 The late Bill France Sr. will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame during the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on July 27. In addition to Bill France Sr., the inductees into the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame are Nick Arias Jr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr. |
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The late Bill France Sr. will be honored and formerly inducted into the
SEMA Hall of Fame during the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala
Fundraiser, Friday, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel &
Conference Center, Pomona, California. In addition to France, the
inductees into the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame are Nick Arias Jr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr.
Bill France Sr. founded NASCAR—the most recognized and successful stock-car racing series in the world. Learning from his early days as a racer and fledgling promoter, France envisioned a single, firmly governed sanctioning body as a key necessity for stock-car racing to succeed on a large scale. Known as "Big Bill" in the racing circles, his efforts and ideas helped pioneer developments in safety, organization, infrastructure, scoring and purses—developments that enabled racing to reach new levels of professionalism and respect within the arena of professional sports.
SEMA's Hall of Fame designation is the most prestigious honor that the association can bestow on an individual. In addition to the induction of the 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame class, the gala celebration will also feature the introduction of the newest SEMA Board of Directors, and the outgoing Board members will be officially recognized and thanked for their volunteerism and service.
The SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser is part of the association's Leadership Days—a three-day gathering of industry leaders, volunteers and SEMA staff working together to identify and address industry and business challenges, while celebrating the specialty-equipment industry and the spirit of volunteerism. Leadership Days also includes the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, where mini pinewood drag racers built by SEMA members, staff and children from Victory Junction and Childhelp race against the clock for bragging rights. A worthwhile cause, proceeds from the SEMA Pinewood Drag Races benefit both Victory Junction and Childhelp.
All industry professionals are invited to attend the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. The event begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., where attendees are able to mix and mingle with industry icons and celebrities. Proceeds from ticket sales will also benefit Childhelp and Victory Junction.
For tickets and more information, visit www.sema.org/galatix or contact Michelle Harris at michelleh@sema.org or 909-978-6684.