California filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to act on the state’s tailpipe emissions waiver request. Earlier this year, Governor Schwarzenegger notified the federal government that a lawsuit would be filed if the EPA continued to delay action on California's request for authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light trucks sold in the state. Fourteen other states are expected to join the suit, including Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Under the Federal Clean Air Act, California has the right to set stricter vehicle emissions standards if state officials obtain a waiver from the EPA. The waiver request was made in response to legislation enacted in California to establish new standards for motor-vehicle greenhouse gas emissions beginning in model year 2009, with the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles by nearly 30% by model year 2016.

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

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved an expanded strategy for curbing greenhouse gas emissions. CARB agreed to develop six new proposed rules that must be in place by 2010 and five new proposed measures that must be implemented by 2012. The Board also directed staff to develop policies that encourage businesses to voluntarily reduce the emissions linked to global warming.

Among other things, the new proposed measures would require big trucking rigs to be retrofitted with devices that reduce aerodynamic drag and increase fuel efficiency; reduce the use of propellants in certain aerosol consumer products, such as tire inflators and products for cleaning electronics; and require automobile service centers to ensure tires are properly inflated when servicing vehicles.

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

SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles was approved by the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee. The chairman of the committee indicated that the bill will be fast-tracked through the process.

The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. The bill was amended in committee to eliminate the minimal one-time registration fee provision to accommodate current state law governing antique vehicles. The bill next heads to the Ways and Means Committee.

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

Filler for eNews

One of the highest honors a car builder can receive these days is inclusion into the best-selling racing video game franchise, Gran Turismo. Marcel Horn’s 2007 Audi TT will be the latest to enjoy a coveted place in the game as a feature vehicle that enthusiasts can select and race.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., publisher of the Gran Turismo series, awarded Horn, president of British Columbia-based HPA Motorsports, both the Best European Import and coveted Best in Show honor at its fifth annual Gran Turismo awards held in conjunction with the 2007 SEMA Show. This year's event featured a distinguished lineup of automotive entries from top SEMA Show exhibitors representing five categories.

"The 2007 Gran Turismo Awards showcases the collaboration between the automotive culture and the gaming industry," said Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of the racing franchise and president of developer Polyphony Digital, Inc. "We are proud to honor auto enthusiasts for their passion of cars and to celebrate the automotive lifestyle that Gran Turismo embodies." 

Horn’s Audi TT will feature, along with last year's Best in Show award-winning '60 Chevrolet Corvette, in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, available on Playstation 3 in North America in 2008.

Prior to the SEMA Show, exhibitors are invited to register their car for the Gran Turismo Awards, which honor five automotive categories including Best Domestic, Best European Import, Best Hot Rod, Best Japanese Import and Best Truck/SUV. The winners of each category go head-to-head in a final round of competition for Best in Show.

The judging panel consists of respected automotive journalists who have been chosen for their individual expertise to evaluate contestants. Best of Class winners are determined by each judge solely on their choice for the vehicle with the most well-balanced performance, style and speed. The Best in Show award is selected from the five category winners by Gran Turismo creator Yamauchi. 

This is Horn’s second Best in Show award; his Volkswagen R32 took top honors in 2004 and can be seen in the current Gran Turismo 4 game.

Other category winners included:
Best Domestic Automobile: Gary Cheney, 2007 Factory Five GTM
Best Hot Rod: Jim and Mike Ring, '67 Ford Mustang Fastback
Best Japanese Import: Michael Chung, 2007 Nissan 350Z
Best Truck/SUV: Mike DeFord, 2007 Dodge Ram

Best of Show winner Marcel Horn hoists his trophy—a custom-designed Playstation3 console—alongside Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

For more information, visit www.playstation.com

For the first time in its history, Hot Wheels has invited outside artists to design and create an original Hot Wheels vehicle. The company says that its inaugural “Hot Wheels Designer’s Challenge” is a way for the brand to honor its automotive partners and get them to participate in its 40th anniversary celebration in 2008. Selected designs will form the basis of a new 40th anniversary Designer's Challenge product line to hit store shelves in spring 2008.

"This is the first time in Hot Wheels history that we've turned outside the company to seek new car designs,” said Geoff Walker, vice president of wheels marketing, Mattel Brands. “Who better to go to than our automotive partners who have been a part of Hot Wheels history for the last 40 years? We couldn't be more thrilled with the results of this program, and we're anxious to see the designs come to life as 1:64-scale models."

Automotive manufacturer participants in the Hot Wheels Designer's Challenge—Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lotus and Mitsubishi—were tasked with designing a car that captured the die-cast brand's core essence of speed, power, performance and attitude, while encompassing the distinct attributes of each company's automotive brand values. Each car also had to perform a loop on a classic Hot Wheels orange track.

The top three designs from each automotive manufacturer were selected and presented to a panel of judges that included editors from the Los Angeles Times, Car and Driver, and Men's Journal, along with Hot Wheels designers and executives. 

The designs selected for the Hot Wheels Designer's Challenge line include:

Dodge XP-07 (Dodge, designed by Marc Reisen)

Gangster Grin (Ford, designed by Steve Gilmore)

Chevroletor (General Motors, designed by Amaury Diaz-Serrano)

Honda Racer (Honda, designed by Guillermo Gonzalez)

Lotus Concept (Lotus, designed by Steven Crijns)

Mitsubishi Double Shotz (Mitsubishi, designed by Gary Ragle)

HW-40 (Hot Wheels, designed by Jun Imai)

NEWS NUGGETS

NHRA POWERADE SERIES AWARDS CEREMONY ON ESPN2: The 2007 NHRA POWERade Series Awards Ceremony, held at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles on November 5, will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, November 18, at 11:00 a.m. The one-hour show will feature highlights from the gala event where Tony Schumacher, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Smith were crowned NHRA POWERade Series world champions in their respective categories.

WILKERSON CLAIMS $25,000 MOTEL 6 WHO GOT THE LIGHT? AWARD: Funny Car racer Tim Wilkerson won the $25,000 Motel 6 Who Got the Light? award for the 2007 season with his .0013-second margin of victory over Tony Pedregon during the second round of eliminations at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals, October 7, at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond, Virginia.

Wilkerson and Gary Scelzi tied for recording the overall narrowest margin of victory for the season, both with a .0013-second margin of victory.  Wilkerson's victory for the season-long title was determined via tiebreaker, which awards the title to the driver with the lowest average margin of victory for all elimination rounds during the 2007 season. Wilkerson, from Springfield, Illinois, drives the Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala and is the second Funny Car driver to win the season award. Cruz Pedregon claimed it in 2005. All other season winners have been Pro Stock drivers: Richie Stevens Jr., Steve Johns, Scott Geoffrion, Larry Morgan and Jim Yates.

KRAWIEC SIGNS EXTENSION WITH VANCE & HINES: Eddie Krawiec has signed a contract extension and will continue to be part of the Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines Motorsports Pro Stock Motorcycle team for the next two seasons.  Krawiec joined the team in February—just in time for the March season opener in Gainesville, Florida. Krawiec earned a trip to the semifinals in that first race with the team. He went on to finish in seventh place in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, making two final-round appearances this season.

“Eddie was a great addition to the team this year," Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. "He had great riding capability before he joined the team, and they just improved each race. He was a great asset to the Screamin' Eagle team, and we're excited about him staying with the program for the next two seasons."

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.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SCHUMACHER SAYS COUNTDOWN PRODUCES DRAMATIC FINISHES: Tony Schumacher pulled off another last-round dramatic performance to win the 2007 POWERade Top Fuel world championship. This time he became the inaugural winner of the POWERade Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s first championship playoff system. Schumacher, whose first four championships came under the old points system, says he likes the new format’s unpredictability.

"The Countdown was designed to slow down teams like ours,” Schumacher said. “The NHRA didn't want big teams clinching the championship with half a dozen races left. They wanted it to go down to the end and it did. It's a lot more fun this way. I wish everyone that wins a championship would win it at the end. And it's a lot better to get it by winning the rounds you need instead of waiting on the sidelines for someone else to lose."

WHO’S HOT!

COUGHLIN GOES 7–1 IN COUNTDOWN TO ONE: Jeg Coughlin produced an amazing 7–1 eliminations record during the Countdown to One—the best of any racer in any category—to earn the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series world championship in Pro Stock. Coughlin posted a runner-up finish in Las Vegas and then drove his Jegs.com Chevy Cobalt to victory at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, to earn the championship trophy. It is Coughlin’s third POWERade Series crown, as the Delaware, Ohio, native also earned series titles in 2000 and 2002.

"The excitement of the Countdown was impossible to ignore,” Coughlin said. “The media coverage was better than it's ever been before. I think we're really onto something here, and I'm darn proud to carry the title of POWERade champion again."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

87: The number of days remaining for NHRA race teams to fine-tune their machines in preparation for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship. The season kicks off at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, with the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals, February 7–10.

DRIVERS TELL ALL

FULLER HAS KNEE SURGERY: Top Fuel runner-up “Hot Rod” Fuller underwent successful surgery last Friday to repair a damaged knee that he hurt in Norwalk, Ohio, when he attempted to jump over a fence in the staging lanes. Dr. Vern Prochaska, a noted orthopedic surgeon in Henderson, Nevada, performed a total reconstruction of the knee that took nearly three hours to complete.

"It turned out the ACL was totally ruptured and had to be replaced with a donor ACL," Fuller told Rob Geiger of NHRA.com. "Plus, because I was walking around on it for six months, the medial and lateral tendons were damaged also. It was a real mess." 

Fuller will be on crutches for at least six weeks, and it may take up to a year for him to fully recover.

"The main thing is that my body accepts the donor ACL," Fuller said. "It's pretty wild that we did all that work promoting Donate Life (shareyourlife.org) a few years ago and then I end up needing something myself. We talked about being a donor and how it can help someone else's quality of life, and now I'll be living proof of that. I'm glad to be done with it. My knee's been hurting for so long now. I'm not going to have much fun this off-season but by testing I should be feeling great. It's been really cool to receive all the e-mails and calls from everyone. Please let them know I'm doing fine."

For more information, visit www.nhra.com.

NEW RIDES: Three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. officially declared his intentions to race in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for Penske Racing next season. He moves over from the team’s Indy car program where he will be replaced by Australian driver Ryan Briscoe.

ON A ROLL: Jimmie Johnson earned his fourth-consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship and pretty much iced his second-consecutive championship at Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson has won 10 races and leads Jeff Gordon by 86 points entering the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

HE’S DONE: Sebastien Bourdais ended his Champ Car World Series career with a victory in Mexico City. It was Bourdais’s eighth triumph of the season and the 31st of his career. The French driver will move to Formula One and drive for Toro Rosso next season. Bourdais has won four straight Champ Car titles.

PROMOTED: Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LMS) Vice President of Communications Jerry Gappens will be promoted to general manager of New Hampshire International Speedway, which was recently purchased by Speedway Motorsports Inc., which also owns LMS.

HITTING THE ROAD: Next year’s 21-race ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule will include a race on the new road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The event is scheduled for September 28, 2008.

IN THE SLAM: NASCAR team owner Gene Haas was sentenced to two years in federal prison after he pled guilty to defrauding the government of more than $34 million in taxes.

ON THE MOVE: Penske Racing Director of Communications Chris Schwartz is leaving the team to become vice president of marketing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NUMBER ONE: With his 10th victory of the season, Jimmie Johnson solidified his spot at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings.

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.

Advanced Flow Engineering (aFe Filters) hired Jason Bruce as its new marketing manager for gas applications. Bruce will develop and implement aFe’s intake, filter and exhaust sales and marketing programs to the performance aftermarket, including the strategic planning and tactical implementation of all marketing and channel development programs. Bruce, the recipient of SEMA's Young Exeuctive of the Year Award, has held management positions with Holley Performance Products and most recently served as the national sales and marketing manager for Street Scene Equipment.  

Jason Bruce

Trim Parts Inc. promoted Alex Tainsh to national sales/marketing manager. Tainsh, who joined Trim Parts less than six months ago, has worked in the restoration manufacturing industry for 25 years. 

OnSight Solutions announced that it opened three new franchise locations. The most recent locations are in the Boston metro area, Charlotte metro and Western North Carolina markets, and the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, North Carolina metro markets. Having sold its first franchise in May of 2006, the company now has 14 nationwide owners of OSS franchises.

Wes-Coast Marketing Inc. was selected by Extang Corp. to represent Extang's products in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Arizona and western Canada. 

Co-founded by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Voodoo Ride announced that it launched the website www.voodooride.com. The site features information about the company’s complete product line, general information and Voodoo’s latest news. In addition, a video featuring Earnhardt Jr. and Voodoo Ride products is streamed with music on the home page.

Babcox Publications entered a three-year contract with Exhibit Management Associates Inc. to publish the show daily publication for the Mid-America Trucking Show. The 37th annual Mid-America Trucking Show is set for March 27–29, 2008, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. 

Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)

For the latest council news, read the ARMO column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

ARMO presented six council awards during the ARMO Industry Awards Reception at the 2007 SEMA Show. The awards and winners are:

• ARMO Business of the Year - Dynacorn Classic Bodies Inc.
• ARMO Person of the Year Steve Ames - Ames Automotive Enterprises
• ARMO Restoration Event of the Year - Cruisin' the Coast
• ARMO Best New Product - Original Restoration, ’69-’71 GTO Judge Emblem - Ames Automotive Enterprises
• ARMO Best New Product - Resto-Mod, Eastwood Mopar Light Argent Textured Coating, The Eastwood Company
• ARMO Chairman's Award  - Jason Tolleson - SEMA Washington, D.C., Office

For more information about ARMO, visit www.sema.org/armo or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)

For the latest council news, read the HRIA column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

HRIA presented three awards and inducted two members into the HRIA Hall of Fame during the council’s Industry Awards Reception at the 2007 SEMA Show. The awards, winners and hall of fame inductees are:

• HRIA Industry Recognition of an Individual - Gary Meadors - Goodguys Rod & Custom Association 
• HRIA Business of the Year - Art Morrison Enterprises
• HRIA Hall of Fame Inductees: Gary Heidt, Heidt's Hot Rod Shop; Joe Mayall, NSRA/Street Scene
• HRIA Chairman's Award - Dennis Silva - Hot Hues Custom Finishes by DuPont

For more information about HRIA, visit www.sema.org/hria or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA)

For the latest council news, read the TORA column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about TORA, visit www.sema.org/TORA or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

Manufacturers' Rep Council (MRC)

For the latest council news, read the MRC column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

MRC presented its annual STAR (Sales Team Annual Recognition) Award and inducted one member into the MRC Hall of Fame during the council’s open meeting at the 2007 SEMA Show. The sales team and new MRC hall of fame member are:

• MRC STAR Award - AIRAID Filter Company Team members include: Chris Thomson, John Levitz, Brian Paravicini, Bill Goosic, Ryan Young, Tom Hinchey and Shannon Bates
• MRC Hall of Fame - Jim Wrobleski, Jim Wrobleski & Company
• MRC - Chairman's Award - "Mr. Phone - The Early Years" - Founder:  Herb Goldstein; Directors: Frank Roberts, Jim Vaughn and John Scafidi; Regionals: Bob Barker, Bob Popkin, Sid Polan, Steve Ginsberg and Skeeter Jordan

For more information about MRC, visit www.sema.org/mrc or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)

For the latest council news, read the MPMC column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about MPMC, visit www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=50381 or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA)

For the latest council news, read the TORA column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

TORA recognized the winners of its annual council awards during the council’s reception at the 2007 SEMA Show. The awards were originally presented earlier this year during the 2007 SEMA Spring Expo. The winners recognized were:

• 2007 Best New Product Under $500, F-150 LED Taillights, Hella Lighting
• 2007 Best New Product Over $500, Bed Buddy Tonneau Cover, Undercover
• 2007 Retailer of the Year Award, Truckin Thunder, Tom and Judy Brooks
• 2007 TORA Hall of Fame Award, Annie Meintz, Santa Rosa Campway Inc.; Dillard Fletcher, Cover Master
• 2007 TORA Chairman’s Award, Eric Kwasnicka, DuPont
• 2007 Best POP Display Award, ATC Truck Covers, mini-freestanding ATC Bed System
• 2007 Ford Styling Awards, Best Use of Exterior Accessories on a Ford Truck/SUV (presented by Ford), Kelderman Air Suspension, 2005 Ford F-250
• 2007 Ford Styling Awards, Best use of Interior Accessories on a Ford Truck/SUV (presented by Ford), Leer, 2007 Ford Sport Trac

For more information about TORA, visit www.sema.org/TORA or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)

For the latest council news, read the PRO column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about PRO, visit www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=50384 or contact Ellen McKoy at ellenm@sema.org.

Sport-Compact Council (SCC)

For the latest council news, read the SCC column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

SCC presented four awards—Business of the Year, Person of the Year, Industry Image Award and Industry Icon Award—during the council’s Industry Awards Reception at the 2007 SEMA Show. The winners are:

• Business of the Year - ProMotion Distributing
• Person of the Year - Tracie Nunez - Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT)
• Industry Image - NHRA
• Industry Icon - Richard Schroeder - Eagle Vista Productions

For more information about SCC, visit www.sema.org/scc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Wheel & Tire Council (WTC)

For the latest council news, read the WTC column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

WTC presented its Lifetime Achievement Award and Person of the Year Award during the council’s annual Industry Awards Reception at the 2007 SEMA Show. The winners are:

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Louis Senter - Senter Engineering
• Person of the Year - Joe Findeis - Wheel Consultants

For more information about WTC, visit www.sema.org/wtc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN)

For the latest committee news, read the SBN column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

SBN presented its annual Athena Award and Woman of the Year Award during the committee’s Speed Networking Breakfast held at the 2007 SEMA Show. The winners are:

• Woman of the Year - Amy Faulk, Hypertech Inc.
• Athena Award - Luanne Brown, e-Tool Developers

For more information about SBN, visit www.sema.org/sbn or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Young Executives Network (YEN)

For the latest committee news, read the YEN column in SEMA Member News by clicking here.

YEN presented its Vanguard Award and named the Young Executive of the Year Award during the YEN Mixer held at the 2007 SEMA Show. The winners are:

• Vanguard - Rick Rollins - Superchips Inc.
• Young Executive of the Year - Jason Bruce - Advance Flow Engineering

For more information about YEN, visit www.sema.org/yen or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.