By Richard Hail

Todd Budde’s entry into SEMA Battle of the Builders is a custom ’93 Mazda RX-7 featuring the front end of a ’70s Series 1 RX-3 grafted onto it.

Todd Budde is the owner/operater at FabFitters LLC, Located in La Vernia, Texas. For more than 10 years, his shop has been turning out custom and original designs. Budde’s father was a Supermodfied racer, so there was always a race car in the garage that he was getting to work on. His passion for unique cars expanded from there.

Budde’s entry into SEMA Battle of the Builders is a custom ’93 Mazda RX-7 featuring the front end of a ’70s Series 1 RX-3 grafted onto it. The grille was updated and modernized with LED projector headlights. The fenders and side panels are an alloy of RX-7, RX-3, BMW M3 and VW Beetle sheet metals.

The original rotary engine was swapped out for a high-performance block manufactured by Billet Pro out of Australia. Two Garrett G42-1200 turbos are bolted onto the Wankel for some added freeway passing capabilities. The transmission, normally snugged up right behind the engine, has been moved to the rear of the car. PTP Turbo Blankets 3D-scanned the entire exhaust system and came back with a custom set of blankets to keep the heat output to a minimum.

Budde’s love of carbon fiber is evident as you can see it adorning the mirrors, skirts, interior panels and more. EVO-R taillights have been fitted to the rear and features the same sequential turn signal pattern as a Lamborghini. Wilwood brakes are evident behind the 19-in. Vossen wheels, which are wrapped in wide, low-profile rubber.

“So not only is it an opportunity for the trade to put their products out there, it’s also an opportunity for us as car builders to do innovative things like this,” says Budde. He continues, “No other platform allows us to take member products, put them together many times in custom formats such as this, and then showcase them and then have the world see them.”

Visit the SEMA Show YouTube Channel for more videos and builder interviews, and be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss future episodes. For more details about the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.semabotb.com.

Qualified industry personnel interested in attending SEMA360, the exclusive trade-only online marketplace taking place November 2-6, 2020, are invited to register at www.sema360.com.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) has named Missy Boudreaux as this week’s #SheIsSEMA Spotlight member. Boudreaux is an inside sales manager at Oracle Lighting—manufacturers of designer lighting products and technologies for the automotive/12Volt, powersports, motorcycle and marine markets.

Find out what her advice is for staying goal-oriented, and which industry leader inspires her, in her Q&A with SEMA.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Missy Boudreaux: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus energy on higher goals instead of what’s right in front of you. Reaching higher than you normally would.

SEMA: What keeps you involved in this industry?

MD: The industry is ever changing and growing. Seeing the innovation of product in our business is really amazing to watch. We always have something new every day.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

MD: Spending time with family and my dogs, going out on the boat and enjoying local New Orleans festivals.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

MD: Prepared with talking points. Either a printed agenda or notes on a notebook, always come with ideas prepared and written down for reference.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be?

MD: Jessi Combs. After watching her year after year at the SEMA Show banquet and understanding the magnitude of her presence, I would have loved to talk with her about her perseverance in a male-dominated industry.

Fill out this form to be a part of the #SheIsSEMA family. You will have the opportunity to be featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and be recognized on the www.sema.org/sheissema website. While there, check out other inspirational women who are leading the industry and are paving the path for future success.

Not an SBN member? Fill out this form to join today.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) has named Missy Boudreaux as this week’s #SheIsSEMA Spotlight member. Boudreaux is an inside sales manager at Oracle Lighting—manufacturers of designer lighting products and technologies for the automotive/12Volt, powersports, motorcycle and marine markets.

Find out what her advice is for staying goal-oriented, and which industry leader inspires her, in her Q&A with SEMA.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Missy Boudreaux: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus energy on higher goals instead of what’s right in front of you. Reaching higher than you normally would.

SEMA: What keeps you involved in this industry?

MD: The industry is ever changing and growing. Seeing the innovation of product in our business is really amazing to watch. We always have something new every day.

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found?

MD: Spending time with family and my dogs, going out on the boat and enjoying local New Orleans festivals.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

MD: Prepared with talking points. Either a printed agenda or notes on a notebook, always come with ideas prepared and written down for reference.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be?

MD: Jessi Combs. After watching her year after year at the SEMA Show banquet and understanding the magnitude of her presence, I would have loved to talk with her about her perseverance in a male-dominated industry.

Fill out this form to be a part of the #SheIsSEMA family. You will have the opportunity to be featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and be recognized on the www.sema.org/sheissema website. While there, check out other inspirational women who are leading the industry and are paving the path for future success.

Not an SBN member? Fill out this form to join today.

By SEMA Editors

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) will be a part of SEMA360, November 2–6, with a series of complimentary offerings showcasing I-CAR’s educational experts and robust learning experiences. Plug in and join I-CAR for a variety of free, live, one-hour technical mini-training sessions, including:

• Using RTS (I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support portal) on a Collision Damaged Vehicle
• Steel Welding Advanced Techniques
• Metal Straightening Considerations You Haven’t Thought About
• Spot Welds Beyond Pulling the Trigger
• Electric Vehicles Safety—Where to Begin
• Take Your Aluminum Welds to the Next Level
• How ADAS, Calibration, Structure and Wheel Alignments Are Connected
• Take Your MIG Brazing to the Next Level
• A “Sneak Peak” of  I-CAR’s Get to Gold Class Package

Experience first-hand how I-CAR can take your training game to the next level. I-CAR experts will be available for live chats during SEMA360. Visit I-CAR’s Virtual Showcase when SEMA360 launches at www.SEMA360.com.

By SEMA Editors

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) will be a part of SEMA360, November 2–6, with a series of complimentary offerings showcasing I-CAR’s educational experts and robust learning experiences. Plug in and join I-CAR for a variety of free, live, one-hour technical mini-training sessions, including:

• Using RTS (I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support portal) on a Collision Damaged Vehicle
• Steel Welding Advanced Techniques
• Metal Straightening Considerations You Haven’t Thought About
• Spot Welds Beyond Pulling the Trigger
• Electric Vehicles Safety—Where to Begin
• Take Your Aluminum Welds to the Next Level
• How ADAS, Calibration, Structure and Wheel Alignments Are Connected
• Take Your MIG Brazing to the Next Level
• A “Sneak Peak” of  I-CAR’s Get to Gold Class Package

Experience first-hand how I-CAR can take your training game to the next level. I-CAR experts will be available for live chats during SEMA360. Visit I-CAR’s Virtual Showcase when SEMA360 launches at www.SEMA360.com.

By SEMA Editors

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) will be a part of SEMA360, November 2–6, with a series of complimentary offerings showcasing I-CAR’s educational experts and robust learning experiences. Plug in and join I-CAR for a variety of free, live, one-hour technical mini-training sessions, including:

• Using RTS (I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support portal) on a Collision Damaged Vehicle
• Steel Welding Advanced Techniques
• Metal Straightening Considerations You Haven’t Thought About
• Spot Welds Beyond Pulling the Trigger
• Electric Vehicles Safety—Where to Begin
• Take Your Aluminum Welds to the Next Level
• How ADAS, Calibration, Structure and Wheel Alignments Are Connected
• Take Your MIG Brazing to the Next Level
• A “Sneak Peak” of  I-CAR’s Get to Gold Class Package

Experience first-hand how I-CAR can take your training game to the next level. I-CAR experts will be available for live chats during SEMA360. Visit I-CAR’s Virtual Showcase when SEMA360 launches at www.SEMA360.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Presented by the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad will conclude and unfold on Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m. (PST), as the winner of the industry’s top business competition for young entrepreneurs premieres on the SEMA360 platform.

Now in its eighth year, the competition’s finale features five finalists as they pitch their business products to a panel of industry leaders and compete for the title of SEMA Launch Pad winner and a prize package valued at $25,000. This year’s finalists are bringing products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

SEMA360 attendees will also be able to hear directly from the Launch Pad winner during ”The Stage—Interviews with Leaders, Legends and Influencers—featuring SEMA Launch Pad Winner and Aaron Kaufman” education seminar taking place, Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m. (PST). They can also hear directly from and engage with the Top Ten Launch Pad finalists during “Connect with YEN: YEN Launch Pad,” Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m. (PST).

SEMA360 is open to all industry professionals. Registration and login credentials are required. To ensure that there are no delays in the approval process and that login information is sent as early as possible, SEMA360 attendees are advised apply early at www.sema360.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Presented by the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad will conclude and unfold on Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m. (PST), as the winner of the industry’s top business competition for young entrepreneurs premieres on the SEMA360 platform.

Now in its eighth year, the competition’s finale features five finalists as they pitch their business products to a panel of industry leaders and compete for the title of SEMA Launch Pad winner and a prize package valued at $25,000. This year’s finalists are bringing products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

SEMA360 attendees will also be able to hear directly from the Launch Pad winner during ”The Stage—Interviews with Leaders, Legends and Influencers—featuring SEMA Launch Pad Winner and Aaron Kaufman” education seminar taking place, Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m. (PST). They can also hear directly from and engage with the Top Ten Launch Pad finalists during “Connect with YEN: YEN Launch Pad,” Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m. (PST).

SEMA360 is open to all industry professionals. Registration and login credentials are required. To ensure that there are no delays in the approval process and that login information is sent as early as possible, SEMA360 attendees are advised apply early at www.sema360.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Presented by the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad will conclude and unfold on Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m. (PST), as the winner of the industry’s top business competition for young entrepreneurs premieres on the SEMA360 platform.

Now in its eighth year, the competition’s finale features five finalists as they pitch their business products to a panel of industry leaders and compete for the title of SEMA Launch Pad winner and a prize package valued at $25,000. This year’s finalists are bringing products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

SEMA360 attendees will also be able to hear directly from the Launch Pad winner during ”The Stage—Interviews with Leaders, Legends and Influencers—featuring SEMA Launch Pad Winner and Aaron Kaufman” education seminar taking place, Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m. (PST). They can also hear directly from and engage with the Top Ten Launch Pad finalists during “Connect with YEN: YEN Launch Pad,” Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m. (PST).

SEMA360 is open to all industry professionals. Registration and login credentials are required. To ensure that there are no delays in the approval process and that login information is sent as early as possible, SEMA360 attendees are advised apply early at www.sema360.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Presented by the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad will conclude and unfold on Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m. (PST), as the winner of the industry’s top business competition for young entrepreneurs premieres on the SEMA360 platform.

Now in its eighth year, the competition’s finale features five finalists as they pitch their business products to a panel of industry leaders and compete for the title of SEMA Launch Pad winner and a prize package valued at $25,000. This year’s finalists are bringing products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

SEMA360 attendees will also be able to hear directly from the Launch Pad winner during ”The Stage—Interviews with Leaders, Legends and Influencers—featuring SEMA Launch Pad Winner and Aaron Kaufman” education seminar taking place, Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m. (PST). They can also hear directly from and engage with the Top Ten Launch Pad finalists during “Connect with YEN: YEN Launch Pad,” Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m. (PST).

SEMA360 is open to all industry professionals. Registration and login credentials are required. To ensure that there are no delays in the approval process and that login information is sent as early as possible, SEMA360 attendees are advised apply early at www.sema360.com.