SEMA News—December 2014

FROM THE HILL
By Christian Robinson

Congressman Cools Off in the River City

Vintage Air Hosts U.S. Representative Lamar Smith

Thirty-eight years later, Vintage Air continues to expand. Every system and component is engineered and manufactured in-house at the company’s 55,000-sq.-ft. San Antonio headquarters by more than 140 skilled American workers, many of whom are hot rodders themselves.

U.S. Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) also hails from San Antonio. In fact, his family has called the area home for five generations. Smith was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 to represent Texas’s 21st Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio north to Austin. Vintage Air, its ownership and employees are part of Smith’s constituency.

In Congress, Smith serves as chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others. He also serves on both the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. In 2011, he was named Policymaker of the Year by Politico magazine for his work on patent reform legislation.

While most know Smith as “Congressman,” he’s recently added another title to his collection: enthusiast. This year, he and his son checked an item off their bucket list by purchasing a ’80 Porsche 911 that’s in need of some TLC—a first for the father-and-son pair.

“Having just purchased a collector car of my own, I was truly excited to visit Vintage Air,” Rep. Smith said. “What the folks are doing there is remarkable. They are a model of success not just in the automotive aftermarket industry but for businesses nationwide.”

During his tour, Rep. Smith was able to see how Vintage Air has grown. In the past year, it has expanded its local footprint with the addition of a complete evaporator and condensing coil manufacturing operation. This new department joins an already impressive roster of cutting-edge operations, including robotic machining, fiber-optic laser cutting and wind-tunnel testing.

Crucial to this expansion has been business expensing tax deductions (Section 179 in the tax code), which allow companies to deduct the cost of new equipment in the year it’s purchased instead of depreciating the cost over time. However, deductions at the $500,000 level expired at the start of the year and reverted to the pre-recession $25,000 level. Congress is considering a bill to renew the measure at $500,000, which encourages American companies, such as Vintage Air, to invest in the latest tools for manufacturing their products.

“The ability to show Rep. Smith firsthand how these important expensing deductions helped fuel our growth was invaluable,” Vintage Air Executive Vice President Rick Love said. “It is a message the Congressman can take back to Washington as he seeks to convince his fellow lawmakers to extend these pro-business benefits.”

For more information on planning your own Congressional District Site Visit, contact Christian Robinson in the SEMA government affairs office at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Al Azadi

Al Azadi is the founder and president of Omix-ADA, which is headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia. Azadi joined the SEMA PAC President’s Club in 2012 and is active with many charitable organizations, including SEMA Cares.

“The automotive aftermarket is a major contributor to the U.S. economy,” Azadi said. “At the same time, our industry could be negatively impacted if our government does not understand how its daily decisions impact our businesses. SEMA’s Washington, D.C., team is an integral part in maintaining a consistent voice in government to effectively represent and protect our industry. That is why I am a SEMA PAC President’s Club member.”

For more information on SEMA PAC, contact SEMA PAC Manager Christian Robinson by phone at 202-783-6007 x20 or e-mail at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—December 2014

FROM THE HILL
By Christian Robinson

Congressman Cools Off in the River City

Vintage Air Hosts U.S. Representative Lamar Smith

Thirty-eight years later, Vintage Air continues to expand. Every system and component is engineered and manufactured in-house at the company’s 55,000-sq.-ft. San Antonio headquarters by more than 140 skilled American workers, many of whom are hot rodders themselves.

U.S. Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) also hails from San Antonio. In fact, his family has called the area home for five generations. Smith was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 to represent Texas’s 21st Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio north to Austin. Vintage Air, its ownership and employees are part of Smith’s constituency.

In Congress, Smith serves as chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others. He also serves on both the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. In 2011, he was named Policymaker of the Year by Politico magazine for his work on patent reform legislation.

While most know Smith as “Congressman,” he’s recently added another title to his collection: enthusiast. This year, he and his son checked an item off their bucket list by purchasing a ’80 Porsche 911 that’s in need of some TLC—a first for the father-and-son pair.

“Having just purchased a collector car of my own, I was truly excited to visit Vintage Air,” Rep. Smith said. “What the folks are doing there is remarkable. They are a model of success not just in the automotive aftermarket industry but for businesses nationwide.”

During his tour, Rep. Smith was able to see how Vintage Air has grown. In the past year, it has expanded its local footprint with the addition of a complete evaporator and condensing coil manufacturing operation. This new department joins an already impressive roster of cutting-edge operations, including robotic machining, fiber-optic laser cutting and wind-tunnel testing.

Crucial to this expansion has been business expensing tax deductions (Section 179 in the tax code), which allow companies to deduct the cost of new equipment in the year it’s purchased instead of depreciating the cost over time. However, deductions at the $500,000 level expired at the start of the year and reverted to the pre-recession $25,000 level. Congress is considering a bill to renew the measure at $500,000, which encourages American companies, such as Vintage Air, to invest in the latest tools for manufacturing their products.

“The ability to show Rep. Smith firsthand how these important expensing deductions helped fuel our growth was invaluable,” Vintage Air Executive Vice President Rick Love said. “It is a message the Congressman can take back to Washington as he seeks to convince his fellow lawmakers to extend these pro-business benefits.”

For more information on planning your own Congressional District Site Visit, contact Christian Robinson in the SEMA government affairs office at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Al Azadi

Al Azadi is the founder and president of Omix-ADA, which is headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia. Azadi joined the SEMA PAC President’s Club in 2012 and is active with many charitable organizations, including SEMA Cares.

“The automotive aftermarket is a major contributor to the U.S. economy,” Azadi said. “At the same time, our industry could be negatively impacted if our government does not understand how its daily decisions impact our businesses. SEMA’s Washington, D.C., team is an integral part in maintaining a consistent voice in government to effectively represent and protect our industry. That is why I am a SEMA PAC President’s Club member.”

For more information on SEMA PAC, contact SEMA PAC Manager Christian Robinson by phone at 202-783-6007 x20 or e-mail at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—December 2014

FROM THE HILL
By Christian Robinson

Congressman Cools Off in the River City

Vintage Air Hosts U.S. Representative Lamar Smith

Thirty-eight years later, Vintage Air continues to expand. Every system and component is engineered and manufactured in-house at the company’s 55,000-sq.-ft. San Antonio headquarters by more than 140 skilled American workers, many of whom are hot rodders themselves.

U.S. Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) also hails from San Antonio. In fact, his family has called the area home for five generations. Smith was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 to represent Texas’s 21st Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio north to Austin. Vintage Air, its ownership and employees are part of Smith’s constituency.

In Congress, Smith serves as chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others. He also serves on both the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. In 2011, he was named Policymaker of the Year by Politico magazine for his work on patent reform legislation.

While most know Smith as “Congressman,” he’s recently added another title to his collection: enthusiast. This year, he and his son checked an item off their bucket list by purchasing a ’80 Porsche 911 that’s in need of some TLC—a first for the father-and-son pair.

“Having just purchased a collector car of my own, I was truly excited to visit Vintage Air,” Rep. Smith said. “What the folks are doing there is remarkable. They are a model of success not just in the automotive aftermarket industry but for businesses nationwide.”

During his tour, Rep. Smith was able to see how Vintage Air has grown. In the past year, it has expanded its local footprint with the addition of a complete evaporator and condensing coil manufacturing operation. This new department joins an already impressive roster of cutting-edge operations, including robotic machining, fiber-optic laser cutting and wind-tunnel testing.

Crucial to this expansion has been business expensing tax deductions (Section 179 in the tax code), which allow companies to deduct the cost of new equipment in the year it’s purchased instead of depreciating the cost over time. However, deductions at the $500,000 level expired at the start of the year and reverted to the pre-recession $25,000 level. Congress is considering a bill to renew the measure at $500,000, which encourages American companies, such as Vintage Air, to invest in the latest tools for manufacturing their products.

“The ability to show Rep. Smith firsthand how these important expensing deductions helped fuel our growth was invaluable,” Vintage Air Executive Vice President Rick Love said. “It is a message the Congressman can take back to Washington as he seeks to convince his fellow lawmakers to extend these pro-business benefits.”

For more information on planning your own Congressional District Site Visit, contact Christian Robinson in the SEMA government affairs office at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Al Azadi

Al Azadi is the founder and president of Omix-ADA, which is headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia. Azadi joined the SEMA PAC President’s Club in 2012 and is active with many charitable organizations, including SEMA Cares.

“The automotive aftermarket is a major contributor to the U.S. economy,” Azadi said. “At the same time, our industry could be negatively impacted if our government does not understand how its daily decisions impact our businesses. SEMA’s Washington, D.C., team is an integral part in maintaining a consistent voice in government to effectively represent and protect our industry. That is why I am a SEMA PAC President’s Club member.”

For more information on SEMA PAC, contact SEMA PAC Manager Christian Robinson by phone at 202-783-6007 x20 or e-mail at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—December 2014

FROM THE HILL
By Christian Robinson

Congressman Cools Off in the River City

Vintage Air Hosts U.S. Representative Lamar Smith

Thirty-eight years later, Vintage Air continues to expand. Every system and component is engineered and manufactured in-house at the company’s 55,000-sq.-ft. San Antonio headquarters by more than 140 skilled American workers, many of whom are hot rodders themselves.

U.S. Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) also hails from San Antonio. In fact, his family has called the area home for five generations. Smith was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 to represent Texas’s 21st Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio north to Austin. Vintage Air, its ownership and employees are part of Smith’s constituency.

In Congress, Smith serves as chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others. He also serves on both the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. In 2011, he was named Policymaker of the Year by Politico magazine for his work on patent reform legislation.

While most know Smith as “Congressman,” he’s recently added another title to his collection: enthusiast. This year, he and his son checked an item off their bucket list by purchasing a ’80 Porsche 911 that’s in need of some TLC—a first for the father-and-son pair.

“Having just purchased a collector car of my own, I was truly excited to visit Vintage Air,” Rep. Smith said. “What the folks are doing there is remarkable. They are a model of success not just in the automotive aftermarket industry but for businesses nationwide.”

During his tour, Rep. Smith was able to see how Vintage Air has grown. In the past year, it has expanded its local footprint with the addition of a complete evaporator and condensing coil manufacturing operation. This new department joins an already impressive roster of cutting-edge operations, including robotic machining, fiber-optic laser cutting and wind-tunnel testing.

Crucial to this expansion has been business expensing tax deductions (Section 179 in the tax code), which allow companies to deduct the cost of new equipment in the year it’s purchased instead of depreciating the cost over time. However, deductions at the $500,000 level expired at the start of the year and reverted to the pre-recession $25,000 level. Congress is considering a bill to renew the measure at $500,000, which encourages American companies, such as Vintage Air, to invest in the latest tools for manufacturing their products.

“The ability to show Rep. Smith firsthand how these important expensing deductions helped fuel our growth was invaluable,” Vintage Air Executive Vice President Rick Love said. “It is a message the Congressman can take back to Washington as he seeks to convince his fellow lawmakers to extend these pro-business benefits.”

For more information on planning your own Congressional District Site Visit, contact Christian Robinson in the SEMA government affairs office at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA PAC President’s Club Spotlight: Al Azadi

Al Azadi is the founder and president of Omix-ADA, which is headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia. Azadi joined the SEMA PAC President’s Club in 2012 and is active with many charitable organizations, including SEMA Cares.

“The automotive aftermarket is a major contributor to the U.S. economy,” Azadi said. “At the same time, our industry could be negatively impacted if our government does not understand how its daily decisions impact our businesses. SEMA’s Washington, D.C., team is an integral part in maintaining a consistent voice in government to effectively represent and protect our industry. That is why I am a SEMA PAC President’s Club member.”

For more information on SEMA PAC, contact SEMA PAC Manager Christian Robinson by phone at 202-783-6007 x20 or e-mail at christianr@sema.org.

SEMA News—December 2014

EVENTS
By Chad Simon

Designing Mini Pinewood Hot Rods

Builders Race Their Creations on the Dragstrip to Raise Money for SEMA Cares Charities

	Jesse Greening, Greening Auto Co.
	James Crosby, James Crosby Designs
	Doug Dwyer, American Sales & Marketing
	Brent VanDervort, Fatman Fabrications
	Glenn See, Garaj Mahal

After three years of dominance by Street Vizions, this year featured a new winner—Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises was the runner-up, followed by James Crosby of Ride Tech.

“I always like making fun things for charity, especially this car,” Greening said. “One of our goals this year was to win the race, along with building a good-looking car. We wanted show and go! We were very excited to be asked to be a part of the challenge again this year.”

Participating builders included American Sales & Marketing, James Crosby Designs, Garaj Mahal, Fatman Fabrications, Greening Auto Co., Hudson’s Rod Shop, Kaucher Kustoms, L&G Enterprises, Mo’ Muscle Cars, Motofeet and Reisinger Custom Rebuilding.

During the HRIA reception at the SEMA Show, the Best Engineered and Best in Show cars were determined by vote and—along with the race winner (Greening Auto Co.)—were auctioned live. A silent auction was held for the rest of the Pinewood Builder’s cars. Proceeds benefit the SEMA Cares charities.

“The Builders’ Challenge is another way the HRIA tries to boost awareness and involvement in the hot-rod industry, in this case by reaching out to both up-and-coming hot-rod builders and existing industry heroes to construct some really cool Pinewood cars,” said BJ Elmore, HRIA select committee member and head of the Pinewood task force. “Really, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of hand-crafted hot-rod artwork constructed by your favorite builder?”

In addition to supporting the charities, the builders showcase their creations throughout the year to children interested in cars, providing an opportunity to expose the hot-rod hobby and custom-car industry to the next generation of car builders.

“Thanks to all the builders who poured their passion into these cars,” said Dave Williams of Rampage Products, who served as the race organizer and trackside umpire. “They truly are remarkable works of art. Like Jesse’s work with fullsize rods, he built a way-cool car, and it was an extra kick to see our first lady builder, Theresa Contreras, racing her Pinewood entry alongside Jesse for a place on the podium as well.”

Contreras declared, “I was so excited about racing in the Pinewood Builder’s Race, but most of all, it’s a great group of people raising awareness and money for these kids and having a great time doing it.”

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air and HRIA members Eric Saltrick of Steele Rubber Products and the late John Menzler of COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“We consider the Builder’s Challenge to be one of the signature programs for the HRIA,” Love said. “It’s another opportunity for everyone in the industry to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship these builders are turning out. The actual races have been very close and have generated a huge amount of enthusiasm. The crowning achievement of the program is the fact that the proceeds from the cars’ auction go directly to the SEMA Cares charities. Most of these cars have more than 100 hours in design and build time, and it is just another example of the lengths our industry goes to give back and share.”

The idea behind the first Challenge was simply to see what top-notch hot-rod builders could do with a block of wood, and they have pushed the boundaries every year. The rules are simple and subject to interpretation. Each pinewood builder is given four months to complete a car, with no design limitations imposed except that the car has to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems are allowed.

Each builder must use at least one piece of the pinewood block that SEMA provides. Over the years, builders have not only used the wood for their cars but also aluminum, fiberglass and chrome. They have fabricated custom wheels, suspensions and chassis parts in miniature formats.

Fourth-year contender Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms constructed his car’s body from surfboard foam and fiberglass and used the pinewood provided by SEMA for the chassis. He said Saltrick approached him in 2010 to compete in the 2011 Pinewood Builder’s Challenge.

“I designed a car called the Ignitor IV, and it won Best Engineered that year,” Kaucher said. “Since then, I’ve participated every year. This year’s car, the Kozmic Ray, was my best car so far, although it wasn’t built for racing. It was 100% a show car and a tribute to the show-rod builders from the early ’60s, including Roth, Jefferies, Cushenberry and Starbird. I invite other designers in the industry to participate; it’s for a great cause, and you’ll meet so many good people in the manufacturing end of the industry to boot.”

SEMA News—December 2014

EVENTS
By Chad Simon

Designing Mini Pinewood Hot Rods

Builders Race Their Creations on the Dragstrip to Raise Money for SEMA Cares Charities

	Jesse Greening, Greening Auto Co.
	James Crosby, James Crosby Designs
	Doug Dwyer, American Sales & Marketing
	Brent VanDervort, Fatman Fabrications
	Glenn See, Garaj Mahal

After three years of dominance by Street Vizions, this year featured a new winner—Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises was the runner-up, followed by James Crosby of Ride Tech.

“I always like making fun things for charity, especially this car,” Greening said. “One of our goals this year was to win the race, along with building a good-looking car. We wanted show and go! We were very excited to be asked to be a part of the challenge again this year.”

Participating builders included American Sales & Marketing, James Crosby Designs, Garaj Mahal, Fatman Fabrications, Greening Auto Co., Hudson’s Rod Shop, Kaucher Kustoms, L&G Enterprises, Mo’ Muscle Cars, Motofeet and Reisinger Custom Rebuilding.

During the HRIA reception at the SEMA Show, the Best Engineered and Best in Show cars were determined by vote and—along with the race winner (Greening Auto Co.)—were auctioned live. A silent auction was held for the rest of the Pinewood Builder’s cars. Proceeds benefit the SEMA Cares charities.

“The Builders’ Challenge is another way the HRIA tries to boost awareness and involvement in the hot-rod industry, in this case by reaching out to both up-and-coming hot-rod builders and existing industry heroes to construct some really cool Pinewood cars,” said BJ Elmore, HRIA select committee member and head of the Pinewood task force. “Really, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of hand-crafted hot-rod artwork constructed by your favorite builder?”

In addition to supporting the charities, the builders showcase their creations throughout the year to children interested in cars, providing an opportunity to expose the hot-rod hobby and custom-car industry to the next generation of car builders.

“Thanks to all the builders who poured their passion into these cars,” said Dave Williams of Rampage Products, who served as the race organizer and trackside umpire. “They truly are remarkable works of art. Like Jesse’s work with fullsize rods, he built a way-cool car, and it was an extra kick to see our first lady builder, Theresa Contreras, racing her Pinewood entry alongside Jesse for a place on the podium as well.”

Contreras declared, “I was so excited about racing in the Pinewood Builder’s Race, but most of all, it’s a great group of people raising awareness and money for these kids and having a great time doing it.”

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air and HRIA members Eric Saltrick of Steele Rubber Products and the late John Menzler of COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“We consider the Builder’s Challenge to be one of the signature programs for the HRIA,” Love said. “It’s another opportunity for everyone in the industry to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship these builders are turning out. The actual races have been very close and have generated a huge amount of enthusiasm. The crowning achievement of the program is the fact that the proceeds from the cars’ auction go directly to the SEMA Cares charities. Most of these cars have more than 100 hours in design and build time, and it is just another example of the lengths our industry goes to give back and share.”

The idea behind the first Challenge was simply to see what top-notch hot-rod builders could do with a block of wood, and they have pushed the boundaries every year. The rules are simple and subject to interpretation. Each pinewood builder is given four months to complete a car, with no design limitations imposed except that the car has to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems are allowed.

Each builder must use at least one piece of the pinewood block that SEMA provides. Over the years, builders have not only used the wood for their cars but also aluminum, fiberglass and chrome. They have fabricated custom wheels, suspensions and chassis parts in miniature formats.

Fourth-year contender Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms constructed his car’s body from surfboard foam and fiberglass and used the pinewood provided by SEMA for the chassis. He said Saltrick approached him in 2010 to compete in the 2011 Pinewood Builder’s Challenge.

“I designed a car called the Ignitor IV, and it won Best Engineered that year,” Kaucher said. “Since then, I’ve participated every year. This year’s car, the Kozmic Ray, was my best car so far, although it wasn’t built for racing. It was 100% a show car and a tribute to the show-rod builders from the early ’60s, including Roth, Jefferies, Cushenberry and Starbird. I invite other designers in the industry to participate; it’s for a great cause, and you’ll meet so many good people in the manufacturing end of the industry to boot.”

SEMA News—December 2014

EVENTS
By Chad Simon

Designing Mini Pinewood Hot Rods

Builders Race Their Creations on the Dragstrip to Raise Money for SEMA Cares Charities

	Jesse Greening, Greening Auto Co.
	James Crosby, James Crosby Designs
	Doug Dwyer, American Sales & Marketing
	Brent VanDervort, Fatman Fabrications
	Glenn See, Garaj Mahal

After three years of dominance by Street Vizions, this year featured a new winner—Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises was the runner-up, followed by James Crosby of Ride Tech.

“I always like making fun things for charity, especially this car,” Greening said. “One of our goals this year was to win the race, along with building a good-looking car. We wanted show and go! We were very excited to be asked to be a part of the challenge again this year.”

Participating builders included American Sales & Marketing, James Crosby Designs, Garaj Mahal, Fatman Fabrications, Greening Auto Co., Hudson’s Rod Shop, Kaucher Kustoms, L&G Enterprises, Mo’ Muscle Cars, Motofeet and Reisinger Custom Rebuilding.

During the HRIA reception at the SEMA Show, the Best Engineered and Best in Show cars were determined by vote and—along with the race winner (Greening Auto Co.)—were auctioned live. A silent auction was held for the rest of the Pinewood Builder’s cars. Proceeds benefit the SEMA Cares charities.

“The Builders’ Challenge is another way the HRIA tries to boost awareness and involvement in the hot-rod industry, in this case by reaching out to both up-and-coming hot-rod builders and existing industry heroes to construct some really cool Pinewood cars,” said BJ Elmore, HRIA select committee member and head of the Pinewood task force. “Really, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of hand-crafted hot-rod artwork constructed by your favorite builder?”

In addition to supporting the charities, the builders showcase their creations throughout the year to children interested in cars, providing an opportunity to expose the hot-rod hobby and custom-car industry to the next generation of car builders.

“Thanks to all the builders who poured their passion into these cars,” said Dave Williams of Rampage Products, who served as the race organizer and trackside umpire. “They truly are remarkable works of art. Like Jesse’s work with fullsize rods, he built a way-cool car, and it was an extra kick to see our first lady builder, Theresa Contreras, racing her Pinewood entry alongside Jesse for a place on the podium as well.”

Contreras declared, “I was so excited about racing in the Pinewood Builder’s Race, but most of all, it’s a great group of people raising awareness and money for these kids and having a great time doing it.”

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air and HRIA members Eric Saltrick of Steele Rubber Products and the late John Menzler of COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“We consider the Builder’s Challenge to be one of the signature programs for the HRIA,” Love said. “It’s another opportunity for everyone in the industry to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship these builders are turning out. The actual races have been very close and have generated a huge amount of enthusiasm. The crowning achievement of the program is the fact that the proceeds from the cars’ auction go directly to the SEMA Cares charities. Most of these cars have more than 100 hours in design and build time, and it is just another example of the lengths our industry goes to give back and share.”

The idea behind the first Challenge was simply to see what top-notch hot-rod builders could do with a block of wood, and they have pushed the boundaries every year. The rules are simple and subject to interpretation. Each pinewood builder is given four months to complete a car, with no design limitations imposed except that the car has to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems are allowed.

Each builder must use at least one piece of the pinewood block that SEMA provides. Over the years, builders have not only used the wood for their cars but also aluminum, fiberglass and chrome. They have fabricated custom wheels, suspensions and chassis parts in miniature formats.

Fourth-year contender Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms constructed his car’s body from surfboard foam and fiberglass and used the pinewood provided by SEMA for the chassis. He said Saltrick approached him in 2010 to compete in the 2011 Pinewood Builder’s Challenge.

“I designed a car called the Ignitor IV, and it won Best Engineered that year,” Kaucher said. “Since then, I’ve participated every year. This year’s car, the Kozmic Ray, was my best car so far, although it wasn’t built for racing. It was 100% a show car and a tribute to the show-rod builders from the early ’60s, including Roth, Jefferies, Cushenberry and Starbird. I invite other designers in the industry to participate; it’s for a great cause, and you’ll meet so many good people in the manufacturing end of the industry to boot.”

SEMA News—December 2014

EVENTS
By Chad Simon

Designing Mini Pinewood Hot Rods

Builders Race Their Creations on the Dragstrip to Raise Money for SEMA Cares Charities

	Jesse Greening, Greening Auto Co.
	James Crosby, James Crosby Designs
	Doug Dwyer, American Sales & Marketing
	Brent VanDervort, Fatman Fabrications
	Glenn See, Garaj Mahal

After three years of dominance by Street Vizions, this year featured a new winner—Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises was the runner-up, followed by James Crosby of Ride Tech.

“I always like making fun things for charity, especially this car,” Greening said. “One of our goals this year was to win the race, along with building a good-looking car. We wanted show and go! We were very excited to be asked to be a part of the challenge again this year.”

Participating builders included American Sales & Marketing, James Crosby Designs, Garaj Mahal, Fatman Fabrications, Greening Auto Co., Hudson’s Rod Shop, Kaucher Kustoms, L&G Enterprises, Mo’ Muscle Cars, Motofeet and Reisinger Custom Rebuilding.

During the HRIA reception at the SEMA Show, the Best Engineered and Best in Show cars were determined by vote and—along with the race winner (Greening Auto Co.)—were auctioned live. A silent auction was held for the rest of the Pinewood Builder’s cars. Proceeds benefit the SEMA Cares charities.

“The Builders’ Challenge is another way the HRIA tries to boost awareness and involvement in the hot-rod industry, in this case by reaching out to both up-and-coming hot-rod builders and existing industry heroes to construct some really cool Pinewood cars,” said BJ Elmore, HRIA select committee member and head of the Pinewood task force. “Really, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of hand-crafted hot-rod artwork constructed by your favorite builder?”

In addition to supporting the charities, the builders showcase their creations throughout the year to children interested in cars, providing an opportunity to expose the hot-rod hobby and custom-car industry to the next generation of car builders.

“Thanks to all the builders who poured their passion into these cars,” said Dave Williams of Rampage Products, who served as the race organizer and trackside umpire. “They truly are remarkable works of art. Like Jesse’s work with fullsize rods, he built a way-cool car, and it was an extra kick to see our first lady builder, Theresa Contreras, racing her Pinewood entry alongside Jesse for a place on the podium as well.”

Contreras declared, “I was so excited about racing in the Pinewood Builder’s Race, but most of all, it’s a great group of people raising awareness and money for these kids and having a great time doing it.”

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air and HRIA members Eric Saltrick of Steele Rubber Products and the late John Menzler of COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“We consider the Builder’s Challenge to be one of the signature programs for the HRIA,” Love said. “It’s another opportunity for everyone in the industry to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship these builders are turning out. The actual races have been very close and have generated a huge amount of enthusiasm. The crowning achievement of the program is the fact that the proceeds from the cars’ auction go directly to the SEMA Cares charities. Most of these cars have more than 100 hours in design and build time, and it is just another example of the lengths our industry goes to give back and share.”

The idea behind the first Challenge was simply to see what top-notch hot-rod builders could do with a block of wood, and they have pushed the boundaries every year. The rules are simple and subject to interpretation. Each pinewood builder is given four months to complete a car, with no design limitations imposed except that the car has to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems are allowed.

Each builder must use at least one piece of the pinewood block that SEMA provides. Over the years, builders have not only used the wood for their cars but also aluminum, fiberglass and chrome. They have fabricated custom wheels, suspensions and chassis parts in miniature formats.

Fourth-year contender Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms constructed his car’s body from surfboard foam and fiberglass and used the pinewood provided by SEMA for the chassis. He said Saltrick approached him in 2010 to compete in the 2011 Pinewood Builder’s Challenge.

“I designed a car called the Ignitor IV, and it won Best Engineered that year,” Kaucher said. “Since then, I’ve participated every year. This year’s car, the Kozmic Ray, was my best car so far, although it wasn’t built for racing. It was 100% a show car and a tribute to the show-rod builders from the early ’60s, including Roth, Jefferies, Cushenberry and Starbird. I invite other designers in the industry to participate; it’s for a great cause, and you’ll meet so many good people in the manufacturing end of the industry to boot.”

SEMA News—December 2014

EVENTS
By Chad Simon

Designing Mini Pinewood Hot Rods

Builders Race Their Creations on the Dragstrip to Raise Money for SEMA Cares Charities

	Jesse Greening, Greening Auto Co.
	James Crosby, James Crosby Designs
	Doug Dwyer, American Sales & Marketing
	Brent VanDervort, Fatman Fabrications
	Glenn See, Garaj Mahal

After three years of dominance by Street Vizions, this year featured a new winner—Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises was the runner-up, followed by James Crosby of Ride Tech.

“I always like making fun things for charity, especially this car,” Greening said. “One of our goals this year was to win the race, along with building a good-looking car. We wanted show and go! We were very excited to be asked to be a part of the challenge again this year.”

Participating builders included American Sales & Marketing, James Crosby Designs, Garaj Mahal, Fatman Fabrications, Greening Auto Co., Hudson’s Rod Shop, Kaucher Kustoms, L&G Enterprises, Mo’ Muscle Cars, Motofeet and Reisinger Custom Rebuilding.

During the HRIA reception at the SEMA Show, the Best Engineered and Best in Show cars were determined by vote and—along with the race winner (Greening Auto Co.)—were auctioned live. A silent auction was held for the rest of the Pinewood Builder’s cars. Proceeds benefit the SEMA Cares charities.

“The Builders’ Challenge is another way the HRIA tries to boost awareness and involvement in the hot-rod industry, in this case by reaching out to both up-and-coming hot-rod builders and existing industry heroes to construct some really cool Pinewood cars,” said BJ Elmore, HRIA select committee member and head of the Pinewood task force. “Really, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of hand-crafted hot-rod artwork constructed by your favorite builder?”

In addition to supporting the charities, the builders showcase their creations throughout the year to children interested in cars, providing an opportunity to expose the hot-rod hobby and custom-car industry to the next generation of car builders.

“Thanks to all the builders who poured their passion into these cars,” said Dave Williams of Rampage Products, who served as the race organizer and trackside umpire. “They truly are remarkable works of art. Like Jesse’s work with fullsize rods, he built a way-cool car, and it was an extra kick to see our first lady builder, Theresa Contreras, racing her Pinewood entry alongside Jesse for a place on the podium as well.”

Contreras declared, “I was so excited about racing in the Pinewood Builder’s Race, but most of all, it’s a great group of people raising awareness and money for these kids and having a great time doing it.”

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air and HRIA members Eric Saltrick of Steele Rubber Products and the late John Menzler of COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“We consider the Builder’s Challenge to be one of the signature programs for the HRIA,” Love said. “It’s another opportunity for everyone in the industry to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship these builders are turning out. The actual races have been very close and have generated a huge amount of enthusiasm. The crowning achievement of the program is the fact that the proceeds from the cars’ auction go directly to the SEMA Cares charities. Most of these cars have more than 100 hours in design and build time, and it is just another example of the lengths our industry goes to give back and share.”

The idea behind the first Challenge was simply to see what top-notch hot-rod builders could do with a block of wood, and they have pushed the boundaries every year. The rules are simple and subject to interpretation. Each pinewood builder is given four months to complete a car, with no design limitations imposed except that the car has to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems are allowed.

Each builder must use at least one piece of the pinewood block that SEMA provides. Over the years, builders have not only used the wood for their cars but also aluminum, fiberglass and chrome. They have fabricated custom wheels, suspensions and chassis parts in miniature formats.

Fourth-year contender Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms constructed his car’s body from surfboard foam and fiberglass and used the pinewood provided by SEMA for the chassis. He said Saltrick approached him in 2010 to compete in the 2011 Pinewood Builder’s Challenge.

“I designed a car called the Ignitor IV, and it won Best Engineered that year,” Kaucher said. “Since then, I’ve participated every year. This year’s car, the Kozmic Ray, was my best car so far, although it wasn’t built for racing. It was 100% a show car and a tribute to the show-rod builders from the early ’60s, including Roth, Jefferies, Cushenberry and Starbird. I invite other designers in the industry to participate; it’s for a great cause, and you’ll meet so many good people in the manufacturing end of the industry to boot.”

SEMA News—December 2014

EVENTS
By Chad Simon

Designing Mini Pinewood Hot Rods

Builders Race Their Creations on the Dragstrip to Raise Money for SEMA Cares Charities

	Jesse Greening, Greening Auto Co.
	James Crosby, James Crosby Designs
	Doug Dwyer, American Sales & Marketing
	Brent VanDervort, Fatman Fabrications
	Glenn See, Garaj Mahal

After three years of dominance by Street Vizions, this year featured a new winner—Jesse Greening of Greening Auto Co. Theresa Contreras of L&G Enterprises was the runner-up, followed by James Crosby of Ride Tech.

“I always like making fun things for charity, especially this car,” Greening said. “One of our goals this year was to win the race, along with building a good-looking car. We wanted show and go! We were very excited to be asked to be a part of the challenge again this year.”

Participating builders included American Sales & Marketing, James Crosby Designs, Garaj Mahal, Fatman Fabrications, Greening Auto Co., Hudson’s Rod Shop, Kaucher Kustoms, L&G Enterprises, Mo’ Muscle Cars, Motofeet and Reisinger Custom Rebuilding.

During the HRIA reception at the SEMA Show, the Best Engineered and Best in Show cars were determined by vote and—along with the race winner (Greening Auto Co.)—were auctioned live. A silent auction was held for the rest of the Pinewood Builder’s cars. Proceeds benefit the SEMA Cares charities.

“The Builders’ Challenge is another way the HRIA tries to boost awareness and involvement in the hot-rod industry, in this case by reaching out to both up-and-coming hot-rod builders and existing industry heroes to construct some really cool Pinewood cars,” said BJ Elmore, HRIA select committee member and head of the Pinewood task force. “Really, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of hand-crafted hot-rod artwork constructed by your favorite builder?”

In addition to supporting the charities, the builders showcase their creations throughout the year to children interested in cars, providing an opportunity to expose the hot-rod hobby and custom-car industry to the next generation of car builders.

“Thanks to all the builders who poured their passion into these cars,” said Dave Williams of Rampage Products, who served as the race organizer and trackside umpire. “They truly are remarkable works of art. Like Jesse’s work with fullsize rods, he built a way-cool car, and it was an extra kick to see our first lady builder, Theresa Contreras, racing her Pinewood entry alongside Jesse for a place on the podium as well.”

Contreras declared, “I was so excited about racing in the Pinewood Builder’s Race, but most of all, it’s a great group of people raising awareness and money for these kids and having a great time doing it.”

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air and HRIA members Eric Saltrick of Steele Rubber Products and the late John Menzler of COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“We consider the Builder’s Challenge to be one of the signature programs for the HRIA,” Love said. “It’s another opportunity for everyone in the industry to see the level of creativity and craftsmanship these builders are turning out. The actual races have been very close and have generated a huge amount of enthusiasm. The crowning achievement of the program is the fact that the proceeds from the cars’ auction go directly to the SEMA Cares charities. Most of these cars have more than 100 hours in design and build time, and it is just another example of the lengths our industry goes to give back and share.”

The idea behind the first Challenge was simply to see what top-notch hot-rod builders could do with a block of wood, and they have pushed the boundaries every year. The rules are simple and subject to interpretation. Each pinewood builder is given four months to complete a car, with no design limitations imposed except that the car has to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems are allowed.

Each builder must use at least one piece of the pinewood block that SEMA provides. Over the years, builders have not only used the wood for their cars but also aluminum, fiberglass and chrome. They have fabricated custom wheels, suspensions and chassis parts in miniature formats.

Fourth-year contender Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms constructed his car’s body from surfboard foam and fiberglass and used the pinewood provided by SEMA for the chassis. He said Saltrick approached him in 2010 to compete in the 2011 Pinewood Builder’s Challenge.

“I designed a car called the Ignitor IV, and it won Best Engineered that year,” Kaucher said. “Since then, I’ve participated every year. This year’s car, the Kozmic Ray, was my best car so far, although it wasn’t built for racing. It was 100% a show car and a tribute to the show-rod builders from the early ’60s, including Roth, Jefferies, Cushenberry and Starbird. I invite other designers in the industry to participate; it’s for a great cause, and you’ll meet so many good people in the manufacturing end of the industry to boot.”