By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A California Superior Court judge ruled against six environmental and community groups that had requested to intervene on behalf of the California Coastal Commission (CCC) in a lawsuit challenging the CCC’s authority to ban off-roading at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). The SVRA is California’s only OHV park on the Pacific Ocean and has been under threat of closure for many years, primarily by groups that object to motorized recreation based on environmental arguments that off-roading causes more airborne particulate matter (dust) and/or threatens plants and animals. The CCC decided in March 2021 to ban OHV use in the SVRA within three years.

The action by the CCC triggered multiple lawsuits seeking to protect OHV access at Oceano Dunes by SEMA and Ecologic Partners Inc., a nonprofit group comprised of the Off-Road Business Association, the American Sand Association and the American Motorcyclist Association District 37, along with Friends of Oceano Dunes. The groups that filed a motion to intervene in the case, including the Sierra Club and Oceano Beach Community Association, were attempting to defend the CCC’s decision to end OHV recreation at the Dunes. The motion was denied, with the Judge writing that “The court finds that allowing the applicants to intervene would not promote fairness.” The Judge agreed with arguments by the off-road groups that the lawsuit focuses primarily on whether the CCC had exceeded its authority in banning OHV use, for which the environmental and community groups “have no special expertise.”

The lawsuit is expected to be tried in late 2022 or next year.

For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.

United States Touring Car Championship 2022 Schedule to Get Underway

The 2022 United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) season is set to expand to 12 events nationally. The return of the USTCC East Region means five new venues have been added to the season calendar. The racing kicks off at Summit Motorsports Park in West Virginia, April 2–3. The West Region’s racing begins at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California, April 23–24.

The racing continues at Sonoma Raceway, May 21–22 for the West Region. Round 2 of the East region will be held at the Lightning Raceway at New Jersey Motorsport Park. Drivers and teams will then venture just outside of Los Angeles to Fontana, where Auto Club Speedway will host the third round of the West region’s calendar, June 11–12. July 23–24 will see the East region make a return to the site of the season opener at Summit Point Raceway. August will see a race for the West region at Sonoma Raceway on the 20–21 and on the 27–28 at Pittsburgh International Raceway for the East region.

The highest-profile race of the season will be held September 9–11 at historic Laguna Seca Raceway where the drivers will share the track with the NTT IndyCar series for the second season running. Monterey, California, will be the site of the season finale for the NTT IndyCar series as well as a double header for the West region. As the season comes to a close, teams will head to Buttonwillow Raceway for the penultimate round for the West Region, October 15–16. The season finale for the East Region will be held the following weekend at the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsport Park. The final race of the season at Thunderhill Raceway is scheduled for November 12–13.

Hot Shot’s Secret Supports Battle Scarred Motorsports

Hot Shot’s Secret, manufactured by Lubrication Specialties Inc. (LSI), has announced a year of fundraising to support Battle Scarred Motorsports (BSM). BSM, formerly USMC Racing, assists disabled service members and first responders by providing “adrenaline therapy” through racing opportunities on the track and in the pits. Money raised through 2022 will help convert vehicles into hand-controlled race cars, provide scholarships for racers to participate and ensure their vehicles are operating at optimum performance. Additionally, Hot Shot’s Secret will provide teams with fluids, including racing engine oil, transmission fluid, gear oil, plus oil and fuel additives for the race team and their diesel haulers used to tow the race cars. The fundraising activity is structured to provide opportunities for matching donations throughout the year. For more information, visit hotshotsecret.com or battlescarred.org.

Throdle, Formula DRIFT Announce 2022 Partnership

Throdle, the automotive social network, has been announced as an official sponsor of the 2022 Formula DRIFT season. The Throdle app allows car and motorsports fans to connect through their passion for cars, groups, and experiences “without ads or unwanted content.”  

“Our fans are the lifeblood of the sport, and being able to connect them to one another through the Throdle platform is going to take the automotive and drifting community to a whole new level. Fans can join the Formula DRIFT group in Throdle to post about FD experiences and explore exclusive behind-the-scenes content, all season long,” said Formula DRIFT President Ryan Sage.

The partnership will include a $1,000 contingency fund for each of the four Formula DRIFT PROSPEC Championship rounds. For more information, visit formulad.com or throdle.com. 

Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) to Open 2022 Season With “Sebring Spring Fling”

The Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR)—the vintage racing series with headquarters in Clearwater, Florida—will launch its 2022 season at Sebring International Raceway (Sebring, Florida) for the “Sebring Spring Fling,” April 6–8. With eight events in 2022, HSR will also visit Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (Braselton, Georgia), April 28–May 1; Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, Alabama), May 19–22; WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Salinas, California), August 12–14 and again August 17–20; Road America (Plymouth, Wisconsin), September 15–18 and October 13–16; Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida), November 2–6; and back to Sebring International Raceway, November 30–December 4. For more information, visit hsrrace.com. 

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.

This is the next-generation Cadillac CT6 undergoing testing in Michigan.

The prototype appears to be the same general size as the current model, but with key updates to the exterior, with new body panels and roofline treatment.

According to a 2019 report by GM Authority, the next-gen CT6 is assigned program code 7ESL, meaning that it will move to the VSS-R platform. The enthusiast website reports that the next-gen model is destined for the Chinese market, but its presence in the U.S. market is still unclear after the discontinuation of the CT6 in North America after the ’20 model year.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Juan Torres

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) is kicking off an all-female vehicle build and will modify a Ford Bronco 4-door Wildtrak provided by Bronco Brand—Ford’s outdoor brand of Built Wild and only-4x4 vehicles. The project comes 10 years after SBN led an award-winning all-female Ford Mustang Build, which raised awareness for women working in the automotive industry and brought in dozens of new SBN members.

The SEMA Businesswomen's Network will embark on an all-female vehicle build in partnership with Ford's Bronco Brand, which donated the 4-door Ford Bronco Wildtrak.

The new campaign seeks to highlight successful women in the automotive industry while also attracting and supporting more females to pursue careers in the field.

“We know that automobiles are exciting and that there are countless job opportunities for women in the industry,” said Sara Morosan, SBN chair-elect. “The 2022 SBN All-Female Vehicle Build will again shine the light on this important initiative and help women see what’s possible.”

The project is slated to begin this summer in Southern California. Women will modify all aspects of the car, including the engine, chassis, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint. Organizers are currently securing members to assist with assembling a Volunteer Recruitment Team, Events Team, Media/Content Team, Secure Parts & Sponsorship and other committees. Interested volunteers can sign up here.

The completed vehicle build will be displayed at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.sema.org/sbn or contact Nicole Bradle at nicoleb@sema.org.

  By Juan Torres

To be included in the 2022 SEMA Show Priority Booth Space Selection Process, applications must be received by Monday, April 4. Taking place November 1–4 in Las Vegas, the SEMA Show is the premier automotive trade event in the world.

Manufacturers of automotive parts and accessories exhibit at the SEMA Show to promote new products, increase brand awareness, generate leads for future orders, build and strengthen relationships through in-person networking, and generate media coverage.  

“Nothing compares to the SEMA Show. There’s a unique energy and mystique about the Show that makes it the ideal place for manufacturers to promote their products and raise brand awareness,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “With buyers and media from all over the world in attendance, exhibitors have unlimited opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations that lead to profitable business partnerships.”

With more than 100,000 professionals in attendance at the 2021 SEMA Show, the event was Las Vegas’ No. 1-attended trade show last year. It also marked the Las Vegas Convention Center’s first full-capacity event since the pandemic. Exhibitors found valuable ROI by participating at the Show, with nearly all participants rating their experience as positive and noting that they plan to return in 2022.

“In-person interactions have greater meaning today than ever before,” said Gattuso. “The ability to communicate face-to-face, witness a live product demonstration, and take a photo with a celebrity is rare. The SEMA Show offers four full days of valuable activity both on and off the Show floor.”

In addition to more than 4.6 million of convention space, the SEMA Show includes interactive experiences, celebrity appearances, unique seminars with dynamic speakers, and unique panel discussions.

Companies may apply for space at the 2022 SEMA Show at www.semashow.com/buyabooth. To be included in the Priority Booth Space Selection Process, applications must be received by Monday, April 4. For more information, visit www.semashow.com.

View the list of participating manufacturers to date.

  In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage will host a Measuring Session for the all-electric ’22 Ford F-150 Lightning. The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with Ford’s first ever all-electric F-Series truck.

New F-150 Lightning features will include:

• SuperCrew Four-Door Cab
• Four-Wheel Drive
• 5.5-Foot Cargo Bed
• Extended-Range Battery Option
• Standard Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 Technology (ADAS)

This will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, this event will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time limited.

Event Dates: April 11–April 15

Details and registration for the SEMA Garage '22 Ford F-150 Lightning Measuring Session.

The September 2022 issue of SEMA News will highlight rising stars in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2022—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

Many SEMA members are currently working with creative young entrepreneurs and professionals who are already industry trailblazers. They may have played key roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach, improve product development, energize marketing efforts or upgrade customer interaction.

They could also be budding talents at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that might become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

SEMA News looks for candidates drawn from diverse industry segments who are already making a significant impact through their leadership within their organizations or businesses. Entrepreneurship, commitment, insight, innovation, integrity, responsibility, demonstrated skill, involvement and success within the marketplace weigh heavily in the decision-making process.

We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2022 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 1.

Showgoers booking through onPeak—the SEMA Show housing partner—receive guaranteed low rates on a wide range of hotel properties at locations on and off the Las Vegas Strip.

onPeak not only offers discounted nightly rates for SEMA Show participants, but also offers reduced resort fees so you can save even more on your stay.

onPeak not only offers discounted nightly rates for SEMA Show participants, but also offers reduced resort fees so you can save even more on your stay.

SEMA has negotiated exclusive, discounted nightly rates at the best hotels in Las Vegas, but you can only get the discounted rates when you book through the SEMA Show’s official hotel provider, onPeak.

When making your hotel reservations through the SEMA Show Travel & Lodging page, you are receiving the most affordable and convenient hotel options through our partnership with onPeak—the only official hotel provider for the 2021 SEMA Show. All negotiated rates provided by onPeak include resort fees and will allow you to change or cancel your reservation without any financial penalties.

More information about the 2022 SEMA Show, Tuesday–Friday, November 1–4, is available on www.SEMAShow.com.

This wild Ford Bronco was built by Ford Performance from the OEM suppliers catalog.

The Ford Performance Bronco is a four-door Bronco built to the gills with exterior and mechanical upgrades galore. The Bronco appears to be somewhat of a tribute to early ’90’s Rough Rider’s Off-Road Racing Team. Its bright blue livery and branding is enough to attract attention, but the tall and wide stance makes it a real head turner.

Ford is expected to showcase the Bronco at upcoming events and auto shows.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Dave Cole Sells Ultra4, Retains King of the Hammers

King of the Hammers (KOH) co-founder Dave Cole has sold the Ultra4 Regional Series to Jason and Gayla Robinett, owners of MidAmerica Outdoors—a riding and racing park in Jay, Oklahoma. Cole will retain ownership of Hammerking Productions, which includes King of the Hammers, Ultra4 Europe and Great American Shortcourse.

“This is a transitional process as we separate assets and they take ownership of the Ultra4 brand and the Ultra4 Racing TV channel on Vimeo,” Cole stated in an open letter. “I am excited to see what the Robinett’s and their team can bring to the series. They have incredible plans for the future and have already built a world-class facility in Oklahoma.”

“KOH will always be the first race of the Ultra4 Series and KOH Racers will continue to qualify at Ultra4 Races. I am restructuring Hammerking Productions around King of the Hammers and a new project, UltraTours, that allows me to spend a lot more time wheeling,” Cole said.

For more information, visit ultra4racing.com.

PRI to Sponsor Three-Day Race Track Safety Program by ICMS

The International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS), which hosts its Annual Congress at the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis each December, will host its Race Track Safety Program (RTSP) at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana, from March 31–April 2. Sessions for the event, which is supported by PRI, include certified medical and fire rescue, drag-racing track prep, and EV emergencies, plus an online didactic session and test. In addition to PRI, the event is also supported by AMR, ESI Equipment and Hazard Control Technologies. To purchase tickets, visit the event page. For more information, visit icmsmotorsportsafety.org. 

SCE Gaskets Named Official Gaskets of NMRA/NMCA

“NMRA and NMCA are proud to have SCE Gaskets as the Official Gasket of both series,” said Steve Wolcott, co-founder and CEO of ProMedia Events & Publishing—the parent company of the NMRA Ford Nationals and NMCA Muscle Car Nationals. “Many of our series’ leading engine builders rely on SCE Gaskets for their extreme high performance and reliability, especially in high boost applications. SCE Gaskets is committed to working with our championship NMRA and NMCA racers and will have a big on-site presence during our 2022 events."

Now celebrating its 32nd year of “delivering horsepower,” SCE’s new 250-page catalog details the company’s gasket designs for every engine used by NMRA/NMCA racers.

Malco Automotive Named Primary Sponsor for Scott Heckert and BJMM’s No. 5 for the Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas

Malco Products Inc. and B.J. McLeod Motorsports (BJMM) have announced that Connecticut driver Scott Heckert will be behind the wheel of the stock car No. 5 Chevrolet this Saturday, March 26, for the NASCAR Xfinity series race, Pit Boss 250, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Heckert’s primary sponsor for the race is Malco Automotive Products—the official detailing sponsor of B.J. McLeod Motorsports.

NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports Announce Le Mans Entry

NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports have announced their intention to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the special Garage 56 entry in 2023. The entry will be a modified version of the Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race car and is a collaboration of NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, IMSA and Goodyear. Further details, including technical elements of the car and the team’s driver lineup, will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit nascar.com or hendrickmotorsports.com.

Seattle-Based Faster Than Cancer Electric Dragster Racing Team Sets New World Speed Record

Team Carrell, Huff & Barger took the Faster Than Cancer electric dragster to Orlando Speed World Dragway with the intent to increase the electric speed record and become the fastest electric vehicle in the quarter-mile—a feat completed shortly at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 (EDT).

Team Carrell, Huff & Barger became the world’s fastest electric vehicle in the quarter-mile, setting the record at 202.52 mph at Orlando Speed World Dragway during a private test session on March 15. This is an increase of the record originally set by Steve Huff in May 2020, when the electric dragster became the first to 200 mph in the quarter-mile beating out Don ‘Big Daddy’ Garlits to the record.

Huff designed and built the electric dragster starting in 2017 as part of the “Quest for 200 mph”. Shortly after accomplishing this goal of being the first to 200 mph in an electric drag car in the ¼-mile, Huff was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic upper tract urothelial cancer that had spread to his spine with a tumor bundle in his L3. Through cancer treatment and subsequent immunotherapy at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutch Cancer Research and UW Medical Center, Huff continues to pursue his passion for racing with his Pro-Lite hydroplane, electric dragster and motorcycle racing teams. After appearing with Garlits on Fox Sports NHRA Gatornationals as a Pep Boys exhibition, Team Carrell, Huff & Barger took the Faster Than Cancer electric dragster to Orlando Speed World Dragway with the intent to increase the electric speed record and become the fastest electric vehicle in the quarter-mile—a feat completed shortly at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 (EDT).

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.