Australians have been modifying and personalizing their vehicles for nearly as long as enthusiasts have in the United States. Though it’s 8,000 miles from Melbourne to Los Angeles, Australia has long been an important export market for U.S. firms and remains so to this date. In a December 2018 SEMA survey of U.S.-based manufacturer members, Australia was the number-two export market for U.S. companies, trailing only Canada.

By SEMA Editors

(L–R): Sara Morosan, Kathryn Reinhardt, Rich Barsamian, Melanie White and Will Brown.

Members of the SEMA Cares committee offer a special thanks to Vic Bennett for his volunteerism and support of the committee and his efforts to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.

With Bennett's departure, the newest member of the committee is Will Brown from eTool Developers. In addition, Kathryn Reinhardt takes over as the committee's chair-elect.

The current SEMA Cares committee members include:

• Melanie White, Hellwig – Chair
• Kathryn Reinhardt, Pilot Automotive – Chair-Elect
• AJ Spagnola, Vicious Off-Road
• Sara Morosan, LGE*CTS Motorsports
• Will Brown, eTool Developers
• Rich Barsamian, Advanced Clutch Technology – Immediate Past Chair

Established in 2007, SEMA Cares provides a forum from which association members can act as a collective influence toward making a positive impact beyond the automotive community. The committee is able to significantly improve the lives of many who need it through its support of the Austin Hatcher Foundation for pediatric cancer, Childhelp prevention and treatment of child abuse and the Victory Junction camp for children with serious medical conditions and serious illnesses.

By SEMA Editors

(L–R): Sara Morosan, Kathryn Reinhardt, Rich Barsamian, Melanie White and Will Brown.

Members of the SEMA Cares committee offer a special thanks to Vic Bennett for his volunteerism and support of the committee and his efforts to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.

With Bennett's departure, the newest member of the committee is Will Brown from eTool Developers. In addition, Kathryn Reinhardt takes over as the committee's chair-elect.

The current SEMA Cares committee members include:

• Melanie White, Hellwig – Chair
• Kathryn Reinhardt, Pilot Automotive – Chair-Elect
• AJ Spagnola, Vicious Off-Road
• Sara Morosan, LGE*CTS Motorsports
• Will Brown, eTool Developers
• Rich Barsamian, Advanced Clutch Technology – Immediate Past Chair

Established in 2007, SEMA Cares provides a forum from which association members can act as a collective influence toward making a positive impact beyond the automotive community. The committee is able to significantly improve the lives of many who need it through its support of the Austin Hatcher Foundation for pediatric cancer, Childhelp prevention and treatment of child abuse and the Victory Junction camp for children with serious medical conditions and serious illnesses.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Overland Experience will feature dozens of customized vehicles with fully popped-out tents, sunshades outfitted for survival and portable kitchen systems displayed alongside exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

Buyers at the 2019 SEMA Show will be able to see products and vehicles specifically for overlanding in the all-new SEMA Overland Experience area. The dedicated section in the Performance Pavilion will feature dozens of customized vehicles outfitted for survival with fully popped-out tents, sunshades and portable kitchen systems displayed alongside exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

Also in the area, experts will share and discuss trends, business opportunities and challenges in the overlanding market throughout the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

“The new Overland Experience showcases a growing trend in the market,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “With overlanding products, vehicles and education displayed in a centralized location, buyers will gain a comprehensive understanding of what the market entails and how they can build overlanding into their businesses.”

With many similarities and connections to off-roading, overlanding products are common at the SEMA Show. The phenomenon has strong roots in several countries and regions including Australia, South Africa and certain parts of South America, and has taken off in the United States during the past decade.

Space for trailers will also be available in the Overland Experience. To learn more about the SEMA Overland Experience, contact semashow@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Overland Experience will feature dozens of customized vehicles with fully popped-out tents, sunshades outfitted for survival and portable kitchen systems displayed alongside exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

Buyers at the 2019 SEMA Show will be able to see products and vehicles specifically for overlanding in the all-new SEMA Overland Experience area. The dedicated section in the Performance Pavilion will feature dozens of customized vehicles outfitted for survival with fully popped-out tents, sunshades and portable kitchen systems displayed alongside exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

Also in the area, experts will share and discuss trends, business opportunities and challenges in the overlanding market throughout the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

“The new Overland Experience showcases a growing trend in the market,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “With overlanding products, vehicles and education displayed in a centralized location, buyers will gain a comprehensive understanding of what the market entails and how they can build overlanding into their businesses.”

With many similarities and connections to off-roading, overlanding products are common at the SEMA Show. The phenomenon has strong roots in several countries and regions including Australia, South Africa and certain parts of South America, and has taken off in the United States during the past decade.

Space for trailers will also be available in the Overland Experience. To learn more about the SEMA Overland Experience, contact semashow@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Overland Experience will feature dozens of customized vehicles with fully popped-out tents, sunshades outfitted for survival and portable kitchen systems displayed alongside exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

Buyers at the 2019 SEMA Show will be able to see products and vehicles specifically for overlanding in the all-new SEMA Overland Experience area. The dedicated section in the Performance Pavilion will feature dozens of customized vehicles outfitted for survival with fully popped-out tents, sunshades and portable kitchen systems displayed alongside exhibitors supporting the growing overlanding market.

Also in the area, experts will share and discuss trends, business opportunities and challenges in the overlanding market throughout the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

“The new Overland Experience showcases a growing trend in the market,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “With overlanding products, vehicles and education displayed in a centralized location, buyers will gain a comprehensive understanding of what the market entails and how they can build overlanding into their businesses.”

With many similarities and connections to off-roading, overlanding products are common at the SEMA Show. The phenomenon has strong roots in several countries and regions including Australia, South Africa and certain parts of South America, and has taken off in the United States during the past decade.

Space for trailers will also be available in the Overland Experience. To learn more about the SEMA Overland Experience, contact semashow@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Applications for the SEMA Young Guns regional competition taking place at the 2019 Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, at the Alameda Fair Grounds in late August, are available at www.semayoungguns.com. Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The regional competition marks the eighth stop in a nationwide search for young, up-and-coming vehicle builders to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers at the 2019 the SEMA Show. While the SEMA Battle of the Builders program is primarily for proven builders with vehicles already confirmed to be at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Young Guns regional competition opens the contest up to talented builders age 27 and younger who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show.

“We know that there are young, talented builders who may not have the connections or resources to participate in the SEMA Show,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “The SEMA Young Guns regional competition is designed to support those builders.”

To help identify young builders, SEMA partnered with show organizers to host Young Guns regional competitions throughout the country. The upcoming event at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, will be the eighth event in the 2019 program. Ten applicants will be selected to participate at the Alameda Fair Grounds, August 23–25, at which time one builder will win the prize to attend the 2019 SEMA Show and compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders.

By SEMA Editors

Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Applications for the SEMA Young Guns regional competition taking place at the 2019 Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, at the Alameda Fair Grounds in late August, are available at www.semayoungguns.com. Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The regional competition marks the eighth stop in a nationwide search for young, up-and-coming vehicle builders to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers at the 2019 the SEMA Show. While the SEMA Battle of the Builders program is primarily for proven builders with vehicles already confirmed to be at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Young Guns regional competition opens the contest up to talented builders age 27 and younger who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show.

“We know that there are young, talented builders who may not have the connections or resources to participate in the SEMA Show,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “The SEMA Young Guns regional competition is designed to support those builders.”

To help identify young builders, SEMA partnered with show organizers to host Young Guns regional competitions throughout the country. The upcoming event at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, will be the eighth event in the 2019 program. Ten applicants will be selected to participate at the Alameda Fair Grounds, August 23–25, at which time one builder will win the prize to attend the 2019 SEMA Show and compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders.

By SEMA Editors

Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Applications for the SEMA Young Guns regional competition taking place at the 2019 Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, at the Alameda Fair Grounds in late August, are available at www.semayoungguns.com. Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The regional competition marks the eighth stop in a nationwide search for young, up-and-coming vehicle builders to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers at the 2019 the SEMA Show. While the SEMA Battle of the Builders program is primarily for proven builders with vehicles already confirmed to be at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Young Guns regional competition opens the contest up to talented builders age 27 and younger who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show.

“We know that there are young, talented builders who may not have the connections or resources to participate in the SEMA Show,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “The SEMA Young Guns regional competition is designed to support those builders.”

To help identify young builders, SEMA partnered with show organizers to host Young Guns regional competitions throughout the country. The upcoming event at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, will be the eighth event in the 2019 program. Ten applicants will be selected to participate at the Alameda Fair Grounds, August 23–25, at which time one builder will win the prize to attend the 2019 SEMA Show and compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders.

By SEMA Editors

Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Applications for the SEMA Young Guns regional competition taking place at the 2019 Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, at the Alameda Fair Grounds in late August, are available at www.semayoungguns.com. Vehicle builders age 27 and younger are invited to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and automatic entry into the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The regional competition marks the eighth stop in a nationwide search for young, up-and-coming vehicle builders to compete alongside proven car and truck customizers at the 2019 the SEMA Show. While the SEMA Battle of the Builders program is primarily for proven builders with vehicles already confirmed to be at the SEMA Show, the SEMA Young Guns regional competition opens the contest up to talented builders age 27 and younger who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the SEMA Show.

“We know that there are young, talented builders who may not have the connections or resources to participate in the SEMA Show,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, communications and PR. “The SEMA Young Guns regional competition is designed to support those builders.”

To help identify young builders, SEMA partnered with show organizers to host Young Guns regional competitions throughout the country. The upcoming event at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals, presented by BASF, will be the eighth event in the 2019 program. Ten applicants will be selected to participate at the Alameda Fair Grounds, August 23–25, at which time one builder will win the prize to attend the 2019 SEMA Show and compete in the SEMA Battle of the Builders.