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.

	The 2014 SEMA Launch Pad finalists: Samuel Giles, managing director, Intellectual Capital Consulting Ltd.; Ian Lehn, president, BOOSTane Octane Engineering; Sarah Park, co-founder and president, The Hybrid Haven; Roger Peterson, founder and CEO, MG Research LLC; Jack Zampolin, vice president of business development, RightPSI Inc.

By SEMA Editors

The 2014 SEMA Launch Pad, powered by the Young Executives Network (YEN), features another lineup of all-star industry veterans. This year’s event was hosted by Matt D’Andria, CEO of Motorator.com and co-host of the “CarCast” podcast.

The judging panel included: designer and marketer Mark Arcenal of Illest Brand and Fatlace; lawyer and business leader Ron Coleman of COMP Performance Group; fabricator and TV personality Jessi Combs of “Overhaulin’” and “All Girls Garage”; publisher and SEMA Board of Directors Chair-elect Doug Evans of The Enthusiast Network; and marketer Glenn Rogers of Cascadia Capital LLC.

The event took place November 5 in the North Hall. Five finalists pitched their business concepts in competition for the grand prize—a package of business resources designed to extend the winning company’s reach and boost exposure.

After carefully considering all the presentations and delving deeper into each of the contestants’ proposals with a series of questions, the judges noted that this year’s competition had been exceptionally tight.

In the end, however, Ian Lehn walked away with top honors for his BOOSTane racing-fuel octane additive. His prize package includes a booth at next year’s SEMA Show to formally introduce his product to the industry.


 

	The 2014 SEMA Launch Pad finalists: Samuel Giles, managing director, Intellectual Capital Consulting Ltd.; Ian Lehn, president, BOOSTane Octane Engineering; Sarah Park, co-founder and president, The Hybrid Haven; Roger Peterson, founder and CEO, MG Research LLC; Jack Zampolin, vice president of business development, RightPSI Inc.

By SEMA Editors

The 2014 SEMA Launch Pad, powered by the Young Executives Network (YEN), features another lineup of all-star industry veterans. This year’s event was hosted by Matt D’Andria, CEO of Motorator.com and co-host of the “CarCast” podcast.

The judging panel included: designer and marketer Mark Arcenal of Illest Brand and Fatlace; lawyer and business leader Ron Coleman of COMP Performance Group; fabricator and TV personality Jessi Combs of “Overhaulin’” and “All Girls Garage”; publisher and SEMA Board of Directors Chair-elect Doug Evans of The Enthusiast Network; and marketer Glenn Rogers of Cascadia Capital LLC.

The event took place November 5 in the North Hall. Five finalists pitched their business concepts in competition for the grand prize—a package of business resources designed to extend the winning company’s reach and boost exposure.

After carefully considering all the presentations and delving deeper into each of the contestants’ proposals with a series of questions, the judges noted that this year’s competition had been exceptionally tight.

In the end, however, Ian Lehn walked away with top honors for his BOOSTane racing-fuel octane additive. His prize package includes a booth at next year’s SEMA Show to formally introduce his product to the industry.


 

	The 2014 SEMA Launch Pad finalists: Samuel Giles, managing director, Intellectual Capital Consulting Ltd.; Ian Lehn, president, BOOSTane Octane Engineering; Sarah Park, co-founder and president, The Hybrid Haven; Roger Peterson, founder and CEO, MG Research LLC; Jack Zampolin, vice president of business development, RightPSI Inc.

By SEMA Editors

The 2014 SEMA Launch Pad, powered by the Young Executives Network (YEN), features another lineup of all-star industry veterans. This year’s event was hosted by Matt D’Andria, CEO of Motorator.com and co-host of the “CarCast” podcast.

The judging panel included: designer and marketer Mark Arcenal of Illest Brand and Fatlace; lawyer and business leader Ron Coleman of COMP Performance Group; fabricator and TV personality Jessi Combs of “Overhaulin’” and “All Girls Garage”; publisher and SEMA Board of Directors Chair-elect Doug Evans of The Enthusiast Network; and marketer Glenn Rogers of Cascadia Capital LLC.

The event took place November 5 in the North Hall. Five finalists pitched their business concepts in competition for the grand prize—a package of business resources designed to extend the winning company’s reach and boost exposure.

After carefully considering all the presentations and delving deeper into each of the contestants’ proposals with a series of questions, the judges noted that this year’s competition had been exceptionally tight.

In the end, however, Ian Lehn walked away with top honors for his BOOSTane racing-fuel octane additive. His prize package includes a booth at next year’s SEMA Show to formally introduce his product to the industry.


 

	Slamstop works with all standard driver and passenger doors, as well as sliding doors, using a unique sensor that automatically monitors when a vehicle’s door reaches a specific distance from the car frame.

By SEMA Editors

Slamstop, the global manufacturer of a sophisticated soft-close vehicle door device, returns to the SEMA Show. Located in booth #13008 in the North Hall within the Restyling & Car Care Accessories section, Slamstop is providing demonstrations of the product installed on a ’14 Ford Mustang for all attendees to see the product in action.

In addition, onlookers will also be able to spot the Slamstop device on numerous vehicle builds found throughout the SEMA Show
floor, including:

• ’14 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 located at Mickey Thompson Tires (Lower south hall booth #43035)
• ’13 Fiat Abarth located at XXR Wheels (Lower south hall booth #45091)
• ’12 Shelby GT500 located at Continental Tire (lower south hall booth #41133)
• ’12 Dodge Ram 2500HD Diesel located at Truckin’ magazine (upper south hall booth #38119)

Previously available on only high-end vehicles as part of a luxury package or factory option, Slamstop works with all standard driver and passenger doors, as well as sliding doors, using a unique sensor that automatically monitors when a vehicle’s door reaches a specific distance from the car frame. As soon as the space is detected, a sensor is triggered and transfers the information to the Slamstop operating system to secure the door shut the remainder of the way. Slamstop acts as safety precaution and is guaranteed for 30,000 cycles, or roughly 10 years of usage.

During the SEMA Show, Slamstop executives are available to meet with distribution companies interested in providing a solution to both the safety concern as well as the technology and luxury features of this exclusive device in an effort to further grow the company in the United States.

Visit the Slamstop exhibit at the company's SEMA Show booth (#13008).

	Slamstop works with all standard driver and passenger doors, as well as sliding doors, using a unique sensor that automatically monitors when a vehicle’s door reaches a specific distance from the car frame.

By SEMA Editors

Slamstop, the global manufacturer of a sophisticated soft-close vehicle door device, returns to the SEMA Show. Located in booth #13008 in the North Hall within the Restyling & Car Care Accessories section, Slamstop is providing demonstrations of the product installed on a ’14 Ford Mustang for all attendees to see the product in action.

In addition, onlookers will also be able to spot the Slamstop device on numerous vehicle builds found throughout the SEMA Show
floor, including:

• ’14 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 located at Mickey Thompson Tires (Lower south hall booth #43035)
• ’13 Fiat Abarth located at XXR Wheels (Lower south hall booth #45091)
• ’12 Shelby GT500 located at Continental Tire (lower south hall booth #41133)
• ’12 Dodge Ram 2500HD Diesel located at Truckin’ magazine (upper south hall booth #38119)

Previously available on only high-end vehicles as part of a luxury package or factory option, Slamstop works with all standard driver and passenger doors, as well as sliding doors, using a unique sensor that automatically monitors when a vehicle’s door reaches a specific distance from the car frame. As soon as the space is detected, a sensor is triggered and transfers the information to the Slamstop operating system to secure the door shut the remainder of the way. Slamstop acts as safety precaution and is guaranteed for 30,000 cycles, or roughly 10 years of usage.

During the SEMA Show, Slamstop executives are available to meet with distribution companies interested in providing a solution to both the safety concern as well as the technology and luxury features of this exclusive device in an effort to further grow the company in the United States.

Visit the Slamstop exhibit at the company's SEMA Show booth (#13008).

	The NHRA Breakfast brought together some of the most popular drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, including John Force (right), Antron Brown (left), Tony Schumacher (second left) and Gary Scelzi (second right). The panel was moderated by longtime NHRA announcer Bob Frey (center).

By SEMA Editors

The annual NHRA Breakfast held Wednesday morning continued the tradition of showcasing NHRA legendary drivers, team owners and other personalities within the sport. This year’s event, which drew a capacity audience, celebrated 50 years of the NHRA Finals.

This year the NHRA brought together some of the most popular drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, including John Force, Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Gary Scelzi. The panel was moderated by longtime NHRA announcer Bob Frey. The drivers discussed many of the iconic moments through 50 years of the NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. Following the NHRA Breakfast, all of the special panel guests adjourned to the NHRA Booth #22329 and signed autographs.

Force is an eight-time winner of the NHRA Finals in Funny Car, the most for a driver in any pro category. Perhaps his greatest triumph at the event came in 2010, when he rallied to overcome a 38-point deficit and steal the championship away in the season’s closing moments from rival Matt Hagan by winning the race in spectacular fashion.

Schumacher has won the race four times in Top Fuel at the controls of his U.S. Army dragster, and famously won the 2006 world championship title in the race’s final moments by winning the race and setting a national E.T. record in the final round. It is referred to as “The Run” by drag-racing historians and is one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport. The next season Schumacher worked his magic at the event one more time, and denied Hot Rod Fuller a championship when Fuller lost early and Schumacher went on to win the race.

Brown has won the NHRA Finals in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and in 2012 he clinched his historic first Top Fuel world championship title at the event when Schumacher failed to deliver another one of his miracle comebacks.

Another driver who achieved success in multiple categories at the Finals, Scelzi, won the race in Top Fuel and has clinched world championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car at the season-ending event. Scelzi put a bow on his 2000 world championship title in Top Fuel by winning the Finals that season, and then secured his 2005 Funny Car crown in memorable fashion at the famed race by holding off Force and Ron Capps during eliminations on the season’s final day.

	The NHRA Breakfast brought together some of the most popular drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, including John Force (right), Antron Brown (left), Tony Schumacher (second left) and Gary Scelzi (second right). The panel was moderated by longtime NHRA announcer Bob Frey (center).

By SEMA Editors

The annual NHRA Breakfast held Wednesday morning continued the tradition of showcasing NHRA legendary drivers, team owners and other personalities within the sport. This year’s event, which drew a capacity audience, celebrated 50 years of the NHRA Finals.

This year the NHRA brought together some of the most popular drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, including John Force, Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Gary Scelzi. The panel was moderated by longtime NHRA announcer Bob Frey. The drivers discussed many of the iconic moments through 50 years of the NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. Following the NHRA Breakfast, all of the special panel guests adjourned to the NHRA Booth #22329 and signed autographs.

Force is an eight-time winner of the NHRA Finals in Funny Car, the most for a driver in any pro category. Perhaps his greatest triumph at the event came in 2010, when he rallied to overcome a 38-point deficit and steal the championship away in the season’s closing moments from rival Matt Hagan by winning the race in spectacular fashion.

Schumacher has won the race four times in Top Fuel at the controls of his U.S. Army dragster, and famously won the 2006 world championship title in the race’s final moments by winning the race and setting a national E.T. record in the final round. It is referred to as “The Run” by drag-racing historians and is one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport. The next season Schumacher worked his magic at the event one more time, and denied Hot Rod Fuller a championship when Fuller lost early and Schumacher went on to win the race.

Brown has won the NHRA Finals in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and in 2012 he clinched his historic first Top Fuel world championship title at the event when Schumacher failed to deliver another one of his miracle comebacks.

Another driver who achieved success in multiple categories at the Finals, Scelzi, won the race in Top Fuel and has clinched world championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car at the season-ending event. Scelzi put a bow on his 2000 world championship title in Top Fuel by winning the Finals that season, and then secured his 2005 Funny Car crown in memorable fashion at the famed race by holding off Force and Ron Capps during eliminations on the season’s final day.

	Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO—MOPAR service, parts and customer care, presided over the unveiling of a MOPAR/NASCAR project Funny Car. It’s one of the many project vehicles on display at the MOPAR booth #43141.

By SEMA Editors

Always an annual SEMA Show hot-spot, MOPAR’s 15,345-sq.-ft. exhibit space presents a wide array of innovative Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brand Show vehicles, all reimagined with MOPAR products to demonstrate how enthusiasts can sprinkle their own rides with a little MOPAR magic by choosing from the brand’s vast portfolio of parts.

“Each creation we dream up for SEMA represents an original, unique interpretation of how customers can personalize and transform their vehicles with an assist from MOPAR products,” said Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO—MOPAR service, parts and customer care. “Our modified SEMA rides prove that whether owners are seeking more power, performance and style for the street, extra capabilities to get the job done, or the freedom to go off-road and beyond, MOPAR has the products to help get them there.”

Visit MOPAR at the Chrysler Group booth #43141 in the lower South Hall.

	Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO—MOPAR service, parts and customer care, presided over the unveiling of a MOPAR/NASCAR project Funny Car. It’s one of the many project vehicles on display at the MOPAR booth #43141.

By SEMA Editors

Always an annual SEMA Show hot-spot, MOPAR’s 15,345-sq.-ft. exhibit space presents a wide array of innovative Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brand Show vehicles, all reimagined with MOPAR products to demonstrate how enthusiasts can sprinkle their own rides with a little MOPAR magic by choosing from the brand’s vast portfolio of parts.

“Each creation we dream up for SEMA represents an original, unique interpretation of how customers can personalize and transform their vehicles with an assist from MOPAR products,” said Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO—MOPAR service, parts and customer care. “Our modified SEMA rides prove that whether owners are seeking more power, performance and style for the street, extra capabilities to get the job done, or the freedom to go off-road and beyond, MOPAR has the products to help get them there.”

Visit MOPAR at the Chrysler Group booth #43141 in the lower South Hall.