DIAMOND BAR, CA (08.31.2021) – SEMA members have until September 3 to submit nominations for the 2021 SEMA Council and Network Awards.  

SEMA Council and Network Awards honor the dedication and passion that drives the automotive aftermarket industry by recognizing companies and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the niche automotive aftermarket segments that they represent.  

If you know of a council or network member who has significantly enhanced the stature and growth of the industry, nominate them for an award today so that they may have the chance to get the recognition that they deserve.  

Nominations are open for the following councils and networks:

• Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)
• Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)
• Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA)
• Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)
• Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)
• Wheel and Tire Council (WTC)
• Young Executives Network (YEN) 

Visit sema.org for more.

LAS VEGAS, NV (08.03.2021) – The SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance Select Committee participated in the recent SEMA Leadership Meetings in Las Vegas. SEMA Board of Directors and Councils and SEMA staff discussed the critical initiatives the SEMA Board is focused on for our industry. SEMA will be publishing these initiatives in the very near future.

Now the SEMA HRIA select committee is heading to Louisville this week for the NSRA Street Rod Nationals hosting education days for the Hot Rod industry.

Left to Right – Kris Bluntzer-Empire Garage, Joe Kubiak-Wilwood, Tim McCarthy-Chair Elect HUSHMAT/ZyCoat, Danny Agosta-Chair Steele Rubber, Jeff Major- IPC Bed Wood, David Page-Edelbrock Group, Amy Fitzgerald-Cool Hand Customs.

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DIAMOND BAR, CA (08.02.2021) – SEMA has announced the hiring of Benjamin Kaminsky as the new Detroit operations manager. Earlier this year, SEMA announced the purchase of a 45,000-sq.-ft. building in Detroit to be used as a second SEMA Garage. Kaminsky will be responsible for the overall management of SEMA Garage Detroit services and facilities to assist members with new product development and integration.

“Benjamin Kaminsky will be a great addition to our SEMA Garage team,” said Mike Spagnola, vice president of OEM & product development programs. “He comes to SEMA with over 20 years of experience in the automotive and automotive aftermarket industry as an engineering and project manager having worked at both automakers and tier-one suppliers.”

Kaminsky will work closely with domestic and import OEMs, along with tier-level suppliers and testing facilities to ensure flow of information essential to the industry’s accurate development of new and innovative products. They will also collaborate to develop opportunities that will benefit SEMA-member manufacturers. Kaminsky’s experience will allow him to cultivate these relationships. Prior to joining SEMA, Kaminsky worked at General Motors as a senior design and release engineer. He oversaw the design, development, validation and release of Chevrolet Performance air intakes, exhausts and components for use in performance applications. He also worked closely with GM emissions compliance and legal groups to ensure engineering hardware development and release processes consistently delivered products that met and exceeded regulatory requirements.

Prior to GM, Kaminsky worked at Bosch Motorsport in a variety of roles, from senior technical engineer to hardware development manager. He managed a department of engineers to develop hardware components for the professional racing industry.

“With his experience and solid OEM and tier supplier relationships, Ben will help the SEMA Garage Detroit best serve our manufacturer members,” shared Spagnola.

The SEMA Garage Detroit will offer manufacturers access to advanced product-development tools and equipment, a state-of-the-art emissions testing lab, an ADAS research and development center and expert technicians who will help bring products to market at the SEMA Garage Detroit. The Detroit facility will give aftermarket parts manufacturers access to sophisticated resources that are typically accessible only to large-scale manufacturers. In addition to exclusive OEM measuring sessions, scanning services, advanced tools and equipment, a CARB-recognized emissions lab and a modern training center, the Detroit facility will include expanded services and offer new SEMA benefits through the ADAS Research and Development Center.

“Being part of SEMA Garage provides me the opportunity to combine my engineering background, project management skills and relationships to make a difference in the automotive and automotive aftermarket industry,” said Benjamin Kaminksy. “I look forward to working with SEMA manufacturer members and continuing my relationships with OEMs and tier suppliers.”

The SEMA Garage Detroit facility is scheduled to be open for members in early 2022. For more information, visit www.semagarage.com.

This article was written by Della Domingo for sema.org

DIAMOND BAR, CA (07.23.2021) – It takes dedication, hard work and drive to build and grow an automotive specialty-equipment business. Even more so to grow an entire industry.

July 23 is the deadline to submit nominations for the prestigious SEMA Industry Awards and recognize a company or person that has made a significant impact on the specialty-equipment market within the past year. Nominations are open in the following categories:

Person of the Year
Manufacturer of the Year
Warehouse Distributor of the Year
Gen-III Innovator of the Year

For consideration, an honoree must exhibit professionalism, service, integrity and ethics that help propel the industry forward. To nominate an honoree and learn more about the criteria for each award, visit www.sema.org/awards or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org.

Article written by Ashley Reyes for sema.org

DIAMOND BAR, CA (06.21.2021) – Businesses throughout the country are taking a stand against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) claim that it is illegal to modify street vehicles and convert them into dedicated race cars. The $2 billion racing industry is pushing back by seeking passage of the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act of 2021 (H.R. 3281), a bipartisan bill which clarifies the motorsports-parts industry’s ability to sell products that enable racers to compete, and protects Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated race cars.

“The inconsistency of the EPA’s stance around converting street cars to purpose-built track vehicles has not only constrained long-term investment in the industry but it is creating added complexity/concern for our customers,” said Chris Douglas of Edelbrock Group, a company that has been manufacturing performance parts since 1938. “The RPM Act is the first step in protecting and preserving our industry for future generations—now is the time for action.”

In 2015, the EPA endangered the motorsports industry when it introduced a proposal that would have put an end to racers’ ability to modify street vehicles into dedicated race cars, a practice that has taken place for 45 years since the Clean Air Act was introduced. Although the EPA formally withdrew the proposal, the agency has since maintained that street vehicles cannot be converted into race cars—an assertion that has left the motorsports industry in a state of flux. Passage of the RPM Act will make clear that the Clean Air Act does not apply to street vehicles that have been converted into race cars used exclusively in competition, giving the industry the confidence and clarity that it needs.

As advocates for the motorsports industry, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) is also pushing for the RPM Act. “Businesses are at risk,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, PRI president. “Racers and businesses deserve a law that clarifies that it is legal to convert a street vehicle into a dedicated race car. PRI will continue to fight to preserve what is an American tradition until the RPM Act is passed.”

Introduced by U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA), the RPM Act currently has the support of 65 cosponsors, including 19 Democrats and 46 Republicans. Dedicated race cars, which represent 0.07% of vehicles in operation, are trailered to and from the racetrack and have little effect on the environment. Yet for thousands of amateur racers, starting with a street-legal vehicle and using race products to convert it into a dedicated race car is the only affordable way to get into the sport. In order to protect racers and ensure that racers can continue to legally modify their vehicles into race cars, the RPM Act—which was introduced to Congress last month—must be passed into law.

“Many of our customers and employees are avid racers who build dedicated vehicles for competition,” says Al Noe, Summit Racing Equipment’s chief marketing officer. “Our customers trust us to deliver the parts they need so they are ready to race; they can also trust us to fight for their right to build and race these vehicles. The RPM Act is vital to ensuring a vibrant future for motorsports and our industry as a whole.”

The RPM Act was first introduced as a bill in 2016. Over the years, it received strong legislative support, and although versions of the bill have passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee, it was never fully voted on before the end of any Congressional year. Because the bill has already been subject to committee hearings before the House and the Senate, the 2021 RPM Act is well positioned to become law this legislative year.

The racing community is urged to continue to voice support for the bill by visiting www.saveourracecars.com.

This article was written by Juan Torres for sema.org