By Della Domingo

	Kyle Tucker, with his ’69 Chevy Camaro, was the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ winner.
	Event organizers estimated that more than 10,000 individuals attended SEMA Ignited.

With his ’69 Chevy Camaro, Kyle Tucker was the winner of the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ competition. The announcement was made last week at SEMA Ignited, a new event designed to celebrate the builders and showcase products from the trade-only SEMA Show.

Tucker competed in the SEMA Battle of the Builders™ along with more than 125 vehicles customizers from throughout the country. Editors from leading auto magazines—Sam Du from Super Street, David Freiburger from Hot Rod and Fred Williams from Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off Road—selected the top-10 finalists for the competition. The finalists then became the judges to determine who would ultimately be named the winner of the competition.

Mike and Jim Ring, Jeff Kinsey and Kyle Tucker were announced as the top three competitors during SEMA Ignited, where producers were filming for a nationwide television special currently scheduled to air on the Velocity Network, March 8, 2015. The one-hour show will highlight innovations in vehicle customization and raise consumer awareness for the aftermarket industry. The TV show will profile Tucker as the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ winner, along with other competitors, to showcase the talent, creativity and craftsmanship involved with vehicle customization. While the SEMA Show is a trade show that is not open to the general public, SEMA Ignited was open to consumers and provided them with a chance to preview new automotive accessories on many of the vehicles that were on display during the 2014 SEMA Show week. Organizers estimate that more than 10,000 individuals attended SEMA Ignited.

2014 SEMA Battle of the Builders™ Participants

Top-10 Finalists:

• Bobby Alloway, ’37 Chevy Coupe
• Gordon Aram, ’78 Ford Mustang II
• Mike and Jim Ring, ’66 Chevy Chevelle
• Dale Dondel, ’14 Ford Raptor Pre-Runner
• Rick Dore, ’48 Jaguar
• Jeff Kinsey, ’32 Ford 4-Door Sedan
• Troy Ladd, ’32 Ford Roadster
• Larry McRae, Jeep JK
• Steve Strope, ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane
• Kyle Tucker, ’69 Camaro

The top 10 builders’ cars were lined up beside the main stage.		Mike and Jim Ring, Jeff Kinsey and Kyle Tucker were announced as the top three competitors during SEMA Ignited, where producers were filming for a nationwide television special currently scheduled to air on the Velocity Network, March 8, 2015.
This season's final episode of “Overhaulin’” also was filmed during SEMA Ignited.		The High Roller provided the perfect backdrop for the SEMA Ignited Event.

Entire List of SEMA Battle of the Builders™ Participants

By Della Domingo

	Kyle Tucker, with his ’69 Chevy Camaro, was the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ winner.
	Event organizers estimated that more than 10,000 individuals attended SEMA Ignited.

With his ’69 Chevy Camaro, Kyle Tucker was the winner of the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ competition. The announcement was made last week at SEMA Ignited, a new event designed to celebrate the builders and showcase products from the trade-only SEMA Show.

Tucker competed in the SEMA Battle of the Builders™ along with more than 125 vehicles customizers from throughout the country. Editors from leading auto magazines—Sam Du from Super Street, David Freiburger from Hot Rod and Fred Williams from Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off Road—selected the top-10 finalists for the competition. The finalists then became the judges to determine who would ultimately be named the winner of the competition.

Mike and Jim Ring, Jeff Kinsey and Kyle Tucker were announced as the top three competitors during SEMA Ignited, where producers were filming for a nationwide television special currently scheduled to air on the Velocity Network, March 8, 2015. The one-hour show will highlight innovations in vehicle customization and raise consumer awareness for the aftermarket industry. The TV show will profile Tucker as the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ winner, along with other competitors, to showcase the talent, creativity and craftsmanship involved with vehicle customization. While the SEMA Show is a trade show that is not open to the general public, SEMA Ignited was open to consumers and provided them with a chance to preview new automotive accessories on many of the vehicles that were on display during the 2014 SEMA Show week. Organizers estimate that more than 10,000 individuals attended SEMA Ignited.

2014 SEMA Battle of the Builders™ Participants

Top-10 Finalists:

• Bobby Alloway, ’37 Chevy Coupe
• Gordon Aram, ’78 Ford Mustang II
• Mike and Jim Ring, ’66 Chevy Chevelle
• Dale Dondel, ’14 Ford Raptor Pre-Runner
• Rick Dore, ’48 Jaguar
• Jeff Kinsey, ’32 Ford 4-Door Sedan
• Troy Ladd, ’32 Ford Roadster
• Larry McRae, Jeep JK
• Steve Strope, ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane
• Kyle Tucker, ’69 Camaro

The top 10 builders’ cars were lined up beside the main stage.		Mike and Jim Ring, Jeff Kinsey and Kyle Tucker were announced as the top three competitors during SEMA Ignited, where producers were filming for a nationwide television special currently scheduled to air on the Velocity Network, March 8, 2015.
This season's final episode of “Overhaulin’” also was filmed during SEMA Ignited.		The High Roller provided the perfect backdrop for the SEMA Ignited Event.

Entire List of SEMA Battle of the Builders™ Participants

By Della Domingo

	Kyle Tucker, with his ’69 Chevy Camaro, was the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ winner.
	Event organizers estimated that more than 10,000 individuals attended SEMA Ignited.

With his ’69 Chevy Camaro, Kyle Tucker was the winner of the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ competition. The announcement was made last week at SEMA Ignited, a new event designed to celebrate the builders and showcase products from the trade-only SEMA Show.

Tucker competed in the SEMA Battle of the Builders™ along with more than 125 vehicles customizers from throughout the country. Editors from leading auto magazines—Sam Du from Super Street, David Freiburger from Hot Rod and Fred Williams from Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off Road—selected the top-10 finalists for the competition. The finalists then became the judges to determine who would ultimately be named the winner of the competition.

Mike and Jim Ring, Jeff Kinsey and Kyle Tucker were announced as the top three competitors during SEMA Ignited, where producers were filming for a nationwide television special currently scheduled to air on the Velocity Network, March 8, 2015. The one-hour show will highlight innovations in vehicle customization and raise consumer awareness for the aftermarket industry. The TV show will profile Tucker as the first-ever SEMA Battle of the Builders™ winner, along with other competitors, to showcase the talent, creativity and craftsmanship involved with vehicle customization. While the SEMA Show is a trade show that is not open to the general public, SEMA Ignited was open to consumers and provided them with a chance to preview new automotive accessories on many of the vehicles that were on display during the 2014 SEMA Show week. Organizers estimate that more than 10,000 individuals attended SEMA Ignited.

2014 SEMA Battle of the Builders™ Participants

Top-10 Finalists:

• Bobby Alloway, ’37 Chevy Coupe
• Gordon Aram, ’78 Ford Mustang II
• Mike and Jim Ring, ’66 Chevy Chevelle
• Dale Dondel, ’14 Ford Raptor Pre-Runner
• Rick Dore, ’48 Jaguar
• Jeff Kinsey, ’32 Ford 4-Door Sedan
• Troy Ladd, ’32 Ford Roadster
• Larry McRae, Jeep JK
• Steve Strope, ’67 Ford Black Ops Fairlane
• Kyle Tucker, ’69 Camaro

The top 10 builders’ cars were lined up beside the main stage.		Mike and Jim Ring, Jeff Kinsey and Kyle Tucker were announced as the top three competitors during SEMA Ignited, where producers were filming for a nationwide television special currently scheduled to air on the Velocity Network, March 8, 2015.
This season's final episode of “Overhaulin’” also was filmed during SEMA Ignited.		The High Roller provided the perfect backdrop for the SEMA Ignited Event.

Entire List of SEMA Battle of the Builders™ Participants

By SEMA Editors

Metal, music and skateboarding inspired two new Scion cars now on display in SEMA booth #20313. Scion debuted the Scion x Slayer Mobile Amp tC for heavy-metal-band Slayer, and the Scion x Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB for pro skateboarder Riley Hawk at this year’s SEMA Show.

Frequently cited for its deep influence on other metal bands, Slayer has a look, sound and approach all its own. The band’s aggressive style carries into the tC sports coupe’s exterior look and band-inspired details. Inside, the vehicle has been transformed into a multimedia machine with amps, towers of speakers, a custom mixer and a 32-in. monitor for media playback. Mike Vu of MV DESIGNZ lead the build process.

Beyond his skateboarding career, Hawk is a rock-’n’-roll aficionado with an appreciation for ’70s style. His xB ride combines those three passions through its high-end sound system, space for skateboards and classic orange and yellow striped paint job. Details such as bubble windows, interior wood-grain paneling, an 8-track player and requisite shag carpet make it a rolling, retro hangout spot.

The build was led by Scott Kanemura of KMA Productions. While the SEMA Show is not open to the public, there will be opportunities to see the Slayer tC and Skate Tour xB at Scion events later in
the year.

Both project vehicles join a diverse collection of modified Scions at SEMA, including three FR-S sport coupes designed by media partners as part of the 10th annual Scion Tuner Challenge. “SEMA is the ultimate opportunity to look at Scion vehicles through a new lens,” said Doug Murtha, vice president of Scion. “We’re looking forward to showing fans what Riley Hawk and the members of Slayer envisioned for the tC and xB and encourage fans to imagine for themselves.” To follow other Scion SEMA content, visit www.scion.com/blog as well as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

By SEMA Editors

Metal, music and skateboarding inspired two new Scion cars now on display in SEMA booth #20313. Scion debuted the Scion x Slayer Mobile Amp tC for heavy-metal-band Slayer, and the Scion x Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB for pro skateboarder Riley Hawk at this year’s SEMA Show.

Frequently cited for its deep influence on other metal bands, Slayer has a look, sound and approach all its own. The band’s aggressive style carries into the tC sports coupe’s exterior look and band-inspired details. Inside, the vehicle has been transformed into a multimedia machine with amps, towers of speakers, a custom mixer and a 32-in. monitor for media playback. Mike Vu of MV DESIGNZ lead the build process.

Beyond his skateboarding career, Hawk is a rock-’n’-roll aficionado with an appreciation for ’70s style. His xB ride combines those three passions through its high-end sound system, space for skateboards and classic orange and yellow striped paint job. Details such as bubble windows, interior wood-grain paneling, an 8-track player and requisite shag carpet make it a rolling, retro hangout spot.

The build was led by Scott Kanemura of KMA Productions. While the SEMA Show is not open to the public, there will be opportunities to see the Slayer tC and Skate Tour xB at Scion events later in
the year.

Both project vehicles join a diverse collection of modified Scions at SEMA, including three FR-S sport coupes designed by media partners as part of the 10th annual Scion Tuner Challenge. “SEMA is the ultimate opportunity to look at Scion vehicles through a new lens,” said Doug Murtha, vice president of Scion. “We’re looking forward to showing fans what Riley Hawk and the members of Slayer envisioned for the tC and xB and encourage fans to imagine for themselves.” To follow other Scion SEMA content, visit www.scion.com/blog as well as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

	Representatives from Transamerican Wholesale and Superchips congratulate Ron Rogers (third from left) of Redlands Motorsports in Redlands, California, for winning a customized Jeep JK.

By SEMA Editors

Superchips and Transamerican Wholesale gave away a fully customized brand-new ’14 Jeep JK two-door at the 2014 SEMA Show, November 6, in Las Vegas.

The contest gave jobbers the opportunity to vote on the parts they most want to win for the build. Months leading up to the Show, Superchips and Transamerican Wholesale posted a new category with four manufacturer part options. The parts that received the most votes were installed on the Jeep. The nine qualifying drawings occurred electronically each month and again at the SEMA Show.

The lucky winner of the Jeep is Ron Rogers of Redlands Motorsports in Redlands, California.

	Representatives from Transamerican Wholesale and Superchips congratulate Ron Rogers (third from left) of Redlands Motorsports in Redlands, California, for winning a customized Jeep JK.

By SEMA Editors

Superchips and Transamerican Wholesale gave away a fully customized brand-new ’14 Jeep JK two-door at the 2014 SEMA Show, November 6, in Las Vegas.

The contest gave jobbers the opportunity to vote on the parts they most want to win for the build. Months leading up to the Show, Superchips and Transamerican Wholesale posted a new category with four manufacturer part options. The parts that received the most votes were installed on the Jeep. The nine qualifying drawings occurred electronically each month and again at the SEMA Show.

The lucky winner of the Jeep is Ron Rogers of Redlands Motorsports in Redlands, California.

	Light-truck product manufacturers provided media representatives and editors with a preview of their newest products during the first-ever Truck and Off-Road Alliance’s (TORA) Media Preview.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA’s Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA) hosted its first-ever Media Preview event on Monday, November 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Automotive reporters and editors were granted special access to visit with TORA’s exhibiting manufacturers, the day before the 2014 SEMA Show officially opened its doors.   

During this limited engagement, exhibitors introduced their newest products to journalists and introduced reporters to top executives and key personnel to provide technical details and background information. These focused meetings were designed to ensure editors and reporters got the early scoop on what attendees will see at this year’s Show.
 

	Light-truck product manufacturers provided media representatives and editors with a preview of their newest products during the first-ever Truck and Off-Road Alliance’s (TORA) Media Preview.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA’s Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA) hosted its first-ever Media Preview event on Monday, November 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Automotive reporters and editors were granted special access to visit with TORA’s exhibiting manufacturers, the day before the 2014 SEMA Show officially opened its doors.   

During this limited engagement, exhibitors introduced their newest products to journalists and introduced reporters to top executives and key personnel to provide technical details and background information. These focused meetings were designed to ensure editors and reporters got the early scoop on what attendees will see at this year’s Show.
 

	The SEMA Show is the premier automotive trade show for new product announcements and custom-vehicle debuts.

By SEMA Editors

Here are some brief news and updates from several 2014 SEMA Show exhibitors.

Lexus, Booth #21601
The Lexus RC F GT3 signals the brand’s intent to compete in world-class racing. With a focused motorsports mission, Lexus will boost the profile and capability of its F Brand. The Lexus display also features a stunning new RC 350 wearing a Rocket Bunny body kit in an alarming factory hue called Infrared.

Scosche Industries, Booth #11917
A leading innovator of mobile-electronic products and accessories for the automotive aftermarket unveiled a new three-tiered Interface lineup. The 47 new interfaces are designed to meet a variety of needs from basic stereo replacement to delivering advanced features such as OnStar, HVAC control and steering wheel controls.

Hyundai Motor America, Booth #24387
Hyundai revealed five vehicles for this year’s SEMA Show, showcasing the performance and tunability of its lineup. Two of Hyundai’s ’15 Genesis sedans were stripped down and rebuilt by tuners Toca Marketing Group and ARK Performance, and put down 600 and 550 hp, respectively. Fresh takes on Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe were created by the Chicago-based builder, Blood Type Racing Inc.

Nissan, Booth #46045
Nissan returns to the SEMA Show featuring a special “NISMO Lounge.” The Nissan booth places special emphasis on NISMO-branded production vehicles, performance parts and aftermarket accessories. On display is the new 600hp ’15 GT-R NISMO factory supercar and a Nissan 370Z NISMO safety vehicle, fresh off its official duties in the recent Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSCC) race in Austin, Texas. NISMO—a short form of NISsan MOtorsports—is the performance brand for Nissan, and it is one of the company’s purveyors of “innovation that excites.”

Ingersoll Rand Power Tools, Booth #10149
Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in compressed air systems and services, power tools, material handling, and fluid management equipment announces that its power tools business is a new preferred tool provider for Gas Monkey Garage. Together the two companies will work on a custom automotive build that will be used for a promotional campaign in 2015. Visit Ingersoll Rand at booth #10149 to meet Richard Rawlings and Aaron Kaufman of Gas Monkey Garage.

LizardSkin Spray-on Insulation, Booth #23381
LizardSkin Spray-on Insulation introduces LizardSkin Topcoat (TC), a durable, tough coating that will further enhance the protection of the company’s insulating and sound damping coatings. The textured coating is harder than LizardSkin’s acrylic, water-based coatings, so it enhances the protection offered in areas on vehicles that are subject to rougher conditions on a continuous basis. Visit them in booth #23381.