SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2023 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block.

Making hotel reservations in the block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

Shuttle bus service is provided from all hotels in the SEMA Show block.

The following are advantages of booking in the SEMA Show block versus an Airbnb:

Customer Service

Lodging through the SEMA Show block will give you dedicated customer service support for managing your reservation and will still have on-site customer service from the hotel. This includes check-in, housekeeping and concierge services.

Airbnb customer service can be difficult to contact, and is often left to the Airbnb host to manage. Check-in for your lodging can be difficult to navigate with lock boxes, keycodes or having to make a trip to an alternate location to access lodging keys. Airbnb lodgings often do not include dedicated customer service unless booking through the Airbnb Luxe program.

Proximity to Venue

For larger city venues, such as the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), proximity should be factored in. Hotels are typically offered within a radius that allows for an event-sponsored shuttle route, walking distance to the convention center or a short and inexpensive ride-share option. In addition, parking around the LVCC is extremely limited. With Airbnb, locations tend to be further away from the city center, main attractions or the convention center.

Booking Lodging for a Large Group?  

Airbnb does tend to lend for a better budget when traveling in large groups; however, this option does not cater to privacy for your group members, and keep an eye out for fees associated with additional guests. You may find the hotel will offer more privacy at a better rate.

Hotel Group reservations (those including multiple rooms) are available for the 2023 SEMA Show. The SEMA Show block online system makes this complex responsibility easy: simply look for the “Group Bookings (2+ Rooms)” option when conducting your initial search and you’ll be all set to make/manage rooms for your whole team with more flexibility than anywhere else.

Hotel Reward Points    

Airbnb currently doesn’t offer loyalty rewards that most major hotels do, which can be utilized for room upgrades, free room nights and more, depending on the hotel loyalty program.

By booking in the SEMA Show block, you can earn rewards points with your preferred hotel chain—simply enter your rewards or frequent guest number when booking through our online system. When we transfer your reservation details to the hotel approximately two weeks prior to the event, your frequent guest number will be included with your information, and you will receive your points.

Transportation to and From the SEMA Show

The SEMA Show block offers convenient access to the Las Vegas Monorail with station stops at the below hotels:

• SAHARA
• Westgate
• Harrah’s/The Linq
• Flamingo/Caesars Palace Station
• Horseshoe Las Vegas/Paris
• MGM Grand

Shuttle bus service is provided from all hotels in the SEMA Show block, excluding those located within a quarter-mile distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2023 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

Land Rover already has a Defender equipped with a V8, but a more capable version is still in the development phase, possibly wearing an SVX badge and targeting the likes of the Ford Bronco Raptor and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.

A prototype for the potential Defender SVX has been spotted for the first time in D90 (two-door) setup. The prototype features the familiar quad-exhaust tips of the regular Defender equipped with a V8, along with widened wheel arches, raised suspension and BFGoodrich all-terrain tires.

It isn’t clear what engine is under the hood, but the Defender already offers Jaguar Land Rover’s 5.0L supercharged V8, rated at 518 hp. However, Land Rover has also started offering a BMW-sourced 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 in the Range Rover, rated at 523 hp.

We should know more as development continues. Expect the Defender SVX to land yet this year as a ’24 model.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Chris Shelton

A pattern began to emerge while researching “Your Message Here,” our October 2022 SEMA News magazine article explaining why and how industry professionals should contribute to automotive podcasts as guests: It felt impossible to talk about the marketing potential of appearing on a podcast without examining the virtues of sponsoring one.

John “CustomCarNerd” Meyer (right), producer Joann Meyer (not shown), and Jason “OldeCarrGuy” Carr (left) joke that they deliver everything you never thought you’d want to know about cars on “Get Out N Drive.” As the title suggests, they encourage listeners to use their vehicles as intended, which drives traffic to their sponsor’s collector-car classifieds and content.

What the experts we consulted urged had nothing to do with paying to appear as a guest. Rather, they described a frontier market where cost may not always reflect the true value of the medium, or at least what that medium may be worth one day. To summarize, the automotive segment of the podcast market is growing by leaps and bounds in titles and listeners alike. And so far, sponsors/advertisers seem slow to seize the opportunity.

It’s hard to blame them: Podcasts don’t really fit the marketing model that most people think of. In that model, quantity is king. Take the once-vast print market, where even a niche title could reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of people. When talking potential customers, more is better—right?

Giants like “Collecting Cars” and “The Smoking Tire” notwithstanding, podcasts typically don’t pull the audience numbers that we’ve come to expect from other formats. Yes, there are more listeners by the day; but there are also more podcasts vying for their ears.

What distinguishes podcasts is the quality of their audiences. “The fan base that you get is very dedicated and loyal, a base that specifically sought you out,” says “Get Out N Drive” producer Joann Meyer. “It’s not like they’re just flipping on the TV and we happen to be on. They’re looking for this type of content. So, we have a very loyal base that’s very specific in the niche that we’re in.”

And the niches can get narrow. “For example, we are involved with a number of podcasts and one of them focuses solely on road racing,” explains Mark Menadier, business-development manager for online marketplace RacingJunk.com.

Every week since 2017, “Everyone Racers” Christopher Abbott, Christian “Mental” Ward, Jeff Wakemen and Chrissy Mittura meet to dish about amateur endurance racing. By minimizing production cost and optimizing relationship value, they’ve established a modest-but-dedicated following that overlaps almost perfectly with RacingJunk.com’s marketplace.

Targeted Reach

“We may not have a large fan base, but you’re reaching every single one of those people that’s downloading our information,” says Christian “Mental” Ward, co-host of “Everyone Racers.” “Podcasts don’t play in the background. It’s not something that’s, you know, on the radio. It’s nothing like that. It is very targeted. So, it is super engaging.”

“You’re getting engaged with people in a way that you don’t ordinarily,” Meyer adds. “This is the kind of stuff you hear when you’re talking to somebody at a car show.” With that comes a kind of trust that’s rare in the marketing world. “I think from a consumer standpoint, it’s you know, ‘I’m going to find someone who thinks like me and acts like me, and they’re going to give me an honest review of this particular product,’” Ward says.

They’re far from wrong. Earlier this year, iHeart Media released the results of a study that indicates that “consumers perceive radio and podcast personalities as highly relatable, trustworthy and authentic.” According to “Exploring the Brand Benefits of Trust and Companionship in Audio,” “These findings present rich opportunity for advertisers to build brand affinity and favorability, and drive purchase in audio environments.”

And it’s a good audience to have: According to the Westwood One 2021 Audioscape, 53% of podcast listeners have white-collar occupations, 39% have management positions, 55% have a household income of $75,000 or higher, and 39% have incomes of $100,000 or more. Take “Everyone Racers,” Menadier says. “That audience tends to be more affluent. The participants are generally self-sponsored. There’s not a whole lot of spectators in road racing, so there’s not a lot of sponsorship opportunity. So, the road racers themselves tend to be great customers because they have the means.”

Obviously, fit is crucial to a good relationship. And like most crucial things, that isn’t always straightforward. In fact, the best option for some would-be sponsors is retaining a conventional marketing firm that knows your industry and buyer’s demographics.

Regardless of the choice, it pays to understand some of the mechanics behind the decisions essential to finding a good match. “Let’s go back to one extremely crucial element,” Menadier says. “Does their audience line up with your target customer base? That’s the first thing, right?

“Let’s say that I sell dirt-car parts,” he continues. “I want to get involved in a podcast that only talks about dirt, and there are podcasts that are that esoteric. Having the ability to hyper-target your audience—especially if you’re a company that focuses on a specific automotive niche—is a great thing about podcasts.”

But according to Ward, perfect alignment isn’t always the best option. “You don’t necessarily want to go to the direct market,” he says. “If it’s exactly your demographic, then there’s a 90% chance the listeners already know about your product.” Solution? Adjacent marketing. “You can start finding the mutually beneficial cross promotion adjacent to your audience. In our case, we’re endurance road racers [and] there’s a lot of crossover to the vintage road-racing crowd.”

Menadier urges would-be sponsors to study their prospective outlets. “Do they come across as professional? Do they have good content? Do they bring in quality guests? How often do they publish? Do they do remote, on-site recordings? Do they go to industry events? Are the engagement stats, audience base, reviews, comments and interaction skills good? Those factors play into the decision-making process.” He also recommends contacting the podcast’s current and past sponsors to get a take on their experience.

At the same time, he underscores the value of underdogs. “If I see a podcast that’s got potential, and after talking with them and looking at how they present themselves, I’ll pay attention. If I see potential for growth within a year or two, then I’ll jump on board with them and do everything I can to help them gain downloads. If you see potential in a yet-to-be-known podcast and you can get your foot in the door, your value as a sponsor is going to be higher down the road.

“So just to round out the thought, what I saw in ‘Get Out N Drive’ were the things that I look for in a successful podcast, and they were just barely getting off their feet,” Menadier continues. Host John Meyer was at the tail end of a decades-long career turning wrenches and Joann runs a successful catering business. “They had the background [and] she had the organizational and administrative wherewithal. So you know, they’re a good example.”

As counterintuitive as it sounds, there’s also such a thing as a market that’s too big. “Good example is the very first podcast that we got involved with,” he recalls. “He’s an off-road racer, super well-known in the off-road world. We got on with him and he already had a substantial following, but it got to the point that we just got swallowed up. We were, in that podcast’s eyes, a little fish in a very large ocean.”

The common denominator to these podcast titles and RacingJunk.com is Mark
Menadier. As business development manager for Internet Brands, parent company of a dozen automotive-themed online entities, he handles the company’s partnerships and special projects. He’s a driving force behind the company’s push into niche markets by way of engaging grassroots podcasts.

Message Placement

How producers work sponsor messages into episodes varies across the industry, but most fall into a few very familiar formats. Our October 2022 SEMA News “Your Message Here” article likened podcasts to old-time radio shows. The familiar “message from our sponsor” delivered by a program host or cast falls under the broad heading of host-read ads.

But these aren’t necessarily the formal spots of yore. “We ask [producers] for our messaging to contain an idea, but we don’t script it,” Menadier says. “We ask them to work it in organically, however they can. And most of them do it. That’s something that ‘Everyone Racers’ does well.” For example, “Everyone Racers” works
Racingjunk.com into a piece called “What I Found on RacingJunk.com.”

“When we started this relationship, they really kind of didn’t place any expectations on this,” Ward explains. “All of us go on RacingJunk.com anyway. We find something interesting and just talk about it.” What exists to promote a sponsor turns into an entertainment segment. “That gives us more than the typical 30- or 60-sec. spot,” Menadier says. Furthermore, listeners are more likely to hear a message from a sponsor if it includes novel and entertaining information.

Whether host-delivered or sponsor-generated, sponsorship messaging appears in one of three places in a podcast: pre-roll, or before the episode starts; mid-roll, or anywhere during the episode; and post-roll, or after the episode ends. And not all messages are baked into the program. Many producers essentially leave blanks in the programming that they fill at will. Dynamic ads, as they’re known, are a great way to sponsor evergreen episodes that see frequent downloads long after their initial publishing date.

Because podcasts rely on the internet for dissemination, they leave a digital paper trail. Producers then mine that trail for valuable information about listener habits that they can use to court sponsors and determine the podcast’s marketing value.

The basic marketing metrics include cost per click (CPC), cost per mille (CPM), cost per lead (CPL) and cost per action (CPA). CPC explains itself: the producer charges a set amount per click, in this case per-episode download. CPM amounts to the same thing, but in blocks of a thousand clicks.

CPL represents the amount a sponsor pays whenever a consumer follows a lead to a sponsor’s business; CPA represents the amount a sponsor pays whenever a consumer purchases a product.

CPL and CPA make up the backbone of affiliate marketing. Though affiliate marketing comes in many forms, you’re probably most familiar with it in review websites. The “See price at XYZ” buttons that usually accompany a product or service send users to a unique page on the sponsor’s site. If the arrangement pays based on CPL, the producer earns commission on every click that lands a user at the sponsor’s unique page. And in the CPA model, the sponsor pays every time a user buys the advertised product.

Naturally the audio-only format precludes counting clicks beyond the one used to download the podcast episode. But operators in the podcast sphere have developed a workaround, creating unique coupon codes that let the sponsor know where the users heard about the sponsor’s products or services.

Asking how much it costs to sponsor a podcast is akin to asking how much it costs to buy a car or a house. The variables are so diverse that it’s impossible to put a blanket figure on it. Thankfully those are questions that a well-maintained media kit can answer.

But even in some of the most successful arrangements, podcast sponsorship can often cost very little—and in some cases literally nothing, depending on the sponsor’s presence in the industry. “This movement is in such an emerging stage that people are basically bartering for exposure on each other’s platforms,” Ward reveals. In their relationship, ‘Get Out N Drive’ and ‘Everyone Racers’ lead traffic to RacingJunk.com. “With RacingJunk.com, they feature us in their newsletter quite often, which is good for us because it opens us up to a bigger market,” he continues.

“The more we promote them, the more they’re promoted, and the more we get promoted,” Menadier says. It’s a synergistic circle, there’s no question about it. It’s almost like you can’t wash your right hand without your left hand. Our arrangement with them is a perfect example of that.”

“RacingJunk.com has been a huge help to us,” Joann Meyer says. “I met Mark on LinkedIn, and we have gone from there. They have provided us with a wealth of guests and potential sponsors. We’re not in the getting-paid-to-sponsor gig, but we’ll be there someday.”

Menadier says adding a podcast to the mix is the next logical step for a few reasons. “The first one being you’re potentially tapping into an audience that has not heard your message and has maybe not heard of you as a company, your business.”

“The second, and almost as important reason, is because you’re reinforcing whatever other messaging you have going on in your mix,” he continues. “What if that person listening to the podcast happens to be someone that follows you on social? Hearing your name mentioned on a podcast just reinforces what you’re already doing.”

For now, podcast sponsorship represents one of the more affordable means to deliver a company’s message to a very specific audience. But not for long, Mark Menadier predicts. “Podcasts really have taken off not only in popularity with the listeners, but popularity with people who are finding another way to make a dollar,” he says. It’s only a matter of time until more businesses discover the potential to access target markets, at which point the value will reflect the medium’s power. “It’s best to get in early,” Menadier observes, “because then you get favorable treatment down the road.”

The September 2023 issue of SEMA News will highlight rising stars in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2023—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

Many SEMA members are currently working with creative young entrepreneurs and professionals who are already industry trailblazers. They may have played key roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach, improve product development, energize marketing efforts or upgrade customer interaction.

They could also be budding talents at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that might become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

SEMA News looks for candidates drawn from diverse industry segments who are already making a significant impact through their leadership within their organizations or businesses. Entrepreneurship, commitment, insight, innovation, integrity, responsibility, demonstrated skill, involvement and success within the marketplace weigh heavily in the decision-making process.

We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2023 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 1.

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Marketing Associate
ProCharger

ProCharger is hiring a creative marketing associate with at least three years of experience to join the existing high-performance marketing team. Activities include expansion and refinement of both ProCharger and Invoair websites, national advertising (digital and print), product literature, social-media content creation and management, video creation/distribution and other marketing deliverables. Candidates must have more than three years of experience designing digital assets with campaign results that reflect asset success, and be proficient in Adobe programs, website analytics tools and social-media platforms.

National Account Manager
MagnaFlow

MagnaFlow is hiring a national account manager to acquire and maintain business relationships with national large purchase accounts in the traditional and undercar market channel resulting in increased sales and profits. Candidates should have automotive parts knowledge and retail experience and be proficient in Microsoft Office, Salesforce or CRM.

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
Gale Banks Engineering

Gale Banks Engineering is hiring a senior mechanical design engineer to design and develop high-performance automotive products and systems leveraging CAD, CFD, FEA tools. You are comfortable working on undefined things and love experimenting and finding solutions. Ultimately, this role is to help build high-quality, innovative and exciting performance-oriented products. This position will report to the mechanical engineer group manager and work out of the company’s 12-acre campus in Azusa, California. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or similar, with more than five years of related work experience and advanced level of SolidWorks experience or equivalent CAD tools.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed into law the SEMA-supported Motorsport Responsibility Act, which defines areas of responsibility and assumed risks for both participants and recreational and commercial motorsports facilities. This key legislation was spearheaded by State Automotive Enthusiast Caucus members, including Del. Paul Espinosa and Sen. Mark Maynard. Caucus Chairman Emeritus Del. Gary Howell also served as a cosponsor of the bill.

Motorsports venues and recreational areas are major contributors to the West Virginia economy. Clearly defining the obligations and responsibilities—for both participants and race tracks—will reduce liability insurance premiums and make the state more enticing for racers, promoters, and future facilities.

In February, representatives from SEMA and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI), and other members of West Virginia’s motorsports community, traveled to Charleston to raise awareness and advocate for the bill with state lawmakers.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.

Ashley, Hagan and Glenn Race to Victories at Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals

In a rematch of last year’s Top Fuel final round at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Justin Ashley picked up his second straight win at the storied event, powering past Austin Prock last Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also won the third of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Ashley went 3.713 seconds at 330.63 mph in his 11,000hp Phillips Connect Toyota dragster powered by National Debt Relief, leading from start-to-finish against Prock’s 3.762 at 327.43. It gives the Top Fuel points leader his second straight victory and ninth career win, as well as a clean sweep of the weekend in Pomona after winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge last Saturday.

Prock reached his first final round of the year after he got past Leah Pruett, Steve Torrence and John Force Racing teammate and defending world champion, Brittany Force. Those two will match up in the next Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in Chicago, while the other pairing will feature Ashley and Brown.

Hagan jumped back in the points lead with his second win in three races for Tony Stewart Racing, going 3.967 at 328.06 in his 11,000hp Haas Automation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to defeat defending world champ Ron Capps. Hagan posted a .032 reaction time in the final round, while Capps ran into trouble early in the run. In the next Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, Capps will race Tasca in Chicago, while Hagan will take on Haddock.

In a final round matchup of two KB Titan Racing cars, Dallas Glenn drove to his fourth career win and first this season in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro, beating Matt Hartford in the final round with a 6.546 at 209.92. It bumps Glenn to first in points for the first time in his young career.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action on April 14–16 with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Ford and RTR Reveal All-New Mustang Formula DRIFT Competition Vehicles; Vaughn Gittin Jr. Returning to Compete

Sharing DNA with the all-new, seventh-generation ’24 Ford Mustang, Ford, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and RTR Vehicles revealed the newest Formula DRIFT Spec 5-FD competition Mustangs. Two-time Formula DRIFT Champion, Gittin Jr., also announced his return to the sport after a year’s absence. Working in parallel with Ford, RTR has been developing three Mustang RTR Spec 5-FDs with entirely new exteriors based off the Mustang production car.

Additional competition enhancements include more than 1,300 hp and enhanced suspension development. These mark the most significant evolution of the Formula DRIFT Mustang in years, to be piloted by some of the greatest drift drivers from RTR Vehicles’ Drift Team, including Gittin Jr., Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ and newest team member, three-time champion James Deane.

Ford and RTR have also teamed up to create a segment-first electronic drift brake for the ’24 Mustang. The electronic drift brake collaborative effort between Ford and RTR can be seen on the camera car here, highlighting its all-new, segment-first, track-only electronic drift brake that unlocks the rear-wheel-drive drifting capability of Mustang with the visual appeal and functionality of a traditional, mechanical hand brake.

The drift brake is part of the Mustang Performance Electronic Parking Brake equipped in 2.3L EcoBoost and 5.0L V8 Mustangs with automatic or manual transmissions and the available Performance Pack. The drift brake emulates with advanced electronics the hydraulic drift brake found in RTR’s Formula DRIFT Mustang, with more than three times the braking force of a conventional mechanical parking brake system.

The all-new Ford Mustang with available electronic drift brake and Performance Electronic Parking Brake goes on sale this summer.

Gittin Jr. will compete in select events behind the wheel of his all-new Monster Energy Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, sharing driving duties in 2023 with teammate Adam LZ.

2023 Formula DRIFT Events:

• April 7–8, Long Beach, Calfornia — Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ and James Deane
• May 11–13, Braselton, Georgia— Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chelsea DeNofa, and James Deane
• May 26–27, Orlando, Florida — Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ and James Deane
• June 22–24, Englishtown, New Jersey — Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ and James Deane
• July 13–15, Madison, Illinois — Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ and James Deane
• August 11–12, Monroe, Washington — Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chelsea DeNofa and James Deane
• September 14–16, Grantsville, Utah — Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chelsea DeNofa and James Deane
• October 13–14, Irwindale, California — Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chelsea DeNofa and James Deane

Hoonigan Creates Petition to Make April 3 a National Holiday in Honor of Ken Block

A petition created by Hoonigan and published to Change.org proposes April 3 (or 4/3) be made a national holiday named “43 Day” in honor of Ken Block. The number 43 references the number Block used on all his cars during racing events and stunt videos, including the Gymkhana series. From the petition:

“We believe that this would be a fitting tribute to an iconic figure in the world of action sports, and a way to celebrate his achievements and contributions to the sport. By designating April 3rd as “43 Day,” we can recognize and honor Ken Block’s legacy in a meaningful and lasting way.

Those interested in supporting the cause can visit Change.org and sign the petition themselves.

Dai Yoshihara’s TC America Debuts With Pit+Paddock, ARP and Eneos

Daijiro “Dai” Yoshihara’s first wheel-to-wheel racing effort in TC America has created a splash with Pit+Paddock, ARP and ENEOS as early supporters of his campaign. Yoshihara made his official race debut with the Florida-based Victor Gonzalez Racing Team (VGRT) at Sonoma Raceway last Saturday. Pit+Paddock, ARP, and ENEOS represent a significant trio of title sponsors for Yoshihara’s SRO campaign, while Turn 14 DistribuIon, PowerStop and MBRP bolster this inaugural effort as supporIng sponsors.

The pro athlete and motorsport star joins a cast of diversity with VGRT, who bring competitive Honda platforms to each of the three TC America classes: TCA, TC and TCX. Ruben Iglesias Jr. represents the team in TCA, 2019 TC America TCR Champion Michael Hurczyn in TC, and Yoshihara in TCX, the series’ topmost tier. Yoshihara’s Pit+Paddock, ARP and ENEOS-backed homologated Type R will battle against seven TCX entrants: two teams utilizing the same Type R platform and five who steer BMW M2 CS Cup cars.

Skip Barber Racing School to Serve as the Official Racing School of Andretti Autosport

Andretti Autosport has announced a partnership with Skip Barber Racing School. The partnership builds upon decades of history between the two brands, with more than a dozen of Andretti’s INDYCAR drivers, past and present, and five members of the Andretti family having been trained in Skip Barber programs.

The newest member of the Andretti driving family to train with Skip Barber will be junior development driver Sebastian Wheldon. Wheldon, the son of late, two-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Dan Wheldon, makes his Skip Barber Formula Racing Series debut, April 3–5 at Road Atlanta, with support from Gainbridge. Graduating from the karting ranks, this will mark the first season of car racing for the eldest Wheldon brother as he follows in his father’s footsteps who enrolled in the Skip Barber Racing School Formula Car Lapping Day at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2000.

The 2023 Skip Barber Formula Racing Series will consist of eight weekends and 16 races that will offer drivers access to the most iconic tracks coast-to-coast. New this season, the Series will award $500,000 in scholarships with the overall Series champion being offered a scholarship valued at $100,000 to advance to the USF Juniors Series the following season.

Rocket Battery and United States Touring Car Championship to Partner for 2023 Season

Rocket Battery has announced a partnership with the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) for the 2023 racing season to be the official automotive battery of the series. The big beneficiary of the program will be the competitors who will receive free batteries if they finish on the podium as well as discounts on purchases.

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.

  SEMA News—April 2023

SEMA Member News

By SEMA Editors

Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)

ARMO Presents Hot Products Showcase, Webinar Series

Every year, collector car aficionados and restoration pros gather at Spring Carlisle, the world-renowned classic car swap meet, car corral and auction. Spread across the 150-acre fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the event is a magnet for gearheads and enthusiasts.

ARMO’s Hot Products Showcase returns to Spring Carlisle, April 19–23.

This year’s event is on tap for April 19–23. For members of SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO), Spring Carlisle marks the return of the ARMO Hot Products Showcase.

The Showcase is an exclusive ARMO-member benefit. The annual activity affords participating member companies a singular opportunity to spotlight new innovative products to a vast enthusiast audience and vie for awards in various categories.

Showcase participation is simple, economical and high value. Any restoration product from a member company may be displayed. Members are responsible for shipping costs, but there is no entry fee. Brand-new products are eligible to receive an award provided they’re available for sale and demonstrate unique or innovative technology and/or significant value to the restoration market.

The Showcase tent is situated in a high-traffic area. SEMA staff and ARMO select committee members will be on hand to answer questions. Enthusiasts get to vote for their favorite new product in each category. Award winners will be recognized at the ARMO Industry Reception during the 2023 SEMA Show.

Chair Randall Bates predicted another successful venture. “Carlisle is always a huge success for ARMO. I cannot say enough about the help and support we receive from Carlisle Events and it’s a huge benefit to our members.”

Emphasis on Education

To help members navigate and adapt to changes in the automotive landscape, from social-media protocols to car show best practices and beyond, ARMO has hosted webinars and Live Chats, including “How to Navigate Swap Meets and Car Shows,” moderated by Chair-Elect Joanna Agosta Shere.

To round out last year’s webinars, ARMO presented the “Three Cs of Social Media: Content, Calendar and Channels,” moderated by David Alkire of Restoration Parts Unlimited with panelists Dan Kahn of Kahn Media and Barry Alt of Motorhead Digital.

Three webinars are lined up for this year. Topics include “Supply Chain: Facing Domestic and International Challenges,” “Sponsorship Tips: Making Sponsorships Exceed Your Expectations” and “What Can ARMO Do for Your Business: An Overview of Membership Features and Benefits.”

“We put a lot of time and effort into finding the most knowledgeable people in the industry to speak to these subjects on behalf of ARMO,” said Bates. “The sessions are free and for just one hour of your time, you’ll get valuable information to help grow your business.”

Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN)

ETTN Spotlights Symposium, Education, Recognition

Listen up, engineers and product developers! Emerging Trends & Technology Network’s (ETTN’s) N.E.R.D. Symposium is returning to the SEMA Garage in Detroit, August 16–18.

ETTN’s N.E.R.D. Symposium is returning to the SEMA Garage in Detroit, August 16–18.

Debuted last year by ETTN, the event—whose acronym stands for Networking, Education, Resources and Development—is designed to facilitate the continued development of innovative aftermarket products.

“Our focus is on helping engineers in our industry improve product-development processes,” said Chair Rob Simons. “Because there aren’t many opportunities to bring engineers together, the Symposium was well received. Feedback was phenomenal and we’re excited to bring the event back to Detroit.”

Tech Talk

Both days are devoted to attendee meetings with product and service providers and subject-matter experts, high-level educational content, technical training and networking opportunities.

Last year, seminars were held concurrently, requiring attendees to choose between two sessions. Seminars will be held both in the morning and afternoon on Thursday and Friday and available to all attendees.

Stay tuned for program and registration details. Questions? Email SEMA Council Director Nicole Bradle at nicoleb@sema.org.

Online Learning

To provide members with knowledge of emerging vehicle trends and new technologies, ETTN is again preparing a webinar lineup. Each session will dive into a specific area of interest.

Proposed topics include battery management systems, functions and calibration, an introduction to CAN network debugging, plus two ADAS-centric sessions. Details to be announced.

Rewarding Innovation

Numerous new products earn awards during the SEMA Show, from packaging design and electric vehicle product to exterior product and engineered new product. But there’s never been an award that recognizes engineering quality of a specific vehicle. Until now.

Thanks to a recently approved ETTN proposal, the SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle Award will be presented during this year’s Show. The award was established to recognize a vehicle displayed at the Show for the quality of engineering of the entire vehicle or an aspect of the vehicle that goes beyond outward appearance.

As a prime example of design and engineering ingenuity, Simons cited a custom build by Dave Kindig, Kindig-it Design. The radical conversion transformed a ’67 Chevy C10 pickup into a power-operated convertible.

“We want to build early awareness of this award so that people who are in the process of vehicle builds in preparation for the Show can think about incorporating features that might qualify for this award,” said Simons.

Program details to be announced. Advance registration is recommended to ensure judges can locate eligible candidates on-site at the Show.

Future Leaders Network (FLN)

FLN and Dale Carnegie to Present Skill-Building Professional Development Program

When the Young Executives Network (YEN) was rebadged as the Future Leaders Network (FLN) early last year, the new name more accurately reflected FLN’s goal of cultivating future industry leaders through networking and learning experiences. In a bold move aligned with its vision, FLN partnered in March 2022 with Dale Carnegie to present its first-ever Professional Development Program at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

This year’s FLN Professional Development Program is slated for May 11–12 at the SEMA Garage in Detroit. It will be facilitated by Dale Carnegie trainers.

The concept was inspired by Chair Nick Caloroso’s experience as an enrollee in a Dale Carnegie leadership training course. The two-day inaugural FLN program—an abridged version of a 12-week course—was open to network members only and limited to 25 attendees. The interactive format, which included a networking component, was designed to introduce concept with practice and coaching for workplace application.

“As much as people think of Dale Carnegie as a public speaking course, it’s not,” noted certified Dale Carnegie Trainer Brett Campbell, who facilitated the program. “It’s a leadership course. It’s about building confidence, becoming an effective communicator, how to lead through change and how an individual can be the best possible representative of their company, both internally and externally.”

Given the success of the inaugural event, the program has been greenlighted for 2023.

Leadership Skills to Advance Careers

This year’s program is slated for May 11–12 at the SEMA Garage in Detroit. It will be facilitated by Dale Carnegie trainers. Once again, attendance has been capped at 25 FLN members, creating an intimate environment conducive to networking and engaging discussions.

Program content covers multiple leadership skills essential to career
advancement and high achievement. Core learnings include sharpening communication skills, confidence building, nurturing and sustaining relationships and using emotional control to sustain success. The event also features an evening networking activity.

“Our mission has always been to support our members in their career-advancement journey,” said Caloroso. “There has been a lot of buzz in advance of the program. We’re excited at how quickly the event is filling up and have every expectation it will be successful.”

As Caloroso’s chairmanship draws to a close, he is proud of his role in shepherding the program and optimistic for its future. “Our goal has always been for people to see this as a value add for our members and for the companies that invest in their employees’ future. I’m really pleased that my legacy will be this program and that Chair-Elect Matt Beenen is very engaged in and committed to the continuity of the program.”

Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)

Advocating the Benefits of HRIA Membership

Since its inception, the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) has concentrated on ensuring the future of the industry by providing resources, tackling challenges and raising awareness of the hobby. To this end, HRIA addresses industry-specific issues, creates networking and marketing opportunities and offers in-person and virtual education.

HRIA Education Days offer member manufacturers a chance to present seminars, interact with consumers and give enthusiasts a chance to learn from, and connect with, top manufacturers.

HRIA also works with SEMA’s legislative office on regulatory and legislative matters, which may impact the hot-rod industry—such as a new federal regulation that allows replicar businesses to produce limited-production turnkey vehicles.

These benefits and others, said Chair Danny Agosta, provide value. To help current members and prospects gain a better understanding, HRIA presented a webinar on March 7 titled “Exploring Your Member Benefits.”

“We want HRIA to be the go-to resource for members, getting into the nuts and bolts of business education and operational topics for small shops,” said Agosta. “You can take a business class anywhere. But when it comes to what our folks do, it’s niche—how to fill jobs, compete for talent, deal with inventory and supply challenges.”

Furthermore, he added, “People get a lot of benefits through SEMA they’re not aware of—group insurance, freight discounts, research data that we’ll dive into and be that beneficial resource for our members.”

Future webinars are scheduled for May 9, October 10 and December 14. Topics to be announced.

Encouraging Engagement

Last year, HRIA hosted its first council mixer at Back to the Fifties Weekend in Minneapolis. The event, produced by the Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA), is slated for June 23–25.

“Last year was phenomenal. I was blown away by the number of cars and the vibe, and we’re excited to return,” said Agosta. “For our select committee, it’s a networking opportunity, a recruiting opportunity and a thank you to our members.”

HRIA has participated in the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Nationals for years, where it hosts two events: Education Days seminars and a networking mixer. Education Days offers dual benefits: it allows member manufacturers to present seminars and interact with consumers. It gives enthusiasts a chance to learn from and connect with top manufacturers.

Prior to both mixers, the select committee walked the shows and invited HRIA members and nonmembers. “The Back to the Fifties mixer was the best event we’d ever done. We did the same [outreach] in Louisville and had another record attendance. Just another way to engage members and for them to experience being part of HRIA.”

“We want HRIA to be the go-to resource for members, getting into the nuts and bolts of business education and operational topics for small shops.” —Danny Agosta, HRIA Select Committee Chair

Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)

MPMC Salutes Hall of Famer, Schedules Webinars

The Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) ended 2022 on high note at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, where the group hosted the MPMC Hall of Fame Reception in collaboration with the Future Leaders Network (FLN).

During the Show, select committee members visited 60 exhibiting member companies to thank them for their support and to hand out goodie bags. Chair Melissa Scoles also noted that PRI business members are now eligible to join MPMC.

MPMC Hall of Famer Vic Wood (left) and John Force at the 2022 PRI Trade Show.

“PRI is part of the SEMA organization, so we’re happy to extend the benefits of MPMC membership to PRI business members that are motorsports parts manufacturers.”

Toast of the Town

The awards reception is always a big draw. “It was well attended,” said Scoles, with attendance estimated at about 300. “We were excited to host the reception with FLN. We wanted to bring in the younger demographic and introduce them to some industry legends.

The awards ceremony honored industry luminaries. In recognition of contributions to the council and the motorsports community, Immediate Past Chair (IPC) Rob Fisher received the MPMC IPC Award. “It was an honor to thank and recognize Rob for his leadership and support of MPMC,” said Scoles.

Vic Wood, who began his motorsports career more than 40 years ago in his native Australia, was inducted into the MPMC Hall of Fame in tribute to his dedication to, and passion for, racing and the aftermarket industry. To Wood’s delight, a surprise guest, famed drag-racer John Force, presented the award and entertained the audience.

“We couldn’t think of a more deserving person to induct into our hall of fame than Vic,” she added. “We were delighted to surprise Vic with his longtime friend John Force, who introduced the award and told some colorful stories.”

Continuing Education

To help keep members informed of relevant issues, MPMC has lined up three webinars. The January session, held before the MPMC Media Trade Conference, was titled “Working With Content Creators and Social-Media Influencers.” The session focused on how manufacturers and content creators can best work together for mutual benefit.

A webinar on emissions control is slated for the second quarter, with the third-quarter session to address product prototyping. “It’s important to emphasize we’re creating these webinars to add additional value to our members,” said Scoles. “We’re always looking for relevant topics important to motorsports parts manufacturers.”

Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)

Professional Restylers Organization Hosts PRO Cup Challenge Styling Competition

Voted Best of Show, Built2Wanders’ ’22 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 XR was displayed outside the South Hall minus one wheel and tire assembly to allow Showgoers to look underneath the vehicle.

Matt Thompson, owner of 3D Off Road, joined Built2Wander’s Collin and Jessica Coates in celebrating their win.

The Weekender, Hannah Coulter’s modified Toyota RAV4 XLE, took the top prize in the 2022 PRO Cup Challenge.

With seven customized vehicles vying for awards at last year’s SEMA Show, the stage was set for the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Cup Challenge. To qualify, accessory packages had to be easily replicated, have broad consumer appeal and designed for dealership display.

Restylers Hannah Coulter of Automotion Customs Inc. and Top Coverage’s Courtney Pahlke earned bragging rights. The Weekender, Coulter’s modified Toyota RAV4 XLE, won the Challenge. The fan favorite award went to Pahlke’s Legacy Edition all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning.

Built for Mass Appeal

Coulter’s father, Shane, established Automotion Customs Inc. in Warner Robbins, Georgia, in 1998. “I’ve been around the business my entire life and always knew it was what I wanted to do,” she said. She now manages the company, having earned a business management degree from the University of Georgia.

Last year, Crush Customs’ Chelsea Allen, a PRO select committee member, urged Coulter to attend a membership meeting. “I learned a lot about PRO and wanted to be in the PRO Cup Challenge. It snowballed from there.”

After conferring with her dad and shop Manager Tyler Nelms, they settled on the RAV4. “My dad had a huge influence on the decision. I wanted to do a Toyota 4Runner. He said we needed a vehicle that would appeal to the masses.

Garrett and Courtney Pahlke with their retro-styled Legacy Edition Lightning, voted fan favorite.

“I knew my team could crush it. We have a great relationship with the dealer, so it was easy to sell our idea. I was super excited when we won and proud of the phenomenal work my team put into the build.

“It’s important for the public to know when they buy a [customized car] that there are companies behind the scenes that do the work. The Challenge does an extraordinary job of showcasing that. It’s boosted our business in more ways than one.”

Honoring Heritage

Pahlke and her brother Garrett co-own Top Coverage with their father Henry, who founded the Chicago-area shop in 1975. As a youngster and college student, she worked there part-time, then majored in journalism at the University of Iowa.

When the Great Recession hit and business slowed, Pahlke shifted gears. “I saw everything my dad had built and the hard work he’d put into it. I wanted to keep it going and growing.” She now oversees a new satellite facility in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

The decision to enter the Challenge was driven by the shop’s location. “We had a fresh start. We wanted to specialize in showroom cars and design. We knew from our Illinois shop that our designs were getting noticed and was a way to get dealer business here.”

To test those design skills and public reaction, Pahlke’s team conceived a throwback theme honoring the F-150’s heritage. “We wanted the public’s vote. We knew it was risky to take an EV and give it a retro look of a truck with an ICE engine.

“So much thought went into the build. We put our design skills to the test. Winning the fan favorite award was amazing and affirmation that our research paid off.”

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN)

From Hosting a Leadership Forum to Forging New Alliances, SBN Takes the Lead

Women have been making their mark in the aftermarket industry for decades. But while many have achieved significant success, the journey has been—and continues to be—fraught with challenges. Whether it’s attaining work-life balance, forming sustaining relationships with other professional women, mastering leadership skills or being one of a handful of women in a corporate boardroom.

These and other issues are at the heart of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network’s (SBN) mission to provide female professionals with resources to advance their careers. And SBN has a track record of presenting multi-faceted networking and educational opportunities.

SBN held the 2023 Women’s Leadership Forum March 1–3, during International Women’s Month.

Determined to provide a more immersive experience, SBN launched its Women’s Leadership Forum last year. The inaugural event, held at the Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa, California, gave industry women opportunities to improve their skill sets through education, mentorship, breakout sessions and networking.

SBN held the 2023 Women’s Leadership Forum March 1–3, during International Women’s Month. The event, held in the same locale as last year, featured the theme “Dare to Lead.” The content centered on inspiring leadership, encouraging women to elevate their professional impact and fostering community among SBN members.

“Our mission has always been to help women in our industry advance their careers,” said Chair Cathy Clark. “We are excited by the opportunities we’ve created for our members to expand their knowledge and leadership skills.”

Bridging the Gap

As important as it is for women to lift each other up, serve as mentors to young female professionals and sharpen their own leadership skills, ultimate success also depends on building bridges to others who can provide support and champion women—especially in what is still a male-dominated industry.

Male allies are critical to advancing gender equality. With this thought in mind, SBN has embarked on a new initiative to nurture and cultivate male allies. The goal, said Clark, “is to provide resources to educate men on how to be that ally or mentor to women in their company or the industry.”

To kick start the initiative, SBN scheduled three male ally-centric webinars from April through September. Each interactive session includes a panel discussion. Discussion points covered a range of topics: why it’s important to be an ally, why supporting women can attract talent and improve employee retention, how females can support the program and real-world examples of successes and failures when supporting women.

In formatting the webinars, SBN teamed with male colleagues known for championing women. “Men are a driving force in the program,” said Clark. “There are men on the Male Ally Subcommittee who are helping to determine the content. It’s a joint effort. Having men who have been champions for women share examples of how they’re doing that is an essential part of the program.”

Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA)

TORA Feature Vehicle Program

The TORA Feature Vehicle Program is a centerpiece of the Truck & Off-Road Alliance’s (TORA’s) SEMA Show activities. The customized trucks that make the cut are judged by Showgoers whose votes determine which vehicle will win an award.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392 XR was named TORA Best in Show.

Collin Coates’ ’22 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 XR was named TORA Best of Show, surpassing nine competitors. “When I started building Jeeps, my dream was to have a vehicle at the Show. It was very exciting to win, because it showed our dedication to quality components and the attention to detail we put into our project vehicles.

The rolling chassis after the body had been removed from the frame. The build took three weeks and more than 200 hours to complete.

“It’s one thing to have the vision. Fortunately, I had the help of Matt Thompson at 3D Off Road, Baja Designs that displayed our Jeep, plus all the partners that supported the build, to bring that vision to life.”

From Four Wheelers to 4x4s

Coates has been building project vehicles, displaying at consumer shows and creating marketing content and video assets for aftermarket product sponsors for a decade. A passion fueled at a young age.

As a youngster, he road dirt bikes and four-wheelers. At 19, he modified his first Jeep. After relocating from Ohio to California, Coates orchestrated a trade-off with an off-road shop, whereby they sourced products in exchange for displaying his newest Jeep builds at car shows.

Coates and his wife Jessica now reside in Denver. He teams with 3D Off Road, which specializes in custom fabrication. To help build a brand identity for each unique build, he launched Built2Wander in 2018.

Each build is a collaboration. Coates designs the build, sources the parts, helps at the shop and provides marketing services. 3D Off Road handles the fabrication and assembly. Coates chose the Wrangler Rubicon 392 XR for its factory V8.

“I wanted to build something more extreme. That platform made sense because it’s the only Jeep that can go fast in the desert, do rock crawling and has the power to turn a 42-in. tire.”

The build took three weeks and 200 hours to complete. It features products from 30-plus sponsors and required 3D Off Road to remove the body from the frame and rebuild the vehicle from the frame up.

In reflecting on the project, Coates said, “I enjoy the process of taking a factory vehicle and fully modifying it. Matt and I were proud to have the vehicle on
display and to win the award. It gives us credibility and our partners are proud their components were displayed and recognized.”

Wheel & Tire Council (WTC)

Education, Networking Add Value for WTC Members

Resources to expand members’ knowledge, improve their business practices and grow their networks are essential elements of the Wheel & Tire Council’s (WTC’s) mission. “I believe that everything we do should bring value to our members through education and networking,” said WTC Chair Todd Steen.

To help members gain an understanding of key issues pertinent to the aftermarket wheel and tire sector, WTC lined up four webinars.

WTC members caught up with friends and made new connections at the cross-council mixer held at the Keystone Big Show in Aurora, Colorado, last February.

To prepare for an influx of electric vehicles and the implications for aftermarket wheel and tire fitments and processes, WTC will tackle “The Hows and Whys of Bringing Aftermarket EV Wheels and Tires to Market.” Two other sessions are also on tap.

Steen also noted the importance of trends, specifically wheel design, fashion and the influence of consumer preferences. The topic will be explored in “How to Design the Latest Wheel Fashion.”

The fourth session addresses “Data Is the New Oil: How the Tire and Wheel Industry Can Benefit From Being More Data Driven and Save Billions of Dollars.” Steen said the webinar will dive into how data drives the industry for wheel and tire manufacturers and how to use data to prepare for critical matters, such as supply-chain interruptions and inventory challenges.

“The biggest takeaway from a class or professional development is what you make of it,” said Steen. “We’re sharing information that we believe is valuable to our members and their businesses.”

Growing Members’ Net Worth

WTC recently hit the road. In February, at the King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California, the council teamed with the Future Leaders Network (FLN), TORA, Truck & Off-Road Alliance and SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) to co-host a networking mixer.

WTC members had a chance to catch up with friends and make new connections at another cross-council mixer. The February event, held during the Keystone Big Show in Aurora, Colorado, also included co-hosts FLN, TORA, SBN and the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO).

Helping members expand their personal and professional networks is top of mind for both Steen and WTC. “I’m a firm believer that your net worth is determined by your network,” he stated. “With that, WTC offers value to members by providing opportunities to grow their network and make their business cards work for them.”

  

SEMA News—March 2023

By Gigi Ho

NEW PRODUCTS

SEMA Data Product News

The products featured below are from SEMA Data member companies that have attained Gold- or Platinum-level data, which means that their product data is robust and complete—likely to drive customer purchase decisions. SEMA Data members meeting data scorecard requirements are invited to submit product releases for consideration to enews@semadata.org.

UTV Crossover Tool Box Low Profile With Rail, Matte Black

If you’re looking for the most secure way to store your gear, look no further. The CamLocker system uses revolving cams that hook through welded catches to secure the box in the closed position. Breaking in without a key would actually require the lid to be broken or the use of power tools! CamLocker tool boxes are constructed from .063-gauge polished aluminum for strength and rigidity, so when you leave your truck you can feel confident that your tools, firearms or gear will still be there when you get back.

PN: SXSLPRLMB
www.camlocker.com

DU-HA Lockbox-Lockable Underseat Storage/Gun Case

Fits ’19–’22 Chevrolet and GMC Silverado/Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab (new body style) and ’20–’22 Heavy Duty Crew Cab (new body style). Secure your firearms, plus additional gear and valuables in an unexpected and completely out-of-view place—under the back seat of your truck. This also frees up space in your truck for passengers, dogs and more gear. The Lockbox is fully lockable with an integrated keyed lock system. Lockboxes are custom made to fit specific year/make/models trucks so the fit is perfect.

PN: 10410
www.du-ha.com

Baja Designs RTL LED Rear Light Bar-30 In. Green

Looking for more safety out on the race course? Baja Designs’ RTL-G is your answer. This light features race-legal rear taillight specifications and is a must for all drivers looking for that reassurance of being seen when leading the pack. Lighting features: running light, brake light, green safety light (designated for slow moving) and flashing amber.

PN: 103003
www.bajadesigns.com

fluidampr Harmonic Balancer—Ford 7.3L Godzilla

Protect your 7.3L Godzilla engine. Modifications can compromise your stock harmonic balancer. Install a Fluidampr performance damper early for best durability. Superior viscous damper design controls harmful torsional vibration across the entire rpm range. Reduce wear on engine components. Unleash lost torque and horsepower. Precision CNC-machined and balanced high-grade steel components. Corrosion-resistant black-zinc finish with engraved timing marks. No maintenance required. SFI 18.1 certified. Made in the USA.

PN: 750201
www.fluidampr.com

SEMA Data is “data central” for the specialty-equipment segment, containing millions of products and vehicle fitments from performance and accessories brands. Created by SEMA, SEMA Data is the definitive, industry-owned and -operated centralized data warehouse, complete with comprehensive online tools, and a team of dedicated data and technology experts to assist manufacturers and resellers with product data needs. Learn more at www.semadata.org.