By Ashley Reyes

SEMA council and network select committees consist of volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to help develop meaningful programs for members. Volunteers are critical to the councils’ and the industry’s success. In return, volunteers gain a lot through the process.

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) select committee.

Applications are now available at www.sema.org/volunteer, where employees of SEMA-member companies can apply for a seat on a council or network select committee.

There are nine councils and networks that represent different segments of the automotive aftermarket—from auto restoration, restyling, emerging trends and technology, truck and off-road and more.

Here are just a few benefits members get by volunteering on a SEMA Council or Network select committee:

• Understand the industry at large. It’s always beneficial to meet others in your same market niche who you can talk to about the state of the industry, its challenges and opportunities. Working with other select committee members really allows you to get a sense of how the industry at large is doing. As you’re helping to better the industry, you’re also able to come up with new ideas and understand where the opportunities are for your business.
• Make valuable business connections. Chances are you may meet some of your most trusted, go-to colleagues in the industry or perhaps even a mentor, while serving on the select committee. You’ll find that the select committee consists of some of the brightest, most innovative individuals in the industry, and they just might be individuals who you turn to when you need business advice or want to bounce ideas off.
• Develop personal friendships. You’ll meet individuals who have common interests and share a passion for the industry that you love as well. It’s not uncommon for select committee members to make life-long friendships while serving the council.
• Gain hands-on experience. As a leader in the industry, you will receive leadership training and guide the council and the industry in new programs and services.
• Boost brand awareness. Both the volunteer and the company gain great visibility. You and your company are highlighted, quoted and featured or mentioned as programs are developed.
• Address challenges and opportunities most important to you or your company. As a select committee member, you’re able to prioritize the issues that you see as most important and have a voice at the table. You’re able to make a difference in the areas that matter most.

The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) select committee.

If you want to apply for a seat on a select committee, or would like to recommend someone who you think would be great in this role, you are invited and encouraged to fill out the form at www.sema.org/volunteer by the April 22 deadline. The ideal candidate will be able to commit 5–10 volunteer hours a month, have strong strategic planning skills, significant aftermarket knowledge and a passion for giving back to the industry.

If you are interested in volunteering at a different level, or on a subcommittee or task force for a council or network, please contact Council Director Denise Waddingham at Deniselw@sema.org for more information.

  By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) is accepting renderings for its 2022 All-Female Build, where an entirely female crew will modify a Ford Bronco 4-door Wildtrak provided by Bronco Brand.

Women will modify all aspects of the car, including the engine, chassis, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint.

The project will highlight women in the automotive industry while supporting females pursuing careers in the field. Women will modify all aspects of the car, including the engine, chassis, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint.

Renderings may be submitted by a female in the automotive industry or a female student. This is a great opportunity for female designers to showcase their work and have their build idea featured at the 2022 SEMA Show.

Submission period has concluded.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named Barry Alt as the council’s latest volunteer spotlight member. Alt is the founder and digital marketing strategist at Motorhead Digital, a digital marketing agency that provides marketing strategies and programs for automotive restoration, performance tuning and restyling shops.

Get to know Alt in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: Did you ever consider another career or industry, and what made you choose automotive restoration?

Barry Alt: I've been a car guy all my life and attended trade school for auto services and auto body and planned to work in the automotive industry. After school, life happened and I never actually worked in the aftermarket space as a mechanic but have always done most of my own work and painted a few cars over the years.

After 11 years working in retail and three years at a software startup in Boston, I spent 20 years building my business A2Z Enhanced Digital Solutions LLC into a successful digital marketing agency. After 20 years of supporting multiple industries, I shifted my focus and founded Motorhead Digital in 2017 to help and support the auto restoration, performance and restyling segment of the automotive aftermarket industry that I love.

I choose to support this space because I found that I have a lot of shared values and interests of the people that work in the automotive aftermarket and really understand them. At the end of the day, I’m a car guy and huge motorhead who loves working and supporting the amazing people in this space and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

SEMA: What’s the best advice you ever received? How has this advice helped you either professionally or personally?

BA: I have two things that I can share as the best advice I’ve ever received. One was advice from a friend and accountability partner that said, “Why aren’t you focusing on and working with the car people you know and love?” She said, “They’re your people,” and that I needed to shift the focus of my digital agency and start working solely in the automotive aftermarket space. She knew that I loved and knew so much about this space that I needed to help shops as much as I could, and it was the best decision that I’ve ever made for my business.

Additionally a mentor of mine also once said, “Try and only work with people that you’d have over to your home for a barbeque and a beer.”

Both of these have affected me professionally or personally and made life so much more enjoyable and rewarding.

SEMA: If you could do one thing over from the course of your career, what would that be?

BA: I wish I would have joined SEMA and started working in and supporting the automotive aftermarket space 20 years earlier.

SEMA: What keeps your passion going in this industry?

BA: Besides all the cool stuff going on in the restoration industry, I love the people and passion in the auto-restoration space, helping their businesses succeed online and want to help more shops. That’s what keeps me going.

SEMA: What is your dream vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend?

BA: There are so many. Some would think this is an odd choice but I’ve always loved and wanted a ’70 AMC AMX 390 GO-PACK four-speed car. I’d be cruising to car shows and other car events. And as of late, I’ve been fascinated with possibly building an ‘85–’88 Monte Carlo SS to run in autocross events.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

BA: If I’m not in the garage working on my classic ’69 427 Corvette, I’m at car shows, NHRA events or following my other passion in the competitive shooting sports of USPSA and Sporting Clays.

SEMA: What do you see as the biggest challenges for the restoration industry today, and where do you see the industry in five years?

BA: Finding skilled craftsmen to work in shops and having more young people get into the auto-restoration industry is a challenge. I’m hoping the industry keeps growing and spends more time understanding how to promote their businesses in the digital world.

Fill out an ARMO member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on ARMO’s social media, SEMA News and future ARMO member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) named Flaming River Industries as the council’s newest company spotlight member. Company President Jeanette Ladina shares their story and the projects they are working on in 2022.  

SEMA: Tell us the story of your shop. How did you start?

Jeanette Ladina: Flaming River Industries Inc. was founded in 1987 with a vision to offer quality steering systems for street rods, musclecars, classics and trucks. Our products use all-new parts to ensure that we can maintain quality standards, improve the original design and offer long-range product availability as well as lifetime serviceability.  

Tilt steering columns, power rack and pinions, steering shafts and billet accessories are all made right here at Flaming River by a talented group of car enthusiasts. Our promise to customers is to provide the best-quality products and service possible.  

I started working with Flaming River through the local high school co-op office program in 1987 and became an owner in 1990. We built a Berea, Ohio, manufacturing facility in 2000, which continues to evolve and allows us to build products in-house and develop new products to meet customer demand.

SEMA: What was your company’s breakthrough moment?

JL: Our breakthrough moment was manufacturing the Mustang II manual rack-and-pinion in response to the numerous requests we had received at SEMA. This would be similar to the version of our Pinto rack-and-pinion and it could be used in the growing hot-rod market.

Then from there, we started to manufacture stainless-steel tilt steering columns from all-new parts specifically for the custom market, which was the next milestone. Patented cradle kits that allow rack-and-pinions to be added to classic, vintage, and musclecars, as well as the development of an all-new power rack-and-pinion, further expanded the business. And, finally accomplishing ISO 9001:2015 quality standard registration reinforced our commitment to quality.

SEMA: Tell us about your business now in 2022 and what projects are you working on?

JL: We are continually working on new products. One of our focuses this year is to adapt the Microsteer electronic power-assist unit to a variety of steering columns making a bolt in installation possible for a variety of vehicles.

The next project is our growth in custom tilt steering columns. Since we make everything in-house, we can build a column to a certain size with a wire slot in a specific location and even powdercoat to any color in the RAL deck, and go on to produce it in a very timely manner.

Finally, the VDog continues to be a popular product we are offering to solve the 90-degree angle steering linkage situation at the firewall for LS motor swaps. It is a variable angle gear that won an award for SEMA Best New Product.

SEMA: Tell us about a build you are proud of.

JL: Hard Candy is our ’32 Roadster that was built in collaboration with Dominator Motorsports. It features our electric power-steering roadster column, a split axle and is showcased in our catalog and is featured at a number of trade shows. Our ’70 El Camino was built by the Flaming River team to develop a musclecar key column and cradle kit with power rack-and-pinion.

SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket?

JL: This Industry is an exciting place to get involved. It is important to make connections, develop your talents and continue to learn and grow. SEMA and HRIA provide excellent opportunities to do this. As you pursue your own adventure, remain 100% committed to your goals.  

Fill out an HRIA member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the hot-rod industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on HRIA’s social media, SEMA News and future HRIA member updates.

By Rachel Tatum

Autumn Reine (@autumn_reine) will join SEMA Young Guns followers for an Instagram “Ask Me Anything,” Tuesday, April 19, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PDT).

Reine is a professional welder and fabricator, incorporating those skills into her personal automotive projects. She has also created a YouTube channel called “Wrench & Chill” that features her dream car—a ’74 Datsun 240 Z named “CrayZ.” Her vision is to make CrayZ into a reliable street car that can compete and do long-distance driving while sharing the build process with others through social media. She enjoys making content showing fabrication techniques, handy tools, companies they recommend and love working with and industry news.

SEMA continues to actively recruit automotive influencers for the SEMA Social Media Correspondent program. Apply now to be considered.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA, along with the Auto Care Association, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Consumer Access to Repair (CAR) Coalition, applaud U.S. Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) for co-sponsoring the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair’ Act (REPAIR Act). Introduced in February 2022 by U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL) to provide consumers rights to their vehicle’s repair and maintenance data and safeguard a free and fair repair market, the REPAIR Act (H.R. 6570) is the only federal right to repair legislation that addresses this critical need in the automotive industry.

Rep. Davidson is an automotive industry alumnus who ran his family business: a small-batch machining and fabricating business which was transformed into a high-volume contract fabrication and injection molding manufacturer during his tenure.

“SEMA and the specialty automotive aftermarket appreciate Representative Davidson standing up for free and fair competition for consumers looking to service, repair or modify their vehicle,” said Daniel Ingber, vice president, government and legal affairs, SEMA. “The bi-partisan REPAIR Act must be passed to protect access to vehicle systems, tools and information necessary for independent repair and modification services for millions of consumers.”

“By prohibiting vehicle owners from accessing and sharing data they generate, manufacturers stop consumers from accessing third-party repair shops,” said Davidson. “American vehicle owners have a right to control their data, and a right to access third-party repair shops, tools and parts. This bill would end manufacturers’ anti-competitive practices and restore consumer property rights.”

“Thanks to Congressman Davidson, the bill is now a bi-partisan effort,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “We thank the representative for recognizing that consumers deserve the right to choose where they get their vehicle repaired. In a time where Americans rely on their vehicles more than ever and are keeping their vehicles longer due to economic uncertainty, we hope that other legislators follow suit.”

“AASA applauds Rep. Davidson for joining Rep. Rush on this critical legislative push,” said Paul McCarthy, president and CEO, AASA. “The consumer’s ability to continue to have choice in where to repair, service and maintain their vehicles is at stake. The bipartisan support from this bill, as we saw with the bipartisan-supported ‘Nixing the Fix’ report from the FTC, speaks to the fact that this automotive right to repair effort is not partisan; it is to support consumers, competition and free markets. Without action, consumers will face rising costs and fewer options. We look forward to working with both representatives on this important effort.”

“The CAR Coalition applauds Rep. Davidson for co-sponsoring the REPAIR Act,” CAR Coalition Executive Director Justin Rzepka said. “This bipartisan legislation is critical to protecting the rights of consumers in the post-collision auto-repair market. It is also crucial to ensuring the security and accessibility of vehicle data. As the cost of cars and repairs rise, consumers need more choices, not fewer, when it comes to repairing their own vehicles. The CAR Coalition looks forward to working with Rep. Davidson and Rep. Rush to advance the REPAIR Act on behalf of consumers across the country.”

Automotive aftermarket companies can urge legislators in their district to also co-sponsor the bill by visiting autocareadvocacy.org/take-action-tell-congress-support-right-to-repair, aftermarketsuppliers.org/repairact, carcoalition.com or semasan.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Knowing how to identify and professionally analyze combustion events, such as knocks, preignition, rev-limiter tuning and broken crankshafts is crucial to obtaining peak engine performance.

Join Gary Patterson, R&D engineer at Roush Yates Engines, during a SEMA webinar on April 19, at 1:00 pm (PDT), to discover the tools that are available to help measure cylinder pressure, how to identify the data in real-time and what actions to take as a result of the data. Whether it’s calibration optimization or valve-timing optimization, the modifications can make a difference in overall engine performance.

Geared toward automotive engineers, programmers and product developers, the webinar will cover:

• Cylinder Pressure Measurements: What equipment it takes to acquire data, what the raw data looks like and examples of good versus bad data.
• Data Interpretation: How to interpret the data to quickly optimize ignition timing, and understanding valve timing tradeoffs.
• Abnormal Events: Examples of abnormal events such as knocks, preignition, examples of good and bad rev limiter tuning, detecting a broken crankshaft during a test and stopping the test before damaging the engine block.
• Other Indicating System Uses: Other types of measurements indicating systems (i.e., fuel-rail pressure oscillations, crankshaft torsion and bending).

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

Holley LS Fest has become the go-to event for fans of GM’s high performance do-it-all LS engine platform. This year, Holley is bringing LS Fest West back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway just outside of Las Vegas.

The SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) is hosting a mixer for its members inside the Optima Booth on Thursday, April 21, at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).

The event is the ideal time for members to grow and expand their professional network. Attendees will network with industry friends in a relaxed environment, learn about resources available to council members, and connect directly with the MPMC select committee.

Lean more about the event and RSVP here.

By Ashley Reyes

As America’s workforce evolves and more employees continue to work remotely, workers are burning out and struggling. Resignations are at an all-time high and employees are seeking better work-life balance. Discover how the busiest people avoid burning out and ways to create an environment of calmness in the workplace by taking part in the newest offering from the SBN Virtual Education Webinar Series, “Creating a Work Life Balance,” April 21, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Ann Swayka of AirPro Diagnostics will serve as moderator as she is joined by Lee Jordon, chief people officer with DataBrains, who is also an adjunct professor of kinesiology and integrative wellness, and a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach.

Attendees will learn:

• Why work-life balance is essential to both employees and employers.
• How to instill a culture of work-life balance in your company.
• How to keep balance when stress increases.
• How to become a role model.

Attendees will engage in a Q&A with the speaker and participate in virtual breakouts to share how they reinforce work-life balance in their own careers.

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

As the popularity of electric vehicles grows, experts are taking a closer look at the true environmental impact these cars have—from production to operation to disposal. Manufacturers of both alternative-fuel vehicles and traditional internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are evaluating the net-zero impact and what the future looks like.

Join Dr. Robert Freerks, consultant in fuels and lubricants at RLF Enterprises, April 20, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT), as he compares EVs to conventional ICE vehicles and explores the readiness of the U.S. electric grid to support widespread adoption of EV use throughout the country.

In just one hour, you will learn about the following:

• Equivalent emissions of an EV based on energy production mix across the United States.
• Environmental impact of EV and battery production.
• Ability of the current electric grid to support widespread EV adoption.

Register here.