By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
The latest digital issue of Off-Road Business highlights ORBA’s first 20 years of keeping public lands open for motorized recreation, outlines the joint campaign by ORBA and Tread Lightly to educate UTV riders to ride responsibly, describes an OHV trip to Little Finland (Devil’s Fire) in Nevada and more.
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act), H.R. 3281, enjoys strong bi-partisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives as lawmakers voice their enthusiasm for passing the legislation.
With the racing world’s eyes on the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend, the Indy Star printed an article from Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) that advocated for Congress to pass the RPM Act, entitled “Indiana's auto-racing tradition is under attack. Here's how we save it.”
Rep. Pence is a leading voice on the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee for the RPM Act and understands the importance of racing and the motorsports parts industry in Indiana and throughout the country.
Back in Washington, D.C., Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) took to the U.S. House floor to speak to his colleagues about why he was proud to serve as an original co-sponsor of the RPM Act.
Click here to watch a video of Rep. Keller’s speech.
Support for the RPM Act continues to grow with each week that passes. Currently, 58 members of the House have cosponsored the bill, including new cosponsors Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN).
Click here to see the current list of RPM Act co-sponsors, and don’t forget to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support the bill and fight for it to become law.
For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.
By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named The Stop Shop as the council’s latest member spotlight company. In this week’s feature, company owner Todd McClure shares the story of his company and what projects The Stop Shop is working on in 2021.
SEMA: Tell us the story of your business. How did you start?
Todd McClure: The Stop Shop was founded in 2015 as a wholesaler and retailer of classic car parts and automotive hardware. The company has evolved from a single person packing and shipping orders from a basement to a five-employee manufacturing facility just a few years later. We provide fluid transfer solutions for brake, fuel and transmission components. These products include both the materials shops and DIY customers need to make their own fluid transfer lines. We also manufacture fully prebent and assembled tubes for both new model and classic vehicles.
SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?
TM: We decided to start manufacturing in 2018. We take a lot of pride in being a true USA manufacturer of many of the products we now sell. It was a big leap for a small company to invest in the equipment and people needed for this step, but it has opened a lot of doors for our company and we couldn't be happier that we went for it when we did.
SEMA: Tell us about your business now in 2021 and what projects are you working on?
TM: We have worked hard to keep our projects diversified through wholesale, jobber and retail customers. We find ourselves currently working on new parts for anything from musclecars to Jeeps to import vehicles. We also manufacture some products that aren't used in the automotive industry at all.
SEMA: Tell us about a particular project, product or build you are proud of.
TM: Last year we completed our first complete restoration (but is a restoration ever really complete?!) Many of us have worked for decades in the restoration market, but none of us had ever actually done serious work to a car. We completed work on a ’67 Firebird convertible and we learned so much throughout the process. While we consider ourselves experts in classic car brakes, we certainly had a lot to learn everywhere else on the car. That car is now my daily driver whenever the weather is permitting.
SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket, particularly in the restoration segment?
TM: Pick a specialty or a product and become an authority on it. Be an expert on something, no matter how small, rather than trying to know it all. This will let you stay focused and become the woman or man that people in the industry look to for your specialty. Focus on products that people need, not only the fun and flashy products that they want and you will do well. There is an incredible amount of opportunity in our industry and we have a lot of fun.
Fill out an ARMO member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on ARMO’s and media, SEMA eNews and future ARMO member updates.
By Ashley Reyes
Stewart Webb is the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest spotlight member. Webb is a social media strategist at Drake Automotive Group, manufacturer of reproduction parts for classic Ford Mustangs. Get to know what keeps him in the industry and how he prepares for important meetings in his Q&A with SEMA.
SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Stewart Webb: A CEO once told me, “Everyday is a job interview at work. Act and dress everyday as if it’s your first days on the job. The day you become complacent is the day you lose the job.”
This has motivated me to work hard every day and to always look for new opportunities to help my employer and myself grow.
SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?
SW: The people behind the builds keep me in the industry. I enjoy seeing the passion and dedication people have in their field and what they can accomplish with their skills.
SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?
SW: You can find me wrenching or at shows and events getting content for work.
SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?
SW: I dress sharp and appropriately. I’m prepared mentally by having a game plan and bring value to everyone in the meeting to help impact the team.
SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?
SW: I would go to lunch with Scott Drake. Scott was a visionary in the industry when he started his company more than 30 years ago. I’m honored to help carry his legacy and build from the foundation he created. I’m grateful to have him in my life and to learn from his experience and wisdom.
If you are a current YEN member, fill out a YEN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on YEN’s social media, SEMA eNews and YEN-member updates.
By Ashley Reyes
Despite the ongoing pandemic, members of the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) built new connections and developed valuable business relationships through YEN’s Virtual Happy Hours held earlier this year. Following the success, YEN is planning to continue to provide members with future Virtual Happy Hours, the next taking place on June 7 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).
With YEN members connecting in small breakout groups, the Virtual Happy Hour allowed participants to meet new colleagues and get to know each other quickly and easily. The low-cost format also makes it easy for YEN members to stay up-to-date on YEN programs and resources.
The June 7 Happy Hour agenda includes updates on the YEN professional development program, upcoming industry events, SEMA Launch Pad, and the YEN reception at The SEMA Show. There are no specific topics for the breakouts, so attendees should be prepared to introduce themselves, learn about each other’s jobs, what their personal hobbies are or why they joined YEN.
By Maurice O’Connell
Exhibiting at the SEMA Show and entering at least one product in the New Products Showcase puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry.
Entry Fees:
For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.
Yet another prototype of the 992 GT3 RS has been spotted at the German Nürburgring race circuit. There are multiple clues showing this to the Rennsport model.
For starters, the early development stage seems to fall in line with the life cycle of the 992, and the air extractors on the front wings have 3RS written all over them. Quite impressive is the super-sized rear wing, which seems more suitable for a race car than a street car. However, considering that the “standard” GT3 has been spotted testing with a wing that can easily rival that of the ex-generation GT3 RS, it would only be normal for the future 992 GT3 RS to pack this sort of downforce hardware.
The central exhaust tips are traditional for such a machine and these should be linked to a naturally aspirated engine—as the soundtrack of multiple “standard” GT3 testers has already confirmed, this will maintain an atmospheric engine, with a 4.0L flat-six delivering 500+ hp. As such, the RS model should deliver an output premium of at least 20 hp.
And while the GT3 will once again offer a manual transmission alongside its PDK (prototypes have shown that, this time around, the Touring will also offer both transmissions), the lap time dedication of the RS means there will be no manual for this model.
Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde
Yet another prototype of the 992 GT3 RS has been spotted at the German Nürburgring race circuit. There are multiple clues showing this to the Rennsport model.
For starters, the early development stage seems to fall in line with the life cycle of the 992, and the air extractors on the front wings have 3RS written all over them. Quite impressive is the super-sized rear wing, which seems more suitable for a race car than a street car. However, considering that the “standard” GT3 has been spotted testing with a wing that can easily rival that of the ex-generation GT3 RS, it would only be normal for the future 992 GT3 RS to pack this sort of downforce hardware.
The central exhaust tips are traditional for such a machine and these should be linked to a naturally aspirated engine—as the soundtrack of multiple “standard” GT3 testers has already confirmed, this will maintain an atmospheric engine, with a 4.0L flat-six delivering 500+ hp. As such, the RS model should deliver an output premium of at least 20 hp.
And while the GT3 will once again offer a manual transmission alongside its PDK (prototypes have shown that, this time around, the Touring will also offer both transmissions), the lap time dedication of the RS means there will be no manual for this model.
Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde
By Ashley Reyes
Eric Morley, president of Blue C Advertising, is the latest SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) member to share his insight on how his company has pivoted during the pandemic and utilized technology to keep his business moving forward.
In his Q&A with SEMA, Holmes shares his key to success and what new marketing trends he has noticed throughout the past year.
SEMA: How has your company pivoted during the pandemic?
Eric Morley: For more than 20 years, we have built brands and provided marketing communications and proving grounds for brands in the OEM, automotive aftermarket, powersports and motorsports industry. Through the pandemic, we have included a strong focus on electric transportation, the components, and the engineering and proving grounds that support these vehicles.
SEMA: What technology tools, new or old, have you leaned on recently?
EM: Our tools consist of the BrandPWR platform, which has six systems including 1) BrandPWR Clarify (brand strategy), 2) BrandPWR Amplify Marketing Road map for success, 3) BrandPWR Infuse (creative campaign development), 4) BrandPWR Integrate (digital marketing), 5) BrandPWR Engage—social media and content marketing, and 6) BrandPwr Proof—proving that the brand/product and service exceeds expectations and communicating this to the world through strategic content and partnerships.
SEMA: What new trends have you noticed with sales and marketing?
EM: Trend 1: Brands need to pivot, focus on who their customer is and know that customer better than their competition. Trend 2: Brands need to be relevant for the “next new normal” that we are in now. Trend 3: Brands need a marketing road map to achieve their goals.
Every year, Blue C creates a free document that provides insights to the marketing outlook for the year. Here is our 2021 marketing outlook.
SEMA: What, if any, changes in business do you feel will outlive the pandemic?
EM: It’s okay to refresh your brand and make it relative to the market of today. Understand it is the story that your brand has that connects with current buyers and future prospective buyers. Planning and creating a road map is the key to success.
Fill out this form for a chance to be featured in the next ETTN member insight. By sharing your experiences, you can inspire and motivate other members to learn new tips and ideas. You may also be featured on ETTN’s social media and in SEMA eNews.
By Ashley Reyes
Truck and off-road vehicle builders are invited to apply to showcase their vehicles in a premium spot at the 2021 SEMA Show through the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) Feature Vehicle program.
Designed to generate awareness and give exposure to builders and the manufacturers whose parts are installed on each vehicle, the program is now accepting applications from builds in the areas of Jeep/Bronco, side-by-side, lifted truck, lowered truck, overland and off-road.
Six vehicles will be selected to participate this year, with one vehicle featured in the TORA booth, and the other five displayed in premier locations outside of the new West Hall.