2010 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Van Woodell has served three consecutive two-year terms on the SEMA Board.

More than 500 members of the industry joined the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser in Pasadena, California, July 23, to honor 2010 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Van Woodell, Chuck Schwartz and Richard "Dick" McMullen and to raise money for children's charities Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp. They also came to thank members for their service to the SEMA Board of Directors as well as welcome new members to the Board.

The day's activities kicked-off with the 2010 Business Technology Seminar (BTS), a series of panel discussions and seminars sponsored by SEMA's Street Performance Council (SPC) focused on harnessing the power of the Internet to help specialty-equipment businesses grow.

Topics ranged from the fundamentals of online marketing, improving product data standards for better distribution, using video to promote products and creating a savvy Internet marketing budget.

After the BTS 2010 wound down, a cocktail reception kicked-off the evening's banquet festivities. Emcee Dave McClelland hosted the ceremonies honoring SEMA Hall of Fame inductees and incoming and outgoing Board members. The program also featured thoughts from SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres.

2010 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Schwartz reflected on 28 years of serving as producer of the SEMA Show.

Fundraising for Childhelp and Victory Junction didn't stop at the Gala, however. Several donors from the industry and the SEMA Board of Directors answered SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting's challenge to shave his head for a $10,000 pledge to Childhelp and Victory Junction.

Similar to last year when Ayres, his wife Cindy, Show 'N Shine organizer Mike Spagnola and SEMA Vice President of Communications and Events Peter MacGillivray were sheared for charity, Kersting ended up on the business end of hair clippers before the night was through.

SEMA thanks all for their extraordinary volunteer efforts and encourages all who would like to volunteer for next year's event to contact SEMA Special Events Administrator Lisa Moreno at LisaM@sema.org.

SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) and Chairman-Elect Paul "Scooter" Brothers (right) welcome first-time SEMA Board Member John Hotchkis of Hotchkis Performance.	SEMA Hall of Famers Van Woodell, Harry Hibler, Louis Senter and Ron Funfar gather at at the Show 'N Shine.
Famous Rhodes from eBay Motors discusses organizing product data to an industry standard during the 2010 Business Technology Seminar.	At the BTS 2010, Tyler Tanaka offered ways for businesses to tap into the marketing potential of social media.
The Show 'N Shine car show drew nearly 120 cars and trucks and 900 spectators.	Chip Foose returned as Grand Marshal of the Show 'N Shine and shared his time—and artistic talents—with a long line of admirers.
The third-annual Pinewood Drag Races highlighted the creativity and ingenuity of industry enthusiasts and passionate kids.	SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting made good on his pledge: The industry came up with $10,000 for Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp and Kersting sat down to the clippers.

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the “National Manufacturing Strategy Act” (H.R. 4692), which would make manufacturing a top priority for Congress and the administration. This SEMA-supported legislation is intended to promote government policies to foster economic growth, increase employment and productivity, and expand exports for the nation’s manufacturing sector. The legislation would establish a public-private advisory board to make policy recommendations to the president on how to achieve short- and long-term goals and report its findings to Congress.

The board would include representatives from various federal agencies, two state governors, private sector members with experience in managing companies, supply chain providers and labor organizations. Topics for consideration would include competitiveness, stability, sustainability, trade balance and job creation in a global economy. The board would be challenged to outline specific action items to achieve its goals and recommendations. SEMA is encouraged that the legislation is now set for a vote in the House later this summer or fall.

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the “National Manufacturing Strategy Act” (H.R. 4692), which would make manufacturing a top priority for Congress and the administration. This SEMA-supported legislation is intended to promote government policies to foster economic growth, increase employment and productivity, and expand exports for the nation’s manufacturing sector. The legislation would establish a public-private advisory board to make policy recommendations to the president on how to achieve short- and long-term goals and report its findings to Congress.

The board would include representatives from various federal agencies, two state governors, private sector members with experience in managing companies, supply chain providers and labor organizations. Topics for consideration would include competitiveness, stability, sustainability, trade balance and job creation in a global economy. The board would be challenged to outline specific action items to achieve its goals and recommendations. SEMA is encouraged that the legislation is now set for a vote in the House later this summer or fall.

For more information, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

There are still a few booths available in the Accessories & Tuning sector at the upcoming Automechanika show taking place September 14–19, in Frankfurt, Germany. A record number of visitors attended the biennial Automechanika in 2008, with more than 161,000 visitors from 146 countries coming to Frankfurt.

For more information contact Bridget Ferris at bridget.ferris@usa.messefrankfurt.com or:

Bridget Ferris, International Sales & Marketing Manager
Messe Frankfurt
1600 Parkwood Cir., Ste. 615
Atlanta, GA 30339
678/732-2426 (Direct)
770/984-8023 (Fax)

There are still a few booths available in the Accessories & Tuning sector at the upcoming Automechanika show taking place September 14–19, in Frankfurt, Germany. A record number of visitors attended the biennial Automechanika in 2008, with more than 161,000 visitors from 146 countries coming to Frankfurt.

For more information contact Bridget Ferris at bridget.ferris@usa.messefrankfurt.com or:

Bridget Ferris, International Sales & Marketing Manager
Messe Frankfurt
1600 Parkwood Cir., Ste. 615
Atlanta, GA 30339
678/732-2426 (Direct)
770/984-8023 (Fax)

There are still a few booths available in the Accessories & Tuning sector at the upcoming Automechanika show taking place September 14–19, in Frankfurt, Germany. A record number of visitors attended the biennial Automechanika in 2008, with more than 161,000 visitors from 146 countries coming to Frankfurt.

For more information contact Bridget Ferris at bridget.ferris@usa.messefrankfurt.com or:

Bridget Ferris, International Sales & Marketing Manager
Messe Frankfurt
1600 Parkwood Cir., Ste. 615
Atlanta, GA 30339
678/732-2426 (Direct)
770/984-8023 (Fax)

There are still a few booths available in the Accessories & Tuning sector at the upcoming Automechanika show taking place September 14–19, in Frankfurt, Germany. A record number of visitors attended the biennial Automechanika in 2008, with more than 161,000 visitors from 146 countries coming to Frankfurt.

For more information contact Bridget Ferris at bridget.ferris@usa.messefrankfurt.com or:

Bridget Ferris, International Sales & Marketing Manager
Messe Frankfurt
1600 Parkwood Cir., Ste. 615
Atlanta, GA 30339
678/732-2426 (Direct)
770/984-8023 (Fax)

With all the news about Chinese workers striking against Honda suppliers, you probably know that Honda-brand cars are on the road in China. What you might not know is that non-Chinese Asian brands accounted for 25% of the light-vehicle market in China in 2009. And tuner shops in China are looking for high-quality performance parts for those vehicles. For SEMA-member Injen Technology Co. Ltd., that’s good news. Injen, a manufacturer of high-performance air intakes and filters, is signed up for the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September.

“We are clearly the leaders in the Japanese and Asian import market in this category,” said Injen president Ron Delgado. “Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Mazda. If those applications are in China, we’re a shoe-in.”

Japanese brands accounted for 18.4% of light-vehicle sales in China in 2009, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Korea brands accounted for 6.6%. Sales of Japanese brands rose 50% in 2009; Korean brand sales nearly doubled. SEMA members can learn more about this growing market at the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this ground-breaking event will allow you to get to know them and the market.

Beijing Tuning Shop works mainly on Toyota, Honda and Subaru models, said owner Zhang Yu. The most popular modifications are shock absorbers, wheel rims and body kits, he said. “We need better-quality suspensions," said Yu. "We need harder shock absorbers to make sure that when we drive on uneven roads, it is not bumpy."

The China modification market is young to be sure. But young Chinese are avid Internet surfers and they are learning fast. Though most Subaru models in China are imports, it's a very popular brand for modification, said Liu Qingfeng, manager of Carnet, an online business-to-business company selling high-performance motor oil, oil filters, brake pads and suspension products, among other products.

“We found that about 40% of Subaru consumers seek high performance," said Qingfeng. "In China, there are about 40,000 Subaru car owners. They bought it because it is suitable for modifications,” .

SEMA member Amsoil Inc. makes a full range of high-performance synthetic lubricants. Greg Sandbulte, Amsoil’s vice president of international, will be in Beijing. “My impression is that it is a tremendous opportunity,” he said. It’s an opportunity Injen’s Delgado doesn’t want to miss. “We want to be part of the growing auto enthusiast segment,” he said. “We don’t want to be one of those who say, ‘we should have been there 10 years ago.’”

Being in Beijing in September with SEMA can help you be part of the China market, too. For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/china.

With all the news about Chinese workers striking against Honda suppliers, you probably know that Honda-brand cars are on the road in China. What you might not know is that non-Chinese Asian brands accounted for 25% of the light-vehicle market in China in 2009. And tuner shops in China are looking for high-quality performance parts for those vehicles. For SEMA-member Injen Technology Co. Ltd., that’s good news. Injen, a manufacturer of high-performance air intakes and filters, is signed up for the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September.

“We are clearly the leaders in the Japanese and Asian import market in this category,” said Injen president Ron Delgado. “Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Mazda. If those applications are in China, we’re a shoe-in.”

Japanese brands accounted for 18.4% of light-vehicle sales in China in 2009, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Korea brands accounted for 6.6%. Sales of Japanese brands rose 50% in 2009; Korean brand sales nearly doubled. SEMA members can learn more about this growing market at the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this ground-breaking event will allow you to get to know them and the market.

Beijing Tuning Shop works mainly on Toyota, Honda and Subaru models, said owner Zhang Yu. The most popular modifications are shock absorbers, wheel rims and body kits, he said. “We need better-quality suspensions," said Yu. "We need harder shock absorbers to make sure that when we drive on uneven roads, it is not bumpy."

The China modification market is young to be sure. But young Chinese are avid Internet surfers and they are learning fast. Though most Subaru models in China are imports, it's a very popular brand for modification, said Liu Qingfeng, manager of Carnet, an online business-to-business company selling high-performance motor oil, oil filters, brake pads and suspension products, among other products.

“We found that about 40% of Subaru consumers seek high performance," said Qingfeng. "In China, there are about 40,000 Subaru car owners. They bought it because it is suitable for modifications,” .

SEMA member Amsoil Inc. makes a full range of high-performance synthetic lubricants. Greg Sandbulte, Amsoil’s vice president of international, will be in Beijing. “My impression is that it is a tremendous opportunity,” he said. It’s an opportunity Injen’s Delgado doesn’t want to miss. “We want to be part of the growing auto enthusiast segment,” he said. “We don’t want to be one of those who say, ‘we should have been there 10 years ago.’”

Being in Beijing in September with SEMA can help you be part of the China market, too. For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/china.

With all the news about Chinese workers striking against Honda suppliers, you probably know that Honda-brand cars are on the road in China. What you might not know is that non-Chinese Asian brands accounted for 25% of the light-vehicle market in China in 2009. And tuner shops in China are looking for high-quality performance parts for those vehicles. For SEMA-member Injen Technology Co. Ltd., that’s good news. Injen, a manufacturer of high-performance air intakes and filters, is signed up for the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September.

“We are clearly the leaders in the Japanese and Asian import market in this category,” said Injen president Ron Delgado. “Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Mazda. If those applications are in China, we’re a shoe-in.”

Japanese brands accounted for 18.4% of light-vehicle sales in China in 2009, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Korea brands accounted for 6.6%. Sales of Japanese brands rose 50% in 2009; Korean brand sales nearly doubled. SEMA members can learn more about this growing market at the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this ground-breaking event will allow you to get to know them and the market.

Beijing Tuning Shop works mainly on Toyota, Honda and Subaru models, said owner Zhang Yu. The most popular modifications are shock absorbers, wheel rims and body kits, he said. “We need better-quality suspensions," said Yu. "We need harder shock absorbers to make sure that when we drive on uneven roads, it is not bumpy."

The China modification market is young to be sure. But young Chinese are avid Internet surfers and they are learning fast. Though most Subaru models in China are imports, it's a very popular brand for modification, said Liu Qingfeng, manager of Carnet, an online business-to-business company selling high-performance motor oil, oil filters, brake pads and suspension products, among other products.

“We found that about 40% of Subaru consumers seek high performance," said Qingfeng. "In China, there are about 40,000 Subaru car owners. They bought it because it is suitable for modifications,” .

SEMA member Amsoil Inc. makes a full range of high-performance synthetic lubricants. Greg Sandbulte, Amsoil’s vice president of international, will be in Beijing. “My impression is that it is a tremendous opportunity,” he said. It’s an opportunity Injen’s Delgado doesn’t want to miss. “We want to be part of the growing auto enthusiast segment,” he said. “We don’t want to be one of those who say, ‘we should have been there 10 years ago.’”

Being in Beijing in September with SEMA can help you be part of the China market, too. For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/china.