Filler for eNews

The March 2009 issue of SEMA News will now include the updated 2009 SEMA Membership Directory. Additionally, the 2009 SEMA Membership Directory will be viewable throughout the year at www.sema.org.

Increased distribution, a new digital edition and enhanced video-advertising options are all available now. Reserve your ad today by contacting MOTOR MEDIA Inc. at 818/248-4900 or e-mail sales@motormediainc.com. The deadline is January 9, 2009.

Learn several ways that the right marketing plan can increase your company's website traffic by tuning into the SEMA webinar “Increase Your Website Visibility With Web Analytics,” Thursday, January 22, 2009.

Presenter Aaron Kahlow, chairman and founder of Online Marketing Summit and Managing Partner of Business Online, will show you best practices in search engine optimization (SEO), web analytics and social media (Web 2.0) to build a winning online marketing plan. Kahlow has delivered more than 170 seminars nationwide and is frequently quoted by online marketing publications.

When: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT)
Presenter: Aaron Kahlow, CEO and Founder, Online Marketing Summit (OMS)
To register: Click Here

SEMA's Webinar Program: The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show right to your desktop. Different business-building sessions are constantly added to the program, offering members the latest insight and practices from today’s leading speakers.

All SEMA webinars are conducted live and are open to all employees of SEMA-member companies free of charge. To participate, all you need is a computer with Internet access and a telephone. All previous SEMA webinars are available for download by clicking here. To view upcoming presentations that you can attend via telephone and Internet, click here.

Brenda Priddy and her spy photographer syndicate got as close as possible to this Audi A8 mule, now wearing its own sheetmetal. Under that new sheetmetal is an extended version of the modular platform used in the A4, but Priddy says aluminum and magnesium materials will likely be used to save weight and improve dynamics.

The A8’s engine lineup will likely mirror the current range, starting with a 2.8L V6, and topping out with the 4.2L V8 FSI. Audi’s new 6.0L V12 TDI is also a possibility.

Like the A7, there will also be more supercharged units as well as increased application of Audi’s latest valve-lift system. The base model will remain FWD, but AWD variants will feature the latest Quattro torque vectoring systems, which distributes power individually between each axle and between the rear wheels for improved traction and stability.

Filler for eNews

The early months of 2009 are shaping up to be one of the most interesting and active periods in many years for the U.S. Congress and across the federal government. The 111th Congress will begin work in January with 53 new members of the U.S. House of Representatives and seven new members of the U.S. Senate.

This election gives SEMA the opportunity to introduce the auto hobby and our industry to a sizeable number of fresh-faced lawmakers. Along the way, SEMA will be welcoming several old friends who were previously state lawmakers.

• Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho who won the Senate seat vacated by the retirement of Larry Craig, has signaled his desire to work on energy and natural resources issues, which would include preserving off-highway vehicle access to public lands and holding down the price of fuel through domestic exploration and support for development of alternative sources.
  
  
• Incoming Senators Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, both Democrats, campaigned on lowering the cost of health care to small businesses, including changing the law to allow small businesses to pool coverage and providing tax credits to offset premium payments. Containing the cost of health care has been and will continue to be a top government affairs priority for SEMA.
  
  
• Long-time SEMA ally Bill Posey of Florida will fill the House seat vacated by the retirement of fellow Republican Dave Weldon. Bill Posey was a stalwart supporter of our industry in the Florida legislature, sponsoring SEMA-model legislation to amend the vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and to create a new classification for custom vehicles. Bill also introduced legislation to provide an exemption from the regulations governing commercial motor carriers to vehicles occasionally transporting personal property to a motorsports facility.
  
  
• No stranger to SEMA members in the Golden State, State Senator Tom McClintock (R-CA) has been a long-time supporter of the automotive hobby in the California legislature. McClintock was in a hotly contested race, which was decided by 622 votes. In 2004, he worked tirelessly against the repeal of the 30-year rolling emissions exemption in the state. He will now serve as the U.S. Representative for Californians living around Lake Tahoe and other northeastern areas of the state.
  
  
• Newly elected Representatives Larry Kissell (D-NC), Betsy Markey (D-CO), Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Steve Austria (R-NC) each come to public office from a small-business background and pledged support during their campaigns for addressing the issues confronting small businesses, from health-care reform to regulatory relief. Democrat Dan Maffei and Republican Chris Lee of New York have spoken out extensively on a pro-manufacturing agenda and government action to enhance the international competitiveness of American manufacturers.
  
  
• Erik Paulsen (R-MN), who won the seat vacated by the retirement of Jim Ramstad (R-MN), has already taken up our cause by campaigning a 10-year extension of the research and development tax credit. This long-term extension has been sought by SEMA members and other business groups for many years to facilitate business planning and spur development of new products and technologies. 

These newly elected legislators and the rest of the freshman class represent 60 new opportunities for SEMA to tell the story of our industry to lawmakers. Constituent relationships, including hearing from “the folks back home," will play a big role in defining our message. In the weeks and months to come, SEMA’s Washington staff will be reaching out to our members across the country to help us develop these new relationships.

The new lawmakers will also be encouraged to join the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, which helps raise the industry’s profile on Capitol Hill.

For more information on SEMA’s efforts in Congress, visit www.semapac.org.

For details about SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC), contact Jason Tolleson at jasont@sema.org.

For details about SEMA’s legislative activities, contact Brian Duggan at briand@sema.org.

It has come to SEMA's attention that some SEMA members have received a one-page notice offering a "free" listing in The FAIR Guide operated by Construct Data Verlag (also known as Construct Data AG) based in Austria. However, the small print at the bottom of the page notes that by signing and returning the document, you have entered into a three-year, non-retractable contract to pay up to $1,000 a year for the listing.

Six months ago, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) warned that www.expo-guide.com, a company operating out of Mexico, was offering a similar “free” listing. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works. A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the yellow pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "FREE" listing in their guide.

Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of The Fair Guide contracts. The Austrian Advertising Council has found them to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code. On February 13, 2007, Construct Data signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. 

Here are links to the issue along with a sample letter to be sent if disputing dunning notices sent from Austria:

• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc

Regarding Expo Guide, the IAEE posted this warning: www.iaee.com/information__resources/warnings_to_exhibitors.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

You can also file a mail fraud complaint with the United States Postal Service:
http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx

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

Filler for eNews

IT’S BACK: The Trans-Am Tour is expected to return in 2009 with the SCCA sanctioning eight events in conjunction with major SCCA club racing events across the country. Rules are to closely resemble those of the SCCA GT-1 classification.

MAZDA SPEED: Mazda will enter the American Le Mans Series next season, with veteran team owner Rob Dyson fielding a pair of Mazda-powered cars in the LMP2 class.

DRAG MOVES: It appears that team owner David Powers will park his Top Fuel dragster because of a lack of funds. Driver Rod Fuller and crew chief Mike Kloeber are hoping to salvage the team under new ownership.

DRAG MOVES II: Team owner Don Prudhomme has released Larry Dixon from his contract and hired Spencer Massey to drive his Top Fueler next season. While nothing is official, the move frees up Dixon to drive for new team owner Alan Johnson next season. Johnson won five straight titles with Tony Schumacher before splitting with the Schumacher team at the end of the season.

UNEMPLOYED: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte was released from his contract with the financially strapped Petty Enterprises team last week and is currently seeking a job with another team.

CHAMPION: Several days after being named the 2008 Driver of the Year, NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher became the first two-time winner of the Economaki Champion of Champions Award presented by Speedway Motorsports Inc. and National Speed Sport News. Schumacher accepted the award at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

Jason Harding

Jason Harding was promoted to director of aftermarket operations for Katech Performance. He will oversee the sales efforts of Katech's aftermarket division. Harding has spent three years in performance parts sales, focusing on expanding Katech's distribution network and establishing new dealer accounts. Harding will continue to oversee Internet promotional initiatives in his new role.

Brad Bricker was named Bestop’s new Eastern regional sales manager. Bricker has held several field and sales positions within Bestop for the past 13 years and has nearly 20 years of overall experience in aftermarket sales.  

Jeff Dahnert

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Board of Directors have selected SCCA Vice President of Finance and Administration Jeff Dahnert as the club’s next president and CEO. Dahnert will make the transition effective January 1, 2009. Dahnert arrived at SCCA in November of 2004. Prior to his arrival, he spent several years with Sprint as a senior financial analyst.

Ann Durham was promoted to senior vice president and general manager for Global Vehicles USA Inc. Durham, who joined Global Vehicles on January 14, 2008, as vice president of finance and administration, is responsible for company’s overall operations and reports to the company’s Chief Executive Officer John Perez.

Heidi Steele

Heidi Steele became the first woman to win a Best in the Desert (BITD) off-road racing truck championship by placing third at the Fabtech Desert Classic in Henderson, Nevada, on December 6. The Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored driver also became the first woman truck champion in SCORE (Class 7SX midsize truck) after taking a second-place class finish in November’s Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Mexico, and received the 2008 Toyota True Grit Award—the first woman to earn the honor—for completing every race mile in the SCORE series.

BFS Retail & Commercial Operations LLC (BFRC) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) named Robert Pauley the BFRC/ASE Master Automobile L1 Technician of the Year. Pauley was selected for his outstanding individual achievements, including top scores on ASE tests, on-the-job excellence and community service.

"Two Guys Garage" host Sam Memmolo offers resto tips in a new do-it-yourself video.

Brenton Productions Inc., producers of "Two Guys Garage" on SPEED, has partnered with 3M’s BONDO division to produce a do-it-yourself bodywork video. The 25-minute video features “Two Guys Garage” host Sam Memmolo offering step-by-step instructions for repairing a dented hood to get it ready for paint. The estimated cost to have the work done at a collision-repair center was $900–$1,200. Memmolo and crew purchased the materials and repaired the hood for approximately $100.  

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the presenting sponsor and official spec tire of the newly minted Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama race series. The single-make series, featuring Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, is a support event for the American Le Mans Series and is entering its fifth season after previously being known as the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Challenge. The agreement between Yokohama and IMSA is for the 2009 and 2010 racing seasons.  

Longtime SEMA Show photographer Peter Rogers was elected mayor of Chino Hills, California.

Longtime SEMA Show photographer Peter Rogers was elected mayor of Chino Hills, California. Rogers was originally elected to the Chino Hills City Council in November 2006 and has been an active volunteer and participant in the community for 19 years. For more information about Rogers and his community and committee involvement, visit www.chinohills.org/index.asp?NID=177.