Ed Pink Racing Engines' General Manager Frank Honsowetz with this year's engine block.

The SEMA Scholarship Committee has announced that it will once again be auctioning an engine on eBay in conjunction with the 2012 SEMA Show to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF). Proceeds will help provide assistance to university, college and trade school students seeking careers in the automotive industry. There is also a Loan Forgiveness Program, wherein employees of SEMA-member firms can provide assistance in paying off student loans. Following in the footsteps of last year’s successful program, highly regarded Ed Pink Racing Engines (EPRE) of Van Nuys, California, will again be responsible for the build.

For 2012, the program has been significantly enhanced, as the winning bidder will have the engine custom built to their requirements from a variety of options. The program will again be spearheaded by long-time Scholarship Committee member Bill Holland of Holland Communications, who explained, “We’ll be opening the bidding for the engine during the SEMA Show and closing it in two weeks. The winning bidder will receive a packaged trip to Orlando, Florida, for the PRI Show (November 29–December 1) that includes airfare, lodging, ground transportation and full credentials. There, he or she will meet with Ed Pink and key EPRE staff to finalize the build. The engine can be set up for street or mild competition applications, depending on the compression, intake system, camshaft profile and other variables selected.”

Last year’s project saw a 347-cid small-block Ford built entirely with aftermarket parts supplied by SEMA- and Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)-member firms. They included: ARP, ATI, Champion, COMP Cams, Crane Ignitions, Dart Machinery, Edelbrock, Fel-Pro, Hedman Hedders, Joe Gibbs Driven, Mahle, Manley Performance, Milodon, Moroso, Power Master, Scat, Speed Pro and Total Seal. Many of the firms that supported the project in 2011 are expected to return.

Details on the 2012 build will be forthcoming, with Dart starting things off by providing an SHP block and their new SHP aluminum cylinder heads for a small-block Chevrolet build. The sale will by conducted through Auction Cause on eBay. And, as the SMSF is a recognized 501(c)(3) charity, the winning bid can be tax deductible (check with your financial advisor).

	Ed Pink Racing Engines' General Manager Frank Honsowetz with this year's engine block.

The SEMA Scholarship Committee has announced that it will once again be auctioning an engine on eBay in conjunction with the 2012 SEMA Show to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF). Proceeds will help provide assistance to university, college and trade school students seeking careers in the automotive industry. There is also a Loan Forgiveness Program, wherein employees of SEMA-member firms can provide assistance in paying off student loans. Following in the footsteps of last year’s successful program, highly regarded Ed Pink Racing Engines (EPRE) of Van Nuys, California, will again be responsible for the build.

For 2012, the program has been significantly enhanced, as the winning bidder will have the engine custom built to their requirements from a variety of options. The program will again be spearheaded by long-time Scholarship Committee member Bill Holland of Holland Communications, who explained, “We’ll be opening the bidding for the engine during the SEMA Show and closing it in two weeks. The winning bidder will receive a packaged trip to Orlando, Florida, for the PRI Show (November 29–December 1) that includes airfare, lodging, ground transportation and full credentials. There, he or she will meet with Ed Pink and key EPRE staff to finalize the build. The engine can be set up for street or mild competition applications, depending on the compression, intake system, camshaft profile and other variables selected.”

Last year’s project saw a 347-cid small-block Ford built entirely with aftermarket parts supplied by SEMA- and Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)-member firms. They included: ARP, ATI, Champion, COMP Cams, Crane Ignitions, Dart Machinery, Edelbrock, Fel-Pro, Hedman Hedders, Joe Gibbs Driven, Mahle, Manley Performance, Milodon, Moroso, Power Master, Scat, Speed Pro and Total Seal. Many of the firms that supported the project in 2011 are expected to return.

Details on the 2012 build will be forthcoming, with Dart starting things off by providing an SHP block and their new SHP aluminum cylinder heads for a small-block Chevrolet build. The sale will by conducted through Auction Cause on eBay. And, as the SMSF is a recognized 501(c)(3) charity, the winning bid can be tax deductible (check with your financial advisor).

The ’13 Ford Focus ST and ’13 Ford Fusion will be featured in the next SEMA Measuring Session at TechShop in Allen Park, Michigan, Thursday, August 23, 2012. Registration deadline is Friday August 17.

The ’13 Ford Focus ST and ’13 Ford Fusion will be featured in the next SEMA Measuring Session at TechShop in Allen Park, Michigan, Thursday, August 23, 2012. Registration deadline is Friday August 17.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC).

CSBA’s board of directors develop and guide CSBA’s policy positions, annual events and advocacy efforts on behalf of California small business owners. Board members play an integral role in advocating for small businesses before state and federal policy makers. The CSBA Board also helps deliver the annual California Small Business Day event, which honors small-business owners from legislative districts across the state and includes speeches from key elected officials in California. 

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC).

CSBA’s board of directors develop and guide CSBA’s policy positions, annual events and advocacy efforts on behalf of California small business owners. Board members play an integral role in advocating for small businesses before state and federal policy makers. The CSBA Board also helps deliver the annual California Small Business Day event, which honors small-business owners from legislative districts across the state and includes speeches from key elected officials in California. 

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC).

CSBA’s board of directors develop and guide CSBA’s policy positions, annual events and advocacy efforts on behalf of California small business owners. Board members play an integral role in advocating for small businesses before state and federal policy makers. The CSBA Board also helps deliver the annual California Small Business Day event, which honors small-business owners from legislative districts across the state and includes speeches from key elected officials in California. 

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would allow companies to market collision-repair parts without infringing a design patent once a vehicle has been marketed for two-and-a-half years. Under current law, a design patent covers the ornamental design for an object having practical utility for a 14-year term. 

At issue is the recent practice of many automakers to obtain design patents for individual vehicle parts associated with collision repairs, such as fenders, lamps, hoods, bumpers and grilles. Historically, the auto companies have sought design patents for the car’s overall design rather than individual parts. A design patent allows a company the right to exclude others from copying the product or, alternatively, to license the rights. 

The legislation included a complete design patent exemption for replacement parts when it was first introduced in 2010. The bill sponsors are now proposing a 30-month compromise approach. 

Representatives for the vehicle manufacturers, dealers and auto workers claim that the auto companies invest billions of dollars each year to develop and patent the part designs and are then seeking to protect that investment through rights available under current law.  Representatives for the collision parts market counter that the auto companies are seeking to eliminate competition for “cosmetic replacement parts” that had traditionally not been protected by a design patent, thereby raising consumer repair costs and insurance premiums. 

For additional information about the design patent bill, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org. For general information about protecting intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyright, etc.), visit www.sema.org/IPR. 

A U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would allow companies to market collision-repair parts without infringing a design patent once a vehicle has been marketed for two-and-a-half years. Under current law, a design patent covers the ornamental design for an object having practical utility for a 14-year term. 

At issue is the recent practice of many automakers to obtain design patents for individual vehicle parts associated with collision repairs, such as fenders, lamps, hoods, bumpers and grilles. Historically, the auto companies have sought design patents for the car’s overall design rather than individual parts. A design patent allows a company the right to exclude others from copying the product or, alternatively, to license the rights. 

The legislation included a complete design patent exemption for replacement parts when it was first introduced in 2010. The bill sponsors are now proposing a 30-month compromise approach. 

Representatives for the vehicle manufacturers, dealers and auto workers claim that the auto companies invest billions of dollars each year to develop and patent the part designs and are then seeking to protect that investment through rights available under current law.  Representatives for the collision parts market counter that the auto companies are seeking to eliminate competition for “cosmetic replacement parts” that had traditionally not been protected by a design patent, thereby raising consumer repair costs and insurance premiums. 

For additional information about the design patent bill, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org. For general information about protecting intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyright, etc.), visit www.sema.org/IPR. 

A bill to ban the “use and sale of any exhaust pipe that increases the sound emissions of any vehicle including motorcycles” has been assigned for study. The study order authorizes the Joint Transportation Committee to meet during the legislature’s recess to make an investigation of the bill and report to the General Court the results and its recommendations, if any, together with a draft of legislation necessary to carry the recommendations into effect. This action essentially kills activity on this bill for the year. 

An identical bill was introduced in 2009 and was set aside for study without any additional committee consideration. Several other Massachusetts bills have been assigned for similar studies, including a bill to provide for the adjustment of registration fees based on vehicle weight, and one to exempt new vehicles from motor-vehicle emissions inspections for the two years succeeding their manufacture year. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.