Strengthen Your Company Through Community
No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of niche-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular market segment.
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 PRI Show attendees will be able to have face-to-face interaction with MPMC manufacturers at the inaugural MPMC Education Day at the 2013 PRI Show in Indianapolis, Wednesday, December 11, 2013. | |
SEMA Members Host Product Training at 2013 PRI Show
SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) and PRI will present “MPMC Education Day” at the 2013 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, Wednesday, December 11, 2013. The event takes place at the Indiana Convention Center the day before the PRI Trade Show floor opens.
Patterned after the already successful Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Education Day, 15 MPMC-member companies will present one-hour product training presentations to PRI Trade Show attendees. Three seminars will each run concurrently over five, one-hour time slots beginning at 9:00 a.m.
“The HRIA Education Day is wildly successful,” said MPMC Chairman Vic Wood of Aeromotive. “The PRI Show seemed a perfect venue to try the same template for MPMC companies. We originally were planning to implement it in 2014, but after presenting the idea to John Kilroy and his PRI team, the decision was made to go for it this year. We’ll start with just the 15 companies this year, and see how it goes. But I see no reason why this shouldn’t expand to 30 or 40 companies one day, as soon as attendees realize the opportunity it presents.”
To emphasize the popularity of this program, the 15 registrations were received within one hour of registration opening, and a total 27 registrations were received within two hours. Congratulations to the following MPMC companies who were selected via a first-come, first-served online registration April 30:
- COMP Cams
- Flaming River
- Flowmaster
- Hedman Hedders
- Jiffy-Tite
- Joe Gibbs Driven
- Lunati
- MAHLE
- MSD Performance
- Painless Performance Products
- Phoenix Race Tire
- Quarter Master
- Ron Francis Wiring
- Trend Performance/Diamond Racing
- Turbosmart USA
View session topics and register today. For more information, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.
PRI Attendees Invited to Drag Racing Roundtable
By Amanda Gubbins
Retailers, builders and race teams attending the PRI Show in Indianapolis are invited to join the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) for an industry discussion about the current state of drag-racing sanctioning bodies.
The roundtable-style seminar will give participants the chance to learn about what changes and challenges are faced by the drag-racing sanctioning bodies and what the council and SEMA might do together to help. Alan Reinhart will moderate the event, and the presenters will include Scott Gardner of IHRA, Kenny Knowlings of ADRL, Steve Wolcott of NMCA/NMRA and Kyle Seiple of K&N Bracket Racing Series.
The event is open to all PRI attendees and will take place Thursday, December 13, 2013, from 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center, room 234. Reserve your seat today.
MPMC Hall of Fame Inductees to be Honored at PRI
Each year, MPMC accepts nominations for the council’s Hall of Fame. The award is designed to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to MPMC and the motorsports parts manufacturing segment of the aftermarket. This year’s inductees are Dennis Overholser, Bob Ritzman and Earl Gaerte.
A formal MPMC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place over breakfast at the PRI Show. Show attendees are invited to attend the celebration, Friday, December 13, from 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
 The 2014 MPMC Media Trade Conference will be held January 21–23, at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport South. | |
Media Registration Open for 2014 MPMC Media Trade Conference
By SEMA EditorsReporters, editors and freelance journalists: Conduct private interviews with leading manufacturers during the 2014 MPMC Media Trade Conference. Registration is now open and available. The 2014 event takes place January 21–23, at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North in Santa Ana, California.
The annual Media Trade Conference, which features 100 companies from SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), brings together members of the working press with motorsports parts producers for face-to-face private meetings. Media reps have the opportunity to meet with up to 14 exhibitors each day of the conference—for a total of 42 quality meetings throughout the event's three days.
Media will select the manufacturers they most want to meet with and indicate those which they do not want to meet with when registering online. A personalized schedule will then be created for the registered media, and sent out in early January. Register now! Questions? Media inquiries can be directed to dellad@sema.org. All manufacturer questions or general questions about the event can be directed to jimsk@sema.org or 909-978-6690.
View the list of participating exhibitors.
Date: January 21–23, 2014
Location: Embassy Suites Orange County Airport South
1325 East Dyer Rd.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
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| Visit HRIA's website |
 HRIA Education Day will consist of 24 sessions, each led by a hot-rod parts manufacturer educating attendees about product features, benefits and installation guidelines. | |
Hot Rod Council to Present Education Day at 2014 Detroit Autorama
By Della Domingo
The annual SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Education Day will be held, for the first time, in conjunction with the Detroit Autorama—the 60-year-old custom car show taking place in March 2014 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. The program will consist of 24 sessions, each led by a hot-rod parts manufacturer educating attendees about product features, benefits and installation guidelines.
“For more than 10 years, HRIA Education Day has proven to be a key event for helping manufacturers share detailed, and sometimes technical, information about their products with their customers,” said Jim Skelly, SEMA director of councils. “Holding the Education Day program at the Detroit Autorama will allow HRIA members to expand and reach a new audience.”
HRIA previously held its Education Day program at the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in Indianapolis. The move to the Detroit Autorama will enable manufacturers to reach a new, expanded audience. Autorama, which is well known for having the world’s most coveted hot rods, prestigious awards competitions, as well as top celebrities and student programs, attracts more than 150,000 individuals annually. Education Day will take place Thursday, March 6, 2014 (the day before Autorama officially opens), and is open to all hot-rod shops and businesses, as well as to all Autorama attendees.
“As one the nation’s premier indoor custom car shows, the Detroit Autorama attracts thousands of businesses and enthusiasts who are passionate and deeply vested in new hot-rod products,” said Peter A. Toundas, president of Championship Auto Shows Inc.—promoter of the event. “The HRIA Education Day program will add a valuable element to the event, giving attendees an opportunity to connect directly with manufacturers, which would be difficult for them to do on their own.”
Attendee registration is now open. Reserve your spot today.
For more information about HRIA, contact Jim Skelly.