Racing news: Mercedes buys 75.1% of the World Championship-winning Brawn Racing Formula One team; Phoenix Management Group LLC will take over operation of the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series next season; Tony Schumacher secures seventh NHRA Top Fuel drag racing championship by two points over Larry Dixon; and more.
NHTSA has again postponed the effective date for the revised lighting standard. The agency wants extra time to confirm that there were no substantive changes included when the agency published the reorganized and simplified FMVSS 108 in 2007.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association was established in 1963. It serves the industry with market research, as a legislative watchdog, as an educational outlet and as an advocate for the opening of international markets. Its membership has grown to include more than 7,300 companies, including manufacturers, WDs, jobbers, and retailers serving every automotive niche.
The Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) was founded in 1971 with goals very similar to those of SEMA. PWA's membership includes specialty automotive parts wholesalers who have banded together to deal with management, financial and legislative issues.
Each of the associations either has just installed or is about to install new leadership. Rick Rollins has assumed the chairmanship of the SEMA Board of Directors, and Donnie Eatherly will take the reins of PWA as its new president beginning in January. Both are industry veterans who share the unique perspective of years of volunteer experience in both associations.
Recently, SEMA News had the opportunity to speak with the two executives about how SEMA and PWA might work together.Ford and General Motors presented their respective Design Awards at the 2009 SEMA Show, recognizing design excellence in the specialty-equipment industry.
Considine Sales & Marketing earned the 2009 SEMA Manufacturers' Rep
Agency of the Year during the 2009 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet.
SEMA members are invited to create renderings for a new project vehicle that SEMA is working on with a major U.S. automaker.
Recognizing his industry dedication and legislative activism in support of the specialty-equipment industry, SEMA named Doug Evans its 2009 Person of the Year.
Another SEMA Show is in the books, so tell us: what can we do better?
Today more than ever, the specialty-equipment is bound together through
competition, passion and innovation. Click through to view a tribute to the bonds of this unique industry.
With the goal to cultivate the next generation of enthusiasts and technicians, Jim Bingham of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge received the SEMA Chairman's Service Award.