driving-force-online-january-2016-issue-2

ANNOUNCEMENT

Don't Miss the SAN at the "Grand Daddy" of Car Shows

Have you heard of the Grand National Roadster Show? Now in its 67th year and once known as the Oakland Roadster Show, this event is said to be the longest running indoor car show in the world. The SEMA Action Network (SAN) will have a vehicle display near the Save the Salt booth in Building 9. It will include SAN Director Colby Martin’s homebuilt 1931 Ford Model A coupe and a replica Cobra roadster. The recently completed Model A hot rod will stand as a visual symbol for show attendees of the types of vehicles and equipment that many states seek to restrict and regulate. Meanwhile, the Cobra will highlight the new landmark SAN-supported federal law that will enable hobbyists to purchase turn-key replica cars starting in 2017.

If you make it to the Fairplex in Pomona, please stop by to see these cars and learn more about the SAN’s efforts to keep vehicles like them on the road. Bring a friend with you, as free posters featuring Colby’s illustration of the 1931 coupe (shown here) and other information will be given out at the display. The event runs from Friday, January 29 through Sunday, January 31. Full details here: http://rodshows.com/gnrs/index.html

Legislative Front Lines

Click here for the complete list of Legislative Action Alerts.

SEMA SAN Strike Force

Journalist Mike Aguilar stands beside a couple of cars in his new homeland of Brazil. Note the unique license plate!

One might not expect to find a musclecar enthusiast, mechanic, gas station attendant and former racer to be found in Brazil, but Mike Aguilar made the move there three years ago. “I grew up around cars and was raised around my father's Chevron stations from the late ‘60s and through the ‘80s,” Mike explains. “He ended up having three in my lifetime and all were around the area of Mountain View, California. From this experience, I mainly learned about OEM applications, not performance—unless a customer brought in something special, like the Lamborghini and Porsche one had.” His first memories of working on cars were those produced in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Memories of giving his first "full tune-up" to Mrs. Fulghum's 54 Studebaker at age seven was certainly a highlight. Aguilar recalls sitting on the car’s inner fender well learning the process from his father, who was suddenly called away by another customer. “I just read the book and followed the directions, so to speak,” says Mike. “I gapped and installed the plugs, installed and set the points followed by the cap and wires. I just went from there.”

In his early teens, a subscription to Hot Rod Magazine and other titles helped ignite a passion in Aguilar for performance vehicles. “My dad used to complain about how I was letting high performance ‘ruin’ me,” Mike recalls. His first car was a ‘69 Camaro RS packing a dual-quad 350 c.i. LT1 and a Muncie 5-speed with special gears. A number of cars followed, including Camaros, Mustangs and Chargers. At age 19 he left the family Chevron station and went to work for a Goodyear shop down the street (the paycheck was better). Upon attending schools for tires and suspension, the youngster had a knowledge about suspension geometry and the know-how to design a performance suspension—much to his father's chagrin. Since then, he’s held positions in many facets of the automotive universe. He’s even raced in the amateur levels of NHRA, NASCAR, and IMSA/SCCA at Baylands/Fremont, Sears Point, Laguna Seca, Riverside and a few other tracks. Today, Mike writes articles for Power Automedia's Rod Authority publication on behalf of fellow ‘gearheads’. Thus, he’s been able to share items about the SEMA Action Network (SAN) and continues to be on the lookout for opportunities to spread the word about our legislative fight.

Thank you for channeling your passion for North American car culture from your headquarters in South America, Mike!

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