By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) named Sam Williams as this week’s WTC spotlight volunteer. Williams is a senior strategic account manager at Falken Tire, a Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand that focuses on high-performance tire technology for cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers.

Get to know Williams in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What led you to obtaining a career in the wheel and tire industry?

Sam Williams: Blind luck. I went to a job fair and met a guy from National Tire Wholesale (NTW)—the original NTW that later became National Tire & Battery (NTB). I’ve been in the industry in some shape or form ever since.

SEMA: How has being a WTC volunteer or member impacted your professional career?

SW: Meeting a lot of professionals in the industry and helping others develop their knowledge, skills and network.

SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the wheel and tire segment?

SW: Once you're in, it’s hard to stay out!

SEMA: Where can we find you on a Saturday?

SW: If not traveling, in the garage or a lake.
Fill out a WTC spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the wheel and tire segment of the automotive aftermarket. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on WTC’s social media, SEMA eNews and future WTC member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

Since the Facebook Live Chat series was introduced by SEMA councils and networks in 2017, hundreds of industry members have connected directly with leaders in the specialty-equipment market. Through these Live Chats, participants get to hear from professionals in various careers of the automotive aftermarket as they exchange their stories and career advice with others in the industry.

Facebook users are invited to mark their calendars for the following mid-day chats in January:

ETTN Live Chat featuring Tom Gattuso, SEMA Vice President of Events; Sage Thomas, Donk Master; Scott Highland, RWB; Roland Hence, FrontLane; and Jared Chavez, Horizon Brands
Tuesday, January 11, at 12:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: SEMA Show Facebook page

Two of the most successful trade shows taking place in 2021 included the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis. During this Facebook Live Chat, industry members will join Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events, as first-time and returning SEMA and PRI Trade Show exhibitors discuss their 2021 Show experiences.

SBN Live Chat featuring Theresa Contreras, LGE-CTS Motorsports
Wednesday, January 12 at 12:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: SBN Facebook page

Join the SBN for a Facebook live chat with Theresa Contreras, 2021 #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year.

The #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman in the industry who possess leadership, knowledge, expertise, and or/management abilities and has positively impacted the industry through active mentorship or industry involvement. While many in the industry know Theresa as the president of LGE-CTS Motorsports, viewers will get to hear her story first-hand, learn about the countless SEMA projects and programs she has spearheaded, and what winning the award means to her.   

FLN Live Chat featuring Nick Caloroso, Driven Lighting Group; and Matt Beenen, BuiltRight Industries
Wednesday, January 19 at 12:30 p.m. PST
Location: FLN Facebook page

FLN Chair Nick Caloroso and FLN Chair-Elect Matt Beenen will discuss the network’s rebranding to Future Leaders Network (FLN)—formerly Young Executives Network (YEN)—during this Facebook Live Chat. Participants will get to know what the name change means for the network, what the network’s goals are moving forward, and get their questions answered on the application process for the FLN Professional Development Training with Dale Carnegie.

By SEMA Editors

 

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

 

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Marketing/e-commerce/Content Coordinator
AAM Competiton LLC is hiring a marketing/e-commerce/content coordinator responsible for the creation of graphics and copy for the company’s website, e-commerce and online marketplaces. This position works closely with the sales and production team and will be charged with expanding the company’s e-commerce website, creating infographics, enhancing brand content and copy. Candidates must have experience with graphic design, advertising, marketing and e-commerce.

Technical Customer Service Representative
Competition Clutch is hiring a technical customer service representative (CSR) to act as a liaison, provide product/services information and resolve any emerging problems that customer accounts might face with accuracy and efficiency. The best CSRs are genuinely excited to help customers. They’re patient, empathetic and passionately communicative. The target is to ensure excellent service standards, respond efficiently to customer inquiries and maintain high customer satisfaction.

Marketing Manager
CSF Cooling is hiring a marketing manager to develop brand and marketing strategies, delegate tasks to the marketing team, set and achieve targets, and establish relationships with the media and clients. The ability to build relationships with a variety of professionals is a must. The ideal candidate must have a solid marketing background and work experience managing a variety of promotional projects end-to-end, including paid advertising campaigns and digital marketing techniques. This position will report directly to the director/general manager and oversee internal marketing teams.

  

 It’s never too early to start planning for the annual SEMA Show. Last month, more than 100,000 industry exhibitors, buyers and media reconnected to do business for the first time in two years at the 2021 SEMA Show. With 2021 in the books, it’s now time to start planning for the 2022 SEMA Show, November 1–4, in Las Vegas.

More than 100,000 industry exhibitors, buyers and media reconnected to do business for the first time in two years at the 2021 SEMA Show.

Reserve a booth now!

For additional information about exhibiting at the SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com/exhibitor.

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.

• Access Cover
• Addictive Desert Designs
• Baer Sport
• CargoGlide
• Diamond Eye Performance
• Edge Products
• Fastway Trailer Products
• Go Fast Bits
• H&R Springs
• ICON Vehicle Dynamics

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

Nissan to Establish New Vehicle Customization and Motorsports Company

Nissan Motor Corp. has announced plans to establish a new company through the integration of two affiliated companies, Autech Japan Inc. (Autech) and Nissan Motorsports International Co. Ltd. (NISMO). The new company—named Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co. Ltd.—is set to be established on April 1, 2022.

“The integration is aimed to better globally utilize Autech's know-how in developing and manufacturing customized vehicles and NISMO’s brand power built up through motorsports. Positioned as an important strategic subsidiary, the new company is expected to contribute to Nissan’s sustainable growth,” a company release stated.

“Autech, with its wide range of expertise, is a pioneer of customized vehicles. NISMO, through motorsports and enhanced driving pleasure, is a symbol of the spirit of challenge in Nissan cars. We are confident that the integration of these two companies will bring us even closer to the pinnacle of exciting mobility we are aiming for,” Nissan Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta said.

For more information, visit nissanusa.com.

iRacing Acquires Monster Games, Orontes Games

iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, the provider of the iRacing simulation gaming platform, has announced the acquisition of Orontes Games. Founded by Christian and Thorsten Folkers in 2016, Orontes Games released an Early Access version of the game DRAG in 2020 on the digital game distribution site Steam. The online racing game features high fidelity, next-generation graphics and advanced vehicle physics.

Orontes Games lead developers Christian Folkers and Thorsten Folkers will join the iRacing team. iRacing has also announced the acquisition of Monster Games, Inc (MGI). The Minnesota-based game development studio is behind the NASCAR Heat franchise and Tony Stewart’s Sprint Car Racing game.

President and owner of MGI Rich Garcia will join the iRacing development team. He will be reunited with iRacing CEO and CTO Dave Kaemmer, who worked for Kaemmer’s former company, Papyrus Racing Games. Both acquisitions are standalone development studios and projects. For more information, visit iracing.com.

New Ownership, Name For Texas’ Rocket Raceway Park

New ownership has taken over the Rocket Raceway Park. The Petty, Texas, dirt oval formerly known as 82 Speedway will see new branding and an exciting mix of events for the 2022 season. The management team of Kevin Sustaire and Kevin Rogers will take the reins after spending the last three seasons at the RPM Speedway in Texas. For 2022, the track will feature four Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series divisions, including USRA Modifieds, Medieval USRA Stock Cars, USRA Limited Mods, and Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks, with Eco-Mods and Trooper Cruisers also on the Saturday night card.

The USRA Modified division will join the card on a bi-weekly basis. They will compete for the Rocket Challenge in 2022 and alternate weekends with the Superbowl Speedway in Greenville, Texas. The Medieval USRA Stock Cars are a new division and the first time the class will be sanctioned at a race track in the Lone Star State.

For more information, visit rocketracewaypark.com.

IndyCar Announces Contract Extension With Chassis Manufacturer Dallara

IndyCar has announced a multiyear extension with chassis manufacturer Dallara. The contract runs parallel to the current agreements with engine manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda. Dallara, an Italian company, first supplied driver safety cells for the IndyCar Series in 1997 and has been the sole chassis supplier since 2008. In 2012, the manufacturer expanded its U.S. operations by opening the Dallara IndyCar factory in Speedway, Indiana, where the company produces and assembles chassis for a variety of racing series.

Since 2015, production has included the chassis for IndyCar’s Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires and in 2018, Dallara began manufacturing the current universal body kit (AK-18) for the NTT IndyCar Series. This year marks the company’s 26th consecutive season with the racing organization. The 2022 NTT IndyCar Series season opens Sunday, February 27, at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. For more information, visit indycar.com.

Autonomous Challenge Set for Las Vegas Competition

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that Energy Systems Network, the organizer of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, will host a head-to-head, high-speed autonomous race car passing competition in conjunction with CES 2022. The Autonomous Challenge at CES will take place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, January 7, 2022.

The event follows the Indy Autonomous Challenge, the first high-speed autonomous race car competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that took place on October 23. The Autonomous Challenge at CES will feature several of the university teams that competed in Indianapolis, including the winner of the competition (TUM Autonomous Motorsport) and two finalists (EuroRacing and PoliMOVE).

The goal is to advance technology that can speed the commercialization of fully autonomous vehicles and deployments of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Designed by university teams, these enhancements can lead to increased safety and performance in motorsports as well as all modes of commercial transportation.

For more information, visit indyautonomouschallenge.com.

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.

SEMA News—January 2022

PEOPLE

Getting to Know Ben Kaminsky

A Q&A With SEMA Garage Detroit’s New Operations Manager

By Douglas McColloch

Roughly three times the size of SEMA’s Diamond Bar test facility in California, SEMA Garage Detroit will offer SEMA-member companies a number of services—including testing and calibration for advanced driver-assistance systems.

SEMA recently announced the hiring of Ben Kaminsky as operations manager for the brand-new SEMA Garage Detroit ahead of its opening in 2022. In his new role, Kaminsky will be responsible for the overall management of services and facilities at the 45,000-sq.-ft. Garage to assist members with new-product development and integration.

Prior to joining SEMA, Kaminsky worked at General Motors (GM) as a senior design and release engineer. He oversaw the design, development, validation and release of Chevrolet Performance air intakes, exhausts and components for use in performance applications. He also worked closely with GM emissions compliance and legal groups to ensure that engineering hardware development and release processes consistently delivered products that met and exceeded regulatory requirements.

Prior to GM, Kaminsky worked at Bosch Motorsport in a variety of roles ranging from senior technical engineer to hardware development manager. He directed a department of engineers to develop hardware components for the professional racing industry.

SEMA News talked with Kaminsky recently about his background, his industry experience, his thoughts on the soon-to-be-open Garage, and its range of unique member services. What follows has been edited for clarity and length.

SEMA News: Describe your thoughts upon hearing the news that you’d been selected to head up the new SEMA Garage.

Ben Kaminsky: I was really excited. I’ve been a part of the performance industry for a long time, and when I think of SEMA, that’s what I think of: the performance aftermarket. I was also humbled and honored to be selected to become a part of such a prestigious organization and to lead such a critical new investment for SEMA in Detroit. Detroit is still the beating heart of the automotive industry in the United States, so it’s cool to be able to rub shoulders with a lot of folks in the performance aftermarket. I’ve worked for Chevrolet Performance and Bosch Motorsport, so some of them I’ve known for years, but there are others I’m getting to know for the first time.

SN: Tell us a bit about your background and how you gravitated toward a career in the automotive industry.

BK: I grew up on a farm in Indiana. From a very early age, I loved all wheeled machinery. I used to help my grandfathers and my father run tractors on the farm. Later, when I got into my teenage years, I started to fall in love with the automobile. Coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to be a vehicle performance engineer, and I’m a mechanical engineer by trade.

I went to a small university in Ohio—Cedarville University. One of the reasons I went there was because they had a strong engineering program. They also gave me the opportunity to take part in an Ethanol Challenge—a joint collegiate competition sponsored by GM and the Department of Energy where we built vehicles to run on ethanol.

One year we got a Silverado pickup to work with, and our team ended up putting twin turbochargers on it. Then we bored and stroked it from 5.3L to 5.7L so we could use Corvette components on it. We worked with Lingenfelter Performance on the project, and it was the first time I really got involved with the performance aftermarket. The truck actually made the cover of Car & Driver magazine!

From there I went to Honda R&D in Marysville, Ohio, where I spent three-plus years learning all things emissions development, working in the engine research department doing vehicle tailpipe emissions testing as well as evaporative emissions. After that, I went to a small aftermarket performance company called APR in Opelika, Alabama, where I was the head calibrator focusing on Volkswagens and Audis. That was my first real exposure to the SEMA Show, when we built a Mk V GTi for the 2006 Show as part of a competition sponsored by Volkswagen. Long story short, we won the competition and ended up displaying at the Show.

After working for APR, I went to Bosch in Farmington Hills, Michigan, where I worked in the quality department and then the motorsport department, where I ended up managing the North America hardware development department for Bosch Motorsport. I then went to General Motors to Chevrolet Performance, where I worked as a design release engineer for the last six years. My primary focus was on performance air induction systems and exhaust, so I did some work on the Camaro, Corvette and the pickups with varying degrees of performance from drag racing to street stuff.

I guess if I could put a bow on it, what’s interesting about my career is that I’ve had experience with the OEs in emissions and experience with both the OEs and the aftermarket on the performance level, so all of these experiences combined have helped set the trajectory to this new position.

SN: Let’s talk about the Detroit Garage—how it’s shaping up and what members can expect to see in 2022.

BK: We’re looking at what we’re calling a ‘soft launch,’ hopefully in the spring timeframe. That would entail having the office open and staff on hand to man the ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems) Center. As far as the timeline for the rest of it—emissions testing in particular—we’re looking at a summer timeframe. We’re working with the contractors and architects to make sure that happens, and we’re pushing hard to get it done within this timeframe.

SN: Talk about the new ADAS Center and what kinds of services our members can expect from it. As you know, SEMA isn’t able to offer these services at the SEMA Garage facility in Diamond Bar, California, due to a lack of needed facility space.

BK: It takes a lot of space to test and calibrate all the different systems on a vehicle. We’re looking at rooms that are roughly 40 by 60 ft. All in all, we will have between 4,000 and 5,000 sq. ft. to devote to this work. There will be two aspects to it.

One cell will be devoted to a lot of R&D, learning the new technology—how the vehicle interacts with the various ADAS systems and how we can calibrate those systems. That’ll be one room—call it the “white paper” room—where our research and learning goes on.

We’re also going to promote awareness—to let the aftermarket know that ADAS isn’t going away. The number of equipped vehicles with some form of these systems is doubling every two years, and this trend is only going to continue to increase.

The second aspect is understanding how to deal with this technology with modified vehicles—if it can be properly calibrated and how. That’ll be the second room. For members who are dealing with ADAS calibration issues, we’re going to be buying a bunch of the most popular equipment from the aftermarket that’s available today and try to coach the members on how to interface and use the most popular ADAS calibration tools. That’s some of the coaching we’ll be offering the SEMA membership.

But there is still a lot to learn with ADAS technologies and how modified vehicles interact within it. We anticipate there will be different answers for different OEs. We are also seeing the ADAS technology evolve so quickly that those answers will morph over time. Regulatory oversight and strategies could also drastically change the landscape and approach to this. Long story short—we are excited to get the facility up and running and begin to dig in.

SN: What about dynamic testing? We understand that SEMA is partnering with a local track facility to affect that.

Ben Kaminsky, SEMA Garage Detroit’s new operations manager, comes to SEMA from General Motors, where he worked as a design release engineer. He has years of experience in emissions testing, racing and performance across both OE and aftermarket platforms. He’s even built cars for the SEMA Show and for the cover of Car & Driver.

BK: When we say ‘dynamic testing,’ in this case for U.S. OE purposes, you basically plug the factory service tool into the OBD-II port and ‘tell’ the vehicle that it needs to calibrate. Then you drive the vehicle until it ‘learns’ enough to tell you that it’s comfortable with the new parameters, and the calibration is done. By contrast, most of the European and Japanese OEs primarily rely on static testing for their vehicles. Some select vehicles even require both static and dynamic testing.

At the moment, we do not have a specific partnership set up. We are, however, looking at various options on how we can consistently, accurately, and cost-
effectively complete validation and regulatory testing. Again, we are looking forward to doing the research to provide these sorts of options for our membership.

SN: Talk a bit about the new emissions testing facility. The Detroit Garage will be able to offer types of emissions testing and CARB certification that aren’t available in Diamond Bar, as with ADAS testing. From what we understand, SEMA Garage Detroit is going to be like Diamond Bar on steroids, is that right?

BK: That’s a good way to describe it. Diamond Bar has done a really great job of laying the groundwork from an emissions point of view. They’ve managed to forge a great relationship with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which is key for manufacturers who need that CARB Executive Order to sell in California, so we in Detroit are kind of standing on the shoulders of giants in that regard. SEMA has also built relationships with the OEs and OE suppliers, and we’ll be looking to expand our relationships with these companies. Detroit is still the Motor City, and most of the major OEs and OE suppliers have some form of presence within an hour’s drive of our new facility.

Emissions testing and verification is a very expensive procedure, and one of the things that the Detroit Garage can do involves using a four-wheel chassis dyno for testing. We’ll have the capability to run two-wheel, four-wheel and all-wheel-drive vehicles on both the emissions and mileage accumulation chassis dynos. We can also test hybrids and EVs should we need to.

The chassis dyno for mileage accumulation will be an in-ground, “in-the-pit” setup, so we can conduct a vehicle prep to go into the emissions test cell and also do horsepower verification for components such as air intakes. We’ll also be able to accommodate a lot more vehicles, since our total square footage is more than double the size of the Diamond Bar facility.

Finally, there’s the location. Folks who are east of the Rockies may find it more difficult to get to Diamond Bar with a vehicle than to drive to Detroit for testing, so it’s a good location for people on the East Coast as well.

About SEMA Detroit Garage

SEMA Garage Detroit will offer manufacturers access to advanced product-development tools and equipment, a state-of-the-art emissions testing lab, an advanced driver-assistance systems research and development center, and expert technicians who will help bring products to market. The Detroit facility will give aftermarket parts manufacturers access to sophisticated resources that are typically accessible only to large-scale manufacturers.

In addition to exclusive OEM measuring sessions, scanning services, advanced tools and equipment, a modern training center and an emissions lab recognized by the California Air Resources Board, the Detroit facility will include expanded services and offer new SEMA benefits through the ADAS Research and Development Center. For the latest updates on the Detroit facility, visit www.semagarage.com.

SEMA News—January 2022

EVENTS

Place Your Bids

SEMA Cares Auctions Four One-of-a-Kind Vehicles

By Fredy Ramirez and Carr Winn

The WD-40 build this year featured a post-World War II design of a Chevrolet 3100.

Giving back to the community has been one of SEMA’s values since the founding of the association. In 2007, SEMA Cares began providing support to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for pediatric cancer as well as Childhelp, an organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, and the Victory Junction camp for children with complicated medical conditions and serious illnesses.

One of the best ways SEMA can support these wonderful organizations is through helping facilitate one-of-a-kind car builds for auction by gathering parts from members in the industry who so kindly donate both their inventory and their time. This year, four vehicles came to fruition and will be auctioned off to the benefit of the charities.

WD-40 ’51 Chevy 3100

WD-40 teamed with off-road crew chief Trad Ronefeldt of Team Racing and Development to restomod this one-of-a-kind Chevy 3100.

“Trad called us one evening and had the idea to take a regular-bed 3100 and do a fully custom box in the back that would allow us to bring to life the history of our brand and marry that to a service bed that would display our new WD-40 Specialist line of products in a beautiful way,” said WD-40 Brand Events and Content Development Manager Zeb Brown. “A long road lay ahead for this project, but everyone met the challenge with a smile. Although this vehicle didn’t travel thousands of miles to get its upgrades like our previous charity vehicles, it drives just as well.”

Brown said that Airhead design helped with the paint, going for a post-World War II design. The 3100 is now yellow with hints of rustic brown. In fact, the look is reminiscent of the time when blue-collar workers came back home after a long battle.

“WD-40 Multi-Use product was created in 1953, just two years after the truck was made,” Brown said. “We wanted this design to bring people back to that time and also blow the hats off younger auto enthusiasts and aspiring custom builders.”

Although it looks like it rolled off the lot back in the ’50s, the modern driving feel that the builders worked so hard to achieve is evident as soon as you press the gas pedal. Ronefeldt’s custom fabrication massively improved the capability and ride quality of the 3100.

“We also encountered some challenges figuring how to get the dually rear to fit with the runners and not make it look too wide in the rear,” Brown said. “Trad had the simple but genius idea to just flip the stock runners.”

Much of the frame needed custom work, and Ronefeldt fired up the blowtorch to make things a perfect fit. The frame needed to be capable of handling its upgrade. The inline-six that pushed out 92 hp pales in comparison to the 383 V8 stroker engine that pushes out 520 hp. Holley donated parts to allow the engine to run smoothly, and Frostbite took care of cooling the new engine.

All that horsepower means nothing if the vehicle can’t put it down, but not to worry: Currie Axle, Reel Driveline, Toyo Tires and Ultra Wheel Co. came to the rescue. The axle, driveshaft, tires and wheels came together to easily handle that power and put it to the wheels. The 3100’s new owner will be lucky to acquire a such a unique truck while helping a great cause.

“The vehicle will be auctioned on www.bringatrailer.com in early 2022, with all proceeds going to SEMA Cares and Childhelp, the nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse,” Brown said. “We can’t wait to donate the proceeds to support such a great cause.”

Hemmings “Big Green” Suburban

“Big Green” traveled many miles to arrive in California, but when it arrived, it had been modified for improved performance. Photo courtesy: Hemmings Motor News

This ’81 Chevrolet Suburban traveled across the country to be transformed into a vehicle capable of being driven daily.

“We surveyed our readers and watchers, and the number-one thing they wanted to see from us was road trip content,” said Hemmings Motor News President and Publisher Jonathan Shaw. “The show was originally going to take place on the West Coast, but we had so much support for our cause that it’s spread to the entire United States.”

After being picked up from GR Auto Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Suburban made its way to Lansing, Michigan, where racer Kevin Wesley and son Parker helped change the first of many parts: the alternator. After the alternator seemed to function properly, a 500-mi. journey followed to Rockford, Tennessee. There, more improvements began at Silver Sport Transmissions.

The team at Silver Sport swapped the old four-speed manual transmission for a Tremec TR4050 five-speed and an NP 205 transfer case. Of course, taking on a challenge like that doesn’t come without some speed bumps, so Big Green hit the road again.

This time, its journey would take it 400 miles to Memphis for the installation of an Edelbrock fuel-injection system. The Suburban received ProFlo 4 electronic fuel injection, an intake manifold, a distributor, plug wires, valve covers and an air cleaner as well as a digital dash at the Comp Cams facility.

“The EFI system and the transmission alone allowed us to travel at modern highway speeds while at the same time improving our fuel economy by more than 35%,” Shaw said.

This project build began with a Factory Five Mark IV Roadster kit, which resembles the look of the legendary 427 Cobra.

The next stop took Big Green to Fort Worth, Texas, to receive an air conditioning system from Old Air Products. The A/C proved to work well as Big Green made its way from Texas to California for stops at SEMA headquarters, Air Flow Research and Classic Industries.

Air Flow Research provided new heads for the 350 V8 Quadrajet-carbureted engine. Classic Industries donated a dash pad, an instrument bezel, a headliner, door seals, a steering wheel and a new vinyl floor mat.

“All of us here at Hemmings, along with our SEMA partners, have put a lot of time and effort into this old truck to make it something special,” Shaw said. “Thus, we hope the next owner won’t see it as a collector vehicle but instead as a wonderful old truck that can log another 100,000 miles and then be kept on the road for decades to come.”

Austin Hatcher Foundation Factory Five Coupe and Roadster

This project build began with a Factory Five Type 65 Coupe kit, which is a replica of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe that won Le Mans in 1964.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation is dedicated to helping children who face one of life’s toughest challenges: a cancer diagnosis. The foundation includes an industrial arts division that partners with organizations like SEMA to provide both experience in a STEM-based trade as well as facilitate activities that can help young patients see beyond their daily health challenges.

At the 2021 SEMA Show, Austin Hatcher proudly displayed two Factory Five vehicles built as part of the foundation’s unique hands-on therapy program. The first of the two was a ’65 coupe attracting plenty of attention with its Bristol Grey exterior and full leather interior. Parked next door was a very special roadster, drawing quite a crowd in its Guardsman Blue and Wimbledon White colors. Both Factory Five vehicles feature powerplants from Ford Performance as well as 3.48 gears connected to five-speed transmissions.

Co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation Jim Osborne explained just how special these builds are to the organization.

“The kids help assemble,” he said. “They get to be part of it, and then these cars, once complete, will be sold at auction to generate funds to help cover more services.”

Osborn said that the foundation is able to offer all its services for free, thanks to the efforts of groups like those involved in the two Factory Five vehicle auctions.

For Osborn, watching the builds come together at the foundation’s Education Advancement Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is extremely rewarding. Special thanks also go to their build partners, who helped offset the vehicles’ costs. The Daytona coupe represents a partnership with SATA’s German engineering division, and the roadster was a collaboration with the Kawasaki Foundation.

The kids at the Austin Hatcher Foundation worked on the vehicles alongside trained professionals. Photo courtesy: Austin Hatcher Foundation

Austin Hatcher Foundation Co-Founder and President Amy Jo Osborne said that there is one additional benefit to the unique nature of this particular therapy for her clients.

“Engaging the kids in this process allows them to build a love of the industry,” she said. According to Amy Jo, the feeling of teamwork is the truly special part of the project. “It’s a therapy that doesn’t feel like therapy, and then they can see a completed project and they’re part of something bigger.”

Place Your Bids

Each vehicle represents the passion and the powerful commitment SEMA and its members have to create world-class builds as well as support SEMA Cares. If you’d like to see one of these vehicles parked in your garage, donate today. Visit www.sema.org/sema-cares.

SEMA News—January 2022

2021 SEMA Show New Products Showcase Spotlight Products

The 2021 SEMA Show New Products Showcase featured more than 1,500 products across 16 different categories, including street performance, racing, off-road, mobile electronics and interior and exterior accessories. The New Products Showcase remains the No. 1 destination for buyers visiting the SEMA Show.

AutoParts4Less.Com

List. Sell. Ship. It’s that easy! A dedicated marketplace for auto parts only! Auto Parts 4 Less is the first automotive-specific multi-seller online marketplace that aspires to provide buyers with the best buying experiences and sellers with the best selling experiences possible.

www.autoparts4less.com

Badassmounts
360º Swivel Light Mount

Badassmounts billet aluminum, O-ring sealed light mounts allow 360º rotation of your lights with no tools required and no readjusting lights. Perfect for all types of four wheeling, adventure vans, search and rescue, race trailers and more. Installs in minutes. BAM!

www.centercapsdirect.com

CenterCapsDirect.com
Universal Center Cap

 

For the first time ever, there is now more than one option for your wheels and center caps. Introducing the world’s first fully interchangeable center caps. No special lugnuts or tools needed for installation. Our patent-pending center caps are truly interchangeable with any wheel, any size, any bolt pattern, which also includes OEM wheels/caps.

www.badassmounts.com

Bartec USA LLC
TechRITEPro, TPMS Diagnostic Tool

The TechRITEPro offers high-powered functionality at an entry-level price. The TechRITEPro is also a Rite-Sensor programmer and includes the Bartec exclusive Rite-Sync technology. The TechRITEPro has an easy-to-learn graphical user interface and includes more OBD-II relearns and VINDicate tool setup. The TechRITEPro provides for faster TPMS Service, flexibility in TPMS service and use, and greater coverage of TPMS sensor solutions.

www.bartecusa.com
PN: WRTTRP100

Converter Reclaim
Converter Box

Converter Reclaim Shipping Box-Sustainable recycling services for your used catalytic converters. We provide you with an honest quote, we send you a box to ship your converters in with a prepaid return shipping, and we compensate you with your desired payment options (PayPal, Venmo and check). Sell your converters on your own time with no
interruptions.

www.converterreclaim.com

Covercraft Industries LLC
Carhartt Super Dux Seat Covers

Carhartt Super Dux. Born from work. Built for play. The perfect seat cover to protect seats from daily hazards like dirt, mud, spills, people and pets. Available for most pickups and SUVs. Made from black Cordura fabric and available in the popular Covercraft SeatSaver or PrecisionFit styles.

www.covercraft.com

Covercraft Industries LLC
Multi-Layer Vehicle Covers

Covercraft Multi-Layer Vehicle Covers continue the tradition of classic vehicle covers with multiple layers of protection against the elements while being soft on the inside for fine paint finishes.

www.covercraft.com

Dash Protector
Dash Protector for Professional Tinters

Dash protection and car accessories in Miami. The Dash Protector will protect the whole dashboard from all the water spray during the process of installing a windshield film. The microfiber towel and the absorbing ropes will catch all the water. Plus, the white waterproof material will stop any water or glue remover from touching the dashboard. For a clean and safe windshield tinting.

www.dashprotector.com

ICON Vehicle Dynamics LLC
ICON ALLOYS REBOUND PRO

The ICON Alloys Rebound PRO with patented InnerLock technology offers the best of both worlds by using a robust bead retention system to keep the tire bead secured to the wheel while also remaining fully DOT-compliant. This provides confidence in knowing that your wheels are prepared to tackle whatever situation you encounter.

www.iconvehicledynamics.com

GEN-Y Hitch
REBEL-X Drop Hitch

The REBEL-X Drop Hitch is a competitively priced hitch, perfect for lighter-duty towing. This hitch is compatible with ½-ton trucks and SUVs. GEN-Y’s innovative stacked tube design allows customers to adjust the ball mount up or down in order to achieve the right amount of drop every time! It’s also capable of being used in a drop or rise position.

www.genyhitch.com

ICON Vehicle Dynamics LLC
CDEV SHOCK POWERED BY IIC

ICON Vehicle Dynamics is extremely proud to introduce the all-new Compression Damping Electronic Valve (CDEV) powered by ICON Intelligent Control (IIC). The combination allows for automatic, instantaneous adjustments to the shocks’ damping to provide the best setting for any given situation.

www.iconvehicledynamics.com

JMD Tubes
X-Pipes

Not all X-Pipes are created equal, and the team at JMD Tubes always strives to produce performance components that work as they are intended to. We are extremely proud to be able to offer our 100%-made-in-the-U.S.A. X-Pipes. Not sacrificing craftsmanship for a few extra dollars, our company’s vision is one in which we make manufacturing in the U.S.A. an industry standard with outstanding quality and results.

www.jmdtubes.com
PN: XP-SS-250/300

JM3
Oil Filter Wrench

Here at JM3, we offer an oil filter wrench that comes in five standard sizes to fit just about every oil filter on the market. Anything that takes an oil filter, we will make a size to fit it. From automotive, diesel, aviation, ATV, UTV and marine vessels, we have the best wrench for you.

It comes in a 14- and 15-Flute/tooth wrench set and is designed to get into those hard-to-reach places and to loosen those over-tightened rust-welded filters. Our tool has an insurmountable amount of leverage that makes taking off and loosening oil filters super easy. Our tool gives you the leverage you need. Just squeeze the spring-loaded lever and boom, filter is loosened—that easy!

www.oilfilterwrenchbyjm3.com
PN: 1978-XL

JMD Tubes
Mufflers

Our JMD Tubes Mufflers are quality engineered for comfort while providing maximum performance. Tested and proven to not only sound better than the majority of options on the market, but also to outlast the competition even under the most aggressive fuels. We source the best U.S.-made materials to put together a muffler that will make your vehicle purr in low rpms and ROAR at wide-open throttle. There is no point in making your high-dollar vehicle sound like a lawnmower, for your car’s sake...buy a JMD Tubes Muffler!

www.jmdtubes.com
PN: MFL-RD-300-600-12/14

Keco
Collision Glue Pull Repair System

Your least invasive repair method. This Glue Pull Repair System includes a shop light and stand as well as a specially designed cart making this an excellent option if you’re looking for a complete GPR solution. Included are all of the tools required to complete advanced repairs requiring very minimal, if any, body filler to finish.

www.kecotabs.com

Modern Driveline
Side-Shifter Program-Front

Modern Driveline has created modified Side-Shifter for the NEW Tremec TKX. Detent action is smooth, symmetrical, and maintains that short throw feeling.

The ’64–’67 Chevelle, ’64–’72 GM, BOP, and Sunbeam Tiger benefit from a lower-profile shifter placement to clear the tunnel and come up correctly in the console opening or original four-speed floor-hump opening.

Modern Driveline offers a full line of support parts to make this installation quick and simple.

www.moderndriveline.com

Modern Driveline
Side-Shifter Program-Rear

Certain vehicles require exact-fit transmissions to eliminate console and body modifications. For this, Modern Driveline has created modified versions of the NEW Tremec TKX transmission. The detent action is smooth, symmetrical and maintains that short-throw feeling.

The C2/C3 Corvette requires a lower-profile shifter placement to clear the tunnel and come up correctly in the console opening. This exact fit will make installation quick and simple.

Modern Driveline offers a full complement of support parts for this installation as well.

www.moderndriveline.com

Modern Driveline
TKX Front-Position Shifter

New for 2021, this shifter fits in the front square opening of the new Tremec TKX transmission.

It will naturally detent to the neutral position and has built-in positive stops. It will also retain the reverse lock-out feature between 5th and reverse gears. This price includes the necessary 3/4 shift lug for improved gating/shiftability. The ball/socket relationship is hardened for long wear. The improved gasket design will provide years of leak-free use.

www.moderndriveline.com

Pedal Commander
Throttle Response Controller

With 36 sensitivity settings, the fastest processor on the market, and a two-year warranty, Pedal Commander is the world’s most advanced Throttle Response Controller.

www.pedalcommander.com

Modern Driveline
’62–’66 Nova Hydraulic Master Kit

New for 2021, this kit fits in the original firewall opening and is priced very competitively.

Uses OE-style master cylinder and custom plates to achieve a direct-connect from firewall to pedal. Adjustable pedal height to achieve comfort level for clutch re-engagement from the carpet. It locates on a single existing fastener hole; drill two more small holes, trim a plate, install fasteners, hooks up and bleed, and done! Steering column may be removed for convenience but not mandatory.

www.pedalcommander.com

Sea Foam Motor Treatment
Finish Fast Interior Detailer

Finish Fast is a total interior vehicle detailer and cleaner. Cleans and protects interior surfaces without the greasy residue. Safe and effective on all surfaces, including leather, vinyl, plastic and screens

PN: ID24
www.seafoamworks.com

Sea Foam Motor Treatment
X99 Complete Auto & RV Interior Sanitizer

Help your vehicle stay clean with X99 Interior Sanitizer. Eliminates 99% of viruses and bacteria on vehicle interiors and helps eliminate tough odors.

www.seafoamworks.com
PN: X99

Sea Foam Motor Treatment
Finish Fast Exterior Detailer

Finish Fast is a total exterior vehicle finishing spray and protectant. Quickly restores shine without streaking and protects paint and clear coat.

www.seafoamworks.com
PN: ED24

Sea Foam Motor Treatment
Ultimate Oil Stabilizer

Ultimate Oil Stabilizer works in oil systems to lubricate engine parts, minimize wear and help prevent the causes of harmful oil deposits and sludge. Simply substitute 1 qt. of OS32 for 1 qt. of oil at your next oil change. When combined with motor oil, Ultimate Oil Stabilizer is always working to help minimize long-term engine wear.

www.seafoamworks.com
PN: OS32

Sea Foam Motor Treatment
IC5 Fuel Injector Cleaner

Sea Foam IC5 Fuel Injector Cleaner is specially formulated to help clean fuel injectors and restore injector spray patterns for better engine performance. It works to help recover lost power and restore lost fuel economy caused by dirty injector fouling. Safe for all types of gasoline fuel-injection engines; just pour it in!

PN: IC5

Smart Winch
RescueWinch

RescueWinch is a portable/packable, 10,000-lb.-capacity recovery system. No installation is required. It is ready to recover from the front, side or rear of your vehicle. It comes standard with a 10-ft. synthetic line but can accept unlimited line lengths. Includes (4) soft shackles, (2) snatch rings, (1) tree saver strap and (1) expedition bag.

www.myrescuewinch.com

Ultra1Plus
SAE 15W-50 Full Synthetic 4T Engine Oil, API SN, JASO MA, MA2

It is a full-synthetic, super high-performance, multi-grade oil for high-RPM, four-stroke motorcycle engines with integral gearboxes and wet clutches, applications requiring a four-stroke engine oil JASO MA2, API SN. Blended with 100%-synthetic base-stocks and premium performance additives. Specialty friction modifiers provide smooth clutch gear shift operation, while specialty anti-oxidants and sophisticated dispersant technology enhance cleanliness. Excellent wet-clutch performance.

www.ultra1plus.com
PN: UFS15504TSNMA2L

VP Racing Fuels
VP Trigger Fluid Control System Hose

VP Trigger is a fuel hose system like no other. Its patented push-button, self-venting control flow valve is developed for use with VP Motorsport Containers. Moreover, it takes seconds to install and makes refilling extremely efficient and a breeze. Simply tilt your container and press the Trigger button for flow, and release the Trigger button to quickly stop the flow.

www.vpracingfuels.com
PN: 33320

Vyper Engineering LLC
Vyper Chair

Finally, a shop chair that doesn’t suck. The Vyper Chair provides ultimate comfort and stability through the use of precision laser-cut steel arms, industrial foam padding, premium 4-in. roll-over casters and a perfectly angled backrest for lumbar support. Built with the highest-quality materials and made 100% in the U.S.A. that will last a lifetime.

www.vyperchair.com

UniAuto Inc.
Thret Firewall 702

The Thret 702 Firewall Wheel is a full-face design with a concave-based on the Classic Round Hole wheel and is available in satin black as well as a bronze finish. Rivets on the firewall are stainless steel to prevent rust from harsh conditions. The firewall is available in 5-, 6- and 8-lug applications in 17x9, 18x9 and 20x9.

PN: 702I-1790J-12
www.uniauto-wepro.com