NHRA Unleashed and NMCA to Join Forces
The NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals series has announced that the Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed program will combine forces with the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) to deliver fun and close side-by-side racing for fans and competitors alike. The NHRA Unleashed program, which was formed in 2010, will be featured at five NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals events for the remainder of the 2011 season.
 


The NHRA has revised the 2011 NHRA Unleashed class rules and official schedule. Moving forward, the Unleashed classes will be featured at the following NMCA Flowmaster events: Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California (July 8–10); Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky (August 5–7); Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan (August 26–28); Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, (October 6–9); and Royal Purple Raceway in Houston (November 11–13).
 


NMCA will waive NMCA membership fees for NHRA Unleashed racers, unless they want to compete for NMCA Series points. 
 


Aerospace Components and Trick Flow Specialties will continue to sponsor NHRA Unleashed, providing added benefits, including more than $3.1 million purse and cash contingencies for all five events, given the new association with NMCA Flowmaster series.
 


By combining resources, NHRA and NMCA will provide an opportunity for racers to take advantage of both organizations’ many benefits and services. The same opportunities can be extended to sponsors providing the opportunity to reach out to a larger group of participants and fans alike.

	The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s electric-drive system won the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084.

AC Propulsion Powers Yokohama-Sponsored Electric Vehicle to New Record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s proprietary electric-drive system broke its own 2010 record at the 89th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The AC Propulsion-equipped vehicle won the hill climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084, besting last year's record-breaking time of 13:17:575 by nearly one minute. It was also the race’s fastest EV among both cars and motorcycles.

For Team Yokohama’s winning EV race car, AC Propulsion engineers developed a high-performance cooling system for the vehicle’s 200-kW induction motor so it could operate at maximum output throughout the ascent up the mountain and break the record set last year with the same motor. (That motor powered the Yokohama-sponsored EV that beat the previous EV record set by Jeri Unser in 2003 by 65 seconds.)

This year's Yokohama EV, a rear-wheel-drive, open-wheel race car, was built by Summit Motorsports and driven by Japan’s Ikuo Hanawa. It used fuel-efficient Yokohama BluEarth tires and SANYO Electric Co. lithium-ion batteries. The Pikes Peak AC-180 motor, rated at 268 hp at 6,000–7,000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque from 0–5,000 rpm, is a high-performance version of the AC Propulsion AC-150 motor found in the BMW MINI E. The drive system utilizes the proprietary tzero-technology that also powered the MonoTracer MTE-150 to a first place victory in its category and achieved the highest efficiency overall in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

AST Suspension – USA Sweeps Podium for Third Straight GRAND AM Continental Tire Challenge Race
AST Suspension swept the podium for the third straight GRAND AM Continential Tire Challenge race at the Road America 200. The Stevenson Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro RS.R driven by John Edward rocketed to the point position and eventually slid past Billy Johnson is his No. 61 Roush Performance Mustang Boss 302R before a full course caution and a heavily damaged retaining wall caused the race to end under yellow flag conditions. Johnson and Edwards traded the lead four times in the final 20 laps. Many times throughout the race, the two were running side-by-side and Edwards’ winning pass was made with a daring power slide through Turn 1. The Rum Bum Racing team in their No. 13 BMW M3 took the final podium position.

In addition to sweeping the top three finishing positions, nine teams running AST Suspension finished in the top 12. AST Suspension currently holds eight of the top nine positions in the 2011 season team standings for the Grand Sport class.

GRAND-AM Continental Tire Challenge teams utilizing AST dampers include: Turner Motorsport, Roush Performance, Stevenson Motorsports, Fall-Line Motorsports, BimmerWorld Racing, Rum Bum Racing, DeMan Motorsport, CKS Autosport, Subaru Road Racing Team, Finlay Motorsports, A.M. Performance, i-MOTO, Trade Manage Racing, BGB Motorsports, Doran Racing and Compass 360 Racing.

Round 8 of the Continental Tire Challenge will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, on July 9.

	The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, honed during a recent intense period of development.

Revised McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Debuts at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
The first McLaren car built for racing outside of Formula 1 since the McLaren F1 GTR made its public dynamic world debut at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held June 30–July 3. The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form, honed during a recent intense period of development.

New components designed to optimize the car’s aerodynamic performance include a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run, along with a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear Aerodeck. These features complete an aerodynamics package incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders, all of which is produced entirely from carbon fiber by McLaren Racing, following design input from McLaren Automotive.

Led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT is spending the 2011 race season developing the 12C GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for GT3 racing in Europe in 2012.

Like the 12C road car, the MP4-12C GT3 features a one-piece carbon-fiber chassis, the ‘MonoCell’. McLaren introduced a carbon-fiber monocoque to Formula 1 in 1981, and the 12C GT3 will feature several other Formula 1-derived technologies. The 12C GT3 will be supplied with the same steering wheel design used by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Formula 1 suppliers past and present, including Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin, are working with McLaren GT to create a race car specification technologically superior to the GT3 competition in 2012.

Drivers of the GT3 car for the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend were Andrew Kirkaldy, 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin.

NHRA Unleashed and NMCA to Join Forces
The NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals series has announced that the Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed program will combine forces with the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) to deliver fun and close side-by-side racing for fans and competitors alike. The NHRA Unleashed program, which was formed in 2010, will be featured at five NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals events for the remainder of the 2011 season.
 


The NHRA has revised the 2011 NHRA Unleashed class rules and official schedule. Moving forward, the Unleashed classes will be featured at the following NMCA Flowmaster events: Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California (July 8–10); Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky (August 5–7); Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan (August 26–28); Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, (October 6–9); and Royal Purple Raceway in Houston (November 11–13).
 


NMCA will waive NMCA membership fees for NHRA Unleashed racers, unless they want to compete for NMCA Series points. 
 


Aerospace Components and Trick Flow Specialties will continue to sponsor NHRA Unleashed, providing added benefits, including more than $3.1 million purse and cash contingencies for all five events, given the new association with NMCA Flowmaster series.
 


By combining resources, NHRA and NMCA will provide an opportunity for racers to take advantage of both organizations’ many benefits and services. The same opportunities can be extended to sponsors providing the opportunity to reach out to a larger group of participants and fans alike.

	The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s electric-drive system won the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084.

AC Propulsion Powers Yokohama-Sponsored Electric Vehicle to New Record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s proprietary electric-drive system broke its own 2010 record at the 89th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The AC Propulsion-equipped vehicle won the hill climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084, besting last year's record-breaking time of 13:17:575 by nearly one minute. It was also the race’s fastest EV among both cars and motorcycles.

For Team Yokohama’s winning EV race car, AC Propulsion engineers developed a high-performance cooling system for the vehicle’s 200-kW induction motor so it could operate at maximum output throughout the ascent up the mountain and break the record set last year with the same motor. (That motor powered the Yokohama-sponsored EV that beat the previous EV record set by Jeri Unser in 2003 by 65 seconds.)

This year's Yokohama EV, a rear-wheel-drive, open-wheel race car, was built by Summit Motorsports and driven by Japan’s Ikuo Hanawa. It used fuel-efficient Yokohama BluEarth tires and SANYO Electric Co. lithium-ion batteries. The Pikes Peak AC-180 motor, rated at 268 hp at 6,000–7,000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque from 0–5,000 rpm, is a high-performance version of the AC Propulsion AC-150 motor found in the BMW MINI E. The drive system utilizes the proprietary tzero-technology that also powered the MonoTracer MTE-150 to a first place victory in its category and achieved the highest efficiency overall in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

AST Suspension – USA Sweeps Podium for Third Straight GRAND AM Continental Tire Challenge Race
AST Suspension swept the podium for the third straight GRAND AM Continential Tire Challenge race at the Road America 200. The Stevenson Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro RS.R driven by John Edward rocketed to the point position and eventually slid past Billy Johnson is his No. 61 Roush Performance Mustang Boss 302R before a full course caution and a heavily damaged retaining wall caused the race to end under yellow flag conditions. Johnson and Edwards traded the lead four times in the final 20 laps. Many times throughout the race, the two were running side-by-side and Edwards’ winning pass was made with a daring power slide through Turn 1. The Rum Bum Racing team in their No. 13 BMW M3 took the final podium position.

In addition to sweeping the top three finishing positions, nine teams running AST Suspension finished in the top 12. AST Suspension currently holds eight of the top nine positions in the 2011 season team standings for the Grand Sport class.

GRAND-AM Continental Tire Challenge teams utilizing AST dampers include: Turner Motorsport, Roush Performance, Stevenson Motorsports, Fall-Line Motorsports, BimmerWorld Racing, Rum Bum Racing, DeMan Motorsport, CKS Autosport, Subaru Road Racing Team, Finlay Motorsports, A.M. Performance, i-MOTO, Trade Manage Racing, BGB Motorsports, Doran Racing and Compass 360 Racing.

Round 8 of the Continental Tire Challenge will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, on July 9.

	The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, honed during a recent intense period of development.

Revised McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Debuts at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
The first McLaren car built for racing outside of Formula 1 since the McLaren F1 GTR made its public dynamic world debut at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held June 30–July 3. The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form, honed during a recent intense period of development.

New components designed to optimize the car’s aerodynamic performance include a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run, along with a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear Aerodeck. These features complete an aerodynamics package incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders, all of which is produced entirely from carbon fiber by McLaren Racing, following design input from McLaren Automotive.

Led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT is spending the 2011 race season developing the 12C GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for GT3 racing in Europe in 2012.

Like the 12C road car, the MP4-12C GT3 features a one-piece carbon-fiber chassis, the ‘MonoCell’. McLaren introduced a carbon-fiber monocoque to Formula 1 in 1981, and the 12C GT3 will feature several other Formula 1-derived technologies. The 12C GT3 will be supplied with the same steering wheel design used by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Formula 1 suppliers past and present, including Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin, are working with McLaren GT to create a race car specification technologically superior to the GT3 competition in 2012.

Drivers of the GT3 car for the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend were Andrew Kirkaldy, 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin.

NHRA Unleashed and NMCA to Join Forces
The NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals series has announced that the Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed program will combine forces with the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) to deliver fun and close side-by-side racing for fans and competitors alike. The NHRA Unleashed program, which was formed in 2010, will be featured at five NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals events for the remainder of the 2011 season.
 


The NHRA has revised the 2011 NHRA Unleashed class rules and official schedule. Moving forward, the Unleashed classes will be featured at the following NMCA Flowmaster events: Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California (July 8–10); Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky (August 5–7); Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan (August 26–28); Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, (October 6–9); and Royal Purple Raceway in Houston (November 11–13).
 


NMCA will waive NMCA membership fees for NHRA Unleashed racers, unless they want to compete for NMCA Series points. 
 


Aerospace Components and Trick Flow Specialties will continue to sponsor NHRA Unleashed, providing added benefits, including more than $3.1 million purse and cash contingencies for all five events, given the new association with NMCA Flowmaster series.
 


By combining resources, NHRA and NMCA will provide an opportunity for racers to take advantage of both organizations’ many benefits and services. The same opportunities can be extended to sponsors providing the opportunity to reach out to a larger group of participants and fans alike.

	The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s electric-drive system won the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084.

AC Propulsion Powers Yokohama-Sponsored Electric Vehicle to New Record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s proprietary electric-drive system broke its own 2010 record at the 89th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The AC Propulsion-equipped vehicle won the hill climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084, besting last year's record-breaking time of 13:17:575 by nearly one minute. It was also the race’s fastest EV among both cars and motorcycles.

For Team Yokohama’s winning EV race car, AC Propulsion engineers developed a high-performance cooling system for the vehicle’s 200-kW induction motor so it could operate at maximum output throughout the ascent up the mountain and break the record set last year with the same motor. (That motor powered the Yokohama-sponsored EV that beat the previous EV record set by Jeri Unser in 2003 by 65 seconds.)

This year's Yokohama EV, a rear-wheel-drive, open-wheel race car, was built by Summit Motorsports and driven by Japan’s Ikuo Hanawa. It used fuel-efficient Yokohama BluEarth tires and SANYO Electric Co. lithium-ion batteries. The Pikes Peak AC-180 motor, rated at 268 hp at 6,000–7,000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque from 0–5,000 rpm, is a high-performance version of the AC Propulsion AC-150 motor found in the BMW MINI E. The drive system utilizes the proprietary tzero-technology that also powered the MonoTracer MTE-150 to a first place victory in its category and achieved the highest efficiency overall in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

AST Suspension – USA Sweeps Podium for Third Straight GRAND AM Continental Tire Challenge Race
AST Suspension swept the podium for the third straight GRAND AM Continential Tire Challenge race at the Road America 200. The Stevenson Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro RS.R driven by John Edward rocketed to the point position and eventually slid past Billy Johnson is his No. 61 Roush Performance Mustang Boss 302R before a full course caution and a heavily damaged retaining wall caused the race to end under yellow flag conditions. Johnson and Edwards traded the lead four times in the final 20 laps. Many times throughout the race, the two were running side-by-side and Edwards’ winning pass was made with a daring power slide through Turn 1. The Rum Bum Racing team in their No. 13 BMW M3 took the final podium position.

In addition to sweeping the top three finishing positions, nine teams running AST Suspension finished in the top 12. AST Suspension currently holds eight of the top nine positions in the 2011 season team standings for the Grand Sport class.

GRAND-AM Continental Tire Challenge teams utilizing AST dampers include: Turner Motorsport, Roush Performance, Stevenson Motorsports, Fall-Line Motorsports, BimmerWorld Racing, Rum Bum Racing, DeMan Motorsport, CKS Autosport, Subaru Road Racing Team, Finlay Motorsports, A.M. Performance, i-MOTO, Trade Manage Racing, BGB Motorsports, Doran Racing and Compass 360 Racing.

Round 8 of the Continental Tire Challenge will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, on July 9.

	The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, honed during a recent intense period of development.

Revised McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Debuts at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
The first McLaren car built for racing outside of Formula 1 since the McLaren F1 GTR made its public dynamic world debut at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held June 30–July 3. The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form, honed during a recent intense period of development.

New components designed to optimize the car’s aerodynamic performance include a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run, along with a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear Aerodeck. These features complete an aerodynamics package incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders, all of which is produced entirely from carbon fiber by McLaren Racing, following design input from McLaren Automotive.

Led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT is spending the 2011 race season developing the 12C GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for GT3 racing in Europe in 2012.

Like the 12C road car, the MP4-12C GT3 features a one-piece carbon-fiber chassis, the ‘MonoCell’. McLaren introduced a carbon-fiber monocoque to Formula 1 in 1981, and the 12C GT3 will feature several other Formula 1-derived technologies. The 12C GT3 will be supplied with the same steering wheel design used by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Formula 1 suppliers past and present, including Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin, are working with McLaren GT to create a race car specification technologically superior to the GT3 competition in 2012.

Drivers of the GT3 car for the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend were Andrew Kirkaldy, 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin.

NHRA Unleashed and NMCA to Join Forces
The NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals series has announced that the Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed program will combine forces with the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) to deliver fun and close side-by-side racing for fans and competitors alike. The NHRA Unleashed program, which was formed in 2010, will be featured at five NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals events for the remainder of the 2011 season.
 


The NHRA has revised the 2011 NHRA Unleashed class rules and official schedule. Moving forward, the Unleashed classes will be featured at the following NMCA Flowmaster events: Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California (July 8–10); Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky (August 5–7); Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan (August 26–28); Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, (October 6–9); and Royal Purple Raceway in Houston (November 11–13).
 


NMCA will waive NMCA membership fees for NHRA Unleashed racers, unless they want to compete for NMCA Series points. 
 


Aerospace Components and Trick Flow Specialties will continue to sponsor NHRA Unleashed, providing added benefits, including more than $3.1 million purse and cash contingencies for all five events, given the new association with NMCA Flowmaster series.
 


By combining resources, NHRA and NMCA will provide an opportunity for racers to take advantage of both organizations’ many benefits and services. The same opportunities can be extended to sponsors providing the opportunity to reach out to a larger group of participants and fans alike.

	The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s electric-drive system won the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084.

AC Propulsion Powers Yokohama-Sponsored Electric Vehicle to New Record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
The Yokohama-sponsored electric race car using AC Propulsion’s proprietary electric-drive system broke its own 2010 record at the 89th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The AC Propulsion-equipped vehicle won the hill climb's Exhibition Class and set a new EV record with a time of 12:20:084, besting last year's record-breaking time of 13:17:575 by nearly one minute. It was also the race’s fastest EV among both cars and motorcycles.

For Team Yokohama’s winning EV race car, AC Propulsion engineers developed a high-performance cooling system for the vehicle’s 200-kW induction motor so it could operate at maximum output throughout the ascent up the mountain and break the record set last year with the same motor. (That motor powered the Yokohama-sponsored EV that beat the previous EV record set by Jeri Unser in 2003 by 65 seconds.)

This year's Yokohama EV, a rear-wheel-drive, open-wheel race car, was built by Summit Motorsports and driven by Japan’s Ikuo Hanawa. It used fuel-efficient Yokohama BluEarth tires and SANYO Electric Co. lithium-ion batteries. The Pikes Peak AC-180 motor, rated at 268 hp at 6,000–7,000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque from 0–5,000 rpm, is a high-performance version of the AC Propulsion AC-150 motor found in the BMW MINI E. The drive system utilizes the proprietary tzero-technology that also powered the MonoTracer MTE-150 to a first place victory in its category and achieved the highest efficiency overall in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

AST Suspension – USA Sweeps Podium for Third Straight GRAND AM Continental Tire Challenge Race
AST Suspension swept the podium for the third straight GRAND AM Continential Tire Challenge race at the Road America 200. The Stevenson Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro RS.R driven by John Edward rocketed to the point position and eventually slid past Billy Johnson is his No. 61 Roush Performance Mustang Boss 302R before a full course caution and a heavily damaged retaining wall caused the race to end under yellow flag conditions. Johnson and Edwards traded the lead four times in the final 20 laps. Many times throughout the race, the two were running side-by-side and Edwards’ winning pass was made with a daring power slide through Turn 1. The Rum Bum Racing team in their No. 13 BMW M3 took the final podium position.

In addition to sweeping the top three finishing positions, nine teams running AST Suspension finished in the top 12. AST Suspension currently holds eight of the top nine positions in the 2011 season team standings for the Grand Sport class.

GRAND-AM Continental Tire Challenge teams utilizing AST dampers include: Turner Motorsport, Roush Performance, Stevenson Motorsports, Fall-Line Motorsports, BimmerWorld Racing, Rum Bum Racing, DeMan Motorsport, CKS Autosport, Subaru Road Racing Team, Finlay Motorsports, A.M. Performance, i-MOTO, Trade Manage Racing, BGB Motorsports, Doran Racing and Compass 360 Racing.

Round 8 of the Continental Tire Challenge will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, on July 9.

	The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, honed during a recent intense period of development.

Revised McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Debuts at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
The first McLaren car built for racing outside of Formula 1 since the McLaren F1 GTR made its public dynamic world debut at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held June 30–July 3. The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, appeared in its revised form, honed during a recent intense period of development.

New components designed to optimize the car’s aerodynamic performance include a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run, along with a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear Aerodeck. These features complete an aerodynamics package incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders, all of which is produced entirely from carbon fiber by McLaren Racing, following design input from McLaren Automotive.

Led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT is spending the 2011 race season developing the 12C GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for GT3 racing in Europe in 2012.

Like the 12C road car, the MP4-12C GT3 features a one-piece carbon-fiber chassis, the ‘MonoCell’. McLaren introduced a carbon-fiber monocoque to Formula 1 in 1981, and the 12C GT3 will feature several other Formula 1-derived technologies. The 12C GT3 will be supplied with the same steering wheel design used by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Formula 1 suppliers past and present, including Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin, are working with McLaren GT to create a race car specification technologically superior to the GT3 competition in 2012.

Drivers of the GT3 car for the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend were Andrew Kirkaldy, 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin.

SEMA Show exhibitors can now get their news and announcements to editors and reporters by utilizing the online media center located at www.SEMAShow.com.

The service allows exhibitors to upload press releases to a single site where media will be able to access for comprehensive news from SEMA Show exhibitors. Exhibitors interested in uploading a release should visit www.SEMAShow.com/node/add/press. Media interested in viewing the press releases that have been submitted should visit www.SEMAShow.com/press.

SEMA Show exhibitors can now get their news and announcements to editors and reporters by utilizing the online media center located at www.SEMAShow.com.

The service allows exhibitors to upload press releases to a single site where media will be able to access for comprehensive news from SEMA Show exhibitors. Exhibitors interested in uploading a release should visit www.SEMAShow.com/node/add/press. Media interested in viewing the press releases that have been submitted should visit www.SEMAShow.com/press.

 

	The CarCareONE consumer credit card allows members to offer their customers more time to pay with 6- and 12-Month Special Financing options.

SEMA offers many benefits that can help members save money and grow their business, including consumer credit solutions. SEMA has partnered with GE Money on the CarCareONE consumer credit card, which allows participants to offer their customers more time to pay with 6- and 12-Month Special Financing options. It’s a win-win program for participating members and their customers. CarCareONE participants can:

• Create loyalty that translates to repeat customers, referrals and steady business.
• Demonstrate care for customers, their cars and their safety.
• Build customer trust in their business.

According to GE Money, a customer’s first credit card purchase averages $1,210 for the 12-Month CarCareONE card and $658 for the 6-Month CarCareONE card while other bank cards average only $180.

For more information or to enroll, go to www.SEMA.org/ConsumerCredit or contact Monica Terlouw, SEMA's senior director of member development, at 909/978-6695 or monicat@sema.org.

 

	New this year at the 2011 SEMA Show, the New Products Showcase will not only present the hottest new products in the automotive aftermarket, but also provide exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their other products, which may not be new to the industry.

SEMA is pleased to showcase its new and improved website, which provides much greater navigation and content to help you plan for the upcoming Show. Please note that the link to the “Exhibitor Manual” is located at the center of the page in the box entitled “Exhibitors” and under the “Exhibitors” drop-down tab at the top of the page. Click here for a direct link.

You will also find many more important components of the new and improved SEMAShow.com website, such as the Exhibitor Calendar, where you can import important dates into your Outlook calendar, as well as the New Products application form and Sponsorship Opportunities.

Deadline Checklist

One of the most important elements of the Exhibitor Manual, and in your planning for the SEMA Show, is the Deadlines Checklist. This one-page PDF document will provide you with all the crucial dates to have all your booth supplies ordered while ensuring the lowest prices possible. Please consider printing this page and having it readily available so you can reference it throughout the year.

Are You a First-Time Exhibitor?

In order to assist first-timers, or even those who want to ensure they have completed everything they need for the upcoming Show, we have created a First-Timer Quick Sheet with those items most frequently rented, along with their pricing. You can review the form at your leisure to ensure everything is completed before any important deadline.

Of course, if you have any questions or need anything further regarding these items or any others, feel free to contact Show Management at 702/450-7662, ext. 120, or by e-mail at SEMA-Exhibit@convexx.com. If you have specific questions for Freeman, please feel free to contact Freeman Exhibitor Service Department at 702/407-4696.

Not sure what comes with your booth? Simply click here and check out not only what is included in your booth package, but also find out what color carpet and drape will be surrounding your booth. All this and more can be found in the Exhibitor Manual at www.SEMAShow.com.

Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase

New this year at the 2011 SEMA Show, the New Products Showcase will not only present the hottest new products in the automotive aftermarket, but also it will provide exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their other products, which may not be new to the industry, for all the buyers and media to see. This new component of "Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase" is entitled “Featured Products.” This new area will allow buyers and media to scan your products for more information in case they didn’t catch them the first time they were introduced at the SEMA Show, just the same as buyers and media have been scanning the new products for years.

Take advantage of this free marketing opportunity by entering your product before the October 7 deadline. Your first product entry for either "Ideas Alive" or the featured products section is free if entered by October 7 using your SEMA Organizational ID (10 digits with an "O" at the end) when entering your product online here. Have questions? E-mail skaye@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662., ext. 124.

Is Your Booth 400 sq. ft. or Larger?

If your booth is 400 sq.-ft. or larger, you must send an Exhibit Space Design Notification and an exhibit floor plan to Show Management. This can be hand drawn with basic booth components, including hanging sign components, display fixtures sizes and vehicle placements. Please complete the form, which is located on the Exhibitor Manual page at www.SEMAShow.com under "Guidelines and Policies," no later than September 9. If you have any questions regarding your booth design, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662 ext. 105.

Are You Hanging a Sign Above Your Booth?

Exhibitors who have a hanging sign in their booth must complete the Hanging Sign Design Notification by September 9. It must include the height and width of the sign, the number of sides, exact location of where it will be hung over the booth and sign graphics. Please complete the form, which is located on the Exhibitor Manual page at www.SEMAShow.com under "Guidelines and Policies," no later than September 9. If you have any questions regarding your booth design, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662 ext. 105.

Who Do You Contact ?

If you have questions and are not sure who to contact, below is a list of contacts and their e-mail addresses at both SEMA and ConvExx Show Management who are always available and ready to assist. The general phone number at SEMA is 909/396-0289, ConvExx Show Management is 702/450-7662 and Motor Media is 818/248-4449.

Booth Payment Arrangements		Jeff Pressman		jpressman@convexx.com
Credit Card & Check Processing		Denise Rubin		deniser@sema.org
Directory Listings		Marel Del Rio		mareld@sema.org
Executive Show Manager		Chuck Schwartz		cschwartz@convexx.com
Exhibit Space & Hanging Sign Design Notifications		Jeff Pressman		jpressman@convexx.com
Exhibitor Personnel Registration		Cassandra Stock		cstock@convexx.com
Exhibitor Product Training Seminars		Susan Schwartz		sschwartz@convexx.com
Exhibitor Services		ConvExx Sales Dept.		sema-exhibit@convexx.com
Exhibitors with Vehicles Looking for Products		Jason Catullo		jasonc@sema.org
Feature Vehicles		Donna Lawson		featurevehicle@convexx.com
General Show Information		Jeff Pressman		jpressman@convexx.com
Hotel Reservations		Travel Planners		ezinberg@tphousing.com
International Buyers' Guide		Marel Del Rio		mareld@sema.org
Meeting Room Reservations		Tricia Hanisko		thanisko@convexx.com
Membership		Monica Terlouw		monicat@sema.org
New Products		Sheldon Kaye		skaye@convexx.com
Project Vehicles		Jason Catullo		jasonc@sema.org
Public Relations		Della Domingo		dellad@sema.org
Rig Spaces – Outdoors		Motor Media		sales@motormediainc.com
SEMA Publications		John Stewart		johns@sema.org
Social Media		Alan Dicker		aland@sema.org
Sponsorships		Motor Media		sales@motormediainc.com

 

	New this year at the 2011 SEMA Show, the New Products Showcase will not only present the hottest new products in the automotive aftermarket, but also provide exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their other products, which may not be new to the industry.

SEMA is pleased to showcase its new and improved website, which provides much greater navigation and content to help you plan for the upcoming Show. Please note that the link to the “Exhibitor Manual” is located at the center of the page in the box entitled “Exhibitors” and under the “Exhibitors” drop-down tab at the top of the page. Click here for a direct link.

You will also find many more important components of the new and improved SEMAShow.com website, such as the Exhibitor Calendar, where you can import important dates into your Outlook calendar, as well as the New Products application form and Sponsorship Opportunities.

Deadline Checklist

One of the most important elements of the Exhibitor Manual, and in your planning for the SEMA Show, is the Deadlines Checklist. This one-page PDF document will provide you with all the crucial dates to have all your booth supplies ordered while ensuring the lowest prices possible. Please consider printing this page and having it readily available so you can reference it throughout the year.

Are You a First-Time Exhibitor?

In order to assist first-timers, or even those who want to ensure they have completed everything they need for the upcoming Show, we have created a First-Timer Quick Sheet with those items most frequently rented, along with their pricing. You can review the form at your leisure to ensure everything is completed before any important deadline.

Of course, if you have any questions or need anything further regarding these items or any others, feel free to contact Show Management at 702/450-7662, ext. 120, or by e-mail at SEMA-Exhibit@convexx.com. If you have specific questions for Freeman, please feel free to contact Freeman Exhibitor Service Department at 702/407-4696.

Not sure what comes with your booth? Simply click here and check out not only what is included in your booth package, but also find out what color carpet and drape will be surrounding your booth. All this and more can be found in the Exhibitor Manual at www.SEMAShow.com.

Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase

New this year at the 2011 SEMA Show, the New Products Showcase will not only present the hottest new products in the automotive aftermarket, but also it will provide exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their other products, which may not be new to the industry, for all the buyers and media to see. This new component of "Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase" is entitled “Featured Products.” This new area will allow buyers and media to scan your products for more information in case they didn’t catch them the first time they were introduced at the SEMA Show, just the same as buyers and media have been scanning the new products for years.

Take advantage of this free marketing opportunity by entering your product before the October 7 deadline. Your first product entry for either "Ideas Alive" or the featured products section is free if entered by October 7 using your SEMA Organizational ID (10 digits with an "O" at the end) when entering your product online here. Have questions? E-mail skaye@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662., ext. 124.

Is Your Booth 400 sq. ft. or Larger?

If your booth is 400 sq.-ft. or larger, you must send an Exhibit Space Design Notification and an exhibit floor plan to Show Management. This can be hand drawn with basic booth components, including hanging sign components, display fixtures sizes and vehicle placements. Please complete the form, which is located on the Exhibitor Manual page at www.SEMAShow.com under "Guidelines and Policies," no later than September 9. If you have any questions regarding your booth design, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662 ext. 105.

Are You Hanging a Sign Above Your Booth?

Exhibitors who have a hanging sign in their booth must complete the Hanging Sign Design Notification by September 9. It must include the height and width of the sign, the number of sides, exact location of where it will be hung over the booth and sign graphics. Please complete the form, which is located on the Exhibitor Manual page at www.SEMAShow.com under "Guidelines and Policies," no later than September 9. If you have any questions regarding your booth design, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeff Pressman at jpressman@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662 ext. 105.

Who Do You Contact ?

If you have questions and are not sure who to contact, below is a list of contacts and their e-mail addresses at both SEMA and ConvExx Show Management who are always available and ready to assist. The general phone number at SEMA is 909/396-0289, ConvExx Show Management is 702/450-7662 and Motor Media is 818/248-4449.

Booth Payment Arrangements		Jeff Pressman		jpressman@convexx.com
Credit Card & Check Processing		Denise Rubin		deniser@sema.org
Directory Listings		Marel Del Rio		mareld@sema.org
Executive Show Manager		Chuck Schwartz		cschwartz@convexx.com
Exhibit Space & Hanging Sign Design Notifications		Jeff Pressman		jpressman@convexx.com
Exhibitor Personnel Registration		Cassandra Stock		cstock@convexx.com
Exhibitor Product Training Seminars		Susan Schwartz		sschwartz@convexx.com
Exhibitor Services		ConvExx Sales Dept.		sema-exhibit@convexx.com
Exhibitors with Vehicles Looking for Products		Jason Catullo		jasonc@sema.org
Feature Vehicles		Donna Lawson		featurevehicle@convexx.com
General Show Information		Jeff Pressman		jpressman@convexx.com
Hotel Reservations		Travel Planners		ezinberg@tphousing.com
International Buyers' Guide		Marel Del Rio		mareld@sema.org
Meeting Room Reservations		Tricia Hanisko		thanisko@convexx.com
Membership		Monica Terlouw		monicat@sema.org
New Products		Sheldon Kaye		skaye@convexx.com
Project Vehicles		Jason Catullo		jasonc@sema.org
Public Relations		Della Domingo		dellad@sema.org
Rig Spaces – Outdoors		Motor Media		sales@motormediainc.com
SEMA Publications		John Stewart		johns@sema.org
Social Media		Alan Dicker		aland@sema.org
Sponsorships		Motor Media		sales@motormediainc.com

The Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule to limit swipe fees imposed on retailers when accepting debit card payments at $.21 per transaction, effective October 1, 2011. Banks and payment processors may also charge $.01–$.03 more to cover fraud prevention and other adjustments, bringing the total potential fees to $.24. The limit is higher than the $.12 fee proposed last winter but less than the current average of $.44.

The Federal Reserve was authorized to regulate debit card fees under last year’s financial reform bill based on what it believes to be “reasonable and proportional.” The Federal Reserve’s power, however, does not extend to credit card fees. Credit unions and small banks with less than $10 billion in assets are exempt from the swipe-card limits, although merchants are not required to accept their cards. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.