LPE Assets, an LLC owned by Ken Lingenfelter and an affiliate of Metropolitan Motor Sports LLC, acquired Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) from an unrelated third party. Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, founded by drag racer and engine builder John Lingenfelter, is a performance tuner and specialty-automotive parts supplier located in Decatur, Indiana.

Century Truck Caps, a division of the Truck Accessories Group LLC (TAG), has helped Robert O’Brien’s dream come true through the Children’s Dream Fund. O’Brien is a 16 year old who is fighting testicular cancer. “Robert O’Brien’s dream was to customize his 1993 Chevy Silverado,” explained Kristin Bedinghaus, dream coordinator at the Children's Dream Fund. “He wanted it to be very special. Century Truck Caps and Arrow Toppers came through with flying colors to make that dream come true."
     “We were contacted by of one of our dealers, Arrow Toppers of Pinellas Park, Florida, to help defray the cost of a Cargo Cover for Robert,” said Sheryl Noblitt, national Sales manager for Century. “Of course we wanted to help!”
     The Children's Dream Fund was founded in 1981 in West Central Florida with the single purpose of fulfilling dreams for children ages 3–18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
     "When we heard of Robert’s dream we knew we could help this kid,” explained Mike Danler, president of Arrow Toppers. “Donating a Cargo Cover seemed like a small effort for someone with Robert’s health challenges. We contacted Sheryl at Century and worked together to provide the topper to Robert.”
     Northwest Collision of St Petersburg, Florida will be doing the paint job on the cargo cover prior to delivery to Robert.

Feld Entertainment Inc. completed its acquisition of Live Nation Motor Sports Inc., a division of Live Nation Inc. As a result of the acquisition, Live Nation Motor Sports was renamed Feld Entertainment Motor Sports. Feld Entertainment Motor Sports will continue operations in Aurora, Illinois, and will maintain its current management, tour schedules, promotional partnerships and performance structure. As the newest addition to Feld Entertainment, Feld Entertainment Motor Sports will continue to produce Monster Jam Series, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, FIM Championship and other high-energy motor sports events, including the AMA Arenacross Series; Freestyle Motocross; and International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) sanctioned events, including Knoll Gas Nitro Jam, Thunder Jam and Street Warriorz.

Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. received ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Standards certification by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) of Houston, Texas. Located in White, Georgia, the 900,000-sq.-ft. facility was established in June 2004 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. is responsible for production of both Toyo and Nitto tire brands.

Federated Auto Parts announced that it will continue to sponsor the Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Nashville SuperSpeedway for three more years. Federated has sponsored a NASCAR race at Nashville for the last 13 years. “We are very pleased to be able to extend our Nationwide Series race sponsorship, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the great folks at the Nashville SuperSpeedway,” said J.R. Bishop, director of member services and event marketing for Federated Auto Parts. “Federated has been a long-time supporter of racing at all levels, but the Federated Auto Parts 300 has become the cornerstone of our motorsports program.”

Aries Automotive Inc. hired Mark Francis to their management team. Francis has extensive aftermarket accessory experience and spent the past 18 years with Manik Offroad in R&D, service and marketing. Francis will head Aries Automotive’s North East warehouse set to open in October. He will also be an integral part of the expansion in the automotive sector.

Mark Francis

Stillwater Designs named Greg Lew as SoundGate’s Business Unit Director (BUD). He takes over for the retiring Rob Putman, the previous BUD and creator of the SoundGate brand. Lew joined the company on June 1, 2004, as the accessories product line manager for KICKER. He then continued moving within the audio-brand ranks, next to national accounts sales manager and, most recently, to director of global supply chain. Filling Lew’s vacant position is Jacob Boyd, who has been with Stillwater Designs since February of 2006, and was originally hired as OEM sales coordinator. Boyd’s responsibilities include calculating monthly global product demand and communicating with the purchasing team. He will also coordinate with sales, purchasing and the logistics teams to oversee the flow of goods from the point-of-manufacture to dealers.

Parrot launched a new program to help independent 12-volt retailers compete, sell and install car kits more profitably. Called the Certified Installer Program, the plan will provide authorized Parrot retailers a variety of selling tools, installation support, POS materials and promotion programs in return for ensuring their sales and installer teams are up to speed on Parrot products.

“While the current selling environment is challenging, we believe 12-volt installers have a great opportunity selling Parrot car kits because the market is demanding them,” says David Wenning, senior vice president, sales and marketing. “More and more states are passing hands-free laws, and more new vehicles are promoting Bluetooth hands-free solutions. 

"These two factors have dramatically increased consumer awareness of hands-free devices. There’s a great opportunity for increased sales of car kits if they are properly presented, sold and installed. To help retailers sell to this broader customer base, Parrot’s Certified Installer Program will focus on strengthening the relationship between Parrot and the installer, and enhancing the consumer’s shopping experience through expanded retailer sales training and POS support. In addition, new tools and programs have been developed for installers to help train them to install Parrot car kits quickly and easily without compromising quality. For more information, visit www.parrot.com. 

Greg Cogley has resigned from Player Wheel Group after 13 years, the last five spent as vice-president, sales. He is now with Gulf Coast Wheels and Accessories in Slidell, Louisiana.

Click on the logo to visit MRC's website.

MRC Rep Conference - TOWN HALL
 
SEMA and the Manufacturers Rep Council cordially invite you to participate in the SEMA/MRC Town Hall. The topic is Unilateral vs. Minimum Advertised Pricing Programs.

Registration is now open for the MRC Rep Conference Town Hall, designed specifically for manufacturers, WDs and representatives. 

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Click on the logo to visit ARMO's website.

ARMO Special Projects in Motion

Sponsorships are being accepted for the ARMO Industry Awards Reception. Now is the time to participate in this great opportunity to show your support of the restoration market, its community, its people and its businesses. Click here to download and print a sponsorship form.
 
For more information, contact any Select Committee member or Jan Desma, 909/396-0289, ext. 134, or e-mail jand@sema.org.

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News

Click on the logo to visit TORA's website.

TORA Column in SEMA Member News

Read TORA's column featured in the September/October issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

Tickets are still available for the 2008 Industry Awards Banquet, the annual awards ceremony held in conjunction with the SEMA Show, scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at the Las Vegas Hilton.

For $2,000, members can purchase a host table package, which includes VIP seating, a 30-second video spot that will play during the banquet, sponsorship recognition, gifts and additional amenities. Tables of 10 are also available in the general seating area for $500, or individual tickets can be purchased for $50.

Exhibitors: don't forget to submit your complimentary banquet ticket order forms. Hurry—the banquet has consistently been a sell-out event with members often placed on a wait list, and remaining complimentary tickets go on a first-come, first-served basis. More than 3,000 members attended the 2007 banquet.

To reserve your table, contact Linda Hoverman at 909/396-0289 x127 or LindaH@sema.org.

For more information on the 2008 SEMA Show and SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

Use the Las Vegas Monorail to get to SEMA at the Las Vegas Convention Center without the hassles of traffic and wasted time.

CLICK HERE to pre-purchase tickets for 2008 SEMA Show attendees. 

Offer only available until Tuesday, October 21, 2008.

Whether you’re attending the SEMA Show or traveling the strip in your free time, the monorail is quick and convenient, with trains arriving every few minutes. In 15 minutes or less, the Las Vegas Monorail will connect you to the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as many of the city’s world-class restaurants, shows, shops, clubs, hotels and casinos in a safe, clean and climate-controlled environment.

Hop on for a one-way trip, or pick up an unlimited pass for the freedom to travel at your leisure.

This GH Wheels Auttoman, donated by The Sketch Farm, is one of several great items up for bid in the SEMA Show Silent Auction.

The SEMA Show Silent Auction is celebrating its 15th year at the 2008 SEMA Show, a span over which the auction has raised nearly $750,000 to provide financial assistance to future, current and even past students that are pursuing a career in the automotive industry.

The first auction was the joint vision of SEMA's 1996 Person of the Year and SEMA Hall of Fame member Amy Faulk and the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). The idea was hatched as a way for SBN to further its involvement with the SEMA Show itself, to help train its governing Board members on running SEMA-related activities and, most importantly, to help individuals interested in an education and career within the automotive industry with financial assistance.

SBN remained the sponsoring council for the auction for nearly 10 years until it was then turned over to the SEMA Young Executive's Network (YEN) in 2004.

"The SEMA Show Silent Auction is a chance for everyone to help out the future of our industry," said YEN member and 2008 Silent Auction Task Force Chairman Gregory Parker. "If you are interested in donating an item to the auction to help out, you can. If you are interested in purchasing an item at the auction to help out, you can do that too. You don't have to make a major commitment in order to help.

"And remember—there's a student out there that will really benefit from your involvement, and our industry as a whole will ultimately benefit from that student, so it's a win-win for everyone."

Currently, the Silent Auction has become a don't-miss feature of the SEMA Show featuring collectibles, memorabilia, rare items, industry product and even a new vehicle—all of which are donated by generous companies and individuals. The last two new vehicles auctioned off were a 2006 GMC Yukon and a 2007 Toyota Tundra—both completely customized. This year's vehicle is yet to be unveiled, but trust us, it will be cool!

Here are just a few of the items already donated to this year's auction:

• GH Auttoman donated by The Sketch Farm: an orange ottoman with an exclusive GH Wheels rim in the center. This exclusive item would look spectacular in any dealership showroom or business lobby.

• Autographed illustration of singer Kix Brooks: Renowned artist Randy Martin, co-owner of Martin & Company Advertising, created this breathtaking illustration of Brooks and Dunn member Kix Brooks wearing his Cherry Bomb Exhaust jacket, the same jacket he wore during the 50th running of the Daytona 500 pre-race concert.

• Package for two for Auto Club 500 NASCAR race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, on February 22, 2009.

• Reserved seating for two at "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"

An autographed illustration of singer Kix Brooks is among several great items available in the SEMA Show Silent Auction.

Other items include: a football autographed by NCAA champion and Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson; a LEER fiberglass tonneau cover; a set of Goodyear Classic Radials from Kelsey Tire; and much more. We even have a set of brand-new snow chains for you to bid on! 

To see the entire list of items that have already been donated and to learn more about the 2008 SEMA Show Silent Auction, please visit www.semasilentauction.com.

The 2008 SEMA Show Silent Auction will once again be easy to find, located on the Skybridge above the South Hall Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center. You can place your bids during Show hours, Tuesday through Thursday. Bidding closes at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, and all winners must claim their items or arrange for shipping by 4:00 p.m. Friday.

Five of the National Hot Rod Association's most prolific female competitors will talk about their historic racing achievements and future goals at the 2008 SEMA Show during the popular NHRA Breakfast, Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30 a.m. 

NHRA announcer Bob Frey will host the breakfast and what promises to be a very informative discussion with Ashley Force (Funny Car), Melanie Troxel (Funny Car), Hillary Will (Top Fuel), Peggy Llewellyn (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle), all of whom have won NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events.

Filler for eNews

Filler for eNews

Dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows and activities have been announced. Details are:

>> SEMA Webinar, "Listen to Your Customers, Their Opinions Really Do Matter," September 18, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
>> SEMA Installer Certification Program, Registration deadline: September 22, 2008 Exam date: November 13, 2008
>> Honda Fit Measuring Session at American Honda, Torrance, California, September 23, 2008 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
>> SEMA MRC Town Hall Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, September 23, 2008 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
>> SEMA Webinar, "U.S. and the World Economy: Will They Shift Forward?" October 2, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
>> SEMA Webinar, "Right-On, No-Bull Guide to Marketing in a Tough Economy," October 16, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
>> SEMA Show 2008, November 4–7, 2008, Las Vegas 
>> SEMA Dealer Day, November 5, 2008, Las Vegas
>> SEMA PRO Open Meeting, November 6, 2008, Las Vegas
>> SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN, November 6, 2008 7:15 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (PDT), Las Vegas
>> SEMA MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 20–22, 2009, El Segundo, California
>> SEMA Technical Skills & Training Conference, March 27–28, 2009, Orlando, Florida
>> PAACE Automechanika Mexico, July 15–17, 2009, Mexico

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949/930-9268.

Looking for Some Extra Publicity for Your Industry Event?
Publicize your events through the SEMA Online Calendar of Events located at www.sema.org/calendar. The calendar is stocked with information on events taking place throughout the year, broken down by month. Examples of events featured in the calendar include consumer shows and club events, educational and training workshops, conventions and trade shows, races and more.

To submit your event details for the calendar, e-mail company name and the date(s), location and name of the event to Shirley Presecan at shirleyp@sema.org.

The most effective marketing tools can also be the most traditional. Getting product information in front of consumers could rely on marketing diversification and an understanding of the target demographic.

According to the latest SEMA market research, some of the most common resources for customers are the most established. Despite the necessity of having an online presence, consumers still find conventional means valuable. Each market has slightly different characteristics, but many of the avenues represent opportunities to leave an impression and communicate with the end consumer.

In the latest installment of SEMA's Automotive Lifestyles Survey, consumers were asked where they turn to find information about products before they consider purchasing. The top three resources for each market niche have been highlighted. Enthusiast magazines continue to be the most widely used asset, irrespective of market. Traditional hot rodders and teens alike turn to hard print as guides for their lifestyles. Product reviews, articles, installation guides and advertisements still have an influential role in transmitting information.

Additionally, the benefit of tangible material—something physical to hold and see—is hard to replace. In the same manner, catalogs have not been dispossessed of their role. Enthusiasts of all types continue to regard these items as building blocks for their decisions. Not only do they create awareness visually, but they often answer questions about application, installation and compatibility that give consumers the confidence to pursue an item.

Differences do exist. For example, these resources are fairly more important to older enthusiasts. When considering the demographics of each niche, it is not surprising that people interested in musclecars, street rods, customs and light trucks prefer traditional media. Be it for nostalgia, habit or accessibility, the older generations of hobbyists side with print sources.

Conversely, younger generations, most notably in the compact-performance market, lean heavily towards Internet-related content. Granted, manufacturers have adapted well to the Internet and most have their catalogs available on their webpage. Thus it's not surprising that these resources are enjoyed across the board.

The difference, however, is that automotive forums have in large part replaced the "live" component for younger enthusiasts. Instead of seeking information from trusted peers and publications, they establish channels online to interact virtually and search for information from secondary sources.

Even car shows and events represent a minor discrepancy. Traditional enthusiasts use them as venues for resources more often than their younger peers. Some conventional car shows have shifted into lifestyle events with external elements that seek to entertain rather than inform, leaving their main impetus in an evolutionary role.

For more original SEMA market research, please visit www.sema.org/research.