FOUR-WHEELED CELEBRATION
Ninth Annual Collector Car Appreciation Day Embraced by the Masses
On July 13, thousands paid tribute to the automobile in honor of the ninth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). Intended to honor the classics of the past and the future, a wide range of official events (numbering more than 150) were held throughout July in the United States and Canada to commemorate the day.
The celebration was designated with SEMA-requested companion resolutions introduced in the U.S. Congress by co-chairs of the SEMA-supported Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. These resolutions recognize "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."
REMINDER: LAS VEGAS AWAITS!
SEMA Action Network (SAN) members, time to make plans! 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 drifting demonstrations, music, food trucks and much more! SEMA Ignited will be held in a new location this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Platinum Lot—located on the east side of LVCC—on Friday, November 2nd starting at 3:00 pm.
You will also be able to register up to 10 guests to join you at SEMA Ignited, compliments of the SAN. Use the following personalized link below to confirm your party's attendance.
Registration deadline is October 7, 2018 for your complimentary passes to SEMA Ignited courtesy of the SAN.
After receiving your SEMA Ignited registration confirmation, be on the look-out for a separate email invitation for you and a guest to complimentary Friday-only access to the SEMA Show. This opportunity will be available to the first 500 members of the SAN who register. We hope to see you in Las Vegas!
[A personalized link was emailed to the SAN membership in the original version of this newsletter]
Legislative Front Lines
SEMA SAN Strike Force
SEMA's Christian Robinson has taken the wheel of state-level efforts as director of state government affairs.
My name is Christian Robinson, and while I've been a member of the SEMA Government Affairs team since 2013, I recently took on the role of Director of State Government Affairs. In this position, I will oversee SEMA's efforts to enact pro-hobby legislation in all 50 states and help grow the SEMA Action Network's influence in each state's capital.
Cars have been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised in South Carolina, and as a kid my friends and I would spend Friday nights getting into trouble at Oglethorpe Speedway Park just over the state line in Pooler, Georgia. I ended up going to college at the University of Miami, where I started my career working in politics. After helping Florida Senator Bill Nelson (a two-time RPM Act co-sponsor!) get re-elected twice, I was ready for a new adventure. So as soon as the SEMA team approached me about a job, I knew it's where I wanted to be.
My first car was the hand-me-down family station wagon—a tan '88 Ford Taurus, the quintessential grocery-getter. While it wasn't sexy, I certainly appreciated the freedom it afforded me. Fortunately, my best friend somehow convinced his parents to buy him a twin-turbo '97 Toyota Supra. It wasn't long before our weekends were spent making upgrades, including a new blow-off valve, A-pillar gauges and a new sound system. At the time, I never could have imagined that I would be attending the SEMA Show on a regular basis. Since then I've owned three Audis and another Ford. I recently picked up my first BMW—an E39.
I'm excited for the road ahead as we work together to fight for our shared passion. If you ever have any questions about what's happening in your home state, don't be a stranger. I can be reached at stateleg@sema.org.
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