By Kristopher Porter

Aaron Kaufman

The Young Executives Network (YEN) has recently confirmed the Discovery Channel’s Aaron Kaufman of ArcLight Fabrication in Dallas will host the 2019 SEMA Launch Pad competition.

Kaufman’s fabrication experience began as many others have—by needing a part for his Jeep Cherokee. Mechanically minded but with very little fabrication experience under his belt, Kaufman ordered the part for his Jeep, only to find that he could have easily made the part himself. From that experience he swore that he would do everything in his power to make his own parts whenever able. With this new mentality, his experience level working on cars, trucks and motorcycles quickly grew, and he began to attract attention at local shops in his hometown of Fort Worth.

He worked at a few shops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Drop Zone, his own shop on Main Street in Dallas called “No Name Shop” and Gas Monkey Garage, before finally opening his own shop with the aim of producing parts for Ford F-100s. Those plans were temporarily put on hold when Discovery Channel asked him to do his own show, so for the first nine months, ArcLight Fabrication became a race shop of sorts, building cars to compete in a variety of races to be documented for the show “Shifting Gears.” With season one in the bag, ArcLight returned to its original goal of producing parts.

This will be an exciting year for Launch Pad, as the top five finalists will compete for the chance to win $10,000, along with an assortment of other prizes. Stay up-to-date with the competition.

Reserve your Launch Pad tickets.

By Kristopher Porter

Aaron Kaufman

The Young Executives Network (YEN) has recently confirmed the Discovery Channel’s Aaron Kaufman of ArcLight Fabrication in Dallas will host the 2019 SEMA Launch Pad competition.

Kaufman’s fabrication experience began as many others have—by needing a part for his Jeep Cherokee. Mechanically minded but with very little fabrication experience under his belt, Kaufman ordered the part for his Jeep, only to find that he could have easily made the part himself. From that experience he swore that he would do everything in his power to make his own parts whenever able. With this new mentality, his experience level working on cars, trucks and motorcycles quickly grew, and he began to attract attention at local shops in his hometown of Fort Worth.

He worked at a few shops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Drop Zone, his own shop on Main Street in Dallas called “No Name Shop” and Gas Monkey Garage, before finally opening his own shop with the aim of producing parts for Ford F-100s. Those plans were temporarily put on hold when Discovery Channel asked him to do his own show, so for the first nine months, ArcLight Fabrication became a race shop of sorts, building cars to compete in a variety of races to be documented for the show “Shifting Gears.” With season one in the bag, ArcLight returned to its original goal of producing parts.

This will be an exciting year for Launch Pad, as the top five finalists will compete for the chance to win $10,000, along with an assortment of other prizes. Stay up-to-date with the competition.

Reserve your Launch Pad tickets.

By Kristopher Porter

Aaron Kaufman

The Young Executives Network (YEN) has recently confirmed the Discovery Channel’s Aaron Kaufman of ArcLight Fabrication in Dallas will host the 2019 SEMA Launch Pad competition.

Kaufman’s fabrication experience began as many others have—by needing a part for his Jeep Cherokee. Mechanically minded but with very little fabrication experience under his belt, Kaufman ordered the part for his Jeep, only to find that he could have easily made the part himself. From that experience he swore that he would do everything in his power to make his own parts whenever able. With this new mentality, his experience level working on cars, trucks and motorcycles quickly grew, and he began to attract attention at local shops in his hometown of Fort Worth.

He worked at a few shops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Drop Zone, his own shop on Main Street in Dallas called “No Name Shop” and Gas Monkey Garage, before finally opening his own shop with the aim of producing parts for Ford F-100s. Those plans were temporarily put on hold when Discovery Channel asked him to do his own show, so for the first nine months, ArcLight Fabrication became a race shop of sorts, building cars to compete in a variety of races to be documented for the show “Shifting Gears.” With season one in the bag, ArcLight returned to its original goal of producing parts.

This will be an exciting year for Launch Pad, as the top five finalists will compete for the chance to win $10,000, along with an assortment of other prizes. Stay up-to-date with the competition.

Reserve your Launch Pad tickets.

By Kristopher Porter

Aaron Kaufman

The Young Executives Network (YEN) has recently confirmed the Discovery Channel’s Aaron Kaufman of ArcLight Fabrication in Dallas will host the 2019 SEMA Launch Pad competition.

Kaufman’s fabrication experience began as many others have—by needing a part for his Jeep Cherokee. Mechanically minded but with very little fabrication experience under his belt, Kaufman ordered the part for his Jeep, only to find that he could have easily made the part himself. From that experience he swore that he would do everything in his power to make his own parts whenever able. With this new mentality, his experience level working on cars, trucks and motorcycles quickly grew, and he began to attract attention at local shops in his hometown of Fort Worth.

He worked at a few shops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Drop Zone, his own shop on Main Street in Dallas called “No Name Shop” and Gas Monkey Garage, before finally opening his own shop with the aim of producing parts for Ford F-100s. Those plans were temporarily put on hold when Discovery Channel asked him to do his own show, so for the first nine months, ArcLight Fabrication became a race shop of sorts, building cars to compete in a variety of races to be documented for the show “Shifting Gears.” With season one in the bag, ArcLight returned to its original goal of producing parts.

This will be an exciting year for Launch Pad, as the top five finalists will compete for the chance to win $10,000, along with an assortment of other prizes. Stay up-to-date with the competition.

Reserve your Launch Pad tickets.

By Kristopher Porter

The Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup, Friday, June 7, for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the various sectors of the automotive industry.

Held in conjunction with Formula DRIFT Round 4: The Gauntlet at Wall Speedway in Wall Township, New Jersey, the Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup, Friday, June 7, for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the various sectors of the automotive industry. The event will occur from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., with Formula DRIFT tickets free to use all day. The meetup location will be given when attendees pick up their wristbands at will call.

All YEN members and those interested in learning about opportunities to get involved with SEMA and build industry connections are encouraged to attend. YEN leadership will be present to discuss the network’s initiatives and volunteer opportunities.

YEN members who RSVP by June 5 will receive a complimentary, single-day pass to attend the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, June 7.

For those who live in the Wall Township area or will be in town for the Formula DRIFT competition, stop by and enjoy an evening with fellow YEN colleagues.

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison or 909-978-6691.

Reserve your tickets.

By Kristopher Porter

The Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup, Friday, June 7, for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the various sectors of the automotive industry.

Held in conjunction with Formula DRIFT Round 4: The Gauntlet at Wall Speedway in Wall Township, New Jersey, the Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup, Friday, June 7, for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the various sectors of the automotive industry. The event will occur from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., with Formula DRIFT tickets free to use all day. The meetup location will be given when attendees pick up their wristbands at will call.

All YEN members and those interested in learning about opportunities to get involved with SEMA and build industry connections are encouraged to attend. YEN leadership will be present to discuss the network’s initiatives and volunteer opportunities.

YEN members who RSVP by June 5 will receive a complimentary, single-day pass to attend the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, June 7.

For those who live in the Wall Township area or will be in town for the Formula DRIFT competition, stop by and enjoy an evening with fellow YEN colleagues.

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison or 909-978-6691.

Reserve your tickets.

By Della Domingo

Several young vehicle builders participated in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, including 24-year-old Jacob Griffin, who placed in the Top 10 Young Guns category.

Griffin explains that the vehicle is a cut-down ’50–’51 Ford Shoebox tied in with a ’27 T-bucket. He combined multiple components to create his unique vehicle, including a ’54 Ford grille and Buick V6 engine. 

Don’t forget to also tune in to the one-hour television special “SEMA Battle of the Builders” airing on MotorTrend TV, Wednesday, June 5. The program features several top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.

By Della Domingo

Several young vehicle builders participated in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, including 24-year-old Jacob Griffin, who placed in the Top 10 Young Guns category.

Griffin explains that the vehicle is a cut-down ’50–’51 Ford Shoebox tied in with a ’27 T-bucket. He combined multiple components to create his unique vehicle, including a ’54 Ford grille and Buick V6 engine. 

Don’t forget to also tune in to the one-hour television special “SEMA Battle of the Builders” airing on MotorTrend TV, Wednesday, June 5. The program features several top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.

By Della Domingo

Several young vehicle builders participated in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, including 24-year-old Jacob Griffin, who placed in the Top 10 Young Guns category.

Griffin explains that the vehicle is a cut-down ’50–’51 Ford Shoebox tied in with a ’27 T-bucket. He combined multiple components to create his unique vehicle, including a ’54 Ford grille and Buick V6 engine. 

Don’t forget to also tune in to the one-hour television special “SEMA Battle of the Builders” airing on MotorTrend TV, Wednesday, June 5. The program features several top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.

By Della Domingo

Several young vehicle builders participated in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, including 24-year-old Jacob Griffin, who placed in the Top 10 Young Guns category.

Griffin explains that the vehicle is a cut-down ’50–’51 Ford Shoebox tied in with a ’27 T-bucket. He combined multiple components to create his unique vehicle, including a ’54 Ford grille and Buick V6 engine. 

Don’t forget to also tune in to the one-hour television special “SEMA Battle of the Builders” airing on MotorTrend TV, Wednesday, June 5. The program features several top vehicles from the 2018 SEMA Show.