For most people, the thought of winning the lottery and never having to work again go hand in hand. While a very small percentage of people win the lottery, that life-changing experience served as a catalyst for Gil Cisneros to start a foundation dedicated to providing educational opportunities for children in underserved communities and run for political office. In 2018, he was elected to represent California’s 39th Congressional District, which includes SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California, in the U.S. House of Representatives. SEMA has developed a close working relationship with Rep. Cisneros during his first year in Congress, which included a visit to the SEMA Garage.

U.S. Representative Norma Torres (D-CA) knows a thing or two about cars and the importance of manufacturing. When given the opportunity, she’ll proudly mention that she enjoys driving a ’66 Ford Mustang that her husband Louis restored. With that in mind, it was only a matter of time before she made her way to the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

Voting can often seem like a cynical affair. When roughly 130 million Americans cast a ballot for president, it can be hard to see how one vote will make a difference. With that many people heading to the polls, winning the lottery may seem like a safer bet. However, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

It’s often said that it’s not what you know but who you know. In today’s political climate, it pays to have a sizeable Rolodex.

“The way I see it, if you’re going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?” explained Dr. Emmett Brown in the blockbuster film “Back to the Future.” As any movie buff will tell you, the car Doc Brown spoke of was the DeLorean DMC-12. Unfortunately for movie lovers and gearheads alike, the DeLorean hasn’t been in production since 1983. However, thanks to a new SEMA-supported law, that’s about to change.

Deteriorating conditions and wet weather at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) forced the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. to cancel Speed Week. The event organizers were unable to identify more than 2¼ miles of salt suitable for a safe course. Speed Week began in 1949 and is the largest annual racing event held at the BSF, with hundreds of teams racing every type of vehicle, from hot rods, roadsters and belly tankers to motorcycles, lakesters and streamliners. The event was also cancelled in 2014 due to rain, which marked the first cancellation since the ’90s.

U.S. Representatives Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Gene Green (D-TX) introduced bipartisan legislation that would enable low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. Called the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015 (H.R. 2675), the SEMA-supported bill would allow companies to construct up to 500 “replicas” per year. Those are cars that resemble another production vehicle manufactured at least 25 years ago.

While it’s too soon to tell who the next commander in chief will be, the field of contenders has begun to take shape. The candidates feature some very familiar names as well as some newcomers who have already made their marks. Who will emerge the victor? Let’s examine the players.

Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus Continues Rise on Capitol Hill

The American automobile celebrated its 100th birthday in 1996. To mark the milestone, the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus was formed to pay tribute to America’s ever-growing love affair with the car and motorsports. Nearly 20 years later, the caucus continues to raise the industry’s profile in the nation’s capital and in the public’s eyes.

Containing Costs in the Data-Breach Era

During a recent speech at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), President Obama reminded us: “If we’re going to be connected, then we need to be protected.” The sentiment summarizes a growing problem facing businesses that rely on modern technology to transact business: the data breach.