By Douglas McColloch

(Clockwise from top left) Mike and Jim Ring of Ringbrothers, Rick Love of Vintage Air, Kyle Tucker of Detroit Speed, Brian Brennan of In The Garage Media, and Bobby Alloway of Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop discussed the current state of the hot-rod aftermarket at SEMA360.

Earlier today at SEMA360, the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) hosted a panel of experts to discuss the current state of the hot-rod aftermarket. The panel, moderated by Rick Love of Vintage Air, included:

• Kyle Tucker, Detroit Speed
• Mike and Jim Ring, Ringbrothers
• Bobby Alloway, Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop
• Brian Brennan, In the Garage Media

The panelists first reviewed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 disruption, how the lack of a SEMA Show and a show circuit has affected their business in the short term, and what kinds of promotional tools they are using—such as social media—to keep their brand recognition high. They also stressed the importance of staying in touch with their customers, and reviewed how SEMA360 is helping them in this regard.

The panelists also discussed the ways they’ve managed to continue operations given ongoing disruptions to the supply chain, and steps they’ve taken to adjust to increased lead times. They also reviewed the challenges posed by increased freight costs.

On the tech side, the panel discussed the changing skill sets required of todays generation of builders, with an emphasis on electronics, and of the challenges shops face in finding and recruiting that talent. The panelists also stressed the importance going forward of attracting young people to the automotive trades.

View this session on demand on SEMA360.

By Douglas McColloch

It wouldn’t be the SEMA Show without show-stopping builds and customizations, and while there’s no Show floor in Las Vegas this year, SEMA360 is no different. Some 300 builders entered some of their latest creations, and you can see them throughout the week at the SEMA360 Builder Showcase page. We’ll be spotlighting five trick builds each day of the event, starting with the ones you see here.

Submitted by: Rick Fragnoli
Vehicle: ’69 Dodge Charger

This ’69 is built for performance starting with the 6.2L Hemi Hellcat under the hood that’s equipped with Kooks’ Headers and full 3-in. exhaust; an ATI Performance Products damper helps to smooth out internal vibrations.

The Dodge rides on a KW coilover suspension and rolls on CCW Wheels and Pirelli P-Zero that are damped by Brembo brake components. Inside, Moore and Giles Leather seating and G-Force Racing Gear harnesses keep occupants comfortable and secure.

The exterior features all-custom one-off bodywork, and it’s coated with custom PPG “Strangler Green” paint.

Submitted by: Brad and Mike Swaney
Vehicle: ’59 Chevrolet truck

A Battle of The Builders finalist in 2019, this team brought this clean-looking resto to SEMA360. Under the hood are a host of performance parts from Billet Accessories and Eddie Motorsports, and Magnaflow exhaust expels spent gases.

Components from American Autowire provide electrical upgrades, and inside, parts from Classic Instruments, Vintage Air and Lokar all enhance the driving experience.

The Chevy rides on a custom-engineered chassis, and a coat of Axalta Red Metallic adorns bodywork kept pristine with Wizards Products.

Submitted by: Christian Borucki
Vehicle: ’59 Pontiac Bonneville

Wearing a coat of Riviera Blue paint, this classic ’59 rests atop a one-off Art Morrison chassis that hosts a LS376 engine sporting a Flowmaster exhaust, and a 4L70 automatic transmission.

Power flows to a Strange 9-in. rearend that turns American Racing rim and BFGoodrich tires; Wilwood disc brakes reside at all four corners, and wheels are turned courtesy of IDIDT steering components.

Suspension is coilovers in front and four-link in the back. Redline Lumtronix LED headlights light up the road, Ogden Chrome lend exterior shine, and inside, Rockford Fosgate audio components provide on-road entertainment.

Submitted by: Darren Sammartino
Vehicle: ’70 Chevrolet K20

A multi-year project, this Grabber Blue 3/4-ton runs a swapped-in ’92 Cummins 12-valve diesel that works in tandem with an Industrial Injection fuel pump, a K&N intake, a Mishimoto radiator and MBRP 3-in. exhaust. Backing it a Getrag 360M transmission and an NP 205 transfer case.

A Dana 60 front and 14-bolt rear turn RBP Cobra beadlocks and Interco Cobalt tires. KC HiLItes provide illumination and a Smittybilt winch residing in a Chassis Unlimited bumper can provide extraction.

Interior upgrades include products from Auto Meter, BS Sand Seats and Hornblasters.

Submitted by: Randy Weaver
Vehicle: ’70 Plymouth Sport Satellite

This pristine ’70s exterior sports a number of unique touches, including a custom hood, custom bumpers and flush-mounted glass. Under the hood sits an engine that’s been equipped with a Texas Speed cam, Speed Engineering headers, K&N filters  and Flowmaster exhaust.

Electrical upgrades are afforded by American Autowire, and a fuel tank from Rick’s Tanks provides extra fuel. Suspension come courtesy of Ridetech coilovers, with tires sourced from Mickey Thompson and brakes from Wilwood.

Inside, Dakota Digital gauges monitor engine functions, and a Kicker audio system provides entertainment.

By Douglas McColloch

It wouldn’t be the SEMA Show without show-stopping builds and customizations, and while there’s no Show floor in Las Vegas this year, SEMA360 is no different. Some 300 builders entered some of their latest creations, and you can see them throughout the week at the SEMA360 Builder Showcase page. We’ll be spotlighting five trick builds each day of the event, starting with the ones you see here.

Submitted by: Rick Fragnoli
Vehicle: ’69 Dodge Charger

This ’69 is built for performance starting with the 6.2L Hemi Hellcat under the hood that’s equipped with Kooks’ Headers and full 3-in. exhaust; an ATI Performance Products damper helps to smooth out internal vibrations.

The Dodge rides on a KW coilover suspension and rolls on CCW Wheels and Pirelli P-Zero that are damped by Brembo brake components. Inside, Moore and Giles Leather seating and G-Force Racing Gear harnesses keep occupants comfortable and secure.

The exterior features all-custom one-off bodywork, and it’s coated with custom PPG “Strangler Green” paint.

Submitted by: Brad and Mike Swaney
Vehicle: ’59 Chevrolet truck

A Battle of The Builders finalist in 2019, this team brought this clean-looking resto to SEMA360. Under the hood are a host of performance parts from Billet Accessories and Eddie Motorsports, and Magnaflow exhaust expels spent gases.

Components from American Autowire provide electrical upgrades, and inside, parts from Classic Instruments, Vintage Air and Lokar all enhance the driving experience.

The Chevy rides on a custom-engineered chassis, and a coat of Axalta Red Metallic adorns bodywork kept pristine with Wizards Products.

Submitted by: Christian Borucki
Vehicle: ’59 Pontiac Bonneville

Wearing a coat of Riviera Blue paint, this classic ’59 rests atop a one-off Art Morrison chassis that hosts a LS376 engine sporting a Flowmaster exhaust, and a 4L70 automatic transmission.

Power flows to a Strange 9-in. rearend that turns American Racing rim and BFGoodrich tires; Wilwood disc brakes reside at all four corners, and wheels are turned courtesy of IDIDT steering components.

Suspension is coilovers in front and four-link in the back. Redline Lumtronix LED headlights light up the road, Ogden Chrome lend exterior shine, and inside, Rockford Fosgate audio components provide on-road entertainment.

Submitted by: Darren Sammartino
Vehicle: ’70 Chevrolet K20

A multi-year project, this Grabber Blue 3/4-ton runs a swapped-in ’92 Cummins 12-valve diesel that works in tandem with an Industrial Injection fuel pump, a K&N intake, a Mishimoto radiator and MBRP 3-in. exhaust. Backing it a Getrag 360M transmission and an NP 205 transfer case.

A Dana 60 front and 14-bolt rear turn RBP Cobra beadlocks and Interco Cobalt tires. KC HiLItes provide illumination and a Smittybilt winch residing in a Chassis Unlimited bumper can provide extraction.

Interior upgrades include products from Auto Meter, BS Sand Seats and Hornblasters.

Submitted by: Randy Weaver
Vehicle: ’70 Plymouth Sport Satellite

This pristine ’70s exterior sports a number of unique touches, including a custom hood, custom bumpers and flush-mounted glass. Under the hood sits an engine that’s been equipped with a Texas Speed cam, Speed Engineering headers, K&N filters  and Flowmaster exhaust.

Electrical upgrades are afforded by American Autowire, and a fuel tank from Rick’s Tanks provides extra fuel. Suspension come courtesy of Ridetech coilovers, with tires sourced from Mickey Thompson and brakes from Wilwood.

Inside, Dakota Digital gauges monitor engine functions, and a Kicker audio system provides entertainment.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a preliminary ruling that Vietnamese tire producers were receiving unfair subsidies associated with the country’s “undervalued currency.” The DOC calculated countervailing duty rates ranging from 6.23% to 10.08%. The DOC will now instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of tires from Vietnam based on the preliminary rates. Imports of passenger tires from Vietnam were valued at about $470 million in 2019.

The countervailing duty decision is part of a broader investigation alleging that passenger and light truck tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value (“dumping”). The DOC is expected to issue its preliminary anti-dumping decisions by December 29, with final decisions to be issued in mid-March 2021. The alleged dumping margins are as high as 195% for Korea, 147% for Taiwan, 217% for Thailand, and 33% for Vietnam.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has already made an initial determination that U.S. industry is likely being harmed by the alleged dumping and subsidies. For duties to take effect, the ITC must confirm that there is harm or threatened harm to U.S. industry once the DOC has issued its final dumping and subsidy calculations.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a preliminary ruling that Vietnamese tire producers were receiving unfair subsidies associated with the country’s “undervalued currency.” The DOC calculated countervailing duty rates ranging from 6.23% to 10.08%. The DOC will now instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of tires from Vietnam based on the preliminary rates. Imports of passenger tires from Vietnam were valued at about $470 million in 2019.

The countervailing duty decision is part of a broader investigation alleging that passenger and light truck tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value (“dumping”). The DOC is expected to issue its preliminary anti-dumping decisions by December 29, with final decisions to be issued in mid-March 2021. The alleged dumping margins are as high as 195% for Korea, 147% for Taiwan, 217% for Thailand, and 33% for Vietnam.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has already made an initial determination that U.S. industry is likely being harmed by the alleged dumping and subsidies. For duties to take effect, the ITC must confirm that there is harm or threatened harm to U.S. industry once the DOC has issued its final dumping and subsidy calculations.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a preliminary ruling that Vietnamese tire producers were receiving unfair subsidies associated with the country’s “undervalued currency.” The DOC calculated countervailing duty rates ranging from 6.23% to 10.08%. The DOC will now instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of tires from Vietnam based on the preliminary rates. Imports of passenger tires from Vietnam were valued at about $470 million in 2019.

The countervailing duty decision is part of a broader investigation alleging that passenger and light truck tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value (“dumping”). The DOC is expected to issue its preliminary anti-dumping decisions by December 29, with final decisions to be issued in mid-March 2021. The alleged dumping margins are as high as 195% for Korea, 147% for Taiwan, 217% for Thailand, and 33% for Vietnam.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has already made an initial determination that U.S. industry is likely being harmed by the alleged dumping and subsidies. For duties to take effect, the ITC must confirm that there is harm or threatened harm to U.S. industry once the DOC has issued its final dumping and subsidy calculations.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has decided to keep the antidumping duty (AD) order issued in August 2015 in place for certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the People’s Republic of China. The AD order was subject to potential repeal under the “sunset review” process that occurs every five years. The DOC ruled that revocation of the AD order would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping at margins up to 87.99%. The AD duties imposed in 2015 ranged from 14.4% to 87.9% and countervailing duties ranged from 20.7% to 100.8%, depending on manufacturer. The “China-wide” rates were 30.9% and 87.8%, respectively.

The covered passenger vehicle and light truck tires are new pneumatic tires, of rubber. They may be tube-type, tubeless, radial, or non-radial, and they may be intended for sale to original equipment manufacturers or the replacement market. The subject tires are currently classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings:

• 4011.10.10.10
• 4011.10.10.20
• 4011.10.10.30
• 4011.10.10.40
• 4011.10.10.50
• 4011.10.10.60
• 4011.10.10.70
• 4011.10.50.00
• 4011.20.10.05
• 4011.20.50.10

The subject tires meeting may also fall under the following subheadings:

• 4011.99.45.10
• 4011.99.45.50
• 4011.99.85.10
• 4011.99.85.50
• 8708.70.45.45
• 8708.70.45.60
• 8708.70.60.30
• 8708.70.60.45
• 8708.70.60.60

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has decided to keep the antidumping duty (AD) order issued in August 2015 in place for certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the People’s Republic of China. The AD order was subject to potential repeal under the “sunset review” process that occurs every five years. The DOC ruled that revocation of the AD order would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping at margins up to 87.99%. The AD duties imposed in 2015 ranged from 14.4% to 87.9% and countervailing duties ranged from 20.7% to 100.8%, depending on manufacturer. The “China-wide” rates were 30.9% and 87.8%, respectively.

The covered passenger vehicle and light truck tires are new pneumatic tires, of rubber. They may be tube-type, tubeless, radial, or non-radial, and they may be intended for sale to original equipment manufacturers or the replacement market. The subject tires are currently classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings:

• 4011.10.10.10
• 4011.10.10.20
• 4011.10.10.30
• 4011.10.10.40
• 4011.10.10.50
• 4011.10.10.60
• 4011.10.10.70
• 4011.10.50.00
• 4011.20.10.05
• 4011.20.50.10

The subject tires meeting may also fall under the following subheadings:

• 4011.99.45.10
• 4011.99.45.50
• 4011.99.85.10
• 4011.99.85.50
• 8708.70.45.45
• 8708.70.45.60
• 8708.70.60.30
• 8708.70.60.45
• 8708.70.60.60

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has decided to keep the antidumping duty (AD) order issued in August 2015 in place for certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the People’s Republic of China. The AD order was subject to potential repeal under the “sunset review” process that occurs every five years. The DOC ruled that revocation of the AD order would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping at margins up to 87.99%. The AD duties imposed in 2015 ranged from 14.4% to 87.9% and countervailing duties ranged from 20.7% to 100.8%, depending on manufacturer. The “China-wide” rates were 30.9% and 87.8%, respectively.

The covered passenger vehicle and light truck tires are new pneumatic tires, of rubber. They may be tube-type, tubeless, radial, or non-radial, and they may be intended for sale to original equipment manufacturers or the replacement market. The subject tires are currently classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings:

• 4011.10.10.10
• 4011.10.10.20
• 4011.10.10.30
• 4011.10.10.40
• 4011.10.10.50
• 4011.10.10.60
• 4011.10.10.70
• 4011.10.50.00
• 4011.20.10.05
• 4011.20.50.10

The subject tires meeting may also fall under the following subheadings:

• 4011.99.45.10
• 4011.99.45.50
• 4011.99.85.10
• 4011.99.85.50
• 8708.70.45.45
• 8708.70.45.60
• 8708.70.60.30
• 8708.70.60.45
• 8708.70.60.60

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently issued a letter inviting companies to disclose by December 31, 2020, any unapproved hardware or software programs that impact emissions-control systems in vehicles sold in California. The letter specifically cited auxiliary emission-control devices (AECDs) installed on vehicles. An AECD is defined as any element of design which senses temperature, vehicle speed, engine RPM, transmission gear, manifold vacuum or any other parameter for the purpose of activating, modulating, delaying or deactivating the operation of any part of the emission control system.

In 2015, regulators discovered that Volkswagen had installed a program on turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine vehicles that activated emissions controls in a testing situation but not in real-world driving conditions. Other automakers were subsequently found to have installed AECDs whereby the vehicles produced different emissions results for highway use versus in regulatory test conditions. The violations resulted in settlements with substantial fines and recall mandates.  

CARB notes that some AECDs change the operation of emissions-control equipment when required by specific, sometimes extreme driving conditions, such as pulling a maximum load uphill in hot weather. CARB would consider the AECD legal if fully disclosed and if there is a technically justified rationale for its limited use.

CARB is scheduled to open a new state-of-the-art testing facility in Riverside, California, in 2021 that will include sophisticated detection and testing techniques to identify undisclosed AECDs and other unapproved changes in software and hardware that can affect emissions. CARB’s letter offers manufacturers an opportunity to voluntarily inform the agency of any previously undisclosed software devices or hardware for both on- and off-road applications. While CARB may still pursue an enforcement action, monetary penalties would likely be reduced 25%-75%.

While AECDs installed on automobiles may be a primary focus of the CARB letter, the agency’s voluntary disclosure offer also applies to aftermarket parts manufacturers. Companies may wish to conduct an internal audit in case there is a need to contact CARB before the December 31deadline. Issues to consider would include:

• Products being sold in California that don’t have an Executive Order (EO).
• Newer year models or part numbers that need to be updated for products with an EO.
• EO product changes/updates that change functionality for which CARB should be aware.
• Recalls or field fixes that have not been disclosed.

With respect to obtaining California EOs, the SEMA Garage was established to assist members in testing their emissions-related parts. The SEMA Garage makes experts and resources available to help members navigate the compliance process, including:

• Evaluation of your product and recommendations for compliance procedures.
• Assistance with the CARB EO process.
• Interaction with CARB staff on your behalf.
• Review and evaluation of test data.

The SEMA Garage includes a laboratory where members can have their products tested at an affordable cost. The lab capabilities cover all tests (except evap) that may be required by CARB for the purposes of obtaining an EO for both gasoline and diesel vehicles. There are other test laboratories around the country as well. SEMA encourages it members to pursue testing of applicable emissions-related products for highway vehicles. For more information: www.semagarage.com.