Registration for the 2019 SEMA Show is open.

Registration for the 2019 SEMA Show is open.

By SEMA Editors

Twenty-one Young Guns contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote that ends October 4.

SEMA officials concluded a nationwide tour in search of up-and-coming young vehicle builders, having selected nine winners to advance onto the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty-one young builders have also been selected to vie for a chance to win the final 10th spot as a SEMA Young Guns Regional Winner through a public fan vote that kicked off at www.semayoungguns.com on September 14.

As part of the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, previous Battle of the Builders competitors served as judges by selecting builders age 27 or younger at partnering automotive events throughout the country. One winner was selected from each of nine participating events, and a 10th winner will be selected from a pool of 21 runners-up via an online fan vote taking place September 14–October 4, 2019.

The SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, now in its second year, supports young, up-and-coming builders who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show, and allows young builders a chance to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The SEMA Battle of the Builders is a prestigious competition for vehicle builders who have cars or trucks on display at the SEMA Show, an exclusive trade-only event that brings together more than 170,000 automotive professionals from all over the world.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”

Twenty-one contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote. For three weeks, from September 14 to October 4, the public will be able to cast their votes for the builder they’d like to advance and compete in Las Vegas.

“We’re thankful to our event partners, TX2K, Formula Drift, Street Machine Nationals, Tuner Evolution, The Show and Goodguys, for attracting such amazing talent and helping us discover aspiring young builders,” said Gabriel. “It’s important to be able to highlight and support young enthusiasts and provide them an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”

This year’s Regional Program winners are:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, California
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, Illinois
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, California
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, Utah

Voting for the final spot is currently in progress and concludes October 4 at www.semayoungguns.com. All 10 Young Guns Regional Winners will compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders at the 2019 SEMA Show, the automotive industry’s premier trade event that brings together more than 171,000 professionals from the automotive customization market.

By SEMA Editors

Twenty-one Young Guns contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote that ends October 4.

SEMA officials concluded a nationwide tour in search of up-and-coming young vehicle builders, having selected nine winners to advance onto the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty-one young builders have also been selected to vie for a chance to win the final 10th spot as a SEMA Young Guns Regional Winner through a public fan vote that kicked off at www.semayoungguns.com on September 14.

As part of the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, previous Battle of the Builders competitors served as judges by selecting builders age 27 or younger at partnering automotive events throughout the country. One winner was selected from each of nine participating events, and a 10th winner will be selected from a pool of 21 runners-up via an online fan vote taking place September 14–October 4, 2019.

The SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, now in its second year, supports young, up-and-coming builders who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show, and allows young builders a chance to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers in the SEMA Battle of the Builders. The SEMA Battle of the Builders is a prestigious competition for vehicle builders who have cars or trucks on display at the SEMA Show, an exclusive trade-only event that brings together more than 170,000 automotive professionals from all over the world.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”

Twenty-one contenders were selected to compete for the final 10th spot, which will be voted on by the public in an online fan vote. For three weeks, from September 14 to October 4, the public will be able to cast their votes for the builder they’d like to advance and compete in Las Vegas.

“We’re thankful to our event partners, TX2K, Formula Drift, Street Machine Nationals, Tuner Evolution, The Show and Goodguys, for attracting such amazing talent and helping us discover aspiring young builders,” said Gabriel. “It’s important to be able to highlight and support young enthusiasts and provide them an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”

This year’s Regional Program winners are:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, California
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, Illinois
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, California
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, Utah

Voting for the final spot is currently in progress and concludes October 4 at www.semayoungguns.com. All 10 Young Guns Regional Winners will compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders at the 2019 SEMA Show, the automotive industry’s premier trade event that brings together more than 171,000 professionals from the automotive customization market.

By Rachel Tatum

There is no shortage of media opportunities for SEMA Show exhibitors.

Media outlets continue to reach out to SEMA seeking exhibitors to interview for upcoming stories. Media opportunities include:

• International Publication/Ford Ranger Raptor: International publication seeking products and services for the Ford Ranger Raptor. Interested in aftermarket performance and utility products, accessories and services to include.
• International Publication/Italian Show cars: International publication (UK, USA, Canada, AUS, NZ) covering Italian show cars—classic and modern, products, services, companies at SEMA Show.
• Publication/Retro Ford Market: Publication looking to  locate content relevant to the growing retro Ford market, including cars and pickups. Feature article will report on product offerings specific to modified, classic Fords.
• Publication/Off-Road: Off-road publication seeking products and companies focused on off-road performance, specifically for high-speed desert type environments. Looking for high-res product images and information that fits this off-road category, as well as personalities that have experience in high-speed desert off-road and can bring insight for fans and racers.

Exhibitors that fit the above profiles and are interested should send the following information to Rachel Tatum at rachelt@sema.org:

• Which opportunity listed above you are responding to.
• Exhibiting company name.
• Contact person name, title, phone and email address.
• Information re: company/product and how your company/product fulfills the reporter’s request. Please include which opportunity(s) you feel your product/service/company fits best.

Journalists seeking SEMA members or exhibitors to interview for stories are invited to reach out to Juan Torres at juant@sema.org. SEMA PR is available to help connect reporters with members and exhibitors throughout the year.

By Rachel Tatum

There is no shortage of media opportunities for SEMA Show exhibitors.

Media outlets continue to reach out to SEMA seeking exhibitors to interview for upcoming stories. Media opportunities include:

• International Publication/Ford Ranger Raptor: International publication seeking products and services for the Ford Ranger Raptor. Interested in aftermarket performance and utility products, accessories and services to include.
• International Publication/Italian Show cars: International publication (UK, USA, Canada, AUS, NZ) covering Italian show cars—classic and modern, products, services, companies at SEMA Show.
• Publication/Retro Ford Market: Publication looking to  locate content relevant to the growing retro Ford market, including cars and pickups. Feature article will report on product offerings specific to modified, classic Fords.
• Publication/Off-Road: Off-road publication seeking products and companies focused on off-road performance, specifically for high-speed desert type environments. Looking for high-res product images and information that fits this off-road category, as well as personalities that have experience in high-speed desert off-road and can bring insight for fans and racers.

Exhibitors that fit the above profiles and are interested should send the following information to Rachel Tatum at rachelt@sema.org:

• Which opportunity listed above you are responding to.
• Exhibiting company name.
• Contact person name, title, phone and email address.
• Information re: company/product and how your company/product fulfills the reporter’s request. Please include which opportunity(s) you feel your product/service/company fits best.

Journalists seeking SEMA members or exhibitors to interview for stories are invited to reach out to Juan Torres at juant@sema.org. SEMA PR is available to help connect reporters with members and exhibitors throughout the year.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation (AB 5) designed to curb businesses’ use of independent contractors. Largely aimed at gig economy technology platforms such as Uber, the new law codifies a 2018 California Supreme Court decision (Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court) and goes into effect January 1, 2020.

The Dynamex decision implemented what is known as the ABC test, which classifies a worker as an employee if a company controls what they do, their tasks are part of the company’s core business and if the worker does not run an independent business doing the same tasks. Workers deemed employees are then entitled to minimum wage and benefits.

AB 5 narrows the scope of the Dynamex decision as several occupations are exempt from the new test. Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have each pledged $30 million to fund a ballot initiative aimed at overturning the law.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation (AB 5) designed to curb businesses’ use of independent contractors. Largely aimed at gig economy technology platforms such as Uber, the new law codifies a 2018 California Supreme Court decision (Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court) and goes into effect January 1, 2020.

The Dynamex decision implemented what is known as the ABC test, which classifies a worker as an employee if a company controls what they do, their tasks are part of the company’s core business and if the worker does not run an independent business doing the same tasks. Workers deemed employees are then entitled to minimum wage and benefits.

AB 5 narrows the scope of the Dynamex decision as several occupations are exempt from the new test. Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have each pledged $30 million to fund a ballot initiative aimed at overturning the law.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation (AB 5) designed to curb businesses’ use of independent contractors. Largely aimed at gig economy technology platforms such as Uber, the new law codifies a 2018 California Supreme Court decision (Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court) and goes into effect January 1, 2020.

The Dynamex decision implemented what is known as the ABC test, which classifies a worker as an employee if a company controls what they do, their tasks are part of the company’s core business and if the worker does not run an independent business doing the same tasks. Workers deemed employees are then entitled to minimum wage and benefits.

AB 5 narrows the scope of the Dynamex decision as several occupations are exempt from the new test. Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have each pledged $30 million to fund a ballot initiative aimed at overturning the law.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By Kristopher Porter

Bob Morreale

On October 3, from 11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m., SEMA’s Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) will host a Live Chat featuring The Tuning School’s Bob Morreale on “How Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Are Driving Your Car Into the Future!”

During this highly anticipated ETTN Live Chat, Morreale will discuss artificial intelligence (AI) in ADAS, how artificial neural networks are being used to control engines and the future of AI. A Live Chat is an open Q&A where participants will have the chance to communicate directly with Morreale and ask him questions about the topic.

Through his experience at The Tuning School, Morreale has mastered a balance between being a leader and the guy who loves to do the research and development necessary to grow his company. During his career, he has developed his skillset geared toward computer engineering and vehicle controls. He mainly specializes in research and development of automotive engine controls and factory engine control modules (ECM). Working with computers and programming had become a second nature when he started working with computers in secnd grade during the ’80s.

“I have specialized in understanding and teaching the process of reprogramming GM, Ford and Dodge ECMs, and have written multiple books on the subject,”  Morreale said.

Currently, he is involved in the process of artificial Intelligence development as it relates to artificial neural networks controlling vehicle engines of the future. In the past, Morreale has given tech talks at conferences, such as the PRI Trade Show, Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) and many others.

Join the ETTN on October 3, at 11:00 a.m., on the ETTN Facebook page.

For more information, contact: Bryan Harrison, SEMA director of councils and networks, at bryanh@sema.org.