By SEMA Editors

	Jerry Green

Jerry Green, 76, who had been battling Parkinson’s Disease for the past 10+ years, passed away Friday, May 2. Green was known as the “Godfather” of Ford Motor Co.’s involvement at SEMA, and he was fully dedicated to Ford Motor Co. and Ford Racing.

Despite his fight with Parkinson's, Green continued drag racing even in his later years. When asked how he was able to compete against racers more than 40 years his junior and beat them consistently—including elapse times down the quarter-mile and also measured reaction times—he wittily responded, “I just start my launch on the second yellow countdown light, rather than the green 'go' light—that way by the time my legs end up reacting, my timing is perfect.”

Green is survived by his wife (Bobbie) and daughter. Memorial arrangements are currently underway. His wishes were that he be cremated and his ashes scattered at Milan Dragway.

By Linda Spencer

Southern California's Inland Empire-based companies interested in growing their export business are invited to attend the 2014 Annual Inland Empire World Trade Conference, organized by the California Inland Empire District Council (CIEDEC) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Global Markets and U.S. Representative Gloria Negrete McLeod.

The daylong conference, held May 15, provides attendees the opportunity to hear from and meet with top-level experts representing various sectors that impact export and international trade, including banking, logistics, legal and government.

To register for the event, which will be held at the Radisson Hotel Ontario Airport, call Leah at 951-277-8319, or register online.

Behold the first undisguised look at the SRT Challenger, powered by the supercharged "Hellcat" V8 engine. While the lesser Challenger variants have been unveiled at the New York Auto Show, numerous "Hellcat-powered" Challengers are still running with heavy camouflage. However, the shooters at KGP Photography caught two "Hellcat" prototypes without a shred of meaningful camo, providing a near-showroom-ready look at the invigorated musclecar that is looking to answer the new challenges brought forth by the new Mustang GT500 and the Camaro ZL1 and Z/28.

Months ago, the shooters at KGP Photography caught a Hellcat prototype with its hood raised, revealing its massive supercharger for the first, and only, time. Now, with these latest shots, the powerful bodywork that will be covering the massive engine is evident. The hood gets a beefy, sweetly sculpted center-mounted air scoop that takes some inspiration from the SRT Viper—the brand's halo car. There are some reports that the "Hellcat" supercharged 6.2L V8 engine is capable of generating more power than the Viper, so it will be interesting to see what the final power numbers are when the car makes its official debut.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Behold the first undisguised look at the SRT Challenger, powered by the supercharged "Hellcat" V8 engine. While the lesser Challenger variants have been unveiled at the New York Auto Show, numerous "Hellcat-powered" Challengers are still running with heavy camouflage. However, the shooters at KGP Photography caught two "Hellcat" prototypes without a shred of meaningful camo, providing a near-showroom-ready look at the invigorated musclecar that is looking to answer the new challenges brought forth by the new Mustang GT500 and the Camaro ZL1 and Z/28.

Months ago, the shooters at KGP Photography caught a Hellcat prototype with its hood raised, revealing its massive supercharger for the first, and only, time. Now, with these latest shots, the powerful bodywork that will be covering the massive engine is evident. The hood gets a beefy, sweetly sculpted center-mounted air scoop that takes some inspiration from the SRT Viper—the brand's halo car. There are some reports that the "Hellcat" supercharged 6.2L V8 engine is capable of generating more power than the Viper, so it will be interesting to see what the final power numbers are when the car makes its official debut.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Behold the first undisguised look at the SRT Challenger, powered by the supercharged "Hellcat" V8 engine. While the lesser Challenger variants have been unveiled at the New York Auto Show, numerous "Hellcat-powered" Challengers are still running with heavy camouflage. However, the shooters at KGP Photography caught two "Hellcat" prototypes without a shred of meaningful camo, providing a near-showroom-ready look at the invigorated musclecar that is looking to answer the new challenges brought forth by the new Mustang GT500 and the Camaro ZL1 and Z/28.

Months ago, the shooters at KGP Photography caught a Hellcat prototype with its hood raised, revealing its massive supercharger for the first, and only, time. Now, with these latest shots, the powerful bodywork that will be covering the massive engine is evident. The hood gets a beefy, sweetly sculpted center-mounted air scoop that takes some inspiration from the SRT Viper—the brand's halo car. There are some reports that the "Hellcat" supercharged 6.2L V8 engine is capable of generating more power than the Viper, so it will be interesting to see what the final power numbers are when the car makes its official debut.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

	The SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will be held in conjunction with the Installation Gala, Friday, July 18, 2014, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The finals will take place during the cocktail reception shortly before the banquet begins.
	SEMA invites you to attend one of several build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble the cars for the races.

Pinewood drag races are as American as apple pie and hot rodding, where the thrill of the build is matched only by the adrenaline rush of the race. SEMA Cares has announced the 2014 Pinewood Drag Races, and it looks to be bigger and better than ever! Each year hundreds of SEMA-member companies step up to generously sponsor pinewood drag cars, with proceeds going to help children in need.

Once again held in conjunction with the SEMA Installation Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will return Friday, July 18, 2014, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. The finals will take place during the cocktail reception shortly before the banquet begins.

Sponsoring a SEMA Cares pinewood drag race car is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today.

SEMA members can race either a car or a truck in three classes: Stock, Unlimited and Modified. Council members can either sponsor child-built cars and trucks in the Build It for Me (BIFM) Stock Class or they can build and enter their own SEMA-supplied stock car or truck. Stock-Class racing usually garners the most entries with a typical speed of 3.2 seconds on a 50-ft. track. For hardcore speed enthusiasts, the Unlimited Class has only one rule—that one item from the stock kit be used. Cars in this class run sub-3 seconds and many of the past top builders include some of the most recognized names in SEMA. The Modified Class is for the racer who wants to put a little more time into "tuning" the SEMA-supplied stock kit.

Special features of SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races include the annual HRIA Builders Challenge and Council Cup. Watch as some of the biggest names in hot rodding build state-of-the-art custom pinewoods that will be raced and then auctioned off with all of the proceeds going to SEMA Cares. Council members are invited to come out and challenge their peers for the opportunity to win the coveted Council Cup. The more cars or trucks fielded by each council member increase their chances of winning.

If you're the hands-on type of council member, SEMA invites you to attend one of several build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble the cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact derby@sema.org, or visit the Pinewood Drag Races and SEMA Cares Facebook pages. The three build days are as follows:

• May 10, in Lignum, Virginia, at Childhelp. To volunteer, e-mail Tom Brooks.
• May 31, in Beaumont, California, at Childhelp. To volunteer, e-mail Susan Alfonso.
• June 10, in Randleman, North Carolina, at Victory Junction. To volunteer, e-mail Eric Saltrick.

Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Help a child in need today.