Local Motors will conduct an open house of its micro-factory facility in Chandler, Arizona, on July 31, 2010, 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. The evening will feature a tour of the facility, a demonstration of the Rally Fighter car, live music and a car show. RSVP Here.

SEMA Cares Chairman Joel Ayres out to prove that even truck accessory guys can race.

NHRA news: Greg Anderson wins first race of season, takes $25K in K&N Horsepower Challenge; Larry Dixon grabs seventh win; Schumacher up for best driver ESPY; and more.

Attention SEMA Exhibitors! Are you introducing an industry-changing new product? If so, we want to know about it. SEMA News is offering a sneak peek of new-product introductions planned for the 2010 SEMA Show, November 2–5 in Las Vegas.

NATIONWIDE DEBUT: The next generation NASCAR Nationwide Series cars will make their debut this Friday during the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

KING OF SPRINT WEEK: Tim Shaffer may have won three events during the 28th annual O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Ohio Sprint Speedweek, but 18-year-old David Gravel walked away with the overall crown Sunday at Fremont Speedway.

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN: Nobuhiro Tajima claimed the overall and unlimited class titles for the fifth-straight year during the 88th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The California Air Resources Board has issued a proposed rule that would require all automobile service providers to check tire pressures for every vehicle being maintained or repaired at their facility as of September 1, 2010. The regulation would apply to auto maintenance/repair providers but not to auto parts distributers/retailers, auto body/paint facilities, auto glass installers or wreckers/dismantlers. The deadline for commenting on the rule is July 6, 2010.  

The United States Senate included a provision to allow businesses to write-off 50% of the cost of newly purchased depreciable property as part of a larger bill (HR 5297) to provide banks with access to funds intended for small business loans. The SEMA-supported legislation has already been passed by the House and is now being debated by the U.S. Senate.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN), the industry’s outreach to the hobbyist community and your customers, was on hand at Star City Motor Madness in Roanoke, Virginia, this past weekend to kick off celebrations for the first-ever Collector Car Appreciation Day.

Most experts agree that the economy is beginning to recover and many businesses are poised to take advantage of growth opportunities through hiring, expansion or infrastructure investments. So, how will your company finance its growth and increase its market reach?