more information, visit www.sema.org/scholarship.

2015 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Award Winners

• Tyler Bagby, University of Central Missouri
• Steven Baltzell, Western Technical College (Jim A. Borré Award)
• Charles Becker III, University of Northwestern Ohio (Motorsports Parts Manufactures Council (MPMC)–Dan Borré Award)
• Jordan Belcher, Appalachian State University
• Matthew Bisbee, Lake Superior College (Top Student Award)
• Courtney Bisnee, Lake Superior College
• Skyler Brungardt, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
• Brenden Bungert, University of Minnesota-Duluth
• Erik Cahill, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)—John Menzler Memorial Award)
• Cody Casale, Art Center College of Design (Phil Weiand Award)
• Trevor Chaney, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Brain Choe, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
• Joel Cosby, Western Governors University
• Elijah DeWitt, Iowa Central Community College
• Nicholas D’Orazio, Georgia Institute of Technology (Bernie Karp Award)
• Austin Ellis, Colorado School of Mines
• Elizabeth Ellis, Texas A&M University
• Almon Evans, University of Northwestern Ohio (Joe Hrudka Award)
• Logan Farmer, University of Northwestern Ohio (Leo Kagan Award)
• Lael Gobble, Georgia Institute of Technology (Bernie Karp Award)
• Austin Hiebert, McPherson College (Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)–Jeff Moses Award)
• Cynthia Jones, Tyler Junior College
• Jeffery Kesterson, Oregon Institute of Technology (Thurston Warn Award)
• Carl Klamn, Western Governors University (Louis L. Borick Award)
• Daniel Konzelman, Northwest University (Manufacturers Representative Network (MRN) Award)
• Bryan Kuhn, Walsh University (Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Award)
• Anna Layer, Western Michigan University
• Kevin Letterman, Stanford University (Louis L. Borick Award)
• Lillian Macaruso, University of Northwestern Ohio (Leo Kagan Award)
• Alison Queener, Kettering University
• Garrett Rider, University of Missouri-Columbia, (Wheel & Tire Council (WTC)–Michael Kunzman Award)
• Bobby Robertson Jr., McPherson College
• Robert Rose, University of Northwestern Ohio (Dick Dixon Award)
• Michael Shinkarenko, Spokane Community College (Steve Woomer Award)
• Kaylynn Simmons, University of Northwestern Ohio (SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Award)
• Allen-Michael Skowron, Kettering University
• Sarah Spoto, University of Rochester
• James Stray, School of Automotive Machinists
• Patrick Stroupe, Art Center College of Design (Phil Weiand Award)
• Ryan Talaga, Northwood University (Nat Danas Award)
• Stephen Toth Jr., Ohio University (Harlan Felder Award)
• Byron Walker, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Travis Walters, University of Northwest Ohio
• Thomas Wee, Rosedale Technical Institute (Joseph B. Amato, Sr. Award)
• Christopher Zendejas, California State University Northridge (K&N Engineering Award)

2015 SEMA Loan Forgiveness Award Winners

• Robert Baldwin, Motor State Distributing (Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Award)
• Benjamin Bosworth, Pratt & Miller Engineering
• Eric Burnett, Holley Performance Products
• Andrew Clutter, A.R.E. Accessories, LLC (Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) Award)
• Calen Cussimanio, Nissan North America
• Collin Gentry, Meyer Distributing
• Robert Martin, Motor State Distributing/Lane Automotive (Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Award)
• Gregory Masterson, Smart Inc., Chemical Guys (Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Award)
• Bryan Newman, Coker Tire (Young Executives Network (YEN) Award)
• Steven Reini, Pratt & Miller Engineering
• Michael Robins, Ford Racing/Ford Performance
• Jessica Smith-Tarry, Summit Racing Equipment
• Jordan Sneathen, SEMO Classic Mustang Inc. (Wally Parks Award)

The online application for the 2016 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund will accepted now through April 1, 2016.

To apply or for more information, visit www.sema.org/scholarship.

SEMA News—October 2015

EDUCATION

Recognizing and Supporting The Future of The Industry

Scholarship winners, students and faculty attended a welcome luncheon during the 2014 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded $150,000 to 58 individuals this year. This includes 45 SEMA scholarships presented to current students, and 13 loan-forgiveness awards presented to employees of SEMA-member companies. On behalf of the industry, we offer congratulations and continued success to the following award winners.

The online application for the 2016 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund will accepted now through April 1, 2016.

To apply or for more information, visit www.sema.org/scholarship.

2015 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Award Winners

• Tyler Bagby, University of Central Missouri
• Steven Baltzell, Western Technical College (Jim A. Borré Award)
• Charles Becker III, University of Northwestern Ohio (Motorsports Parts Manufactures Council (MPMC)–Dan Borré Award)
• Jordan Belcher, Appalachian State University
• Matthew Bisbee, Lake Superior College (Top Student Award)
• Courtney Bisnee, Lake Superior College
• Skyler Brungardt, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
• Brenden Bungert, University of Minnesota-Duluth
• Erik Cahill, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)—John Menzler Memorial Award)
• Cody Casale, Art Center College of Design (Phil Weiand Award)
• Trevor Chaney, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Brain Choe, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
• Joel Cosby, Western Governors University
• Elijah DeWitt, Iowa Central Community College
• Nicholas D’Orazio, Georgia Institute of Technology (Bernie Karp Award)
• Austin Ellis, Colorado School of Mines
• Elizabeth Ellis, Texas A&M University
• Almon Evans, University of Northwestern Ohio (Joe Hrudka Award)
• Logan Farmer, University of Northwestern Ohio (Leo Kagan Award)
• Lael Gobble, Georgia Institute of Technology (Bernie Karp Award)
• Austin Hiebert, McPherson College (Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)–Jeff Moses Award)
• Cynthia Jones, Tyler Junior College
• Jeffery Kesterson, Oregon Institute of Technology (Thurston Warn Award)
• Carl Klamn, Western Governors University (Louis L. Borick Award)
• Daniel Konzelman, Northwest University (Manufacturers Representative Network (MRN) Award)
• Bryan Kuhn, Walsh University (Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Award)
• Anna Layer, Western Michigan University
• Kevin Letterman, Stanford University (Louis L. Borick Award)
• Lillian Macaruso, University of Northwestern Ohio (Leo Kagan Award)
• Alison Queener, Kettering University
• Garrett Rider, University of Missouri-Columbia, (Wheel & Tire Council (WTC)–Michael Kunzman Award)
• Bobby Robertson Jr., McPherson College
• Robert Rose, University of Northwestern Ohio (Dick Dixon Award)
• Michael Shinkarenko, Spokane Community College (Steve Woomer Award)
• Kaylynn Simmons, University of Northwestern Ohio (SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Award)
• Allen-Michael Skowron, Kettering University
• Sarah Spoto, University of Rochester
• James Stray, School of Automotive Machinists
• Patrick Stroupe, Art Center College of Design (Phil Weiand Award)
• Ryan Talaga, Northwood University (Nat Danas Award)
• Stephen Toth Jr., Ohio University (Harlan Felder Award)
• Byron Walker, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Travis Walters, University of Northwest Ohio
• Thomas Wee, Rosedale Technical Institute (Joseph B. Amato, Sr. Award)
• Christopher Zendejas, California State University Northridge (K&N Engineering Award)

2015 SEMA Loan Forgiveness Award Winners

• Robert Baldwin, Motor State Distributing (Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Award)
• Benjamin Bosworth, Pratt & Miller Engineering
• Eric Burnett, Holley Performance Products
• Andrew Clutter, A.R.E. Accessories, LLC (Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) Award)
• Calen Cussimanio, Nissan North America
• Collin Gentry, Meyer Distributing
• Robert Martin, Motor State Distributing/Lane Automotive (Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Award)
• Gregory Masterson, Smart Inc., Chemical Guys (Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Award)
• Bryan Newman, Coker Tire (Young Executives Network (YEN) Award)
• Steven Reini, Pratt & Miller Engineering
• Michael Robins, Ford Racing/Ford Performance
• Jessica Smith-Tarry, Summit Racing Equipment
• Jordan Sneathen, SEMO Classic Mustang Inc. (Wally Parks Award)

The online application for the 2016 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund will accepted now through April 1, 2016.

To apply or for more information, visit www.sema.org/scholarship.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

“Speed Week” at Bonneville Salt Flats Cancelled Due to Deteriorating Conditions, Lack of Salt

	Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the Bonneville Salt Flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

Despite a rich history of racing for more than a century, the salt flats have significantly decreased in size, strength and thickness over a number of decades as salt brine has been channeled away from the area. The BSF’s international track once measured 131/2 miles long but has been reduced to eight miles or less. This means that the world’s fastest cars—jet-powered machines—can no longer compete at
the BSF.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has managed the land since 1946. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

SEMA and other organizations and companies comprising the Save the Salt Coalition have been working for years to help save the BSF. The racing community began raising concerns about salt deterioration as early as the ’60s. The coalition contends that the BLM has done little to address the problem aside from conducting numerous geological studies. SEMA and the coalition worked with an adjoining potash mine owner to begin pumping salt brine onto the BSF in 1997. While the program was made permanent in 2012, the amount of brine pumped in recent years has not replaced the millions of tons of salt removed in previous decades.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has managed Bonneville since 1946. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area.

Last summer, the coalition deposited about 2,000 tons of dry salt at the end of the access road to the BSF. Although modest in scope, it demonstrated that it was possible to return dry salt along with the wet brine.

In response to the current deteriorated conditions at the BSF, the BLM intends to launch a detailed study of the salt crust later this year. The government has conducted multiple studies since the ’60s. “Bonneville has been studied to death,” said Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal government affairs. “It’s time for the BLM to do something.”

The coalition is now approaching federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pressure the BLM to implement an advanced reclamation program. Elements could include more wet and dry salt returns, replenishing the shallow brine aquifer that supports the BSF and construction of surface and subsurface barriers around the racing area to prevent the pumped salt brine from migrating away and to block mud and other contaminants from entering the vicinity.

“It took decades for the BSF to deteriorate, and it will take decades to undue the damage,” said Gosswein. “The coalition is setting goals for measurable progress. The ultimate objective is to restore the international track to its 13½-mile length. The coalition is now engaged with lawmakers, regulators and the public to establish the framework for achieving this goal.”

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Rob Fisher

	Rob Fisher (left) with automotive media personality Courtney Hansen at the SEMA Washington Rally.

Rob Fisher is the general manager of Circle Track, which is part of TEN: The Enthusiast Network. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Fisher is a five-year member of the SEMA PAC President’s Club.

“As a motorsports journalist for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how our sport and the auto aftermarket have changed,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not always been positive. Government regulation and legislative missteps threaten our industry and livelihood on a daily basis. The results can be devastating. I joined the President’s Club to help ensure that SEMA continues to have the resources necessary to fight for our industry’s health and our rights as car guys well into the future.”

For more information, contact SEMA PAC and Congressional Relations Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007
x20 or christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2015

BUSINESS

By Mike Imlay

Retail Spotlight

Bert’s Mega Mall Cranks the Powersports Volume

	Bert’s was originally a bicycle store. Today, it is exclusively powersports. Under Ron Seidner, it has become a 250,000-sq.-ft. “mega mall” of motorcycles, watercraft and UTVs, ranking as the nation’s number-one powersports powerhouse.

Located in Covina, California, Bert’s Mega Mall has a celebrated reputation as the nation’s largest powersports super store. Originally a bicycle retailer, it was bought in 1958 by Ed Seidner, who kept the Bert’s name because he couldn’t afford to change the signage and business cards at the time. Soon Seidner was adding motorcycles to his inventory, becoming one of California’s first Yamaha franchises.

Ownership eventually passed to Seidner’s son Ron, who continued to expand the business with a wide range of powersports brands and lines. In 1997, he purchased and moved Bert’s into its current location, a massive “big box” store composed primarily of a former Target outlet and its Kids“R”Us neighbor, combining sales, service, parts, accessories and merchandizing under one roof.

SEMA News caught up with Seidner at his dealership to learn the secrets of his incredible success, which is built heavily on selection, inventory management and efficient customer follow-up.

SEMA News: We’re here in your store on a weekday morning, and we see a lot of customers. What is your daily foot traffic?

Ron Seidner: You know, I really haven’t done a count. It’s hard to give numbers, but this store sells an average of 15 units a day and in the 30s to 40s on weekends. We’re selling every day of the week, and our service department is cranking. We do personal watercraft, three lines of jet skis, three lines of jet boats, UTVs such as the Polaris RZR, Yamaha Rhino or Viking, and then all the street bikes, dirt bikes and ATVs, new and used—13 brands.

SN: Your mega mall is rather unique in the industry. What is the actual size and scope of your facility?

RS: This building is a [former] Target store, and our showroom and total dealership footprint is 250,000 sq. ft. on nine acres. Our service department was once a Kids“R”Us clothing store next door to the Target store showroom, where we now sell our vehicles, parts and accessories. We also have a coffee lounge and five customer lounges where people can sit and relax with their kids when they come into the shop. We have first-class restrooms, around 300 parking stalls and storage out back where people can drop stuff off. We’re open seven days a week, closed five holidays a year and employ about 212 people.

SN: What is the extent of your success? Can you give us an idea of your sales figures?

Smart inventory management is the cornerstone of Seidner’s success. Bert’s is a massive candy store of powersports vehicles of every variety. These bikes and UTVs are only a small sampling.

RS: In the big days, our sales were somewhere around $120 million a year. Now we’re 30% to 40% in back of that because of the recession—the way the credit market tightened up and the unemployment that everyone experienced. We’re seeing [upward growth] as jobs begin to get better out there.

SN: Despite the recession, your business remains strong. Can you share three top business practices that have led to your success?

RS: First, I cut from the bottom up when the free-fall came. I kept my best soldiers. That was huge, because that’s where my strength was. Second, I modified my buying but did not modify my selection. When another guy would eliminate one color or two colors or one model, I continued to have my inventory available, and I was able to financially go through that time period, too, because we’re fairly stable. Having the inventory and selection you see is everything. Finally, the biggest thing is the footprint of this dealership. A guy comes in here and instead of being like another store saying they have one in the warehouse, can get it in a week or transfer it in, people want to buy it in a day. We make that available.

SN: Let’s talk about that inventory. How were you able to grow your footprint so large?

RS: Through the early days, when we moved to this building, our sales literally went up 80% because of the way we merchandized and stocked and staffed it. I didn’t spend a lot of money. I didn’t make any stupid investments, and I invested only back into it. If I sold eight, I bought 12. If I sold 12, I bought 20. At 20, 100. Before you knew it, I had inventory and just kept it growing to the point where my sales were following my inventory levels.

SN: What were the risks along the way?

RS: Our old store, where we were for 30 years, was 53,000 sq. ft. when we moved out with 68 employees. When I moved in here, we had 250,000 sq. ft. and, within 12 months, we picked up 80 employees. That was 80 people we had to bring in and train, and, of course, we had to fill the building. So we started pressing the inventory, and people came into the store and liked the selection and the way we dealt with people and followed things up and hustled.

With buying, there are always a couple of dogs in every group. When we get to the point where we buy a dog—say I end up with two part numbers that I thought would be good and they’re not—I ride them down, take a financial hit on them, work the tax benefit and blow them out, get my investment back, and I don’t buy them again. Having 13 lines, there’s always two or three like that, but we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to manage that through the years.

I’ve never been one to keep a vehicle on the floor for four years. When it comes due, I want to pay it off and get my investment back. I’ve kept sharp that way. I think a lot of dealers, on the downside, aren’t able to do that. They keep something in stock three years, paying 12% to 14% interest and sell it for a $300 or $400 deal when it costs them four grand.

It’s the message my dad taught me: Your first hit is your best hit. Take it and go. The trick of the game is to manage your inventory properly, burn it before you pay the juice on it, and not start working to get it out of the door after that point.

SN: Your dealership is more than sales, though. You also have service and retail departments that could easily stand on their own.

RS: We’re one of the only dealers in the powersports industry to have a complete auto-type service department. People can drop off boats, trailers, cycles, side-by-sides. It takes a lot of room. When a guy tries to drop a motorcycle off, a lot of dealers will say they can’t take it in since there’s no place to put it. Space is everything, and then we have about 24 trained technicians, a service director, a dispatch manager and a writer, same as the auto industry.

We also have a huge parts and accessories department. Different from the auto industry, we stock all the clothing a guy might wear. Here we have goggles, gloves, helmets, tinted shields, boots, the leather suit and then the lifestyle clothing afterwards—shorts, T-shirts, Oakley sunglasses. We also have a lot of aftermarket parts and accessories that an auto dealership doesn’t share in as well as in-house customizing, which most auto dealerships don’t do. That’s probably the biggest [advantage we have] over an auto dealership—the parts and accessory lines that we can carry.

SN: With so much inventory and staff, how do you keep things moving?

RS: We’re just aggressive. We’re aggressive in our online advertising and the credit applications coming in. We try to press the follow-up and phone calls, which you know in the auto, motorcycle and just about any business is horrible anymore, getting people to call you back. So we push real hard on that every day.