SEMA has hired Zane Clark as vice president of Membership, Education, Research and Councils & Networks (MERC). Clark, who currently serves as CEO of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) North America, has 23 years of automotive aftermarket leadership experience, including more than 10 years with SEMA from 2010–2020. He will lead SEMA’s member services and benefits programs effective in January 2023.
“I’m excited to rejoin the SEMA team,” said Clark. “SEMA is a world-class organization that offers valuable benefits to its members and the automotive community. It’s an honor to be part of the team and the industry!”
Clark served SEMA in 2010 as a council director, working directly with volunteer leaders in various niches. He transitioned after three years to lead SEMA’s education department, where he directed the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, grew the SEMA Show education program and expanded the SEMA Show Student Program.
In 2020, Clark joined SAMPE, where he served as the organization’s CEO and executive director. Clark guided SAMPE through the pandemic and grew the society’s membership by 23%. His team also produces two international trade shows for SAMPE, including Composites and Advanced Material Expo (CAMX) which was honored as a Gold 100 Show by Trade Show Executive (TSE).
“Zane is a strategic and creative thinker who knows and understands associations, member-based organizations, as well as the automotive industry,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA president and CEO. “We’ve seen the value that Zane brings to an organization first-hand, and we’re excited to welcome Zane back to the team and serving our members.”
Clark holds a bachelor’s of administration (BA) in Philosophy from Cal Poly Humboldt, a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Purdue University Global and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). He begins his role as vice president at SEMA on January 4, 2023.
As part of its mission to provide professional women in the automotive aftermarket with career-building networking and education opportunities, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) has announced its 2023 SBN Women’s Leadership Forum.
The inaugural event held earlier this year included more than 50 women from throughout the industry. Taking place in March 2023 in Costa Mesa, California, the theme for the second annual event is “Dare to Lead.” Participants will discover tools that will enhance their personal development and leadership skills. Keynote sessions will focus on futuristic next-level leadership trends and elevating impact and influence.
The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network’s 2023 Women’s Leadership Forum will equip women from varying occupations and backgrounds with the tools needed to fine-tune and enhance their personal development and leadership skills.
“The SBN Women’s Leadership Forum helps by connecting like-minded women who share common challenges and goal,” said SBN Director Nicole Bradle. “Women will gain a fresh perspective about their careers and emerge empowered to create a realistic agenda for change in both their lives and companies.“
Sara Morosan, president of LGE-CTS Motorsports, reflected on her experience attending last year’s forum:
“I have gone to these types of events before but never with others in our industry. It was so impactful to see the other women in [the automotive aftermarket] industry who go through all the same things that I am going through. My bond with other women and business owners grew 10 times what I thought it would.”
A complete event program will be available in early December and registration is limited. SBN members can register at a reduced rate of $599, compared to non-SEMA members at $799. Participants must make their own travel arrangements. Secure your seat today!
Media registration for the 2023 MPMC Media Trade Conference is now open.
The event will take place in person at the Embassy Suites Anaheim South in the city of Garden Grove, California, January 24–26, 2023. Journalists, editors, writers, producers, podcasters, content creators and social-media influencers are invited to meet one-on-one with leading motorsports parts manufacturers by signing up for the event. There is no cost for media to participate. Media are able to indicate which companies best meet their editorial needs and will receive a personalized schedule. It is the best and most efficient way for media to connect with motorsports parts manufacturers in private, quality meetings.
Journalists, editors, writers, producers, podcasters, content creators and social-media influencers are invited to meet one-on-one with leading motorsports parts manufacturers by signing up for the event.
Media are invited to register before the December 16, 2022, deadline in order to receive their schedule the week of January 9, 2023.
For questions or more information, contact Juan Torres at juant@sema.org.
Associated Equipment to Provide Tools for Use in SEMA Garage Detroit
SEMA and Associated Equipment have announced the use of the latest Associated Equipment battery chargers, reflash power supplies, testers and portable jump starters for the SEMA Garage in Detroit. Associated Equipment is a 70+-year-old U.S.-based manufacturer of wheeled and portable battery chargers, such as the companies Intellamatic line of battery chargers for today’s mix of different battery types found in modern vehicles. Associated Equipment also is an industry leader for portable jump boxes, battery and full electrical-system testers and jumper cables.
RNR Tire Express Announces Houston’s First Franchise Signing
RNR Tire Express (RNR) has signed a franchise agreement to bring a new location to Houston. The new store will be owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Taos Ford and Benito Olson. The new location is anticipating opening its doors to the public in the early 2023.
Ford and Olson have held a passion for the automotive industry for quite some time, and when Ford was introduced to the RNR franchise concept by one his employees, he brought in Olson to explore investing in the brand together. Upon visiting existing RNR locations and having the chance to meeting the Tampa executive team, both were equally impressed by the professionalism, culture, commitment, look and design that the franchise displayed.
Bill Condron (left).
I-CAR Presents Awards for Exceptional Contributions to Collision-repair Industry
The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) announced the 2021 recipients of its annual Jeff Silver and Russ Verona I-CAR Awards recognizing one individual and one collision-repair shop for advancing technical education and professionalism in the collision repair industry. The Awards were presented at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
The Jeff Silver Memorial Award, honoring an I-CAR Platinum individual who demonstrates true passion for training and professional growth, takes on special meaning this year as a memorial to the beloved industry leader. Silver, who served as CEO of I-CAR from 1985–1996, had a deep passion for training and professional growth. This award has been renamed the Jeff Silver Memorial Award, following Silver’s passing in September.
Bill Eveland (left).
The 2021 Jeff Silver Memorial Award was awarded to Bill Condron, fixed operations director at Sawgrass Ford Collision Center in Sunrise, Florida. Condron has been a Platinum-recognized individual since 2012 and holds a paint supplier certification. In his role at Sawgrass, Condron is very involved with training while also overseeing all the service, parts, and collision operations.
The Russ Verona Memorial Award, honoring an I-CAR Gold Class shop that actively promotes technical training and a positive image for the collision repair industry, was awarded to Eveland Brothers Collision Repair Inc. in Merriam, Kansas. Company President Bill Eveland accepted the award for this family-owned and operated business, which has adhered to I-CAR’s Gold Class standard continuously since 1993. 2023 will mark its 30th year as a Gold Class shop, making it one of a very small group of shops in the country to reach this significant milestone.
Daud Gonzalez
Daud Gonzalez Joins PRI Editorial Team
Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has announced the hiring of Daud Gonzalez as its new coordinating/projects editor. He joins PRI following stints as a contributing writer with Internet Brands in El Segundo, California, and TopSpeed.com in Quebec, Canada. In his new role, Gonzalez will be responsible for a number of creative, organizational and administrative initiatives, including content generation, story and source development and oversight of outside contractors for PRI media; program and talent management for PRI Education and the PRI Trade Show; and more. He will be based out of PRI’s Aliso Viejo, California, office.
FASTRAK Racing Adds Bill Lupinos as Vice President
FASTRAK Companies International LLC has announced hiring of Bill Lupinos as the company vice president. According to a series release, Lupinos’ appointment will allow FASTRAK Founder, Owner and President Stan Lester to concentrate on his health. Lester will continue to be involved on a limited basis, consulting for the company and working on additional marketing to increase purses and point funds. FASTRAK is the governing body that oversees the Ultimate Super Late Model Series and the Heart of America Ultimate Super Late Model Series.
Lupinos, officially beginning on December 3, will work remotely from Kentucky with visits to the FASTRAK corporate office in Carnesville, Georgia. He currently works for Associate Distributors and also owns and operates Richmond Speedway in Richmond, Kentucky; the Heart of America USLMS; and a super stock series.
SuperSprings International Achieves ISO 9001 Certification
SuperSprings International (SSI)—the manufacturer of suspension solutions and products based in Carpinteria, California—has achieved ISO 9001:2015 Certification. ISO 9001 is a global standard that establishes a company’s commitment to quality by meeting qualifications across multiple areas of the business. At the base of the certification is a commitment to customer focus and continued improvement to the organization. For more information, visit superspringsinternational.com.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
For the third consecutive year, SEMA has named LEED Brakes as a platinum member of its SEMA Data program, which houses, updates and distributes the industry’s most comprehensive digital product data for more than 480 brands in the automotive aftermarket.
LEED Brake’s Research and Development Manager Dan DeKruger was presented with the Platinum Award at the SEMA Show, which took place in Las Vegas, two weeks ago.
Brands that have achieved platinum-level status have reached the pinnacle of product data, SEMA Data Excellence, by putting in the extra effort to provide resellers with the most complete datasets available. Currently, only 179 of the 480 active brands have achieved this recognition.
LEED Brake’s Research and Development Manager Dan DeKruger has worked diligently for the past four years since joining the program to ensure all LEED Brakes product data, including year, make, model-fitment information, weights, measurements, images, instructions and videos, are readily available and accurate for all resellers.
“LEED Brakes is the only exclusive brake manufacturer to achieve platinum and gold-level SEMA Data status,” said DeKruger. “This is a big achievement not only for our company, but also for any manufacturer due to the amount of time and dedication it takes to complete.”
DeKruger was presented with the Platinum Award at the SEMA Show, which took place in Las Vegas, two weeks ago.
SEMA Data has become increasingly vital to the industry, as more consumers are researching and shopping online. For more information about SEMA Data, visit www.semadata.org.
New data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that in 2021 outdoor recreation generated $862 billion in economic output and 4.5 million jobs. This equates to 1.9% of GDP in the U.S. economy and highlights the record-setting growth that the outdoor recreation industry has seen over the past few years.
“From the creation of jobs and increased profit for small businesses in local economies, to larger boons to our national economy, this sector is a consistent driver, even in times of economic uncertainty. The strength of the outdoor recreation economy reflects what many in the industry have long known to be true: there are infinite benefits that come from more people spending time outdoors, and they’ll only grow with continued investment” said Jessica Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), of which SEMA is a member.
ORR is America’s leading coalition of U.S. outdoor recreation trade associations. It represents more than 50,000 businesses that produce vehicles, apparel, equipment and services enjoyed in our nation’s parks, waterways, trails and outdoor spaces. SEMA’s focus within ORR is on motorized recreation (four-wheel, ATVs, UTVs, etc.), along with all the equipment that makes it possible to tow RVs, trailers, boats and off-road vehicles (suspension, wheels, tires, increased horsepower, etc.).
Click here to view the ORR press release on the BEA data.
For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.
As part of the statutorily required four-year review of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a questionnaire seeking comments on the economy-wide, industry-specific and individual impacts of the tariffs.
The USTR previously announced the comment period and requested “comments on the effectiveness of the actions in achieving the objectives of the investigation, other actions that could be taken, and the effects of such actions on the United States economy, including consumers.” It has now released its questionnaire to be filled out by companies impacted by the tariffs. The form is broken into three sections. Section A requests information about the economy-wide impact of the tariffs. Section B delves into the impact at the industry/sector level. Section C requests product-specific information including HTSUS numbers and reasons why the tariffs should be maintained, eliminated or modified. It is an opportunity for companies that benefitted from a product-specific exclusion to request a permanent exclusion.
SEMA encourages companies to share feedback on how they have been impacted by the tariffs including the USTR’s consideration of product exclusion requests. The docket will open for comment on November 15, 2022, and close on January 17, 2023.
If your business has been impacted by the Section 301 tariffs, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org to be incorporated into SEMA’s comments.
As the company has confirmed a couple of months back, Porsche’s third EV model and first electric two-seater will be the next 718 Boxster and Cayman. While the 911 isn’t expected to adopt EV technology until the end of the decade, the next-generation Boxster and Cayman will be exclusively battery-powered when they arrive as ’25 models in late 2024.
“We are stepping up our electric offensive with another model,” Porsche boss Oliver Blume said in March. “By the middle of the decade, we want to offer our mid-engine 718 sports car exclusively in an all-electric form.”
Porsche went on to say that it is currently developing high-performance battery cells with the Cellforce Group that are expected to be ready for series production in 2024, presumably just in time to appear in the new 718 Boxster and Cayman twins.
Porsche had already dropped a huge hint about the future of the 718 when it released the Mission R concept last year—and these exclusive spy shots prove the production car takes massive influence from the concept. Though allegedly a study looking into a possible future racing car, the concept showcased the styling of the next-generation production car and primed us for the fact that it would come only as an EV.
The all-wheel-drive concept promised 1,073 hp in qualifying trim and 626 hp in race tune, thanks to a 429hp front motor and a 626hp rear-motor setup. However, expect a less-powerful, single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version to be offered alongside the first-ever all-wheel-drive 718 when production starts in late 2024.
Although Porsche is investing in clean-fuel technology that could extend the life of the combustion engine, almost 40% of Porsche’s 2021 output was electrified in some way, and it wants fully electric cars and PHEVs to account for 50% of its global sales by 2025, rising to 80% by 2030.
B. Force, Capps, M. Smith Clinch World Titles; Prock Pedregon, Anderson and A. Smith Get Wins at Auto Club NHRA Finals
Brittany Force captured her second career world title last Sunday, wrapping up a spectacular season with a Top Fuel world championship after a first-round victory at the 57th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) both clinched world championships at the 22nd and final event in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Austin Prock (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the sixth race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs to cap off a spectacular 2022 season.
Force qualified No. 1 in her 11,000hp Monster Energy dragster and then earned the championship with her run of 3.701 seconds at 334.90 mph in the opening round of eliminations.
Capps earned his second straight world title by finishing as the runner-up on Sunday in his 11,000hp NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra. It is his third world championship, which was helped by a shocking second-round loss from Robert Hight on Sunday, who finished second overall on the strength of eight wins.
Matt Smith earned his third straight world title in Pro Stock Motorcycle and sixth overall with a victory in the first round on his Denso Auto Parts Buell.
In the Top Fuel final round, Prock finished off his impressive run in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, winning for the second time in the postseason by going 3.641 seconds at 336.23 mph in the final round in his 11,000hp Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster. The career-best run sent him past Antron Brown and to his third career victory, also vaulting him to third in points to finish off the year.
Pedregon won his first race of the year and set a string of career-bests along the way. The topper was a 3.839 at 335.65 in his 11,000hp Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in the final round against Capps.
Anderson didn’t grab a championship this year in Pro Stock, as Erica Enders rolled to her fifth title, but he did close out 2022 with a victory in Pomona, getting past Enders in the final round with a pass of 6.516 at 210.31 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith helped the team finish the season with a victory for the third straight year, knocking off Joey Gladstone with a 6.749 at 199.55 on her Denso Auto Parts Buell.
The 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season begins March 9–12 with the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway.
MAHLE Motorsport has announced the availability of the company’s new 2023 Application Guide. The 38-page application guide features all of the company’s high-performance PowerPak piston sets and Pro Series Race pistons, and provides complete product information for seven new PowerPak sets in addition to multiple new rings, pins, and rails.
The PowerPak sets featured in the guide include a broad selection of SBC, LS, BBC, SBF, Ford Modular PowerPaks, and a growing list of Hemi, Powerstroke, and Diesel PowerPak sets. MAHLE Motorsport also offers PowerPak sets for many imports and sport compacts, including Mazda, Subaru, Nissan, Ford EcoBoost, BMW, Audi, VW and Toyota applications. The guide also includes a section on ring gap instructions with illustrations and samples based on the high-performance street, circle track/drag racing, turbo/supercharger, diesel turbocharged and more.
The new application guide is available to download now, or can be picked up at the 2022 PRI Trade Show at booth #1601.
Ringbrothers was presented several top awards at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas for two out of four of its most recent unveiled custom builds—a ’48 Chevrolet Loadmaster dubbed “ENYO” and a ’72 Chevrolet K5 Blazer code-named “BULLY.” The Wisconsin-based team’s build “ENYO” took home top honors for a variety of custom builder categories, including winning SEMA’s Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish as the 2022 Best Overall Build while also winning its class of Hot Rod & Hot Rod Trucks en route to being crowned the competition’s Grand Champion.
The custom builders’ 1948 Chevrolet pickup “ENYO” wins SEMA’s Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polishes2022 Ultimate Builder Award.
“Year after year, the SEMA Show gives us the opportunity to showcase what we are most passionate about,” said Mike Ring, co-owner of Ringbrothers. “This year, we had the opportunity to unveil four of our most extreme builds, both in design and execution. With the support from our partners and the enthusiast community, we continue to push the boundaries of custom car building which is what we originally set out to do.”
Bearing the name of the Greek goddess of war, the 1,010hp ’48 Chevrolet pickup “ENYO” was nearly 10 years in the making. Built through 10,000 laborious hours, the “anti-street rod” is chopped, channeled and sectioned to redefine the American classic. ENYO features CAD-designed trim and parts that were all cut in-house at the Ringbrothers machining facility to the way they seamlessly managed to mate a big-box truck cab and massive drivetrain successfully on a low-slung, Indy Car-style chassis. The pickup is powered by a Goodwin 1,000hp tall-deck racing engine and crafted using extensive carbon-fiber components.
“BULLY,” on the other hand, expresses extensive restomod build features with a 6.8L LS3 V8 topped with a massive 2.9L Whipple supercharger and heavy-duty off-road suspension. The four-wheel-drive Blazer makes 1,200hp. Other highlights of the labor-intensive build include a new chassis, four-link suspension, bespoke interior, heavy-duty drivetrain and many unique parts. This one-of-kind Blazer also won its class of 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road in the Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish competition.
The “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” TV program is set to air on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (EST). Visit www.semabotb.com for updates on TV airings.
SEMA has hired Zane Clark as vice president of Membership, Education, Research and Councils & Networks (MERC). Clark, who currently serves as CEO of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) North America, has 23 years of automotive aftermarket leadership experience, including more than 10 years with SEMA from 2010–2020. He will lead SEMA’s member services and benefits programs effective in January 2023.
RNR Tire Express Announces Houston’s First Franchise Signing
SuperSprings International Achieves ISO 9001 Certification
B. Force, Capps, M. Smith Clinch World Titles; Prock Pedregon, Anderson and A. Smith Get Wins at Auto Club NHRA Finals
MAHLE Motorsport Introduces 2023 Application Guide