By SEMA Editors

Part of the SEMA Show planning process is securing a hotel that will fit your needs. Location, low price, amenities and ratings are all factors in determining the right place to stay for November.

To make the process quick and affordable, the SEMA Show Block website lists all the hotels available, the prices, distance from Show and more. Hotels booked in the Block are backed by a low-price guarantee. To ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set.

There are more than 30 properties to choose from in the Show Block. As an added benefit, SEMA provides shuttle service to and from the Show for hotels that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 2023 SEMA Show takes place October 31–November 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Exhibitors that would like to be part of the 2023 SEMA Show can get started at www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

Registration for the Show is available www.SEMAShow.com/register.

 By Douglas McColloch

When the subject of conversation turns to tires, few industry experts can speak with as much authority as Dick Gust. The current CEO of the Tire Industry Association (TIA), Gust started his decades-long career while still in college, and upon graduation was hired as a design engineer with Uniroyal. He subsequently spent time in a variety of managerial roles with Sears Roebuck, Lakin Environmental and Liberty Tire Recycling, where he served as director of government affairs. He has worked with a number of industry associations, including the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association, American Retreaders Association and International Tire & Rubber Association. He has also served on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee.

For our annual tire and wheel issue, we spent some time with Gust to “talk tire.” What follows has been edited for clarity and length.

SEMA News: What’s your latest project? What are you working on these days?

Dick Gust: We’re working on gaining more membership, and we’re working on increasing our training programs that are our bread and butter. We really are a safety association, and it’s time that we updated a few of our training programs, so that’s our big push right now. To give two examples, we’re working on an earth-mover program, and we’re translating our commercial tire training materials into Spanish.

SN: What was your first job in the industry, and what did you learn from it?

DG: It was a summer job working at a Uniroyal tire plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to pay for my college. I was a tire builder, so I learned the business from the drum up. After I graduated, Uniroyal offered me a job in their product development department. So that job gave me the best background in knowing how a tire comes together.

SN: What has pleased you most about this industry during the time you’ve spent in it?

DG: I think it always comes down to the people. It’s a very close-knit industry. People may move around from one company to another, but their enthusiasm for tires always goes with them. I haven’t worked in other industries, but I know this one’s pretty special in terms of
camaraderie.

SN: Tire manufacturers are starting to look at domestic tire production using non-rubber agricultural products, such as dandelions, to address supply-chain and sustainability issues. What potential impact do you think this could have on the industry and on the
consumers?

DG: Manufacturers are looking long-term at less reliance on overseas rubber plantations and more on various sustainable products that they can incorporate domestically into the construction of a tire. When the materials don’t have to be transported overseas, that’s going to positively impact the supply chain, but certainly not in the next few years.

SN: The retread industry has faced challenges in recent years. What do they have to do to stay competitive?

DG: A lot of the retread companies have been purchased by major tire manufacturers, and they’re recognizing that it’s a great sustainable product. One of the challenges they’ve had, though, is with tires that are coming in from the Far Eastern countries—China, for example—and some of those tire casings are not suitable to be retreaded. Additionally, the price for a new tire in China is so inexpensive that it makes selling retreads into that market difficult. But I think over time this problem will work itself out.

SN: What’s your daily driver and what do you like best about it?

DG: I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I’ve owned four of them previously, and I just think it’s a terrific car.

SN: Let’s talk about electric vehicles (EVs) for a moment. They pose unique challenges on tires. How is the industry responding? And what can consumers expect down the road?

DG: We’ve created an electric-vehicle advisory council, and we’ve pulled together some experts within the industry to look at a lot of different things. EVs have a lot more weight than ICE vehicles, so from the tire perspective, tires for EVs are going to wear out faster. So, the manufacturers are looking at materials for these tires that make them longer-wearing and with better rolling resistance.

SN: As you mentioned, TIA is all about safety. Could you talk a bit about what you think the industry in general could do to improve safety protocols?

DG: Right now, we’re looking to emphasize the commercial tire industry a lot more. Many people who handle commercial truck tires don’t realize that it’s an OSHA requirement to be trained to do so. If you touch a commercial truck tire, you are required by OSHA to be trained. So we’re trying to aim our training programs more toward the commercial side of the business.

SN: If you went back to school, what would you study?

DG: I have a degree in chemistry, and at one point I thought about becoming a doctor. So I’d probably go back into some kind of medical field.

SN: When you’re away from work, where will you be, and what will you be doing?

DG: My wife and I are new to the East Coast now, so we spend time venturing out on weekends looking at historic sites in the Washington, D.C., area. We have a vast array of museums here, so you might find us at a museum on the weekend.

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

Client Success Manager
MyRacePass

MyRacePass is hiring a drag-racing client success manager responsible for generating revenue by developing lead generation, qualification and closing sales; recommending any potential products and services that would benefit the client while keeping an ongoing relationship with current and potential clients; training promoters on MyRacePass services and day-to-day client relations; and handling the process of a new client onboarding while working with developers and designers throughout the process.

Project Manager
Transworld Products Inc.

Transworld Products Inc. is hiring a project manager to work directly with staff and factories in Asia and targeting small to mid-sized U.S. manufacturers for sales opportunities. The candidate will be an articulate, detail-oriented, mechanically minded, creative, self-motivated professional with a minimum of three years’ global sourcing and/or project management experience.

Salesperson
Wheel-1

Wheel-1 is hiring an aftermarket wheel and tire salesperson responsible for selling company products in accordance with company requirements and customer needs; delivering sales presentations to customers in coordination with company marketing and sales strategy; and providing information regarding products, account inquiries and order status via phone or email. Candidates must be bilingual, Spanish/English is preferred, and be willing to travel. Prior sales experience is required.

By SEMA Editors

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

By Ashley Reyes

To keep businesses in the restylers/accessory market up-to-date on programs and events available to their companies, the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) is hosting a virtual general membership meeting, Tuesday, February 24, at 9:00 a.m. (PST).

General membership meetings are the ideal time to learn about what the council has planned for the year and get updated on programs available to help automotive restylers succeed in the marketplace. Participants will join members at large, connect with the select committee and tap into resources that address common challenges facing the restyling segment of the automotive aftermarket.

This is a can’t-miss event for those who want to expand their footprint in the restyling industry, as you’ll get to network, ask questions and learn how to maximize your PRO membership.

Click here for all the details and to RSVP so you don’t miss out.

  By Ashley Reyes

SEMA members are invited to connect with Vin Anatra of Hoonigan during the SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) Facebook and Instagram live chat, Wednesday, February 15, at 12:00 p.m. (PST).  

An inexperienced kid from New York with a passion for cars, Anatra helped build one of the most notable and influential brands in the automotive apparel and media space—Hoonigan. He will now go live to share his expertise on the importance of content creation in the automotive aftermarket’s marketing mix and how to turn content into tangible and sellable assets.

Anatra moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to work for the brand as an entry-level marketing coordinator. At 34 years old, he is senior vice president of partnerships and has put together more than $20 million in brand deals with automakers, 10 of the top Fortune 100 companies and a majority of the endemic aftermarket.  

SEMA members will have the opportunity to ask Anatra questions as he discusses the importance of content creation in our industry, and how he’s pivoted and evolved with the ever-changing digital landscape with authenticity as his north star.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Tom Blomqvist drove the pole-winning No. 60 Acura ARX-06 to a 4.190-second victory to win the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class win in the first race with hybrid-powered prototypes. It was the second consecutive and third overall Rolex 24 victory for the Meyer Shank team, which led a race-best 365 of the 783 laps, crossing the stripe 4.190 seconds ahead of Filipe Albuquerque in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 from Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport.

The Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-LMDh cars from Chip Ganassi Racing finished third (with driver Renger van der Zande in the No. 01) and fourth (Earl Bamber in the No. 02). The top four cars were separated by 11.176 seconds after 24 hours of racing on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course.

Blomqvist shared the car in the race with Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud, the latter duo also part of last year’s Rolex 24 triumph. Last weekend’s victory is Castroneves’ third straight in the iconic race, tying the late Peter Gregg for most consecutive overall victories in sports car racing’s renowned season opener.

The MSR No. 60 Acura led the final 97 laps despite having to repair the gearbox midrace and worrying whether it would indeed make it to the end. It marks the third straight Rolex 24 overall victory for Acura, which also won with the WTRAndretti team in 2021.

Nine hybrid prototypes made the debut of the GTP class in the race. All but one were still running at the finish, including the top six overall finishers, an impressive outing for a car making its first competitive showing in one of the longest, most grueling events on the schedule.

For complete results, click here.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Virginia House of Delegates approved SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 1378) to repeal the law tying the state to California’s motor-vehicle emissions standards. Under current law, sales of new gas- and diesel-powered vehicles will be banned starting in 2035. The bill now awaits consideration in the Virginia State Senate.

SEMA does not believe that the government—Virginia’s or California’s—should be choosing winners and losers in the automotive market. Virginians should decide what vehicles are best for them and their families.

Click here to tell Virginia lawmakers to repeal the internal combustion engine ban.

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

By Ashley Reyes 

The automotive aftermarket continues to be impacted by shifts in the industry and overall economy. To stay competitive, businesses need to know where the market is headed.  

The new “SEMA Future Trends 2023” report, available now at www.sema.org/research, provides a detailed analysis of the industry’s most important issues and trends in 2023 and beyond. Designed to help aftermarket companies make informed business decisions, the report includes four main parts:  

Specialty-Equipment Industry Outlook

• Sales for specialty-equipment parts are projected to have slowed in 2022, growing only 2% to $51.75 billion. Barring any significant economic disruption, industry sales growth should normalize in 2023 and return to the 3%–4% growth seen during typical years.  

Vehicle Trends Outlook

• New-vehicle sales finished at 13.7 million units in 2022, roughly 1.2 million units below 2021 levels. Due to supply shortages, high prices and rising interest rates, it will likely take until 2025 before things return to pre-pandemic levels.
• The prices of new vehicles are exceptionally high, hitting a record $49,507 in December 2022. Prices should soften over the next year, as supply-chain issues ease and sales soften.

U.S. Economic Outlook

• Inflation hit record levels in 2022, but has peaked and is starting to lower. SEMA estimates that inflation will continue to go down in 2023. By the end of 2023, it should normalize back to around 2% per year. Similarly, costs for producers are expected to go down in 2023.  
• Unemployment in Q4 2022 hit 3.6%—its lowest level since the late ’60s. As the economy slows down in 2023, there will likely be an uptick in unemployment. It should improve again in 2024.

Supply-Chain Disruption

• Ninety percent of industry companies say they were moderately or severely impacted by supply-chain issues over the last year.  
• The chip shortage is ongoing, but lead times are improving. As of October 2022, the lead delivery time for a chip was 25.5 weeks—down from its peak. However, supplies of chips for automobiles remain tight and constrained.

The complete “SEMA Future Trends 2023” report is available to download for free at www.sema.org/research.

The report is the subject of the webinar “SEMA Future Trends: Outlook for 2023 and Beyond,” taking place February 2, at 11:00 a.m. (PST). Register for the webinar here.

MotorTrend Celebrates 75 Years of HOT ROD With Five-City Power Tour Event

MotorTrend Group has announced the 2023 HOT ROD Power Tour in celebration of HOT ROD’s 75th anniversary. The HOT ROD Power Tour Driven By Continental Tire will be heading south to Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee visiting five cities over five days in June. As America’s largest traveling car show, more than 6,000 cars and trucks of all years, makes and models will be on display for tens of thousands of automotive enthusiasts. The tour will feature more than 1,000 miles of driving, with high-octane events, such as drag racing, autocross and live entertainment.

2023 HOT ROD Power Tour Locations:

• Day 1: Monday, June 12 – Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia
• Day 2: Tuesday, June 13 – South Carolina State Fairgrounds, Columbia, South Carolina
• Day 3: Wednesday, June 14 – Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina
• Day 4:  Thursday, June 15 – zMAX Dragway, Concord, North Carolina
• Day 5:  Friday, June 16 – Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee

For information or to register for the 2023 HOT ROD Power Tour, visit hotrodpowertour.us.

RNR Tire Express Ranks 170th in Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500” 

RNR Tire Express was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500.” The 2023 Franchise 500 ranks RNR at 170 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability and brand power.  

“The past year underscores the extraordinary opportunities that the franchise industry presents for entrepreneurs of all levels,” says Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer. “The companies named to our 44th annual Franchise 500 list represent some of the most innovative, creative and trusted brands across many industries and highlight what it takes to build the kind of momentum that drives long-lasting success.”  

To view RNR Tire Express in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2023 issue of Entrepreneur, now available on newsstands. 

Meyer Distributing Announces Hurricane, Utah Location

Meyer Distributing Inc. has announced the addition of its Hurricane, Utah, crossdock. The cross-dock will have a direct feed from Meyer’s Kingman, Arizona, distribution hub, which houses one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories, crash parts, and RV parts in the region.  

“We are always looking at where we can improve delivery times and consistency,” said Alex Blackgrove, director of crossdock operations at Meyer. “The Hurricane dock will allow us to deliver daily to the fast-growing region of St. George as well as capture some additional rural markets in Utah.” 

Ford Brings All-New Mustang GT to Barrett-Jackson Auction Block

To aid the fight against diabetes, Ford is bringing the most powerful Mustang GT ever to Barrett-Jackson’s annual auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The all-new, seventh-generation ’24 Mustang GT with VIN 001 will be auctioned off on January 28, at 7:30 p.m. (MST). All sales proceeds will benefit JDRF—a leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization whose mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.

“Ford has a long tradition of supporting charities through the Barrett-Jackson auction, and we’re proud to offer the all-new Mustang GT to support worthy causes like juvenile diabetes research,” said Mustang Marketing Manager Jim Owens. “This seventh generation is our most powerful Mustang GT yet, and the winning bidder will not only support a good cause but also become the owner of the first Mustang GT.”

This marks three generations of VIN 001 Mustang vehicles to be auctioned for charity at Barrett-Jackson, also joining the ranks of recent prized ponies like the Mustang Shelby GT500, Mustang Mach 1 and Mustang Bullitt.

The all-new ’24 Mustang GT features its most powerful 5.0L Coyote V8 ever—an engine that delivers up to 486 hp and 418 lb.-ft. of torque. It can be connected to a rev-matching six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic.

The winning bidder can choose from any standard Ford Mustang GT fastback option, including two transmission types, 11 exterior colors, an all-new lineup of alloy wheels ranging from 18 to 20 in. and Brembo brake calipers. They can also choose from available interior packages and the above-mentioned Performance Pack. For more information, visit the Barrett-Jackson website.

NASCAR Names New Senior Vice President of Competition, Promotions

NASCAR has announced Elton Sawyer has been named its senior vice president of Competition. Sawyer joined NASCAR in February 2015 as managing director of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Most recently, he held the role of NASCAR vice president, technical inspection and officiating, a role he assumed in 2016. Sawyer replaces Scott Miller, who will assume the newly formed role of competition strategist within the NASCAR Competition team after a more than 40-year career in motorsports.

NASCAR has also announced the promotions of several individuals to key positions within its competition leadership team: John Probst has been promoted to NASCAR chief racing development officer; Dr. Eric Jacuzzi has been promoted to NASCAR vice president, vehicle performance; Dr. John Patalak has been promoted to NASCAR vice president, safety engineering; and Brandon Thomas has been promoted to NASCAR vice president, vehicle design.

Ford F-150 Lightning Named Best of the Best in Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2023

Edmunds has named the Ford F-150 Lightning as the Best of the Best in Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2023. This follows the announcement last week that the Ford F-150 had won the Edmunds Top Rated Truck and the F-150 Lightning the Edmunds Top Rated Electric Truck awards.

Best of the Best is a new flagship award from Edmunds that recognizes the stand-out vehicle on sale today. Informed by Edmunds’ testing process, this award is given at the Edmunds editors’ discretion and considers the vehicle’s impact, innovation and relevance to car shoppers.

“[F-150 Lightning] embraces the advantages of electric technology to create a better truck for truckers,” said Edmunds Editor-in-Chief Alistair Weaver. “This isn’t a lifestyle toy; it’s a working tool in the best tradition of the F-150. The heart of America is in robust health.”

For more information on the F-150 Lightning please visit the Ford website.

WyoTech Announces Hall of Fame Program

WyoTech has announced the unveiling of its inaugural Hall of Fame program. This special recognition program will honor the most accomplished graduates of WyoTech, showcasing their achievements and contributions to the automotive industry. Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a ceremony at the WyoTech Laramie campus on June 2, and will continue into June 3 in conjunction with the school’s annual car show.

The WyoTech Hall of Fame will feature inductees who have significantly impacted their fields, including successful business owners, industry innovators and standout technicians. These individuals will be chosen for their dedication to their craft and commitment to excellence, representing the best and brightest of WyoTech's alumni.

To be eligible for the WyoTech Hall of Fame, nominees must be a graduate of any WyoTech campus and be established in their career, with at least five years of work post-graduation. A total of six members will be inducted into the first Hall of Fame class, whose names will be announced in April 2023. Candidates can be nominated here.

Sunnen Acquires German Dealer Hommel Präzision

Sunnen Products Co. has acquired German distribution partner Hommel Präzision. The entire Hommel sales and technical team is now part of Sunnen and will continue to support its German customers with the current communication channels, including contact persons, remaining the same.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.