By Della Domingo

The 2015 SEMA Award for Hottest Car for the Ford Mustang, Hottest Truck for the Ford F-Series and Hottest Sport Compact for the Ford Focus was presented by SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) to Global Director Ford Performance Dave Pericak (center). The SEMA Award for Hottest 4x4-SUV went to Jeep for the Jeep Wrangler, and was presented to Pietro Gorlier (right), head of MOPAR.

Selected by exhibiting manufacturers, the Hottest Vehicles of 2016 will be revealed Tuesday, November 1, on the opening day of the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The coveted SEMA Award will help guide consumers toward the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. SEMA Show exhibitors represent the front line of today’s influential enthusiast car culture. When it comes to knowing what trends to follow and which cars will ignite the industry’s passion, these manufacturers have the pulse of the industry.

Each exhibitor will be able to make his or her voice heard by casting a vote in this year’s SEMA Award process. Emails to vote for this year’s hottest vehicles will be sent to the registered Show contact on August 31.

To better reflect consumer buying habits, this year’s awards will be presented in five new categories, including: Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV and Hottest Hatch.

Also new for 2016 is the format in which votes will be tabulated. Since the inception of the SEMA Award, exhibitors determined the winners based on the vehicles displayed in their booths. This year, each exhibiting company will cast one vote each, thereby determining the winners in each category.

SEMA Show exhibitors are the industry’s innovators, visionaries and influencers. Who better to ask than the thousands of manufacturing members who bet their businesses on recognizing the hottest new and upcoming vehicles?

The top three finalists in each of the five SEMA Award categories will be announced in October. The actual winners will be announced at the Awards Breakfast on the opening morning of the SEMA Show. Exhibitors should contact their SEMA Show representative if they don’t receive an email notice to vote.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. This week, Jean Jennings from JeanKnowsCars.com discusses how to establish relationships with customers that go well beyond putting a product in their hands.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. This week, Jean Jennings from JeanKnowsCars.com discusses how to establish relationships with customers that go well beyond putting a product in their hands.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. This week, Jean Jennings from JeanKnowsCars.com discusses how to establish relationships with customers that go well beyond putting a product in their hands.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews Chip Foose at the 2015 SEMA Show.

Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews Chip Foose at the 2015 SEMA Show.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Bills introduced in New Hampshire in 2016 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session. Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

The bill sought to restore the rolling 15-year exemption repealed in 2014 and replace it with an exemption only for vehicles manufactured before the year 2000. The measure also acknowledged the fact that titles are not always readily available for older vehicles. Legislation to exempt vehicles 10 or more model years old from emissions test requirements was also not approved. The bill also sought to exempt a vehicle for an indication of failure if the owner verified that he or she had spent $100 or more unsuccessfully attempting to repair the cause of the failure and the vehicle passed all other inspection requirements. However, a bill to exempt rare or historically significant vehicles from emissions control requirements was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Maggie Hassan. Under previous law, only vehicles 20 or more years old were exempt. The new law becomes effective on January 1, 2017. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Bills introduced in New Hampshire in 2016 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session. Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

The bill sought to restore the rolling 15-year exemption repealed in 2014 and replace it with an exemption only for vehicles manufactured before the year 2000. The measure also acknowledged the fact that titles are not always readily available for older vehicles. Legislation to exempt vehicles 10 or more model years old from emissions test requirements was also not approved. The bill also sought to exempt a vehicle for an indication of failure if the owner verified that he or she had spent $100 or more unsuccessfully attempting to repair the cause of the failure and the vehicle passed all other inspection requirements. However, a bill to exempt rare or historically significant vehicles from emissions control requirements was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Maggie Hassan. Under previous law, only vehicles 20 or more years old were exempt. The new law becomes effective on January 1, 2017. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Bills introduced in New Hampshire in 2016 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session. Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

The bill sought to restore the rolling 15-year exemption repealed in 2014 and replace it with an exemption only for vehicles manufactured before the year 2000. The measure also acknowledged the fact that titles are not always readily available for older vehicles. Legislation to exempt vehicles 10 or more model years old from emissions test requirements was also not approved. The bill also sought to exempt a vehicle for an indication of failure if the owner verified that he or she had spent $100 or more unsuccessfully attempting to repair the cause of the failure and the vehicle passed all other inspection requirements. However, a bill to exempt rare or historically significant vehicles from emissions control requirements was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Maggie Hassan. Under previous law, only vehicles 20 or more years old were exempt. The new law becomes effective on January 1, 2017. 

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

By SEMA Editors

The 2016 PRI Show is scheduled to include more than 1,100 exhibiting companies, and attract tens of thousands of motorsports professionals.

Dozens of workshops, seminars and special events have been confirmed and finalized for the 2016 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, taking place December 8–10, 2016, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The PRI Trade Show provides racing retailers, race-engine builders, race-car builders, warehouse distributors, racers and race teams with a bevy of new products and equipment, systems solutions, business strategies and innovative technologies to help further their businesses and racing programs.

“The 2016 PRI Show is on track to be the best ever,” said PRI General Manager Bill Miller. “With great conferences, 1,100-plus exhibiting companies and thousands of buyers, Indianapolis is the place to be the second week of December.”

This year’s pre-Show events and conferences lineup includes:

• Nearly a dozen activities will take place before the PRI Trade Show officially opens, making it convenient for attendees to participate in conferences and seminars, such as the Vehicle Dynamics & Data Acquisition Seminar, Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC), Race Track Business Conference (RTBC) and more. Events begin Monday, December 5, and continue through the Show. “Many attendees like to fly in early and join in the pre-Show activities, thereby leaving their schedules wide open to connect with exhibitors and do business later in the week,” said Miller. “These pre-Show events are among the highest-rated activities at the Show.”

• International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress: The two-day event provides sanctioning-body personnel, car designers and builders, race team managers and drivers with the latest information in safety and technology. Sponsored by the ICMS, the program features leading experts in medicine, physiology, applied science and motorsports safety.

• Day at the Speedway: PRI Show guests are invited to tour the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and take a ride around its 2.5-mile oval before having lunch at the nearby Union Jack’s. After lunch, participants will return to the Hall of Fame Museum, which houses 75 historic vehicles, the famed Borg-Warner Trophy and much more.

The PRI Show officially kicks off with the Grand Opening Breakfast, Thursday, December 8, at 8:00 a.m., in the Indiana Convention Center’s Sagamore Ballroom, where renowned motorsports journalist Dave Despain of MAVTV will interview IndyCar legend Rick Mears in a live talk show format served alongside a hot, catered breakfast. In addition, a pair of new events for 2016 will be featured during Show days:

• Student Breakfast: Headlined by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan, the all-new Student Breakfast is a chance for current industry members to connect with aspiring industry professionals. PRI exhibitors and attendees will meet top students from throughout the country to share stories, advice and experiences, and help inspire a future generation of racing professionals.

• International Motorsports Trade Seminar: Join a panel of leading international buyers and top manufacturers for a primer on selling internationally at the inaugural PRI International Motorsports Trade Seminar, presented in partnership with the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) and SEMA, in which seasoned exporters, top overseas buyers and other key stakeholders will share best practices and proven success strategies.

“The primary focus of the PRI Show remains on the Show floor, where attendees come to discover and purchase the latest and most advanced hardcore racing products for their businesses,” said Miller. “With everyone in the motorsports industry gathered together, the PRI Show is also the ideal time for the industry to connect and immerse itself in new ideas, trends and solutions. December in Indy will be the ideal time to focus on the business of racing.”

The 2016 PRI Show is scheduled to include more than 1,100 exhibiting companies, and attract tens of thousands of motorsports professionals. As a trade event, proof of industry affiliation is required to attend. To secure credentials and learn more about the events and activities at PRI 2016, visit www.pri2016.com.