SEMA Member News—September/October 2013
HRIA Education Day Moves
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“HRIA Education Day has proven to be a key event for helping manufacturers share detailed and sometimes technical information about their products with their customers,” said Jim Skelly, SEMA director of councils. “Holding the Education Day program at Detroit Autorama will allow HRIA members to expand and reach a new audience.”
Detroit Autorama attracts more than 150,000 individuals annually. Education Day is open to all hot-rod shops and businesses as well as to all Autorama attendees, and admission is free. Education Day will take place on Thursday, March 6, 2014 (the day before Autorama officially opens).
For program details, contact SEMA Council Director Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
Welcome New Members of the HRIA Select Committee
The Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Select Committee is in high gear this summer. The membership wants to thank Eric Saltrick of Steel Rubber Products, Bret Voelkel of RideTech and Kellie Colf of Colf Creative Resources for their contributions to the committee, and Rick Love of Vintage Air will be moving out of the chair’s seat as Del Austin takes the wheel. The committee is also welcoming three new members.
All three of the new Select Committee members have project cars in the works. In addition to Elmore’s ’69 Olds, Schoof is working on a project T-bucket with Rod & Custom. The car will be assembled completely from aftermarket parts, and she’ll be going through the California Specialty Vehicle Registration process shortly. In addition, Major is working on a ’29 Model A pickup and a ’62 Econoline pickup. That just goes to show you that HRIA members are hot rodders 24/7!
| BJ Elmore
Elmore volunteered for the committee because it feels like a home within the industry and that being involved with other members and member companies to help the industry grow and increase everyone’s business is crucial. “The resources that SEMA, the HRIA and other committees provide for our industry is endless,” he said. “I urge anyone to invest the time to utilize these tools to help improve their business operation.” Like others within HRIA and SEMA, Elmore’s hot-rodding mindset was brought on by working alongside his father at his automotive repair shop. He still has a ’69 Oldsmobile convertible that’s been in his family since it was new, and he has a few other projects in the works. | Angela Schoof
She is the publisher of two Source Interlink Media magazines—Rod & Custom and Classic Trucks—and she brings a perspective to the committee that ranges from manufacturers to events and from readers to fans of hot rodding. “It is important to be involved in the industry that you’re a part of,” she said, “and the HRIA offers a lot to its members, especially with Education Day and the upcoming Futures in Hot Rodding program. I encourage everyone in our industry to get involved with SEMA, as they can gain incredible value with research studies, seminars, webinars and events.” | Jeff Major
“Volunteering with HRIA allows me to give back and serve others in the same way that others have helped and been of service to me and our industry to help drive, defend, improve and support hot rodding,” he said. Major wants to emphasize getting teens and youth aware and involved in the aftermarket. “We need to show them, through example, the opportunities within the hot-rod and automotive industry,” he said. “The HRIA’s Futures in Hot Rodding is a terrific program, and I’m looking forward to helping it expand and gather speed.” |
The general manager of RideTech, BJ Elmore believes that HRIA’s Education Day program is “one of the most impactive programs put forth by any of the SEMA committees.” 
Angela Schoof may be new to the Select Committee but not to the industry. 
The third new member of the Select Committee is Jeff Major, president of Bed Wood and Parts. His company joined SEMA in 2006, so he understands the value of being a part of the industry as well as the importance of being involved.