By Ashley Reyes

Women in the automotive aftermarket still have time to register for the 2023 SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Women’s Leadership Forum at www.sema.org/sbn-wlf. Following a highly successful inaugural event in 2022, this year’s event will bring together women to build their skills through a comprehensive leadership training, March 1–3, at the Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa, California.  

The three-day program includes daily keynotes and interactive workshops that will teach women to take on new leadership challenges and face failure fearlessly.

Why attend?

Women face unique challenges in the working world, from being able to say “no” to being respected for one's thoughts and ideas and juggling various personal and professional roles. The challenge is amplified in the male-dominated automotive industry. The training from the SBN Women’s Leadership Forum will bring together females in the industry to address common challenges, find solutions and learn essential skills for navigating the future.

What will attendees learn?

Featuring certified leadership, executive and wellness coaches and leaders from Ford Motor Co. and KW Automotive, the three-day program includes daily keynotes and interactive workshops that will teach women to take on new leadership challenges and face failure fearlessly. Breakout sessions will foster collaboration and spark discussions focused around building a winning team, amplifying executive presence and mastering communication.

Panel discussions will delve into the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in HR efforts and daily wrap-up and action-planning sessions will provide a clear picture of what is needed to achieve goals and track and record progress.

Who should register?

All women pursuing higher levels of career advancement in the automotive aftermarket are encouraged to register. As a women-only event, the forum provides a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere where SBN members will engage with “their people” who can serve as support in the future.

When is the deadline?

The deadline to register is February 2 at www.sema.org/sbn-wlf.

How much does it cost?

SBN members can register at a reduced rate of $599, compared to non-SEMA members at $799. Participants must make their own travel arrangements.

Registration is limited. Secure your seat today!

By Ashley Reyes

The team behind SEMA Show Education—a key pillar of the annual aftermarket trade show where thousands of industry professionals come to learn new business strategies—issued a call for speakers for its 2023 seminar lineup.  

With more than 70 sessions focused on various automotive technologies and business practices, the SEMA Show speaker program offers the most authoritative platform for presenters to teach emerging business issues, trends and industry best practices. Dynamic and entertaining presenters who can share new skills and ideas with automotive aftermarket professionals are invited to apply at www.sema.org/speakers.

“The SEMA Education program is the best place for speakers to raise their profile, share their expertise and connect with an eager-to-learn audience looking to shape the future of the automotive aftermarket,” said SEMA Director of Education Pamela Brown-Matthis. “Speakers who are passionate about helping others and who can deliver high-value educational content are invited to apply.”

Topics of greatest interest for the 2023 program include aftermarket updates and future trends; diversity, equity and inclusion; electric vehicles; emerging and executive leadership; legal and regulatory; sales and marketing; small-business strategy; vehicle technology; and specific industry segments.

Applications for SEMA’s year-round virtual education component are also available, which provide relevant, engaging and inspiring information on the industry’s complex issues and through online events and informational webinars. Speaker proposals for the 2023 SEMA Show must be submitted by January 27. Virtual education proposals can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

For more details, visit www.sema.org/speakers or contact Gary Vigil at garyv@sema.org or 909-978-6738. 

By Ashley Reyes

Working with content creators/social-media influencers can help aftermarket companies reach their business and marketing goals. Effective influencer marketing can help increase brand awareness, reach targeted audiences, build brand credibility, increase conversions and keep consumers engaged through new and organic content.

SEMA members are invited to learn about working with influencers during the “Influencer Marketing for Aftermarket Brands” live webinar, January 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PST). Attendees will hear from industry leaders at DriveShop—an influencer marketing agency specializing in the automotive aftermarket—as they deep-dive into the fundamentals of influencer marketing.

Attendees will discover:

• How to integrate influencer marketing into your existing marketing strategy.
• How to identify the right influencers to work with and how audience relevancy and story alignment come into play.
• How to get the most out of influencer partnerships.
• Common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid when choosing an influencer.

Presented by DriveShop CEO Derek Drake and Program Director Lisa Cabalquinto, this online event will teach businesses the best-kept secrets for successfully utilizing social-media influencers. Attendees will participate in a Q&A session with the speakers and get real examples of influencer marketing that are taking off in the aftermarket industry.

Sign up now.

By Ashley Reyes

The automotive aftermarket is evolving—from vehicle trends to shifts in consumer spending to new vehicle technology. As the automotive specialty-equipment market enters 2023, companies need to be informed on what to expect in the new year and beyond to make the best decisions for their business.  

Set to be released on January 26, the new “2023 SEMA Future Trends Report” will give members thorough insight into where the industry is heading. SEMA members are invited to download the report at www.sema.org/research when it becomes available, and to register now for the SEMA Future Trends: Outlook for 2023 and Beyond webinar, February 2 at 11:00 a.m. (PST).  

By attending the webinar, members will gain insight from Gavin Knapp, SEMA director of market research, and Kyle Cheng, SEMA market research manager, as they cover key findings from the report in detail, including:   

• SEMA’s updated market size projection and industry forecast. 
• New data on new- and used-car trends (sales, prices, projections). 
• An updated forecast on the growth of EVs and ADAS/autonomous technology.
• The status of the ongoing supply-chain disruptions, its impact on the industry and where it’s going.
• Outlook and forecasts for the overall economy—including metrics on economic growth, consumer spending, inflation and consumer confidence. 

Don’t miss out—register for the webinar now.

By Ashley Reyes

If you are employed by a SEMA-member company, you may be able to receive up to $2,000 to pay off an existing student loan.

Through the SEMA Loan Forgiveness program, employees of SEMA-member companies are invited to apply for a Loan Forgiveness Award between now and March 1. The Loan Forgiveness program runs in conjunction with the SEMA Scholarship program. Combined, the programs have awarded more than $3 million since their founding in 1984.

The Loan Forgiveness program is open exclusively to SEMA-member companies and their employees as a benefit of membership. The program provides funds to help pay off education loans from a college, university or career technical/trade school.  

To learn more about the Loan Forgiveness Program or to apply, visit www.sema.org/loan-forgiveness.

SEMA News—February 2023

EVENTS

By SEMA News Editors

Exploring EV Technologies

Bigger Than Ever, the 2022 SEMA Show’s SEMA Electrified Section Charged Up Attendees

Although vehicle electrification grabs major headlines these days, SEMA has kept an eye on the emerging phenomenon for some time now. After all, the specialty-equipment industry thrives on innovation and new platforms for performance and appearance modifications—and electric vehicles (EVs) are no exception.

Deeper understanding of EV architec- ture and approaches to high-voltage appli- cations were the major attendee takeaways in the expanded 2022 SEMA Electrified exhibit space. Legacy EV utilized Tinkergi- neering’s Porsche 914 as an integration display for EV conversions.

To raise industry awareness surrounding this rapidly growing category, the 2019 SEMA Show first debuted SEMA Electrified, a new Show feature exploring EV technologies. For the recent 2022 Show, the section swelled to approximately 60 unique exhibits encompassing 21,000 sq. ft., more than 35 vehicles and numerous electrification components and products. SEMA Electrified also moved to the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, taking a more prominent place among other vehicle technology features.

“We’ve been pleased to witness the evolution of electrification in the specialty-performance aftermarket space, and are committed to educating our industry on the opportunities and the innovation taking shape throughout the industry,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “Our efforts for 2022 resulted in the largest SEMA Electrified section we’ve ever had. But in addition to the section, we also saw more EV products and vehicles throughout the rest of the Show than ever before. Having incubated this category for several years now, it’s evident that electrification is becoming extremely popular in our industry and will be here for some time to come.”

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 was winner of the 2022 SEMA EV of the Year. SEMA vehicle awards reflect the voting of each year’s Show exhibitors, with this particular award added this past Show.

According to SEMA Director of Vehicle Technology Luis Morales, who played an instrumental role in expanding the exhibit space, the goal for 2022 was to bring Show attendees as much collective EV-related content as possible for business and educational development. Displays and content included new OE vehicle models, conversion kits and components, testing equipment, safety tools, charging solutions, service equipment, customized vehicles and accessories. The exhibit sought to improve business networking among EV-related companies, buyers and sellers; present and showcase new EV products for industry-wide education; and increase awareness of the various EV market opportunities now emerging in the aftermarket industry.

The exhibit was filled with crowds throughout the week and surrounded by positive feedback,” said Morales. “Many folks who were new to the electric market were both surprised and excited to see how far this segment of the industry had progressed, not to mention how much the SEMA Electrified feature itself had grown. From product awareness to integration, the exhibit facilitated many key conversations and takeaways among attendees. Many SEMA Electrified participants said they also benefited from internal connections for product development as well as new ideas for adjusting their business models for future success.”

Everything starts with education. Understanding EV powertrains’ work and safety aspects was a prime focus of the SEMA Electrified live-education stage. Here, attendees got hands-on learning, courtesy the Legacy EV team.

Accessorized late-model vehicles proved that vehicle personalization will continue organically within the aftermarket regardless of a vehicle’s powertrain option. Modified vehicles included the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi e-tron, and the Polestar 2, among others. The vehicles were provided by many well-known industry names, including Bisimoto, Tjin Edition, Air Design USA, Tsportline/Alpharex, TSK, Levvel Air/Rad Rides, Unleashed Motorsports, Diablo Motorsports, Campworks and Lectron.

Electrification has also been a growing trend among vehicle builders, who continue to break new ground with imaginative vehicle conversions. This has in turn spawned new opportunities for businesses offering electric powertrain components ranging from individual items to complete kit solutions. And here again, SEMA Electrified offered a broad range of display vehicles demonstrating all sorts of innovations. They included a Ford Mustang, Plymouth Satellite, Ford Galaxy, Jeep Wrangler, Chevrolet Apache, Ram Promaster, Factory Five Cobra, Ford F-150, Porsche 914 and Mercury Cougar.

The list of companies providing converted vehicles was also extensive: Inspire EV, Conductive Classics, EV Muscle Cars, Electric 51 Speedshop, Scorpion EV, KTL Restorations, Maxwell Vehicles, Motorcadd, Electrified Veronika and Tinkergineering. In addition, companies like Ampere EV, DANA, Speedhut, Gig Performance, OMNI, Torque Trends, Hypercraft/Stealth EV and Conductive Classics showcased their latest electrification componentry.

“When it comes to an electric conversion, sourcing products may be a challenge and a learning curve, especially if you are new to EVs,” observed Morales. “We provided resources to help industry builders navigate this initial task. For example, Legacy EV and Fuel2Electric were on hand to discuss with attendees the proper path for selecting and sourcing products that are ultimately compatible with each other.”

A variety of different vehicle applications filled SEMA Electrified. From classics to late-models to race vehicles, they were all 100% battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and ranged from Bisimoto’s K3V to Inspire EV’s Mustang.

“Electric performance was also well represented through the display of several race vehicles highlighting new powertrain applications across differing race categories,” added Morales. “We were able to present attendees with a Pikes Peak Tesla Model 3, an electric Toyota GR86 for NASA’s Super Touring Series, a custom-body Porsche 935, a Drift Chevrolet Camaro and a Landspeed vehicle. Our vehicle providers included ENEOS, Hypercraft/Scalar Performance, Bisimoto, AEM EV/Holley and Revolt.

“In addition, SEMA staff got to work with several OEMs to bring such new EV models as the Karma GS6, Lucid Air, Lordstown Endurance and Volkswagen ID.4 to SEMA Electrified. Showcasing these models helped introduce them to various aftermarket companies exploring product opportunities in the electrification market.”

Various powertrain components were on displayed for different outputs, applications and integration capabilities in EV conversions. Displays ranged from individual compo- nents, such as these from DANA, to complete conversion kits, a fast-growing segment in this market.

But electric platforms and conversions are only one part of the overall EV equation. For battery-electric cars and trucks to truly take hold with consumers, current infrastructure from charging to service and repair must also advance.

“None of these vehicles would be on the road without a proper charging solution,” noted Morales. “We decided to bring in several participants like Wallbox, Webasto and Lectron to show the different applications available and educate attendees on differing charging requirements and output capabilities.”

SEMA Electrified drew attendees all week with several vehicle debuts, including this National Auto Sport Association- approved Super Touring Series SCR1 by Scalar Performance.

“We also wanted to showcase service and testing tools that relate to electric vehicles,” he added. “These tools are targeted at high-voltage applications. Whether you’re dealing with product development for a late-model vehicle or working on a conversion vehicle application, some of your required EV tools will be different than your traditional shop tools. We partnered with tool suppliers that included Reliable Automotive Equipment, Bendpak, DJS Fabrication, EZ Spare Wheel, Redline Detection and Snap-On to present product and educate attendees.”

In addition, SEMA Electrified hosted education and training sessions and demonstrations. The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) hosted an exhibit with their EV training cart and associated tools and equipment, explaining the safety protocols for high-voltage vehicles, and Legacy EV presented a series of hands-on education and training sessions relating to electric conversions.

“The Legacy EV program was designed as a preview to their EV training road tour, which is launching in 2023 and will make a stop at the SEMA Garage,” Morales explained. “Meanwhile, Switch Vehicles had multiple presentations throughout Show Week pertaining to EV business development and education. They built an electric kit vehicle from the ground up from opening to close of Show. This gave participants some hands-on experience in the assembly and connection of EV architecture.”

Beyond SEMA Electrified, SEMA Show education tracks relating to EV trends were also greatly enhanced for 2022. Seminars addressed such topics as electric-conversion projects, shop safety and the addition of EV products and services to augment traditional business models and help future-proof a company, shop or retail establishment.

Of course, you can’t talk EVs without considering charging solutions. SEMA Electrified showcased different charging solution models addressing different applications, outputs and requirements. Lectron’s Polestar 2 vehicle demonstrated a variety of such solutions.

“Our role as a trade association and Show is to not only focus light on vehicle and product development, but to educate our industry on the latest trends and information,” noted Gattuso. “The seminars were widely attended, which I believe is a result of shops that are seeing more EV sales and customers coming in to modify and personalize their cars. Our job, really, is to look into the future of what that can mean for our attendees and their businesses.”

Gattuso further said that while the industry is steadily embracing vehicle electrification as a viable, performance-oriented powertrain, the SEMA Show will continue to reflect the breadth of the entire automotive world. This includes ongoing innovations and refinements to gasoline, hydrogen and other alternative propulsion systems.

“Our industry is about exploring the potential and capitalizing on the performance, style and reliability of all types of vehicles,” he said. “To use the old cliché, the acceleration pedal doesn’t know anything other than that pressing it makes the car go fast.

“We just celebrated our 55th SEMA Show. I think over the next 50 years, we’re going to see continued developments and improvements, and it’s exciting to see where our industry is headed.”

Staying Current on Electrification

Through various initiatives and efforts, SEMA embraces technology in the automotive industry and will continue to best position the association for the membership’s benefit. Plans are already underway for an even broader SEMA Electrified section at the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31–November 3, in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition, with the progressive development and adaptation of EVs, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and general electrification, SEMA is developing programs and services to assist this emerging aftermarket segment. Whether you’re developing accessories for late-model EVs, components for electric powertrain conversions, or electric racing products, SEMA is ready to help through its SEMA Garage facilities in Detroit, Michigan, and Diamond Bar, California. Visit www.semagarage.com for more information.

2022 SEMA Electrified Exhibitors/Participants

Reflecting the rapidly growing interest in vehicle electrification, modifications and conversions, nearly 50 companies participated in the 2022 SEMA Electrified feature at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas—some presenting multiple displays. Brands ran the gamut from specialty parts and accessory suppliers to builders and OE vehicle manufacturers.

• AEM EV/Holley
• Air Design USA
• Ampere EV
• Bendpak
• Bisimoto
• Campworks
• Conductive Classics
• DANA
• Diablo Motorsports
• DJS Fabrication
• Electric 51 Speedshop
• Electrified Veronika
• ENEOS
• EV Muscle Cars
• EZ Spare Wheel
• Ful2Electric
• Gig Performance
• Hypercraft/Scalar Performance
• Inspire EV
• KTL Restorations/Electric GT
• Juiced Bikes
• Karma Automotive
• I-CAR
• Lectron
• Legacy EV
• Levvel Air/Rad Rides
• Lordstown Motors
• Lucid
• Maxwell Vehicles
• Motorcadd
• Ohm On The Range
• OMNI
• Redline Detection
• Reliable Automotive Equipment
• Revolt
• Scorpion EV
• Snap-On
• Speedhut
• Switch Vehicles
• Tinkergineering
• Torque Trends
• TSK
• Tsportline/Alpharex
• Unleashed Performance
• Volkswagen
• Wallbox
• Webasto

The Ford F-150 Lightning has been named the North American Truck of the Year (NACTOY). This is the latest award for the electric truck, and marks the third straight NACTOY Truck of the Year award for Ford. It’s also the fifth NACTOY award for Ford in the past three years.

“Earning North America's Truck of the Year is huge for the team that has been working so hard to build and deliver as many Lightnings as possible, as quickly as possible,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “We’re moving fast to further ramp production to a 150,000-run rate this fall and pushing to improve every aspect of this truck. We’ve started delivering Lightnings from the factory with a fantastic new user interface update to improve the driver experience that we’ll also roll out to all of our Lightning owners over-the-air.”

The F-150 Lightning is the best-selling electric truck in the United States since its launch in May 2022, with sales totaling 15,617.

“When America's best-selling vehicle goes electric you know the transition has momentum,” said Karl Brauer, NACTOY juror and freelance journalist for Forbes. “Ford’s effort to create an all-electric F-150 is remarkable because it combines the standard truck's dimensions, which means it retains massive aftermarket support, with substantial upgrades to areas like storage and mobile power support. It’s really the best of all worlds, giving the F-150 Lightning a wide range of applications for both traditional and new-to-the-segment truck customers.”

To win the North American Truck of the Year, vehicles must be new or substantially changed for the year. The jury of 50 professional automotive journalists from across North America choose a winner based on innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, user experience, driver satisfaction and value.

For more information on the F-150 Lightning, visit www.ford.com.

SEMA News—February 2023

NEW PRODUCTS

SEMA DATA PRODUCT NEWS

By Gigi Ho

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.

ARC LIGHTING Concept Series Pod, 3-in. Cube LED Pod Lights, Fog Light, U Mount, Yellow Lens

To achieve precision beams that meet demanding SAE standards, our new street-legal Concept Pods are equipped with automotive-grade Osram OSLON LEDs and TIR projector lenses. These LED performance light pods are designed to be as compact as possible so that they can be installed anywhere on a vehicle for improved visibility and safety on the road. All Concept Pods are SAE certified for use on any roadway in the USA. Designed for high performance in different driving conditions. Slim chassis with various mounting options.

PN: 41013
www.arc.lighting.com

BD Diesel RT700 Tow & Track Turbo Kit With FMW Billet Wheel on Secondary/Dodge ’94–’98 12-Valve Manual

Forged Milled Billet Wheel on secondary turbo. Includes a turbine blanket for primary turbo. Comp wheel low pressures: 58mm 2.28-in. Turbos, down pipe, piping, air box, washable air filter, heat wrap, clamps, hoses, oil drains, brackets and hardware. Extended tip compressor wheel technology. High-efficiency compressor housing and superior drive pressure. Turbine housing that delivers enough flow to support more than 1,000+ hp. Upgrade kits for available Super B Single, Twin or Special kits.

PN: 1045410
us.bddiesel.com

Advanced Clutch Technology–ACT SIX-Pad Sprung Race Disc

Product 6280620 is a six-pad spring-centered race disc made with high-quality ceramic friction materials. The engagement is harsher, but shifting is faster. The heavy-duty torsional dampening springs are stronger, in most cases, than standard springs and are provided in the best sizes and spring rates to suit the application. The six-pad, spring-centered disc is recommended for larger clutch sizes to absorb more heat and for smoother engagement. Recommended for high-horsepower street or race use. High-burst strength and holds 28% more torque than typical organic materials.

PN: 6280620
www.advancedclutch.com

Granatelli Motor Sports 5.7, 6.1 and 6.4 Dodge High-Performance Coil-On Plug Connector Kit With Xtreme Series Coil Packs, HEMI and SRT8–Set of 8

More power. The Granatelli Motor Sports Coil Pack makes more power than the original weak factory OEM factory coils to improve throttle response and to produce up to 18 more hp out of your Hemi. Fits all 5.7L/6.1L/6.2 Hellcat/6.4L engines, cars, trucks and SUVs. Adds up to 10 more hp. Improves mileage and throttle response. Direct performance replacement; 80,000 volts.

PN: 28-0504-XCP
www.granatellimotorsports.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.

Motul Celebrates Fifth Year as Dakar Rally’s Official Lubricant Sponsor With Rally-Inspired 2022 Jeep Wagoneer

Motul commemorates its long-time support of the Dakar Rally with a custom lifted ’22 Jeep Wagoneer build that will travel to events around the United States.

Motul is celebrating the 45th edition of the Dakar Rally and its fifth year as the rally’s official lubricant partner. To commemorate the occasion, Motul USA will debut a rally-inspired and customized ’22 Jeep Wagoneer, which features a commemorative Dakar-inspired livery to highlight the brand’s fifth year as the “official lubricant” partner of the rally. The Wagoneer also sports a custom lift, making it the first lifted WS platform Wagoneer. The modified Wagoneer will be a fixture at local off-road and desert racing events throughout 2023.

The ’22 Jeep Wagoneer Series 1 Carbide 4x4 is powered by a 5.7L eTorque Hemi. Custom upgrades include a fifth-generation Ram 1500 3.5-in. ReadyLIFT suspension kit modified and installed by Rad Rides of Huntington Beach, California, along with custom-fabricated two-in. spacers in the rear. The four-wheel-drive Wagoneer rides on a set of matte black CHASE 18x8.5-in. wheels provided by Black Rhino Wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich-provided 35x12.50R18 All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires. In addition, RIGd Supply provided an UltraSwing multi-fit spare-tire hitch mount for spare-tire storage on the rear. The Dakar-inspired vinyl wrap was completed by Sticky Fingers Design of Huntington Beach, California. Future modifications will include an Area BFE Black Series aluminum hard-shell roof-top tent, a fridge/freezer, Gobi Racks Stealth Roof Rack and a rear ladder.

The Motul Wagoneer will participate in the 2023 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 (March 8–12), Overland Expo West (May 19–21), Overland Expo Mountain West (August 25–27) and eBay Motors Sand Sports Super Show (September 15–17).

CARS Tour Enters 2023 Season Under New Ownership Group

The Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour will have new ownership when the green flag waves on its 2023 season this March. NASCAR icons Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Justin Marks have announced their acquisition of the Southeast’s asphalt late-model series.

Aside from the ownership transition from McNelly, the CARS Tour will remain unchanged. The 2023 schedule is set with 19 race weekends, and McNelly and his staff will continue to oversee operations and track events. The key addition will be the industry expertise brought by the current owners’ respective business units: DEJ Management, Jeff Burton Autosports Inc., Kevin Harvick Inc. and Trackhouse Racing. The contingent will collectively aim to bolster the health and longevity of the CARS Tour by providing proficiencies in brand management, business strategy and partnership acquisition and retention.

The CARS Tour season kicks off at Southern National Motorsports Park (Kenly, North Carolina), Saturday, March 11. For more information, visit the CARS Tour website.

Porsche Experience Center Atlanta to Open New Track in April

Porsche Cars North America Inc. (PCNA) has announced that the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta (PEC) will open a second driver development track to the public on April 1. The second track, designed by Tilke, effectively doubles the length of the existing driver development course, offering 90-minute driving experiences in Porsche sports cars with one-on-one instruction from a Porsche drive coach. The new track can be driven on its own or in combination with the existing track and adds features inspired by some of the world’s best roads and racing turns. The project is a cornerstone of a multi-million dollar investment in further developing the headquarters campus of PCNA.

The new 1.3-mile driver development track includes four instructor-led driving modules:

• Low-Friction Circle: allows drivers to experience the understeer and oversteer characteristics of a Porsche on a wet, polished concrete surface that is more than 196 ft. in diameter.
• Ice Hill: simulates an icy mountain road where a driver is likely to lose control up or down the hill. It has an 8% slope, computer-controlled water jets and a low-friction polished surface.
• Autocross Area: arranged on a large paved area, drivers will navigate through slaloms, acceleration zones and cone obstacles.
• Handling Circuit: a 1.3-mile motorsports-inspired driving circuit with elements influenced by the Carousel from Germany’s Nürburgring-Nordschleife; the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, with a rise of 30 ft. and drop of 25 ft. through approaching and descending turns; and the twisty and challenging Tail of the Dragon in the Smoky Mountains.

For more information, click here.

Menlen Named CRA Series Director

Track Enterprises and Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS (CRA) have announced that Scott Menlen will take over as series director for CRA and its four series, including the ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Powered by JEGS and the CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS. Menlen, who has been an official with CRA for 13 years, both in a full-time and most recently a part-time capacity, has been the general manager at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee, for the past three years for Track Enterprises. Menlen will continue to work with Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway during the 2023 season, helping develop staff members into a larger management role.

Former CRA managing partner and most recently series director Glenn Luckett will remain with CRA in a consulting position and help with the transition of Menlen to series director throughout the 2023 season. Luckett was recently hired as the GM at Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana, for new owner Nick Bohanon. Joe Balash, director of race operations for Track Enterprises, and Greg Wood, operations director for CRA, also will work with Menlen on his transition during the season.

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

Hennessey Unveils Apex Track-Focused Venom F5 ‘Revolution’ Hypercar

Hennessey has unveiled a new, lighter-weight, track-focused version of the Hennessey Venom F5 that has been comprehensively re-engineered for increased agility, better handling and high downforce. According to Hennessey, the new Venom F5 Revolution Coupe is the most powerful and visceral pure-combustion hypercar in the world.

The Venom F5 Revolution Coupe is based on the Hennessey Venom F5 Coupe, but with comprehensively reworked aerodynamics, suspension, engine cooling and digital telemetry. The engineering team also focused on reducing mass. Due to a systematic focus on weight reduction, the race-honed model tips the scales below 3,000 lbs.—the lightest Venom F5 model.

Mirroring all other Venom F5 models, mid-mounted in the carbon-fiber monocoque chassis is Hennessey’s twin-turbocharged, 6.6L, ‘Fury’ V8 engine rated at 1,817 bhp. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an automated single-clutch gearbox calibrated for competitive use. Carbon-ceramic brakes are fitted as standard and feature muti-piston calipers.

The double-wishbone suspension, with more aggressive alignment settings, is fitted with adjustable dampers that may be calibrated trackside, thus optimizing the suspension system for the particular road course, racing circuit or track. In addition, new forged alloy wheels present a larger contact patch for improved cornering grip and enhanced braking.

The new Venom F5 Revolution Coupe will make its global debut at the Miami Motorcar Cavalcade Concours d’Elegance on January 15.

Meyer Distributing Announces Waterbury, Connecticut, Location

Meyer Distributing Inc. has announced the addition of its Waterbury, Connecticut, crossdock. The crossdock will have a direct feed from Meyer’s Pennsylvania distribution hubs, which house one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories and RV parts in the region.  

“We are focused on improving service in the Northeast this year,” said Jeff Braun, CEO of Meyer Distributing. “We will be adding several locations, adding more truck routes and hiring more drivers to better service increasing demand. Our recent Albany, New York, expansion has helped improve delivery times and consistency as well as frequency. The same will be the case for our CT customers with this expansion.”

RNR Tire Express Announces Three-Unit Franchise Signing for Chicago

RNR Tire Express (RNR) has announced finalization of a new multi-unit deal for three franchise locations in Chicago. The first location is anticipated to arrive in Melrose Park this fall, with the second and third expected in Waukegan and Aurora, respectively. Site selection is still underway for the remaining three franchise locations.

“Our brands’ entrance into Chicago has been a long time coming,” said Larry Sutton, founder and CEO of RNR Tire Express. “The agreement is a perfect representation of the commitment our team has to serving as many communities and families across the country as possible. Something you can expect to see a lot more of from the RNR brand in the year ahead.”

Yokohama Tire Announces Organizational Changes

Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has announced three organizational changes within the company. The changes, effective now, include Fardad Niknam, who has been promoted from senior director of consumer product planning and product marketing to vice president of OE sales. Niknam joined YTC in 2014 and has had responsibility for product marketing, including product planning and motorsports for the last five years. According to Jeff Barna, YTC president and CEO, Niknam “will be responsible for guiding OE sales in the United States and establishing forward-looking strategies that are linked to YTC’s overall business goals in his new role.”

Ray Polentz has been promoted from senior director of supply chain and logistics to vice president of supply chain and logistics. “Ray has led this team for the past year under unprecedented circumstances and never before seen challenges as the global supply chain continues its march toward recovery in a post-pandemic world,” said Barna.

Pavan Desaneni has been promoted from vice president of information technology to chief information officer. “Pavan has led our digital transformation efforts and will continue to do so as information technology and the related systems become increasingly important to our business,” said Barna.

LIQUI MOLY Mourns Loss of Press Spokesperson Dr. Peter Szarafinski

LIQUI MOLY’s Head of Media Relations International Dr. Peter Szarafinski, 47, has passed away.

“The terrible news reached us just before Christmas Eve. Unfathomable—the great loss of a valued and extremely popular colleague,” said Managing Director Günter Hiermaier.

At the beginning of 2010, Szarafinski took up the newly created position of head of media relations international at LIQUI MOLY headquarters in Ulm.

“During the past 13 years, Dr. Peter Szarafinski had greatly developed and advanced the public-relations work in our foreign markets,” said Hiermaier. "With his knowledge, dedication and high work ethic, he has played a decisive role in the positive impact of our company. His sudden death is also such a huge loss because he was such a likable and popular colleague.”

After graduating from high school in Füssen, Peter Szarafinski did an internship at Allgäuer Zeitung and worked there as an editor before deciding to study journalism and history at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. He then took up a position in corporate communications at the Beiersdorf Group. Parallel to his work at LIQUI MOLY, he completed his doctorate with the historical research book “Rüstung und politisches System” (Armaments and Political System). In addition to his interest in history, he was also an enthusiastic sailing and paragliding pilot. In 2016, he flew from the Allgäu region to the North Cape of Norway and back again with a friend from the Füssen air sports club.

Ford Joins Virtual Power Plant Partnership as Founding Member to Support Grid Resiliency and Emissions Reductions

Ford has announced the formation of the Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3), a coalition led by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) aimed to scale the market for virtual power plants to help advance affordable, reliable electric sector decarbonization and support grid resiliency.

VP3 includes founding members Ford, General Motors, Google Nest, OhmConnect, Olivine, SPAN, SunPower, Sunrun, SwitchDin and Virtual Peaker.

“Electric vehicles are introducing entirely new opportunities for consumers and businesses alike, creating a greater need for sustainable energy solutions to responsibly power our connected lifestyles,” said Bill Crider, head of global charging and energy services, Ford Motor Co. ”Supporting grid stability through the introduction of technologies like Intelligent Backup Power is central to Ford's strategy, and collaborating to advance virtual power plants will be another important step to ensure a smooth transition to an EV lifestyle.”

The full press release from RMI can be found here.

Hankook Tire Announces Executive Promotions for North America Team

Hankook Tire has announced executive promotions at its North American headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. Rob Williams has been named president of Hankook Tire America Corp. Additionally, Jong Jin (JJ) Park has been promoted to vice president of USA PC/LT sales. Intae (Ted) Choi has been promoted to vice president of North American marketing strategy and Byoungjoe (Joe) Park has been named vice president of corporate management.

Williams has overall responsibility for Hankook Tire America Corp. as president, overseeing the United States and Canada regions. He will lead four departments and direct teams, including the Tennessee Plant and TBR sales department—a role he’s held since joining Hankook in January 2019. In June 2022, Williams was appointed senior vice president of commercial and consumer sales for Hankook Tire America, adding leadership in consumer products to his existing oversight of commercial replacement and OE product sales and related services. Williams brings more than three decades of tire industry experience and has a proven track record of success in sales and operations executive leadership positions, strategic planning and optimizing profitability.

Park will serve as vice president of USA PC/LT sales, overseeing sales innovation, corporate sales, as well as the North, South and West regional USA PC/LT sales teams. Previously, he served as vice president of marketing and U.S. sales innovation director for Hankook Tire America. Park joined Hankook Tire in 2004 and has experience across the American and United Kingdom regions.

Choi steps into the vice president of marketing role, responsible for marketing strategy, TBR marketing, technical services, Canada sales, as well as supply chain and logistics operations. He also will continue his role as vice president of Tennessee plant management support. Choi has previously held executive positions with Hankook, including vice president of its Australia subsidiary, vice president of GAIA project and corporate strategy and innovation team manager.

Park was promoted to vice president of the North America corporate management team overseeing finance, accounting, tax and internal audit functions for Hankook Tire America Corp. as well as for Hankook Tire’s Canadian subsidiary. Most recently, he served as Tennessee plant corporate management team manager. He also held leadership positions at Hankook's global headquarters on its internal audit and accounting teams.

AAM Group, Engine Parts Group Finalize Agreement

The AAM Group has finalized an agreement with Engine Parts Group (EPGI). As part of the agreement, AAM may now assume operations and management responsibilities for the Engine Pro marketing program, along with operational oversight for the Engine Parts Group corporation. AAM Group’s Tim Odom and EPGI’s Jesse Jones signed the contract in the EPGI booth at the 2022 PRI Trade Show. For more information, visit theaamgroup.com and enginepro.com.

EGR USA Introduces Newly Designed, User-Friendly Website

EGR USA has rolled out a newly designed, user-friendly website that allows consumers and dealers to research products by make, model and year. The site has many new products featured, including the manual and electric EGR RollTrac tonneau cover and the new Baseline Fender Flares introduced in late 2022. The new website offers navigation by product line or by vehicle year, make and model and allows users to search for all products EGR makes for each vehicle.

Developed to assist in direct-to-consumer sales and to provide more complete and accurate asset information including images, videos, product details and warranty, the site now allows consumers and dealers to quickly access product information while providing upgraded visuals and details to assist the purchase decision. New to the site also is a “Find a Dealer” section that informs users of local dealers, online retailers and warehouse distributors. There is also a link on the dealer locator page to request information about becoming an EGR dealer.

Additional changes are planned for the website in the first quarter of 2023, including a new video section that will house how-to and product introduction videos, event videos, promotional videos and company background videos. A news media section is also planned to host press releases and other media assets for easy download.

K&N Engineering Enters Restructuring Agreement

K&N Engineering has announced a new agreement to strengthen its financial position and reduce debt by approximately $250 million. K&N Engineering has entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) with 100% of its lenders. Upon consummation of the transaction, K&N’s debt will be reduced by approximately $250 million and participating lenders will inject $60 million of cash into the business. K&N expects to complete the transaction in the first quarter of 2023. The recapitalization will provide K&N with increased financial flexibility to execute its growth strategies and continue investing in the industry-leading automotive, industrial and residential HVAC filtration technology that it provides to its customers worldwide, a company release stated.

In related news, K&N is mourning its co-founder Ken Johnson, who passed away in December at the age of 91.

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