A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Commending automotive enthusiasts in South Dakota and the Specialty Equipment Market Association for their contributions in preserving classic automobiles and urging the Governor to declare a South Dakota Collector Car Appreciation Week.

WHEREAS, many South Dakotans are automotive enthusiasts who have a passion for restoring and preserving classic automobiles as a means of expression and a form of art; and

WHEREAS, the restoration and preservation of classic automobiles is a unifying activity shared among all generations and segments of society; and

WHEREAS, classic automobiles are an integral part of the history of South Dakota and the United States, and automotive enthusiasts in South Dakota play an essential role in preserving this history by restoring, preserving, and displaying classic automobiles; and

WHEREAS, South Dakota has a vibrant automotive enthusiast community, with over fifty-two automotive clubs and one hundred ten automobile shows annually; and

WHEREAS, the annual SEMA Show that is organized by the Specialty Equipment Market Association helps South Dakotans who restore and preserve classic automobiles thrive and succeed, and makes an invaluable contribution to the preservation of classic automobiles in the United States:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Ninety-Sixth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that automotive enthusiasts in South Dakota be commended for their role in preserving the history of classic automobiles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Specialty Equipment Market Association be commended for annually organizing the SEMA Show and its contribution to the preservation of classic automobiles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Governor be urged to declare the last week of August of this year as South Dakota Collector Car Appreciation Week, to celebrate the cultural value of automobiles to South Dakota and the United States.