By Ashley Reyes

It takes dedication, hard work and drive to build and grow an automotive specialty-equipment business. Even more so to grow an entire industry.  

The SEMA Industry Awards are among the trade association’s highest honors and recognize the recipient’s outstanding contributions to the specialty-equipment industry over a year-long period. Nominations are open now in the following categories:  

• Person of the Year
• Manufacturer of the Year
• Warehouse Distributor of the Year
• Gen-III Innovator of the Year

For consideration, an honoree must exhibit professionalism, service, integrity and ethics that help propel the industry forward. To nominate an honoree and learn more about the criteria for each award, visit www.sema.org/awards or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org.

Nominations close July 23.

Here’s another look at the all-new ’23 Ford Ranger Raptor, this time though with the addition of a Ranger Wildtrak-esque rollbar.

Overall, the next-gen Ranger Raptor looks more substantial than the current model, with bolder proportions and stance. The front fascia will maintain the bold “FORD” lettering across the grille accompanied by a set of intricate C-shaped headlamps.

The cab and bed appear to be carryovers from the current model, which has been on sale in global markets since 2011. The prototype rides on a set of black wheels that appear to be fairly similar to the current design. A dual-exhaust setup can be seen at the rear, along with a camo’d rear suspension that hides a coil spring setup similar to the F-150 Raptor.

The ’23 Ranger is expected to launch near the end of the ’22 model year and will serve as the basis for an upcoming Volkswagen midsize pickup as a result of a collaboration agreement between Ford and VW announced in 2020.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s another look at the all-new ’23 Ford Ranger Raptor, this time though with the addition of a Ranger Wildtrak-esque rollbar.

Overall, the next-gen Ranger Raptor looks more substantial than the current model, with bolder proportions and stance. The front fascia will maintain the bold “FORD” lettering across the grille accompanied by a set of intricate C-shaped headlamps.

The cab and bed appear to be carryovers from the current model, which has been on sale in global markets since 2011. The prototype rides on a set of black wheels that appear to be fairly similar to the current design. A dual-exhaust setup can be seen at the rear, along with a camo’d rear suspension that hides a coil spring setup similar to the F-150 Raptor.

The ’23 Ranger is expected to launch near the end of the ’22 model year and will serve as the basis for an upcoming Volkswagen midsize pickup as a result of a collaboration agreement between Ford and VW announced in 2020.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Jason Catullo

The 2021 SEMA Space Allocation process was completed in late-June, with more than 1,700 companies selecting their booth locations at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The LVCC's halls are nearly full of exhibits, but booth space is still being reserved, and more exhibitors are expected to secure space until the Show opens on November 2.

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

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

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

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

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

By SEMA Editors

The 2021 SEMA Show Space Allocation process wrapped up earlier this week, and more than more than 1,700 companies are confirmed to exhibit, and many more are expected before the event takes place in November.

The SEMA Show floorplan is live, and buyers are currently examining the event's layout to see who will be there for 2021.

Companies that would like to exhibit at this year's SEMA Show to reconnect with customers and generate new business, can get started at www.SEMAShow.com.

Exhibiting at the SEMA Show puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry, including buyers looking for your products. This year's Show offers even more opportunities for exhibitors reach new buyers. SEMA Show management recently announced that buyer registration for the Show has started at the fastest pace they have seen in the event's 54-year history.  

SEMA Show exhibitor Cometic Gaskets is ready to reunite with customers in person, and reach out to more buyers outside of the company's local region.

“We are most looking forward to face-to-face conversations and reconnecting with our customers old and new. Cometic is located in the midwest, and exhibiting at SEMA allows us to connect with our West Coast customers and industry segments, such as desert racing.”

Registration for the 2021 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor, and media—and everyone must qualify to receive a badge and attend.

Reserve your booth now!

By SEMA Editors

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.

• Aeromotive
• BOLT
• Continental
• FAST
• Go Rhino
• HushMat
• JMS
• MagnaFlow
• Steele Rubber Products
• Zycoat

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

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.

Senior SEO Specialist
JEGS is hiring a senior SEO specialist to create and deliver insights by being the go-to person for Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager operations. This is a new position where you will help provide data-based decisions from the insights you find in the various channels and help implement any new actions that are required. Candidates must have two to three years of hands-on experience in Google Analytics 360 and Google Tag Manager. Google Analytics certification is preferred.

Product Specialist
ECU Tuning is hiring a product specialist to develop and maintain a high-traffic web catalog of BMW OEM, aftermarket and performance products. This position is responsible for the company’s catalog of products for BMW cars and will provide product support to customer-facing teams. He or she will be responsible for gathering customer insights, needs and desires by talking to customers, conducting surveys, talking to sales reps and gathering insights from social sites and forums to offer new products and optimize the shopping experience for existing products.

Executive Assistant to CEO
Coker Tire Company is hiring an executive assistant to the CEO to serve as the administrative point person for the president to ensure smooth functioning of activities in multiple lines of business. The person in this position must be a highly motivated self-starter, multi-tasker, detail-oriented professional, capable of efficiently managing their time, workload and prioritizing tasks in a fast paced/high volume executive office. Full-time availability with flexible hours is required as is absolute confidentiality regarding company, employee-specific and industry information.

By Juan Torres

Performance Racing Industry (PRI), producer of world-class trade events and media, is launching the racing industry’s first-of-its-kind Membership program on July 13. This will make it possible for racers and enthusiasts to join racing businesses in a groundbreaking movement to protect and grow the industry.

PRI Membership allows the racing community to showcase their passion and pride for the industry. By uniting the industry, PRI is actively working to address challenges and needs, such as providing support for racetracks to prevent them from closing, advocacy for the racing community against current legal threats and educational programs that help businesses and racers succeed.

“Now more than ever, it is critical that the racing community unite to protect our businesses and racing rights,” said PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer. “PRI‘s Membership program now allows individuals to join the movement to push back against challenges facing our industry and continue to support motorsports.”

More than 300 businesses in the racing industry have already joined the groundbreaking Membership program since it was first offered to PRI Trade Show exhibitors in March. Several companies have also extended their commitment to support the racing industry for a minimum of 10 years by becoming PRI Founding Members. Now, individual racers, enthusiasts and fans are invited to join the PRI Membership to become part of the community, and receive a range of exclusive benefits.

PRI Membership offers different levels of benefits and starts at only $40 per year for a Pro membership. Features and benefits include:

• Entrance to PRI Show for Qualified Attendees.
• Save Our Racecars Advocacy: Contribute to the fight to protect the racing community, and ensure racing continues and grows in the United States and internationally.
• Inclusion in the Performance Racing Political Action Committee.
• 10% Discount on PRI Merchandise.
• 12 Issues of PRI Magazine Digital Edition.
• Subscription to the PRI eNewsletter.
• Posting Access on the PRI Jobs Board.
• Membership Card and Welcome Packet.
• PRI Stickers.

The Membership program is a major part of PRI’s mission to build, promote and protect the racing community. Alongside efforts like the PRI Road Tour, PRI Ambassador Program, and the world’s premier auto-racing trade show—the PRI Trade Show—PRI ensures that the industry continues to grow and succeed.

“We're continuously identifying ways to support the interests of the racing community,” said Meyer. “The Membership program enables us to continue our advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels, and provide the industry with legal support, education, research and world-class events and programs.”

By joining the PRI Membership, individuals not only become part of the community to protect racing and gain a suite of benefits, but they also join forces with the newly formed Political Action Committee called the Performance Racing PAC. This new organization under PRI was recently established as a direct way to influence lawmakers and to protect the interests of the racing community. Now more than ever, racing and motorsports face challenges that must be addressed in a united effort to protect the rights of racers, racing businesses and the entire community.

“The racing industry is joining forces like never before, and we invite everyone—racers, enthusiasts, builders, track operators, sanctioning bodies and businesses—to be a part of this movement,” said Meyer. “This is the time to come together and unite.”

Enrollment in PRI Membership will launch alongside attendee registration for the 2021 PRI Show. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.

The SEMA Data Excellence designation recognizes the companies that have worked with SEMA Data to recreate and relaunch industry-leading product data sets. Here are products from current SEMA Data members that have achieved data excellence.

Fuelab
595 Ultralight Series Regulators

The 595 Ultralight Series bypass regulators bridge the gap between their popular 515/525 Series and their monster 565 Series regulators.

“Our expansive line of adjustable fuel pressure regulators have always been solid performers. You tell us your pressure and flow requirements and we have a regulator for you—low pressure or high pressure, blocking or bypass”, said Fuelab sales rep, Josh Davis. “However, we noticed a small gap in our regulator offerings that needed to be filled. Occasionally, we find a customer who’s working on a weight-sensitive build and every ounce counts. They might even be in a situation where they require more flow than the 515/525 Series is capable of, but they’re not yet to the point that they really need the added size, flow capabilities and cost of the 565 Series regulator. The new 595 Series bridges the gap between the two. It flows more than the 515/525 Series, it’s lighter than the previously mentioned regulators, yet can still be had for the same price as the 515/525 Series!”

These regulators feature -8AN inlets, a -6AN return with a large seat, and a 1/16-in. NPT reference port. They’re available in 1-3psi, 4-12psi, 10-25psi, 25-90psi and 90-125psi configurations, and are already on dealer shelves.

www.Fuelab.com
PN: 595

Oracle Lighting Rear Bumper LED Reverse
Lights for Jeep Gladiator JT

The market leader in high-quality and innovative LED solutions for the automotive/12Volt, power sports, motorcycle, and marine markets, is proud to announce its the new Rear Bumper LED Reverse Lights for Jeep Gladiator JT.

Unsatisfied with the visibility of your Jeep Gladiator reverse lighting when backing up at night? Then replace the factory bumper reflectors with high-output replacement auxiliary LED reverse lights from Oracle Lighting. This reverse light design seamlessly integrates into the bumper reflector area to provide more than 1,500 additional lumens when backing up in a Jeep Gladiator.

Designed for function and durability, these lights feature an aluminum housing with PMMA lens while also maintaining the rear reflector function with a scaled-down version integrated into the housing.

These compact lights pack a big punch with a total of 30 high-powered LEDs to add additional lighting to improve your Jeep Gladiator reverse visibility. They come ready to install out of the box, ensuring that you will have rear visibility in your Jeep Gladiator when it matters. Installation uses factory mounting hardware, and these lights tie into the rear light wiring with the included T-taps or with the optional Plug-and-Play adapter (p/n 5881-504) for even easier installation.

www.oraclelights.com
PN: 5878-504

TI Automotive
Fuel Pump

One of today’s most sought after pumps on the market: our F90000285 fuel pump. Able to support an aggressive 700-plus hp with a supercharger, the innovative dual-pumping channel design delivers maximum pressure with superior fuel flow. Operating in both gas and E85, the fuel pump comes with a check valve to avoid system leak-down and extended cranking at start-up. The superior design results in improved hot fuel flow, as well as minimal noise, increasing efficiency by 20% over conventional pumps, delivering unparalleled performance.

www.aftermarket.tiautomotive.com
PN: F90000285

SEMA eNews highlights new products from industry companies each week. To have your product considered for upcoming issues, send product press releases to editors@sema.org.

CRP Automotive
Nissan and Toyota Rein Automotive Oil Pan Kits

CRP Automotive has added three new Rein Automotive Oil Pan Kits to its line of oil-pan service kits for high-volume vehicle applications. The new additions include Nissan (PN ESK0199) and Toyota (PN ESK0200, ESK0201), and cover popular Nissan models, including Altima, Murano, and Quest, as well as Toyota Celica, C-HR, Corolla, Matrix, MR2 Spyder, Prius, Prius AWD-E, Prius Plug-in, Prius Prime, and Prius V models. Total program coverage exceeds 7 million VIO in the United States and more than 900,000 VIO in Canada.

Rein Automotive oil pan service kits are designed to be direct-fit replacements for the original part and include all the necessary accessories needed to complete the service. Unlike other oil pan replacements, every Rein Oil Pan Kit comes with an OE-quality gasket and a new drain plug. A tube of Ajusil silicone sealant is provided for applications that do not use a gasket. This allows technicians to order a single part number and receive all the necessary components for the repair, saving time and improving efficiency.

www.crpautomotive.com

Go Rhino
Element Series Light-Ready Front Bumper for ’16–’21 Toyota Tacoma

Go Rhino launched its Element Series Light-Ready Front Bumper for the ’16–’21 Toyota Tacoma. The centerpiece of this new bumper is Go Rhino’s patent-pending Power-actuated Hideaway Light Bar Mount, which allows the driver to reveal a 20-in. double-row LED light bar at the flip of a switch from inside the cab. The Element provides for larger tires and additional ground clearance for off-road capability, and dramatically improves the appearance of the factory vehicle.

The Element bumper’s 1/8-in. (14-gauge) steel shell is faced with mesh panels to help reduce weight and improve airflow. Each side wing hides three mounting points for optional cube lights, and the corresponding mesh panels are removable and paintable for easy customization. Two exclusive dual-function, inverted 1-inch-thick steel tow hook/D-ring mounts are fully welded to the bottom of the shell and can accept up to 7/8-in. shackles.

www.gorhino.com

HBK
BK Connect Indoor Pass-by

Test and measurement specialist HBK has created the BK Connect Indoor Pass-by, a tool designed to help automotive manufacturers ensure their vehicles comply with strict, pass-by noise regulations.

Pass-by noise tests have typically been performed outdoors, an indoor method is now also accepted for type approval, as it provides a more stable environment for development testing and noise source identification. HBK’s BK Connect Indoor Pass-by software was created in line with legal standards, covering the full spectrum of pass-by testing, making it ideal for automotive testing needs—from simple conformance assessments to noise source contribution analysis.

The indoor pass-by measurement software includes automatic measurement plans, a predefined test setup, which can be uploaded ahead of time to focus on test operation, plus the ability to define source and indicator microphones for Source Path Contribution (SPC) analysis. Test data is accessible on the BK Connect Team Server for inspection, comparison and reporting, using a Pass-by Data Viewer.

www.bksv.com

Pertronix
Ignition Power Package

The Ignition Power Package includes the Digital HP Capacitive Discharge Ignition Box and a Flame Thrower III Canister Coil. These two products work together to provide more power, faster starts, higher RPM range, and quicker acceleration.

Digital HP Ignition Box

When it comes to getting the most performance out of your engine, having a powerful spark—and at the precise moment—is key. Plus, with today’s poor fuel blends, a higher energy spark is even more important whether your engine is stock, hot rodded or built for maximum power.

The Digital HP Ignition Box delivers 172 mJ of Spark Energy and features an integrated 3-step digital REV limiter delivering multiple spark all the way to redline. Key features also include an RPM triggered output, adjustable start retard, locking automotive connector, tachometer output lead, and onboard error logging all in an ultra-small form factor. Download the ”Specification Sheet“ for all the details.

• Integrated 3-Step Digital REV Limiter
• Locking Automotive Connector
• Multiple Spark All the Way to Redline
• Tachometer Output Lead
• 172 mJ of Spark Energy
• Ultra-Small Form Factor
• RPM Triggered Output
• Onboard Error Logging

Flame Thrower III Canister Coil

The ignition coil of your engine is responsible for producing a high-voltage spark eight times (on a V8) for every revolution of the camshaft. This means that even a short drive into town could require well over a million sparks. In short, a coil must be engineered to perform in a harsh environment while delivery consistent, reliable performance.

High voltage canister coils allow larger spark plug gap for added power, smoother response and improved fuel economy.

• 45,000 volts
• Ultra-low 0.32 primary resistance
• Charges to peak current typically 30%-70% faster than other coils
• Rapid charge time means maximum spark energy is sustained to higher engine RPM
• Legal in all states