LAS VEGAS AFTER-PARTY AWAITS!
SEMA Ignited 2019 Invitation: Exclusive to SAN Members
SEMA Action Network (SAN) members, time to make plans! In special recognition of your continued support on legislative issues important to the automotive hobby, we are inviting you to SEMA Ignited, the “Official After-Party” of the SEMA Show, FREE OF CHARGE (a $20 value). Join us as we celebrate the top cars built for display at the trade-only SEMA Show. Meet exhibitors, industry icons and SEMA Battle of the Builders® contestants. Enjoy live drifting demonstrations, music, food trucks and much more! SEMA Ignited will be held in the same location as last year at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Platinum Lot—located on the east side of LVCC—on Friday, November 8th starting at 3:00 pm.
You will also be able to register up to 10 guests to join you at SEMA Ignited, compliments of the SAN. Use the following personalized link below to confirm your party’s attendance.
Registration deadline is October 14, 2019 for your complimentary passes to SEMA Ignited courtesy of the SAN. We hope to see you in Las Vegas!
Thank you to those who have expressed an interest in attending the SEMA Show. No access to the trade-only convention will be made available to the general public this year.
Legislative Alerts
SEMA Sues U.S. Department of Transportation for Failing to Implement Replica Car Law
ACT NOW! Tell Your U.S. Senators to Support the RPM Act and Save Our Racecars
North Carolina Bill to Expand Eligibility for Antique Vehicle Registration Signed into Law
SEMA ACTION NETWORK'S STRIKE FORCE
“They all need to be driven—we don't have our collection just sit in a garage.” Ray and Celia Marks are MOPAR fanatics who live behind the wheel. “We currently own, drive and show seven vehicles—plus we own three daily drivers. We love to drive them all—we try to drive different ones during our daily trips to stores or just out for a joyride. People can see us start out in the morning with one vehicle, then change out to a different vehicle at lunch, then again a different vehicle if we go out for supper.” When going to car shows, often each will drive a different one to enter in different classes.
“A car brought Celia and I together while I was in the service—but that is a story in itself,” recalls Ray. Having a father with a love of cars, he began learning about them in his teenage years. He says there were different cars around while growing up as one of five kids. “When we got married, Celia and I started our long love affair with cars, trucks, motorcycles and a few boats. She stopped counting and keeping track after 350 total vehicles—since then we have had several more!”
The pair from Buffalo, Missouri, have recently finished bringing their 1953 Dodge 5-window pickup to new life—as shown above. “It’s an all-custom truck from the ground up!” exclaims Ray. “While we have owned it since 2012, the short-bed has been in the works to completion for over 2 years. It originally came from Oklahoma where it was used as one of their state trucks.” A fuel-injected 440 c.i. Chrysler engine and 4-speed manual transmission are among the slew of custom touches that include the frame, suspension, interior and exterior details.
Other automotive projects are in the works aside from maintaining the current fleet. Ray’s “winter project” is a 1951 Plymouth business coupe that he’s turning into a rat rod. A 1964 Plymouth Valiant convertible is being redone and is now on his personally built auto rotisserie. The car’s 273 c.i. engine and 3-speed on the column are rare options for a convertible version of the model. Like most, he too has a dream not yet come true: “I’d like A MOPAR with a 572 c.i. Hemi with twin turbos and nitrous as added power! Right now, I own a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda with a 5.7 Hemi, twin turbos—it makes 800+ horsepower at the rear wheels.”
Here’s to many more years of four-wheeled fun to come, Ray and Celia!
