SEMA News—March 2013

BUSINESS
By Mike Imlay

Racing Youth

Selling to the Young Motorsports Segment

	Attendees at the 2012 SEMA Show got a first-hand look at the Global Rallycross Championship in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The competition is part of the current type of motorsports being embraced by young racers today. If your company isn’t selling into this market, it may be missing a growth opportunity.

There is little doubt that motorsports has matured as a mainstream sporting genre in the last five decades, helping to grow the performance aftermarket into a stable, nearly $30-billion industry. Of course, the hope is that both motorsports and the industry will also stay forever young amid this maturation, with fresh new faces rejuvenating the racing scene and manufacturers continuing to revitalize their product lines. So which racing segments are “young” today, and how does the industry engage them?

According to David Wallens, editorial director of Grassroots Motorsports, the answers aren’t easy. Since its launch in 1984, Grassroots Motorsports has catered to hands-on enthusiasts, whether they are into autocross, track days or club racing or just want a neat street car. From his vantage point, Wallens has perceived some decline in youthful interest in motorsports.

“From what I’m seeing and hearing, fewer teens are into cars [and] just simply have no interest in getting a car,” said Wallens. “If they’re not into cars, then they’re not into motorsports. Fortunately, the slightly older enthusiasts tend to have the stability—and income—to truly get involved. Still, we need to get the next generation passionate about things that generate tire smoke. On the plus side, I regularly run into teens and 20-somethings—both guys and girls—who think cars are the coolest things in the world. I think part of it is culture and part is exposure. If you took a group of high schoolers to a motorsports event—and I don’t care if it’s a local autocross or the Rolex 24 at Daytona—I think they’d be hooked.”

Forever Changing

	Thanks to low attendance costs, Formula Drift events draw large crowds of young people, which in turn reflect the young drivers who act as effective brand ambassadors for industry sellers and sponsors.

Wallens noted that the youth racing scene is constantly in flux.

“In the ’90s, it was all about import drag racing,” he said. “Then reality set in: Drag racing a Honda leads to a lot of broken parts. In the ’00s, it was all about drift. Then reality set in: Drifting a 240SX leads to a lot of crunched fenders. Now, I’d say we’re seeing more younger enthusiasts back into autocross and track days. Track days have really become a huge part of our scene. For one, the car doesn’t have to be built to a certain set of rules. No one cares what camshafts or gearing you’re running. If the car is safe, you can run. Plus, it offers a solid thrill-to-dollar ratio. Last year, I ran two PDX track events sanctioned by the SCCA [Sport Car Club of America]—one at Sebring’s short course and the school course at Daytona. Cost per day: $90. That’s simply amazing.”

John Kilroy, vice president and general manager of Performance Racing Industry (PRI), echoed those comments.

“I don’t see a specific major segment of racing that is especially ‘young’ right now,” Kilroy said. “This kind of phenomenon can come and go quite rapidly. When it comes to number of participants, karting is the number-one way that young people are introduced for the first time to a motorsport. Quarter midgets and junior dragsters are also popular starting points for the next generation of racers. And Legends cars are an affordable way for a young person to start oval-track racing with the support of the parents.”

Add in Crapcan Racing along the lines of ChumpCar and 24 Hours of LeMons. It’s road racing with less emphasis on budget and more emphasis on fun.

	Aftermarket manufacturer Whiteline hopes to further penetrate the youth racing market with its new Watts link kit for the ’05–’13 Mustang.

“When you’re 25, do you really want to spend hours deciphering a rulebook?” Wallens asked. “Autocross is also still a huge part of our scene, no matter what the age. The cost of entry is even lower, and there’s really no chance of banging up anything. Plus, the skills learned while autocrossing transfer so nicely to track driving. Even more importantly, that car control makes for a better street driver.”

According to Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula Drift, economics play a huge factor in youth motorsports involvement.

“Motorsports participants skew older in most cases because motorsports are more expensive than sports like surfing, basketball or even golf,” Liaw explained. “An older individual tends to have more disposable income. Yes, there are a lot of young drivers in development—kids that are go-karting, young drivers going through development series such as F2000, Indy Lights, etc.—but they are rare and few and are funded by family money.”

Along with the motorsports mentioned above, drifting not only remains a favorite of young performance enthusiasts, but has also developed a cultural following.

“Cost of entry is low,” said Liaw. “Participants are much younger. If you look at the profiles of Formula Drift Pro Drivers, they range from 21–39, representing a dozen countries and multiple ethnicities. The majority of them have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, which shows that they are social-media savvy and are early adaptors to these new technologies. In 2012, we had 38 drivers commit to the entire tour, showing that most of them consider Formula Drift a major priority—if not the priority—in their driving careers.”

While seemingly less likely to move up to, say, NASCAR or other traditional forms of motorsports, today’s young drivers are not exactly staying put, either. Take, for example, action sports champion “General” Brian Deegan.

	Action sports champion Brian Deegan (also known as “The General”) epitomizes today’s young driver, crossing over several race disciplines from motorcross to off-road truck racing to rallycross.

At age 17, Deegan left Nebraska for Southern California, armed with only a credit card, a dirt bike and an old truck. Becoming a decorated Freestyle Motocross rider, he moved on to championship off-road racing and now holds multiple rallycross medals as well. He has recently branched out into the aftermarket with his Metal Mulisha business, which creates and sells branded apparel and performance parts.

“Somehow rallycar has been able to capture the younger audience through X Games,” said Deegan. “I think there’s a pretty bright future for rallycar due to kids grabbing onto it.”

He observed that off-road racing also offers an attractive crossover from motorcross for young racers. Moreover, as opposed to more established forms of track racing, he sees rallycar, off-road truck racing and similar forms of motorsports getting “younger.”

“I know a handful of drivers now who are like 14 years old that are just really fast,” he said. “There are a lot of young kids coming up that are really good right now—it’s breeding the younger drivers. A lot of times, people think of motorsports as expensive. That’s changing now. With the small-car market emerging, [young] people now can go buy cars that are closely simulating the cars we race—they have a better ability to get involved.”

Product Appeal

		Executive Summary Entry points for young racers are constantly in flux, creating varying demands in the marketplace. Karting, autocross, drifting, off-roading and rallycross are among the segments currently popular with young drivers. There is broad demand for safety and performance products that aftermarket businesses can tap into. Selling to this market requires an authentic voice and a willingness to engage the audience through heavy social-media and face-to-face contact.

Now that we’ve identified the young motorsporting crowd, what products appeal most to them? Wallens pointed out that his Grassroots Motorsports ad base is heavy on the firms catering to the cars preferred by today’s younger drivers.

“For us, that’s the Subaru, BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Mustang market,” he said. “Still, there’s interest from the younger crowd for what they consider to be old-school cars: E30-chassis BMW 3 Series, Honda CRX, early Miata, etc. For parts, it’s the usual—wheels, tires, bolt-on speed parts, ECU tuning. As more are getting on track, safety gear manufacturers have to take note.”

In fact, a recent article in Performance Racing Industry magazine found that safety gear is a strong product category for the youth market.

“Parents are willing to spend the extra money on items that help their children race safely, such as drivers suits, helmets, gloves, shoes, head and neck restraint devices, fireproof underwear and more,” said author Christen D’Allesandro. “Carrying an inventory with a wide selection of sizes is important, as children can quickly grow out of their safety gear during the season and need replacements fast.”

Based in Santa Ana, California, SEMA-member manufacturer Whiteline specializes in sway bars, control arms and chassis control products featuring its synthetic elastomer bushings. According to account executive Jared Chavez, the company has had a lot of success in the youth-performance market with its anti-dive/anti-lift kits, adjustable sway bars and alignment-correction bushings. For the most part, products have been geared toward the sport-compact market in Nissan, Subaru and Mitsubishi parts, but Chavez said that the company has taken the American musclecar market by storm with its new Watts linkage system for the S197 Mustang, noting that it has “really been a big halo product for us in the United States.”

Calvin Chan is director of operations at GTSpec, another SEMA-member company that is based in Deer Park, New York. GTSpec specializes in suspension, bracing and performance engine products. The manufacturer has likewise found a receptive audience among the youth racing crowd.

“We cater to most Subaru, Nissans, Mitsubishi and Hyundai models,” Chan said. “Those have been our bread and butter. We’re now branching out to more domestic cars, such as the Camaro and Ford Mustang and Focus, covering the grassroots.”

	SEMA-member manufacturer GTSpec specializes in suspension, bracing and performance engine products. Pictured here is the company’s stainless-steel, equal-length manifold for the WRX/STI Impreza with a EWG 44mm setup. Small cars continue to be popular with young racers.

Meanwhile, Deegan has seen recent success with his own line of branded performance products, which he showcased at the 2012 SEMA Show. He views the parts as a natural progression from an apparel line he started several years ago, figuring that if sponsors were going to pay good money for his product endorsements, he could do even better by putting his own name on a line.

“I was able to spawn off and do Metal Mulisha off-road wheels and lift-kits,” he said. “Now it’s the new line of Deegan 38 Wheels and lifts and more personal products. I think small cars will be the next big thing, so we’ll see how that goes; but for now, off-roading has been my niche.”

PRI’s Kilroy observed that, similar to “adult” racing, there are plenty of youth product channels for aftermarket businesses to tap into.

“At the end of the day, the young racers, with the support of their families, are looking for a variety of specialized equipment in their chosen form of racing that will help them go faster or protect their investment in the race vehicle,” Kilroy said. “It may be specialized lubricants, suspension parts, chassis tuning equipment, exhaust parts or upgrades in tires. Racers are there to do what it takes to win, no matter what their age.”

Engaging the Market

Companies seeking to sell into the youth motorsports market will want to start by understanding the emerging culture and speaking its language. This often translates to a heavy social-media presence on sites such as Facebook and Twitter. However, even while engaging the young demographic, don’t forget that they don’t necessarily make their purchase decisions alone.

Read the complete article, "Racing Youth," in the March 2013 issue of SEMA News. 

SEMA News—March 2013

BUSINESS
By Mike Imlay

Racing Youth

Selling to the Young Motorsports Segment

	Attendees at the 2012 SEMA Show got a first-hand look at the Global Rallycross Championship in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The competition is part of the current type of motorsports being embraced by young racers today. If your company isn’t selling into this market, it may be missing a growth opportunity.

There is little doubt that motorsports has matured as a mainstream sporting genre in the last five decades, helping to grow the performance aftermarket into a stable, nearly $30-billion industry. Of course, the hope is that both motorsports and the industry will also stay forever young amid this maturation, with fresh new faces rejuvenating the racing scene and manufacturers continuing to revitalize their product lines. So which racing segments are “young” today, and how does the industry engage them?

According to David Wallens, editorial director of Grassroots Motorsports, the answers aren’t easy. Since its launch in 1984, Grassroots Motorsports has catered to hands-on enthusiasts, whether they are into autocross, track days or club racing or just want a neat street car. From his vantage point, Wallens has perceived some decline in youthful interest in motorsports.

“From what I’m seeing and hearing, fewer teens are into cars [and] just simply have no interest in getting a car,” said Wallens. “If they’re not into cars, then they’re not into motorsports. Fortunately, the slightly older enthusiasts tend to have the stability—and income—to truly get involved. Still, we need to get the next generation passionate about things that generate tire smoke. On the plus side, I regularly run into teens and 20-somethings—both guys and girls—who think cars are the coolest things in the world. I think part of it is culture and part is exposure. If you took a group of high schoolers to a motorsports event—and I don’t care if it’s a local autocross or the Rolex 24 at Daytona—I think they’d be hooked.”

Forever Changing

	Thanks to low attendance costs, Formula Drift events draw large crowds of young people, which in turn reflect the young drivers who act as effective brand ambassadors for industry sellers and sponsors.

Wallens noted that the youth racing scene is constantly in flux.

“In the ’90s, it was all about import drag racing,” he said. “Then reality set in: Drag racing a Honda leads to a lot of broken parts. In the ’00s, it was all about drift. Then reality set in: Drifting a 240SX leads to a lot of crunched fenders. Now, I’d say we’re seeing more younger enthusiasts back into autocross and track days. Track days have really become a huge part of our scene. For one, the car doesn’t have to be built to a certain set of rules. No one cares what camshafts or gearing you’re running. If the car is safe, you can run. Plus, it offers a solid thrill-to-dollar ratio. Last year, I ran two PDX track events sanctioned by the SCCA [Sport Car Club of America]—one at Sebring’s short course and the school course at Daytona. Cost per day: $90. That’s simply amazing.”

John Kilroy, vice president and general manager of Performance Racing Industry (PRI), echoed those comments.

“I don’t see a specific major segment of racing that is especially ‘young’ right now,” Kilroy said. “This kind of phenomenon can come and go quite rapidly. When it comes to number of participants, karting is the number-one way that young people are introduced for the first time to a motorsport. Quarter midgets and junior dragsters are also popular starting points for the next generation of racers. And Legends cars are an affordable way for a young person to start oval-track racing with the support of the parents.”

Add in Crapcan Racing along the lines of ChumpCar and 24 Hours of LeMons. It’s road racing with less emphasis on budget and more emphasis on fun.

	Aftermarket manufacturer Whiteline hopes to further penetrate the youth racing market with its new Watts link kit for the ’05–’13 Mustang.

“When you’re 25, do you really want to spend hours deciphering a rulebook?” Wallens asked. “Autocross is also still a huge part of our scene, no matter what the age. The cost of entry is even lower, and there’s really no chance of banging up anything. Plus, the skills learned while autocrossing transfer so nicely to track driving. Even more importantly, that car control makes for a better street driver.”

According to Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula Drift, economics play a huge factor in youth motorsports involvement.

“Motorsports participants skew older in most cases because motorsports are more expensive than sports like surfing, basketball or even golf,” Liaw explained. “An older individual tends to have more disposable income. Yes, there are a lot of young drivers in development—kids that are go-karting, young drivers going through development series such as F2000, Indy Lights, etc.—but they are rare and few and are funded by family money.”

Along with the motorsports mentioned above, drifting not only remains a favorite of young performance enthusiasts, but has also developed a cultural following.

“Cost of entry is low,” said Liaw. “Participants are much younger. If you look at the profiles of Formula Drift Pro Drivers, they range from 21–39, representing a dozen countries and multiple ethnicities. The majority of them have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, which shows that they are social-media savvy and are early adaptors to these new technologies. In 2012, we had 38 drivers commit to the entire tour, showing that most of them consider Formula Drift a major priority—if not the priority—in their driving careers.”

While seemingly less likely to move up to, say, NASCAR or other traditional forms of motorsports, today’s young drivers are not exactly staying put, either. Take, for example, action sports champion “General” Brian Deegan.

	Action sports champion Brian Deegan (also known as “The General”) epitomizes today’s young driver, crossing over several race disciplines from motorcross to off-road truck racing to rallycross.

At age 17, Deegan left Nebraska for Southern California, armed with only a credit card, a dirt bike and an old truck. Becoming a decorated Freestyle Motocross rider, he moved on to championship off-road racing and now holds multiple rallycross medals as well. He has recently branched out into the aftermarket with his Metal Mulisha business, which creates and sells branded apparel and performance parts.

“Somehow rallycar has been able to capture the younger audience through X Games,” said Deegan. “I think there’s a pretty bright future for rallycar due to kids grabbing onto it.”

He observed that off-road racing also offers an attractive crossover from motorcross for young racers. Moreover, as opposed to more established forms of track racing, he sees rallycar, off-road truck racing and similar forms of motorsports getting “younger.”

“I know a handful of drivers now who are like 14 years old that are just really fast,” he said. “There are a lot of young kids coming up that are really good right now—it’s breeding the younger drivers. A lot of times, people think of motorsports as expensive. That’s changing now. With the small-car market emerging, [young] people now can go buy cars that are closely simulating the cars we race—they have a better ability to get involved.”

Product Appeal

		Executive Summary Entry points for young racers are constantly in flux, creating varying demands in the marketplace. Karting, autocross, drifting, off-roading and rallycross are among the segments currently popular with young drivers. There is broad demand for safety and performance products that aftermarket businesses can tap into. Selling to this market requires an authentic voice and a willingness to engage the audience through heavy social-media and face-to-face contact.

Now that we’ve identified the young motorsporting crowd, what products appeal most to them? Wallens pointed out that his Grassroots Motorsports ad base is heavy on the firms catering to the cars preferred by today’s younger drivers.

“For us, that’s the Subaru, BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Mustang market,” he said. “Still, there’s interest from the younger crowd for what they consider to be old-school cars: E30-chassis BMW 3 Series, Honda CRX, early Miata, etc. For parts, it’s the usual—wheels, tires, bolt-on speed parts, ECU tuning. As more are getting on track, safety gear manufacturers have to take note.”

In fact, a recent article in Performance Racing Industry magazine found that safety gear is a strong product category for the youth market.

“Parents are willing to spend the extra money on items that help their children race safely, such as drivers suits, helmets, gloves, shoes, head and neck restraint devices, fireproof underwear and more,” said author Christen D’Allesandro. “Carrying an inventory with a wide selection of sizes is important, as children can quickly grow out of their safety gear during the season and need replacements fast.”

Based in Santa Ana, California, SEMA-member manufacturer Whiteline specializes in sway bars, control arms and chassis control products featuring its synthetic elastomer bushings. According to account executive Jared Chavez, the company has had a lot of success in the youth-performance market with its anti-dive/anti-lift kits, adjustable sway bars and alignment-correction bushings. For the most part, products have been geared toward the sport-compact market in Nissan, Subaru and Mitsubishi parts, but Chavez said that the company has taken the American musclecar market by storm with its new Watts linkage system for the S197 Mustang, noting that it has “really been a big halo product for us in the United States.”

Calvin Chan is director of operations at GTSpec, another SEMA-member company that is based in Deer Park, New York. GTSpec specializes in suspension, bracing and performance engine products. The manufacturer has likewise found a receptive audience among the youth racing crowd.

“We cater to most Subaru, Nissans, Mitsubishi and Hyundai models,” Chan said. “Those have been our bread and butter. We’re now branching out to more domestic cars, such as the Camaro and Ford Mustang and Focus, covering the grassroots.”

	SEMA-member manufacturer GTSpec specializes in suspension, bracing and performance engine products. Pictured here is the company’s stainless-steel, equal-length manifold for the WRX/STI Impreza with a EWG 44mm setup. Small cars continue to be popular with young racers.

Meanwhile, Deegan has seen recent success with his own line of branded performance products, which he showcased at the 2012 SEMA Show. He views the parts as a natural progression from an apparel line he started several years ago, figuring that if sponsors were going to pay good money for his product endorsements, he could do even better by putting his own name on a line.

“I was able to spawn off and do Metal Mulisha off-road wheels and lift-kits,” he said. “Now it’s the new line of Deegan 38 Wheels and lifts and more personal products. I think small cars will be the next big thing, so we’ll see how that goes; but for now, off-roading has been my niche.”

PRI’s Kilroy observed that, similar to “adult” racing, there are plenty of youth product channels for aftermarket businesses to tap into.

“At the end of the day, the young racers, with the support of their families, are looking for a variety of specialized equipment in their chosen form of racing that will help them go faster or protect their investment in the race vehicle,” Kilroy said. “It may be specialized lubricants, suspension parts, chassis tuning equipment, exhaust parts or upgrades in tires. Racers are there to do what it takes to win, no matter what their age.”

Engaging the Market

Companies seeking to sell into the youth motorsports market will want to start by understanding the emerging culture and speaking its language. This often translates to a heavy social-media presence on sites such as Facebook and Twitter. However, even while engaging the young demographic, don’t forget that they don’t necessarily make their purchase decisions alone.

Read the complete article, "Racing Youth," in the March 2013 issue of SEMA News. 

As part of a broad effort to achieve comprehensive tax reform, the draft “Tax Reform Act of 2013” has been released by the House Ways and Means Committee to simplify the tax code for small businesses and spur job creation. Earlier this year, the Committee began the long tax reform process by establishing 11 bipartisan working groups focused on different issues including manufacturing, energy, income and tax distribution and small business/pass-throughs. These groups are scheduled to report their findings and recommendations by April 15.

The draft small business tax reforms address several key components of interest to SEMA member companies:

• Makes permanent “Section 179” expensing, allowing small businesses to immediately deduct investments in new equipment up to $250,000 (phased-out for investments exceeding $800,000). These levels will revert to $25,000 and $200,000 in 2014 without legislation.

• Replaces small business tax-accounting rules with a uniform rule allowing small businesses with gross receipts of $10 million or less to use the cash method of accounting.

• Amends current law to establish a single deduction for start-up and organizational expenses. The bill increases the threshold for start-up expenses to $10,000 (from $5,000) and expands the deduction on organizational expenses.

• Modifies the current schedule for tax return filing to assist business owners in filing tax returns accurately. Partnerships would file by March 15, S Corporations by March 31, and C Corporations by April 15. Individuals would still be required to file by April 15, and all taxpayers would still be eligible for a six-month extension.

These initial steps toward a final comprehensive tax reform legislative package are promising and indicate a bipartisan effort to enact meaningful changes for small businesses. SEMA will remain engaged in these efforts toward a simpler tax code and provide updates as reform efforts continue.

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

As part of a broad effort to achieve comprehensive tax reform, the draft “Tax Reform Act of 2013” has been released by the House Ways and Means Committee to simplify the tax code for small businesses and spur job creation. Earlier this year, the Committee began the long tax reform process by establishing 11 bipartisan working groups focused on different issues including manufacturing, energy, income and tax distribution and small business/pass-throughs. These groups are scheduled to report their findings and recommendations by April 15.

The draft small business tax reforms address several key components of interest to SEMA member companies:

• Makes permanent “Section 179” expensing, allowing small businesses to immediately deduct investments in new equipment up to $250,000 (phased-out for investments exceeding $800,000). These levels will revert to $25,000 and $200,000 in 2014 without legislation.

• Replaces small business tax-accounting rules with a uniform rule allowing small businesses with gross receipts of $10 million or less to use the cash method of accounting.

• Amends current law to establish a single deduction for start-up and organizational expenses. The bill increases the threshold for start-up expenses to $10,000 (from $5,000) and expands the deduction on organizational expenses.

• Modifies the current schedule for tax return filing to assist business owners in filing tax returns accurately. Partnerships would file by March 15, S Corporations by March 31, and C Corporations by April 15. Individuals would still be required to file by April 15, and all taxpayers would still be eligible for a six-month extension.

These initial steps toward a final comprehensive tax reform legislative package are promising and indicate a bipartisan effort to enact meaningful changes for small businesses. SEMA will remain engaged in these efforts toward a simpler tax code and provide updates as reform efforts continue.

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

Compiled by SEMA Staff

	The International Motorsports Industry Show will be consolidated with the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show for 2013 and beyond. The 2013 PRI Trade Show will occupy the entire Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will be held December 12–14, 2013.

To help answer any remaining questions racing professionals may have, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions it has encountered regarding SEMA’s purchase of the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS).

PRI—producers of the motorsports business magazine and trade show—is working to communicate to the racing industry what it can expect from SEMA’s purchase of the IMIS Show and its consolidation into the 2013 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

“It’s important to have a frank and open discussion regarding any concerns that racing professionals may have,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “We get asked a lot of similar questions, and Chris Paulsen, one of the owners of the IMIS, said he’s getting asked many of the same questions. So, we’re publicizing an FAQ that we put together to keep the record straight.”

Some of the questions concern the identity of the Show, events and attendance policies, while others are about the relationship to SEMA and what that might mean.

“PRI will remain PRI and provide an outstanding trade show experience for the racing industry once again in 2013,” said Kilroy, noting that the PRI team continues to operate out of its longtime headquarters in Laguna Beach, California. “We are working with the considerable resources of SEMA to explore ways to improve the Show, and I believe racing professionals will enjoy some of the new things we’re planning when it comes to our seminars and events.”

The PRI Trade Show will remain a hardcore racing trade show. There will be no difference in the way PRI provides customer service to its exhibiting companies based on whether a company may have exhibited only at IMIS. Neither attendees nor exhibitors will be required to join SEMA to participate in the PRI Trade Show. The safety and technical educational programming of IMIS will continue at the 2013 PRI Trade Show, mostly at the new Race Safety & Technology Center. The PRI Trade Show will be racer-friendly, as it expands its attendance development beyond racing businesses to include race teams.

The 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show takes place December 12–14, in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will feature exhibits by 1,100 racing companies. Approximately 40,000 racing professionals are expected to attend from across the United States and 72 countries.

For the entire FAQ, visit www.prishow.org/indyfaq. For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com or www.sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Staff

	The International Motorsports Industry Show will be consolidated with the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show for 2013 and beyond. The 2013 PRI Trade Show will occupy the entire Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will be held December 12–14, 2013.

To help answer any remaining questions racing professionals may have, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions it has encountered regarding SEMA’s purchase of the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS).

PRI—producers of the motorsports business magazine and trade show—is working to communicate to the racing industry what it can expect from SEMA’s purchase of the IMIS Show and its consolidation into the 2013 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

“It’s important to have a frank and open discussion regarding any concerns that racing professionals may have,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “We get asked a lot of similar questions, and Chris Paulsen, one of the owners of the IMIS, said he’s getting asked many of the same questions. So, we’re publicizing an FAQ that we put together to keep the record straight.”

Some of the questions concern the identity of the Show, events and attendance policies, while others are about the relationship to SEMA and what that might mean.

“PRI will remain PRI and provide an outstanding trade show experience for the racing industry once again in 2013,” said Kilroy, noting that the PRI team continues to operate out of its longtime headquarters in Laguna Beach, California. “We are working with the considerable resources of SEMA to explore ways to improve the Show, and I believe racing professionals will enjoy some of the new things we’re planning when it comes to our seminars and events.”

The PRI Trade Show will remain a hardcore racing trade show. There will be no difference in the way PRI provides customer service to its exhibiting companies based on whether a company may have exhibited only at IMIS. Neither attendees nor exhibitors will be required to join SEMA to participate in the PRI Trade Show. The safety and technical educational programming of IMIS will continue at the 2013 PRI Trade Show, mostly at the new Race Safety & Technology Center. The PRI Trade Show will be racer-friendly, as it expands its attendance development beyond racing businesses to include race teams.

The 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show takes place December 12–14, in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will feature exhibits by 1,100 racing companies. Approximately 40,000 racing professionals are expected to attend from across the United States and 72 countries.

For the entire FAQ, visit www.prishow.org/indyfaq. For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com or www.sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Staff

	The International Motorsports Industry Show will be consolidated with the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show for 2013 and beyond. The 2013 PRI Trade Show will occupy the entire Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will be held December 12–14, 2013.

To help answer any remaining questions racing professionals may have, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions it has encountered regarding SEMA’s purchase of the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS).

PRI—producers of the motorsports business magazine and trade show—is working to communicate to the racing industry what it can expect from SEMA’s purchase of the IMIS Show and its consolidation into the 2013 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

“It’s important to have a frank and open discussion regarding any concerns that racing professionals may have,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “We get asked a lot of similar questions, and Chris Paulsen, one of the owners of the IMIS, said he’s getting asked many of the same questions. So, we’re publicizing an FAQ that we put together to keep the record straight.”

Some of the questions concern the identity of the Show, events and attendance policies, while others are about the relationship to SEMA and what that might mean.

“PRI will remain PRI and provide an outstanding trade show experience for the racing industry once again in 2013,” said Kilroy, noting that the PRI team continues to operate out of its longtime headquarters in Laguna Beach, California. “We are working with the considerable resources of SEMA to explore ways to improve the Show, and I believe racing professionals will enjoy some of the new things we’re planning when it comes to our seminars and events.”

The PRI Trade Show will remain a hardcore racing trade show. There will be no difference in the way PRI provides customer service to its exhibiting companies based on whether a company may have exhibited only at IMIS. Neither attendees nor exhibitors will be required to join SEMA to participate in the PRI Trade Show. The safety and technical educational programming of IMIS will continue at the 2013 PRI Trade Show, mostly at the new Race Safety & Technology Center. The PRI Trade Show will be racer-friendly, as it expands its attendance development beyond racing businesses to include race teams.

The 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show takes place December 12–14, in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will feature exhibits by 1,100 racing companies. Approximately 40,000 racing professionals are expected to attend from across the United States and 72 countries.

For the entire FAQ, visit www.prishow.org/indyfaq. For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com or www.sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Staff

	The International Motorsports Industry Show will be consolidated with the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show for 2013 and beyond. The 2013 PRI Trade Show will occupy the entire Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will be held December 12–14, 2013.

To help answer any remaining questions racing professionals may have, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions it has encountered regarding SEMA’s purchase of the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS).

PRI—producers of the motorsports business magazine and trade show—is working to communicate to the racing industry what it can expect from SEMA’s purchase of the IMIS Show and its consolidation into the 2013 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

“It’s important to have a frank and open discussion regarding any concerns that racing professionals may have,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “We get asked a lot of similar questions, and Chris Paulsen, one of the owners of the IMIS, said he’s getting asked many of the same questions. So, we’re publicizing an FAQ that we put together to keep the record straight.”

Some of the questions concern the identity of the Show, events and attendance policies, while others are about the relationship to SEMA and what that might mean.

“PRI will remain PRI and provide an outstanding trade show experience for the racing industry once again in 2013,” said Kilroy, noting that the PRI team continues to operate out of its longtime headquarters in Laguna Beach, California. “We are working with the considerable resources of SEMA to explore ways to improve the Show, and I believe racing professionals will enjoy some of the new things we’re planning when it comes to our seminars and events.”

The PRI Trade Show will remain a hardcore racing trade show. There will be no difference in the way PRI provides customer service to its exhibiting companies based on whether a company may have exhibited only at IMIS. Neither attendees nor exhibitors will be required to join SEMA to participate in the PRI Trade Show. The safety and technical educational programming of IMIS will continue at the 2013 PRI Trade Show, mostly at the new Race Safety & Technology Center. The PRI Trade Show will be racer-friendly, as it expands its attendance development beyond racing businesses to include race teams.

The 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show takes place December 12–14, in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It will feature exhibits by 1,100 racing companies. Approximately 40,000 racing professionals are expected to attend from across the United States and 72 countries.

For the entire FAQ, visit www.prishow.org/indyfaq. For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com or www.sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NMCA Announces 2013 Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series Schedule
ProMedia Events has announced that the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series is back for 2013. The racing series is for street-based vehicles powered by Chevrolet’s LS and LSX engines and it takes place at four select events around the United States.

The four-race LSX Challenge Series for 2013 includes stops in Bradenton, Florida, Commerce, Georgia and Bowling Green, Kentucky, with the championship again to be decided at the 7th Annual LSX Shootout, held in conjunction with the NMCA World Street Finals, in Indianapolis. The race dates and locations include:

• 11th Annual Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Season Opener—Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, Florida, March 21–24, 2013
• 2nd Annual Chevy High Performance Nationals Presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Atlanta Dragway—Atlanta, May 31–June 2, 2013
• 4th Annual Holley LS-Fest—Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 6–8, 2013
• 12th Annual Flowmaster NMCA World Street Finals – Featuring the 7th Annual Chevrolet Performance LSX Shootout, Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis, October 10–13, 2013

The third event will be the Holley LS Fest, September 6–8, 2013, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at Beech Bend Raceway. As in the past, LS Fest organizers will allow racers to follow the rules and classes of the LSX Challenge Series, with points and contingency awarded applying to the championship. Racers competing for the championship must participate in three of the four races, including the LSX Shootout. The results of each race will be tracked throughout the season in NMCA’s Fastest Street Car.

The LSX Challenge Series features six racing classes each season:

• JE Pistons Drag Radial
• ERL Performance All Motor
• Holley EFI Real Street
• Proform LSX Rumble
• DiabloSport 5th Gen Camaro Presented by Camaro Performers
• TREMEC True Street

	Honda Performance Development will award cash contingency prizes for the USTCC competitors racing the ’06 or newer Honda Civic Si.

Honda Performance Development Supports Honda Teams in USTCC
Honda Performance Development (HPD)—the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co. Inc.—has announced the details of its 2013 contingency program for participants in the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC). HPD will award cash contingency prizes for the USTCC competitors racing the ’06 or newer Honda Civic Si. Teams racing these models can win $1,000 at each race with a $2,000 bonus for winning the championship. The 2013 program also provides support for teams racing older Honda and Acura products that are eligible to win Honda parts credit vouchers that can be used for OE parts, HPD performance parts and select Honda generators.

To be eligible for the HPD Contingency Program, competitors must be registered members of the Honda Racing Line program. Contingency forms and information will be available on the web site.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Announces Alliance With DeltaWing Racing Cars for 2013 Season
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has announced its 2013 alliance with DeltaWing Racing Cars as a one-car entry in the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Bridgestone will supply Potenza tires for the select races in which DeltaWing chooses to compete during the 2013 ALMS season.

Originally created as a potential new IndyCar of the future, the DeltaWing first was funded by longtime IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi. Although IndyCar ultimately decided to stay with a traditional Dallara design, the DeltaWing race car continues to thrive in sports car racing, running last year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Car Guy Nation Launches Aston Martin/Gentleman Racer Campaign
Car Guy Nation kicks off its first interactive social promotion in the motorsport arena this week with the Aston Martin/Gentleman Racer Campaign. The series follows a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) major racer through his 2013 racing season, providing an up-close-and-personal account of the day-to-day realities he faces on the track and behind the scenes. It's presented as a sequence of personal video narratives, reflecting multiple perspectives through the eyes of the driver himself, as well as the team manager, mechanic and others sharing and supporting the driver's racing aspirations. It will feature the first "privateer racer" in North America competing with the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 car sponsored by Car Guy Nation.

The story line will depict the key characters in their everyday surroundings, monitoring all of the triumphs and joys, trials and tribulations that come with competition racing and the lifestyle that underlies this particular gentleman racer's drive and passion to compete. With a nod to Aston Martin's British heritage, the story will carry the thematic tag line "Gentleman Racer: The Chronicles of a Distinguished Aston Man."

The campaign starts this week with the installation of the custom Car Guy Nation livery wrap and ends with the last race in late August. The action will be filmed in the shop, around the paddock and pits and on the track.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NMCA Announces 2013 Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series Schedule
ProMedia Events has announced that the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series is back for 2013. The racing series is for street-based vehicles powered by Chevrolet’s LS and LSX engines and it takes place at four select events around the United States.

The four-race LSX Challenge Series for 2013 includes stops in Bradenton, Florida, Commerce, Georgia and Bowling Green, Kentucky, with the championship again to be decided at the 7th Annual LSX Shootout, held in conjunction with the NMCA World Street Finals, in Indianapolis. The race dates and locations include:

• 11th Annual Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Season Opener—Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, Florida, March 21–24, 2013
• 2nd Annual Chevy High Performance Nationals Presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Atlanta Dragway—Atlanta, May 31–June 2, 2013
• 4th Annual Holley LS-Fest—Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 6–8, 2013
• 12th Annual Flowmaster NMCA World Street Finals – Featuring the 7th Annual Chevrolet Performance LSX Shootout, Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis, October 10–13, 2013

The third event will be the Holley LS Fest, September 6–8, 2013, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at Beech Bend Raceway. As in the past, LS Fest organizers will allow racers to follow the rules and classes of the LSX Challenge Series, with points and contingency awarded applying to the championship. Racers competing for the championship must participate in three of the four races, including the LSX Shootout. The results of each race will be tracked throughout the season in NMCA’s Fastest Street Car.

The LSX Challenge Series features six racing classes each season:

• JE Pistons Drag Radial
• ERL Performance All Motor
• Holley EFI Real Street
• Proform LSX Rumble
• DiabloSport 5th Gen Camaro Presented by Camaro Performers
• TREMEC True Street

	Honda Performance Development will award cash contingency prizes for the USTCC competitors racing the ’06 or newer Honda Civic Si.

Honda Performance Development Supports Honda Teams in USTCC
Honda Performance Development (HPD)—the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co. Inc.—has announced the details of its 2013 contingency program for participants in the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC). HPD will award cash contingency prizes for the USTCC competitors racing the ’06 or newer Honda Civic Si. Teams racing these models can win $1,000 at each race with a $2,000 bonus for winning the championship. The 2013 program also provides support for teams racing older Honda and Acura products that are eligible to win Honda parts credit vouchers that can be used for OE parts, HPD performance parts and select Honda generators.

To be eligible for the HPD Contingency Program, competitors must be registered members of the Honda Racing Line program. Contingency forms and information will be available on the web site.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Announces Alliance With DeltaWing Racing Cars for 2013 Season
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has announced its 2013 alliance with DeltaWing Racing Cars as a one-car entry in the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Bridgestone will supply Potenza tires for the select races in which DeltaWing chooses to compete during the 2013 ALMS season.

Originally created as a potential new IndyCar of the future, the DeltaWing first was funded by longtime IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi. Although IndyCar ultimately decided to stay with a traditional Dallara design, the DeltaWing race car continues to thrive in sports car racing, running last year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Car Guy Nation Launches Aston Martin/Gentleman Racer Campaign
Car Guy Nation kicks off its first interactive social promotion in the motorsport arena this week with the Aston Martin/Gentleman Racer Campaign. The series follows a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) major racer through his 2013 racing season, providing an up-close-and-personal account of the day-to-day realities he faces on the track and behind the scenes. It's presented as a sequence of personal video narratives, reflecting multiple perspectives through the eyes of the driver himself, as well as the team manager, mechanic and others sharing and supporting the driver's racing aspirations. It will feature the first "privateer racer" in North America competing with the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 car sponsored by Car Guy Nation.

The story line will depict the key characters in their everyday surroundings, monitoring all of the triumphs and joys, trials and tribulations that come with competition racing and the lifestyle that underlies this particular gentleman racer's drive and passion to compete. With a nod to Aston Martin's British heritage, the story will carry the thematic tag line "Gentleman Racer: The Chronicles of a Distinguished Aston Man."

The campaign starts this week with the installation of the custom Car Guy Nation livery wrap and ends with the last race in late August. The action will be filmed in the shop, around the paddock and pits and on the track.