By SEMA Editors

Officials with the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America have announced it raised more than $1.7 million following the 27th Anniversary Ride, which took place on April 29-May 5. Funds directly benefit Victory Junction, a camp in Randleman, North Carolina, serving children with chronic medical illnesses.

Former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty led more than 125 motorcycles across more than 1,500 miles of picturesque scenery in Utah and Nevada, including the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

The Ride's donation supports summer camperships, building projects and maintenance programs, including the upkeep of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Water Park.

Victory Junction has served as the Ride's primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since it began in 1995, the Ride has raised more than $21 million for Victory Junction and other children's charities. As a result, the Ride has helped Victory Junction mobilize resources to provide over 115,000 camp experiences for children of all levels of abilities who are living with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families.

For more information, read the announcement here or visit kylepettycharityride.com and victoryjunction.org.

Product and service providers can now register for the 2023 Networking, Education, Resources and Development (N.E.R.D.) Symposium--a unique event hosted by the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) that brings together automotive aftermarket engineers with vendors who offer tools to enhance the product development process.

Taking place August 16-18 at the SEMA Garage in Detroit, Michigan, the N.E.R.D. Symposium is the best place for businesses to showcase how their product or service can help engineers be more effective and efficient. Vendors will meet one-on-one with engineers to discuss collaborative opportunities, while separate networking sessions will provide extra time and opportunities to build connections.      

Attendees will also learn about the latest developments in ADAS, emissions, diagnostics and simulation through education sessions provided by the SEMA Garage. The education sessions offer the latest updates on ADAS trends, testing equipment, simulation modeling and emissions along with active demonstrations of the tools being used.  

Vendors are identified as companies that resell final products to the mass consumer market (i.e., companies offering rapid prototyping, simulation, consulting, etc.) and those that offer tools or services to companies that support the development of hard parts, manufacturing processes, consumables or research and development (R&D).  

Product and service providers who are ETTN members and who register before June 5 can sign up now at the early-bird price of $375, compared to non-members at $475. Registration will increase to $575 for members and $675 for non-members after June 5. Engineer registration will open in June.  

Secure your seat today!

By SEMA Editors

BMW recently unveiled the second-generation M2, codenamed G87, but the automaker appears to be already testing a more powerful variant named the M2 CS. 

Sources have captured the M2 CS, which features one notable difference in design: the integrated trunk lid spoiler, absent in the standard 2023 M2. In addition, while BMW offers some rear-wing options, this prototype appears to draw inspiration from the M4 CSL, suggesting a successor to the M3 E46 CSL.

Porsche 911 ST Captured in German Countryside

More than 50 years after Porsche introduced the competition-based Porsche 911 ST, the automaker will pay homage to the iconic vehicle and its success with a new special edition, as recently reported in SEMA News.

Our sources have once again captured the iconic build as it was seen testing without camouflage in Germany.

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with General Motors, SEMA Garage Detroit is excited to announce an all-new measuring session, June 13-15, for the newly designed '23 and '24 Chevrolet and GMC trucks.

The event will allow companies to test-fit prototypes, 3D scan, measure and have a close-up experience with the trucks.

The session will feature a combination of '23 and '24 Chevrolet and GMC midsize, light-duty and heavy-duty truck platforms with the most popular options, including different bed, cab and powertrain configurations.

Chevrolet: 

• Colorado Trail Boss 
• Silverado 1500 
• Silverado 2500HD 

GMC: 

• Canyon AT4X Edition 1 
• Sierra 1500 AT4 
• Sierra 3500HD Denali Ultimate Dually

Event Dates: June 13 - June 15, 2023 

This will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage Detroit, 14655 Jib St., Plymouth, MI 48170. Sessions will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time limited. Please only register two attendees per company, and keep an eye out for a follow-up email to confirm your time slot.

Visit the link below for event registration details.

Click here to register.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show has many resources to support exhibitors in preparing for the 2023 Show. But the comfort of having a phone number available "just in case" something happens can often make you feel as safe as snapping in your seatbelt. 

Below are a few phone numbers you will want to program into your mobile phone as exhibitors get ready for the SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas.

SEMA Show Department: 909-396-0289

• The Show Department team is standing by to address any questions regarding the 2023 SEMA Show or the ability to connect you with multiple SEMA association departments from our Membership, Sales or Accounting departments that can provide support and address your concerns.

Freeman: 888-508-5054

• The Freeman team is available to help SEMA Show exhibitors with all their service needs, including furniture, fixtures, electrical, water, and moving or accepting freight before the show. Ensure you know key deadline dates when submitting your Freeman services requests to receive great discounted rates. The Freeman team is available to answer your questions and provide the support you need!

Compusystems (Registration): 866-229-3687

• Registration is one of the first things you will need to do to have your team prepared and available to access the SEMA Show floor, so make sure to register your staff before the June 30 and September 29 deadline dates to save on your registration fees. Additionally, the SEMA Show Registration Department is a resource to assist with your registration questions and can be contacted at RegMgr@sema.org. 

OnPeak, Official Hotel and Housing Partner for the SEMA Show: 312-527-7300

• For the guaranteed lowest hotel rates while in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show, make sure to reserve your hotel through the official SEMA Show housing block at semashow.com/hotel.

SEMA Show management is dedicated to making the event as cost-effective as possible for all. Register at SEMAShow.com/register by June 30 for just $40. Registration is $60 through September 29 and $120 after that date.

By Laura Pitts

Attendees of the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, can expect an expanded SEMA Education program as part of a new SEMA initiative to create a more robust career- and professional-development program year-round. 

Keep an eye out for additional details on the 2023 SEMA Show Education program, which will feature the introduction of Monday afternoon seminars.

The SEMA Show Education program will feature thought-provoking sessions, allowing attendees to tailor their program with a customizable learning journey of skill development and competency-based industry education.

"We want to support our attendees by offering a customizable learning journey for skill development and competency-based education inclusive of the Show and throughout the rest of the year," said Pamela Brown-Matthis, SEMA Director of Education. "You'll see that reflected in the comprehensive programming delivered at the Show as well as the virtual education that we're incorporating into SEMA member-based events throughout the year across the country."

The SEMA Education team is "focused on creating immersive learning experiences where engagement is high and attendees can see immediate knowledge and skills benefits. We're dedicated to bringing innovation and fresh perspectives to the aftermarket business community," Brown-Matthis said.

One vital program change for 2023 is the introduction of Monday afternoon seminars on October 30, prior to the Show's official opening Tuesday morning. The idea is to provide wider access to education on what is usually considered an exhibitor "setup day."

In keeping with this goal, planners have reorganized the Show's many seminars into six highly focused SEMA Education tracks: Inside the Shop; Aftermarket Updates and Future Trends; Small-Business Strategy; Sales and Marketing; Vehicle Technology and Electric Vehicles; and Legal and Regulatory.

Stay tuned for more on the world-class SEMA Education program for 2023, including the announcement of the keynote speaker, partner education tracks and more details.

SEMA Show management is dedicated to making the event as cost-effective as possible for all. Register at SEMAShow.com/register by June 30 for just $40. Registration is $60 through September 29 and $120 after that date.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) is hosting a networking Happy Hour during Minnesota Steet Rod Association's (MSRA) Back to the '50s Weekend on Thursday, June 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT.

All HRIA members are invited to O'Gara's Restaurant at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where they can network with industry friends, meet other hot-rod businesses and enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages.

Attendees of the Happy Hour will learn about HRIA's latest initiatives, meet members of the select committee and discover how to get more involved with the council. Prospective members are also invited to attend, as it will be a great event to learn about the HRIA member benefits available to hot-rod businesses.

RSVP here.

The MSRA Back to the '50s event features classic cars, a ladies' showcase, a Cruise-N-Arts craft fair, a model car contest, a kids tractor pull, a vintage airplane flyover, kids games and more.

RSVP to the HRIA Happy Hour event here.

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings nationwide. Here are some of the latest jobs posted on the website.

Internet Brands/RacingJunk.com

Account Executive

Internet Brands seeks a digital sales representative for its auto classifieds division. This business is comprised of six specialty auto classifieds websites serving the racing and motorsports, classic car and hot-rod segments. The position will be based in North Adams, Massachusetts. 

Westin Automotive Products

Engineer

Westin Automotive in San Dimas, California, needs to fill its hands-on mechanical engineer position with someone familiar with designing and manufacturing steel, stainless-steel and aluminum sheet and tube products.

ProCharger

Technical Service Associate

ProCharger in Lenexa, Kansas, seeks a full-time representative with strong phone skills, automotive knowledge and understanding of high-performance motorsports.

For more information, including how to apply for jobs or to post job listings, visit the SEMA Career Center here. 

Are you driving to the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3, in Las Vegas? Check out these hotels that offer complimentary parking during the SEMA Show dates.

Be sure to book through onPeak, SEMA's official housing provider. 

For more information on the hotels for the 2023 SEMA Show, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit SEMAShow.com.

SEMA Show management is dedicated to making the event as cost-effective as possible for all. Register at SEMAShow.com/register by June 30 for just $40. Registration is $60 through September 29 and $120 after that date. 

By SEMA Editors

Charles "Chuck" A. Lombardo Sr., the longtime street-rod industry icon and former Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Board Member, has passed away. He was 80. 

Lombardo's passion was all about cars, primarily classic and street rods. Since the '60s, Lombardo has owned and operated California Street Rods Corporation, where he built high-quality cars for notable customers like the ZZ TOP rock group and TV personality Jay Leno. Lombardo also founded and served as president for Back to the 50s Inc., a local car show and production based in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

When he was the owner of California Street Rods in Huntington Beach, California, he co-founded the Street Machine Manufacturers Association (SMMA). SMMA merged in 1992 with the Street Rod Industry Alliance (a SEMA committee at the time) to form SRMA, the Street Rod Marketing Alliance (now known as the Hot Rod Industry Alliance). He served as both committee chair and as chair when SRMA became a SEMA council in 1994.

Lombardo also notably served on the SEMA 2005-2006 Board of Directors.

Lombardo was inducted into the Street Rods Hall of Fame and was named "Industry Man of the Year" by the National Street Rod Association.