Legislation that would amend the state’s current law governing historic motor vehicles to permit their use for pleasure driving one day per week has been introduced in the New Jersey State Assembly. Under current New Jersey law, use of historic vehicles is strictly limited to exhibitions and educational purposes by the owner.

For more information, click here.

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

A version of SEMA-model legislation has been reintroduced in the Tennessee State Senate to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for custom vehicles. The bill defines a custom-built car as a vehicle that is built for private use and is not constructed by a licensed manufacturer or remanufacturer. Under the bill, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle it most closely resembles.

For more information, click here.

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

For the third time, a bill has been introduced in the West Virginia State Legislature that would further restrict the ability of West Virginia vehicle hobbyists from maintaining inoperable vehicles on private property. The measure would redefine “abandoned motor vehicles” to include vehicles or vehicle parts which are either unlicensed or inoperable, or both, are not in an enclosed building, and have remained on private property for more than 30 days.

Under current law, the abandoned vehicle law applies primarily to vehicles on public property. The bill would make a violation a misdemeanor offense punishable by substantial fines, community service and jail.

For more information, click here.

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

SEMA-model legislation has been introduced in the Utah State Legislature that would exempt certain owners or occupants of land in a municipality from ordinances or land-use regulations that prevent automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Junked, wrecked or inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property would only need to be maintained out of ordinary public view.

For more information, click here.  

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

A version of SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for “show cars” and provide for special license plates for these vehicles was introduced and referred to the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee for consideration.

The bill would permit show cars to be driven up to 5,000 per year and would exempt them from the state’s new enhanced vehicle-inspection program.

For more information, click here.

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

A bill has been introduced in the Vermont State Senate that would implement a vehicle scrappage program and finance it with a progressive purchase and use tax and higher registration fees for some new motor vehicles based on fuel-efficiency ratings. Funds collected under the program would be used dismantle vehicles deemed by the state to be “clunkers,” regardless of their historical value or collector interest. 

If this effort is successful, purchasing the vehicle of your choice could be significantly more costly. Furthermore, this proposed scrappage program could deny hobbyists the availability of vintage cars and parts for restoration projects.

For more information, click here.  

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

The Department of the Environment has issued a proposal to terminate the current exemption from environmental restrictions for leaded gasoline used in competition motor vehicles. If approved, the regulation would require a ban on vehicles using leaded fuel by January 1, 2009, resulting in the likely demise of all international drag racing competition in Canada.

For more information, click here.

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

NEW BLOOD: Brazilian driver Enrique Bernoldi will drive for Rocketsports Racing in the Champ Car World Series this season. Also, Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing confirmed its Champ Car driver lineup of Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson.

HE’S BACK: Gil de Ferran, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 2003 and retired at the end of that season, is returning to the cockpit. He will own and drive an Acura entry in the American Le Mans Series, which will debut later this season in the LMP 2 class.

IT’S A DRAG: Lowe’s Motor Speedway and NHRA representatives officially announced the construction of a state-of-the-art dragstrip adjacent to the historic speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The track is to be completed in time to host the inaugural Carolinas Nationals, September 11–14.

FOUR LAPS: All oval-track qualifying runs in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series this year will be four laps in length, with the fastest four-lap average winning the pole.

THRICE IS NICE: Chip Ganassi Racing won the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the third consecutive year, making it the first team to win the prestigious twice-around-the-clock endurance race three times in a row. Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas drove the team’s Riley Lexus.

HIRED: Former road racer Michael McDowell, who won the rookie of the year award in the ARCA RE/MAX Series last season, has been hired to wheel the third Michael Waltrip Racing entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season. He takes over the car at Martinsville, Virginia, in March.

POWER RANKINGS: The 2008 National Speed Sport News (NSSN) Power Rankings appeared for the first time in the January 30 issue of the publication, with sprint-car Donny Schatz leading the way. The Power Rankings will appear weekly in NSSN through the end of the year.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

NEWS NUGGETS

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN: FORCE’S RETURN TO FUNNY CAR "TOPS CHARTS" AT FIREBIRD TEST: After four months of rehabilitation and an absence from the cockpit that seemed to last for an eternity, 14-time POWERade world champion and Funny Car legend John Force climbed back into the cockpit for the National Time Trials at Firebird International Raceway. Making his first passes since his September 23 accident in Dallas, Force set the pace for the rest to follow, running the lowest Funny Car E.T. of the day with a blistering 4.782 seconds.

“We didn’t know what we had (with the new car),” Force said, referring to the new chassis changes made for 2008. “We thought it would be good, but we didn’t know. We still have a lot of work to do, but that [4.78] was a good boost for the team.”

Defending POWERade world champion Tony Pedregon had the second fastest time of the day in Funny Car, powering his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to a 4.869 second run. In an impressive Top Fuel class that saw 12 drivers make runs on Monday, Rod Fuller stood on top of the field in his Caterpillar dragster, turning in a run of 4.468 seconds at 331.36 mph, but was followed closely by the defending POWERade champion, Tony Schumacher, who drove his U.S. Army dragster to a 4.480 second run at 332.75 mph.

BROWN CAN’T DRIVE 55, GRABS HIS CROSSOVER TOP FUEL LICENSE IN PHOENIX: With impending rain on the horizon for Sunday and his 2008 debut season in Top Fuel on the line, Matco Tools dragster pilot Antron Brown was able to make two 4.5-second passes on Saturday at Firebird International Raceway to secure his crossover Top Fuel license and ease his worries heading into the 2008 season. Brown made a successful pass in the right lane at Firebird, posting a 4.570-second run at 292.58 mph. His second and final pass of the day turned in a 4.582-second run at 296.89 mph in the left lane.

“I feel like a giddy 16 year old who just got their driver’s license,” Brown said. “I’m getting a lot more confident in myself in understanding what’s happening all the way down the race track.”

Brown’s 4.548-second run on Monday, the final day of testing, was the fourth fastest time in the Top Fuel category.

NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS NAMED 19TH OF 24 EVENTS ON 2008 POWERade SEASON SCHEDULE: After months of speculation and rumors, the NHRA announced that the September 11–14 national event in the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, at a new state-of-the-art facility being built by Speedway Motorsports Inc.

The Dragway @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway will be the home of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, the 19th of 24 events on the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule. NHRA President Tom Compton and SMI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bruton Smith were on hand for a press conference held at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, announcing the future event and track. For more information on the announcement, including images of the track, click here. 

MEMORIAL SERVICES ANNOUNCED FOR JON AND JAMES HERBERT: The visitation and memorial service for Jon and James Herbert, sons of Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday in Huntersville, North Carolina. Visitation will be held from 6–9 p.m. Tuesday, January 29, at Raymer Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 30, at SouthLake Christian Academy, 13901 Hager’s Ferry Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078.

Both will be open to the public. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Speedway Children’s Charities in Jon and James Herbert’s names. To make a donation, click here. Condolences can also be sent, via e-mail, to condolences@dougherbert.com. Jon and James were killed Saturday morning in an automobile accident in Cornelius, North Carolina.

WALLY PARKS INDUCTED INTO EMPA HALL OF FAME: NHRA founder Wally Parks was inducted posthumously into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association (EMPA) Hall of Fame Saturday night during a ceremony at the 40th annual EMPA Convention held near Philadelphia. NHRA Division 1 director Bob Lang accepted the Hall of Fame induction on behalf of the NHRA for Parks, who died last September at the age of 94. Parks joined seven others who were influential in motorsports in the 2008 EMPA Hall of Fame calls, most notably NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett and famed Indy Car and NASCAR car owner Roger Penske.

ATLANTA DRAGWAY GETTING FACE LIFT FOR 2008 SEASON: Installing new sections of concrete and asphalt and texturing the racing surface, Atlanta Dragway began the process of track preparation in anticipation of the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, April 24–27. For photos of the renovations, click here.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

CARQUEST AUTO PARTS WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, FEBRUARY 7–10: Kick off the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to the Championship at the historic track where last year’s winners included J.R. Todd, Gary Scelzi and Greg Anderson.  

CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS, FIREBIRD RACEWAY, FEBRUARY 22–24: This second race in the regular season features two defending event winners who eventually launched serious attacks for 2007 POWERade Series titles: Tony Pedregon, the season world champion in Funny Car, and Rod Fuller, who earned runner-up honors in Top Fuel after the best season of his career. Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) also reached the winner’s circle in Phoenix last year.

ACDELCO NHRA GATORNATIONALS, GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, MARCH 13–16: The Pro Stock Motorcycle category opens its 2008 season at the Gatornationals, annually one of the most popular stops on the NHRA POWERade Series tour. Defending event winners include: Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

4.78 SECOND RUN? CHECK. CLIMBING OUT OF THE CAR? CHECK: Still walking with a noticeable limp from his accident last year in Dallas, one of the biggest concerns held by John Force and the rest of the drag racing community was not if he could run, but if he could climb out of the car.

“I had to get in my firesuit and do the drill (for NHRA officials), but I knew it wasn’t going to be a problem because I already had done it (climbed in and out) at the shop,” Force said. “Like I said, it ain’t pretty, but I can do it.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

22: The number of cities in the United States that the NHRA POWERade series will compete in for the 2008 season. The NHRA announced last week Charlotte, North Carolina, specifically The Dragway @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, as the site of its 19th of 24 events in 2008.

DRIVERS TELL ALL

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: CAPPS FILMS NAPA AD WITH WALTRIP: Funny Car driver Ron Capps knew changes would come after the announcement that NAPA had come aboard as the full-time sponsor for his Dodge Charger Funny Car in 2008. But as he arrived to his first commercial shoot with NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip, it was apparent that this was more than a simple ad.

“I get there, and I get my own big motor coach with my name on it,” Capps said. “I hardly went in it because I felt so guilty. And then there are the makeup people and everything that you would imagine being on a full-blown movie set. We had people who were assistants to other people’s assistants.

"We had one guy who just followed me around who had to know where I was every single minute. And when they needed me, he would come by and say ’10 minutes out,’ and he’d follow me around and wouldn’t let me get out of his sight. It was like I had a leash on all day. It was just amazing.”

Source Interlink Media Publisher Ed Zinke (second from left) is presented with
the MPMC Media Person of the Year Award, flanked by MPMC Chairman Lisa Chissus (left),
MPMC Chair-Elect Bill Floyd and SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (right).

Source Interlink Media’s Ed Zinke was named the 2008 MPMC Media Person of the Year. Presented by the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) during last week’s MPMC Media Trade Conference, the award recognizes individuals from the media who have made a recognizable positive impact on the motorsports industry and the MPMC during the past year.

In addition to serving as publisher of Chevy High Performance, Camaro Performers, Super Chevy and GM High-Tech Performance, Zinke is a true enthusiast who has shown great support for the industry. He is credited with improving the Engine Masters Challenge and having arranged the Project 57 Chevy giveaway for soldiers.

“Ed is enthusiastic and always makes time to help the industry,” said Lisa Chissus, MPMC chairman. “His support of the industry and our council are greatly appreciated, and we’re happy to be able to present him with the MPMC Media Person of the Year award.”

The MPMC is one of eight SEMA councils. Details about the council are available at www.sema.org/mpmc.

More Movers & Shakers

• The Tennessee State Senate approved a resolution honoring former SEMA Chairman of the Board Joseph “Corky” Coker, president of Coker Tire Company, on his exemplary career in antique car restoration and meritorious service to the Chattanooga community. SEMA salutes Corky on this deserved recognition. For full text of Tennessee Senate Resolution 206, go to: www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SR0206.pdf.
  
  
• New Jersey Motorsports Park appointed Ken Grammer as managing director and Donald Fauerbach as general manager. Both bring a wealth of competitive racing, team ownership and operational experience to the company’s management team. Grammer is the former Director of Operations for SCCA Pro Racing and its World Challenge, North American Championship and Miata Cup series. Fauerbach is the founder of the New Jersey Motorsports Park Green Flag Committee, and has been part of the team since the beginning.
  
  
• Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) announced that John K. Gamauf—president of consumer replacement tire sales, vice president of BFNT, and member of the Board of Directors of BFNT—has elected to retire May 1. Succeeding Gamauf is John Baratta, currently the vice president of BFNT North American consumer tires sales. Baratta’s successor will be named at a later date. Gamauf will continue to serve on BFNT’s Board.
  
  
• Advance Auto Parts named Michael Norona executive vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Michael Moore, who resigned from the company (effective February 1) to pursue other business opportunities. As CFO, Norona will be responsible for all financial aspects of the company, including accounting, internal audit, investor relations, treasury and tax, budgeting and financial management and risk finance and claims. Judd Nystrom was named vice president of finance and investor relations, effective February 11. Nystrom is responsible for investor relations, budgeting and finance decision support. In addition, the company named Kevin Freeland executive vice president, supply chain and information technology, effective February 13. Freeland is responsible for overseeing the supply chain, logistics and information technology. 
  
  
• ArvinMeritor appointed Sherry Welsh to vice president of sales and marketing for the company's Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business group. She is responsible for leading the group’s global sales and marketing strategy. Welsh's prior experience includes 20 years with Robert Bosch LLC, most recently serving as senior vice president of sales.
  
  
• Mode Auto named Ahad Mirza as its business development manager. Mirza will manage, develop and implement strategic sales and marketing programs. Prior to joining Mode Auto, Mirza held a market management and national sales account management position with Auto Meter Products. He is currently a select committee member of SEMA’s Sport Compact Council (SCC).
  
  
• MagnaFlow named Darron Shubin the national sales manager for its performance division and Richard Ahn Trinh as assistant manager for performance sales. Shubin and Trinh were both promoted from within the company. Shubin will oversee MagnaFlow’s accounts and sales staff for its performance division, and will serve as primary contact for the company’s marketing reps. Trinh’s new role will have him overseeing the sales tech line staff and acting as a key link between the sales tech line and MagnaFlow’s quality control department. 
  
  
• MBRPinc announced its title sponsorship of the 2008 National Hot Rod Diesel Association Drag Racing Series. The NHRDA brings diesel drag racing, dyno events and sled pulls to the United States and Canada in five divisions. The NHRDA series consists of numerous points races that begins on February 16, at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington.
  
  
• Mitchell 1 established a marketing partnership with National Pronto Association as part of Mitchell 1’s ongoing effort to further extend its national network of connectivity to automotive parts suppliers. This network offers greater flexibility and increased efficiencies in ordering parts when using Mitchell 1’s Manager and ManagerPlus shop management systems.
  
  
• The Truck Accessories Group LLC’s Century Truck Caps division recently attended an annual leadership conference sponsored by the Radco Truck Accessory Center. This year’s theme for the annual conference was “Perspective,” which focused on team building and emphasized how working together fosters an organization that values collaboration. As part of the event, participating teams assembled a monster truck go-kart, complete with decals. Once the assembly was finished, the five teams were required to race laps around the Radco Corporate Campus—a quarter-mile LeMans-style loop. Each team member was required to do a lap. Team Century took first place in the go-kart assembly category with a three-hour, two-minute time, just under the wire of second place Putco, with three hours, five minutes. Team Century, with Sheryl Noblitt, Century’s national sales manager at the wheel, passed a number of competitors giving them a first-place win in the road race, as well as first place in the overall competition.
  
  
• Bosal Group member Bosal International North America opened a new 183,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The $25-million production facility combines two former Bosal operations in the Detroit area—the Warren production site and Ann Arbor technical center. The facility is designed to operate with world-class efficiency and quality standards in conjunction with lean manufacturing principles throughout for the development, test and production of OE exhausts.