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ANNOUNCEMENT
Final SEMA Ignited 2015 Invitation: Exclusive to SAN Members SEMA Action Network (SAN) members, have you heard? In special recognition of your continued support on legislative issues important to the automotive hobby, we are inviting you to SEMA Ignited, the “Official After-Party” of the SEMA Show, FREE OF CHARGE (a $20 value). Join us as we celebrate the top cars built for display at the trade-only SEMA Show. Meet exhibitors, industry icons and SEMA Battle of the Builders® contestants. Enjoy live demonstrations from Formula DRIFT, music, and much more! SEMA Ignited will be held at the Gold Lot, adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday, November 6th starting at 3:00 pm.
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SEMA SAN Strike Force
Having desired a ’57 Chevy Nomad since his was 12 years old, West Virginia’s Wade Linger now lists it as his favorite car. “When I finally got this one (above), it was a half-assembled pile of rusty parts,” explains Linger. “Several years later I had it rebuilt as a nice ‘restomod’ and have driven it all over the U.S. with my wife Jill.” The pair takes the Nomad on a long road trip or two every year. In fact, they’re planning to drive up to the Finger Lakes area of New York, Toronto and Niagara Falls later this fall. The car also continues to garner ‘Best in Show’ honors when entered in competition.
"It's not just what you know, it's who you know." As discussed in the current issue of Driving Force (Fall 2015), strong relationships form the foundation of any success. Wade Linger recently reached out to West Virginia Congressman David McKinley's office to help the SAN accomplish an important goal: secure an additional co-sponsor for the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015 (H.R. 2675). H.R. 2675 is a bill that would enable low volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. He first sent the personal request to the Congressman and then ran into him at an event about a week later. Within a few days, the lawmaker indicated that he had agreed to co-sponsor the bill. "One of the advantages of living in a small state like mine is that our legislators are very approachable," Linger says. "I understand that state and federal policies have a major impact on my hobby and businesses. So I try to maintain a relationship with my lawmakers." In fact, Wade has also developed a kinship with state lawmaker Delegate Gary Howell, national chairman of the SAN-supported State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Upon noticing Howell's legislator license plates at a car show, Linger introduced himself and the two immediately connected. "I am a member of the West Virginia State Board of Education, so Gary and I ended up talking as much about the upcoming legislative session and education policy issues as we did about cars." Having loved automobiles all of his life, Wade had the opportunity to fulfill his dreams in 2005 by opening a hot rod and restoration shop, appropriately named Wade's Garage. He had just sold a technology company with plans to retire. "I purchased twenty five acres of property and began construction on a 10,000 square foot multi-purpose facility before the ink was dry on the sale of the company," Linger relays. The two-level operation includes a full service shop, a showroom, conference room, offices and an eleven bay storage shed. Over the past ten years, his crew has performed several total restorations and many system upgrades, such as disc brake conversions, electrical enhancements, air conditioning installations and engine swaps. "My wife Jill comes from a family of gearheads out of Kentucky, so I never have to justify my obsession. She drives everything we build." We really appreciate you stepping up on behalf of our hobby, Wade! Keep up the great work with your projects.
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