SEMA council and network select committees consist of volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to help develop meaningful programs for members. Volunteers are critical to the councils’ and the industry’s success. In return, volunteers gain a lot through the process.
The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) select committee.
Applications are now available at www.sema.org/volunteer, where employees of SEMA-member companies can apply for a seat on a council or network select committee.
There are nine councils and networks that represent different segments of the automotive aftermarket—from auto restoration, restyling, emerging trends and technology, truck and off-road and more.
Here are just a few benefits members get by volunteering on a SEMA Council or Network select committee:
Understand the industry at large. It’s always beneficial to meet others in your same market niche who you can talk to about the state of the industry, its challenges and opportunities. Working with other select committee members really allows you to get a sense of how the industry at large is doing. As you’re helping to better the industry, you’re also able to come up with new ideas and understand where the opportunities are for your business.
Make valuable business connections. Chances are you may meet some of your most trusted, go-to colleagues in the industry or perhaps even a mentor, while serving on the select committee. You’ll find that the select committee consists of some of the brightest, most innovative individuals in the industry, and they just might be individuals who you turn to when you need business advice or want to bounce ideas off.
Develop personal friendships. You’ll meet individuals who have common interests and share a passion for the industry that you love as well. It’s not uncommon for select committee members to make life-long friendships while serving the council.
Gain hands-on experience. As a leader in the industry, you will receive leadership training and guide the council and the industry in new programs and services.
Boost brand awareness. Both the volunteer and the company gain great visibility. You and your company are highlighted, quoted and featured or mentioned as programs are developed.
Address challenges and opportunities most important to you or your company. As a select committee member, you’re able to prioritize the issues that you see as most important and have a voice at the table. You’re able to make a difference in the areas that matter most.
The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) select committee.
If you want to apply for a seat on a select committee, or would like to recommend someone who you think would be great in this role, you are invited and encouraged to fill out the form at www.sema.org/volunteer by the April 22 deadline. The ideal candidate will be able to commit 5–10 volunteer hours a month, have strong strategic planning skills, significant aftermarket knowledge and a passion for giving back to the industry.
If you are interested in volunteering at a different level, or on a subcommittee or task force for a council or network, please contact Council Director Denise Waddingham at Deniselw@sema.org for more information.
Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.
Aircooled VW/Porsche Technician EMPI Inc. is hiring an aircooled VW/Porsche Technicianto maintain the EMPI fleet of vehicles, including show cars and test vehicles used to prototype new products in conjunction with its R&D Department; assemble, disassemble, diagnose and test VW and Porsche systems and components; collect data, monitor test performance, document observations and communicate project status and results to R&D engineers and marketing; maintain engine dyno and garage equipment; support engineering staff in building and testing prototypes; and provide information and data to engineers as requested.
Suspension Installer/Technician Function and Form is hiring a suspension installer/technician for its La Mirada, California, location. Applicants must have knowledge of suspension components; an understanding of wheels, tires and alignments; and one year of experience working in a professional automotive or powersports service/repair shop or automotive parts/supplies shop.
IT Director National Performance Warehouse is hiring an IT director to oversee IT operations; manage information technology and computer systems; develop strategy as it relates to the organization's IT infrastructure; develop, manage and track the IT department's annual budget; consult senior-level stakeholders across the entire organization to identify business and technology needs and to optimize the use of information technology; and ensure smooth delivery and operation of IT services by monitoring systems performance. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, information systems or a related field, and more than eight years of experience working in IT operations, supervising technology teams and overseeing large information technology projects.
Indiana lawmakers (left to right) Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and Reps. Greg Pence (R-IN), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Jim Banks (R-IN), Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN).
Indiana and Ohio will hold their 2022 primary elections on Tuesday, May 3, and it’s important to know which candidates support racing when going to the polls or voting early. For information on voting in the primary (including absentee and early voting), registering to vote, and identifying your lawmakers and the candidates running in 2022, visit SEMA’s vote racing page.
The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), H.R. 3281 and S. 2736, enjoys strong support from Indiana and Ohio members of Congress. The bipartisan RPM Act guarantees the right to modify street cars, trucks and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and safeguards the industry’s right to offer parts that enable racers to compete. For more information on the RPM Act, click here.
Ohio lawmakers (top row) Reps. Bill Johnson (R-OH), Bob Latta (R-OH), David Joyce (R-OH), and Jim Jordan (R-OH). (Bottom row) Tim Ryan (D-OH), Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Warren Davidson (R-OH).
Below is a list of federal lawmakers who have co-sponsored the RPM Act in the 2021–2022 session of Congress and are running for re-election or other federal offices in 2022.
Pit+Paddock Celebrates Its Year Anniversary and Expands Services as a Creative Marketing and Athlete Management Agency
In its first year, Pit+Paddock has ventured beyond traditional media and brought together and inspired enthusiasts and industry partners through its Cars+Coffee and Drivers Project series and activations at the 2021 SEMA Show.
Pit+Paddock celebrated its first anniversary in the month of April. Initially established in 2015 as Front Street Media, the online magazine was relaunched seven years later as Pit+Paddock, a redefined media outlet and lifestyle brand focused on performance car culture. Its goal was to venture beyond traditional media and bring together and inspire enthusiasts and industry partners through engaging experiences. In its first year, the brand has accomplished just that through its Cars+Coffee and Drivers Project series and activations at the 2021 SEMA Show.
As Pit+Paddock turns one year old, it continues to evolve, announcing that it will expand its operations as a full-service agency with athlete management, video production and event coordination. Athlete management is a new endeavor for Pit+Paddock, and the brand will announcethe signing of its first client in the coming weeks.
Video production is also a new service at Pit+Paddock. Clients will be able to select from a wide range of video offerings, from promotional and product-focused to lifestyle and feature films. Event coordination continues to be a growing sector for Pit+Paddock. The next chapter in the brand’s event strategy includes exciting new industry collaborations and pop-ups slated to take place in car culture-heavy regions across the United States, including Texas and the Pacific Northwest.
PFC Brakes Promotes Luis Maurel to Director of Global Motorsports
PFC Brakes, the women-owned brakes manufacturer based in Clover, South Carolina, has announced the promotion of Luis Maurel to the role of director of global motorsports. Maurel will manage the company’s race department and help expand into sports cars and other professional motorsports segments across the world, the company stated. He will also manage PFC Brakes’ involvement as providers for series, including the NTT IndyCar Series, Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), and Renault Sport Series. Maurel began with PFC Brakes as motorsport sales manager for Europe and Asia in 2019. Prior, he worked with PJH Brands (PJ1 and VHT) and Galfer Auto. He was also an avid motorbike racer, capturing several titles throughout Europe.
Penske Entertainment Announces NFT Deal With Autograph
Autograph, the Web3 brand co-founded by Tom Brady, has announced a deal with Penske Entertainment and Team Penske to leverage three globally relevant racing brands: the NTT IndyCar Series; the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS); and Team Penske, with more than 600 race wins, including 18 Indy 500 victories and three Daytona 500 wins. The multi-year partnership will see an NFT collection drop in conjunction with the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29, on NBC. For more information, visit indycar.com and autograph.io.
Three Receive 2022 Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund Award
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has announced the ninth annual Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund recipients. Named and established by the family of Wendi Allen, the scholarship honors the multi-time Solo National Champion who supported SCCA’s autocross community. Maia Kirk (Cal Club region), Layne Lindemann (Atlanta region), and Chelsea Tattershall (Colorado region) will each receive a $1,500 scholarship to assist with travel to Tire Rack National Solo events and the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. Additionally, all will receive free entries to any Tire Rack National Solo events throughout the 2022 season.
A committee of champion women autocrossers selected the winners from a host of submissions. The annual scholarship is supported by Mazda Motorsports and the SCCA Foundation. For more information, visit scca.com.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
Eldora Speedway Names Jerry Gappens General Manager
Eldora Speedway—the 1/2-mile clay dirt oval in Rossburg, Ohio, owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart—has named veteran motorsports executive Jerry Gappens its new general manager. Gappens succeeds Roger Slack, who has decided to “take a sabbatical from the industry.”
Gappens comes to Eldora from Indiana’s Gas City I-69 Speedway, where he has been the promotor of the 1/4-mile dirt oval since 2018. Prior, Gappens spent 23 years with Speedway Motorsports as executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, from 2008 through 2015, and senior vice president of events and marketing of Charlotte (North Carolina) Motor Speedway from 1993 to 2007. For more information, visit eldoraspeedway.com.
Larry Boos Announced as New Promoter for Gas City I-69 Speedway
Gas City I-69 Speedway, the 1/4-mile clay oval in Gas City, Indiana, has announced Larry Boos as the new track promoter. He takes over for Jerry Gappens, who has accepted the position of general manager for Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Boos is also the promoter of Winchester Speedway (Winchester, Indiana), Montpelier Motor Speedway (Montpelier, Indiana), and the Rumble in Fort Wayne event. The Gas City I-69 Speedway season opens with a Test and Tune event Wednesday, April 27, and with its season opener race Friday, May 6. For more information, visit gascityi69speedway.com.
Race Fans Launch Campaign to Save Palm Beach International Raceway
Fans are rallying to save Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR). The IHRA-sanctioned drag strip and road course in Jupiter, Florida, formerly known as Moroso Motorsports Park, has reportedly been sold to a buyer who wants to convert it from a motorsports facility to an industrial park. Racers, enthusiasts and fans have formed a campaign to help stop the sale. The effort is documented on savepalmbeachraceway.com, which offers testimonial support from big names in the industry, including McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, NASCAR Team Co-Owner Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull), IndyCar champion Danny Sullivan, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee Tommy Kendall, plus John Oates of Hall & Oates and former St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel.
The website directs fans to sign a petition with 14,000 signatures to date. The website also points users to contact Palm Beach County commissioners to voice their support. Save Palm Beach Raceway is operated by Al Guibord, Barry Lederman and 1985 Indy 500 champion Sullivan. The last event on the track schedule for 2022 is the Pro Hydro Clean Last Lap At PBIR on Saturday, April 23. For more information, visit racepbir.com and savepalmbeachraceway.com.
US 131 Motorsports Park, IHRA Renew Partnership
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), based in West Palm Beach, Florida, has renewed its partnership with US 131 Motorsports Park, the 1/4-mile drag strip in Martin, Michigan. “The Fastest Track in Michigan” celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2022 and is operated by Jason Peterson. It is known for the US 131 Northern Nationals (formerly IHRA Northern Nationals) and the IHRA Division 5 (Thunder) Summit Team Finals. Dom Lagana’s Top Fuel car also clocked a record speed of 338.35 mph at the track in 2017. For more information, visit ihra.com or us131msp.com.
SCCA Women on Track Launches Road Racing Scholarship
With an aim to increase the participation of women and girls in all aspects of motorsports competition, the SCCA Women on Track initiative has announced its 2022 SCCA Women on Track Road Racing School Scholarship. Two recipients of this year’s SCCA Women on Track Road Racing School Scholarship will receive $1,000 each, with the scholarship helping fund their entry into the sport of road racing. Applicants need to be a member of the SCCA and must be interested in participating in road racing upon graduation from a road racing school. The SCCA Women on Track Road Racing School Scholarship application deadline is May 15. To submit an application, visit here. For more information, visit scca.com.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a proposal to implement California Governor Newsom’s 2020 executive order to phase out the sale of new diesel- or gas-powered cars in the state by 2035. The proposal, summarized in the “initial statement of reasons” (ISOR), would require 35% of new cars, SUVs and small trucks sold to be zero-emissions starting in 2026, and increasing to 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035. The proposal also sets first-time durability, warranty and other provisions on zero-emissions vehicles.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a proposal to implement California Governor Newsom’s 2020 executive order to phase out the sale of new diesel- or gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.
If adopted, the regulations could lead the way for at least 15 other states that have pledged to follow California’s standard for previous clean-car rules to adopt similar proposals. The sale of used cars would not be affected under the proposal, and it would not force the current fleet of diesel- or gas-powered vehicles off the road.
The public comment period is open until May 31, followed by a hearing on June 9. CARB is expected to vote on the proposal in August.
For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.
AirSept has announced the passing of the company’s co-founder Myron Stein.
Stein is credited with 23 U.S. patents and multiple awards for developing products that solve complex automotive air-conditioning and fluid-carrying-system repair problems. The company was formed in 1989 when he developed a long-lasting solution for unwanted mold and mildew odor in automobile air-conditioning systems. In 1991, he incorporated and began partnering with original-equipment manufacturers and suppliers to market his first A/C product—Cooling Coil Coating—while developing new products for the industry. He received his first product innovation award from MOTOR magazine for PermaTube in 1999. Since then, the company has received an additional 17 product awards.
Stein’s automotive career began when he opened a service station in Spring Valley, New York. There, he specialized in a broad range of services from wheel alignments and bodywork to rebuilt alternators and starters, engines and transmissions. An entrepreneur at heart with little mechanical experience, he knew how to find the right people to keep customers happy and quickly expanded. Gifted as a communicator, Stein later branched into radio programming and started a radio program called “Myron Stein, The Auto Doctor” at WCNN in Atlanta. The show quickly expanded from one hour on Sunday to a two-hour call-in show on Saturday and Sunday which was then syndicated throughout the Southeast. Stein also started a weekly television show and wrote a newspaper column for the Gwinnett Daily Post.
During his retirement, he became a presenter on a regular basis at Ramapo College of New Jersey, a public liberal arts college located in Mahwah, New Jersey, where he developed an entrepreneurial course based on starting a business with $1,000.
In 2004, Stein was honored by the Mobile Air Climate Systems Association (MACS) when he received the MACS Career Achievement Award. In 2009, he was once again honored receiving the MACS Industry Pioneer Award.
AirSept President and stepson, Aaron Becker, said, “We are all incredibly saddened by Myron’s death. I was fortunate to work side-by-side with him for many years when the business was passed to me in 2001. He was a kind and giving person, brilliant in so many ways and I have always strived to learn from him and to make sure that AirSept stays true to his mission to build cost effective repair solutions that are the best in the industry. Many are not even aware that Myron had polio as a child and overcame these challenges to accomplish so much. He was an inspiration to me. Please know that we appreciate the many kind messages we have received and will announce his memorial plans soon. I am so glad he was honored by MACS and that he had a full life doing what he loved.”
Stein passed away peacefully last Thursday evening in Southern California where he has lived since 1996 with his wife Dolly, who is also a co-founder of AirSept. In lieu of flowers and in honor of Stein, the family requests donations to Captain Care, a non-profit that provides pet care and support for low-income communities in Southern California.
Here are two prototypes of the upcoming Silverado HD dually refresh undergoing testing. One (towing via a hitch) appears to be a lower-end model while the other (towing via a gooseneck) is a High Country trim.
The Silverado is expected to gain a refresh that will bring an updated exterior design, a new cabin with 13.4-in. infotainment screen and new powertrain bits with more power and torque. It is obvious from these photos that GM is placing an emphasis on the updated truck’s towing capacity, which has recently taken third place in max trailering ratings when compared to Ford and Ram.
Sources have confirmed that 6.6L Duramax V8 will make at least 500 hp and 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque, which is a substantial upgrade compared to the current specs of 445 hp and 910 lb.-ft. of torque.
R&R Marketing Welcomes John Keller as Sales and Marketing Representative
R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. (RRMCI) has announced the recent hire of John Keller as sales and marketing representative. Keller will join the RRMCI West Coast Sales Team.
Keller grew up at his family-owned tow company in the San Francisco Bay area where he, his father and uncle built race cars in their spare time, which eventually led to him racing in the oval. Keller officially began his career in the aftermarket when he took a position with Goodguys Rod and Customs in 2009. Twelve years later, he moved to Arizona where he worked as a sales manager for an aftermarket billet company. Keller joins the RRMCI Team with more than a decade of experience.
Milwaukee Tool Opens Engineering ‘New Technology’ Office in Chicago
Milwaukee Tool announced the opening of Milwaukee Tool – Chicago. Located in the heart of the Windy City, the location will serve as an engineering design and innovation space to accommodate the company’s investments in new technology. This location will also act as an extension of the company’s global headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Over the last decade the company has experienced incredible double-digit growth globally and currently employs more than 10,000 people in the United States. Chicago’s flourishing ecosystem of technical talent is one of many reasons Milwaukee chose to expand to the city. Milwaukee invested more than $14 million to renovate 70,000-sq.-ft. of space within the historic Old Post Office in Chicago. Approximately 10,000 sq. ft. is dedicated to lab space for design and development of critical new technologies.
Mullen Automotive to Begin Construction for New EV Battery Pack Production
Mullen Automotive announced plans to begin EV battery pack production out of its high-voltage battery R&D facility located in Monrovia, California. The company will retrofit its Monrovia facility to accommodate the production of EV battery packs destined for Mullen’s EV vehicle lineup, including the ONE EV Cargo Van, FIVE EV Crossover, and DragonFLY EV Sportscar programs. Mullen is undertaking this effort to reduce dependency on third-party suppliers and reduce the risk associated with material and supply shortages, which currently plague the automotive industry. By taking battery pack production in-house, Mullen will also lower costs and increase overall quality control in battery pack development.
Turn 14 Distribution Adds Synergy Manufacturing to Line Card
Turn 14 Distribution has added a unique line of Synergy Manufacturing suspension and steering components to its line card. Synergy Manufacturing produces high-end automotive performance components, predominantly made in the USA, and are primarily for the off-road aftermarket.
The company fabricates a complete line of heavy-duty steering components, axle upgrades, skid plates, suspension systems, and other related products that dramatically improve vehicle on and off-road capability, performance, and appearance. All Synergy Manufacturing's products are designed to ensure the highest level of fit, finish, and performance.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
Penske Entertainment Announces NFT Deal With Autograph
Race Fans Launch Campaign to Save Palm Beach International Raceway
AirSept has announced the passing of the company’s co-founder Myron Stein.
Milwaukee Tool Opens Engineering ‘New Technology’ Office in Chicago
Mullen Automotive to Begin Construction for New EV Battery Pack Production
Turn 14 Distribution Adds Synergy Manufacturing to Line Card