Thu, 01/16/2014 - 14:05
By SEMA Editors

xydias
Alex Xydias (left) and Chip Foose brought AXC students to the SEMA Garage last year to help install parts on the WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Ford F-150.
The Inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals presented by Lucas Oil will donate half of the net proceeds generated by the event to the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts (AXC)—an automotive learning center for high school students. AXC is part of the Career and Technical Education Center at Fairplex in Pomona, California—a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high school students and community members with vocational training, including a two-year automotive industry certification program. For the first time ever, the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals will take place March 22–23, at Fairplex in Pomona.

“Providing a viable career opportunity to today’s youth is the main focus of the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts,” said AXC Co-founder and Racing Pioneer Alex Xydias. “We recognize that not every child will go on to a four-year college and for those who have an interest in the automotive industry, becoming a certified service technician, mechanic or restoration specialist is an ideal opportunity. We are grateful to have partners like this, that through their generous donations, help to cover 100% of the cost to attend these programs.”

The AXC program was developed in collaboration with automotive business owners and classic car enthusiasts based in the Inland Valley outside of Los Angeles. During the two-year program, students explore automotive concepts and build skills in basic mechanics, diagnostics and service, auto body, metal fabrication and restoration. The program is designed to prepare students for continued study in college and the workplace. The program is funded through the generous support of private donors and sustaining partners. To make a donation, visit www.TLCfairplex.com, click “Donate Now” and choose “CTEC Auto/AXC.”
Thu, 01/16/2014 - 14:05
By SEMA Editors

xydias
Alex Xydias (left) and Chip Foose brought AXC students to the SEMA Garage last year to help install parts on the WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Ford F-150.
The Inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals presented by Lucas Oil will donate half of the net proceeds generated by the event to the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts (AXC)—an automotive learning center for high school students. AXC is part of the Career and Technical Education Center at Fairplex in Pomona, California—a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high school students and community members with vocational training, including a two-year automotive industry certification program. For the first time ever, the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals will take place March 22–23, at Fairplex in Pomona.

“Providing a viable career opportunity to today’s youth is the main focus of the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts,” said AXC Co-founder and Racing Pioneer Alex Xydias. “We recognize that not every child will go on to a four-year college and for those who have an interest in the automotive industry, becoming a certified service technician, mechanic or restoration specialist is an ideal opportunity. We are grateful to have partners like this, that through their generous donations, help to cover 100% of the cost to attend these programs.”

The AXC program was developed in collaboration with automotive business owners and classic car enthusiasts based in the Inland Valley outside of Los Angeles. During the two-year program, students explore automotive concepts and build skills in basic mechanics, diagnostics and service, auto body, metal fabrication and restoration. The program is designed to prepare students for continued study in college and the workplace. The program is funded through the generous support of private donors and sustaining partners. To make a donation, visit www.TLCfairplex.com, click “Donate Now” and choose “CTEC Auto/AXC.”
Thu, 01/16/2014 - 13:50
By SEMA Editors

 SEMA Town Hall 2014
The first SEMA Town Hall of 2014 will feature California State Senator Ted Gaines, SEMA Chairman of the Board Nate Shelton of B&M Racing & Performance, SEMA Board member John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Performance LLC and former SEMA Board member Joel Ayres of Bedslide/Takit Inc.
  
Special guest California State Senator Ted Gaines will join SEMA for the upcoming Town Hall Meeting in West Sacramento, Wednesday, January 29, to meet members and share his perspective about small business and the specialty-equipment market.

For this first stop of the 2014 Town Hall tour, members and industry professionals interested in learning more about the association will gather at Flowmaster, B&M & Hurst Warehouse in West Sacramento, California, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. The evening will include time to network with other attendees and hear from SEMA leadership about SEMA’s current programs and objectives.

The first SEMA Town Hall of 2014 will also feature panelists SEMA Chairman of the Board Nate Shelton of B&M Racing & Performance, SEMA Board member John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Performance LLC and former SEMA Board member Joel Ayres of Bedslide/Takit Inc., who will be available to answer questions about what individual companies can gain from a SEMA membership.

These face-to-face interactions will provide members a chance to identify their business challenges and opportunities with association leadership. Ultimately, this feedback helps to enhance membership value as SEMA works to better meet members’ needs.

To register for the event, visit www.sema.org/townhall/sacramento or contact SEMA’s Membership Manager Andrea “AJ” Carney for more information.
Thu, 01/16/2014 - 13:50
By SEMA Editors

 SEMA Town Hall 2014
The first SEMA Town Hall of 2014 will feature California State Senator Ted Gaines, SEMA Chairman of the Board Nate Shelton of B&M Racing & Performance, SEMA Board member John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Performance LLC and former SEMA Board member Joel Ayres of Bedslide/Takit Inc.
  
Special guest California State Senator Ted Gaines will join SEMA for the upcoming Town Hall Meeting in West Sacramento, Wednesday, January 29, to meet members and share his perspective about small business and the specialty-equipment market.

For this first stop of the 2014 Town Hall tour, members and industry professionals interested in learning more about the association will gather at Flowmaster, B&M & Hurst Warehouse in West Sacramento, California, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. The evening will include time to network with other attendees and hear from SEMA leadership about SEMA’s current programs and objectives.

The first SEMA Town Hall of 2014 will also feature panelists SEMA Chairman of the Board Nate Shelton of B&M Racing & Performance, SEMA Board member John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Performance LLC and former SEMA Board member Joel Ayres of Bedslide/Takit Inc., who will be available to answer questions about what individual companies can gain from a SEMA membership.

These face-to-face interactions will provide members a chance to identify their business challenges and opportunities with association leadership. Ultimately, this feedback helps to enhance membership value as SEMA works to better meet members’ needs.

To register for the event, visit www.sema.org/townhall/sacramento or contact SEMA’s Membership Manager Andrea “AJ” Carney for more information.
Thu, 01/16/2014 - 09:57

Compiled by SEMA Editors

  flowmaster
Flowmaster has renewed its title sponsorship of the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals and the NMCA WEST Street Car Nationals series for the 2014 season.
  

Flowmaster Sponsors NMCA Events for 2014
ProMedia Events has announced that Flowmaster has renewed its title sponsorship of the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals and the NMCA WEST Street Car Nationals series for the 2014 season. As a sponsor, Flowmaster will attend most NMCA and NMCA WEST events across the United States and offer contingency payouts and more to successful racers in both series. The Flowmaster NMCA Muscle Car Nationals series includes six events in states with a strong contingent of automotive enthusiasts, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The NMCA WEST series features five events on the West Coast in Bakersfield, Fontana, and Pomona, California, as well as in Las Vegas. Once again, Flowmaster will host a special Media vs. Manufacturer True Street race at both events in Fontana. For complete schedules and information on both series, visit www.NMCAdigital.com.

RSR Racing Doubles Down With Two-Car Effort and Powerhouse Driver Lineup in 2014
The RSR Racing team, led by championship winning team owner and driver Paul Gentilozzi and sons Tony and John Gentilozzi, has doubled-down with two Prototype Challenge entries in the 2014 TUDOR United Sports Car Championship. Teaming up with returning drivers Bruno Junqueira and Duncan Ende are 2013 Drivers Championship Runner up (by one point) Chris Cumming and 2011 Indy 500 Pole Sitter Alex Tagliani.

Veteran drivers Junqueira and Ende return to pilot the No. 08 Lino'spresso Chevrolet-powered Oreca FLM09. Gustavo Menezes and David Heinemeier Hansson rejoin Junqueira and Ende for the endurance events this year beginning with the Daytona event next week. In 2013, Menezes ran the Petit Le Mans with RSR and Heinemeier Hansson joined the team for the Circuit of the Americas event. Cumming teams up with winning open-wheeler Tagliani to pilot the No. 09 Automax.com Oreca FLM09. Joining the Cumming/Tagliani duo for the longer events in 2014 will be Rusty Mitchell and Conor Daly.

RSR Racing will debut the two-car efforts when the clock starts ticking at the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway, January 25, at 2:10 p.m. (EST) as the green flag flies for the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.

  torc
Husqvarna has teamed up with TORC: The Off-Road Championship as a new 2014 Series Partner and naming sponsor for the April 25–26 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  

TORC: The Off-Road Championship Welcomes AMSOIL Back as Series Presenting Sponsor; Teams With Husqvarna as 2014 Series Partner
TORC: The Off-Road Championship—a short-course, off-road racing series—has announced the return of AMSOIL as series presenting sponsor in a renewed multi-year commitment. In addition to its presenting sponsor role, AMSOIL also sponsors drivers Scott Douglas in the PRO 4 division, Chad Hord in Pro 2 and Brad Lovell in PRO Light. TORC: The Off-Road Championship Presented by AMSOIL will hold seven events across the United States this year, with NBC Sports providing television coverage and a behind-the-scenes docu-reality series.

In other news, Husqvarna has teamed up with TORC: The Off-Road Championship as a new 2014 Series Partner and naming sponsor for the April 25–26 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. That event will now be called the "The Husqvarna Showdown in Charlotte."

Formula DRIFT Asia Championship To Hold Final Round During the World Time Attack Challenge in Australia
The Formula DRIFT Asia Championship will return to Australia during the World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) at Sydney Motorsport Park, October 17–19, 2014. This event will be the finale of the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship season. The Formula DRIFT Asia Championship will run on the South Circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park. This will involve an expansion into a three-day event weekend with WTAC running over Friday and Saturday and Formula DRIFT Asia practice and qualifying to run Saturday with the main competition to be held Sunday along with full track demonstrations throughout the weekend. Ticketing details will be announced soon and will include discounted multi-day passes.

  mothers
The Mothers 18-wheeler and 1,000-hp, propane-powered ’70 Chevelle will hit the road for the 2014 car show season.
  

Mothers Big Rig Returns to the Road in 2014
With the arrival of the 2014 car show season, the Mothers 18-wheeler and 1,000hp, propane-powered ’70 Chevelle will hit the road. Highlights on the Mothers car show calendar include the Hot Rod Power Tour, a variety of car shows, racing events and Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Las Vegas and more. The complete schedule is listed at www.mothers.com/bigrig.

SCCA Pro Racing All-Star Team Announced
SCCA Pro Racing has announced its 2013 All-Star Team. The lineup features many of the top stars in North American road racing, including young, up-and-coming racers and seasoned veterans still at the top of their game. The team draws its members from the five road-racing series that are sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. Each class is represented by the 2013 championship-winning driver.

Pirelli World Challenge: GT – Johnny O’Connell; GTS – Lawson Aschenbach; TC – Ryan Winchester; TCB – Robbie Davis

Trans Am: TA1 – Doug Peterson; TA2 – Cameron Lawrence; TA3 American Muscle – Chuck Cassaro; TA3 International – David Seuss

Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup: Mazda MX-5 Cup – Christian Szymczak;
Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge – Kenton Koch

F1600 Championship: Jake Edison

F2000 Championship: Tim Minor

Thu, 01/16/2014 - 09:57

Compiled by SEMA Editors

  flowmaster
Flowmaster has renewed its title sponsorship of the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals and the NMCA WEST Street Car Nationals series for the 2014 season.
  

Flowmaster Sponsors NMCA Events for 2014
ProMedia Events has announced that Flowmaster has renewed its title sponsorship of the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals and the NMCA WEST Street Car Nationals series for the 2014 season. As a sponsor, Flowmaster will attend most NMCA and NMCA WEST events across the United States and offer contingency payouts and more to successful racers in both series. The Flowmaster NMCA Muscle Car Nationals series includes six events in states with a strong contingent of automotive enthusiasts, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The NMCA WEST series features five events on the West Coast in Bakersfield, Fontana, and Pomona, California, as well as in Las Vegas. Once again, Flowmaster will host a special Media vs. Manufacturer True Street race at both events in Fontana. For complete schedules and information on both series, visit www.NMCAdigital.com.

RSR Racing Doubles Down With Two-Car Effort and Powerhouse Driver Lineup in 2014
The RSR Racing team, led by championship winning team owner and driver Paul Gentilozzi and sons Tony and John Gentilozzi, has doubled-down with two Prototype Challenge entries in the 2014 TUDOR United Sports Car Championship. Teaming up with returning drivers Bruno Junqueira and Duncan Ende are 2013 Drivers Championship Runner up (by one point) Chris Cumming and 2011 Indy 500 Pole Sitter Alex Tagliani.

Veteran drivers Junqueira and Ende return to pilot the No. 08 Lino'spresso Chevrolet-powered Oreca FLM09. Gustavo Menezes and David Heinemeier Hansson rejoin Junqueira and Ende for the endurance events this year beginning with the Daytona event next week. In 2013, Menezes ran the Petit Le Mans with RSR and Heinemeier Hansson joined the team for the Circuit of the Americas event. Cumming teams up with winning open-wheeler Tagliani to pilot the No. 09 Automax.com Oreca FLM09. Joining the Cumming/Tagliani duo for the longer events in 2014 will be Rusty Mitchell and Conor Daly.

RSR Racing will debut the two-car efforts when the clock starts ticking at the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway, January 25, at 2:10 p.m. (EST) as the green flag flies for the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.

  torc
Husqvarna has teamed up with TORC: The Off-Road Championship as a new 2014 Series Partner and naming sponsor for the April 25–26 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  

TORC: The Off-Road Championship Welcomes AMSOIL Back as Series Presenting Sponsor; Teams With Husqvarna as 2014 Series Partner
TORC: The Off-Road Championship—a short-course, off-road racing series—has announced the return of AMSOIL as series presenting sponsor in a renewed multi-year commitment. In addition to its presenting sponsor role, AMSOIL also sponsors drivers Scott Douglas in the PRO 4 division, Chad Hord in Pro 2 and Brad Lovell in PRO Light. TORC: The Off-Road Championship Presented by AMSOIL will hold seven events across the United States this year, with NBC Sports providing television coverage and a behind-the-scenes docu-reality series.

In other news, Husqvarna has teamed up with TORC: The Off-Road Championship as a new 2014 Series Partner and naming sponsor for the April 25–26 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. That event will now be called the "The Husqvarna Showdown in Charlotte."

Formula DRIFT Asia Championship To Hold Final Round During the World Time Attack Challenge in Australia
The Formula DRIFT Asia Championship will return to Australia during the World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) at Sydney Motorsport Park, October 17–19, 2014. This event will be the finale of the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship season. The Formula DRIFT Asia Championship will run on the South Circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park. This will involve an expansion into a three-day event weekend with WTAC running over Friday and Saturday and Formula DRIFT Asia practice and qualifying to run Saturday with the main competition to be held Sunday along with full track demonstrations throughout the weekend. Ticketing details will be announced soon and will include discounted multi-day passes.

  mothers
The Mothers 18-wheeler and 1,000-hp, propane-powered ’70 Chevelle will hit the road for the 2014 car show season.
  

Mothers Big Rig Returns to the Road in 2014
With the arrival of the 2014 car show season, the Mothers 18-wheeler and 1,000hp, propane-powered ’70 Chevelle will hit the road. Highlights on the Mothers car show calendar include the Hot Rod Power Tour, a variety of car shows, racing events and Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Las Vegas and more. The complete schedule is listed at www.mothers.com/bigrig.

SCCA Pro Racing All-Star Team Announced
SCCA Pro Racing has announced its 2013 All-Star Team. The lineup features many of the top stars in North American road racing, including young, up-and-coming racers and seasoned veterans still at the top of their game. The team draws its members from the five road-racing series that are sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. Each class is represented by the 2013 championship-winning driver.

Pirelli World Challenge: GT – Johnny O’Connell; GTS – Lawson Aschenbach; TC – Ryan Winchester; TCB – Robbie Davis

Trans Am: TA1 – Doug Peterson; TA2 – Cameron Lawrence; TA3 American Muscle – Chuck Cassaro; TA3 International – David Seuss

Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup: Mazda MX-5 Cup – Christian Szymczak;
Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge – Kenton Koch

F1600 Championship: Jake Edison

F2000 Championship: Tim Minor

Thu, 01/16/2014 - 09:37
A collection of Ford Mustangs on display at the 2013 SEMA Show.
Thu, 01/16/2014 - 09:37
A collection of Ford Mustangs on display at the 2013 SEMA Show.
Thu, 01/16/2014 - 09:21
 challenger

The shooters at KGP Photography recently got their first look into the cockpit of the ’15 SRT Challenger, providing a taste for the extensive, long-overdue changes destined for the retro-inspired musclecar.

Despite the thorough camouflage, the Challenger's interior will get a complete overhaul, with a new dash, switchgear, instrumentation and quality level. The Challenger finally gets the larger 8.4-in. Uconnect LCD screen, now framed in with new vertical air vents. An all-new center stack can be seen aft of the manual transmission on this prototype. A new steering wheel is boldly emblazoned with an SRT badge. The Challenger's gauge cluster gets a welcome dose of style, and clearly contains new instrumentation that appears to be a massive step forward from the simplistic design hobbling the current model.

The transmission tunnel shows handsome contrasting stitching effects—a clear sign that the current Challenger's cheap, plastic interior will finally be banished. With the Mustang's improved interior quality, these changes are a necessity if the Challenger is to remain competitive in the musclecar ranks.

Earlier Challenger prototypes had a minor bit of camouflage covering the front clip, with the existing grille and headlight setup visible behind the disguise. The new camouflage is much more extensive, with changes to the front fascia visible. These shots show new LED accents ringing around the Challenger's new headlights. The outer LED ring also includes amber turn signals, which were spotted, but could not be photographed.

As of now, this is the most complete look at the changes due for the ’15 Challenger.

 challenger

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Thu, 01/16/2014 - 09:21
 challenger

The shooters at KGP Photography recently got their first look into the cockpit of the ’15 SRT Challenger, providing a taste for the extensive, long-overdue changes destined for the retro-inspired musclecar.

Despite the thorough camouflage, the Challenger's interior will get a complete overhaul, with a new dash, switchgear, instrumentation and quality level. The Challenger finally gets the larger 8.4-in. Uconnect LCD screen, now framed in with new vertical air vents. An all-new center stack can be seen aft of the manual transmission on this prototype. A new steering wheel is boldly emblazoned with an SRT badge. The Challenger's gauge cluster gets a welcome dose of style, and clearly contains new instrumentation that appears to be a massive step forward from the simplistic design hobbling the current model.

The transmission tunnel shows handsome contrasting stitching effects—a clear sign that the current Challenger's cheap, plastic interior will finally be banished. With the Mustang's improved interior quality, these changes are a necessity if the Challenger is to remain competitive in the musclecar ranks.

Earlier Challenger prototypes had a minor bit of camouflage covering the front clip, with the existing grille and headlight setup visible behind the disguise. The new camouflage is much more extensive, with changes to the front fascia visible. These shots show new LED accents ringing around the Challenger's new headlights. The outer LED ring also includes amber turn signals, which were spotted, but could not be photographed.

As of now, this is the most complete look at the changes due for the ’15 Challenger.

 challenger

Photo credit: KGP Photography