Randy Gaetz will begin serving as vice president of sales for Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. beginning October 7.

By SEMA Editors 

Randy Gaetz to Join Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. as VP of Sales
Randy Gaetz will join Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (TTC) as vice president of sales, effective October 7. Gaetz will report directly to Roy Bromfield, chief operating officer of TTC. Gaetz has previously served in vice presidential sales and marketing assignments, most recently at DelNat Tire; and previously at GPX International, Tire Centers, LLC and Groupe Michelin. Gaetz succeeds John Hagan who was recently appointed senior director of sales for Toyo Tires’ North American Original Equipment group.

Stacey David’s "GearZ" Will Air on MAVTV Beginning October 2013
Rattletrap Productions Inc. announced that Stacey David’s "GearZ" will air on MAVTV beginning October 2013 with an all new season of "GearZ" premiering in early spring. Episodes will air on Fridays—including prime time—and Sundays. David, executive producer, show host and owner of Rattletrap Productions Inc. also unveiled a newly designed website to complement the new network. The website (staceydavid.com or gearztv.com) will continue to include information about David, his projects, products used and the TV show. In addition, the existing What Are You Workin’ on? community will feature a more user-friendly social platform, retitled GearZNation.  

GT500 Super Snake to Support 2013 Cattle Baron's Ball Fight Against Cancer

Shelby American will donate and install a ’14 Shelby GT500 Super Snake performance package that will be auctioned off during the 40th Anniversary of the famous Cattle Baron’s Ball.

Shelby American will donate and install a ’14 Shelby GT500 Super Snake performance package that will be auctioned off during the 40th Anniversary of the famous Cattle Baron’s Ball. The funds raised will benefit cancer research through the American Cancer Society. The Cattle Baron’s Ball is set for Saturday, October 5, at the Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas (just north of Dallas). The 662hp ’14 Shelby GT500 Super Snake is made possible by North Texas Ford Dealers who provided the Shelby GT500 base car that attendees will compete for during the live auction. The winning bidder will then get to customize the styling of their new Super Snake package and have it built to spec, courtesy of Shelby American.

Sean Lannoo to Lead Tech Support and Training for Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket
Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket named Sean Lannoo as the sales technical training specialist for its VDO-branded aftermarket product lines. Lannoo will provide technical support and training to sales personnel and professional technicians throughout the United States and Canada. These activities will include presenting and demonstrating the capabilities and advantages of VDO technology and the VDO OE quality replacement parts program. He will also help develop and maintain the library of installation instructions for VDO replacement parts, assist VDO sales personnel with trade shows and help create sales opportunities with existing and prospective customers.

	Luis (Lou) Braga has joined Trico Products Corp. as president and chief executive officer.

Luis Braga Joins Trico Products as President and CEO
Trico Products Corp. announced that Luis (Lou) Braga has joined the company as president and chief executive officer. Prior to this latest appointment, Braga goes to Trico from another Kohlberg company, Pittsburgh Glass Works, where he was vice president and general manager of the Auto-OEM business unit. Braga’s 32 years of strategic management experience comes from his time as vice president and general manager of Stant USA Corp.; group president of Tomkins Automotive Fluid Systems; president of the Gates Fluid Power Division; and president of Gates Unitta Corp. in Japan.

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.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA Show buyers and remanufacturers are invited to pre-register for the APRA Big R Show at a special rate of $10.

The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) Big R Show will be held November 2–4, 2013, at the Tropicana Hotel—just days before the start of the SEMA Show.

SEMA Show buyers and remanufacturers are invited to pre-register for the APRA Big R Show at a special rate of $10. The event will feature exhibitors showcasing their latest products, seminars and clinics. A poolside opening party will be held Saturday, November 2. Show hours on Sunday, November 3, are between 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and Monday, November 4, between 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit www.BigRShow.com or call 703-968-2772. Pre-register online or bring your SEMA buyer badge to the APRA registration desk at the Tropicana Hotel and a business card for a pass into the exhibit hall.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA Show buyers and remanufacturers are invited to pre-register for the APRA Big R Show at a special rate of $10.

The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) Big R Show will be held November 2–4, 2013, at the Tropicana Hotel—just days before the start of the SEMA Show.

SEMA Show buyers and remanufacturers are invited to pre-register for the APRA Big R Show at a special rate of $10. The event will feature exhibitors showcasing their latest products, seminars and clinics. A poolside opening party will be held Saturday, November 2. Show hours on Sunday, November 3, are between 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and Monday, November 4, between 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit www.BigRShow.com or call 703-968-2772. Pre-register online or bring your SEMA buyer badge to the APRA registration desk at the Tropicana Hotel and a business card for a pass into the exhibit hall.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA Show buyers and remanufacturers are invited to pre-register for the APRA Big R Show at a special rate of $10.

The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) Big R Show will be held November 2–4, 2013, at the Tropicana Hotel—just days before the start of the SEMA Show.

SEMA Show buyers and remanufacturers are invited to pre-register for the APRA Big R Show at a special rate of $10. The event will feature exhibitors showcasing their latest products, seminars and clinics. A poolside opening party will be held Saturday, November 2. Show hours on Sunday, November 3, are between 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and Monday, November 4, between 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit www.BigRShow.com or call 703-968-2772. Pre-register online or bring your SEMA buyer badge to the APRA registration desk at the Tropicana Hotel and a business card for a pass into the exhibit hall.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) has a range of webinars and educational sessions specifically aimed at helping retailers tune up their businesses in today’s competitive environment.

To help members stay informed, SEMA has gathered the most relevant business and educational materials in one place—consider it a toolbox for retailers.

The online toolbox enables members to get in touch with retail experts who are focused on offering business value in today’s retail environment. For example, the SEMA Education Institute (SEI) has a range of webinars and educational sessions specifically aimed at helping retailers tune up their businesses in today’s competitive environment. Market research reports, informative articles and benefit partners also will help members in their day-to-day operations.

SEMA offers these assets to help the industry’s retail businesses succeed in a changing environment.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) has a range of webinars and educational sessions specifically aimed at helping retailers tune up their businesses in today’s competitive environment.

To help members stay informed, SEMA has gathered the most relevant business and educational materials in one place—consider it a toolbox for retailers.

The online toolbox enables members to get in touch with retail experts who are focused on offering business value in today’s retail environment. For example, the SEMA Education Institute (SEI) has a range of webinars and educational sessions specifically aimed at helping retailers tune up their businesses in today’s competitive environment. Market research reports, informative articles and benefit partners also will help members in their day-to-day operations.

SEMA offers these assets to help the industry’s retail businesses succeed in a changing environment.

	Check the Deadline Checklist located in the Exhibitor Manual for a complete list of all upcoming deadlines.

• Exhibitor Registration (international to receive badges in the mail): September 27
• Sponsorship Materials Due: September 27
• Student Program Application (interns): September 27
• Freeman Warehouse: First day to accept advance freight: September 30  

A complete list of all upcoming deadlines can be found in the Deadline Checklist, located online in the Exhibitor Manual.

Is a Third-Party Providing You Services at the Show? Ensure They Complete All EAC Requirements to Avoid Delay or Extra Costs

Deadline: October 18

An Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor, also known as EAC, is a third-party contractor performing services for an exhibitor. Contractors subject to the EAC rules are any companies and/or individuals that provide services to SEMA exhibitors, including, but not limited to, an installation and dismantling company, exhibit builder, sound and lighting company, detailer or any person or company providing direct services other than the official contractors listed in the Exhibitor Manual. EACs must conform to the EAC Rules of the SEMA Show and complete the application by the October 18 deadline. Questions? contact Donna Lawson at 702-450-7662, ext. 100 or e-mail EAC@sema.org.

Ordering Services From Freeman Has Never Been Easier

The partnership between SEMA and Freeman has become even stronger with the creation of the Exhibitor Manual and the synergy with Freeman’s online services. Simply by clicking on "Online Ordering" at the top of www.SEMAShow.com/esm, you will be taken to the Freeman’s Online Ordering module. Under "Helpful Tools" at the bottom of the screen, click on "Order from Previous Shows," where you can simply reorder the same services for the 2013 SEMA Show from last year or any other shows in which Freeman is your service provider. No longer do you need to recreate all the order forms you did in the past. Simply tell Freeman you want the same as last year and save significant time and effort.

Getting Around Las Vegas Can Be Easy With the Monorail

The Las Vegas Monorail is offering SEMA Show attendees exclusive fare discounts. Use the monorail to get to the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Strip without the hassles of traffic. Buy your tickets in advance and take advantage of exclusive discounted rates on the unlimited three-, four- and seven-day passes. Purchase tickets online. Redeem your eTickets at monorail customer service booths or at any of the monorail stations using your printed barcode, PIN code or mobile device. In minutes, monorail riders can travel to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Strip in a safe, clean and climate-controlled environment.

	Check the Deadline Checklist located in the Exhibitor Manual for a complete list of all upcoming deadlines.

• Exhibitor Registration (international to receive badges in the mail): September 27
• Sponsorship Materials Due: September 27
• Student Program Application (interns): September 27
• Freeman Warehouse: First day to accept advance freight: September 30  

A complete list of all upcoming deadlines can be found in the Deadline Checklist, located online in the Exhibitor Manual.

Is a Third-Party Providing You Services at the Show? Ensure They Complete All EAC Requirements to Avoid Delay or Extra Costs

Deadline: October 18

An Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor, also known as EAC, is a third-party contractor performing services for an exhibitor. Contractors subject to the EAC rules are any companies and/or individuals that provide services to SEMA exhibitors, including, but not limited to, an installation and dismantling company, exhibit builder, sound and lighting company, detailer or any person or company providing direct services other than the official contractors listed in the Exhibitor Manual. EACs must conform to the EAC Rules of the SEMA Show and complete the application by the October 18 deadline. Questions? contact Donna Lawson at 702-450-7662, ext. 100 or e-mail EAC@sema.org.

Ordering Services From Freeman Has Never Been Easier

The partnership between SEMA and Freeman has become even stronger with the creation of the Exhibitor Manual and the synergy with Freeman’s online services. Simply by clicking on "Online Ordering" at the top of www.SEMAShow.com/esm, you will be taken to the Freeman’s Online Ordering module. Under "Helpful Tools" at the bottom of the screen, click on "Order from Previous Shows," where you can simply reorder the same services for the 2013 SEMA Show from last year or any other shows in which Freeman is your service provider. No longer do you need to recreate all the order forms you did in the past. Simply tell Freeman you want the same as last year and save significant time and effort.

Getting Around Las Vegas Can Be Easy With the Monorail

The Las Vegas Monorail is offering SEMA Show attendees exclusive fare discounts. Use the monorail to get to the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Strip without the hassles of traffic. Buy your tickets in advance and take advantage of exclusive discounted rates on the unlimited three-, four- and seven-day passes. Purchase tickets online. Redeem your eTickets at monorail customer service booths or at any of the monorail stations using your printed barcode, PIN code or mobile device. In minutes, monorail riders can travel to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Strip in a safe, clean and climate-controlled environment.

	Check the Deadline Checklist located in the Exhibitor Manual for a complete list of all upcoming deadlines.

• Exhibitor Registration (international to receive badges in the mail): September 27
• Sponsorship Materials Due: September 27
• Student Program Application (interns): September 27
• Freeman Warehouse: First day to accept advance freight: September 30  

A complete list of all upcoming deadlines can be found in the Deadline Checklist, located online in the Exhibitor Manual.

Is a Third-Party Providing You Services at the Show? Ensure They Complete All EAC Requirements to Avoid Delay or Extra Costs

Deadline: October 18

An Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor, also known as EAC, is a third-party contractor performing services for an exhibitor. Contractors subject to the EAC rules are any companies and/or individuals that provide services to SEMA exhibitors, including, but not limited to, an installation and dismantling company, exhibit builder, sound and lighting company, detailer or any person or company providing direct services other than the official contractors listed in the Exhibitor Manual. EACs must conform to the EAC Rules of the SEMA Show and complete the application by the October 18 deadline. Questions? contact Donna Lawson at 702-450-7662, ext. 100 or e-mail EAC@sema.org.

Ordering Services From Freeman Has Never Been Easier

The partnership between SEMA and Freeman has become even stronger with the creation of the Exhibitor Manual and the synergy with Freeman’s online services. Simply by clicking on "Online Ordering" at the top of www.SEMAShow.com/esm, you will be taken to the Freeman’s Online Ordering module. Under "Helpful Tools" at the bottom of the screen, click on "Order from Previous Shows," where you can simply reorder the same services for the 2013 SEMA Show from last year or any other shows in which Freeman is your service provider. No longer do you need to recreate all the order forms you did in the past. Simply tell Freeman you want the same as last year and save significant time and effort.

Getting Around Las Vegas Can Be Easy With the Monorail

The Las Vegas Monorail is offering SEMA Show attendees exclusive fare discounts. Use the monorail to get to the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Strip without the hassles of traffic. Buy your tickets in advance and take advantage of exclusive discounted rates on the unlimited three-, four- and seven-day passes. Purchase tickets online. Redeem your eTickets at monorail customer service booths or at any of the monorail stations using your printed barcode, PIN code or mobile device. In minutes, monorail riders can travel to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Strip in a safe, clean and climate-controlled environment.

By SEMA Editors

Omix-ADA will display several wartime Jeeps—including three early prototypes—in conjunction with the company’s patriotic theme and live on-site build of a modern military-inspired Jeep Wrangler (JK) at this year’s Show.

Omix-ADA has announced it will debut a portion of its collection of historic Jeeps at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas at the company’s Off-Road Success Center, located in the upper South Hall lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Omix-ADA will display several wartime Jeeps—including three early prototypes—in conjunction with the company’s patriotic theme and live on-site build of a modern military-inspired Jeep Wrangler (JK) at this year’s Show.

The Omix-ADA collection includes a variety of historically significant Jeeps, chronicling the brand’s history from pre-WWII prototypes through the modern-day Wrangler JK. The three prototypes being brought to this year’s SEMA show include a Ford GP, a Bantam BRC40 and a Willys MA, all from 1941, as part of its celebration of Jeep military history.

“Our collection includes more than 20 military and civilian Jeeps built between 1941 and 2013. This is just a small sampling of the vehicles being preserved by Omix-ADA,” said Dave Logan, product manager at Omix-ADA. “As the American government prepared itself for war, these are the vehicles that would later prove essential in battle. The prototypes we’re bringing to SEMA were the basis for vehicles that contributed tremendously to the war effort and were involved in some of the key turning points of the war.”

The prototypes that Ford, Bantam and Willys motor companies sent to the U.S. government proved to be incredibly reliable and easily maneuverable in battle. In fact, they revolutionized vehicle combat and set the standard for other fighting vehicles thereafter.

The ’41 Willys MA that Omix-ADA is bringing to the SEMA Show was a sturdy Jeep prototype built for testing prior to United States' participation in WWII. This particular MA was also driven over the Rubicon Trail in 1951 during the first Jeepers Jamboree.

The second prototype, a ’41 Bantam BRC40, was the third generation of a development vehicle from Bantam, succeeding the original Bantam Pilot and the BRC60. Although the military recognized the benefits of the Bantam BRC40, Bantam’s inability to meet wartime production needs left Ford and Willys as the two main manufacturers during the war.

The third prototype at the SEMA Show to be on display—a ’41 Ford GP—was Ford’s second prototype vehicle developed for the war effort. Small in size and lightweight, these new vehicles were designed to carry out a number of duties, including quick troop transport, towing anti-tank guns and other light auxiliary and artillery pieces. The Ford GP was the basis for many of the design features that became part of the standard WWII Army Jeep.

“Our ever-growing collection of Jeeps is representative of our company as a whole,” said Henk Van Dongen, director of marketing at Omix-ADA. “Omix-ADA carries parts for everything from the earliest Ford, Bantam and Willys to the latest Wrangler JK, and everything in between.”

Select Jeeps Omix-ADA will feature during the SEMA Show include:

• ’41 Ford GP
• ’41 Bantam BRC40
• ’41 Willys MA
• ’42 Willys MB
• ’43 Ford GPA (Amphibious Jeep)
• ’51 Willys M38
• ’52 Willys M38A1
• ’67 Kaiser Jeep M715

Omix-ADA will also build a four-door ’13 Commando Green Wrangler Rubicon as part of its live, on-site festivities. Designed by Omix-ADA as a modern interpretation of what a military Jeep might look like today, the build will be carried out by veterans on-site. Facilitating the three-day event, will be actor and Marine Corp veteran R. Lee Ermey. Additional information about the live build will be available in the weeks to come, ahead of SEMA.

For more information on Omix-ADA’s complete Jeep Collection, visit www.jeepcollection.com.