Nominations for the 2013 SEMA Chair-Elect and Board of Directors are now open. Nominations are due Thursday, January 3, 2013.

The following is a message from SEMA President Chris Kersting:

As a member of the Association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals are not immediately apparent to the committee that is responsible for selecting the final candidates.

This year, the SEMA elections have the additional importance in selecting our future Chairman of the Board. Please take a moment and tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for the Chairman-Elect position, and/or for a Board member position. Please include information to help the nominating committee know more about the qualifications of the nominee, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

Nominations for the 2013 SEMA Chair-Elect and Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 3, 2013. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

SEMA Board of Directors Nomination Form

Your Association is vitally important to the industry and your company. Your participation in helping to ensure strong leadership for the SEMA Board of Directors is essential.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

	Nominations for the 2013 SEMA Chair-Elect and Board of Directors are now open. Nominations are due Thursday, January 3, 2013.

The following is a message from SEMA President Chris Kersting:

As a member of the Association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals are not immediately apparent to the committee that is responsible for selecting the final candidates.

This year, the SEMA elections have the additional importance in selecting our future Chairman of the Board. Please take a moment and tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for the Chairman-Elect position, and/or for a Board member position. Please include information to help the nominating committee know more about the qualifications of the nominee, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

Nominations for the 2013 SEMA Chair-Elect and Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 3, 2013. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

SEMA Board of Directors Nomination Form

Your Association is vitally important to the industry and your company. Your participation in helping to ensure strong leadership for the SEMA Board of Directors is essential.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

The annual Media Trade Conference brings together members of the working press with motorsports parts producers for face-to-face private meetings.

Journalists are invited to attend the 2013 MPMC Media Trade Conference—a unique event designed specifically for editors and reporters, taking place Tuesday–Thursday, January 22–24, 2013, in Santa Ana, California.

Unlike traditional trade events where you walk the Show floor, you will receive a personalized schedule filled with meetings with manufacturers that you have selected. These private, uninterrupted meetings will allow you to conduct high-quality interviews that can result in a year’s worth of editorial content.

Register at www.sema.org/mpmcmediaregister to select the manufacturers that best match your editorial needs. There are 100 manufacturers exhibiting, so you can select those that are of greatest interest to you. Your schedule will include individual meetings with manufacturers every half hour, allowing you to meet with up to 14 manufacturers in a single day. Plus, you may choose to attend one, two or all three days—whatever is most convenient for your schedule.

There is no cost for qualified media members to attend. A special MPMC Awards reception takes place Tuesday evening, and complimentary lunch is provided each day of the event (including In-N-Out burgers on Thursday).

Register today at www.sema.org/mpmcmediaregister before schedules fill up.

The annual Media Trade Conference brings together members of the working press with motorsports parts producers for face-to-face private meetings.

Journalists are invited to attend the 2013 MPMC Media Trade Conference—a unique event designed specifically for editors and reporters, taking place Tuesday–Thursday, January 22–24, 2013, in Santa Ana, California.

Unlike traditional trade events where you walk the Show floor, you will receive a personalized schedule filled with meetings with manufacturers that you have selected. These private, uninterrupted meetings will allow you to conduct high-quality interviews that can result in a year’s worth of editorial content.

Register at www.sema.org/mpmcmediaregister to select the manufacturers that best match your editorial needs. There are 100 manufacturers exhibiting, so you can select those that are of greatest interest to you. Your schedule will include individual meetings with manufacturers every half hour, allowing you to meet with up to 14 manufacturers in a single day. Plus, you may choose to attend one, two or all three days—whatever is most convenient for your schedule.

There is no cost for qualified media members to attend. A special MPMC Awards reception takes place Tuesday evening, and complimentary lunch is provided each day of the event (including In-N-Out burgers on Thursday).

Register today at www.sema.org/mpmcmediaregister before schedules fill up.

	Vic Edelbrock Jr. presented Charlie Booze Jr. with his championship award for the Hot Street class.

NMRA and NMCA Wrap Up 2012 Season with Awards Ceremonies at the 25th Annual PRI Show
Every year the NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals and NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals celebrate another event season with awards ceremonies held at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Florida. NMRA and NMCA racers, crew, family, sponsors and media packed Orange County Convention Center's ballroom for ceremonies that featured championship awards, specialty awards, custom jackets for all top-10 competitors, highlight videos and slide shows and Nitto Tire Diamond Tree championship ring presentations. Because of NMCA's relationship with NHRA's Unleashed program, all NMCA class champions were presented with NHRA Wallys courtesy of Aerospace Components. Famed TV announcer, Bret Kepner, hosted both ceremonies with his trademark enthusiasm and knowledge of street-legal drag racing.

NMCA's award ceremony began with a special appearance from Nate Shelton, Flowmaster's chief marketing officer and SEMA's incoming chairman of the Board, who presented special 5-Second Club jackets to all Pro Street competitors who ran five-second, 200+ mph passes in 2012. Vic Edelbrock Jr. has always been a regular at NMRA's awards ceremony and he gave a rousing speech before presenting Charlie Booze Jr. with his championship award for the Hot Street class. Eight-time NMRA Super Street Outlaw champion, John "the fireball" Urist, gave an emotional speech as he described this year's world championship and the birth of his new daughter, Lauren. More than 400 people packed each ceremony.

	Bret Voelkel has won the 2012 Goodguys AutoCross PRO class points title behind the wheel of his ’33 Ford hot rod.

Voelkel Wins Goodguys Autocross Pro Class Points Title
Ridetech founder Bret Voelkel has won the 2012 Goodguys AutoCross PRO class points title behind the wheel of his ’33 Ford hot rod. Voelkel sealed the victory at last weekend’s Goodguys second Fall Del Mar Nationals presented by Meguiar’s by taking the PRO class event win in the ’33 Ford, giving him enough points to take the season-long championship over rival Kyle Tucker of Detroit Speed. Driving a variety of entries throughout the season, Voelkel competed at 11 Goodguys AutoCross events across the country, winning the PRO class four times. He also won the year-end Street Rod Class title, making him the first multi-class Goodguys AutoCross champion.

Other year-end Goodguys AutoCross class champions included Kyle Tucker/Detroit Speed (Street Machine class) and Rob McGregor (Truck class). Next year, Goodguys will stage a year-long AutoCross Shootout Series, with the Goodguys AutoCross Shootout Finals to be held at the 16th Southwest Nationals November 15–17, at Westworld in Scottsdale, Arizona. The winner of the Shootout will receive $10,000.

Jones Motorsports finished eighth place overall in the Tecate, SCORE, Baja 1000.

Jones Motorsports Drops to Eighth at 45th Tecate, SCORE Baja 1000
Jones Motorsports looked to be a safe bet for the overall win at the 45th running of the Tecate, SCORE, Baja 1000. They were teamed up with Menzies Motorsports again for the 1,121.55-mile peninsula run starting on the Pacific Ocean in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, and finishing on the Sea of Cortez in La Paz.

The team had been looking forward to a great race at the 1000. They were still buzzing from the results they achieved at the Baja 500 where they combined both crews to support each driver in their own truck. Bryce Menzies got his second consecutive Baja 500 victory, first overall, and Jesse Jones, who started 34th, was close behind, finishing on the podium in third. For the 1000, drivers Jones and Menzies would share the same truck.

Menzies and navigator Peter Mortensen would take the first stint behind the wheel starting seventh behind BJ Baldwin and the two were in a tight back-and-forth battle right from the start. By the time they reached San Felipe, Baldwin was out front with Bryce on his bumper in second.

After two routine pit stops in San Felipe and Bahia de Los Angeles, they were running fast and making great time. As they reached El Crucero, darkness had fallen on the course. North of San Ignacio, they started to smell burning oil. A $10 AN fitting had developed a crack causing engine oil to seep onto the engine. They made it to the pit at Vizcaino and the crew changed it out before Menzies and Mortensen continued to San Ignacio where Jones and his co-rider Alberto Rodelo took over.

Jones pushed the truck as hard as he could but the competition was doing the same. As the night wore on, the fog began to emerge, making it near impossible to see, and with each minute that passed, the challenge grew more daunting. In the end, the time deficit could not be overcome, finishing eighth place overall.

2013 NMRA Ford Nationals Event Schedule Announced
The NMRA Ford Nationals Series has announced its 2013 event schedule. Next year will feature the NMRA’s 15th anniversary tour with special events planned at each and every race. 

2013 NMRA Ford Nationals Event Schedule.

	Vic Edelbrock Jr. presented Charlie Booze Jr. with his championship award for the Hot Street class.

NMRA and NMCA Wrap Up 2012 Season with Awards Ceremonies at the 25th Annual PRI Show
Every year the NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals and NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals celebrate another event season with awards ceremonies held at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Florida. NMRA and NMCA racers, crew, family, sponsors and media packed Orange County Convention Center's ballroom for ceremonies that featured championship awards, specialty awards, custom jackets for all top-10 competitors, highlight videos and slide shows and Nitto Tire Diamond Tree championship ring presentations. Because of NMCA's relationship with NHRA's Unleashed program, all NMCA class champions were presented with NHRA Wallys courtesy of Aerospace Components. Famed TV announcer, Bret Kepner, hosted both ceremonies with his trademark enthusiasm and knowledge of street-legal drag racing.

NMCA's award ceremony began with a special appearance from Nate Shelton, Flowmaster's chief marketing officer and SEMA's incoming chairman of the Board, who presented special 5-Second Club jackets to all Pro Street competitors who ran five-second, 200+ mph passes in 2012. Vic Edelbrock Jr. has always been a regular at NMRA's awards ceremony and he gave a rousing speech before presenting Charlie Booze Jr. with his championship award for the Hot Street class. Eight-time NMRA Super Street Outlaw champion, John "the fireball" Urist, gave an emotional speech as he described this year's world championship and the birth of his new daughter, Lauren. More than 400 people packed each ceremony.

	Bret Voelkel has won the 2012 Goodguys AutoCross PRO class points title behind the wheel of his ’33 Ford hot rod.

Voelkel Wins Goodguys Autocross Pro Class Points Title
Ridetech founder Bret Voelkel has won the 2012 Goodguys AutoCross PRO class points title behind the wheel of his ’33 Ford hot rod. Voelkel sealed the victory at last weekend’s Goodguys second Fall Del Mar Nationals presented by Meguiar’s by taking the PRO class event win in the ’33 Ford, giving him enough points to take the season-long championship over rival Kyle Tucker of Detroit Speed. Driving a variety of entries throughout the season, Voelkel competed at 11 Goodguys AutoCross events across the country, winning the PRO class four times. He also won the year-end Street Rod Class title, making him the first multi-class Goodguys AutoCross champion.

Other year-end Goodguys AutoCross class champions included Kyle Tucker/Detroit Speed (Street Machine class) and Rob McGregor (Truck class). Next year, Goodguys will stage a year-long AutoCross Shootout Series, with the Goodguys AutoCross Shootout Finals to be held at the 16th Southwest Nationals November 15–17, at Westworld in Scottsdale, Arizona. The winner of the Shootout will receive $10,000.

Jones Motorsports finished eighth place overall in the Tecate, SCORE, Baja 1000.

Jones Motorsports Drops to Eighth at 45th Tecate, SCORE Baja 1000
Jones Motorsports looked to be a safe bet for the overall win at the 45th running of the Tecate, SCORE, Baja 1000. They were teamed up with Menzies Motorsports again for the 1,121.55-mile peninsula run starting on the Pacific Ocean in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, and finishing on the Sea of Cortez in La Paz.

The team had been looking forward to a great race at the 1000. They were still buzzing from the results they achieved at the Baja 500 where they combined both crews to support each driver in their own truck. Bryce Menzies got his second consecutive Baja 500 victory, first overall, and Jesse Jones, who started 34th, was close behind, finishing on the podium in third. For the 1000, drivers Jones and Menzies would share the same truck.

Menzies and navigator Peter Mortensen would take the first stint behind the wheel starting seventh behind BJ Baldwin and the two were in a tight back-and-forth battle right from the start. By the time they reached San Felipe, Baldwin was out front with Bryce on his bumper in second.

After two routine pit stops in San Felipe and Bahia de Los Angeles, they were running fast and making great time. As they reached El Crucero, darkness had fallen on the course. North of San Ignacio, they started to smell burning oil. A $10 AN fitting had developed a crack causing engine oil to seep onto the engine. They made it to the pit at Vizcaino and the crew changed it out before Menzies and Mortensen continued to San Ignacio where Jones and his co-rider Alberto Rodelo took over.

Jones pushed the truck as hard as he could but the competition was doing the same. As the night wore on, the fog began to emerge, making it near impossible to see, and with each minute that passed, the challenge grew more daunting. In the end, the time deficit could not be overcome, finishing eighth place overall.

2013 NMRA Ford Nationals Event Schedule Announced
The NMRA Ford Nationals Series has announced its 2013 event schedule. Next year will feature the NMRA’s 15th anniversary tour with special events planned at each and every race. 

2013 NMRA Ford Nationals Event Schedule.

	More than 200 companies met with the SEMA Data Co-op team over four SEMA Show days.

First published in 1997, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Legacy electronic catalog standard will be retired December 31, 2012, and will no longer be supported or updated by AAIA. In order to meet the needs of today's powerful business applications, the Legacy format has been replaced with ACES, and along with the vehicle configuration database, provides a much more granular and rules-based standard.

As the only industry-owned and operated data management service and centralized repository, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is fully compliant with the industry ACES and PIES product data standards.

"With the impending sunset date of December 31, it is critical that manufacturers migrate to the ACES standard as soon as possible," said Bob Castle, SDC vice president of eCommerce and I.T., "and we are prepared to help make this conversion as painless as possible for our members." 

Jon Wyly, SDC CEO, commented, "In our continuing effort to help SEMA manufacturers take control of, and manage their product data, the SDC is providing this important service as a standard member benefit at no charge." 

	More than 200 companies met with the SEMA Data Co-op team over four SEMA Show days.

First published in 1997, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Legacy electronic catalog standard will be retired December 31, 2012, and will no longer be supported or updated by AAIA. In order to meet the needs of today's powerful business applications, the Legacy format has been replaced with ACES, and along with the vehicle configuration database, provides a much more granular and rules-based standard.

As the only industry-owned and operated data management service and centralized repository, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is fully compliant with the industry ACES and PIES product data standards.

"With the impending sunset date of December 31, it is critical that manufacturers migrate to the ACES standard as soon as possible," said Bob Castle, SDC vice president of eCommerce and I.T., "and we are prepared to help make this conversion as painless as possible for our members." 

Jon Wyly, SDC CEO, commented, "In our continuing effort to help SEMA manufacturers take control of, and manage their product data, the SDC is providing this important service as a standard member benefit at no charge." 

	Roy Bromfield

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. Names Roy Bromfield as Chief Operating Officer
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (TTC)  hired Roy Bromfield as chief operating officer. He will work in collaboration with TTC President and CEO Tatsuo Mitsuhata to develop and oversee strategies for sales, product development and all elements of the marketing mix. All departments, including sales, price management, marketing and product planning/technical services will report directly to Bromfield.

Bromfield’s experience includes more than 20 years with Michelin, where he served in various domestic and international marketing and sales capacities to include vice president of North American marketing and sales. He ultimately served as CEO and president of Tire Centers LLC—a unit of Michelin.

In 2006, Bromfield joined Q Tires Inc. as its CEO and president. He was responsible for building the organization to market a patented, deployable “studs on Q” all-weather tire technology.

CRP Industries Featured on Inc. 5000 List
Inc. magazine recognized CRP Industries as one of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies with a listing in its sixth annual Inc. 5000. The Inc. 5000 list represents a comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. CRP Industries Inc. is ranked at 4,114 in its first appearance on the prestigious listing. CRP reported that the company has grown 33% in the last three years. CRP Industries, a manufacturing company, ranks 163rd in its industry.

“The Inc. 5000 recognition is a great honor for CRP Industries and a true testament of how talented and dedicated our team is, and how hard they have worked,” stated CRP Industries President Daniel Schildge. “There are more than 7 million privately owned companies in the country and to be ranked among the top 5000 is a true accomplishment.” Complete results of the Inc. 5000 are available at www.inc.com/5000. 

A.R.E. Dealer John Kass Places Winning Bid for Football Hall of Fame Truck
A.R.E. dealer John Kass, owner of Double Eagle Truck Caps in Alamogordo, New Mexico, had the winning bid of $39,900 for a custom A.R.E. Pro Football Hall of Fame truck. The truck, a one-of-a-kind Ford F-150, was recently auctioned to the public on eBay Motors. Proceeds from the sale will benefit SEMA Cares and Pro Football Hall of Fame charities.

“I love everything about this truck,” said Kass, an A.R.E. dealer since 1996. “The TV and satellite system is great, the seat fabric is nice and soft, and it has been customized beautifully. I’m glad people in our area will get a chance to see and enjoy it.”

In addition to the truck, Kass received a 50th Anniversary VIP Package from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which includes a trip for two to Canton, Ohio, for the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival that includes tickets to the Pre-Enshrinement Hospitality Party, the 2013 Enshrinement Ceremony, the Game Day Roundtable Luncheon, the Pre-Game Tailgate Party, the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game and the recently remodeled Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum.

Roger Bird, national sales account manager, and Dennis Samfelippo, general manager, of Philips Automotive Lighting with the Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award.

Philips Automotive Lighting North America Receives Editor’s Choice Award From Popular Mechanics
Philips Automotive Lighting North America received the Editor’s Choice award from Popular Mechanics at the 2012 SEMA Show. The award was presented for the new Philips X-tremeVision LED Interior Bulbs, which was recognized for its outstanding achievement in new product design and innovation and singled out by the Popular Mechanics’ team as one of the best new products at the 2012 SEMA Show. The Philips LED Interior Bulbs are available in 4,000 K and 6,000 K color temperatures. The 4,000 K light is close to a daylight look, and the 6,000 K light delivers a bright white look of Xenon HID. The bulbs are direct replacements for standard incandescent bulbs and are easy to install, heat resistant and available in a variety of configurations.

Brent Horner Receives Technician of the Future Award
Brent Horner from Lima, Ohio, received the Technician of the Future award, sponsored by Mitchell 1 and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Debbie Hooge, an independent sales consultant for Mitchell 1 in the Texas region, presented Horner with a $500 cash award and a $1,500 gift certificate from Mitchell 1 toward a subscription to ProDemand or other Mitchell 1 product. The presentation was made during a ceremony in November as part of the 2012 ASE Fall Board of Governors meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Horner is currently a full-time student at the University of Northwestern Ohio in the automotive technology and high-performance associate’s degree program. During high school, Horner worked at Pohanka Honda of Salisbury, Maryland, as an automotive technician student intern in the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) program. To qualify to win the Mitchell 1/ASE Technician of the Future award, the winner must be ASE-Certified, have registered as a student, be under 30 years old and have the highest cumulative test scores on the A4, A5, A6 and A8 tests.

	Eddie Cadena

Betts Spring Co. Hires Eddie Cadena as Marketing Coordinator
Betts Spring Co. hired Eddie Cadena as the company's new marketing coordinator. Cadena comes to Betts Spring Co. from B-K Lighting + Teka Illumination in Madera, California, where he was Internet content coordinator from 2008 to 2012.

In the newly created position, Cadena will provide marketing support for Betts Spring Co. and its three business units involved in truck parts distribution and service, spring manufacturing and the manufacturing of spray suppression products.

According to Betts Spring Co., Cadena has gained productive expertise in web content generation and design, promotions and media news writing and production during his 17-year career in marketing communications. He's received several awards, including a 2010 award from the Fresno Ad Federation for writer, best catalog.

Cequent Consumer Products Acquires Assets of Harper Brush Works Inc.
Cequent Consumer Products announced the asset purchase of Harper Brush Works Inc. located in Fairfield, Iowa. Harper has been manufacturing high-quality cleaning tools for the retail and commercial markets since 1900. Cequent announced that it will utilize the Harper assets as a strong foundation to continue operations in Iowa. Harper is the second cleaning tool brand Cequent has purchased this year—the company acquired American broom and brush manufacturer Laitner Brush in February.

“Acquiring Harper, who has a strong brand name in the cleaning tool business, gives us an opportunity to add to our cleaning tool product offerings,” said John Aleva, President of Cequent Consumer Products. “We have been leaders in the automotive market for years and now we are strategically paving the way to become the leading manufacturer and distributor of cleaning tool products for both residential and industrial markets.”