By SEMA Editors

The Nat Danas Scholarship, an endowment within the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund that provides tuition assistance to college students pursuing a career in restoration, restyling/customization or hot rods, has been awarded to Andrew Riley, a student at McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas.  

The scholarship, established in 1987, honors Nat Danas' legacy as the founder and publisher of "Auto Trim & Restyling News" magazine, and pays tribute to his profound impact as a visionary leader, mentor and educator. Each year, one recipient is selected to receive the prestigious honor by the Nat Danas Scholarship Committee. 

"All the applicants were top-notch and showed great potential," noted a SEMA Scholarship committee spokesperson. "But Andrew's background, enthusiasm and passion for automotive restoration truly spoke to us and to the intent of the Danas Scholarship to support students who wish to pursue a career in restyling (customization), restoration or hot rods."

Nat Danas, then celebrating his 65th birthday, was honored by the restyling and trim industry during the 1987 SEMA Show. The fundraising event helped to establish a scholarship in his name.

Since its establishment in 1984, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund has issued more than $3 million to students and recent graduates pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket--including $235,000 awarded to 104 recipients in 2023. 

Additional students who received special designations include: 

Recipient (Institution Name, Major, Designation)

• Aaron Bodenham (Iowa State University, Mechanical Engineering, Ray Flugger Mechanical Engineer Scholarship) 
• Alexander Riddle (Pennsylvania College of Technology, Automotive Technology, Hot Rod Industry Alliance Scholarship) 
• Coen Fricke (Colorado School of Mines, Mechanical Engineering, Emerging Trends & Technology Network Scholarship) 
• Connor Thompson (Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Diesel Mechanic, Mike Kunzman Scholarship) 
• Dalton Weiser (California State University-Chico, Mechanical Engineering, Wheel & Tire Council Scholarship) 
• Edwin Buiter (McPherson College, Automotive Technology, Automotive Restoration Market Organization Scholarship) 
• Gabe Janitch (University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Aftermarket, Truck & Off-Road Alliance Scholarship) 
• Grace-Anne Stine (Missouri University of Science and Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Leo Kagan Scholarship) 
• Guillermo Garcia (School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, Automotive, Steve Woomer Scholarship) 
• Hunter Bailey (University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Technology/High Performance Motorsports, Harlan Felder Scholarship) 
• Kolby Tran (University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Electrical Engineering, Jim A. Borre Scholarship)
• Kyle Janssen (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marketing, Future Leaders Network Scholarship) 
• Lantz Riggio (University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Aftermarket, Joe Hrudka Scholarship) 
• Lawson Cheek (University of Mississippi, Business, Trudy Thompson Scholarship) 
• Marco Ramirez (Brigham Young University-Idaho, Automotive Engineering & Tech., Melvin Burton Scholarship) 
• Maximilian Redfearn (University of St. Thomas, Mechanical Engineering, Professional Restylers Organization Scholarship) 
• Riley Schlick-Trask (Connecticut College, Engineering Mechanics, SEMA Businesswomen's Network Scholarship) 
• Sabra Laschanzky (Ozarks Technical Community College, Automation Technology, Wally Parks Scholarship)

By the SEMA Washington, D.C. office

The North Carolina legislature included in its annual budget (H.B. 259) amendments  prohibiting the state from adopting and enforcing a ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.  

Despite opposing the bill, Governor Roy Cooper announced he would let the budget become law without his signature. The Republican Party holds a supermajority in both the Senate and House, giving them sufficient votes to override a veto if Governor Roy Cooper decided to pursue that course of action. 

SEMA believes North Carolinians, not the government, should decide what vehicles are best for them and their families. 

For more information, contact Kiley Chapley at kileyc@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Single-day tickets for SEMA Fest, a full-throttle festival that fuses motorsports, music and car culture, are now available at semafest.com.

Taking place November 3-4 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, SEMA Fest brings together some of the biggest names in music across the gamut of rock, hip-hop and pop and the hottest automotive brands and their enthusiasts in a large-scale festival format.

In addition to the world-class music programming, the event will feature a full slate of immersive automotive lifestyle events, a consumer marketplace, top-notch drifting events, motorsports competitions, freestyle motocross, BMX demos and more.

"The SEMA Show and SEMA Fest are two separate events that help maintain the integrity of the SEMA Show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals," said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "SEMA Fest enables automotive enthusiasts and music fans to be a part of the SEMA Show experience through a one-of-a-kind festival that promotes the automotive lifestyle."

The daily SEMA Fest musical lineup:

Friday, November 3

• Incubus

• Wiz Khalifa

• Third Eye Blind

• Bush

• Ludacris

• Chase Matthew

• Rome & Duddy

• Ayron Jones

• Bones UK

• Starcrawler

• Paper Idol

Saturday, November 4

• Imagine Dragons

• AJR

• Walk The Moon

• The Struts

• Badflower

• Meg Meyers

• Dead Sara

• renforshort

• Brooke Alex

• Hot Crazy

• Good Boy Daisy

• The Foxies

SEMA Fest is open to the public and is part of SEMA Week, which kicks off with the 2023 SEMA Show on October 31-November 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, visit semafest.com or semashow.com.

By Kenny Wright
Organizers of the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, are excited to announce the all-new "MotorTrend Celebrity Showcase" to this year's lineup!   

SEMA and MotorTrend have partnered to bring you a truly one-of-a-kind experience, which is now open for registration here. Attendees of this track will be treated to a live interview session, moderated by auto specialist and television host Ant Anstead, and featuring some of the biggest names from MotorTrend:   

• Amir Bentatou ("Super Street Garage"): Owner and designer at RS Future, Amir shares his deep knowledge of all things speed and style with "Super Street Garage." 
• John "Nads" Naderi ("Super Street Garage"): Former editor-in-chief of "Super Street Magazine," Nads has been at the forefront of the tuner scene since its inception.  

• Lucky Costa ("HOT ROD Garage"): With a breadth of experience from domestics to Euros to Datsuns, Lucky is out to prove that anything can be a hot rod if you do it right.  
• Alex Taylor ("HOT ROD Garage") - Alex has been building and racing for as long as she's been able to grip a wrench. As the newest host of "HOT ROD Garage," her thirst for horsepower continues to propel the show forward.  

• Dave Kindig ("Bitchin' Rides"): Host of "Bitchin' Rides," Kindig and crew turn out some of the most creative, one-of-a-kind vehicles on the planet.  
• Kevin "KevDogg" Schiele ("Bitchin' Rides"): Working for Kindig-It Design, where he runs the 27,000-sq. ft. shop, Schiele has an unparalleled passion for the auto industry, and spends long hours in the shop making sure every build is just right.  
• Ant Anstead (Moderator): As the co-founder and chief engineer of Radford, he is responsible for overseeing the building process of every single bespoke, handmade vehicle to meet exact customer specifications.   

This diverse crew of automotive experts and media personalities, will share their experiences in the world of hot rods, restorations, restyling markets, what motivates them, and more.   

Get to know this group, while learning, laughing and taking in advice from the perspectives of these household names in the industry.   

This showcase is free and open to all SEMA Show attendees. It will be an exciting event, so register now while there's still time. 

MotorTrend Celebrity Showcase at the SEMA Show

• Tuesday, October 31
• 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. PT
• Location: West Hall (W326) 

REGISTER HERE!

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show exhibitors: an entry price increase is approaching for the SEMA Show New Products Showcase, the world's largest display of new automotive aftermarket products and one of the best ways for exhibitors to generate leads and convert sales at the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3. This year, the Showcase is relocating to the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center for even more expanded visibility and foot traffic. Accessible exclusively to SEMA Showgoers, the New Products Showcase is the top buyer and media destination and serves as a one-stop shop to quickly discover thousands of the hottest products in the industry.

All SEMA Show exhibitors qualify to submit one New Products Showcase entry at no cost. Additional products can be entered for $95 before Friday, October 6. After that date, the first product entry is still free, with additional entries $150 each. There is no limit to the number of products a company can submit and no official close date for New Product Showcase entries (learn more and get involved at semashow.com/newproducts).

Each new product in the Showcase has a dedicated QR code that attendees can scan and learn more about the part and where the exhibitor is located, so getting involved is a great way to attract buyers to your booth. All New Products Showcase entries receive the added benefit of being featured in SEMA News, listed in the SEMA Show app, and possibly winning a Best New Product award, which will be presented in 18 categories, including electric vehicle (EV) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), during the official SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast on Tuesday, October 31.

Attendees looking to get a jump start on their 2023 SEMA Show plan can download the SEMA Show app at semashow.com/app to view new products, find exhibitors and events, get an overview of the floorplan, and much more.

By SEMA Editors

There are five weeks until the aftermarket industry converges in Las Vegas for the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3. As exhibitors gear up to connect with a projected 160,000 buyers, influencers, dealers and more automotive professionals, here's a list of key deadlines and checklists to keep the industry on track and on budget.

SEMA Show Deadlines List

This all-encompassing checklist provides a breakdown of all of the deadlines for booth orders, rentals, booth vehicle applications, celebrity appearance notifications and more key dates, which are also detailed below.

View the SEMA Show deadlines checklist.

Budget Checklist

This checklist allows exhibitors to keep track of all costs--like exhibit design, booth services, freight/material handling, labor and miscellaneous fees. Simply input the exhibiting company name for a personalized form.

View the SEMA Show budget checklist.

Upcoming Key Exhibitor Deadlines

Placing Freeman orders before the Thursday, September 28 discount deadline, which offers prices up to 40% off regular rates on nearly all services, is one of the best ways to save ahead of the SEMA Show. Our partners at Freeman are here to help answer any questions about preparing for the SEMA Show and maximizing savings. Email sema@freeman.com or call 888-508-5054 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PDT) to connect directly.

Don't forget that the Exhibitor Services Manual, accessed at semashow.com/esm, is a one-stop shop for all things related to exhibiting at the SEMA Show. It contains everything companies need to know to exhibit like a pro, including the deadline and budget checklists. 

And now that you know these dates, exhibitors can also lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rates by booking in the official SEMA Show Block provided by OnPeak.

Be sure to check out the complete list of deadlines for more dates. 

• September 28: Freeman Discount Deadline--Various Freeman services, including audio-visual and computers; carpet and booth cleaning order; credit card authorization/method of payment; electrical; accessories (advanced rate); furnishings (advanced rate); first-time exhibitor booth package; labor for hanging signage/banner; labor for installation/dismantle; payment authorization form; rental exhibit order (advanced rate); third party payment authorization; utilities; internet/telephone.
• September 29: Exhibitor registration is due for domestic guests (to receive badges in the mail) at semashow.com/register.
• October 6: New Products Entry (advanced rate).
• October 6: Products for Product-Vehicle Builders.
• October 6: Exhibitor Booth Insurance (if purchased from Risk-strategies/Buttine).
• October 6: EAC/Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor Application Form.
• October 6: EAC/Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor Proof of Insurance Deadline.
• October 13: Shipping of Carpet to Advance Warehouse--CARPET/PAD only. 
• October 13: After-Hours Events.
• October 13: After-Hours Event--Proof of Security (Required if having an after-hours event). 
• October 13: Meeting/Function space reservation.
• October 16: Booth Catering Order Service--CENTERPLATE.
• October 18: Tents/Canopies--Full Circle Events.
• October 18: Freight--Last day freight will be accepted at the warehouse without penalty.
• October 19: Hanging sign/banner shipments to advance Freeman Warehouse.
• October 19: New Product Showcase advance shipments to Freeman Warehouse.
• October 20: Photography Order--Expo Ease
• October 20: Plant and Floral Order--Expo Ease
• October 26: Freight--1st Day Shipments accepted at LVCC (refer to Target Floor Plan)
• October 27: Vehicle Detailing (Advanced Rate)--ShowFleet
• November 2: Last Day to Pick Up Banquet Tickets--12:00 p.m. deadline
• November 3: Members Lounge Conference Room Reservation by 3 p.m.
• November 3: Online Registration Closes at 2 p.m.

By SEMA Editors

Attendees of the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, will be able to grow their network and develop quality connections with leaders in their aftermarket niche by attending events hosted by SEMA councils and networks.  

While the Show offers a variety of opportunities to elevate and strengthen one's career and business, SEMA council and network events are the premier destination for Show attendees to forge meaningful relationships with peers in their specialized market segment. The diversity in automotive communities ensures an event for everyone: those focused on hot rods and restoration, truck and off-road, automotive technology, automotive restyling, and wheel and tire, plus women and those aged 39 and under. 

"Building a trusted professional network with industry peers is essential to advancing your business and career goals," said Zane Clark, SEMA vice president of membership, education, research and councils and networks. "With the worldwide automotive aftermarket industry coming together at the SEMA Show, there's no better place than these networking events to exchange information with those who share common interests and to gain insight into resources tailored to fit your business needs."   

This year's calendar includes receptions, happy hours, meetings and lunches, each exclusively crafted and planned to help members of each market segment make the most out of their SEMA Show experience. The inclusive environments allow for engaging conversations where attendees can share experiences and exchange ideas with people who understand their industry inside and out.

Explore the event calendar and RSVP at this link.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C. office

The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing this week on "Proposals to Enhance Product Safety and Transparency for Americans." The subcommittee hearing included the review of 14 bills, including H.R. 906, "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act." The SEMA-supported REPAIR Act is a bipartisan bill that would ensure automotive enthusiasts, aftermarket parts manufacturers, and repair shops have access to the information and tools needed to maintain and personalize vehicles as automotive technology evolves. 

SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola submitted a formal statement supporting H.R. 906 and encouraged lawmakers to expand the bill to include similar protections to protect businesses that produce and install parts that modify or customize vehicles. "SEMA strongly supports the REPAIR Act as drafted but also requests that the bill be expanded to clarify that it protects the right to modify vehicles, ensuring that auto manufacturers cannot employ any technological, legal, or cryptographic barriers that impede the ability of an aftermarket parts manufacturer or a vehicle repair facility to produce or install aftermarket parts and software that are custom, upgrade, or modify a vehicle," Spagnola said. Read his letter to the subcommittee.

The REPAIR Act was introduced by U.S. Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). It currently has 42 co-sponsors (21 Republicans and 21 Democrats). Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support and expand the REPAIR Act to protect our right to modify vehicles.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org or visit sema.org/advocacy/right-to-repair. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C. office

The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing this week on "Proposals to Enhance Product Safety and Transparency for Americans." The subcommittee hearing included the review of 14 bills, including H.R. 906, "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act." The SEMA-supported REPAIR Act is a bipartisan bill that would ensure automotive enthusiasts, aftermarket parts manufacturers, and repair shops have access to the information and tools needed to maintain and personalize vehicles as automotive technology evolves. 

SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola submitted a formal statement supporting H.R. 906 and encouraged lawmakers to expand the bill to include similar protections to protect businesses that produce and install parts that modify or customize vehicles. "SEMA strongly supports the REPAIR Act as drafted but also requests that the bill be expanded to clarify that it protects the right to modify vehicles, ensuring that auto manufacturers cannot employ any technological, legal, or cryptographic barriers that impede the ability of an aftermarket parts manufacturer or a vehicle repair facility to produce or install aftermarket parts and software that are custom, upgrade, or modify a vehicle," Spagnola said. Read his letter to the subcommittee.

The REPAIR Act was introduced by U.S. Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). It currently has 42 co-sponsors (21 Republicans and 21 Democrats). Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support and expand the REPAIR Act to protect our right to modify vehicles.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org or visit sema.org/advocacy/right-to-repair. 

By SEMA Editors

Industry members and exhibiting companies attending the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, are invited to connect with students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket industry with a table at the Student Program Industry Networking Breakfast. This exclusive event will be held on Thursday, November 2, from 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. PDT in West Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

The networking breakfast is a staple of the SEMA Show Student Program, connecting automotive aftermarket leaders with the industry's future workforce. By hosting a table, industry members will be able to share their company's journey and help guide and inspire the next generation of automotive professionals. It also serves as a great recruitment tool and the chance to create quality connections with students eager to jumpstart their automotive careers. 

Participation is free, and the event simply requires one-and-a-half hours from a company representative. No set-up time or marketing materials are required. Register your company here.

Questions can be directed to Chris Standifer, SEMA manager of recognition programs, at chriss@sema.org or 909-978-6692.