SEMA News - October 2009

Keynote Coffee with eBay Motors at the 2009 SEMA Show

	Rob Chesney, vice president of eBay Motors will lead a panel on the influence of the internet.

In “The Role of the Internet in Shaping Parts and Accessories Sales in 2009 and Beyond,” Chesney will draw from his personal experience leading the world’s largest automotive site through these decisions at eBay with its vehicles and parts business over the past eight years. Chesney has seen the evolution of the vehicles business as impacted by the current macroeconomic climate, along with the major changes occurring in the automotive industry.

The panel will have a range of experts including Rob Chesney, Vice President of eBay Motors; Jad Dunning, CEO of DriverSide; Michelle Morris, Director of North America Automotive Sales for Google; Bryan Murphy, CEO of WHI Solutions, Inc.; Famous Rhodes, Director of Parts and Accessories for eBay Motors; Glenn Rogers, CEO of CarDomain; Steve Sigg, eBusiness Manager for ACDelco.

Click here for more information on the program.

SEMA Phase II and III CAR Reports Premiere at SEMA State of the Association

Through a multi-phased series of specialty-equipment industry forecasting reports put out by SEMA and the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), members are able to increase their understanding and awareness of vehicle technology challenges and opportunities to support their business development and planning efforts.

The Phase I report, released last year, is entitled “The Specialty-Equipment Company of the Future: Guideposts for Technology Forecasting and Strategic Planning.”

The Phase II report is entitled “Powertrain Forecast and Analysis: What is Coming and What Are the Implications for the Specialty-Equipment and Performance Aftermarket Industry?” It addresses the rapidly changing powertrain plans of the OEMs for the U.S. Market.

Also available now is the Phase III report entitled “The Major Determinants of U.S. Automotive Demand: Factors Driving the U.S. Automotive Market and Their Implications for Specialty-Equipment Suppliers,” which presents an analysis of the economic drivers of the U.S. automotive market and their potential impact on SEMA-member companies.

At the 2009 SEMA State of the Association gathering, John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology, and Brett Smith of CAR shared exclusive insights from the CAR reports.

“This is must-read material for those who plan to survive and thrive in the challenging years ahead,” said Waraniak. “These reports will be useful to the decisions you make today. The information will increase your understanding and knowledge about vehicle manufacturer plans for powertrain technology and economic forecasts that feature the specialty-equipment industry.”

The 2009 CAR reports can be downloaded here. Member login and password are required to download the reports. For password assistance, please contact Tim Johnson at 909/396-0289, ext. 138.

SEMA and Clemson University Announce Innovative Partnership

	Immediate Past Chairman Jim Cozzie announced a unique collaboration between SEMA and Clemson University.

“The new alliance represents an unprecedented industry/academia platform for advanced vehicle technology and performance aftermarket education program development, notably forged in the midst of one of the automotive industry’s most challenging periods in history,” Cozzie said. “The automotive original-equipment and aftermarket industries are undergoing serious transformations and will continue to evolve in the coming years. The Clemson relationship can benefit SEMA-member companies by providing vehicle technology integration, development and support to help members leverage new business opportunities.”

According to Chris Przirembel, Clemson University’s vice president for research and economic development, the partnership represents “…an extraordinary opportunity for Clemson, as a major university committed to becoming one of the world’s leading automotive and motorsports research and education centers, to join with SEMA and its powerful industry membership base in a shared mission to help shape the future of the automotive performance aftermarket industry.”

As part of the agreement, Clemson University’s Campbell Graduate Engineering Center on the 250-acre CU-ICAR campus—located midway between Atlanta and Charlotte along I-85 in Greenville, South Carolina—is positioned to serve as a systems integration and testing center for SEMA and its 7,500 members.

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting said that the Clemson-SEMA relationship supports SEMA’s vehicle technology strategic goals for identifying industry needs and developing effective solutions to assist members with complex vehicle technology challenges and opportunities.

“In the midst of these difficult times, we hope to collaboratively develop a clear pathway for the multi-billion automotive aftermarket industry and SEMA-member companies,” Kersting said.

Clemson University is a nationally ranked science and technology-oriented public research university known for its emphasis on collaboration, focus and a culture that encourages faculty and students to embrace bold ideas. For more information, visit Clemson's research homepage.

Powersports 20 Group to Meet at 2009 SEMA Show

“I’m excited about attending this year’s Show,” Sutton said. “Given the SEMA Show’s existing powersports buyer interests and exhibitor offerings, it only makes sense to have a dedicated powersports section. Giving powersports a higher profile at the SEMA Show will also help satisfy the industry need for a West Coast powersports trade show.”

The SEMA Show is a trade-only event open to qualified industry professionals. For more information on registration or exhibit space, visit the SEMA Show website.

Fast Facts

Meyer Distributing Inc. opened a new stocking facility in Denver, Colorado. Marking the first step of Meyer’s planned westward expansion, the new warehouse will hold one of the largest inventories of truck and SUV accessories in the region for same-day shipment, next-day route truck delivery and warehouse pick-up. Meyer Distributing Inc., Jasper, IN; 800/639-3787.

Hankook Tire America Corp. named Todd Hershberger senior vice president of sales and marketing for the United States. In the newly created position, Hershberger is responsible for directing the company’s replacement-tire sales and marketing efforts, which include directing the company’s field sales organization, corporate account managers and brand activities. Hankook Tire America Corp., Wayne, NJ; 800/426-5665.

Bed Wood and Parts retained bonspeedMedia to assist with its brand position, marketing and corporate image in the automotive aftermarket. bonspeedMedia is known for its specialized branding, event and product marketing in the automotive, luxury and motorsports markets. Bed Wood and Parts, Hopkinsville, KY; 270/424-3000.

TruXedo introduced a new dealer website at www.truxedo.com. Dealers now have access to company news, technical information and downloadable images and flyers as well as the ability to order marketing materials and replacement parts online. TruXedo, Yankton, SD; 877/878-9336.

Eastern Catalytic named Michael Dougherty national sales manager. He will be responsible for developing new sales accounts and account management activities. Before joining Eastern Catalytic, Dougherty worked for the Ford Motor Co. as its Philadelphia regional accessories sales manager. Eastern Catalytic, Langhorne, PA; 215/702-3600.

Mitchell 1 named Mark T. Kennedy of Westminster, Maryland, the 2009 automotive technology outstanding student. The company presented Kennedy with a check for $2,500 and a recognition certificate during an awards ceremony. Kennedy graduated from the Carroll County Career & Technology Center in Westminster, and he plans to further his educational goals at the Community College of Baltimore County in the General Motors automotive technology program. Mitchell 1 also named Mike Godson (pictured) 2009 educator of the year during the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) Conference held recently at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mitchell 1, Poway, CA; 858/391-5000.

Permatex named Diane Nesprido (left) senior product manager and promoted Lauren Mencarini (right) to creative director. Nesprido, who has been with Permatex since 2003, is responsible for the company’s product management and marketing departments, oversees No Touch appearance products, Spray Nine Cleaners and the Permatex Silicone Gasketing and Adhesive and Sealants lines. She is in charge of overall marketing communications, including trade shows and new product introductions. Mencarini has more than 20 years of experience in in-house marketing communications and worked in Permatex’s creative department for the past 10 years.

The Busted Knuckle Garage, a brand of Almost There! Inc., will sponsor Kevin Parker of Parker Motorsports, the 2007 rookie of the year in late-model stocks. The Busted Knuckle Garage, Prescott, AZ; 928/708-0897.

Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian recently addressed a rumor about the track being turned into an off-road, racing-only facility in 2010. Stated Kazarian: “Not sure who started the rumor or why, but let me assure everybody, it is absolutely not true. Like they are today, sprint cars, stock cars, motorcycles and off-road racing are all part of the future at Perris Auto Speedway."

Crane Cams has reopened under the new ownership of S&S Cycle. With manufacturing and sales operations of its ignition and motorcycle lines up and running, the company is newly housed in a facility at 1640 Mason Ave. in Daytona Beach. S&S Cycle acquired Crane’s intellectual properties, patents, trademarks, camshaft masters, inventory and some equipment in April 2009. Crane Cams, Daytona Beach, FL; 866/388-5120.

Bossco International hired Jeremy Janke as operations manager. Janke’s background includes working with factories in China and facilitating product importing and exporting to major retailers around the world.

Toyo Tire (USA) Corp.’s website, www.toyotires.com, won best in class in the consumer goods category of the 2009 Interactive Media Awards. The awards are presented annually by the Interactive Media Council Inc., a non-profit organization consisting of web designers, programmers, advertisers and web-related professionals. Toyo Tire (USA) Corp., Cypress, CA; 714/236-2080.

To help employers find the right talent in the least amount of time while keeping expenses in check, WyoTech has launched Corporate-Connect. The virtual recruiting tool is an online hub that allows employers to post free job campaigns, interview applicants online and build their brands with targeted users. Learn more about Corporate-Connect by contacting Helene DeAlleaume at WyoTech-Long Beach at 562/624-5879. WyoTech, Laramie, WY; 307/742-3776.

“Autoworld Radio”—a live, three-hour talk show on Sundays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on The National Radio Network—has expanded its reach through the Genesis Communication Network (GCN). The show is now available through GCN online, and listeners have access to on-demand play, archives of all programs and the availability of a free “AutoWorld” podcast. Hosted by Bob Long for 17 years, “AutoWorld” is devoted to America’s love affair with the automobile and reaches a combined audience of more than 1.4 million avid listeners each week.

CADNA Automotive Inc.’s founder and chairman of the board, David Rognlien, has reached an agreement with Devin Hart, the company’s president and CEO, for Hart to acquire a significant ownership stake in the company. Specific terms of the buy-sell agreement were not disclosed. CADNA Automotive is an automotive aftermarket supplier and licensee of well-known premium brands Prestone, Autolite, Fram and proprietary brand Armor Mark.

SEMA News - October 2009

ROI at the SEMA Show?

Make Me a Match!

Here’s how it works. When exhibitors and buyers register for the Show, they are asked to list products and services that are pertinent to them.

The Matchmaking Tool pairs exhibitors and buyers according to their preferences, then e-mails to each a list of contacts that match their product categories. The buyers and exhibitors are able to contact their matches to arrange appointments long before the SEMA Show even begins. Sound like it could improve results from your SEMA Show investment? The answer is that it will—but you will only get out of it what you put into it. If you have not done so already, start by registering online now. Anyone who is registered can just click on the “Buyers & Exhibitors Connect Matchmaking” starburst on the website home page.

Another impressive addition goes hand-in-glove with the Matchmaking Tool. It’s the new highly interactive SEMA Show Floorplan—an innovative development which is accessible with a mouse click on the “Click Here for Floorplan” starburst on the SEMA Show home page. This tool offers an effective range of options to track down a buyer’s compatible exhibitors. Buyer’s can search by company name, by exhibit hall or by booth number. Once a buyer has selected an exhibitor, the website loads the appropriate SEMA Show floorplan section with the exhibitor’s booth highlighted. This presents an easy planning device to make efficient use of scarce time on the Show floor. Click on the booth, and a pop-up window provides the exhibitor’s contact information. You can then save the listing as a favorite, print it and e-mail it to your colleagues.

SEMA has developed these and other tools for one purpose: to make the 2009 SEMA Show the best, most effective trade show any attendee has ever experienced. To find out more about what will be offered, be sure to read “Define Your Perfect Show: A Preview of the 2009 SEMA Show,” which begins on page 24 of this issue. If you have any questions or need help using these tools, contact Gary Vigil or any of us at the SEMA offices at 909/396-0289.

SEMA News - October 2009

Spy Photos

The images and information provided in “Spy Photos” are supplied by the spy shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. “Spy Photos” are included each week in SEMA eNews, the association’s electronic newsletter. To receive your copy of SEMA eNews, e-mail enews@sema.org.

Ford C-Max When it Hits: The new C-Max is scheduled to make an official debut at next year’s Paris Motor Show. U.S. production is expected to start near the end of 2011 at Ford’s Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. What Priddy Says: The C-Max will be bigger than its show-car alter ego, the Iosis Max, but also a lot less exciting, and should offer a few engine options, including the recently announced 2.0L Ecoboost. Priddy also points out that sliding doors will likely make it into production, evidenced by the slider rail above the fuel-filler cap.

Mercedes-Benz SLS

When it Hits: The SLS won’t be launched for nearly two years.											What Priddy Says: Priddy’s photo network caught up with the convertible version of Mercedes-Benz’s SLS supercar. Unlike the upcoming coupe with its iconic gullwing doors, the convertible will have a more traditional entry as well as an SLR-like powered soft-top.

Ferrari Bella

When it Hits: The Ferrari Bella is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September										What Priddy Says: Ferrari has confirmed that the replacement for its F430 will be dubbed the 458 Italia. The 4.5L V8-powered prancer is reported to have the highest specific power output of any road car in the world at 127 hp per liter. Doing the math, that’s a hair over 570 hp at a screaming 9,000 rpm.

Audi R8 V10

When it Hits: It will go on sale in Germany in the second quarter of 2009. There is no information at this time regarding a U.S. launch date.					What Priddy Says: Decked out in full production trim, including the V10 badges, the Audi R8 5.2L V10 convertible is probably the best look we’ll get at the four-ringed halo car until the expected Frankfurt auto show debut. The latest rumors suggest that the V10 powertrain may be the only one offered in the droptop, Priddy adds.

Photos Copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

SEMA News - October 2009

By The SEMA News Bureau

Each year, thousands of media attend the SEMA Show, resulting in added exposure for the exhibitors’ products and companies. Based on early media registration numbers for the 2009 Show, this year will be no exception. Media representatives from trade and consumer publications will be in attendance.

Notable television shows and news stations will also be there. Exhibitors are encouraged to begin developing and refining their message points now, as the chances of being featured in a magazine are pretty high. Just take a look at some of the coverage from last year.

SEMA News - October 2009

Vice President of Councils & Membership

SEMA News: Can you briefly explain your role and the role of your department at SEMA?

Nathan Ridnouer: As the vice president of councils and membership, I have the enviable job of working closely with the  association’s core membership—our councils and networks—and determining the strategic direction of the organization in terms of benefits provided to members.

	Nathan Ridnouer, Vice President of Councils and Membership

SN: What are some of the challenges and opportunities that the association faces in terms of membership?

NR: Keeping member benefits in line with member needs. We must continue to strive to better understand our members’ needs and, in some cases, be out ahead of them in terms of what they need to help their businesses grow and prosper. In these days when companies are experiencing economic challenges, many are finding it harder to dedicate their time to organizations such as SEMA, so the association will have to change the way it delivers benefits.

Our newly redesigned website, is a great example of how products and services are being made available to our membership right at their fingertips. Members can download webinars for free instead of having to only attend the live event. Members can communicate with each other via our social networking platform built into the site or use one of our new group discussions to inquire about an innovative technology or solution for their businesses.

SN: How are the councils assisting their members in these challenging economic times?

NR: Our councils are producing innovative programs each day. Let’s take, for example, the third annual SEMA Internet Symposium that was held in Pasadena in early August as part of the association’s Leadership Days program. The more than 100 individuals who participated in this event, which was sponsored and hosted by the Street Performance Council (SPC), walked away with some of the best nuggets of information to take back to their companies and improve the way they use the Internet to enhance their businesses. They’ll not want to miss the 2010 event, where they’ll see an expanded lineup of speakers and topics.

SEMA also has a mentoring program. Thanks to the ladies of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN), the SEMA Mentoring Program pairs our young leaders with some of the greatest minds and innovators present in today’s specialty-equipment market. In an effort to expand the program, SBN will be working with the Young Executives Network to offer mentoring to the students who will be taking part in the upcoming SEMA Show. This is one of the single best efforts made by the association to bridge the gap between a student’s transition from education to his or her professional career.

There are so many other things that our councils do—events such as our Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Media Trade Conference held each January, the Manufacturers Rep conference held during the PWA Conference each September, and the Hot Rod Industry Alliance’s Education Day at the Hot Rod & Restoration Show during the Spring. Even campaigns such as “Take a Friend to a Race” or “Take a Kid to a Car Show” demonstrate how the councils are doing their part in giving back to the businesses that support our industry.

If any of the above sounds appealing, members should check out the council efforts online or call our council staff or me to discuss how you can get engaged in SEMA volunteering through our council efforts. This truly is an exciting time!

SN: Looking forward to the 2009 SEMA Show, what activities or programs do the councils have planned?

NR: Receptions, receptions and more receptions. Based on those five words, our readers might get the impression that we simply have parties on our minds. Sure, it’s the specialty-equipment market, so we do; however, we also know how to mix business and play.

Our receptions are some of the best-kept secrets at the annual SEMA Show. During these events, our councils and networks honor the industry’s top leaders and provide the absolute best networking opportunities during Industry Week in Las Vegas. It’s where old friendships are rekindled, new friendships are made and business partnerships are cultivated. Although more than 100,000 individuals attend the annual Show, fewer than 2% have the unique opportunity to attend one of these events. Everyone should strive to be there this year.

SN: What would you say to someone who is considering membership in SEMA?

NR: Did I mention that I get to work in one of the most exciting, vibrant industries—the automotive specialty-equipment market? As a relatively new SEMA staffer (just one-and-a-half years), I’m quickly learning that those individuals who make up our membership know how lucky they are to be in this industry. As a matter of fact, many have told me that they would still be in this industry—somehow, some way—even if they worked in healthcare, agriculture or another industry unrelated to the automotive specialty-equipment market.

Long story short, people join trade associations to be around and learn from individuals who have similar interests and needs. SEMA is no different, except that we believe we have a unique offering here. In addition to world-class benefits and volunteer engagement, we have the greatest collection of industry leaders and automotive enthusiasts in one place. Not so strangely, those individuals in the healthcare and agriculture industries are car nuts, too, and we often hear from them asking, “How can I join SEMA?”

SEMA News - October 2009

By Linda Spencer

New European Regulations Point to Sales Opportunities Abroad

Selling product to a half billion citizens in 27 countries may have become a little easier as of May 2009 with the implementation by the European Parliament and the European Council of new, beefed-up regulations requiring member states to allow the sale and use of specialty-equipment products—and other manufactured goods—that are legally sold in one member state to also be sold within the borders of the others.

EC No 764/2008, as it is officially called, is expected to have the largest impact on countries that have the greatest government oversight over the industry, such as Germany and Spain, which require much more extensive testing, and in those countries that have outright banned many or nearly all specialty-equipment products, such as France and Italy.

So-called harmonized or common laws exist for a limited number of products, including exhaust systems, trailer couplings, lighting devices, automotive-related electronic products, brake linings, mirrors, bull bars, but the vast majority of optical and performance-enhancing products fall under the purview of this new regulation. Currently the sale of vehicle-modification products are often subject to quite divergent national laws and regulations.

European officials acknowledged in the passing of the recent amendments that companies routinely face unjustified barriers in exporting their products from one country to another. For example, if a U.S. company sells its products to a distributor in the UK or the Netherlands and the products conform to local law, the distributor should in theory also be able to sell the same products in Germany under the principle of mutual recognition. This is often not the case.

The new regulations are designed to combat the common practice of government officials banning or limiting the use of a product long sold in another European country without any problems through the imposition of technical regulations. The regulations now clearly state that “…a member state may not prohibit the sale on its territory of products which are lawfully marketed in another member state, even where those products were manufactured in accordance with technical rules different from those to which domestic products are subject.”

Member countries can apply for a case-by-case exemption in order to continue to require manufacturers to meet additional requirements or refrain from selling if they can prove that the product causes legitimate safety concerns. However, the burden of proof regarding the products’ safety risks shifts from businesses to the government. Moreover, a member state bears the burden of proof that the stated aim cannot be achieved by any other means.

In an important test case, a UK carbon wheel company, DYMAG, which has numerous customers in the Netherlands and the UK, sold some of its motorcycle wheels to a German consumer in Ludwigsburg, southern Germany. State officials refused to provide the consumer with a license to drive the motorcycle due to the presence of these wheels. DYMAG fought the case, and an administrative court issued a ruling on July 9 of this year in support of the consumer, noting that the state had not provided proof that the product was dangerous and thus should be banned. The court said, in part, “The long-lasting, unproblematic and accident-free use in Great Britain and the Netherlands in public road traffic and at international motorcycle racing makes such proof unlikely.” State officials are appealing the ruling.

The regulation is also designed to increase transparency regarding the free flow of goods between countries. Under the new action, member countries are required to set up points of contact from which firms can obtain, free of charge, information concerning their national technical rules and the application of the principle of mutual recognition regarding their products. The new regulation also sets out a procedure for firms to appeal a ruling by a member country.

Various differences between countries make it difficult for companies to market the same product in different member states or, at a minimum, lead to higher product development costs. These differences may be rooted in culture, language and the laws regulating the industry. While the former differences are likely to remain for the foreseeable future, the new regulations might help with the later as member countries are warned to remove unjustified obstacles to cross-border trade. The European Commission has posted information on the regulations. Contact Linda Spencer for more information.

SEMA News - October 2009

By Yvonne Wang

The Chinese Specialty-Equipment Market

	Zhu Yunliang, founder and CEO of Yunliang 4WD Beijing.

Each month’s column will include information on the size of the highlighted company, insight into the types of products carried as well as additional product lines into which the firm is considering expanding. Yunliang 4WD is an off-road-segment distributor based in Beijing, China. The firm, established in 2002, has developed both a business-to-business arm as well as direct sales to consumers. The firm services more than 120 retailers with its off-road specialty-equipment products, many of which it imports directly from overseas. Consumers may also come into Yunliang’s shop to purchase and have installed a wide array of light-truck performance and accessory products. Yunliang has more than 40 employees, with a total operating facility of over 3,000 square meters.

The interview was conducted with Zhu Yunliang, founder and CEO of Yunliang 4WD Beijing.

SEMA News: What products does your company currently carry?

Zhu Yunliang: Currently, Yunliang carries distribution for the following foreign brands: PIAA, Rancho, ARB, Mopar, T-max, AEV, Delta, IPF, Monroe, Warn, BF Goodrich and Cooper Tires. The product lines are as follows:

Auto body parts: bumpers, grille guards, tubular bull bars, door handles, chrome trim decors, mud guards, mud flaps, emblems, fenders, windshield wipers, license plate accessories, other relays, switches and wiring and wheels and tires.

Lighting: driving lights, fog lights, HID lights, off-road lights and taillights (LED and halogen) and interior lighting.

Air filter and intake systems: exhaust systems, air intake snorkels and air filter replacements.

Suspension: lift kits, coil springs, shocks, struts, leaf springs, sway bars, leveling kits, arms and link suspension accessories.

Outdoor camping: tents, barbeque grills, tools and equipment for outings, backpacks, camp and trail gear, stoves, lanterns, sleeping bags and apparel.

SN: What is the most popular category of modifications among retail customers and enthusiasts?

ZY: Suspension components, lift kits, front grille bars, tires and wheels and off-road and driving lights.

SN: Please describe your typical retail enthusiast customer and how much enthusiasts are spending on average.

ZY: We have three typical customer categories. The first level of customers spend approximately $1,500 USD on a lift kit package plus a few accessories. More upscale customers typically will go for $5,000 USD on a lift kit, front and rear guards, a set of wheels and off-road tires and one or two sets of off-road or driving lights. The highest level of customers spend anywhere from $25,000 to $35,000 USD for a complete customization package, which may include a suspension kit, winches, front and rear grille bars, front and rear struts, an air compressor, air locks, front and rear leaf springs, a complete skid plate with belly-pan protectors, off-road lights, roof racks, side bars, air snorkels, bumper covers, auxiliary tanks, other exterior restyling accessories, off-road tires and wheels.

SN: What are the most modified vehicles in your installation center?

ZY: The most modified vehicles we see at our shop are Jeep-branded Wranglers and Cherokees. However, popularity is developing among the Chinese enthusiasts for the new Jeep Compass and Commander. Yunliang has specialized in Jeep products for many years and is slowly incorporating other specialty products for popular vehicle makes such as Toyota FJ Cruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero V31, V32, and V33, Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol Y61 and Y62.

SN: What products are you looking into carrying or looking into for your distribution channel?

ZY: We look to expand our line with the latest Jeep Wrangler products, Jeep JK product lines, such as 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-inch lift kits, winches, off-road lights, snorkels, air lockers, shocks, exhaust and 17-inch wheels. In addition, Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ Cruiser performance modules, suspension components, heavy-duty bead-lock wheels and off-road tires.

Contact information for Yunliang as well as a recent SEMA report on the Chinese specialty-equipment market is available here. Members may also contact Yvonne Wang.

SEMA News - October 2009

By Joe Dysart

Quick Tips and Tricks to Add Style and Panache

		With Artisiteer, you customize the design of your blog in minutes—no kidding.

To get you from here to there, the following roundup of the latest tools will make the ride quick, easy and ridiculously inexpensive:

Effortlessly Customize Your Blog’s Design: Lots of web design tools claim to be so simple that a six-year-old can use them. Artisteer 2.1; $129, delivers on that promise. After fruitlessly searching for months for a Wordpress blog template that was right for me, I finally came across this gem of a blog design program that enabled me to make my own template in minutes. Essentially, Artisteer enables you to start with a basic design of a Wordpress blog and then tweak it to your heart’s content with an easy-to-use dashboard. There are options to change your Wordpress blog’s shape, color, font, text size, columns, margin widths and more. And all are a point and click away.

Once you’re absolutely satisfied with your custom blog design, one click of a button exports it as a Wordpress theme that can be uploaded to your Wordpress blog server—and you’re done. Every aspect of the program is painstakingly designed for the non-techie, non-programmer. Plus, Artisteer allows the final design to be exported as a standard website or in compatible formats for web content management systems Drupal and Joomla. Very cool.

Add A Social Network: Believe it or not, newer plug-ins from popular blog platforms Moveable Type and Wordpress now enable you to create Facebook- and MySpace-type social networks right on your blog. This is a great way to elevate the community you’ve already built around your blog to a much more enriched experience. Motion for Moveable Type (keywords: Motion for Moveable Type) is probably the most business-oriented of the two social network creation tools. With Motion, you can build a Twitter-like feed into your blog, continually import new data from other social networks and/or create a micro-blog for every marketing campaign your company launches. Motion will also monitor what people are saying about your company on dozens of social networks from a single page, so you’ll always be able to respond quickly and informatively. Plus you can monitor those same social networks and display what people are saying about your brand as a kind of instant review site. Motion for Moveable Type is available free with Moveable Type Pro ($395) and Moveable Type Enterprise (call for price). It also can work alongside Wordpress or on any website.

The other major social network creation tool for blogs is Wordpress’s BuddyPress , which is offered free to all users. The only caveat is that BuddyPress is currently compatible with only Wordpress Multi-User, which is a beefed-up version of the standard Wordpress that enables users to create thousands of blogs with a single installation of the platform.

Key social networking features offered by BuddyPress include private messaging, profiles, friends, groups, activity streams and The Wire—a communications app similar to The Wall found on FaceBook. Granted, installing and running Wordpress MU and BuddyPress demand a bit more technical prowess than running a simple Wordpress blog, but if you or your company run into trouble, you can always opt for paid support, which starts at $2,500 annually.

Add an Audio Podcast: With Propaganda; $49 from Mixmeister Technology, you’ll be able to record, post and promote the audio podcast for your blog with a single program. The easy-to-use software can import audio from almost any source. And it can also help you create RSS feeds, ID3 tags and iTunes tags, which ensure that your podcast is easily accessible. After you’ve completed your recording, simply use the software’s publish feature to format in WMA, MP3 or WAV format, and then upload the podcast to your blog or to any podcast hosting service.

		With Propaganda, you’ll be able to record, post and promote the audio podcast for your blog with a single program.

Moveable Type has a similar free podcasting plug-in for its users. And TypePad offers an extremely easy tutorial for adding podcasts to its blogs (keywords: TypePad add a podcast).

Add a Videocast: If there’s video up on YouTube you’d like to feature in your blog, the company offers a free YouTube player that you can embed in your blog text. For more info, check out YouTube’s how-to video on how to do the quick embed (keywords: YouTube player) as well as a separate how-to video on how to customize your player (keywords: customize YouTube player). With either option, you’ll see a faint YouTube watermark in the right-hand corner of the video.

The beauty of YouTube’s player is that the actual video footage is stored and streamed off YouTube’s servers, so your company will not pay the web bandwidth transmission costs, no matter how many people view the video. Google also offers a tool called Insight to help you analyze who’s viewing your embedded video.

Meanwhile, Wordpress offers a specially designed Wordpress Video Plug-In (keywords: Wordpress Video Plug-In) for its users, which easily enables you to embed video from dozens of video hosting sites, including YouTube.

Plus, if you’re looking to create and upload your own videos with minimal effort, check out VlogItt; $29 from Adobe. The program was specifically created to work with all popular blog programs and enables you to shoot a basic video and add customizable graphics, effects, titles, music and templates. There’s also a built-in teleprompter that facilitates video narration. Uploading your finished creation is as easy as clicking “publish” and dropping the resulting video thumbnail pix of your “vlog” into your blog edit screen. The program automatically handles all the technical details such as video compression, file transfer and the like. Plus, your blog’s readers can view the video by simply clicking on the video thumbnail that appears in your blog entry.

Add A Google Live News Feed: Google now offers a free, extremely customizable news window for your blog, known as Google NewsShow. Such news windows are a great way to ensure that your blog stays fresh, topical and continually updated. One of the best features of Google NewsShow is its specificity: Google will only display news in its NewsShow window that is directly related to the search phrase you create. Want news about Famous Vampires With Severe Hemophobia (fear of blood)? No problem. That’s what you’ll get, and that’s all you’ll get. Plus, NewsShow is a snap to create. Simply type in a few variables in the creation wizard, cut and paste the code into your blog, and voila!, you’ve got a news window, updated as news happens. I created my own NewsShow window for a blog in under two minutes.

By the way, while you’re playing in Google-land, you might as well also create a GoogleProfile (keywords: Google Profile) for your blog. Essentially, this is a quick web page that you create with a couple of variable inputs for Google, which appears high up in Google search returns. Here’s an example of the Google Profile for Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Creating the program will help in the promotion of your blog and help you better control your blog’s image in Google’s search engine returns.

SEMA News - October 2009

By Drew Hardin

Photo Courtesy the Source Interlink Archives

A week later, Craig Breedlove—the first to go 400 mph in his Spirit of America in 1963—bested Arfons’ record; and two days after that, he broke the 500-mph barrier with a 526.277mph record. It was during this attempt that Breedlove experienced the parachute failure that sent him into a salt pond at 200 mph.

Within two weeks of Breedlove’s swim, Art Arfons was back on the salt. This time, the Green Monster moved the record to 536.710 mph and clocked a one-way pass of 559 mph. But months would pass before Arfons’ record was deemed official by the FIA and the FIM, the international sanctioning bodies governing land-speed records. It took them that long to agree that vehicles did not have to be wheel-driven to hold the absolute speed record.

To this day, land-speed-racing fans make a clear distinction between Andy Green’s jet-car record of 763.035 mph set in the Thrust SSC and the wheel-driven mark of 470.444 mph held by Don Vesco’s Turbinator.

SEMA News - October 2009

By Megan McKernan

Growth for Businesses at the Core of the Specialty-Equipment Industry

	The racing and performance market grew 4% between 2007 and 2008. Photo: Zachary Krelle

In 2008, the overall market contracted to $31 billion from $38 billion in retail sales. But the racing and performance market experienced growth. In fact, total retail sales for the three niches combined grew 4%, from just under $10 billion to $10.3 billion.

Specialty-Equipment Market

In 2008, manufacturer sales for the street performance niche reached $0.76 billion, up from $0.73 billion in 2007. Retail sales hit $2.19 billion, matching those of 2007. For the racing niche, manufacturer and retails sales experienced slight increases compared to 2007, reaching $0.37 billion and $1.11 billion respectively. The third niche that makes up the racing and performance specialty-equipment market is compact performance. This niche also experienced an increase in 2008, with manufacturer sales reaching $2.53 billion and retail sales hitting $7.03 billion compared to $6.69 billion the previous year.

The racing and performance market experienced growth. In fact, total retail sales for the three niches combined grew 4%, from just under $10 billion to $10.3 billion.

Performance Vehicles

In 2009, the long-awaited 2010 Chevrolet Camaro was released and Ford redesigned the ever-popular Mustang. Both of these vehicles have had a home in the racing and performance market since they were first released in the 1960s. Countless SEMA-member companies manufacture and sell products for these vehicles. And several of these companies have requested data from SEMA’s Tech Transfer program in order to streamline and expedite the process of designing their parts.

The Camaro has been in hibernation since the 2002 model year. In June of 2009, sales of the Camaro topped those of the Mustang for the first time since 1993.

When asked about the 2010 Camaro, member companies agreed that the ability to access all computer-aided design (CAD) files for the vehicle was a great help. In fact, the CAD files were available to SEMA members before the vehicle even hit the showroom floor. Companies were then able to manufacture products and have them ready upon the release of the vehicle.

“The design and development process for our SMS 620 Camaro will be the most streamlined of all of our SMS Signature Series American musclecars,” said Phil Frank, chief creative officer for SMS Supercars.

JBA Performance Headers and Exhaust released a complete line of new products for the 2010 Camaro, including shorty and long-tube headers and four different exhaust systems. The company was able to do this with the help of SEMA’s Tech Transfer program.

“JBA has always appreciated SEMA and what the organization has done for our segment of the performance aftermarket,” said Greg Raymond, sales manager for JBA.

		Member companies such as Roush Performance Products helped to make the 2010 Ford Mustang an awesome performance vehicle.

A similar statement was made by Bonnie Russell of ProjxAuto, who said: “Americans need something in the automotive market to get excited about, and I think we have it in the new Camaro.”

Two SEMA Measuring Sessions were held for the 2010 Camaro—one in Detroit and one in California. The one in Detroit was held in February 2009, a month before the Camaro was actually released for sale.

A SEMA Measuring Session for the 2010 Mustang was held in Detroit in December 2008. Another was held in California in June. CAD files for the Mustang were made available to SEMA manufacturer members through the Tech Transfer program. As was the case with the Camaro files, members were extremely pleased to have this data and have parts available before the Mustang was even released. One testament to the success of this program comes from Marcello Canitano of SilverHorse Racing.

“Our use of the SEMA Tech Transfer program aids us in ensuring that the replacement products we manufacture for the Ford Mustang fit properly and exceed market expectations for fit and finish,” Canitano said. “By having the factory data, we can engineer our products to release at the same time as the new vehicle. Also, since we have the factory CAD data, we can rapidly prototype our parts in advance for testing before committing thousands of dollars to tool production.”

Access to CAD data has also helped SEMA members expand their businesses. For example, Shane Wagner of the Drake Automotive Group cited the Tech Transfer program as being responsible for the company becoming a direct supplier to Ford for new Mustangs.

“The Mustang is our core market and has been for over 25 years,” said Wagner. “We use the data to get perfect fits and verify functionality in 3D space, saving time and money. The tools at our disposal have also helped us to become a direct supplier to Ford for the 2010 and up model years.”

Unlike the Camaro, the Mustang has been on the market every year since its inception. Steeda Autosports Inc., a SEMA member and a company best known for fully outfitting Mustangs for performance, developed an open-element filter system for the 2010 Mustang that integrates with the stock air intake system. This was done in a timely and cost-effective way as a result of CAD data provided by Tech Transfer.

“The presence of the Mustang in the market really speaks for itself,” said Aric Pogel of Steeda. “The Mustang has been the vehicle of choice for performance modifications since the ‘80s, with no gap in availability. Low initial cost plus tremendous positive response to modifications makes this car very, very popular.”

The 2010 Camaro and the 2010 Mustang are expected to be well-represented at the 2009 SEMA Show. In fact, Ford is the Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show for 2009. As always, the SEMA Show will showcase racing and performance products that excite the industry and keep the market alive. Click here for a complete listing of exhibitors that will have racing and performance products on display at the 2009 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Consumer Demand Index

The July Consumer Demand Index indicated that 8% of drivers intend to purchase racing and performance products in the next three months.

With assistance from TechnoMetrica, SEMA began developing the SEMA Consumer Demand Index for Performance Products and Accessories (formerly branded PADI) in January 2007. The purpose of the index is to track and help forecast U.S. consumer demand for automotive specialty and performance products, such as appearance products and accessories, racing and performance products and wheels, tires and suspension products. Download the Consumer Demand Index.

Racing and performance products are at the very core of the specialty-equipment market. When SEMA was founded in 1963 as the Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association, the founding members created an organization to represent manufacturers of racing and performance-related products. Today, of course, there are more than 7,100 SEMA-member companies, and they represent more than just racing and performance parts. However, the industry will probably always be most closely associated with its roots in speed and performance.