SEMA News

While hackers once delighted in bringing down gargantuan computer networks like those of the Pentagon or multinational corporations, the latest breed is more apt to harass and bully much smaller businesses—including those in the automotive specialty-equipment market. Scott Brickey, a data systems analyst for Advanced Clutch Technology, learned this cruel fact the hard way when ACT's website was maliciously attacked for no discernible reason and immediately rendered inoperable.

Read on for the seven tips to strengthen your site's defenses against today's hackers.

Attention SEMA Exhibitors! Planning to make a big announcement at the 2010 SEMA Show? Are you introducing an industry-changing new product? If so, we want to know about it. SEMA News is offering a sneak peek of industry news and introductions planned for the 2010 SEMA Show.

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme announced his retirement in January, closing the book on a stellar drag-racing career that spanned nearly five decades. In his 32 seasons as a driver, Prudhomme earned four consecutive Funny Car championships, 49 Top Fuel victories and two nearly undefeated seasons with his U.S. Army-sponsored Monza Funny Cars in 1975 and 1976. After getting out from behind the wheel in 1994, Prudhomme went on to spend nearly 15 years as a race team owner, bringing his total championship tally to six and his national event win count to 112. [Read more]

Barry Meguiar’s family has been in the car-care business for 109 years, and he’s personally headed up the company that carries the family name for more than four decades. As the president of Meguiar’s Inc., he’s seen the economic roller coaster trundle up and down many times before, but he’s never seen anything like the past couple of years. Despite the fact that his company not only weathered the storm but actually prospered, posting a double-digit gain in 2009 alone, he said that the recession has battered the car-care industry like none other in his lifetime. [Read more]

By purchasing a series of three 4-color ads sized 1/3-page or larger in SEMA News, exhibitors will have a powerful presence in the SEMA Show issues and receive the fourth ad of the same size absolutely free! The free ad will be printed providing the first three ads are paid in full.

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.

Every modern vehicle is dependent upon electronics. From the engine's ignition to sound systems, from safety sensors to climate controls, electronics have become integral to how vehicle operate and how their drivers perceive the on-road experience. And now electronics from outside the vehicle are resulting in a whole new wave of connectivity.

Vehicle technologies are accelerating faster than an American Le Mans Series racer exiting a hairpin onto a straightaway. The new watchwords for automotive development include vehicle electrification, hybrids, gas direct injection (GDI), clean diesels and next-generation green performance.

ProPledge staff met with potential partners in a groundbreaking warranty program at the recent NADA conference.

"The old familiar sight of several roadsters at a Southern California drive-in is fast fading away," wrote Tex Smith in the July 1959 issue of Hot Rod magazine. Even 50 years ago, rodders were concerned about the changes in their hobby.