SEMA and other members of the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) unveiled a comprehensive agenda to address intellectual property theft. The CACP is a coalition of more than 300 businesses and associations working together with the U.S. government to address the threat of counterfeiting and piracy. The six-part plan calls on Congress to strengthen legal protection and increase resources to ensure effective enforcement. Many of the recommendations are already incorporated in legislation being considered by Congress.

Highlights of the plan include:

• Improve the coordination of federal government intellectual-property enforcement resources.
• Better protect our borders against counterfeiting and piracy by expanding authorities and improving enforcement practices.
• Strengthen criminal enforcement against intellectual-property theft by expanding the resources and tools available for law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels.
• Attack counterfeiting and piracy beyond our borders through improved enforcement training and technical-assistance programs with foreign governments.
• Strengthen ability of rights holders to protect their intellectual property by civil and judicial reform.
• Decrease demand by educating consumers about the harms of counterfeiting and piracy.

For specific details on the six-part initiative, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org. For a free guide to strategies that companies use to protect their supply chains from counterfeiters and modern-day pirates, visit www.thecacp.com/portal/truecosts/resources/supplychain.htm.

California legislation (AB 616) to require annual smog-check inspections for vehicles 15 years old and older has been approved by the California Assembly and has been sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill would also require that funds generated through the additional inspection fees be deposited into an account which can be used to scrap older cars. You may recall that in 2004, a new law was enacted in California to require the lifetime testing of all '76 and newer model-year vehicles. Pre-'76 motor vehicles would remain exempt under AB 616. The bill has now been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee and will be considered on June 26. For more information click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SUE ME, I’LL SUE YOU: NASCAR has filed a $100-million countersuit against AT&T Mobility/Cingular Wireless and AT&T, Inc., with NASCAR alleging breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation and conspiracy to aid and abet wrongful interference with Nextel’s exclusive sponsorship agreement in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The suit comes after AT&T, which purchased Cingular earlier this year, won an injunction against NASCAR in May, which allows it to display its logos on the Richard Childress Racing No. 31 driven by Jeff Burton. Interestingly, RCR and AT&T have announced a three-year contract extension of the company’s sponsorship of the team.

A NEW HOME: Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced last week he would join Hendrick Motorsports next season. As a result, NASCAR’s most successful team, Kyle Busch, will be looking for a new job for next season, and is already negotiating with other teams.

TRAGEDY: Six people were killed in Selmer, Tennessee, when a Pro Modified drag-racing car crashed during an exhibition burnout at a car show promoted by Cars for Kids. The driver, Australian Troy Critchley, suffered only minor injuries.

ENDURANCE KINGS: An Audi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race for the sixth time in seven years, with drivers Emanuele Pirro, Marco Werner and Frank Biela steering their diesel-powered Audi R10 to victory in the twice-around-the-clock classic at the famed Sarthe Circuit in France.

TOP RUNG: World Driving Championship point-leader Lewis Hamilton jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings with his second-consecutive Formula One victory, which came in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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 NUGGESTS

FORCE FAMILY MAKES STOP AT GIANTS STADIUM: On the list of ways to spend Father’s Day, John and Ashley Force’s plans had to rank No.1. The first father-daughter pair to compete against each other in American motorsports made cameos at New York's Giants Stadium for the venue’s Celebration of Speed. The Forces represented Crest Whitestrips Daily Multicare, which transformed the parking lot into a custom raceway where fans were given five-minute rides in luxury cars such as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Lamborghini and Aston Martin Vanquish S.
 
HELMET RAFFLE TO BENEFIT SOLDIERS: Fans at the ProCare Rx NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park will have the chance to win a race helmet with 44 signatures on it—including those of Melanie Troxel, Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon, John Force, Greg Anderson, Robert Hight and Warren Johnson. It will be raffled off by The Army Special Forces Association, Randall Shughart Chapter 64, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Proceeds benefit soldiers at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
 
TOBLER AND LUCAS SPLIT WAYS: Crew chief Rahn Tobler, who left as tuner on Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster earlier this season, has now parted from Morgan Lucas’ Lucas Oil dragster team. Richard Hogan, who earned one win with Lucas’ teammate Melanie Troxel so far this season, will now crew Lucas’ ride, with John Stewart and Lance Larsen at the helm.
 
COMING ATTRACTIONS

PROCARE RX NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, ENGLISHTOWN, NEW JERSEY, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, JUNE 21–24: The legendary dragstrip will host its 38th NHRA POWERade Series race and this one will carry more meaning than ever as the first-ever Countdown to the Championship nears the final stages of the regular season and drivers on the bubble scurry for every last point needed to secure a spot in the Top eight.
 
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, NORWALK, OHIO, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK, JUNE 28–JULY 1: The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will make its first appearance at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. Catch all your favorite Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers as they battle it out at this inaugural event.
 
O’REILLY NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS, BRISTOL, TENNESSEE, BRISTOL DRAGWAY, JULY 6–8: Rescheduled from its original mandate due to track surface conditions, this favorite stop for drivers never fails to produce an exciting weekend for racing. Defending event winners include Doug Kalitta, Ron Capps and Jason Line.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: Just eight races remain before the first playoff-style cut in the Countdown to the Championship, and teams are already scrambling for valuable points.
 
DRIVERS TELL ALL

JEG COUGHLIN, on the upcoming back-to-back schedule: "We're certainly on a high right now," said Coughlin, who will celebrate his 37th birthday Saturday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. "(Team owner) Victor Cagnazzi had a vision to put together a race team that would contend for the championship year after year, and he's arrived at that point after an incredible amount of hard work and determination. Dave (Connolly, teammate) and I are just the lucky guys who get to drive the cars.”

The latest news from SEMA councils and committees:

Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)

• Manufacturers are invited to sign-up for time slots for the Hotrod & Restoration Education Day presented by the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA).  Registration is now open exclusively to HRIA member companies. There are seven session times offered and five available sessions per hour. Participants must be exhibitors of the Hotrod & Restoration (HRR) trade show. The exclusive opportunity ends July 1, and registration will then be open to all HRR trade show exhibitors. For a registration form, click here.
  
  More information on this educational opportunity contact SEMA, 909/396-0289 x134. or hria@sema.org
  
• HRIA Open General Membership Meeting
  Thursday, July 12, 2007
  3 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  Ohio Expo Center – Ohio Building
  Columbus, Ohio

To learn more about the HRIA, visit www.sema.org/hria or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

More SEMA council and committee news:

Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)

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

Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA)

• The DVD: “Why Paint Colors Vary?” This valuable resource is now available. TORA members now have a valuable new tool that will help educate consumers about the challenges of the paint color-matching process. Available for dealers and installers to play in their waiting areas, the video is presented in a professional format and brings a consistent message on why paint colors vary. The TORA “Why Paint Colors Vary?” DVD is available to TORA council members free of charge (or $49.95 for non-TORA members). Other tools available from TORA are the CHMSL and altered-height CDs. For details or to place an order, contact Staci Perricone at 909/396-0289, ext. 104, or e-mail stacip@sema.org.

To learn more about the TORA, visit www.sema.org/TORA or contact Monica Terlouw at monicat@sema.org.

Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)

• The 11th annual MPMC Media Trade Conference is set for Tuesday, January 22–Thursday, January  24, 2008, at the Embassy Suites Hotel LAX South in Los Angeles. For more information on the MPMC Media Trade Conference, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

To learn more about the MPMC, visit www.sema.org/mpmc.

Manufacturers' Representatives Council (MRC)

• MRC members should mark their calendars for the following upcoming council activity:
  
  2007 MRC Rep Conference
  September 26–27, 2007
  Phoenix, Arizona

To learn more about the MRC, visit www.sema.org/mrc or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)

To learn more about PRO, visit www.sema.org/pro or contact Ellen McKoy at ellenm@sema.org.

Sport-Compact Council (SCC)

• Tracie Nuñez, Advanced Clutch Technology, was elected chairman-elect of the SCC. Nuñez will start her role on July 1 when current chairman-elect, Eric Breslow, Power Slot/Power Performance Group, takes over as SCC chairman.

To learn more about the SCC, visit www.sema.org/scc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Wheel & Tire Council (WTC)

• George Gillespie, Safety Compliance Engineer responsible for OVSCs tire-related standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), delivered a presentation at the 2006 SEMA Show regarding NHTSA's enforcement activity relative to tires for passenger vehicles and trucks. Gillespie provided overview and status of the agency's recent initiatives to increase tire safety, including compliance and enforcement actions for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (FMVSS No. 138) and passenger and light-truck tires (FMVSS No. 139). He also discussed the current increased enforcement to address concerns related to imported tires. SEMA members can now get a copy of Gillespie's PowerPoint presentation by contacting Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or paulm@sema.org.

To learn more about the WTC, visit www.sema.org/wtc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN)

• Get expert advice on a business-related problem. The SEMA Mentoring program, powered by the SBN, is available to all employees of SEMA-member companies. Ask a one-time question or be matched with an established leader. Visit www.sema.org/mentoring for details.

To learn more about the SBN, visit www.sema.org/sbn.

Young Executives Network (YEN)

• The annual SEMA Show Silent Auction, hosted by the YEN, raised more than $70,000 for the SEMA Scholarship Fund in 2006. If you are interested in donating an item or becoming involved in the 2007 Silent Auction, visit the YEN website at www.sema.org/yen.
  
• YEN has more than 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee. If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the YEN for free. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, visit the YEN website at www.sema.org/yen.
  
• Bianca Hennings, Window Canvas, was selected for the YEN Silent Auction Task Force Chairman. Hennings will assume the position when the current chairman, Dave Williams, Rampage Products, finishes his term with the YEN Select Committee in July. The SEMA Silent Auction, that is managed by the YEN, has raised more than $100,000 for the SEMA Scholarship Fund in the past three years. If you are interested in participating in the SEMA Silent Auction on any level, visit www.sema.org/yen for additional information.
  
• Did you know that YEN sponsors networking events and mixers at most of the major trade shows and conferences? If you are interested in becoming a member of the SEMA Young Executive’s Network, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.
  
• Lance Packard, Painless Performance, was elected YEN chairman-elect. Packard will assume the position when current chair-elect, Laurel Dasher, Uni-Marketing LLC, takes over as YEN chairman on July 1.
  
• Did you know that the YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

To learn more about the YEN, visit www.sema.org/yen or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

The COMP Performance Group hired Brian Reese as director of business development. Reese was formerly the director of engineering for SLP Performance Parts, specializing in aftermarket performance with a focus on late-model engines. His professional career started at General Motors where he worked in Michigan at the Warren Technical Center and Milford Proving Grounds.

Lund International promoted Matthew Sturdevant to director of product marketing. Sturdevant, who most recently served as Lund’s director of brand management, was also the Marketing Manager at Deflecta-Shield from 1993–1998, helping to transition the brand when it was acquired by Lund 1997. According to Sturdevant, as director of product marketing, he will focus on “building a team of marketing professionals who are as excited about the potential in this dynamic and diverse industry as I am.”

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association named Larry Brunkala’s black ’32 Ford Coupe the Goodguys/DuPont Hot Hues Hot Rod of the Year during the Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals at the O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. All competitors for the award are required to drive a 130-mile course through suburban Indianapolis, as well as a 1/8-mile dragstrip trial and one lap around Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Hotchkis Performance announced that it now offers track-day and pre-race vehicle prep for customers who want a professionally tuned set up for success at the track. Race-prep is available for everything from domestic musclecars and sports cars to European sport sedans and FWD sport compacts, and services include spring changes, corner balancing, performance alignment, bushing service and more.

For the 20th year, the Yokohama Tire Corp. will sponsor the Porsche Club of America’s Porsche Parade set for July 1–5, in San Diego. The Porsche parade is expected to draw more than 1,000 Porsches from around the country. 

Manufacturers are now welcome to sign up for time slots at the Hotrod & Restoration Education Day, presented by the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA). Registration is now open exclusively to HRIA member companies that are exhibiting at the Hotrod & Restoration (HRR) trade show.

Seven session times are offered, with five sessions per hour. This exclusive opportunity ends July 1, and will then open to all HRR trade show exhibitors.
 
For more information on this educational opportunity, contact SEMA at 909/396-0289 x134 or hria@sema.org. To access the online registration form, click here.

Dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows and activities have been announced. Details are:

>> SEMA Webinar: SEMA/Car Care One Credit Program, June 21, 10 a.m. (PST)
>> Aftermarket eForum, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, July 16–18, Chicago
>> SEMA Webinar: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), July 12, 10 a.m. (PST)
>> SEMA Webinar: Urban Lifestyle Report, July 26, 10 a.m. (PST)
>> SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, July 27, Irvine, California
>> MRC Rep Conference, September 26–27, Phoenix
>> SEMA Show, October 30–November 2, Las Vegas
>> MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 22–24, 2008, Los Angeles

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949/930-9268.

SEMA-members companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities at www.sema.org/classifieds. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enable the employee to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more. The newest classified listings posted under Positions Available include:

• Outside Sales Rep, Cleveland, Ohio
• Outside Sales Rep, Nationwide
• Marketing Associate, Long Beach, California
• Territory Manager, Southern California
• Territory Manager, Denver, Colorado

SEMA members: Have a job opening that you need filled? Members are invited to post classified ads on www.sema.org/classifieds free of charge. Categories include Positions Available, Positions Wanted, Rep Opportunities, WD Opportunities, For Sale, Items Wanted, Business Opportunities and Internships. Visit the site for details.