SEMA SAN: Ignited We Stand

November 19, 2014
Story By
Scott Martin

OK, let’s try a little word association: I say SEMA, you say “Yeah, I was just in Las Vegas… the show was huge!” Now, I say SEMA SAN and you say… “SEMA What?” Most car-people know SEMA as the biggest auto-related trade show of the year, but it’s hard for them to name anything else that the West Coast-based organization does. If you were to ask a member of SEMA, they could probably tell you more, but they still may not know about SAN. Simply put, it has become an important initiative in the fight to defend our automotive pursuits and rights.

SAN, or the SEMA Action Network is designated as a nationwide partnership between enthusiasts, vehicle clubs and members of the automotive specialty-equipment industry who have joined forces to promote hobby-friendly legislation and oppose unfair legislation. With more than 39,000 members from all 50 states, SAN has become the premier organization defending the rights of vehicle enthusiasts in the U.S. and SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald adds that SEMA Action Network includes legislative advocacy in the Parliament of Canada and the provincial governments as well.

Speaking with SAN Director Colby Martin after the recent SEMA Show, I asked what was next on the agenda thinking he would say, “National Car Collector’s Day 2015 on July 10^th” but instead he told me that he was gearing up for all the new Legislative sessions at the beginning of the new year. It seems that is usually his busiest time, but especially with all the new changes in Congress and the Senate, his organization will have its hands full keeping track of existing plus new or re-written legislation. The last two years have brought some major successes through lobbying efforts by SEMA and SAN in California, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but the continued monitoring is just as important as the victories.

Aside from the legal aspects of SEMA SAN, the organization gets to reach out directly to auto enthusiasts in a number of other ways. They have been able to tap into the huge numbers of car collectors around the country by helping establish National Car Collector Day. Since 2010, and through some help at the legislative level, individuals within the organization have been able to get a number of states and Canadian provinces to recognize the second Friday in July as the day to celebrate the hobby in any way possible including “take your collector car to work”. For those unable to celebrate on July 10th, the SAN encourages events to be scheduled throughout the month of July.

The organization really wanted to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society and to celebrate the classics of the past and the future. The main SEMA office in Diamond Bar hosts a now-popular car show with vendor participation, giveaways and a free lunch. The SAN will also continue to maintain and publicize a list of scheduled events across the country. Individuals, car clubs and business owners interested in publicizing events can submit the details to semaSAN.com/CCAD. For questions, contact SAN Director Colby Martin at 909-978-6721 or san@sema.org.

“With the 2014 celebration now behind us, car enthusiasts and related businesses can begin planning open houses, car cruises, club gatherings and educational events to mark the 2015 commemoration” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. “The passion for the collector car hobby that continues to be demonstrated by SAN members nationwide is most clearly evident in this special day.”

SAN and YEN (Young Executives Network) members have also graciously been invited to participate in various automotive car shows and events including the O’Reilly Nationals in Pomona, CA and SEMA Ignited after-party event at the end of the SEMA Show 2014 in Las Vegas. One young man was able to be involved with his first car show in his newly-running Restomod due to his father’s membership in SEMA and SAN.

For those at the SEMA Show this year, you couldn’t miss the SO-CAL Speed Shop of Las Vegas’ Deuce Roadster next to the SEMA SAN Booth outside in front. Colby Martin was at point for most of the show with special guests stopping by, including SAN member and supporter Courtney Hansen signing her special edition SEMA SAN poster. Courtney was also at a special booth at SEMA Ignited, greeting long lines of fans and happily signing posters for over three hours.

In the United States, the SAN regularly rallies the support of 3,500-plus car clubs, thousands of individual contacts, and 100-plus consumer automotive publications, with an estimated reach of 36 million enthusiasts nationwide; sends out action alerts to generate an abundance of responses to state and/or federal legislative actions and regulatory proposals; and issues timely updates of legislative and regulatory developments. The message is also being delivered monthly through the Driving Force Magazine and every two weeks through an on-line version. Part of that message is to be able to act quickly and with a small organization that becomes larger and more energized through greater resources… one of the offshoots of the organization’s relatively new motto, “Ignited We Stand.”

There are no costs, fees or hassles to participate in the SAN. The concept is simple: SEMA provides detailed, regularly updated information on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the hobby. The more hands that touch this information, the more eyes that read the information and the more people that stand up and do something, the more effectively our hobby is protected. When action is required, SAN members are urged to contact legislators and regulators to express support or opposition to a particular bill or proposal that directly affects the automotive hobby. When the choice is in the hands of enough people that truly care, the right things happen… another truism for the motto, “Ignited We Stand”. Visit www.semasan.com for more information on how to get involved!

SEMA SAN: Ignited We Stand

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