SEMA Member News—January 2018
HRIA Reception and Award Recipients
 Glenn Grozich (center), founder of Billet Specialties, was honored with HRIA’s Business of the Year award. | |
The Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) reception held at the 2017 SEMA Show was attended by more than 550 hot-rod professionals and enthusiasts, making it one of the most-attended events at the Show. The annual reception serves as an evening of networking for HRIA members and hot-rod professionals, allowing them to discuss the latest industry trends with others who share their passion for hot rods. Rick Love of Vintage Air emceed the reception, and six hot rods were on display, highlighting the works of up-and-coming builders. Chris Kersting stopped by to greet attendees, and influential businesses and individuals were honored at an awards ceremony.
Business of the Year: Billet Specialties
Billet Specialties was founded in 1985 by Glenn Grozich, who recognized a growing trend toward machined billet parts by hot-rod builders of the period. Having learned his craft in his father’s Chicago-area machine shop, Grozich was already a master machinist and fabricator by the time he was 26.
The company started with radiator caps and license-plate frames but today boasts an inventory of more than 900 part numbers. Its two- and three-piece wheels have been the choice of many top builders and have graced many an award-winning ride over the years.
Everything is done in-house in a 10,000-sq.-ft. facility, with more than 50 state-of-the-art CNC machines and what is said to be one of the largest and best equipped polishing shops in the Midwest. With Grozich’s attention to detail and customer satisfaction, strict quality control standards are in place. That attention to detail and customer service also earns Billet Specialties a reputation as the go-to company in the industry for any kind of specialty billet hardware.
Industry Recognition: Kyle Tucker of Detroit Speed & Engineering
 Kyle Tucker (center) of Detroit Speed & Engineering received HRIA’s Industry Recognition award. | |
Kyle Tucker has devoted his life to the hot-rod industry ever since debuting the Twister ’69 Camaro on the 2000 Hot Rod Power Tour. While building Detroit Speed & Engineering into one of the premier manufacturing and car-building businesses in the industry, Tucker also earned a reputation as a loyal friend and businessman. His car builds continue to win awards, and he is surely counted as one of the top influencers among hot-rod builders. Tucker is always available to lend a hand at HRIA functions or events, and many young builders are already benefitting from his advice.
HRIA Hall of Fame: Ken and Jane Callison, ididit
Both of the HRIA’s Hall of Fame inductees—Ken and Jane Callison of ididit—have dedicated their adult lives to the hobby and the industry of hot rodding. They met in the mid-’60s, one cruising a ’38 Chevy coupe and the other a ’60 Ford Falcon dubbed the “flower wagon.” They got married in 1965. In 1985, demand for an aluminum steering column that had been made for a friend gave birth to a manufacturing company.
Through the years, one-half of the team became involved in many activities on an industry level. Jane Callison served on the HRIA select committee for multiple terms and chaired multiple task forces. She was named Goodguys Woman of the Year in 1997 and has mentored more than a few individuals in the hot-rod industry.
 Jane and Ken Callison (center) of ididit were inducted into the HRIA Hall of Fame at the 2017 SEMA Show. | |
The husband-and-wife team encouraged young people to pursue careers in the industry by bringing students to the company for tours, job shadowing and co-op opportunities. They are moving into retirement these days but are still active hot rodders, as they frequent many shows throughout the year.
HRIA Raises $17,240 for Charity
HRIA reception attendees were given the opportunity to take one-of-a-kind hot rods home with them in the form of pinewood cars. Nationally recognized builders made small-scale hot rods to showcase their talents and to raise money for SEMA Cares children’s charities. The miniature hot rods were auctioned off at the HRIA reception, raising $7,740 for the charities.
The reception’s table sponsors donated a total of $9,500 to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund and were honored at the event. Special thanks goes to the following companies:
- Advanced Plating & Powder Coating
- Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop
- American Autowire
- Borgeson Universal Co. Inc.
- Bowler Performance Transmissions Inc.
- Car Buff Network LLC
- Championship Auto Shows Inc.
- Classic Instruments Inc.
- COMP Performance Group
- Danny’s Rod Shop
- Flaming River Industries Inc.
- Goodguys Enterprises Inc.
- Goolsby Customs
- Hot Rods by JSK
- ididit Inc.
- Lokar Inc.
- Motor State Distributing
- National Street Rod Association
- Ron Francis Wiring
- Steele Rubber Products Inc.
- TEN: The Enthusiast Network
- Vintage Air Inc.
- Street Rod Life (Xceleration Media)