Emcee Dave McClelland hosts proceedings at the 2007 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser.

The annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on Friday, July 25, serves to not only thank the association's outgoing Board members and welcome those newly elected, but also to announce the newest inductees into the SEMA Hall of Fame. This year's inductees are Raymond Bleiweis, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Corky Coker and Bob Cook—an elite group of industry innovators and pioneers who have played a key role in the automotive specialty-equipment market.

CLICK HERE to reserve your place for this special evening of charity and recognition.

This year's event is further underscored by a program of charitable fundraising activities that includes the Pinewood Drag Race, sponsored by Fellers and DUB Publishing, and a silent auction.

Proceeds from all fundraising benefits SEMA's two chosen charities, Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp. Childhelp aids victims of child abuse and originally began receiving support from wheel manufacturers in 1994. It now garners significant contributions from a wide range of industry businesses.

Victory Junction Gang Camp, founded in 2004 by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son Adam, has received support from the Light-Truck Accessory Alliance and others in the industry. Victory Junction uses camping experiences in its racing-themed facilities to enrich the lives of children who suffer from chronic medical conditions or illnesses.

Tickets
Tickets and details for the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, including a schedule of activities and auction donation forms, are available at www.sema.org/gala or by contacting Lisa Moreno at lisam@sema.org or 909/396-0289, ext. 105.

Charity Auction
Finally, SEMA will host a live and silent auction during the banquet, with auction items ranging from sports memorabilia to a 2006 Victory motorcycle owned and donated by Kyle Petty. To donate an item, contact Tricia Ward at triciaw@sema.org. Some of the items include:

Kyle Petty's 2006 Victory Jackpot motorcycle. Donated by Kyle Petty Charity Ride.

Brett Favre-autographed Wilson football. Donated by Rick Rollins.

Peyton Manning-autographed Wilson football. Donated by Motorola.

Lawrence Taylor-autographed Wilson football. Donated by Motorola.

Trick Your Truck Package, including accessories from Mickey Thompson, Superlift Suspension Systems, Rampage Products, Bushwacker and more

Greer Black Dragster replica, 1:6 scale and over 28 inches long. Donated by GMP Die Cast.

2x8 advertising space for one year on the guardwall of Virginia Motorsports Park's dragstrip, home of the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals. Donated by Virginia Motorsports Park.

HPI Racing Wheely King 4x4 R/C monster truck, featuring 4WD drivetrain, long-travel suspension and a high-torque 540 motor (click here for more details). Also offered in the auction are the E10 R/C drift car and Subaru Impreza precision diecast. Donated by HPI Racing.

• (2) Half-hour golf lessons with pro Scott Miller at North Ranch Country Club, Westlake Village, California. Donated by Scott Miller/PGA.

• (2) daily tickets to any two days of the 2008 Chevron World Challenge Event (December 18–21, 2008) at Sherwood Country Club. For more details, click here. Donated by Joe Reda, Tiger Woods Foundation.

• Thermal Flex high-performance silicone hose (winning bidder contacts Thermal Flex for desired sizes and colors). Donated by Thermal Flex.

• GT Toolboxes Model 111 Toolbox Hutch, size 26 x 66 x 33 with 58,375 cu in volume. Donated by GT Toolboxes. 

• (4) Safe-T-Boost, The Intelligent Booster Cable System, units. Donated by Autoeffex.com.

• Certificate for a World Class Driving Experience for a driver and passenger (restrictions apply). List of likely cars includes Audi R8, Ferrari F430 and Mercedes SLR McLaren. Donated by Source Interlink Media.

• (6) Clean Breeze Truck Screens. Donated by Clean Breeze Truck Screens.

• Floorshift Tilt column (2-inch diameter, 32-inch length), polished stainless steel universal joints, Water Fall steering wheel, Water Feel steering wheel adapter, 18-inch stainless steel shaft. Donated by Flaming River Industries.
  

• SPEEDcat Express—allows manufacturers to create and present e-commerce-compliant data to consumers directly through Digital Performance's Shopping Guide Network. Donated by Digital Performance.

• "They Call It Detroit" — limited edition print, framed, numbered and signed by Ken Eberts. Donated by Ken Eberts, Robert Larivee Sr. and Hot Rod Heritage Fine Arts.

• Original reproduction pedal car—'93 Camaro, Official Pace Car of the 77th Indy 500. Donated by Classic Industries.

• Racing poster from the 1980 Indy 500, framed and signed by Vince Granatelli. Donated by Hayward, Tilton & Rolapp Insurance Associates Inc.

• (3) framed and signed Bonneville salt flats photos with (3) certificates for one year of advertising (468x60 banner) on partsdepartment.tv website. Donated by Parts Department TV.

• 50% off gift certificate for Borla stainless steel exhaust products. Donated by Borla Performance Industries.

What’s the best way to transport materials to your booth? If you have 1,000 lbs. or less of materials, free assistance is available to move your freight in and out of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The service applies to freight that is delivered at specified times and locations in privately-owned vehicles. The 1,000-lb. limit is two times more than last year’s limit, making it possible for a greater number of exhibitors to utilize this free service.

For details, contact Show Management at 702/450-7662, ext. 120.

Attention SEMA manufacturing members: SEMA has set up a Measuring Session with Toyota for its all-new 2009 Toyota Venza. Poised to be a competitor of the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Mazda CX-7, Toyota has tagged the new Venza as its first crossover sedan. Measuring Sessions provide manufacturers access to new vehicles before they are released to the public. Manufacturers can gather specific measurements, take photos (for most sessions) and interact with OEM designers and high-level executives.

Toyota Venza Measuring Session Details

WHO: Toyota Motor Sales USA

WHAT: 2009 Toyota Venza
All-new vehicle
Engine: V6 3.5L 268 HP; L4 TBD
Competitive models: Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, Mazda CX-7
Projected sales: 65,000 (est.)

WHERE: Toyota Service Development Center
2015 W. 190th St.
Torrance, CA 90501  
  
WHEN: Tuesday and Wednesday, July 8 and 9, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

REGISTER: E-mail responses with time preference, name(s), company name, address, phone number and e-mail addresses(s) to measuringsession@sema.org. The deadline is Thursday, July 3.

NOTES: Sessions are limited to 60 minutes; no more than three companies at one time; two persons per company. Cameras will be permitted. 
 
QUESTIONS: Bill Wolf, SEMA, 909/396-0289 ext. 177; or Sandy Conolly, 909/396-0289, ext. 155.

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The next SEMA webinar, "Selling Has Nothing to Do With Selling," will provide sales tips that will help you and your team manage a profitable sales process and close more sales at higher margins. With so many purchase options, your customers can find the products they need without ever dealing with a salesperson. This session delivers the strategies needed to take the pressure off customers so that they can concentrate on buying...from you!      

When: Thursday, July 10, 2008, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

Presenter: Rick P. Farrell, president of Tangent Knowledge Systems

Description: Everything about selling is changing. During this webinar you will learn why most sales organizations are very good at a game no longer being played, why selling produces the exact opposite effect that is intended, why salespeople should adopt a “non-selling posture” and other successful selling strategies. Tune into Farrell’s presentation as he will show you how to: 

• Transition your sales force from transactional sellers to strategic sellers;
• How to get a better yield and close more sales at higher margins;
• How to establish a selling methodology that will maximize your leverage and gain control in the sales process;
• Plus much more.

SEMA's Webinar Program
The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show Education Week 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.

With e-mail campaigning gaining importance in any good marketing strategy, Michael Kelly and Cameron Kane of ClickMail, presenters of SEMA’s recent webinar titled “Best Practices and the Future of E-mail as a Marketing Tool,” offered SEMA businesses tools in optimizing their existing e-mail campaigns.    

“The presentation focused on how you can obtain better delivery and rendering; how your e-mail displays among recipient clients; ensuring your e-mail reaches your target audiences; and how to manage and analyze your test results,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA senior director of member services.

Authenticating mail servers was stressed as a major tool in getting into a client’s inbox, instead of being identified as spam or junk mail. “It is critically important to authenticate your mail servers, and that allows you to prove your identity,” said Kelly. “If you can’t prove your identity, you can’t have a reputation, either good or bad.”

Additional topics covered included: how to get opened; preview pane (when "opens" count and how to count them); best practices (what should and should not be in an e-mail), messaging (short vs. long copy); types of e-mail clients; e-mail rendering challenges; technical coding (do’s and don’ts); layout; and the call-to-action button.

For an audio or a PDF download of this webinar, along with an archive of past webinars, click here.

Also, don’t miss these upcoming webinars:

• Thursday, June 26, 2008—“Staying Current with Specialty Aftermarket Industry Data," 10 a.m. (PDT); Presented by SEMA Market Research Analyst Ty Michael.
  

• Thursday, July 10—“Selling Has Nothing to Do With Selling," 10 a.m. (PDT). Presented by Rick Farrell, President of Tangent Knowledge Systems.

To continue your Internet education, attend the SEMA Internet Symposium, Friday, July 25, 2008, presented by SEMA’s Street Performance Council. For details, click here.

Nissan and Lexus have entered the high-dollar, high performance "supercar" game, so it was only a matter of time before Acura revived its NSX program, arguably the first Japanese "supercar" to hit American shores. Brenda Priddy's network of spy photographers caught this prototype, which Priddy says is the new NSX, expected to debut sometime next year.

Unlike the previous mid-engine NSX, this prototype runs a front-mid engine, the powerplant placed well behind the front wheels to ensure excellent weight distribution, Priddy notes. This should also allow the new NSX to offer 2+2 cabin accommodation and broaden its appeal, particularly in the Unites States. Exactly what powerplant will motivate the NSX is subject to much rumor and conjecture. There has been talk, Priddy says, of a high-revving, naturally-aspirated V10, which would fit nicely with Acura's Type R philosophy.

Acura has never obsessed over big horsepower outputs, but 450 hp seems likely if the NSX is to compete in the super-segment. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system also seems a logical drivetrain choice. Whether buyers will perceive the new NSX equal to its Japan rivals or the European vanguard remains to be seen. Nissan's GT-R has demonstrated that it can hold its own with those elite performance machines and enter the market as a serious contender. Look for the Lexus LF-A and, perhaps, the NSX to follow suit.