DON'T MISS THE AUTO HOBBY'S "HOLIDAY"
Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be celebrated this year on July 13, 2018. At the request of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), this "holiday" has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Senate Resolution recognizing that the "collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States." As in years past, a wide range of automotive events will be held to commemorate the occasion. As this annual event continues to grow worldwide, states, provinces, counties and cities are following suit with their own recognition. SEMA encourages participation throughout the month of July to honor the classics of the past and the future.
Check out the video PSA featuring TV personality Courtney Hansen. Please share it with your friends using the following link: https://youtu.be/y9L9cIya6GA
CELEBRATE THE HOBBY YOUR WAY!
• ATTEND an official vehicle-inspired event
• HOST your own gathering or club meeting
• Promote a "HOLIDAY SALE" at your business
• DRIVE your special ride, new or old, whatever the destination
Plan and submit your July event at no cost, locate a listing near you and more on the website: semasan.com/collector-car-appreciation-day
Participating organizers will be awarded a copy of the Congressional resolution for display at each registered event.
DRIVING FORCE Essentials
Share your vehicle related photos and videos
#IgntedWeStand
Put SEMA SAN on your car club's list:
san@sema.org
Legislative Front Lines
Click here for the complete list of Legislative Action Alerts.
- Province of British Columbia Proclaims "COLLECTOR CAR APPRECIATION DAY" in July 2018
- Nebraska Bill to Ease Titling and Registration of Specially Constructed Vehicles Becomes Law
- Maryland Bills Fail to Pass Before Legislative Deadline
- Iowa Bills Fail to Pass Before Legislative Deadline
SEMA SAN Strike Force
Cars have always been my passion," says Mike Rowley, owner of this Inferno Orange '12 Corvette Coupe. "In addition to my personal connection to collector cars, my interest in the SEMA Action Network (SAN) also comes from experience as a government relations representative. I recently retired from the aerospace industry after 51 years. I have interacted with city, state and federal officials to represent the business and encourage support for our initiatives. I know from experience that the occasional letter and discussions with policymakers has impact. We have to stand up for our passions and solicit support for our causes from elected officials.
Mike was bitten by the "car bug" at a young age and had a series of vehicles throughout high school. The list includes V8-powered notables like a '55 Chevrolet, '58 Chevrolet Impala, '61 Ford Fairlane and Chevrolet Camaros from the '69 and '70 model year. Mike likes to tell the story of how his long-standing love for American muscle was reinvigorated. "I believe I was looking for another car the day after my daughter's college graduation in 2004," recalls Mike Rowley. "After raising two wonderful children, I told my wife Marcia that I wanted another hobby car, perhaps a Corvette. At the time my son had already graduated and I wanted an older car but did not know exactly what model/year. I suggested we buy a Corvette built in 1971—the year we were married. She enthusiastically endorsed the plan and we went out to find the car."
The Rowleys have been enjoying their numbers-matching '71 Corvette Coupe. It now counts over 108,000 miles on the odometer. "We have overhauled the 350 c.i. engine, which now has 300 horsepower, the automatic transmission, brakes, steering and other miscellaneous areas that needed attention. Since the paint is not Corvette original, one of my retirement plans is to take the body off, finish restoration of the frame and take the paint back to the original War Bonnet color. We drive it a lot but tend to limit it to shorter trips."
As their journeys grew longer, Mike and Marcia started thinking about getting a later-model car to use for road trips. They subsequently purchased a Light Pewter '01 Corvette Coupe to handle the job. In 2015, they came across a '12 Corvette Coupe painted Inferno Orange with 12,000 original miles in Arizona. "We could not resist—the trade was made. It's been a great time! The car took us to the Black Hills Corvette Classic in Spearsfish, South Dakota, in 2016 and 2017. Some of our Canadian friends from Arizona joined us for the first event. We drove out with ten other cars the second year after convincing members of our Wichita-based South Winds Corvette Club to attend." Although unsure what lays in store for the current year, Mike is sure a new adventure awaits.
We're glad to have you watching out for automotive opportunities and threats in Kansas and Arizona, Mike. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
Stay Up-to-Date on the RPM Act: Get the latest information on the motorsports bill at www.sema.org/epa-news.