SEMA Board member Donnie Eatherly of P&E Distributors accepts the award for SEMA WD of the Year.

SEMA named P&E Distributors as the 2009 Warehouse Distributor of the Year during the Industry Awards Banquet at the 2009 SEMA Show. The Tennessee-based, family-owned and operated business represents more than 250 product lines and was previously named WD of the Year in 2004. Motor State Distributing and Meyer Distributing were runners up for this year’s award.

Accepting the award was SEMA Board member Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors' president and co-owner. Eatherly grew up in the WD business that his father started in the mid-'50s. He is currently the president-elect and a three-term board member of the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA).

SEMA News recently had the opportunity to speak with Eatherly to discuss the current industry challenges facing WDs and to learn how PWA and SEMA are working together to improve the industry in general and the role of the WD specifically.

Read "Executive Briefing" in the November issue of SEMA News.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Ernest Feist (left) placed the winning bid for the third production model 2010 Hurst Camaro. Feist is flanked by his son, Ernie Jr., Linda Vaughn, SEMA Chair-Elect Scooter Brothers, and SEMA Vice President of Councils and Membership Nathan Ridnouer.

SEMA, Chevrolet, eBay and Hurst Performance Vehicles teamed up to auction a pre-production 2010 Hurst Camaro at the SEMA Show. Serial #3, the first Hurst/Camaro offered to the public, was won by Ernest Feist for a winning bid of $61,900 and joins a 1979 Trans-Am in his automotive stable.

Featuring choice items, including Hurst/Magnaflow exhaust, Hurst/Eibach suspension, T-2 20-inch forged wheels, a Billet/Plus short throw shifter and a red anodized HARD-DRIVE billet pistol-grip shift handle, the Camaro puts down 445 hp from its V8 mill.

Signatures from luminaries such as Doc Watson, Linda Vaughn and Hurst executives, and a personalized “SEMA Special” interior identification badge attest to the rarity of this special vehicle.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.