By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is making low-interest loans available to companies producing fuel-efficient vehicles and the equipment that achieves efficiency gains. The money is available through the DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program. The program offers loans at U.S. Treasury rates for minimal fees. In order to take advantage of the program, the manufacturer must produce components designed to meet fuel-efficiency performance requirements. Qualifying components include:

• Advanced engine technologies (variable valvetrain control, direct injection, turbocharging, start/stop)
• Advanced powertrain technologies (increased number of gear ratios, hybrid/EV powertrain integration)
• Fuel-efficient tires
• Electronics (advanced EV controllers, electric power steering, power electronics, battery systems)
• Light-weighting technologies
• Improved aerodynamics

The loans are offered to support qualified component manufacturing through the building of new facilities in the United States or through the re-equipping, modernizing or expanding of existing facilities in the United States. Manufacturers interested in applying for a loan from the ATVM program should note that the program is designed to provide larger loans, such as loans of $10 million or greater. 

For more information on the ATVM loan program, visit the Loan Programs Office website, or contact senior Department of Energy staffers at atvmloan@hq.doe.gov to determine if the program is right for your company. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is making low-interest loans available to companies producing fuel-efficient vehicles and the equipment that achieves efficiency gains. The money is available through the DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program. The program offers loans at U.S. Treasury rates for minimal fees. In order to take advantage of the program, the manufacturer must produce components designed to meet fuel-efficiency performance requirements. Qualifying components include:

• Advanced engine technologies (variable valvetrain control, direct injection, turbocharging, start/stop)
• Advanced powertrain technologies (increased number of gear ratios, hybrid/EV powertrain integration)
• Fuel-efficient tires
• Electronics (advanced EV controllers, electric power steering, power electronics, battery systems)
• Light-weighting technologies
• Improved aerodynamics

The loans are offered to support qualified component manufacturing through the building of new facilities in the United States or through the re-equipping, modernizing or expanding of existing facilities in the United States. Manufacturers interested in applying for a loan from the ATVM program should note that the program is designed to provide larger loans, such as loans of $10 million or greater. 

For more information on the ATVM loan program, visit the Loan Programs Office website, or contact senior Department of Energy staffers at atvmloan@hq.doe.gov to determine if the program is right for your company. 

Compiled by SEMA Editors

	(From L-R): Lonnie McCurry Jr.; Lonnie McCurry Sr. (Skyjacker); Brianne and Josh Ellison, winner of the Bushwacker Founder’s Award (Royalty Core); Jerry Logan, founder and chairman of the Board (Bushwacker); and Kelly Fromm (Rev-It-Up For Wounded Warriors).

Bushwacker Announces Winner of Founder’s Award

On November 6, 2014, Jerry Logan, founder of Bushwacker, awarded truck builder Josh Ellison the first Bushwacker Founder’s Award, which recognized the builder of the best truck or SUV at the 2014 SEMA Show as judged by a panel of industry experts. Ellison won $1,500 and a trophy for his custom ’14 Ford F-350 Crew Cab.

Ellison, who is also the president of Royalty Core Truck Grilles and Accessories, built the truck and then drove it from Oregon to the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. His F-350 features an extensive list of modifications, starting with Bushwacker Pocket Style fender flares with custom hardware, which provides extra coverage to the custom-painted 24-in. Hostile wheels wrapped in 40-in. Interco tires. Ellison equipped the rig with a custom Bullet Proof lift and added dual shocks, steering stabilizers and traction bars. He also installed Mag Hytech differential covers.

Exterior accessories include Royalty Core grilles and bolts throughout, a custom ram-air hood by Cervinis, Fusion Bumpers, a Warn winch, a Line-X bedliner, various Monster Hooks products, LED lighting and a custom ramp in the bed to allow for a Polaris RZR side x side that resides on the back. The truck’s finish wears a baked-on ceramic coating.

To boost performance, Ellison added an Edge Evolution CTS touch-screen programmer, MBRP dual exhaust, an S&B Filters intake system and an H&S Motorsports intercooler pipe kit to the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel. Part of the final touches include a sound system courtesy of Kicker.

A.R.E. and Rigid offer an LED light bar as an MX Series truck cap option.

Rigid Industries Announces Joint Marketing Partnership With A.R.E. Accessories

Rigid Industries LED Lighting entered a joint marketing partnership with A.R.E. Accessories—the result of both companies working together on industry project truck builds. They include the Wounded Warrior Project truck, professional angler Justin Lucas’s ’14 Tundra SR5 Double Cab and A.R.E.’s ’14 Fishing Team Toyota Tundra. A.R.E. Accessories recently began offering Rigid Industries’ E-Series LED Light Bars as optional equipment on its fiberglass MX Series truck caps.

Brian Huck Promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of the Eastwood Co.

Brian Huck has been promoted from vice president of marketing and sales to president and chief operating officer of The Eastwood Co. In his new role, Huck will oversee the entire Eastwood Co. business unit, including channels, product development and the expansion into retail, which also includes strategic planning, acquisitions and business development. He will be based out of Eastwood's corporate headquarters in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

WELD Announces Hiring of Richard Greenblatt as Vice President of Operations, Keith Kern as General Manager of WELD CCW Forged Performance

WELD has announced the addition of Richard Greenblatt as the company’s new vice president of operations. Greenblatt has more than 30 years of experience in production, machining, operations and manufacturing management, and most recently was the field project operations manager for Doosan Infracore America. A former manufacturing engineering manager for ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft, Greenblatt's career has included work at several automotive and industrial companies, including Brad Foote Gear Works, Carlisle Industrial Brake, Ardisan, Inc., Condux International and Extrusion Dies Inc.

The company also has announced the addition of Keith Kern as general manger of the company’s new WELD Complete Custom Wheels (CCW) Forged Performance division, effective November 24. Kern joins WELD with a history in the performance wheel and accessory industry, most recently as the director of sales and marketing for Billet Specialties Inc. WELD recently announced the acquisition CCW of Holly Hill, Florida—a manufacturer of premium forged road race, sports car and luxury car wheels, creating CCW Forged Performance.

	Van T. Free III of Montgomery, Alabama, was the winner of the AED Performance/RacingJunk.com ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 4x4 Extended Cab pickup.

RacingJunk.com and AED Performance Hand Over the Keys to a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado at the SEMA Show

Van T. Free III of Montgomery, Alabama, was the winner of the AED Performance/RacingJunk.com ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 4x4 Extended Cab pickup. The truck represents the grand prize of a nearly yearlong campaign of giveaways and events to celebrate the 15th anniversary of RacingJunk.com. The prize also included a trip for two to the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. On Wednesday, November 5, RacingJunk.com handed over the keys to Free and his wife.

Jerry "Monza" Johnston, star of the television show "Street Outlaws," actually handed the keys over to the winners. Representatives from Magnaflow, WELD, JHR Performance, Mickey Thompson Tires, Crawford Service and AED Performance were on hand to congratulate the Frees.

The Silverado has been modified with aftermarket components, including Mickey Thompson tires, WELD Racing wheels, a Magnuson supercharger installed by JHR Performance and an A.R.E. tonneau cover, while Crawford’s Service installed the Dupli-Color bed armour system, Magnaflow exhaust system and a lift kit from Rough Country Suspension Systems. It traveled around the country as part of the giveaway contest.

Husky Liners Awarded 2014 RealTruck.com SEMA Vendor Award

Husky Liners was named the 2014 Data Geek of the Year award by RealTruck.com. The award was presented at the 2014 SEMA Show and is part of RealTruck.com's Vendor Awards series. Now in their second year, the awards honor partner companies that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the areas of communication, problem solving and support, while providing high-quality products and top-notch customer service. Ultimately, only one company per category won, and the winners represent the partners that stood out during the September 2013 to August 2014 period.

Covercraft Kicks-Off Celebration of 50 Years

Covercraft kicked off the celebration of the company's 50th anniversary with a special display featuring a '65 Mustang at the 2014 SEMA Show.

“As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of ‘Covercraftsmanship,’ we look to the past with both pride and humility, and to the future with a great deal of excitement,” stated Covercraft President Marty Lichtmann. “Our company and family of brands reflect the hard work and dedication of more than 530 employees and the inspiration of the industry we love.”

Founded in 1965 in San Fernando Valley, California, by Bob Lichtmann, Covercraft was the pioneer in custom vehicle covers. Still family owned and now headquartered in Oklahoma, Covercraft offers more than 80,000 custom patterns and a complete line of interior and exterior vehicle protection solutions.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

• EXEDY, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is hiring an aftermarket sales rep responsible for actively managing customer accounts. The successful candidate will have more than three years’ proven sales experience and technical knowledge of drivetrain components.

• Go Rhino, located in Brea, California, is hiring an inside sales rep with a minimum of three years of inside automotive aftermarket sales experience. The successful candidate will be responsible for handling day-to-day activities of multiple accounts, assisting with technical support, order processing and post-sales customer service.

• Stillen, located in Costa Mesa, California, is hiring an Internet sales coordinator to check and verify incoming orders, interface with customers and vendors by e-mail and phone, track order progress and  guarantee customer satisfaction. The ability to learn systems and procedures is key, and effective written and verbal communication is required.

View more listings from SEMA's Automotive Classifieds listings.

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

By SEMA Editors

	Harold Coker with his son Corky.

Coker Tire Co. founder and automotive aftermarket pioneer Harold Coker, 84, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away Sunday, November 16.

Coker opened his business in 1958, seeking out molds for obsolete tires and licensing them, virtually creating the collector vehicle tire industry in the process of simply trying to provide authentic tires for antique automobile collectors. This passionate endeavor gained him a place in the Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame just two weeks prior to his passing.

Since his retirement in 2004, Coker spent his days with his wife Lillian and growing family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His lifelong passion of restoring antique cars kept him busy in the garage, even as he continued community service on various boards and committees.

Coker always felt compelled to give back to the community that was so much a part of his success. After becoming involved in local politics in the 1980s, he was called the father of the Hamilton County Republican Party, ran for U.S. Congress in 1988 and served on the Hamilton County Commission for 20 years, playing critical roles in the development and growth of Chattanooga’s current landscape. High points in Coker’s contributions include key roles in the acquisition and development of Enterprise South Industrial Park, which is now home to Amazon and Volkswagen Group of North America. He also served on the board responsible for bringing the residential fiber-optic network to Chattanooga area residents.

Coker is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lillian, his two sons Corky (wife Theresa) Coker and David (wife Kathy) Coker, daughter Christie (husband Jerry) Bowen, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

For more information on Coker’s passing, visit Tire Business online.

By SEMA Editors

	Team Autometer from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center finished with an average time of 19:28:20, and will travel to the PRI Show next month to compete for the national championship.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) just completed half of its Engine Challenge dual championship. Competing at the 2014 SEMA Show, the high schoolers in the Engine Challenge championship had the largest group of spectators at any Engine Challenge to date.

Team Autometer from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center set a new Engine Challenge record on their way to becoming one of the SEMA dual championship winners, completing a performance engine rebuild in 18:09. The average time of their three rebuilds was 19:28, giving them the first-place seed going into the national championship at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, December 11–13, in Indianapolis.

Team Moroso from Thomas County Central High School in Georgia came in second with an average time of 21:15. Just seven seconds behind them was Team Hedman from Illinois’ Belvidere North High School. A total of 15 teams completed at the SEMA dual championship, including one all-female team. The Royal Purple ladies, also from Thomas County Central High School, came in fifth overall with a time of 26:17. This is the highest-place finish ever achieved by an all-female team.

Only the top two teams from the SEMA Show will go on to compete in the final four at the PRI dual championship. Starting Wednesday–Friday, December 10–12, the PRI Show will host the second half of the dual championship as another 14 teams compete in hopes of being one of the two finalists. The four winning teams will then compete in the national championship on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. and two more times on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. All three runs will be averaged together, and the team with the best averaged time will become the 2014 Hot Rodder of Tomorrow national champion.

Besides gaining valuable skills, learning teamwork and proving their ability to perform under pressure, each team competing in the Engine Challenge dual championship will also be awarded scholarships to top automotive and technical secondary schools.

The results from the 2014 SEMA Show:

By SEMA Editors

	Team Autometer from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center finished with an average time of 19:28:20, and will travel to the PRI Show next month to compete for the national championship.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) just completed half of its Engine Challenge dual championship. Competing at the 2014 SEMA Show, the high schoolers in the Engine Challenge championship had the largest group of spectators at any Engine Challenge to date.

Team Autometer from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center set a new Engine Challenge record on their way to becoming one of the SEMA dual championship winners, completing a performance engine rebuild in 18:09. The average time of their three rebuilds was 19:28, giving them the first-place seed going into the national championship at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, December 11–13, in Indianapolis.

Team Moroso from Thomas County Central High School in Georgia came in second with an average time of 21:15. Just seven seconds behind them was Team Hedman from Illinois’ Belvidere North High School. A total of 15 teams completed at the SEMA dual championship, including one all-female team. The Royal Purple ladies, also from Thomas County Central High School, came in fifth overall with a time of 26:17. This is the highest-place finish ever achieved by an all-female team.

Only the top two teams from the SEMA Show will go on to compete in the final four at the PRI dual championship. Starting Wednesday–Friday, December 10–12, the PRI Show will host the second half of the dual championship as another 14 teams compete in hopes of being one of the two finalists. The four winning teams will then compete in the national championship on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. and two more times on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. All three runs will be averaged together, and the team with the best averaged time will become the 2014 Hot Rodder of Tomorrow national champion.

Besides gaining valuable skills, learning teamwork and proving their ability to perform under pressure, each team competing in the Engine Challenge dual championship will also be awarded scholarships to top automotive and technical secondary schools.

The results from the 2014 SEMA Show:

By SEMA Editors

	Team Autometer from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center finished with an average time of 19:28:20, and will travel to the PRI Show next month to compete for the national championship.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) just completed half of its Engine Challenge dual championship. Competing at the 2014 SEMA Show, the high schoolers in the Engine Challenge championship had the largest group of spectators at any Engine Challenge to date.

Team Autometer from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center set a new Engine Challenge record on their way to becoming one of the SEMA dual championship winners, completing a performance engine rebuild in 18:09. The average time of their three rebuilds was 19:28, giving them the first-place seed going into the national championship at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, December 11–13, in Indianapolis.

Team Moroso from Thomas County Central High School in Georgia came in second with an average time of 21:15. Just seven seconds behind them was Team Hedman from Illinois’ Belvidere North High School. A total of 15 teams completed at the SEMA dual championship, including one all-female team. The Royal Purple ladies, also from Thomas County Central High School, came in fifth overall with a time of 26:17. This is the highest-place finish ever achieved by an all-female team.

Only the top two teams from the SEMA Show will go on to compete in the final four at the PRI dual championship. Starting Wednesday–Friday, December 10–12, the PRI Show will host the second half of the dual championship as another 14 teams compete in hopes of being one of the two finalists. The four winning teams will then compete in the national championship on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. and two more times on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. All three runs will be averaged together, and the team with the best averaged time will become the 2014 Hot Rodder of Tomorrow national champion.

Besides gaining valuable skills, learning teamwork and proving their ability to perform under pressure, each team competing in the Engine Challenge dual championship will also be awarded scholarships to top automotive and technical secondary schools.

The results from the 2014 SEMA Show: