During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

Join the hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California.



The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time. The newest industry icons to be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame are Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. 

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

Order banquet tickets now!



The event begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have time to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities and see the final rounds of the Pinewood Drag Races. Be sure to enter or sponsor a car as part of the event's fundraising activities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.



Enter or sponsor a Pinewood Drag Race Car now!



Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: 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. 



For more information, visit www.sema.org/gala
 or contact Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org or 909-978-6684.

During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

Join the hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California.



The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time. The newest industry icons to be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame are Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. 

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

Order banquet tickets now!



The event begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have time to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities and see the final rounds of the Pinewood Drag Races. Be sure to enter or sponsor a car as part of the event's fundraising activities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.



Enter or sponsor a Pinewood Drag Race Car now!



Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: 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. 



For more information, visit www.sema.org/gala
 or contact Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org or 909-978-6684.

During the Installation Banquet's sit-down dinner, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.

Join the hundreds of leaders and professionals from the specialty-equipment industry to honor noteworthy icons and volunteers during the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California.



The annual event serves as the industry's premier celebration where newly elected Board of Directors are sworn in and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced for the first time. The newest industry icons to be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame are Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. 

"While the products and customizing trends take center stage at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the SEMA Installation Banquet is a time to shine the light on the people and volunteers who make this industry a success," said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "This is truly a unique event where we honor and thank our industry’s leaders.”

Order banquet tickets now!



The event begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have time to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities and see the final rounds of the Pinewood Drag Races. Be sure to enter or sponsor a car as part of the event's fundraising activities. During the sit-down dinner that follows, the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame members are introduced, and the newly elected SEMA Board of Directors are sworn in.



Enter or sponsor a Pinewood Drag Race Car now!



Proceeds from ticket sales benefit two children's charities: 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. 



For more information, visit www.sema.org/gala
 or contact Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org or 909-978-6684.

A federal district court upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 finding that greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and threaten public health. The EPA issued its finding in response to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that the EPA was obligated under the Clean Air Act to decide whether greenhouse gases were an air pollutant and, if so, regulate them. More than 60 lawsuits from industry and several states challenged the EPA’s finding and subsequent rules to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases through new standards for vehicle tailpipe emissions and large stationary source emissions. Those suits were consolidated into the case decided by the federal court. In ruling that the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act was “unambiguously correct,” the burden now falls on the U.S. Congress to enact legislation if lawmakers seek a change to the EPA’s regulatory approach.  

The court ruling affirms the approach taken by the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to regulate CO2 emissions within the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards beginning with model year ’12 cars and light-duty trucks. SEMA and the automakers have generally supported the tailpipe regulations since they create a single, national CO2 standard. The revised CAFE standards are also intended to take jobs, safety, consumer choice and technological feasibility into account. With respect to stationary sources, the EPA regulations target the largest emitters, such as power plants and steel and paper mills, requiring them to obtain permits that track emissions and potentially install the best available control technology. 

SEMA remains concerned that the U.S. rules will translate into higher energy costs and lower economic growth while not substantially addressing global warming, and that future regulations will target medium and smaller operations. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

A federal district court upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 finding that greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and threaten public health. The EPA issued its finding in response to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that the EPA was obligated under the Clean Air Act to decide whether greenhouse gases were an air pollutant and, if so, regulate them. More than 60 lawsuits from industry and several states challenged the EPA’s finding and subsequent rules to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases through new standards for vehicle tailpipe emissions and large stationary source emissions. Those suits were consolidated into the case decided by the federal court. In ruling that the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act was “unambiguously correct,” the burden now falls on the U.S. Congress to enact legislation if lawmakers seek a change to the EPA’s regulatory approach.  

The court ruling affirms the approach taken by the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to regulate CO2 emissions within the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards beginning with model year ’12 cars and light-duty trucks. SEMA and the automakers have generally supported the tailpipe regulations since they create a single, national CO2 standard. The revised CAFE standards are also intended to take jobs, safety, consumer choice and technological feasibility into account. With respect to stationary sources, the EPA regulations target the largest emitters, such as power plants and steel and paper mills, requiring them to obtain permits that track emissions and potentially install the best available control technology. 

SEMA remains concerned that the U.S. rules will translate into higher energy costs and lower economic growth while not substantially addressing global warming, and that future regulations will target medium and smaller operations. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The photo gallery located at www.semaphotos.com features thousands of pictures of products featured in the Show's New Products Showcase, vehicles on display and exhibiting companies from the 2011 SEMA Show. Each week in SEMA eNews, a new collection of vehicle photos is highlighted. In the spotlight this week are vehicles from Toyota.

In addition to the vehicle photos, the product photos also include key details, such as product name, a brief description and exhibitor contact information.

The photo gallery located at www.semaphotos.com features thousands of pictures of products featured in the Show's New Products Showcase, vehicles on display and exhibiting companies from the 2011 SEMA Show. Each week in SEMA eNews, a new collection of vehicle photos is highlighted. In the spotlight this week are vehicles from Toyota.

In addition to the vehicle photos, the product photos also include key details, such as product name, a brief description and exhibitor contact information.

Following months of deliberation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the “individual mandate” from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is constitutional, drawn from the Congress’ ability to tax. The provision requires that individuals obtain “essential minimum coverage” by 2014. Individuals that do not purchase a basic policy would be subject to a federal penalty.
 
SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting said, “In light of today’s announcement and the months of uncertainty surrounding the Court’s ruling, it is now more important than ever to address the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act. The law has not tackled the soaring health care costs faced by our member companies, limiting their ability to create jobs and expand their businesses. SEMA calls on Congress and the President to address deficiencies that have created confusion in the market, spiraling premiums and increased administrative burdens for small business owners. As it has for the past several years, SEMA will continue to work with lawmakers and the business community on solutions to improve this flawed system.”

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski, SEMA director of congressional affairs, at dans@sema.org.

Following months of deliberation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the “individual mandate” from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is constitutional, drawn from the Congress’ ability to tax. The provision requires that individuals obtain “essential minimum coverage” by 2014. Individuals that do not purchase a basic policy would be subject to a federal penalty.
 
SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting said, “In light of today’s announcement and the months of uncertainty surrounding the Court’s ruling, it is now more important than ever to address the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act. The law has not tackled the soaring health care costs faced by our member companies, limiting their ability to create jobs and expand their businesses. SEMA calls on Congress and the President to address deficiencies that have created confusion in the market, spiraling premiums and increased administrative burdens for small business owners. As it has for the past several years, SEMA will continue to work with lawmakers and the business community on solutions to improve this flawed system.”

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski, SEMA director of congressional affairs, at dans@sema.org.

Proceeds from this year's Pinewood Drag Races, sponsored by eBay Motors, will benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction children's charities.

Each year, generous individuals around the United States step up to sponsor pinewood race cars, and SEMA councils challenge each other to special competitions. This is all done in support of two great charities that support children in need—Childhelp and Victory Junction.

This year's event will take place near historic Pomona Raceway—the perfect setting for a drag race! No one is more encouraged by the volume of this year's Pinewood Derby sponsorships than SEMA Chairman of the Board, Scooter Brothers. "I can't think of an easier way for someone to say they raced at Pomona than to sponsor one of these cool little pinewood racers," said Brothers. "Isn't this what we all wanted to do growing up…to race at Pomona? Help yourself and a kid realize that dream by sponsoring a pinewood racer."

Sponsoring a Pinewood Derby racer is easy, fun and, who knows, you just might win! Every SEMA member is encouraged to help a child in need and show that our industry can come together to raise money for two great charities.

Sponsor your Pinewood Derby car today.

Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors, take place at 12:00 p.m., Friday, July 27, 2012, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. There is no better location for Pinewood Drag Races than Pomona—home of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Auto Club Raceway.

Proceeds from the races benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction charities. 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.

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