HEADLINED BY THE 2023 SEMA SHOW, “SEMA WEEK” WILL KICK OFF THIS NOVEMBER

HEADLINED BY THE 2023 SEMA SHOW, “SEMA WEEK” WILL KICK OFF THIS NOVEMBER

 

By SEMA News Editors


SEMA has announced an ambitious five-year initiative to expand the annual SEMA Show’s reach in Las Vegas. Officially dubbed SEMA Week, the goal is to create the world’s most expansive and exciting automotive event for industry and enthusiasts alike.

 

Among the highlights of the 2022 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, was the announcement of a bold five-year vision to expand the SEMA Show into a broader Las Vegas experience. Officially called SEMA Week, the plan seeks to develop the world’s most passionate and exciting automotive event for both industry businesses and vehicle enthusiasts. SEMA Week will kick off this November 2023 with multiple new concepts, activities and events continuing to be phased in over the five-year roll-out period. 

The business-to-business SEMA Show will continue to anchor SEMA Week, with the Show remaining a trade-only event Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday, the final day of the SEMA Show, a greater number of qualified enthusiasts will gain exclusive access to the Show through the Friday Experience program, which was launched two years ago. The SEMA Cruise and SEMA Experience—which draw thousands of fans on Friday—will also remain in place. . 

The big change will begin Friday evening of SEMA Week, when the association will take over the nearby Las Vegas Festival Grounds to debut an all-new SEMA Fest event. Open to the entire public, the festival will continue through Saturday night.

“We have been watching the connection between enthusiasts and our industry grow for more than a decade and, as the industry’s trade association, have a responsibility to help facilitate that connection in new and meaningful ways,” said James Lawrence, SEMA Chairman of the Board. “By creating SEMA Week and SEMA Fest, we will be able to maintain the integrity of the trade show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals while introducing a new platform for enthusiasts and the industry to engage with one another.” 

Although SEMA Week will mark a major turning point for the association, SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola noted it follows a progression of recent SEMA outreaches to the enthusiast market. “In 2007, we brought the television show “Overhaulin’” to the SEMA Show. In 2011, the SEMA Cruise was launched. In 2014, we introduced SEMA Ignited and the SEMA Battle of the Builders. And [in 2021], the Friday Experience brought 5,000 automotive consumers to be part of the SEMA Show,” he said.

According to SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso, SEMA Week’s SEMA Fest will unite automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry “in a high-octane and immersive festival-like celebration of car culture.” The event will feature top music and entertainment, a car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities and motorsport events. 

Some may wonder why a trade association like SEMA, best known for its industry-only Show, is now making such a sizable commitment to the consumer space as well. In announcing SEMA Week, Lawrence explained it is part of a broader initiative to capture the hearts and imaginations of the enthusiast public and galvanize consumers behind the industry. A trade association has only so many business voices it can make heard. But a trade association supported by millions of consumers who use and enjoy its products speaks volumes to governmental policymakers at a time when the right to enjoy and modify vehicles is under threat.

“We as an association need to step out of the background, step up to the podium, and take a bigger charge in leading this. Politically, SEMA needs to be bolder and act more decisively, with more conviction,” he said.

 


lthough SEMA Week will be open to the general public at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, the flagship SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center will continue as the industry’s premier trade-only event Tuesday through Thursday of SEMA Week.

 

The SEMA Week concept also aligns with a trend reshaping the trade-show industry at large. “This is a natural evolution of the many live activations and performance demonstrations we’ve been creating for years now,” said Gattuso. “We’re going to leverage a decade of planning and events into what the trade-show industry has labeled ‘festivalization.’ The great thing about creating a festival-type experience is it turns enthusiasts into evangelists. It can also turn car-curious people into enthusiasts.” 

“During the pandemic our industry’s pathway from manufacturers or service providers to end-user enthusiasts became more direct than ever,” added Gattuso. “With SEMA Week we’re building on that connectivity to help the end-user understand our industry’s latest trends, innovations and products and speed up the timeframe to consumer adoption.”

SEMA Week will also include a SEMA Auction featuring some of the best builds from the Show, plus many more amazing vehicles to headline the festivities. As an association, SEMA will continue to expand and refine SEMA Week, adding new events and activities throughout the city of Las Vegas each year. The city is fast becoming a hub for car culture, Gattuso observed, and SEMA plans to fuel and build on that phenomenon. 

“Our commitment to growing and maintaining our industry’s B2B connections hasn’t changed,” emphasized Gattuso. “SEMA Week adds a new opportunity to deliver our core industry audience the best automotive event that they’ve ever been to while introducing a whole new realm of people into what our industry does.” 

Perhaps SEMA Chairman James Lawrence best summed up SEMA Week’s potential during his Industry Awards Banquet announcement: “It’s going to be everything you love about SEMA, and so much more,” he said. “We believe, within a few years, it’s going to make SEMA Week the can’t-miss automotive event in the world.”

In coming months, additional details regarding the 2023 SEMA Show, SEMA Week, and SEMA Fest will be announced through multiple SEMA communications channels, including the SEMA News magazine, SEMA News digital, and social media. 

 

 

THE 2022 SEMA NEW VEHICLE AWARDS

THE 2022 SEMA NEW VEHICLE AWARDS

Recognizing the Most Customizable New Platforms For The Coming Year

Compiled by SEMA News Staff

Each year prior to the SEMA Show, exhibitors are polled on the new vehicles that, in their judgment, represent the best opportunities for accessorization via the aftermarket for the coming year. Vehicles are chosen in six distinct classes—including a brand-new class for 2022, EV of the Year—and the winners are announced ahead of the start of the Show. This year’s announcement was made on Monday, October 31, on the eve of the 2022 Show. The winners are listed at right.

“The SEMA Award recognizes the hottest new vehicles on the market that offer the greatest opportunities for customization,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales. “SEMA Award-winning vehicles are setting worldwide trends in the automotive enthusiast industry. The 2022 SEMA Show had on display many of the SEMA Award-
winning vehicles, each customized in its 
unique way.”
What follows on these pages is a sampling of the winning vehicles that exhibited at the 2022 SEMA Show.

 

Car of The Year: Dodge Challenger
 

On its farewell tour, the “Last Call” Dodge Challenger—and its stablemate Charger—made a splash appearance at the 2022 SEMA Show in ScatPack “Swinger” trim, recalling the musclecar’s glory years of the late ’60s through the early ’70s. The limited-edition (1,000 units only) Challenger gets its own unique grille badging, painted Shaker intake, spoiler and “345” fender badges, 20x11 Gold School wheels with black six-piston Brembo brakes, Mod Grain interior with aluminum bezel textures, Nappa/Alcantara seating with green stitching and green Dodge Rhombi logo, retro Swinger rear fender graphics, and Sublime Green exterior paint.

 

Fullsize Truck of The Year: Ram

 

The SEMA Fullsize Truck of the Year, RAM made multiple appearances the at the 2022 Show, including the TRX Gold Shot concept seen here. Designed for backcountry adventure, this Mopar-built, 700hp TRX rides on a set of 37-in. BFGoodrich tires mounted to 18x9.5 Black Rhino Camber wheels. Custom-etched skid plates are said to improve approach angle, and a set of Mopar rock rails provides additional armor proofing. A retractable bed step enhances bed access, and the Ram-Bar behind the cab holds a pair of TYRI concept lights. Inside, black Capri leather seats with Alcantara suede inner bolsters are accented by gold stitching, and vinyl flooring taken from a 1500 Tradesman makes cleanup easier after a day in the dirt.

 

Midsize Truck of The Year: Jeep Gladiator

 

The SEMA Midsize Truck of the Year, the Jeep Gladiator has made a splash in the overlanding space that was once the province of midsize Toyotas, and this Rubicon model located in the Overland Experience exhibit has many fine attributes. An Armadillo 23Zero aluminum hard-shell tent features polyurethane coating to keep inside occupants cool on hot summer days. ARB bumpers provide stoutness and strength, a Warn Zeon 10S 10,000lb. winch aids with extractions, and the Factor 55 Ultrahook stores up against the fairlead for added safety. Rolling stock comprises a set of Nitto tires on black beadlocked rims.

 

Sport Utility of The Year: Jeep Wrangler
 

Among the most commonly seen vehicles at the 2022 SEMA Show, the Wrangler JL has been a hit with consumers and enthusiasts alike since its introduction in 2017, and this Magneto 2.0 concept Wrangler points a possible way to the future of the brand. All electric, the Magneto 2.0 uses 800-volt battery packs to power a custom axial flux electric motor which is said to produce an estimated 625 hp, 850 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 0–60 time of only 2.0 sec. To accommodate the electric drive system, Jeep stretched the wheelbase 12 in. The six-speed transmission was retained, as was the Rock-Trac transfer case, but beefier Dynatrac axles—a lockered 
60 Pro-Rock in front and a lockered Pro-Rock 80 rear—help handle the higher torque loads. A 3-in. lift clears rooms for a set of 40-in. tires.

 

Sport Compact of The Year: Toyota GR86

The SEMA award-winning Sport Compact Car, the GR86 has been an instant hit in multiple racing circuits, as this “Daily Drifter” proves. Built by SEMA 2022 Influencer of the Year Larry Chen, the Toyota utilizes an HKS GT2 Supercharger Pro ZD8 kit and a MagnaFlow NEO Series cat-back performance exhaust to produce some 300 hp. Power flows from a six-speed manual to an OS Giken Super Lock 1.5-way differential, and a StopTech Big Brake kit brings the ride to a halt. The drifter rides on an ST XTA Plus 3 coilover suspension that incorporates SPL Parts adjustable control arms, adjustable sway bar links, and a GK Tech steering angle kit. Inside, a Sparco EVO QRT racing seat with six-point harness and a Studio RSR four-point roll cage protect driver and passenger, and a Vivid Racing VR Bespoke steering wheel points the GR in the desired direction.

 

 

EV of The Year: Volkswagen ID.4

 

SEMA’s first-ever EV of the Year, the Volkswagen ID.4 made its SEMA Show debut last November. Despite its playful external appearance, this ID was designed to endure some serious off-roading. Built by Tanner Foust and Rhys Millen and piloted by Mercedes Lilienthal, this colorful specimen successfully completed the 2021 Rebelle Rally, traversing 1,400 off-pavement miles over three weeks across the California and Nevada deserts. Excess weight kills battery range, so modifications were limited to some new suspension components, tubular control arms, custom skid plates and battery protection, and a few other items required for a driving expedition. The AWD ID.4 EV utilizes a 107hp front motor and a 201hp permanent magnet rear motor, with a combined 339 lb.-ft. of torque, so despite its mild appearance, the ID.4 has plenty of power.

Wrangler/Gladiator Hybrid

Both Jeeps were 2022 award winners in their respective categories, and this unique version from Quadratec combines elements of both vehicles. A gas-electric PHEV, the Greg Henderson-built “JTe” began its life as a ’22 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe Rubicon, which underwent a chop behind the front doors with a Gladiator truck bed and Mopar body replacement panels added to the back. The Jeep rides on a Lynx 2.5-in. suspension with adjustable control arms and Steer Smarts steering components. Bronze 17-in. Lynx TrailGunner wheels and 37-in. Nitto Recon Grappler tires provide traction, and Carnivore front and rear bumpers offer protection. A Lost Canyon bed rack and rooftop tent have been installed, as have Rotopax water containers. Quadratec’s J5 50-in. LED lightbar features ORACLE Lighting flush-mounted LED units.

 

Toyota Tacoma

A runner-up for SEMA’s Midsize Truck of the Year award, Tacomas have long been a preferred platform for overlanders, as this example at the Redarc booth demonstrates. An ICON add-a-leaf suspension kit and Daystar rear airbags clear room in the wheelwells for a set of 265/75R16 Falken Wildpeak AT3s. A Warn V10 winch works in tandem with a Factor 55 fairlead and FlatLink Expert shackle mount to aid in extraction. An ARB Essentials recovery kit and dual air compressor are both on board for additional duties. For camp chores, an AluCab Gen 3.1 Expedition rooftop tent and Shadow awning provide shelter. A Front Runner roof rack affords additional storage, and a CBI Covert front bumper and 30-in. Rigid light bar provide protection and illumination. And, of course, a slew of Redarc products are aboard to improve electrical functions.

 

Toyota Tundra

 

SEMA Full-Size Truck of the Year runner-up, the Toyota Tundra made a strong showing at the 2022 SEMA Show with a number of intriguing concepts, including the off-grid-oriented Trailhunter prototype shown here, which is slated to see limited production starting in 2023. Toyota was vague on specs at the SEMA Show, but the company did reveal that each Trailhunter will come equipped with custom badging and graphics, its own dedicated suspension kit, and accessories including skid plating, roof rack, bumpers, lighting, refrigerator and a rooftop tent all engineered for the overlander. 

 

Nissan Z

Car of the Year runner-up, Nissan brought its latest NISMO project to the 2022 SEMA Show outfitted with a slew of performance parts that will be available for the production Z in the future. Among these are new LM-RS1 forged wheels, an all-new, ride-height-adjustable coilover suspension, and a big-brake kit comprising six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers. Under the hood, a new cold air intake and a performance heat exchanger will help optimize performance on the track, and a number of dress-up items are also offered for the Z, including a GT titanium shift knob, carbon-fiber side-mirror housings and carbon-fiber steering wheel trim. 

 

 

SEMA PERSON OF THE YEAR - Josh Poulson

SEMA PERSON OF THE YEAR - Josh Poulson

By Mike Imlay


SEMA Person of the Year Josh Poulson at the 2022 SEMA Show Pro Council Booth. Poulson is the current PRO chair.

 

This past November 3, nearly 3,000 industry professionals gathered for the annual 2022 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet in Las Vegas. The Thursday-night celebration encompasses the presentation of several distinguished honors, but perhaps none as prestigious as the SEMA Person of the Year Award. Beyond any personal or professional achievements, the award pays tribute to an individual who embodies service and dedication to the specialty automotive industry and the advancement of SEMA members throughout the aftermarket.

For 2022, the award went to SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Council Chair Josh Poulson. The principal of Auto Additions, Poulson is well known for his industry leadership contributions, philanthropy and overall positive influence on SEMA members. 

“SEMA is proud to recognize Josh Poulson as our 2022 Person of the Year,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “Josh has long been an active SEMA member who exemplifies the association’s spirit of volunteerism. He has served many years on the PRO council and on multiple SEMA task forces. More recently, first as a PRO select-committee member and now as chair, he has guided PRO in creating incredible benefits for its members, including sales and installer training programs. We congratulate Josh on this well-deserved honor.”

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Poulson began his aftermarket career at age 16, when a friend recruited him as a part-time technician for Auto Additions. In Poulson’s words, it was more a “fluke” than anything else—simply a job to work himself through college.

“I showed up the first day and asked, ‘What do we do?’ And he said, ‘Well, we put sunroofs and striping on cars and stuff like that.’ I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ To be honest, cars weren’t really my first love,” Poulson recalls.

“I was an installer for probably about six or seven years, and they realized I wasn’t that great of one, but I was dependable. 
I had my strengths and my weaknesses, but I was better at talking to people. So one year they all went to the SEMA Show and left me to run things. When they came back, the owner [Ken Morris] said, ‘Oh man, he did a great job while we were gone. Let’s, put him into management/sales,’ and my role just grew from there.”

Moving up the ranks, Poulson became good friends with Morris and his wife Vicki, who together entrusted him with their company in 2000. “I still keep in frequent contact with them—they’re actually still part of the business. They’ve just treated me like a son going on 30 years now. They’ve always given me the [business] freedom when I’ve needed it, and their mentorship when I’ve needed it,” said Poulson.

 


Poulson (right) receives his Person of the Year Award from Sara Morosan, the prior year’s honoree, at the 2022 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet. Jarod DeAnda (left) emceed the event.

 

Under Poulson’s guidance, Auto Additions has since doubled its sales to become one of the nation’s premier restyling brands, employing more than 35 people serving car dealerships and the retail public alike with more than 300 accessories and services. Along the way, Poulson became an increasingly active member of PRO and was named the council’s Restyler of the Year in 2012 and PRO Person of the Year in 2015. Having served on the PRO select committee since 2013, he was recently elected council chair. He is also a veteran of more than 25 SEMA Shows. 

In addition to his work with PRO, Poulson is part of a group of individuals who formed Restylers United in 2006. Representing top non-competing restyling businesses from around the country, Restylers United members meet semiannually to share ideas and assist each other with problems and challenges in the field. To date, the group boasts 14 active members who have also become lasting friends. 

“We talk about what problems and challenges we’re going through, bring in vendors, and things like that. Whether it’s about buying a competitor, going over financials, or deciding to bring on a new product line, just having peers like that whom you can talk to and get honest opinions from—people who have done it and been in business longer than me—is invaluable,” said Poulson. 

In 2018, Poulson also became a partner in Auto Accessory Configurator, a software solution for U.S. restylers and shops that helps car dealers sell and provide accessories to their customers. According to Poulson, his experiences with Restylers United, Auto Accessory Configurator and his industry peers in general have provided him with a keen understanding of markets and challenges, making him a more 
effective voice within PRO and SEMA.

 


As a SEMA council volunteer, Poulson has built strong relationships with his association peers. Here he is pictured with (from left) SBN select-committee member Tiffanie Hartenstein, SEMA Council Director Nicole Bradle, SEMA Council Director Denise Waddingham, his wife Amanda, and SBN member Melissa Parker.

 

“There are many challenges for SEMA to address,” he explains. “There are the major ones, like CARB and emissions regulations and the right to modify your vehicle. But there are also some unseen things coming down the pipeline that maybe we’re not effectively reacting to because we don’t know how they’ll unfold.”

A specific concern for PRO is the changing model of how OEs sell vehicles through dealers, he added. Fast disappearing are the days when customers would walk into a dealership, select from many vehicles on the lot, and order a restyle package to further refine a vehicle to their tastes. “Now they can just order it however they want from the factory, and we’re maybe cut out. So for PRO membership, the future car-selling process and ensuring we’re a part of it is the biggest thing. The second biggest thing is the future of technicians and skilled labor, because now we’re competing with the OEMs, dealers and every mechanic shop out there. And not only do technicians have to be good with their hands, but with their brains too, because working on cars is harder than ever.”

Luckily, through his skill, dedication and openness, Poulson has built a strong network of peers and supporters within the SEMA community to take on such challenges. 
“If you have ever had the opportunity to hang out with Josh, he will jokingly say that he hates cars,” said BOOSTane founder and fellow SEMA volunteer Ian Lehn. “The irony is that it comes from someone who at every turn has made his professional and volunteer career about giving back to the automotive industry. I’d hazard to say he’s one of the biggest enthusiasts in our industry, and just doesn’t want to admit it. Person of the Year speaks to his commitment to those around him and to the future of the aftermarket.” 


Poulson is greatly assisted in running Auto Additions by Accounting Manager Kathy Ross and General Manager Jamie Rambo, who have become close personal friends.

“I am fortunate to call Josh a close friend, and to have witnessed up close the sacrifices that he has made for our membership and aftermarket community,” echoed Denise Waddingham, SEMA director of councils and liaison to PRO.  “Whether he wants to admit it or not, he is the kind of guy that we need leading us into tomorrow, even if he says he prefers car businesses to actual cars.”

For his own part, Poulson said he has a number of people to thank for his career and his SEMA Person of the Year Award. Among them is his wife of 22 years, Amanda, who he said is the family’s true car enthusiast. “She’s the one who pushes me a little bit to make sure I keep up my game there,” he laughs. “Our daughter Halle is 16, is just starting to drive, and is excited about it. Our son Chase, who’s 14, is also super excited about cars.”

“I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention two key people at my business,” he added. “My right hand man, General Manager Jamie Rambo, pretty much takes care of the day-to-day operations of the company. We’ve worked together for about 13 years, but he’s been a lifelong friend. And there’s also our Accounting Manager Kathy Ross, who has been with us for 20 years and helped me tremendously. And, of course, there’s my mentor Ken Morris and his wife Vicki, who hired me, got me started, brought me along and then entrusted me with the company.”

In fact, it’s the relationships that he’s formed over the years that have not only kept Poulson in the industry but fueled his advocacy for it. “Cars may not be my biggest passion, but the people in this industry are passionate about them, and I’m passionate for them,” he explained. “Whether it’s my employees, my family, fellow PRO members, other SEMA volunteers, or walking the SEMA Show and seeing 135,000 people who love and breathe this business, I keep thinking: Am I doing everything I can to help all of them? 

“When we as car people—as business people and entrepreneurs—put in our heads to do something and are willing to put in the hard work, we’re a dangerous group of people,” he concluded.  

 

 

A BUSINESSWOMAN’S BRONCO

A BUSINESSWOMAN’S BRONCO

SBN All-Female Ford Wildtrak Build Unveiled at the 2022 SEMA Show

By Douglas McColloch


The SEMA Businesswomens’ Network (SBN) All-Female Build team unveiled the 2022 Ford Bronco Wildtrak at the 2022 SEMA Show last November.

 

It was the culmination of a hectic 90-day build schedule that engaged more than 100 volunteer wrenches ranging in experience from novice to expert. It took the combined efforts of dozens of aftermarket companies and installation facilities, and it took place across two time zones. In the end, however, the build was a smashing success. The SEMA Businesswomens’ Network (SBN) All-Female Build project, a Ford Bronco four-door Wildtrak, made its debut at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last November before a crowd of hundreds of industry and media professionals.

“Ten years ago, we did our first All-Female build—a Ford Mustang,” explained Lisa Cabalquinto, program director for DriveShop, “and there were 55 women that came to help build the vehicle and manage the projects. This year, we had more than 250 women that volunteered to help with the project.”

For a project as ambitious as this to happen this quickly, a lot of things have to come together in an orderly fashion—and in this case of the Bronco, the team made it happen. First came the rendering, which was submitted by Monika Kalenski of MEK Magnet, whose artwork was selected by popular vote on social media. The drawing conjured an image of a wilderness-ready overlander that could still be employed as a practical daily driver.

Then the build team went to work. The Ford’s 2.7L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 received some mild upgrades, most notably an aFe Momentum GT cold-air intake and an AWE cat-back exhaust system. Turbosmart contributed a Kompact EM back valve, and Ford Performance treated the assembly to a power-pack 
performance calibration.

More extensive modifications followed to the chassis and suspension. An ICON Vehicle Dynamics 3- to 4-in. Stage 8 billet suspension system was installed, along with a BroncBusters Stage 3 billet aluminum housing to alleviate stress to the steering system. A Steer Smarts Yeti XD adjustable rear track bar was added to optimize suspension geometry. With suspension and steering upgrades installed, a set of 37x13.50R17 Milestar Patagonia MT02 tires and ICON 17x8.50 satin black alloy wheels were fitted up the to the wheelwells. For a stylistic flourish, McGard lug nuts feature a custom engraved “SBN” logo.

 


Build team members celebrate the completion of their project at the 2022 SEMA Show.

 

An overlanding rig needs a host of exterior upgrades to function well, and the SBN Bronco received an assortment. Baja Forged Crawler bumpers were installed front and rear, along with full underbody skidplating. A Warn VR EVO 105 winch and Factor 55 Ultrahook were installed to help with extraction, and Powerstep XL running boards from AMP Research assist with ingress and egress. ORACLE Lighting and switches were added to improve visibility, and a Cascadia 4x4 hood-mounted solar panel provides additional juice off the grid. Ford Performance donated a number of useful products, including an onboard compressor, TRED recovery boards, an ARB jack and a 37-in. spare tire mount. Ford Accessories contributed a LockNLoad roof rack system and Yakima Skyline tent. Adding a touch of style, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering provided the unique Lit Bronco grille. Terra Strada Design executed the custom exterior wrap, and Universal Technical Institute’s Long Beach, California, facility gave the team access to its paint booth.

Inside, the Bronco, Katzkin custom leather seat covers enhance creature comfort and a Goose Gear rear-seat delete affords extra space for an icebox module and storage drawer, which help to accommodate an ARB Classic Fridge that comes courtesy of Ford Performance. A Deep Sleep sleeping pad and DMOS Stealth shovel also found a home inside the cab, and Ford Accessories donated all-weather floor mats and Molle bags.

As with any ambitious build project, things didn’t always go as planned. Parts sometimes went missing or didn’t fit, and the team had to MacGyver solutions on the fly at times.

“It was very much a hands-on learning experience, and the team was eager to take on these challenges, including mocking up bumper fitment plates from cardboard in order to fabricate the actual plates,” said Nicole Bradle, SBN liaison. “The build continues to foster growth and community, not only among the volunteers but also between organizations.”

“The collaboration truly represents the spirit of the build,” added Cathy Clark, SBN chair. “This project was a chance to spotlight women in the automotive aftermarket industry and the ways in which they come together and offer support to each other.”

 


The original rendering for the build, submitted by Monika Kalenski of MEK Magnet, suggested an overlander that was still capable of being a daily driver.

 

Companies That Helped

  • Advanced Fiberglass Concepts
  • aFe Power
  • AMP Power Step
  • AWE
  • Baja Forged
  • BroncBusters
  • Cascadia 4x4
  • Chemical Guys
  • Deep Sleep
  • DMOS
  • Ford Motor Co.
  • Ford Accessories
  • Goose Gear
  • Icon Vehicle Dynamics
  • Katzkin Leather
  • McGard
  • MEK Magnet
  • MileStar Tires
  • MRT Performance
  • ORACLE Lighting
  • PPG
  • Seymour of Sycamore
  • Steer Smarts
  • Summit Racing
  • Terra Strada Design
  • TRAC LLC
  • Turbo Smart
  • UTI
  • Warn Industries
  • Yakima

 

 

SEMA LAUNCH PAD 2022

SEMA LAUNCH PAD 2022

The Final Five

By Douglas McColloch


The 2022 Launch Pad finalists (from left) Susan Pieper, DMOS; Frank Terlep, Auto Techcelerators LLC; Jake Hawksworth, Hypercraft; Dustin Golat, Thread Wizard; and Kevin Robinson, TRAC LLC

 

Since its inauguration in 2013, SEMA Launch Pad has been the specialty-equipment industry’s ultimate competition for aspiring and established entrepreneurs to introduce their products to a worldwide audience.

For 2022, the tenth annual SEMA Launch Pad competition attracted a record-high number of applications. From these, 15 semifinalists were chosen by a panel of industry experts. After a day of oral presentations and product demonstrations at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, five contestants were chosen to advance to the finals, held last November at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. We briefly recapped the event in last month’s issue, but for 2022, we decided to expand our print coverage to include a spotlight on each of the five finalists. What follows, edited for clarity and length, is a profile of each contender and a look at the unique products they’ve brought to life—all in their own words. 

Jake Hawksworth

Hometown: Provo, Utah
Job Title, Company: CEO, Hypercraft
Product: Modular vehicle battery systems

SEMA News: What’s your latest project? What’s in your driveway/garage/studio, etc.? 

Jake Hawksworth: When I went into this business a year and a half ago, full-time, I sold my ’65 Falcon four-door wagon. It had a 347 stroker in it, and it was my passion project, but I sold it to focus on the business side. So currently, no projects.

SN: Tell us a bit about your background: Where you grew up, how you got into the industry, and how many years you’ve been in it.

JH: Most of my kind of school years were spent in Arizona. I was big into mountain biking. My parents were entrepreneurs and my grandparents owned a manufacturing company in Minnesota. So after high school, I moved to Minnesota and got involved in manufacturing for powersports and eventually that got me into product design and development. That’s how I spent 15 years of my early career, and that’s led me to today, which is just a passion for emerging markets, new technology and developing products that fit within gaps in the industry.

SN: What was the inspiration/motivation for your product?

JH: The original inspiration was developing an electric vehicle. And the problem we had was that there are really no good powertrains for it unless you want to take parts out of an existing vehicle like a Tesla. We wanted more of a ground-up, bespoke powertrain system and we couldn’t find it, so we ended up starting to design it and doing it in-house. And that’s what’s led us to where we are today. Now, we’re 100% focused on powertrains only and we support vehicle builders and manufacturers instead.

SN: How long did it take to develop your product? Were there any difficulties you had to work through?

JH: Well, the product is in a constant state of development because technology is evolving and changing and we will continually develop with it. But on this specific design, we’ve spent the last nine months in R&D and testing it. Now we have it in some vehicle platforms, and we’ll continue to design it even further and we’ll work on scaling the manufacturing of it.

SN: What have you learned from the Launch Pad experience that you hadn’t known before? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

JH: We’re an EV company in an industry that’s been really dominated by internal combustion. And instead of people being hostile to us, they’ve been really encouraging. And the judges have been the same way—their positivity has just been amazing for us. They’ve been happy to help us along the way and hear what our problems are and to be a part of the solution.

SN: If you should win the competition, what do you plan to do with the 
money?

JH: The money is going to be invested right back into the product itself, and that will include some of the sales and marketing and continuing to show up to events like the SEMA Show and to get our product out there.

SN: What advice would you give to folks who are thinking about competing in the future?

JH: There’s no downside to trying. We had no idea if we were a good fit for a program like this, so we decided to enter and we just put our best foot forward, and we’re here in the top five. So I would say my best advice is, don’t think twice. Just enter and go for it.

SN: When you’re not at work, where will we find you, and what will you be 
doing?

JH: If I’m not working, I’m with my family. I have a wife and two young daughters, and we’re probably going to be up in the mountains in Utah camping or just out with our dogs. So just having family time.

Frank Terlep

Hometown: Poway, California
Job Title & Company: CEO,  Auto Techcelerators LLC
Product: Test Drive CoPilot 

SN: What’s your latest project? What’s in your driveway/garage/studio, etc.? 

Frank Terlep: My latest project is a mobile app where a user can scan a VIN barcode or QR code and they will be presented with every ADAS system, component, component location, required calibration, what triggers the required calibration, and the app delivers OEM repair procedures, OEM position statements, ADAS videos and more.

SN: Tell us a bit about your background: Where you grew up, how you got into the industry, and how many years you’ve been in it. 

FT: I grew up on the south side of Chicago and joined the Army out of high school. After my three years in the military, I attended Southern Illinois University, where I first started my auto career in their auto technology and management program. I’ve been actively working in the automotive industry since 1979 where I started as a brake and alignment technician at a Kmart auto center. I started my first company in 1985 when my partner and I raised $100,000 from an angel investor and designed and developed one of the first business management software systems for the auto aftermarket. 

SN: What was the inspiration/motivation for your product? 

FT: During my time as the CTO of asTech, we performed remote scanning and calibrations and at the bottom of every scan/calibration report we would tell the shop to perform a “proper test drive.” The problem was that the company never told the shops how to properly perform the “test drive,” i.e., what were the OEM validation procedures to ensure the ADAS systems operated as they were supposed to. Today, as far as we know, Test Drive CoPilot is the only platform in the world that helps the automotive aftermarket properly perform and document post-
customization, repair and/or calibration of ADAS-equipped vehicles.

SN: How long did it take to develop your product? Were there any difficulties you had to work through? 

FT: We started to design and develop Test Drive CoPilot in September 2019. We introduced a prototype to the industry in late February 2020. We all know what happened in March of 2020. COVID set us back almost two years, and almost bankrupted the company! 

SN: What have you learned from the Launch Pad experience that you hadn’t known before? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? 

FT: I learned that if you want to win, you need to play the game. I was hesitant to send in the initial video but because of that and being passionate about my invention, here I am—a finalist! The best piece of advice? Be yourself! 

SN: If you should win the competition, what do you plan to do with the money? 

FT: The first thing I will do is take Sue, my wife of 41 years, to dinner to thank her for her support and patience during the design, creation and launch of Test Drive CoPilot. The remainder of the money will be spent on PR and marketing to make sure all aspects of the auto aftermarket industry know how they can benefit from our test platform. 

SN: What advice would you give to folks who are thinking about competing in the future? 

FT: Go for it! If you believe in your automotive-related product or service, you need to let the world know about it, and SEMA Launch Pad is one of the best ways to get your product/service the PR and exposure it needs to become successful. 

SN: When you’re not at work, where will we find you, and what will you be doing? 

FT: I typically work 70–80 hours per week, but I also try to find 90–150 min. per day to exercise, workout and run or ride a bike. I also golf once or twice per week, but my handicap does not reflect all the time I spend trying to figure out the crazy game of golf.

 

SEMA LAUNCH PAD 2022 3rd PLACE FINISHER

Dustin Golat

Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska 
Job Title & Company: CEO, GolaTTaylor Tools LLC
Product: Thread Wizard Bolt Cleaner

SN: What’s your latest project? What’s in your driveway/garage/studio, etc.?

Dustin Golat: My daily driver is nothing special, a Nissan Rogue I picked up after someone T-boned my Subaru. Working in car sales for my other job, you definitely learn not to fall in love with iron, so things pass through my hands a lot. Just got rid of an SRT-8 6.1 and am currently with a ’17 Roush GT 
Premium. 

SN: Tell us a bit about your background: Where you grew up, how you got into the industry, and how many years you’ve been in it. 

DG: I have a background in production, but I feel like this is more a question about Gary Taylor, the tool’s inventor. Gary was from Port Huron, Michigan, where we manufacture our tool. Gary entered the workforce at 13 and started out in a junkyard but quickly moved to the Ford plant that employed his father and grandfather. Gary spent 50 years in the business, right until the time he passed away. He spent more than 45 of those years as a mechanic of one kind or another, working for almost every American car manufacturer at one point.

SN: What was the inspiration/motivation for your product?

DG: Gary’s inspiration came from two incidents. The first was a bolt being taken out of Gary’s hands and fired toward his face by a wire wheel on a bench grinder, narrowly missing him. The second incident involved his son Tony. An individual wire came loose out of the wire wheel as it was spinning and lodged itself into his eye after making it between his face and safety glasses. Between the two, Gary asked himself, “Why are we still cleaning bolts this way?”

SN: How long did it take to develop your product? Were there any difficulties you had to work through?

DG: The design came to Gary pretty much as you see it in the finished product. The development time of about a year to prototype was mostly twofold. Getting the exact placements of the holes, the right steel for the wire wheel and such being part of it. The other was sourcing quality U.S.-made parts and raw materials while also trying to keep costs down.

SN: What have you learned from the Launch Pad experience that you hadn’t known before? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

DG: Business is a cold, hard world and you kind of get used to that reality, so it caught me off guard and warmed my heart to meet the judges and experience their desire to help others. I’d met Chip [Foose] before and thought he was a great guy, but this experience only drove that home. Both Myles [Kovacs] and Alex [Parker] gave me invaluable insight about taking marketing in-house despite not coming from that background.

SN: If you should win the competition, what do you plan to do with the money?

DG: Advertising would be one of the biggest things that prize money would help fund. Even with the internet, it can be tough trying to get word out about a brand-new tool. For us, getting it out there so people know it exists is the most crucial hurdle to long-term success. 

SN: What advice would you give to folks who are thinking about competing in the future?

DG: Do it! Really, do not hesitate or think twice. I had no idea what a great experience it would be on both a personal and business level. Meeting my fellow competitors was very exciting. Each of them brought something different but top-tier to the table, and it was wonderful getting to spend some time with such innovative and hard-working people.

SN: When you’re not at work, where will we find you, and what will you be doing?

DG: 99% of the time I’ll be doing something family-related with my wife and kids. We like to go out from time to time but are usually at home playing games, making food or watching movies. The winter in Fairbanks is pretty cold, but you’ll find us having cocoa at the Santa Claus House and playing table games over hot coffee drinks.

SEMA LAUNCH PAD 2022 RUNNER-UP

Susan Pieper

Hometown: Kettering, Ohio
Job Title & Company: Founder and CEO, DMOS Collective Inc. dba DMOS Pro Shovel Tools
Product: The Delta and Stealth Mobility Shovels

SN: What’s your latest project? What’s in your driveway/garage/studio, etc.?

Susan Pieper: My latest project is building out my ’21 2500 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter Van. I want to create YouTube videos documenting the build as I know there are a lot of people who will be interested in seeing how I think through the design decisions and create something that is not like a Class A RV but more like an industrial chic garage, which allows for gear change-up based on seasonality. 

SN: Tell us a bit about your background: Where you grew up, how you got into the industry, and how many years you’ve been in it.

SP: As a boat owner, I’ve sailed 10,000 ocean miles and bought everything at West Marine three times (I like to say). I’ve worked in other people’s startups after earning an MBA, but automotive is actually the newest dimension for me. Since starting DMOS, I’ve done the Rebelle Rally four times and built out a ’16 Toyota 4Runner as well as a ’17 Jeep JK. I’ve built out our DMOS Show trailer, a 12-ft. Stealth Titan Trailer that is finished in the inside, and now I’m working on my van. 

SN: What was the inspiration/motivation for your product?

SP: My son was the inspiration for our shovels. My son, who’s now a pro snowboarder, was breaking his lawn and garden store shovels. I recognized that he and others needed a pro-quality tool that had purpose-built heads and was virtually indestructible and portable so he could carry it into the backcountry to build the perfect jump. DMOS was born out of this recognition and has since sold over 27,000 shovels. 

SN: How long did it take to develop your product? Were there any difficulties you had to work through?

SP: It took me about a year to develop our first shovel. The hardest part was the marketing, where we had to pick a market segment and speak to it. We picked backcountry skiers and snowboarders and even got an endorsement from Travis Rice. It was hard in the following two years to pivot out of that very narrow niche, but our breakthrough moment was in 2018 when we went to our first Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona. 

SN: What have you learned from the Launch Pad experience that you hadn’t known before? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

SP: The SEMA Launch Pad is an incredible experience. I’m grateful SEMA decided to do it, and I truly admire all of the judges who not only bring their A-game to the competition. The best piece of advice I’ve received was from Myles Kovacs who told me to “Bustle—not just hustle.” What I took by that is that bustle is making something happen whereas hustle is just working hard. He takes a “no prisoners” outlook on achieving results and I do, too. 

SN: If you should win the competition, what do you plan to do with the money?

SP: We are very clear that we need to invest in sales. We have great products and, to grow sales, we need to invest in growing our wholesale business with the displays and packaging that they need as well as we need to further invest in expanding our product line into related tools and storage products to make your shovels and other essential recovery gear “always at hand and never in 
the way.”

SN: What advice would you give to folks who are thinking about competing in the future?
SP: Just enter Launch Pad! It is an awesome competition, program and group of passionate entrepreneurs, and I can think of no better way to grow than to put your hat in the ring next June and enter Launch Pad. Don’t ask yourself ‘if.’ Just say, why not me? And go for it! 

SN: When you’re not at work, where will we find you, and what will you be doing?

SP: When not at work, you’ll find me off-roading, overlanding, mountain biking, fly fishing or, in the winter, backcountry snowboarding and ski touring. For me, movement is life and I live the DMOS vibe. 

2022 SEMA LAUNCH PAD WINNER

Kevin Robinson

Hometown: Brighton, Colorado
Job Title: President/Owner
Product/Company: TRAC Tire Rotation Assistance Cart

SN: What’s your latest project? What’s in your driveway/garage/studio, etc.?

Kevin Robinson: Currently I am working on my ’06 Jeep LJ. We stretched out the axles to increase the wheelbase and added some aluminum armor and ORI struts. 
I have had this for a little over five years, and it has come a long way.

SN: Tell us a bit about your background: Where you grew up, how you got into the industry, and how many years you’ve been in it.

KR: I grew up in New Jersey. I’ve always had a passion for unique cars and trucks and have been through a fair share of them through the years. I then moved to Florida to get a pilot’s license. My career paths changed, and I moved to Colorado in 1996 when I started my new career in automotive paintless dent repair. I still repair door dings and hail cars to this day. I also still go boating, motorcycling, Jeeping, and have the passion to be outdoors. 

SN: What was the inspiration/motivation for your product?

KR: The motivation for the Tire Jack came from needing a solution in the industry to provide safety in the shop, whether it be at home or in the professional workplace. Now more people can benefit from the use of this tool. I even saw a small female try to pick up a tire at one of our shows. The tire weighed more than her. When she used the tool, she was able to do the task. Her father was impressed and bought the Tire Jack and told her she can now do the tires on the family vehicle. 

SN: How long did it take to develop your product? Were there any difficulties you had to work through?

KR: Development is always still in progress. Our team came to us with the idea, and we then made a few changes for more leverage and to this day we are still doing some refinements. Even for such a simple tool, there can always be changes. The most challenging part of this is how to get it out to the masses and to get them to understand its benefits. Once it is seen, people get it and want it.

SN: What have you learned from the Launch Pad experience that you hadn’t known before? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

KR: Launch Pad has opened doors to some people in the industry that I would have never thought I would have access to—the judges and their input and expertise. Their advice is real-world and can make a big impact to one’s business. I had one judge mentor me through a licensing agreement with a new distributor. Without the help, I may not have gotten such a good deal in the agreement. 

SN: If you should win the competition, what do you plan to do with the money?

KR: If I win for the TRAC Tire Jack, I plan on building my inventory and doing way more advertising. Currently, when we do a show, we sell the product easily and people are learning the brand, but we need to be in front of a much larger audience to make a change in the industry. Advertising will do just that.

SN: What advice would you give to folks who are thinking about competing in the future?

KR: Don’t think you won’t get in. Submit your idea, and go for it! I had a guy stop by my booth last year with an idea. I loved it and told him to enter. He did and he made it to the top 15! He’s Robert Carale, the founder of the Airflex Automatic Tire Inflator. 

SN: When you’re not at work, where will we find you, and what will you be doing?

KR: When I am not at work I will most likely be with the family and friends at the lake or doing a 500-mi. day-trip motorcycle ride in the Colorado Rockies. We enjoy going to the Bronco games and visiting with family in the mountains. We are a very busy and active family with twin boys attending their second year of college. 

 

Launch Pad 2023: How to Enter

Launch Pad is open only to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia age 18 years or older (residents of Alabama and Nebraska must be 19 or older) and who have a valid email address. Applicants need not be SEMA members. The presenter must be the business’ owner, its leading executive (i.e., president, CEO, CFO, COO) or vice president. The business must offer a product or service that is a functioning prototype, a functioning concept or a production model currently for sale. For more information, visit www.sema.org/sema_launchpad. 

A Show of Excellence

A Show of Excellence

Award-Winning Innovators, Icons and a Big Announcement Were Center Stage at the 2022 SEMA Show

By Mike Imlay


Kevin Robinson, president of TRAC LLC, reacts to his Launch Pad win at the annual SEMA Industry Awards Banquet. Robinson pitched his TRAC Tire Jack product—a tool designed to remove or install a wheel/tire easily and safely—live at the event and walked away with a grand-prize package valued at nearly $100,000.

 

One of the annual SEMA Show’s many distinctions is its weeklong display of greatness. From new products and innovations to the groundbreaking people driving the specialty aftermarket to new heights, the SEMA Show reflects the industry’s reach for excellence. Perhaps that’s the reason the Show’s award ceremonies resonate so deeply with thousands of Show participants.  

“We are pleased to congratulate all the winners that we celebrated throughout numerous events and competitions during the 2022 SEMA Show Week,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “This is an industry founded on deep-seated passion and the constant enthusiasm to excel at one’s craft—and all our SEMA Show winners and honorees embody that spirit.”

The 2022 SEMA Show introduced several major updates to its traditional awards presentations. First, with e-commerce expanding and data-driven transactions becoming more routine, the SEMA Warehouse Distributor of the Year award evolved into a new Channel Partner of the Year award. The award honors the contributions of sales, distributors, retailers and e-commerce channel(s) in the industry as well as the distribution companies that support retailers.

In addition, the Channel Partner of the Year and the Manufacturer of the Year award presentations were moved to the SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast on Tuesday morning, November 1, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Held just before the Show’s official opening, the event was previously called the New Products Awards Breakfast. Under its new name, the 2022 event continued its tradition of honoring the Show’s best new products across numerous categories, including two new categories for electric vehicle and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) products.

Jarod DeAnda, known as the “voice of Formula Drift,” hosted the reformatted 2022 breakfast. He was joined on stage by Hoonigan driver Ken Block (who later was tragically killed in a January 2023 snowmobile accident) and Hoonigan Co-Founder Brian Scotto, who discussed “Electrikhana,” a new video featuring an all-electric Audi S1 Hoonitron that was shot on the streets of Las Vegas. “Electrikhana” is the latest video of the wildly popular Gymkhana series. 

“Combining the Channel Partner of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year and New Product Awards into one event early in the week enabled winners to promote their honors throughout Show Week,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “We were also very honored and excited to have Ken Block and Brian Scotto at the event. They are inspirational, and the ‘Gymkhana’ series and cars represent what our industry is all about.” 

Sharing the Passion
(Industry Banquet)
James Lawrence, SEMA Chairman of the board


In a speech touching on the things that most matter in life, Lawrence noted that “we’re doing a lot more than business this week. Connections are being made, dreams are being realized, lives are being changed. SEMA has become a celebration of passion for cars and trucks.”

Celebrating an Industry
(Industry Banquet)
Mike Spagnola, SEMA president and CEO


Recalling the high school mentors who sparked his automotive interests, Spagnola summed up the spirit of the industry and the SEMA Show that represents it. “This has been an amazing week, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by honoring the incredible accomplishments of our industry trailblazers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, the traditional Thursday-night venue for major awards, also got a dynamic makeover, which included a novel center stage and a streamlined run time. Themed “Further. Faster. Together.,” the event featured the SEMA Person of the Year and GEN-III Innovator of the Year awards, along with the first-ever SEMA Influencer of the Year award designed to honor content creators who make a positive industry impact across social-media channels. The evening also included a tribute to industry icons Walker Evans, Jack Roush and Robert Eugene “Gene” Winfield, who were named to the SEMA Hall of Fame in the summer of 2022. 

The banquet further made headlines with the announcement that the SEMA Show is adding an enthusiast-facing SEMA Fest event to SEMA Week, starting this year. Click here to read more. Another high point came with the audience of about 3,000 casting the deciding votes via text to name Kevin Robinson, inventor of the TRAC Tire Jack, as the ultimate winner of the 2022 SEMA Launch Pad competition. Winnowed from a field of five Show finalists, he and runner-up Susan Pieper, DMOS Collective CEO, got to pitch their product ideas before panelists Chip Foose, Jared Hare, Myles Kovacs and Alex Parker just before the audience vote.

“There were many changes to our Show’s recognition programs for 2022,” observed Gattuso. “All our awards and recognitions represent an extremely dynamic industry, so as our industry has evolved, we’ve been pleased to evolve with it."  

The following photos capture the winning moments and highlights of the Show’s many award presentations at the Kickoff Breakfast and the Industry Awards Banquet.

 

 

Chairman’s Service Award
(Industry Banquet)
WD-40
 

Bestowed at the SEMA Chairman of the Board’s discretion, the Chairman’s Service Award is unique in that it’s not given out every year. SEMA Chairman James Lawrence presented the award to WD-40 for the company’s ongoing support of SEMA Cares, the association’s charity arm. The award was accepted by WD-40 Sales Manager Shannon Edwards (left). WD-40 has built several prized vehicles that have raised more than $2 million for children and people in need at auction. They include a bright-yellow 50th Anniversary ’67 Camaro, a Foose-designed ’12 Dodge Challenger, a ’53 Ford F-100, a ’14 F-150, a two-toned ’10 Camaro and a custom 
’11 Mustang.

 

GEN-III Innovator of the Year
(Industry Banquet)
Mike Burns, ValvoMax
 

The Gen-III award is presented annually to an entrepreneurial individual, age 40 or younger, who creates industry breakthroughs. The CEO of ValvoMax, Mike Burns (center) is the inventor of a closed oil change system that removes the hassle, time and mess involved in a traditional oil change. Not only has his innovation garnered the approval of DIY oil changers everywhere, but multiple patents as well. Most of all, Burns exemplifies a constant spirit of thinking outside the box to invent and make things better. Burns is flanked by last year’s winner Matt Kossoff (right) and emcee 
Jarod DeAnda.

 

Influencer of the Year
(Industry Banquet)
Larry Chen, Photographer/Videographer
 

Emcee Jarod DeAnda presents a surprised Larry Chen (right)his award. A world-renowned automotive photojournalist from Los Angeles, Chen’s YouTube channel boasts 424,000 subscribers and counting. His Instagram account tops even that with 684,000 followers. From drifting to Baja racing to everything automotive, Chen travels the globe to document and advocate for grassroots car culture. “For me, this is about doing my best and playing my part in saving the culture that we love so much,” he said.

 

Person of the Year 
(Industry Banquet) 
Josh Poulson, 
Auto Additions Inc.

The SEMA Person of the Year award is among the association’s highest honors, recognizing exceptional volunteerism on behalf of the industry. This year the award went to SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Council Chair Josh Poulson (right). The owner of Auto Additions, Poulson is well known for his industry leadership contributions, philanthropy and overall positive influence. He will be profiled in the next edition of 
SEMA News.

 

Industry Icons
(Kickoff Breakfast) 
Jarod DeAnda, Brian Scotto, Ken Block

Brian Scotto (middle) and the late Ken Block (right) talked everything “Electrikhana” with industry personality Jarod DeAnda, who emceed the Tuesday-
morning SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast. The annual breakfast was freshened for 2022 to serve up several new award presentations.

 

 

 

 

BATTLE OF THE BUILDERS 2022

BATTLE OF THE BUILDERS 2022

The RINGBROTHERS Emerge Victorious; History, FYI Channel Special to Air in January 2023

By Douglas McColloch


The Ringbrothers celebrated their win at 2022 Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polishes.

 

Mike and Jim Ring of Spring Green, Wisconsin, garnered top honors at the ninth annual SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polishes competition at the 2022 SEMA Show, held November 1–4 in Las Vegas. The announcement was made at the start of SEMA Ignited, the official SEMA Show after-party designed to celebrate the builders and showcase products from the trade-only Show. 

The four class winners of this years’ competition will be highlighted along with other featured builders in a new TV special, “SEMA: Battle of the Builders, Presented by Mothers High Performance Car Care” scheduled to debut on A+E Networks’ FYI and History’s Drive block Saturday, January 28, at 9:00 a.m. EST. Check your local station listings for additional broadcast details.

For 2022, the Battle of the Builders competition was fine-tuned to reflect changes in the customization space and to encourage greater diversity in the field of entrants. The Hot Rod category was modified to include street trucks for the first time, and the Truck/Off-Road category was altered to Four-Wheel Drive/Off-Road. The Sport-Compact category was expanded to include Import Performance, Luxury and Exotic vehicles, and the age limit for the The Young Guns competition was bumped up from 27 to 29 years old.

A panel of industry experts assessed all the entrants and narrowed down the field of more than 200 entries to a Top 40 (10 in each category) before selecting the top 12 builds overall. 

 


The Top 12 finalists for the 2022 Battle of the Builders prepared to make their presentations on the competition’s concluding day. The competition will be aired on A+E Network’s FYI and History Channel’s Drive block in January 2023.

 

The 12 finalists themselves then took over judging duties for the competition and named Ringbrothers the overall winner. Besides the Ringbrothers, whose vehicles were both class winners, other notables include TJ Russell, who captured the Sport Compact class with his ’91 Porsche 911 Baja, and 21-year-old Josh Michels, who took the Young Guns category with his ’66 Chevy Corvette.

We’ll have full-length features on each of the Top 12 BOTB finalists in the March issue of SEMA News. 

Top 12 Finalists:

Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck

  • Mike Ring/Ringbrothers–’48 Chevrolet Loadmaster pickup
  • Tim Devlin–’34 Chevrolet roadster
  • Tyler Nelson–’58 Ford F100

Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury and Exotic 

  • CJ Pullman–’77 Ford Pinto
  • Shawn Bassett–’91 Nissan Skyline GT-R
  • TJ Russell–’91 Porsche 911 Baja

4-Wheel Drive/Off-Road

  • Cody Dabney–’70 Ford F-250
  • Greg Ward–’71 Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser
  • Jim Ring/Ringbrothers–’72 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 

Young Guns

  • Austin Phipps–’66 Chevrolet Nova
  • Cameron Cocalis–’15 Scion FR-S
  • Josh Michels–’66 Chevrolet Corvette
     

 

EDUCATION - CALL FOR SPEAKERS

EDUCATION - CALL FOR SPEAKERS

The SEMA Show education program call for speakers is now open. We are accepting proposal submissions that reflect current trends, ideas and discoveries within the automotive aftermarket and performance racing industries. Go to https://www.SEMA.org/Speakers.

For more information please contact Gary Vigil at garyv@sema.org.

Exploring EV Technologies

Exploring EV Technologies

Bigger Than Ever, the 2022 SEMA Show’s SEMA Electrified Section Charged Up Attendees

By SEMA News Editors


Deeper understanding of EV architecture and approaches to high-voltage applications were the major attendee takeaways in the expanded 2022 SEMA Electrified exhibit space. Legacy EV utilized Tinkergineering’s Porsche 914 as an integration display for EV conversions.

 

Although vehicle electrification grabs major headlines these days, SEMA has kept an eye on the emerging phenomenon for some time now. After all, the specialty-equipment industry thrives on innovation and new platforms for performance and appearance modifications—and electric vehicles (EVs) are no exception.

To raise industry awareness surrounding this rapidly growing category, the 2019 SEMA Show first debuted SEMA Electrified, a new Show feature exploring EV technologies. For the recent 2022 Show, the section swelled to approximately 60 unique exhibits encompassing 21,000 sq. ft., more than 35 vehicles and numerous electrification components and products. SEMA Electrified also moved to the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, taking a more prominent place among other vehicle technology features.

“We’ve been pleased to witness the evolution of electrification in the specialty-performance aftermarket space, and are committed to educating our industry on the opportunities and the innovation taking shape throughout the industry,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “Our efforts for 2022 resulted in the largest SEMA Electrified section we’ve ever had. But in addition to the section, we also saw more EV products and vehicles throughout the rest of the Show than ever before. Having incubated this category for several years now, it’s evident that electrification is becoming extremely popular in our industry and will be here for some time to come.”

 


The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 was winner of the 2022 SEMA EV of the Year. SEMA vehicle awards reflect the voting of each year’s Show exhibitors, with this particular award added this past Show.

According to SEMA Director of Vehicle Technology Luis Morales, who played an instrumental role in expanding the exhibit space, the goal for 2022 was to bring Show attendees as much collective EV-related content as possible for business and educational development. Displays and content included new OE vehicle models, conversion kits and components, testing equipment, safety tools, charging solutions, service equipment, customized vehicles and accessories. The exhibit sought to improve business networking among EV-related companies, buyers and sellers; present and showcase new EV products for industry-wide education; and increase awareness of the various EV market opportunities now emerging in the aftermarket industry.

The exhibit was filled with crowds throughout the week and surrounded by positive feedback,” said Morales. “Many folks who were new to the electric market were both surprised and excited to see how far this segment of the industry had progressed, not to mention how much the SEMA Electrified feature itself had grown. From product awareness to integration, the exhibit facilitated many key conversations and takeaways among attendees. Many SEMA Electrified participants said they also benefited from internal connections for product development as well as new ideas for adjusting their business models for future success.” 

Accessorized late-model vehicles proved that vehicle personalization will continue organically within the aftermarket regardless of a vehicle’s powertrain option. Modified vehicles included the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi e-tron, and the Polestar 2, among others. The vehicles were provided by many well-known industry names, including Bisimoto, Tjin Edition, Air Design USA, Tsportline/Alpharex, TSK, Levvel Air/Rad Rides, Unleashed Motorsports, Diablo Motorsports, Campworks and Lectron. 

Electrification has also been a growing trend among vehicle builders, who continue to break new ground with imaginative vehicle conversions. This has in turn spawned new opportunities for businesses offering electric powertrain components ranging from individual items to complete kit solutions. And here again, SEMA Electrified offered a broad range of display vehicles demonstrating all sorts of innovations. They included a Ford Mustang, Plymouth Satellite, Ford Galaxy, Jeep Wrangler, Chevrolet Apache, Ram Promaster, Factory Five Cobra, Ford F-150, Porsche 914 and Mercury Cougar. 

The list of companies providing converted vehicles was also extensive: Inspire EV, Conductive Classics, EV Muscle Cars, Electric 51 Speedshop, Scorpion EV, KTL Restorations, Maxwell Vehicles, Motorcadd, Electrified Veronika and Tinkergineering. In addition, companies like Ampere EV, DANA, Speedhut, Gig Performance, OMNI, Torque Trends, Hypercraft/Stealth EV and Conductive Classics showcased their latest electrification componentry. 

“When it comes to an electric conversion, sourcing products may be a challenge and a learning curve, especially if you are new to EVs,” observed Morales. “We provided resources to help industry builders navigate this initial task. For example, Legacy EV and Fuel2Electric were on hand to discuss with attendees the proper path for selecting and sourcing products that are ultimately compatible with each other.” 

“Electric performance was also well represented through the display of several race vehicles highlighting new powertrain applications across differing race categories,” added Morales. “We were able to present attendees with a Pikes Peak Tesla Model 3, an electric Toyota GR86 for NASA’s Super Touring Series, a custom-body Porsche 935, a Drift Chevrolet Camaro and a Landspeed vehicle. Our vehicle providers included ENEOS, Hypercraft/Scalar Performance, Bisimoto, AEM EV/Holley and Revolt. 


Everything starts with education. Understanding EV powertrains’ work and safety aspects was a prime focus of the SEMA Electrified live-education stage. Here, attendees got hands-on learning, courtesy the Legacy EV team.
 

“We also wanted to showcase service and testing tools that relate to electric vehicles,” he added. “These tools are targeted at high-voltage applications. Whether you’re dealing with product development for a late-model vehicle or working on a conversion vehicle application, some of your required EV tools will be different than your traditional shop tools. We partnered with tool suppliers that included Reliable Automotive Equipment, Bendpak, DJS Fabrication, EZ Spare Wheel, Redline Detection and Snap-On to present product and educate attendees.”

“In addition, SEMA staff got to work with several OEMs to bring such new EV models as the Karma GS6, Lucid Air, Lordstown Endurance and Volkswagen ID.4 to SEMA Electrified. Showcasing these models helped introduce them to various aftermarket companies exploring product opportunities in the electrification market.” But electric platforms and conversions are only one part of the overall EV equation. For battery-electric cars and trucks to truly take hold with consumers, current infrastructure from charging to service and repair must also advance.

“None of these vehicles would be on the road without a proper charging solution,” noted Morales. “We decided to bring in several participants like Wallbox, Webasto and Lectron to show the different applications available and educate attendees on differing charging requirements and output capabilities.” 

In addition, SEMA Electrified hosted education and training sessions and demonstrations. The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) hosted an exhibit with their EV training cart and associated tools and equipment, explaining the safety protocols for high-voltage vehicles, and Legacy EV presented a series of hands-on education and training sessions relating to electric conversions. 

“The Legacy EV program was designed as a preview to their EV training road tour, which is launching in 2023 and will make a stop at the SEMA Garage,” Morales explained. “Meanwhile, Switch Vehicles had multiple presentations throughout Show Week pertaining to EV business development and education. They built an electric kit vehicle from the ground up from opening to close of Show. This gave participants some hands-on experience in the assembly and connection of EV architecture.” 


A variety of different vehicle applications filled SEMA Electrified. From classics to late-models to race vehicles, they were all 100% battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and ranged from Bisimoto’s K3V to Inspire EV’s Mustang.
 

Various powertrain components were on displayed for different outputs, applications and integration capabilities in EV conversions. Displays ranged from individual components, such as these from DANA, to complete conversion kits, a fast-growing segment in this market.

Beyond SEMA Electrified, SEMA Show education tracks relating to EV trends were also greatly enhanced for 2022. Seminars addressed such topics as electric-conversion projects, shop safety and the addition of EV products and services to augment traditional business models and help future-proof a company, shop or retail establishment.

“Our role as a trade association and Show is to not only focus light on vehicle and product development, but to educate our industry on the latest trends and information,” noted Gattuso. “The seminars were widely attended, which I believe is a result of shops that are seeing more EV sales and customers coming in to modify and personalize their cars. Our job, really, is to look into the future of what that can mean for our attendees and their businesses.”

Gattuso further said that while the industry is steadily embracing vehicle electrification as a viable, performance-oriented powertrain, the SEMA Show will continue to reflect the breadth of the entire automotive world. This includes ongoing innovations and refinements to gasoline, hydrogen and other alternative propulsion systems.

 

“Our industry is about exploring the potential and capitalizing on the performance, style and reliability of all types of vehicles,” he said. “To use the old cliché, the acceleration pedal doesn’t know anything other than that pressing it makes the car go fast. 

“We just celebrated our 55th SEMA Show. I think over the next 50 years, we’re going to see continued developments and improvements, and it’s exciting to see where our industry is headed.”


SEMA Electrified drew attendees all week with several vehicle debuts, including this National Auto Sport Association- approved Super Touring Series SCR1 by Scalar Performance.

 

2022 SEMA Electrified Exhibitors/Participants 

Reflecting the rapidly growing interest in vehicle electrification, modifications and conversions, nearly 50 companies participated in the 2022 SEMA Electrified feature at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas—some presenting multiple displays. Brands ran the gamut from specialty parts and accessory suppliers to builders and OE vehicle manufacturers.

 

  • AEM EV/Holley
  • Air Design USA
  • Ampere EV
  • Bendpak
  • Bisimoto
  • Campworks
  • Conductive Classics
  • DANA
  • Diablo Motorsports
  • DJS Fabrication
  • Electric 51 Speedshop
  • Electrified Veronika
  • ENEOS
  • EV Muscle Cars
  • EZ Spare Wheel
  • Fuel2Electric
  • Gig Performance
  • Hypercraft/Scalar Performance
  • Inspire EV
  • KTL Restorations/Electric GT
  • Juiced Bikes 
  • Karma Automotive
  • I-CAR
  • Lectron 
  • Legacy EV
  • Levvel Air/Rad Rides
  • Lordstown Motors 
  • Lucid 
  • Maxwell Vehicles
  • Motorcadd
  • Ohm On The Range
  • OMNI
  • Redline Detection
  • Reliable Automotive Equipment
  • Revolt
  • Scorpion EV
  • Snap-On
  • Speedhut
  • Switch Vehicles
  • Tinkergineering
  • Torque Trends
  • TSK
  • Tsportline/Alpharex
  • Unleashed Performance
  • Volkswagen
  • Wallbox 
  • Webasto 

 

Staying Current on Electrification

Through various initiatives and efforts, SEMA embraces technology in the automotive industry and will continue to best position the association for the membership’s benefit. Plans are already underway for an even broader SEMA Electrified section at the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31–November 3, in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
In addition, with the progressive development and adaptation of EVs, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and general electrification, SEMA is developing programs and services to assist this emerging aftermarket segment. Whether you’re developing accessories for late-model EVs, components for electric powertrain conversions, or electric racing products, SEMA is ready to help through its SEMA Garage facilities in Detroit, Michigan, and Diamond Bar, California. Visit www.semagarage.com for more information.  n 

 

New Product Award Winners See Global Exposure

New Product Award Winners See Global Exposure

The SEMA Show's New Products Showcase Introduces the Industry's Hottest Innovations

By SEMA News Editors

Known as the world's single best place to encounter specialty-aftermarket innovation, the 2022 SEMA Show lived up to its reputation November 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. And, once again, the New Products Showcase was the epicenter for new product introductions, attracting buyer and media attention from around the globe. 

The 2022 Showcase featured nearly 2,000 products across multiple categories, including the freshly added advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and vehicle electrification categories. Literally hundreds of industry brands participated, with everything from street performance and racing to off-roading, mobile electronics, and interior and exterior offerings on full display. 

In addition, all the new product entries were eligible for the SEMA New Product Awards, selected by a panel of automotive industry professionals. With a winner and two runners-up chosen from each category, the results were announced at the SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast just prior to the Show's opening. SEMA News is pleased to present the following best new products from the 2022 SEMA Show, as chosen by the Showcase judges.
 

 

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Product Winner

ALLDATA
ALLDATA ADAS Quick Reference

Easy access to vehicle-specific ADAS (OEM) information on the ALLDATA Repair platform. Users can quickly identify ADAS removal/replacement requirements that could result in extra labor for calibration or sublet costs, and displays basic calibration information, required tools, and prerequisites for servicing ADAS components.

800-859-3282
www.alldata.com
PN: ADAS QUICK REFERENCE

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Product Runner-Up

Opus IVS
Test Drive CoPilot

Test Drive CoPilot is a good way to properly perform, validate and document ADAS safety-system verification test drives. The Test Drive CoPilot mobile app delivers OEM-based ADAS verification procedures; records video, audio, speed, mileage, time, a map of the drive, and pass/fail results; and auto-generates a detailed report.

877-945-6442
www.testdrivecopilot.com
PN: COPILOT-01

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Product Runner-Up

I-CAR
Hands-On ADAS Calibration Training

Two multi-day hands-on courses now available for all collision-repair professionals. The Static ADAS Calibration Three-Day Hands-On Skills Development course helps learners navigate the static calibration process. The Ford ADAS Calibration Two-Day Hands-On Skills Development course focuses on diagnostics, repairs and calibrations on Ford ADAS products.

800-422-7872
www.i-car.com

Collision Repair & Refinish Product Winner

Opus IVS
Test Drive CoPilot

Test Drive CoPilot is a good way to properly perform, validate and document ADAS safety-system verification test drives. The Test Drive CoPilot mobile app delivers OEM-based ADAS verification procedures; records video, audio, speed, mileage, time, a map of the drive and pass/fail results; and auto-generates a detailed report.

877-945-6442
www.testdrivecopilot.com
PN: COPILOT-01

Collision Repair & Refinish Product Runner-Up

GUNIWHEEL
Fast Puller by GUNIWHEEL

Quickly pull dents from any workstation. Fast Puller by GUNIWHEEL is a patented compact, lightweight and portable dent puller. Fixed to the ground through vacuum suction and made of aluminum, it is easy to transport and requires little space to operate. Ideal for collision-shop dent pulls on all vehicle panel types from anywhere in the shop.

888-554-6464
www.fastpuller.com
PN: SP706339

Collision Repair & Refinish Product Runner-Up

3M
3M RepairStack Performance Solutions

3M RepairStack Performance Solutions features hardware that houses all allied materials. As an integrated and automated platform, shops can enjoy an inventory management system—ensuring materials needed for safe and reliable repairs are always available, a streamlined blueprinting and billing process, and real-time, actionable business insights.

800-810-8513
www.3mcollision.com
PN: 35526

Electric Vehicle Product Winner

Borla Performance
Active Performance Sound

This product is an instrument in many ways. It's like an audio tachometer that provides vehicle dynamics through sound waves, which is essential to the performance driving experience. Like a musical instrument, it plays a soundtrack which can be personalized to an individual driver's taste—giving the vehicle different personalities and a sense of soul.

877-462-6752
www.borla.com
PN: 253100

Electric Vehicle Product Runner-Up

APP EV Systems
APP EV Systems Batter Conversion Kit

APP EV Systems offers battery enclosures which are tailored to automotive retrofit applications: 18.2 kWh energy and 64 kW max power; 65–103 volts DC, 88V nominal; high-voltage hardware interrupt switch with lockout-tagout loop; link four packs in a series to build a 73 kWh, 400V battery pack. Most cars will achieve more than a 225-mi. range.

360-935-1228
https://appevsystems.com

Engineered New Product Winner

Turbosmart
Pneumatic StraightGate50 Butterfly-Style External Wastegate

Pneumatically actuated zero-offset and self-balancing butterfly-style external wastegate, available with boost-based and vacuum-based actuators for unlimited control options. Highest-flowing wastegate, unparalleled tuning window: more than five times base spring rate, CFD-driven and validated to 1,800ºF EGT's-safe, clockable billet actuator and bracket.

909-476-2570
www.turbosmart.com
PN: TS-0565-1762

Engineered New Product Runner-Up

OPTIMA Batteries
ORANGETOP HYPERCORE Lithium

With 10 patents currently granted, the ORANGETOP with HYPERCORE LITHIUM technology is OPTIMA's first-ever lithium-ion 12-volt battery. Innovative features like OPTIMA CPR put an end to dead batteries and the patented POWERLINK system features proprietary battery control, status and charging; and IP67 dust and water intrusion rating.

888-867-8462
www.optimabatteries.com

Engineered New Product Runner-Up

International Industry LLC
Fuel Tank Laser Sensor/Sender

Laser fuel sender, sending unit. Using a laser device to measure the fuel level in a fuel tank. No moving parts. No mechanical part merge to gas/fuel; can connect to any fuel gauge with calibration setup. Microprocessor-based control, with sophistic-level average algorithm.

973-758-9500
www.intindustry.com
PN: FLA-01

Exterior Accessory Product Winner

TRAILFX
Angled Front Fender Flare for Bronco

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800-521-9999
www.trailfx.com
PN: BR007T

Exterior Accessory Product Runner-Up

SeaSucker
Classic Ski Rack

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941-900-1850
www.seasucker.com
PN: SK2420

Exterior Accessory Product Runner-Up

Hammerhead Armor
Armor Box

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855-448-6844
www.hammerheadarmor.com
PN: 600-56-1027

Interior Accessory Product Winner

Acumen Robot Intelligence
The Legend Mirror DVR Power Switch System

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909-468-2828
www.acumen-camera.com
PN: L2

Interior Accessory Product Runner-Up

Horizon Brands
TYPE S Formula DRIFT Pro Series Ultra-Slim Smart LED Trim Kit

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866-294-9244
https://typesauto.com
PN: LM533066-1

Interior Accessory Product Runner-Up

Dakota Digital
GRFX-55C-PU '55–'59 Chevy Truck Grafix Series Gauge System

The Grafix Series from Dakota Digital is the culmination of decades of expertise and industry-leading products, creating the most advanced, instrument system available. The Grafix Series allows the user to customize nearly every aspect of the instrument system. Grafix also includes a reverse backup video display integrated in the gauge screen.

800-852-3228
www.dakotadigital.com
PN: GRFX-55C-PU

Merchandising Display Winner

Dee Zee
Bed Mat Counter Display

Dee Zee's Bed Mat counter gives customers the opportunity to touch, feel and see the features and benefits without sacrificing valuable floor space.

515-265-7331
www.deezee.com
PN: 940-9316

Merchandising Display Runner-Up

Mach Built
M1 Powered Display Stand

The Powered Display Stand was purpose-built to give taillight retailers a tool to compare side-by-side styling, brightness and ease of installation. Delivering the proper voltage via an A/C to D/C transformer, the observer can see the direct comparison simply and easily. Built on simplicity.

918-619-9961
www.machbuilt.com
PN: PD001

Merchandising Display Runner-Up

Dee Zee
Dee Zee Totem Displays

Dee Zee Totem Displays highlight the most popular product categories on a lightweight and compact display.

515-265-7331
www.deezee.com
PN: 940-9314, 940-9318, 940-9315, 940-9310

Mobile Electronics Product Winner

AudioControl
SRK-JK11H

Fully integrated Jeep kit for Stinger's HEIGH10 multimedia head unit. SRK-JK11H enables you to replace a '11–'18 Jeep Wrangler JK factory radio with HEIGH10 while retaining factory features and adding even more upgraded features! Enables on-screen gauges to monitor vehicle vitals, off-road pitch and roll, and vehicle statuses such as tire pressure.

800-477-2267
www.aampglobal.com
PN: SRK-JK11H

Mobile Electronics Product Runner-Up

AudioControl
LPHFD31

LOCPRO ADVANCED T-harnesses offer a Plug-And-Play Solution for the installation of line output converters behind your OEM radio. Simplify connections quickly and seamlessly without cutting or modifying the original wiring. Available for select vehicles.

800-477-2267
https://aampglobal.com
PN: LPHFD31

Mobile Electronics Product Runner-Up

Metra Electronics Corp.
Ford Bronco Rear Speaker Pods

Upgrade 4-in. factory rear pods in '21–up Ford Broncos to larger 6.5-in. or 6.75-in. aftermarket speakers with these patent-pending sealed speaker enclosures! The pods feature a durable, injection-molded enclosure with a factory-style textured finish and a custom-stamped metal grille. Designed to fit two- and four-door Ford Broncos.

386-257-1186
www.metraonline.com
PN: FD-BROPOD1

Off-Road/4-Wheel-Drive Product Winner
RockJock 4x4 by John Currie
Jeep JL, JT and JK Adjustable Front Bump Stop Kit

In high-articulation situations, axle housing-mounted bump stops rotate inward toward the center of the vehicle, often missing contact with the upper bump stop entirely. Adjustable-length upper bump stops guarantee bump-stop contact when and where it's needed. Kit features multiple (add or subtract) steel shims for on-vehicle fine tuning.

714-367-1580
www.rockjock4x4.com
PN: RJ-107101-101

Off-Road/4-Wheel-Drive Product Runner-Up

Apex Chassis
KIT175–Ford Extreme Duty Tie Rod and Drag Link Assembly Fits '17–'22 F-250/F-350 Super Duty

This extreme-duty tie-rod and drag-link assembly is a direct bolt-in upgrade to tighten and strengthen your steering. Oversized rod ends thread directly into massive DOM tubes, eliminating weak adjusting sleeves—all secured by jam nuts and our proprietary ninja lock- washers. All our products come with an industry-leading lifetime honor-system warranty.

480-470-5500
www.apexchassis.com
PN: KIT175

Off-Road/4-Wheel-Drive Product Runner-Up

ORACLE Lighting
Integrated Aero Windshield LED Light Bar System for '21+ Ford Bronco by ORACLE Lighting

This innovative design has a factory appearance and provides a quiet aerodynamic installation compared to traditional LED light bars. The housing is designed to match the styling of the factory hardtop but can be installed on softtop Broncos as well. Installs easily using the factory hardware with no drilling required. Features 18,000-lumen output.

800-407-5776
www.ORACLELIGHTS.com
PN: 5888-023

Packaging Design Winner

Bubba Off-Road Recovery Gear
Bubba Off-Road Truck Recovery Gear Set

Packaging is designed to help the customer select the right product for their vehicle in a high-end retail box for both brick-and-mortar or online stores. Colorful graphics illustrate the product, the product in use and gear set contents.

877-499-8494
www.bubbarope.com
PN: 176880RDG

Packaging Design Runner-Up

Horizon Brands
TYPE S Formula DRIFT Pro Series Exterior Smart Lighting Kit

This packaging is for our high-end LED smart lighting kit for professional motorsports. The package features a matte finish with UV accents. Inside, the product is wrapped in premium EVA foam trays with color information cards.

866-294-9244
https://typesauto.com
PN: LM532654-1

Packaging Design Runner-Up

BOLT Lock
J-Mount

The J-Mount packaging is full-color, includes product images, features and benefits, and is color-coded for application. The inside presents a nested display for the product that showcases it and protects it during shipping.

844-972-7547
www.boltlock.com
PN: 7032499

Performance-Racing Product Winner

Turbosmart
OPR Turbocharger Oil Pressure Regulator

Provides perfect oil pressure to your turbo, including a built-in oil filter. Inline, return-less design via -4AN male inlet and outlet for simple install. An inline and returnless Oil Pressure Regulator, with Laminar Flow via -4AN inlet and outlet; built-in 44 micron SS mesh oil filter; and a 1/8 NPT sensor or gauge port. Patent-pending design.

909-476-2570
www.turbosmart.com
PN: TS-0811-0012

Performance-Racing Product Runner-Up

Victor Racing Inc.
Smart Canards

The Smart Active Aero Canards were designed to improve front-end stability and cornering by increasing or decreasing the downforce as needed in tandem or individually. As a standalone system with a built-in computer, sensors and software, the Smart Canards can be used on any vehicle independently or with Victor Racing's Smart Active Wings.

512-717-7769
www.VictorRacing.com
PN: SACANARDS

Performance-Racing Product Runner-Up

Specialty Products Company/ SPC Performance
Peterson Fluid Systems R4 Oil Pump With Rear Accessory Drive and Front Procharger Shaft

R4 features revolutionary twisted lobe rotor design in three sizes from 6061 T6 aluminum for exceptional performance and light weight. Comes standard with a rear drive setup for all popular drive accessories. An available male hex drive or standard keyway can be used for gear drives and AN -8 to AN -20 fitting sizes are offered.

800-926-7867
www.petersonfluidsys.com
PN: 04-1006-TT

Performance-Street Product Winner

Antigravity Lithium Batteries
Antigravity Batteries RE-START Lithium Starter Battery

The first battery with wireless built-in jump starting. Simply press the included wireless keyfob if you drain the battery, start the car and drive away! Never be stranded by a dead battery again. Also our lithium-ion battery only weighs 13 lbs., can start 1,500hp motors, has an eight- to 10-year lifespan and comes in all OEM drop-in fit sizes.

310-527-2330
www.antigravitybatteries.com
PN: AG-35-40-RS

Performance-Street Product Runner-Up

Hypertech
Hypertech REACT Throttle Optimizer

The '22 Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator–Hypertech's REACT offers customized control over the vehicle's throttle response. A control knob allows switching between multiple modes: mud/sand, street, economy, crawl or stock all in one part number. User can control the intensity of each mode on-the-fly to fit a particular driving need.

901-385-1888 www.hypertech.com PN: 105202

Performance-Street Product Runner-Up

JMS Chip & Performance
TractionMAX

Designed to work with big horsepower, traction-limited vehicles. Adjust to enhance traction and performance. Plug inline between the vehicle's pedal position sensor and vehicle harness. Use included dual-dial to adjust pedal (throttle) and time (traction) response. A save feature for new drivers can be adjusted to reduce the ability to overpower the tires.

601-766-9424
www.jmschip.com
PN: TX1114DCX

Collision Repair & Refinish Product Runner-Up

Card title

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800-852-3228 www.dakotadigital.com PN: MLX-9000

Collision Repair & Refinish Product Runner-Up

Card title

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901-385-1888 www.hypertech.com PN: 3200

Street Rod/Custom Car Product Winner

Flaming River Industries Inc.
Custom Microsteer Integrated Column Program

Flaming River offers a custom column program to integrate electric power-assist microsteer to virtually any FR column. This includes floor or column shift, key columns and Bella tilt roadster columns. A custom column form starts the process and even enables the end user to select the clocking of the microsteer to avoid interference with brake pedals.

800-648-8022
www.flamingriver.com
PN: FR40200FSX

Street Rod/Custom Car Product Runner-Up

Vintage Air Inc.
Gen 5 Super Magnum Heat/Cool/Defrost System

Electronically controlled climate-control system featuring industry-first OEM-quality injection-molded case- and block-type expansion valve. Rubber over-molded blend air doors provide smooth operation and positive seal for just-right temperature control year-round. Case features multiple mounting options and air-outlet configurations.

800-862-6658
www.vintageair.com
PN: 675200

Street Rod/Custom Car Product Runner-Up

Dakota Digital RTX-33F-X '33–'34 Ford Car
Retrotech Series Gauge System

From its engine-turned aluminum bezel to the OE graphics, the RTX-33F-X brings your street rod into the 21st century without taking away from the old-school looks. Packed with modern technology, this compact unit includes a TFT digital information center—giving you the modern- day readings we are used to in late-model vehicles.

800-852-3228
www.dakotadigital.com
PN: RTX-33F-X

Tire and Related Product Winner

Maxxis Tire VICTRA SPORT EV

The Victra Sport EV is our newest ultra-high-performance summer tire, specially developed and engineered to lower rolling resistance, reduce noise, enhance durability and provide better traction for electric vehicles. The tire features our latest Maxxis Silent technology which drastically improves perceived cabin noise.

800-4-MAXXIS
www.maxxis.com

Tire and Related Product Runner-Up

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.
Open Country R/T Trail

tire delivers better off-road grip than a traditional all-terrain tire, most evident in the sand, mud and deep snow. Extra-thick shoulder and sidewall lugs dig into deep and soft terrain while also providing impact and puncture resistance. More capable than a traditional all-terrain, without the noise and harshness of a dedicated mud tire.

800-442-8696
www.toyotires.com

Tire and Related Product Runner-Up

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
Mastercraft Courser Trail HD

With a deeper, thicker rubber on the tread and sidewall, the Courser Trail HD has an aggressive appearance that matches its tough, durable performance. Combined with reliable wet and winter performance, this tire lives up to your expectations both on the road and trail.

800-854-6288
www.coopertire.com
PN: 90000040234

Tools and Equipment Product Winner

Burr King Manufacturing Co. Inc.
92110-SGX Surface Grinder

Precision surface grinding at an affordable price. The first five-axis belt surface grinder with 1.5hp Vari Speed Motor; 21/2 x 60 Belt Grinder; serrated 90 Duro Contact Wheel; surface grinder base with X-axis slide; choice of 12,24 or 36 mag chuck; SG120. Features built-in sine bar for taper grinding.

660-438-8998
www.burrking.com
PN: 92110-SG12DELUX

Tools and Equipment Product Runner-Up

Buddy Load Binder Attachment
Buddy Load Binder Attachment

The Buddy converts your manual ratchet load binder into a high-speed, power-driven chain tightener. The Buddy combines the reliability of the ratchet binder with the power of the cordless drill to give you the faster, easiest, and safest chain tie down anywhere. It's lightweight, easy to install and allows manual operation at any time.

306-683-0330
www.bossbuddy.ca

Tools and Equipment Product Runner-Up

Vyper Industrial
Vyper Creeper

The ultimate lay down creeper that eliminates frustration in the shop. Built on an aluminum frame with steel support bars, the Vyper Lay Down features four industrial-grade rollover casters with guards, an adjustable 6x8 headrest, and extremely durable Smart Fabric upholstery.

920-301-3822
www.vyperindustrial.com

Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product Winner

SeaSucker
Monkey Bars (Ridge Ready)

This is a part of the evolution of our cross-bar system. Now that vans, SUVs and trucks are more commonly featuring ridges on their roofs, we had to design a vacuum mount that would fit between them. Our cross-bars are now more universal than ever before, fitting between nearly every set of ridges on the road, including Jeep Wranglers.

941-900-1850
www.seasucker.com
PN: SX6140

Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product Runner-Up

Antigravity Lithium Batteries
Antigravity Batteries RE-START Lithium Starter Battery

The first battery with wireless built-in jump starting. Simply press the included wireless keyfob if you drain the battery, start the car and drive away. Never be stranded by a dead battery again. Also our Lithium-ion battery only weighs 13 lbs,. can start 1,500hp motors, has a eight- to 10-year lifespan and comes in all OEM drop-in fit sizes.

310-527-2330
www.antigravitybatteries.com
PN: AG-H7-60-RS

Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product Runner-Up

Smartop
Smartop Platform Truck Bed cover

Smartop Platform is an all-new loadable, rigid, lockable, water- and dust-resistant truck-bed cover. The heavy-duty, all-welded aluminum construction features purpose-made extrusions. Integrated T-slots provide accessory attachment options on top and below. Fully removable in 5 min. No-drill installation. Capacity 550 lbs. Weight 88–105 lbs.

888-888-1488
www.smartopplatform.com
PN: SP-P-FR50

Wheel and Related Product Winner

MMX Wheels MMX Forged Wheel

The MMX Performance Wheel MF09TL design concept comes from the line patterns on the Nasca Wilderness in southern Peru, mysterious and beautiful. The wheel combines forging technology and a four-piece structure.

+86-18102764945
www.mmxwheels.com
PN: MF09TL

Wheel and Related Product Runner-Up

Quadratec
Lynx Trail Gunner Wheel for Bronco

This premium cast aluminum Trail Gunner wheel is incredibly light yet impressively strong to handle the rigors of daily driving or off-road use. The wheel's -13mm offset and 4.5-in. backspacing is perfect for Bronco owners seeking larger tires. The tough, corrosion-resistant finish ensures years of good looks.

610-701-3336
www.quadratec.com
PN: 92615-51XX

Wheel and Related Product Runner-Up

ICON Vehicle Dynamics
ICON ALLOYS 17-in. REBOUND SLX

ICON Alloys Rebound SLX features the classic Rebound style but a smooth lip for the customer not wanting the faux bead lock styling. These aluminum wheels have a load rating of 3,200 lbs. and are available for most five- and six-lug applications in both charcoal and satin black finishes.

951-689-4266
www.iconvehicledynamics.com
PN: 1917858347CH n

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