By SEMA Editors

Exhibitors of the 2021 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.

The list, which will be updated in SEMA eNews, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2021 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2021 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.

Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2021 SEMA Show.

View the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list.

 By SEMA Editors

The New Product Showcase is the No. 1 reason buyers attend the SEMA Show. In fact, nearly 60% of SEMA Show buyers head to the Show with a list (plan) of the exhibitors they need to connect with. The first stop for most of these buyers will be the SEMA Show New Products Showcase, a modern museum of New Products that are available to customers now, or making their market debut at the Show.  

Exhibitors are encouraged to take advantage of the this opportunity to enter at least one product in the Showcase. Not only does the Showcase provide exhibitors with an additional avenue to reach new buyers away from their booth displays, products that meet the new product criteria may qualify to receive additional benefits, including eligibility for a SEMA Show New Product Award.

The best part: the first product you enter is free!

Enter your new products now!

In addition to the inherent benefits of entering the Showcase, each product will be photographed by SEMA's team of professional photographers, and the images will be featured in SEMA News and at www.SEMAphotos.com. They will also be promoted to the media and available to buyers at the Show.

Entry Fees:

• The first product entered in one category in the New Products Showcase is FREE!
• Additional $75 per product category before October 8.
• After October 8, the cost is $150 per entry.
• No refunds provided after October 8.
• Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space availability basis.

For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.

By Jason Catullo

The LVCC's halls are nearly full of exhibits, but booth space is still being reserved, and more exhibitors are expected to secure space until the Show opens on November 2.

Attendees planning on joining the industry at the 2021 SEMA Show can see who's exhibiting and where through the updated floorplan. If you have not yet registered for the SEMA Show, taking place Tuesday-Friday, November 2-5, visit www.SEMAShow.com/attendee to register.

For 2021, the Show will include exhibit space in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s newly constructed West Hall, a 1.4-million-sq.-ft. facility completed in January. The new facility includes exhibitors from the Restyling & Car Care Accessories, Powersports & Utility Vehicles, and Truck, SUV & Off-Road sections.

Earlier in June, the visitors of the World of Concrete convention were the first to use the new hall, and the event marked the first large-scale convention and tradeshow to be held in Las Vegas in 15 months.

In addition to the new hall, the newly constructed Loop—a high-speed, people-mover system that runs 40 ft. under the LVCC—will transport visitors between South, Central and West Halls. The World of Concrete successfully used the system to shuttle visitors through the 200-acre convention center.

For more information on the 2021 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

By SEMA Editors

As SEMA continues to grow and increase its member benefits offerings and advocacy efforts, the association is seeking a dynamic visionary to serve in the newly created position of chief marketing officer (CMO). The successful candidate will be responsible for guiding the organization in developing comprehensive outreach, public engagement, thought leadership, industry awareness and content strategies.

The position requires expertise in brand management, storytelling, digital marketing, event promotions, as well as the ability to strategize, analyze market data and develop and execute comprehensive campaigns from start to finish.

With an internal team of designers, writers, strategists and production specialists, the CMO will be a part of an exciting group that works hard and has fun at the same time.

Click here for a complete job description and to apply.

By SEMA Editors

One of the easiest ways to track Show costs and take advantage of early-bird discounts is to access the SEMA Show Deadlines Checklist, part of the Exhibitor Services Manual, which is available at www.SEMAShow.com/ESM.

Many of the discounts available have September 30 deadlines. Here is a look at all of the early-bird discounts (advance rates) from now until the week of the SEMA Show, November 2–5.

September 30

Carpet and Booth Cleaning Order (Advance Rate) - Freeman
Electrical Order – LVCC Exhibits (Advance Rate) – Freeman
Exhibit Accessories (Advance Rate) – Freeman
Exhibit Furnishings (Advance Rate) – Freeman
Rental Exhibit Order (Advance Rate) – Freeman
Special Signs and Graphics (Advance Rate) - Freeman
Utilities: Air/Water/Drain Order – (Advance Rate) – Freeman

October 1

Internet/Telephone Order (Advance Rate) – Cox Business

October 8

New Products Entry (Advance Rate)

October 22

Vehicle Detailing (Advance Rate) – Professional Detailers

More information about the 2021 SEMA Show is available at www.SEMAShow.com.

By Richard Hail

Three aspiring young builders have been awarded Golden Tickets in the 2021 SEMA Battle of the Builders Young Guns virtual regional qualifier events.

With former Battle of the Builders competitors Eddie Pettus, Muzzy Yousefi, Randy Borcherding, Jeremiah Profitt and Kyle Kuhnhausen serving as judges for the virtual corrals, competitors represented a diverse group of applicants from across North America. Judges interviewed each builder with in-depth questions about their vehicles, from paint and body work, to powertrain setup to custom fabrication and more.

Thomas Dickerson of Athens, Georgia, received the first Golden Ticket with his ’67 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang. Dickerson fabricated and 3D-printed multiple components and parts for this project. He rebuilt the small block, TREMEC five-speed transmission and the differential. Body work was handled by this Young Gun and he painted the pony car as well. Modern touches introduced to this classic include power locks and windows and a push-button start.

The second Golden Ticket was awarded to Dayton Jacobsen of Burnsville, Minnesota. The amount of fabrication Jacobson has done on his ’00 Chevrolet S10 is nothing short of amazing. He welded in a panoramic sunroof from a Pontiac G6, a hood vent from a Cadillac CTS-V and hand-formed the front bumper, grille and tailgate. The rear frame was back-halved to accommodate the Watts Link, 9-in. rear-end and the 335/30/19 tires.

Cole Marten of Penticton, British Columbia, received the final Golden Ticket for his ’91 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R. Starting with the world’s first left-hand-drive conversion, the list of mods Marten has executed are endless. This R32 features both a 1,000 hp 2JZ engine conversion along with a changeover to AWD requiring a custom front diff, transmission tunnel and adaptor. A widebody kit was molded in to make the 6-in. wide body increase look seamless. The interior features enhancements, such as a custom LHD Dash and touchscreen display that allows for tuning on the fly.

Each of these young vehicle builders (age 27 and under) will compete in the coveted SEMA Battle of the Builders competition alongside hundreds of established vehicle builders. As part of the prize package, they will receive paid transportation for their winning vehicle to the SEMA Show, a designated feature vehicle spot at the Show and all-expenses-paid for two to Las Vegas for the event. The builders will also have the opportunity to meet and network with more than 1,600 manufacturers on the SEMA Show floor and attend any of the educational programs.

The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world. With the exception of the Young Guns Regional winners, the competition is open exclusively to builders with vehicles on display at the SEMA Show, thereby representing the top builders in the world. The “Young Guns” classification highlights up-and-coming builders that are under 27 years old who have performed the majority of the work on their vehicles. This category allows the builders entrance into the competition as they don’t have the manufacturer relationships to otherwise get their vehicle into the competition.

For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition or the SEMA Young Guns program, visit www.semayoungguns.com or www.semabotb.com.

By SEMA Editors

As SEMA continues to grow and increase its member benefits offerings and advocacy efforts, the association is seeking a dynamic visionary to serve in the newly created position of chief marketing officer (CMO). The successful candidate will be responsible for guiding the organization in developing comprehensive outreach, public engagement, thought leadership, industry awareness and content strategies.

The position requires expertise in brand management, storytelling, digital marketing, event promotions, as well as the ability to strategize, analyze market data and develop and execute comprehensive campaigns from start to finish.

With an internal team of designers, writers, strategists and production specialists, the CMO will be a part of an exciting group that works hard and has fun at the same time.

Click here for a complete job description and to apply.

By Della Domingo

Exhibitors are gearing up for an exciting 2021 SEMA Show (November 2–5 in Las Vegas) filled with new product debuts, vehicle unveilings and industry news. For the most recent announcements, visit the SEMA Show Online Media Center and sort exhibitor press releases by type of announcement and/or market segment. Below are some of the latest announcements you will find:

• Introducing Tailhand, A Category-Defining Pickup Truck Accessory Just Named an Auto Industry Innovation Semi-Finalist
• Griot’s Garage—Odor Neutralizing Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner—Advance Formula Eliminates Stains and Odors Fast
• Ceramic Wash & Coat—The Easy Way to Add Ceramic Protection Every Time You Wash
• Tesla Powered—Extreme Electric ’65 Mustang
• Sawtooth Tonneau Chosen as Semi-Finalist in SEMA Launch Pad Competition
• The World’s First Expandable Compact Trailer
• RYNO Classifieds to Amp Up the Excitement at SEMA and PRI Trade Shows

All exhibitor press releases can be found at www.semashow.com/press. Find additional SEMA Show news at www.semashow.com/news.

SEMA Show exhibitors are welcome to upload releases to the Online Media Center free of charge.

By Ashley Reyes

Air Flow Research (AFR) is the newest SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) member spotlight company.

Based in Valencia, California, AFR has been been serving racing and performance enthusiasts for more than 50 years and is best known for its fully CNC ported cylinder heads. The company also offers other performance parts, such as rocker systems, intake manifolds and camshafts that benefit customers when they are modifying and building their engines. Get to know the company’s history in SEMA’s interview with AFR director of marketing and sales Tim Torrecarion, below.  

SEMA: How did AFR get started?

Tim Torrecarion: The business began with Ken Sperling and Warren Brownfield back in the early days. Just like most of the longstanding brands in our industry, it all began with a desire to go fast. We were porting heads for teams all across the country, such as Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Darrel Waltrip, Richard Petty and many others.

SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?

TT: We have had a few breakthrough moments during our 50-plus years in business. If I had to pick just one, it would be our early adoption of CNC machining cylinder heads. This did two things to help grow the business and our brand. One, it reduced the time to port cylinder heads. Second, it allowed for greater consistency between ports and from head-to-head.

SEMA: Tell us about a particular project, product or build you are proud of.

TT: We released a line of budget-friendly cylinder heads, known as the Enforcers, which are doing better than we anticipated. Because of this success, we are looking at growing the line beyond the initial four products: 195cc SBC, 185cc SBF, 325cc BBC and a 210cc LS1.

SEMA: What does MPMC mean to your company?

TT: Our business started because of motorsports and the racers helped us get to where we are today. The MPMC’s sole purpose and focus is to support racing and those involved with motorsports, specifically the manufacturers. Whether that is spreading the word about government regulations, business best practices or new technology, the MPMC is vital to the sustainability and future of our industry.

SEMA: What is one thing you could say that MPMC could do to help a new or growing business in the motorsports industry?

TT: The MPMC has several resources to help businesses in many different ways. Please reach out and talk with someone from the council to address your specific needs and that of your business.

SEMA: What do you want others to know about your company?

TT: 2020 was our 50th anniversary and we are just as excited today as we were back then to be designing, manufacturing and selling high-performance parts that racers and performance enthusiasts alike are asking for.

Fill out an MPMC member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the motorsports industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on MPMC’s social media, SEMA eNews and future MPMC member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) members are invited to meet and socialize, while expanding and growing their network, during the YEN Virtual Happy Hour, September 13, at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).  

YEN’s Virtual Happy Hours are ideal events to meet and get to know other young professionals in the industry, while staying connected with the network and up-to-date on the latest YEN initiatives. Attendees will hear from YEN leadership and discover what resources and programs are available, before breaking out into small groups where they will meet and get to know other YEN members from throughout the country.  

Young professionals who are not currently YEN members but are interested in getting more involved in the industry and networking are also encouraged to attend, as it is a great way to introduce yourself and learn about what YEN has to offer.  

Register here.