Seven hundred SEMA members receive free updates on the issues that impact the specialty-equipment industry on Capitol Hill, as well as how SEMA supports our congressional friend through the SEMA Political Action Committee.

Click here to get a copy of the sign-up form. In addition to this free newsletter, we will send you a customized printout regarding your member of Congress, where they stand on issues of importance to our industry, how many SEMA members are in your district and whether your representative is a member of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus.

Already signed a "prior approval" form (the technical name for the approval form allowing SEMA to contact you about the SEMA PAC)? To obtain your customized form regarding your representatives in Washington, e-mail semapac@sema.org.

Exhibit at the Salon de SEMA, a section of the Mexico-city based PAACE Automechanika show taking place July 11–13. In one week, you can display your products in front of thousands of buyers, be interviewed about your company and product on stage by AJ, co-host of the hit TV show "Overhaulin,'" meet with the key Mexican specialty-equipment press, and visit with the top distributors and buyers in that market. For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

How do you get your customers to buy more? Successful jobbers and retailers have discovered how to do just that when they offer their customers the CarCareOne card. Designed to help sell more products, it also offers help with raising your average sales price per customer. Mark your calendars now because this is a program you can't afford to miss.

SEMA-GE Money Car Care One Private Label
Thursday, June 21, 2007
10:00 a.m. (PST)

For information on how to attend the webinar, and for past webinar sessions, visit www.sema.org/webinar.

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The Formula SAE competition is for SAE student members to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with small, formula-style racing cars. The restrictions on the car frame and engine are limited so that the knowledge, creativity and imagination of the students are challenged. The cars are built with a team effort over a period of about one year and are taken to annual competitions for judging and comparison with other vehicles from colleges and universities throughout the world. The end result is a great experience for young engineers in a meaningful engineering project, as well as the opportunity of working in a dedicated team effort.

If your company hires entry-level engineers, if you want to influence the next generation of business-to-business (B2B) engineering customers, if you want to showcase your company in front of young engineers, or if you simply want to see what the brightest young engineers are doing these days, consider volunteering at the Second Annual Formula SAE West, June 13-16, at California Speedway, Fontana, California.

Formula SAE West is seeking companies and individuals in the automotive industry with expertise in the following areas:

-Formula car suspension design
-Four-stroke engine design (including specialized knowledge in electronics and small displacement engines)
-Low-volume production
-The business of motorsports
-General automotive and aftermarket product engineering

Specifically, Formula SAE needs people to commit to being at the event as an active participant. The date(s) you are available will determine your role (i.e. cost judges are only needed on Thursday; dynamic events are only on Friday/Saturday, fueling and tech are all days, etc.

The 2007 Formula SAE West schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, June 13
Set-up/Registration/Tech Inspection/Faculty-Industry Reception

Thursday, June 14      
Static Judging (Cost, Presentation, Design, Tech Inspection)

Friday, June 15          
Acceleration, Skidpad, and Autocross

Saturday, June 16      
Endurance/Fuel Economy/Awards

Contacts:
Brad Nelson: 310/245-0139; brn01@hotmail.com
Dean Case: 310/318-4582; dean@RWB-LLC.com

SEMA members are encouraged to watch the mail for the SEMA Board of Directors election ballots that were mailed this week. One ballot was sent to each member company within the voting categories. This year’s election includes voting for the chairman-elect position. Questions about the SEMA Board of Directors or the election process can be sent to Christine Papavero at chrisb@sema.org or 909/396-0289, ext. 123.

Current Chairman-Elect Jim Cozzie of Zoom Performance Products recently challenged the nearly 7,000 SEMA members to cast their votes in the upcoming elections. “You all get to choose who will represent you in confronting the challenges ahead,” Cozzie said during the SEMA State of the Association. “It is incumbent on each and every SEMA member to ensure the best people the industry has to offer have the opportunity to serve.”

The chairman-elect position is voted on every two years and will transition directly to the position of SEMA Chairman of the Board in 2009. Chairman-elect candidates are Wade Kawasaki of Avanche Corporation and Rick Rollins of Superchips, Inc.

In addition to the chairman and the chairman-elect, the SEMA Board of Directors includes 22 other members representing three categories: manufacturers, distributor/retailer and manufacturers’ rep. All board seats are volunteer positions and are two-year terms, with approximately half the board members’ posts expiring each year.

Candidates for the manufacturers’ category are Gale Banks of Gale Banks Engineering, Robert Bruegging of Mr. Gasket Co., David Crockett of EGR, Larry Erickson of Ford Motor Co., Doug Evans of Primedia, Dennis Gage of Bradley David Productions, Joe Hige of Turbonetics Inc., Raymond King of Federal-Mogul, Rich Sherman of Baer Brakes, Mike Spagnola of Street Scene Equipment, David Stutts of Hot Rod Air Inc. and Jeep Worthan of Auto Meter. John Menzler of Comp Performance Group is the alternate in the manufacturers’ category.

In the distributor/retailer category, the candidates are Donnie Eatherly of P&E Distributors, Don Fall of Fall Advertising, Anne Johnson of California Truck Works, Inc., Tony Napoli of American Speed Centers, Stephen Negrini of Drivers Edge Inc., Bob Price of CE Band, LLC, Mark Toebben of DCi and Van Woodell of Weathers Auto Supply. The alternate in the distributor/retailer category is Michael Roth of TRG Studios.

Individuals running for the SEMA Board in the manufacturers’ rep category are Bryan Foster of Foster Babcock & Assoc., Bill Perry of Bill Perry & Associates and Dave Wrobleski of Jim Wrobleski & Co. Jim Marino of Wes-Coast Marketing is the alternate in this category.

Nissan North America is now accepting project-vehicle proposals for the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The automaker is accepting proposals based on any current Nissan models, with its 2007 SEMA strategy focused primarily on the 2007 Sentra and the 2008 Altima Coupe.

Complete program information and proposal requirements are available by clicking here. All proposals are due by June 15.  

While attending the YearOne Experience on May 20, Air Ride Technologies discovered that their '67 Camaro was stolen from the Hampton Inn in Buford, Georgia, between midnight and 6:30 a.m.
 
Says Air Ride, “We know that the chances of us recovering this car are slim to none, but we want to take our misfortune and make a positive out of it. We want to alert you all that this happened and that you need to take any precautions you can to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
 
“If you happen to see this beautiful car at a show or running wide open down the street, call us. Chances are that you won't and that’s okay. To let you know that this can happen and to keep your car safe is enough for us.”
 
For more information about Air Ride Technologies' Camaro, contact Bret Voelkel at 812/630-1720. For more detailed information regarding the car, click here or log on to ridetech.com and look under company projects.

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