SEMA News—October 2012 

EVENTS
By Steve Campbell

Must-See 2012 SEMA Show Features

Some of the Attractions at the World’s Greatest Automotive Show

The SEMA Show is the world’s largest automotive trade show, but it’s much more than that. It’s a museum, a looking glass into the future, a university, a carnival, a catalog of innovation, a media frenzy and an incubator for tomorrow’s industry leaders. In short, from Tuesday, October 30–Friday, November 2, it’s the place where every automotive professional should be and where every auto enthusiast wishes he or she could be.

From the moment the doors swing open until the last vehicle drives out on the roads leading out of Las Vegas, the SEMA Show is jam-packed with must-see vehicles, parts and programs. Here’s a partial list; keep your eyes open over the next few weeks for even more!

Online Floorplan

Okay, so the online floor plan is technically not a part of the physical SEMA Show. But it’s the starting point for everything that follows. Use it to find exhibitors, track down display areas and map the most efficient path to the booths you need to visit. It even shows where the restrooms are, and you know that’s going to be important. Visit www.SEMAShow.com today, and click on the “Floorplan” link to get started.

The Exhibitor Manual

If your company is exhibiting at the SEMA Show, the online Exhibitor Manual is as important as the online floorplan. It holds the key to SEMA Show activities, deadlines, marketing opportunities, services and more. Go to www.SEMAShow.com/esm. Read and learn, save money, amaze your friends and attract buyers.

Registration

The hot ticket for SEMA Show registration is also online. It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way for buyers to obtain credentials, and a badge permits the bearer to enter both the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the SEMA Show. Online registration is only $25 through October 15, while fax or regular-mail registration is $50. Or you can wait to get to Vegas and pay $75 onsite (starting October 16). Online buyer registrants will receive their badges in the mail, while all media must pick up their badges at the Media Center, room S219 on the Skybridge, between the Central and South Halls. Preregistered media receive updates and press releases leading up to the Show. If you do wait to register onsite, you’ll do so at the new location in room N109 at the back of the Grand Lobby in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Vehicle Technology Center

The SEMA Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) and the Technology Briefing Seminar (TBS) program are designed to introduce SEMA members to the benefits of SEMA-developed vehicle technology solutions and partnerships and help them to leverage tomorrow’s technologies, which is central to business survival and the growth of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. The VTC has been moved to the Grand Lobby of the LVCC for the 2012 SEMA Show and features a wealth of forward-looking forums and panel sessions based around vehicle dynamics, racing and performance, connected-vehicle technologies and SEMA’s partnership with the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/education for a schedule of TBS programs.

New Products Breakfast

SEMA’s annual New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the SEMA Show. The award winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 1, from 7:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m. at the New Products Awards Breakfast.

Products are judged in 16 award categories, and each category will have one winner and two runners-up. Open (and free) to all registered attendees, the breakfast officially kicks off the SEMA Show.

SEMA Award

The SEMA Award honors vehicle models that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase the year’s coolest products. The SEMA Award recognizes one model in each of four categories: “Hottest Car,” “Hottest Sport Compact Car,” “Hottest Truck,” and “Hottest 4x4-SUV.” It also underscores the cooperative relationship between the automakers and SEMA-member companies.

“As the visionaries and innovators of the industry, our SEMA Show exhibitors determine the winners of the SEMA Award based on the vehicles they showcase in their booths,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “With each booth vehicle representing one vote, the most prominent models in each category are the winners. The SEMA Award celebrates these outstanding vehicles that emerge each year at the Show.”

The SEMA Award presentations for 2012 will take place at the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC immediately following the conclusion of the New Products Breakfast at approximately 8:45 a.m.

Rep Technology Roundtable

On Sunday, October 28, from 3:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. at the LVH (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) attendees at the Rep Technology Roundtable (exclusively for reps) will learn how to take advantage of a technological economy and become more profitable. The event will start with a panel discussion moderated by Bryan Shirley, CPMR, and attendees will then take part in intimate roundtable discussions led by industry experts such as SEMA Data Co-op CEO Jon Wyly, eTool Developers President and Founder Luanne Brown, Upshift Marketing Principal Bernard Bolisig and Cie Studios Vice President of Business Development Tyler Tanaka. For more information, contact Zane Clark at 909-978-6696.

Off-Road Success Center

Companies that want to learn more about the off-road segment of the automotive specialty-equipment industry will be treated to a new Off-Road Success Center, presented by OMIX-ADA/Rugged Ridge. This educational display will be located in booth #30147 of the upper South Hall in the LVCC and will provide business owners and decision makers with a purpose-built venue to exchange ideas, learn new concepts for success and network with other like-minded businesspeople.

The Off-Road Success Center will offer educational seminars, one-on-one consultations, demonstrations and free print materials along with a range of vehicles that will include vintage models provided by Jeep Jamboree USA and OMIX-ADA. Each seminar will be led by industry specialists, who will share best practices and tips for maximizing operational, sales and marketing strategies within the off-road industry.

Further information, including confirmed experts as well as dates and times of each seminar, see “Industry News” on p. 12 of this issue.

Auto Dealer Accessory Conference and Show Tour

Formerly known as Dealer Day, the Auto Dealer Accessory Conference and Show Tour has been designed exclusively for franchised and independent automotive dealers. It will be held Wednesday, October 31, from 9:30 a.m.–11:45 a.m. and will feature a focused panel discussion addressing critical areas of accessory integration and how they impact operations in all key dealership departments. Then dealership employees will lead intimate roundtable discussions covering accounting, fixed operations, finance and insurance, new and used sales, accessory sales and more, providing participants with the chance to have their specific questions answered and learn what is working for other dealerships.

Attendees will also be given preferred seating at the Connected Vehicle Keynote (featuring Anthony Levandowski, Google), followed by an insider’s tour of the SEMA Show that will highlight key products and services that can help dealers increase sales and add profit to their operations.

For complete information on the Auto Dealer Accessory Conference, visit www.SEMAShow.com/auto-dealer.

Technical Skills & Training Conference

Automotive restyling dealers, installers and manufacturers will have a chance to receive specialized education and hands-on learning at the Technical Skills & Training Conference (TSTC), which will be held in conjunction with the SEMA Show for the first time and is slated for November 1 from 11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in rooms N101–N103 of the LVCC.

Sponsored by SEMA’s Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council, the TSTC is free with SEMA Show registration, so it’s a great place to learn how to grow and expand an accessory business with help from industry-leading manufacturers through interactive sessions on proper installation techniques for custom interiors, heated seats, mobile electronics, paint protection, window films, vehicle graphics, sun roofs, vehicle connectivity and more.

SEMA Seminars

The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) offers free and “pay-to-attend” courses that provide unparalleled opportunities to learn firsthand what trends will affect automotive specialty-equipment businesses. More than 50 free educational courses and several “pay-to-attend” events will cover everything from online marketing to customer service, management, industry trends and more. These events are open only to registered 2012 SEMA Show attendees, exhibitors and media. For more information, see “Product Knowledge Direct From the Source” on p. 42, “2012 SEMA Show Education Days Brochure” on p. 67 and “Targeted Educational Programs” on p. 92. For the latest information, visit, www.SEMAShow.com/education.

Built From eBay

Here’s a different spin on the project-car theme: eBay, in association with Source Interlink Media (SIM), has partnered with four garages to build four distinctly different vehicles. As the four are being completed, they are being voted on by visitors to a build-specific website (www.builtfromebay.com), where they will ultimately choose their favorite. When the vehicles are completed, they will be auctioned off on eBay, and the proceeds will go to four affiliated charities. The unique caveat is that each vehicle was purchased on eBay and all of the parts—vintage and new alike—were also acquired on eBay.

The campaign is called Built From eBay. Team captains from the four SIM publications selected the four garages, said Matt Boice, vice president of the Enthusiast Media Group of Source Interlink Media. Hot Rod magazine selected Mackey’s Hot Rods in Huntington Beach, California, to complete a ’68 Chevrolet G20 Van supporting The Semper Fi Fund. Four Wheeler selected Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, to build its ’70 Grand Cherokee Commando supporting the California Trail Users Coalition. European Car chose GSR Autosport in Lake Forest, California, to build a ’84 Porsche 911 supporting SEMA Cares. And Lowrider chose Duran’s Quality Painting in Baldwin Park, California, to complete a ’66 Chevrolet El Camino supporting the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Built From eBay display and all its exciting features can be found at the outdoor front Silver Lot, within the DUB Live area.

Auto Apps Conference

The SEMA Automotive App Developers Conference will take place in the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC starting at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31. The conference is designed to attract the attention of technology providers, connect them with specialty-equipment manufacturers and help to generate new business opportunities for the industry. This event, which will highlight the SEMA Show as the focal point for vehicle connectivity, will include presentations from OE engineers, telematics and communications providers and specialty aftermarket suppliers. Attendees will include application developers from the leading technology firms in the United States
and abroad.

Ideas Alive

The Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase is the number-one SEMA Show buyer and media destination. It totals more than 25,000 sq. ft. of innovation and opportunity, and it’s where SEMA Show exhibitors’ best product ideas come alive. This year, the New Products Showcase will be housed in the east end of the upper level of the LVCC’s South Hall. In addition, the First-Time and Featured Exhibitors Section that debuted at last year’s SEMA Show will return in 2012 and will be located alongside the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase. With more than 2,000 manufacturers exhibiting throughout the SEMA Show, the First-Time and Featured Exhibitors section serves as an easy and convenient location for buyers to hone in on hundreds of new and emerging manufacturers who are exhibiting at the Show for the first time.

“Buyers and media often make the New Products Showcase their first stop, visiting the area even before the Show opens on Tuesday morning,” said Peter MacGillivray SEMA vice president of communications and events. “Visitors will note the products that interest them in the Showcase and create a list of exhibitors that they want to visit. This often becomes their plan for the week.”

Legendary vehicle designer Chip Foose will be making appearances at Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase. Be sure to watch for further announcements and schedules.

Overhaulin’ Studio

After a hiatus of several years, the “Overhaulin’” television show returns on the Discovery Channel with Chip Foose. The crew will also return to the SEMA Show to film a new episode with Foose and co-hosts Chris Jacobs and Jessie Combs. True to the “Overhaulin’” premise, they will “steal” a car from an unsuspecting victim, then source products from SEMA Show exhibitors as they remake the vehicle over the course of the SEMA Show week, culminating in a surprise reveal. The “Overhaulin’” studio will be located in the alcove at the front of the Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road Section in the LVCC South Hall. Keep an eye out for further developments.

Silent Auction and Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit

Two other popular features that return this year are the SEMA Silent Auction and the Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit, which will be run by recent SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Bob Larivee Sr. As always, the auction will feature dozens of pieces of memorabilia, art and unique apparel. In fact, some of the artists whose work will be displayed in the Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit have donated pieces to the auction, which will benefit the SEMA Cares charity. Both displays will be housed just upstairs from the Grand Lobby in front of the Members’ Lounge outside the
North Hall.

GM at the SEMA Show

General Motors will once again play a substantial role in the SEMA Show. Its multi-venue extravaganza will include a historical display, live interviews with four current race drivers over four days of the Show and a repeat of the Chevy Drive in the open area between the Central and South Halls, where attendees can hitch a ride. All that plus one of the largest exhibition spaces in the LVCC, which will be filled with newly completed project cars and the hottest
GM products.

West Coast Customs

West Coast Customs (WCC), one of the world’s most influential custom car shops, joins the SEMA Show once more with an array of exquisite cars and trucks. WCC has served as the backdrop of the MTV television show “Pimp My Ride” and TLC’s “Street Customs.” For 2012, founder Ryan Friedlinghaus and his West Coast Customs crew will show off the shop’s capabilities in a new exhibit in the northwest corner of the Restyling & Car Care Accessories section at North Hall. It’s sure to be a state-of-the-art display of automotive ingenuity.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

High school teams from across the country will compete for the national championship title by tearing down and rebuilding identical high-performance 350ci Chevrolet small-block engines fitted with top performance parts. Tailored after the efforts that go on between rounds of drag races throughout the country, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow “Showdown at SEMA” is the culmination of eight preliminary competitions around the nation, each of which will send a regional champion to Las Vegas. The final tale will be told by the team with the fastest time and the least number of penalty points. Look for the final rounds this year on the outside plaza in front of the Central Hall near the Car Crazy Studio.

Car Crazy Studio

And speaking of car crazy, The Car Crazy Studio has become a staple attraction at the SEMA Show, with host Barry Meguiar interviewing industry legends and celebrities on an elevated stage on the outside plaza in front of the LVCC. The interviews are broadcast live on screens throughout the convention center and have featured such NASCAR luminaries as Jack Roush and Robby Gordon and industry captains, such as Pete Chapouris, George Barris and Myles Kovacs. You never know who might turn up, so pay attention!

Ford Out Front

Ford will again feature its current crop of star drivers and racing vehicles in the Ford Out Front exhibition just outside the halls of the LVCC. The Ford Out Front experience will showcase Ford high-performance drivers performing drifting, Gymkhana and freestyle demonstrations in Ford high-performance products. In 2011, Ford brought drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Ken Block to the SEMA Show, and the program is slated to be just as exciting for 2012. Be there for driving demonstrations by drifting masters.

Mopar Alley

The best way to navigate between the east end of Central and South Halls is through Mopar Alley—a show within the Show featuring some of the hottest cars, trucks and parts available from Mopar, including some of the best examples from the original musclecar era. In 2011, the Challenger was a highlight vehicle. When you’re ready to transition from hall to hall, be sure to take a stroll through this Chrysler memory lane and glimpse into the future with a collection of Mopar, Dodge, Fiat and Chrysler vehicles.

2012 DUB Show Tour

The centerpiece of last year’s DUB display was the Luxury4Play X Platinum Motorsports matte-white Bugatti Veyron. In addition, Forgiato brought out a display rig that showcased all the company’s new wheel offerings along with Lexani/Asanti and its luxury line of wheels and accessories. DUB promises more cars, trucks, artists and entertainers at this year’s event, which is the final stop in the 2012 DUB Show Tour. It will feature custom cars, trucks, SUVs, exotics, lowriders, motorcycles and more—all in DUB style.

Motor Trend Radio Stage

Motor Trend Radio brings its industry-leading brand of broadcast content to the 2012 SEMA Show with all the latest automotive news, product reviews, celebrity guests and more. Automotive expert Alan Taylor hosts the show, flashing his quick wit and in-depth knowledge. Stop by the Motor Trend Radio stage at the east end of the LVCC South Hall to get the latest lowdown on what’s shakin’.

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Mustang Build

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women under the direction of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) and built entirely by SBN members is a joint effort by Ford Motor Co., Source Interlink Media and SEMA that is designed to shine a light on women working in the automotive specialty-equipment industry and encourage more women to pursue automotive careers. Ford donated a ’13 Ford Mustang GT, and the build took place in July and August at the Source Interlink Media headquarters in El Segundo, California, with several of Source Interlink Media’s female employees participating on the build.

Modifications were made to all aspects of the car, including the engine, undercarriage, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint, and the finished vehicle will be auctioned off to raise money for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. To learn more about the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women, visit www.SEMA.org/SEMAmustangbuild.

Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN

Get connected at the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN, and enjoy a hot meal, too! The Speed Networking breakfast allows attendees to meet dozens of men and women (all industry professionals), providing the chance to meet more business contacts at one meal than most people make in half a year. The breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, with the networking to quickly follow. For more information, visit www.SEMA.org/sbn and click on the Speed Networking Breakfast link.

WD-40 F-100

WD-40 Co., in conjunction with Street Scene Equipment and Mike Spagnola, is building an immaculate ’53 Ford F-100 designed by Chip Foose. The pickup will be showcased at the SEMA Show and will then be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2013. WD-40 has raised more than $400,000 for SEMA Cares charities Childhelp and Victory Junciton with its last three project-vehicle builds, and the F-100 will add significantly to that total. Keep an eye out for the truck in a prominent position at the SEMA Show.

SEMA Cruise at Show Close

The SEMA Show is undoubtedly a highlight of the year for the industry, but the highlight for the local populace is the SEMA Cruise, a feature that was introduced last year. At the conclusion of the Show, as the booths are dismantled and the products are packaged for shipment home, the display cars are driven out of the convention center. While this parade of rolling art has always been highly anticipated, it became an official part of the Show in 2011.

When the SEMA Show officially ends at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, the SEMA Cruise begins. With the Show’s carpets rolled up, you’ll want to stick around to see this one last automotive blast.

Featuring awards, giveaways, entertainment and even seating for the crowds who throng to view the hundreds of vehicles, the parade will once again conclude a Show full of must-see features like the many highlighted above. 

SEMA News—October 2012 

EVENTS
By Steve Campbell

Must-See 2012 SEMA Show Features

Some of the Attractions at the World’s Greatest Automotive Show

The SEMA Show is the world’s largest automotive trade show, but it’s much more than that. It’s a museum, a looking glass into the future, a university, a carnival, a catalog of innovation, a media frenzy and an incubator for tomorrow’s industry leaders. In short, from Tuesday, October 30–Friday, November 2, it’s the place where every automotive professional should be and where every auto enthusiast wishes he or she could be.

From the moment the doors swing open until the last vehicle drives out on the roads leading out of Las Vegas, the SEMA Show is jam-packed with must-see vehicles, parts and programs. Here’s a partial list; keep your eyes open over the next few weeks for even more!

Online Floorplan

Okay, so the online floor plan is technically not a part of the physical SEMA Show. But it’s the starting point for everything that follows. Use it to find exhibitors, track down display areas and map the most efficient path to the booths you need to visit. It even shows where the restrooms are, and you know that’s going to be important. Visit www.SEMAShow.com today, and click on the “Floorplan” link to get started.

The Exhibitor Manual

If your company is exhibiting at the SEMA Show, the online Exhibitor Manual is as important as the online floorplan. It holds the key to SEMA Show activities, deadlines, marketing opportunities, services and more. Go to www.SEMAShow.com/esm. Read and learn, save money, amaze your friends and attract buyers.

Registration

The hot ticket for SEMA Show registration is also online. It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way for buyers to obtain credentials, and a badge permits the bearer to enter both the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the SEMA Show. Online registration is only $25 through October 15, while fax or regular-mail registration is $50. Or you can wait to get to Vegas and pay $75 onsite (starting October 16). Online buyer registrants will receive their badges in the mail, while all media must pick up their badges at the Media Center, room S219 on the Skybridge, between the Central and South Halls. Preregistered media receive updates and press releases leading up to the Show. If you do wait to register onsite, you’ll do so at the new location in room N109 at the back of the Grand Lobby in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Vehicle Technology Center

The SEMA Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) and the Technology Briefing Seminar (TBS) program are designed to introduce SEMA members to the benefits of SEMA-developed vehicle technology solutions and partnerships and help them to leverage tomorrow’s technologies, which is central to business survival and the growth of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. The VTC has been moved to the Grand Lobby of the LVCC for the 2012 SEMA Show and features a wealth of forward-looking forums and panel sessions based around vehicle dynamics, racing and performance, connected-vehicle technologies and SEMA’s partnership with the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/education for a schedule of TBS programs.

New Products Breakfast

SEMA’s annual New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the SEMA Show. The award winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 1, from 7:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m. at the New Products Awards Breakfast.

Products are judged in 16 award categories, and each category will have one winner and two runners-up. Open (and free) to all registered attendees, the breakfast officially kicks off the SEMA Show.

SEMA Award

The SEMA Award honors vehicle models that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase the year’s coolest products. The SEMA Award recognizes one model in each of four categories: “Hottest Car,” “Hottest Sport Compact Car,” “Hottest Truck,” and “Hottest 4x4-SUV.” It also underscores the cooperative relationship between the automakers and SEMA-member companies.

“As the visionaries and innovators of the industry, our SEMA Show exhibitors determine the winners of the SEMA Award based on the vehicles they showcase in their booths,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “With each booth vehicle representing one vote, the most prominent models in each category are the winners. The SEMA Award celebrates these outstanding vehicles that emerge each year at the Show.”

The SEMA Award presentations for 2012 will take place at the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC immediately following the conclusion of the New Products Breakfast at approximately 8:45 a.m.

Rep Technology Roundtable

On Sunday, October 28, from 3:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. at the LVH (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) attendees at the Rep Technology Roundtable (exclusively for reps) will learn how to take advantage of a technological economy and become more profitable. The event will start with a panel discussion moderated by Bryan Shirley, CPMR, and attendees will then take part in intimate roundtable discussions led by industry experts such as SEMA Data Co-op CEO Jon Wyly, eTool Developers President and Founder Luanne Brown, Upshift Marketing Principal Bernard Bolisig and Cie Studios Vice President of Business Development Tyler Tanaka. For more information, contact Zane Clark at 909-978-6696.

Off-Road Success Center

Companies that want to learn more about the off-road segment of the automotive specialty-equipment industry will be treated to a new Off-Road Success Center, presented by OMIX-ADA/Rugged Ridge. This educational display will be located in booth #30147 of the upper South Hall in the LVCC and will provide business owners and decision makers with a purpose-built venue to exchange ideas, learn new concepts for success and network with other like-minded businesspeople.

The Off-Road Success Center will offer educational seminars, one-on-one consultations, demonstrations and free print materials along with a range of vehicles that will include vintage models provided by Jeep Jamboree USA and OMIX-ADA. Each seminar will be led by industry specialists, who will share best practices and tips for maximizing operational, sales and marketing strategies within the off-road industry.

Further information, including confirmed experts as well as dates and times of each seminar, see “Industry News” on p. 12 of this issue.

Auto Dealer Accessory Conference and Show Tour

Formerly known as Dealer Day, the Auto Dealer Accessory Conference and Show Tour has been designed exclusively for franchised and independent automotive dealers. It will be held Wednesday, October 31, from 9:30 a.m.–11:45 a.m. and will feature a focused panel discussion addressing critical areas of accessory integration and how they impact operations in all key dealership departments. Then dealership employees will lead intimate roundtable discussions covering accounting, fixed operations, finance and insurance, new and used sales, accessory sales and more, providing participants with the chance to have their specific questions answered and learn what is working for other dealerships.

Attendees will also be given preferred seating at the Connected Vehicle Keynote (featuring Anthony Levandowski, Google), followed by an insider’s tour of the SEMA Show that will highlight key products and services that can help dealers increase sales and add profit to their operations.

For complete information on the Auto Dealer Accessory Conference, visit www.SEMAShow.com/auto-dealer.

Technical Skills & Training Conference

Automotive restyling dealers, installers and manufacturers will have a chance to receive specialized education and hands-on learning at the Technical Skills & Training Conference (TSTC), which will be held in conjunction with the SEMA Show for the first time and is slated for November 1 from 11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in rooms N101–N103 of the LVCC.

Sponsored by SEMA’s Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council, the TSTC is free with SEMA Show registration, so it’s a great place to learn how to grow and expand an accessory business with help from industry-leading manufacturers through interactive sessions on proper installation techniques for custom interiors, heated seats, mobile electronics, paint protection, window films, vehicle graphics, sun roofs, vehicle connectivity and more.

SEMA Seminars

The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) offers free and “pay-to-attend” courses that provide unparalleled opportunities to learn firsthand what trends will affect automotive specialty-equipment businesses. More than 50 free educational courses and several “pay-to-attend” events will cover everything from online marketing to customer service, management, industry trends and more. These events are open only to registered 2012 SEMA Show attendees, exhibitors and media. For more information, see “Product Knowledge Direct From the Source” on p. 42, “2012 SEMA Show Education Days Brochure” on p. 67 and “Targeted Educational Programs” on p. 92. For the latest information, visit, www.SEMAShow.com/education.

Built From eBay

Here’s a different spin on the project-car theme: eBay, in association with Source Interlink Media (SIM), has partnered with four garages to build four distinctly different vehicles. As the four are being completed, they are being voted on by visitors to a build-specific website (www.builtfromebay.com), where they will ultimately choose their favorite. When the vehicles are completed, they will be auctioned off on eBay, and the proceeds will go to four affiliated charities. The unique caveat is that each vehicle was purchased on eBay and all of the parts—vintage and new alike—were also acquired on eBay.

The campaign is called Built From eBay. Team captains from the four SIM publications selected the four garages, said Matt Boice, vice president of the Enthusiast Media Group of Source Interlink Media. Hot Rod magazine selected Mackey’s Hot Rods in Huntington Beach, California, to complete a ’68 Chevrolet G20 Van supporting The Semper Fi Fund. Four Wheeler selected Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, to build its ’70 Grand Cherokee Commando supporting the California Trail Users Coalition. European Car chose GSR Autosport in Lake Forest, California, to build a ’84 Porsche 911 supporting SEMA Cares. And Lowrider chose Duran’s Quality Painting in Baldwin Park, California, to complete a ’66 Chevrolet El Camino supporting the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Built From eBay display and all its exciting features can be found at the outdoor front Silver Lot, within the DUB Live area.

Auto Apps Conference

The SEMA Automotive App Developers Conference will take place in the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC starting at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31. The conference is designed to attract the attention of technology providers, connect them with specialty-equipment manufacturers and help to generate new business opportunities for the industry. This event, which will highlight the SEMA Show as the focal point for vehicle connectivity, will include presentations from OE engineers, telematics and communications providers and specialty aftermarket suppliers. Attendees will include application developers from the leading technology firms in the United States
and abroad.

Ideas Alive

The Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase is the number-one SEMA Show buyer and media destination. It totals more than 25,000 sq. ft. of innovation and opportunity, and it’s where SEMA Show exhibitors’ best product ideas come alive. This year, the New Products Showcase will be housed in the east end of the upper level of the LVCC’s South Hall. In addition, the First-Time and Featured Exhibitors Section that debuted at last year’s SEMA Show will return in 2012 and will be located alongside the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase. With more than 2,000 manufacturers exhibiting throughout the SEMA Show, the First-Time and Featured Exhibitors section serves as an easy and convenient location for buyers to hone in on hundreds of new and emerging manufacturers who are exhibiting at the Show for the first time.

“Buyers and media often make the New Products Showcase their first stop, visiting the area even before the Show opens on Tuesday morning,” said Peter MacGillivray SEMA vice president of communications and events. “Visitors will note the products that interest them in the Showcase and create a list of exhibitors that they want to visit. This often becomes their plan for the week.”

Legendary vehicle designer Chip Foose will be making appearances at Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase. Be sure to watch for further announcements and schedules.

Overhaulin’ Studio

After a hiatus of several years, the “Overhaulin’” television show returns on the Discovery Channel with Chip Foose. The crew will also return to the SEMA Show to film a new episode with Foose and co-hosts Chris Jacobs and Jessie Combs. True to the “Overhaulin’” premise, they will “steal” a car from an unsuspecting victim, then source products from SEMA Show exhibitors as they remake the vehicle over the course of the SEMA Show week, culminating in a surprise reveal. The “Overhaulin’” studio will be located in the alcove at the front of the Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road Section in the LVCC South Hall. Keep an eye out for further developments.

Silent Auction and Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit

Two other popular features that return this year are the SEMA Silent Auction and the Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit, which will be run by recent SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Bob Larivee Sr. As always, the auction will feature dozens of pieces of memorabilia, art and unique apparel. In fact, some of the artists whose work will be displayed in the Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit have donated pieces to the auction, which will benefit the SEMA Cares charity. Both displays will be housed just upstairs from the Grand Lobby in front of the Members’ Lounge outside the
North Hall.

GM at the SEMA Show

General Motors will once again play a substantial role in the SEMA Show. Its multi-venue extravaganza will include a historical display, live interviews with four current race drivers over four days of the Show and a repeat of the Chevy Drive in the open area between the Central and South Halls, where attendees can hitch a ride. All that plus one of the largest exhibition spaces in the LVCC, which will be filled with newly completed project cars and the hottest
GM products.

West Coast Customs

West Coast Customs (WCC), one of the world’s most influential custom car shops, joins the SEMA Show once more with an array of exquisite cars and trucks. WCC has served as the backdrop of the MTV television show “Pimp My Ride” and TLC’s “Street Customs.” For 2012, founder Ryan Friedlinghaus and his West Coast Customs crew will show off the shop’s capabilities in a new exhibit in the northwest corner of the Restyling & Car Care Accessories section at North Hall. It’s sure to be a state-of-the-art display of automotive ingenuity.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

High school teams from across the country will compete for the national championship title by tearing down and rebuilding identical high-performance 350ci Chevrolet small-block engines fitted with top performance parts. Tailored after the efforts that go on between rounds of drag races throughout the country, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow “Showdown at SEMA” is the culmination of eight preliminary competitions around the nation, each of which will send a regional champion to Las Vegas. The final tale will be told by the team with the fastest time and the least number of penalty points. Look for the final rounds this year on the outside plaza in front of the Central Hall near the Car Crazy Studio.

Car Crazy Studio

And speaking of car crazy, The Car Crazy Studio has become a staple attraction at the SEMA Show, with host Barry Meguiar interviewing industry legends and celebrities on an elevated stage on the outside plaza in front of the LVCC. The interviews are broadcast live on screens throughout the convention center and have featured such NASCAR luminaries as Jack Roush and Robby Gordon and industry captains, such as Pete Chapouris, George Barris and Myles Kovacs. You never know who might turn up, so pay attention!

Ford Out Front

Ford will again feature its current crop of star drivers and racing vehicles in the Ford Out Front exhibition just outside the halls of the LVCC. The Ford Out Front experience will showcase Ford high-performance drivers performing drifting, Gymkhana and freestyle demonstrations in Ford high-performance products. In 2011, Ford brought drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Ken Block to the SEMA Show, and the program is slated to be just as exciting for 2012. Be there for driving demonstrations by drifting masters.

Mopar Alley

The best way to navigate between the east end of Central and South Halls is through Mopar Alley—a show within the Show featuring some of the hottest cars, trucks and parts available from Mopar, including some of the best examples from the original musclecar era. In 2011, the Challenger was a highlight vehicle. When you’re ready to transition from hall to hall, be sure to take a stroll through this Chrysler memory lane and glimpse into the future with a collection of Mopar, Dodge, Fiat and Chrysler vehicles.

2012 DUB Show Tour

The centerpiece of last year’s DUB display was the Luxury4Play X Platinum Motorsports matte-white Bugatti Veyron. In addition, Forgiato brought out a display rig that showcased all the company’s new wheel offerings along with Lexani/Asanti and its luxury line of wheels and accessories. DUB promises more cars, trucks, artists and entertainers at this year’s event, which is the final stop in the 2012 DUB Show Tour. It will feature custom cars, trucks, SUVs, exotics, lowriders, motorcycles and more—all in DUB style.

Motor Trend Radio Stage

Motor Trend Radio brings its industry-leading brand of broadcast content to the 2012 SEMA Show with all the latest automotive news, product reviews, celebrity guests and more. Automotive expert Alan Taylor hosts the show, flashing his quick wit and in-depth knowledge. Stop by the Motor Trend Radio stage at the east end of the LVCC South Hall to get the latest lowdown on what’s shakin’.

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Mustang Build

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women under the direction of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) and built entirely by SBN members is a joint effort by Ford Motor Co., Source Interlink Media and SEMA that is designed to shine a light on women working in the automotive specialty-equipment industry and encourage more women to pursue automotive careers. Ford donated a ’13 Ford Mustang GT, and the build took place in July and August at the Source Interlink Media headquarters in El Segundo, California, with several of Source Interlink Media’s female employees participating on the build.

Modifications were made to all aspects of the car, including the engine, undercarriage, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint, and the finished vehicle will be auctioned off to raise money for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. To learn more about the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women, visit www.SEMA.org/SEMAmustangbuild.

Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN

Get connected at the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN, and enjoy a hot meal, too! The Speed Networking breakfast allows attendees to meet dozens of men and women (all industry professionals), providing the chance to meet more business contacts at one meal than most people make in half a year. The breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, with the networking to quickly follow. For more information, visit www.SEMA.org/sbn and click on the Speed Networking Breakfast link.

WD-40 F-100

WD-40 Co., in conjunction with Street Scene Equipment and Mike Spagnola, is building an immaculate ’53 Ford F-100 designed by Chip Foose. The pickup will be showcased at the SEMA Show and will then be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2013. WD-40 has raised more than $400,000 for SEMA Cares charities Childhelp and Victory Junciton with its last three project-vehicle builds, and the F-100 will add significantly to that total. Keep an eye out for the truck in a prominent position at the SEMA Show.

SEMA Cruise at Show Close

The SEMA Show is undoubtedly a highlight of the year for the industry, but the highlight for the local populace is the SEMA Cruise, a feature that was introduced last year. At the conclusion of the Show, as the booths are dismantled and the products are packaged for shipment home, the display cars are driven out of the convention center. While this parade of rolling art has always been highly anticipated, it became an official part of the Show in 2011.

When the SEMA Show officially ends at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, the SEMA Cruise begins. With the Show’s carpets rolled up, you’ll want to stick around to see this one last automotive blast.

Featuring awards, giveaways, entertainment and even seating for the crowds who throng to view the hundreds of vehicles, the parade will once again conclude a Show full of must-see features like the many highlighted above. 

SEMA News—October 2012 

EVENTS
By Steve Campbell

Must-See 2012 SEMA Show Features

Some of the Attractions at the World’s Greatest Automotive Show

The SEMA Show is the world’s largest automotive trade show, but it’s much more than that. It’s a museum, a looking glass into the future, a university, a carnival, a catalog of innovation, a media frenzy and an incubator for tomorrow’s industry leaders. In short, from Tuesday, October 30–Friday, November 2, it’s the place where every automotive professional should be and where every auto enthusiast wishes he or she could be.

From the moment the doors swing open until the last vehicle drives out on the roads leading out of Las Vegas, the SEMA Show is jam-packed with must-see vehicles, parts and programs. Here’s a partial list; keep your eyes open over the next few weeks for even more!

Online Floorplan

Okay, so the online floor plan is technically not a part of the physical SEMA Show. But it’s the starting point for everything that follows. Use it to find exhibitors, track down display areas and map the most efficient path to the booths you need to visit. It even shows where the restrooms are, and you know that’s going to be important. Visit www.SEMAShow.com today, and click on the “Floorplan” link to get started.

The Exhibitor Manual

If your company is exhibiting at the SEMA Show, the online Exhibitor Manual is as important as the online floorplan. It holds the key to SEMA Show activities, deadlines, marketing opportunities, services and more. Go to www.SEMAShow.com/esm. Read and learn, save money, amaze your friends and attract buyers.

Registration

The hot ticket for SEMA Show registration is also online. It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way for buyers to obtain credentials, and a badge permits the bearer to enter both the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the SEMA Show. Online registration is only $25 through October 15, while fax or regular-mail registration is $50. Or you can wait to get to Vegas and pay $75 onsite (starting October 16). Online buyer registrants will receive their badges in the mail, while all media must pick up their badges at the Media Center, room S219 on the Skybridge, between the Central and South Halls. Preregistered media receive updates and press releases leading up to the Show. If you do wait to register onsite, you’ll do so at the new location in room N109 at the back of the Grand Lobby in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Vehicle Technology Center

The SEMA Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) and the Technology Briefing Seminar (TBS) program are designed to introduce SEMA members to the benefits of SEMA-developed vehicle technology solutions and partnerships and help them to leverage tomorrow’s technologies, which is central to business survival and the growth of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. The VTC has been moved to the Grand Lobby of the LVCC for the 2012 SEMA Show and features a wealth of forward-looking forums and panel sessions based around vehicle dynamics, racing and performance, connected-vehicle technologies and SEMA’s partnership with the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/education for a schedule of TBS programs.

New Products Breakfast

SEMA’s annual New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the SEMA Show. The award winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 1, from 7:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m. at the New Products Awards Breakfast.

Products are judged in 16 award categories, and each category will have one winner and two runners-up. Open (and free) to all registered attendees, the breakfast officially kicks off the SEMA Show.

SEMA Award

The SEMA Award honors vehicle models that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorization and that showcase the year’s coolest products. The SEMA Award recognizes one model in each of four categories: “Hottest Car,” “Hottest Sport Compact Car,” “Hottest Truck,” and “Hottest 4x4-SUV.” It also underscores the cooperative relationship between the automakers and SEMA-member companies.

“As the visionaries and innovators of the industry, our SEMA Show exhibitors determine the winners of the SEMA Award based on the vehicles they showcase in their booths,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “With each booth vehicle representing one vote, the most prominent models in each category are the winners. The SEMA Award celebrates these outstanding vehicles that emerge each year at the Show.”

The SEMA Award presentations for 2012 will take place at the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC immediately following the conclusion of the New Products Breakfast at approximately 8:45 a.m.

Rep Technology Roundtable

On Sunday, October 28, from 3:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. at the LVH (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) attendees at the Rep Technology Roundtable (exclusively for reps) will learn how to take advantage of a technological economy and become more profitable. The event will start with a panel discussion moderated by Bryan Shirley, CPMR, and attendees will then take part in intimate roundtable discussions led by industry experts such as SEMA Data Co-op CEO Jon Wyly, eTool Developers President and Founder Luanne Brown, Upshift Marketing Principal Bernard Bolisig and Cie Studios Vice President of Business Development Tyler Tanaka. For more information, contact Zane Clark at 909-978-6696.

Off-Road Success Center

Companies that want to learn more about the off-road segment of the automotive specialty-equipment industry will be treated to a new Off-Road Success Center, presented by OMIX-ADA/Rugged Ridge. This educational display will be located in booth #30147 of the upper South Hall in the LVCC and will provide business owners and decision makers with a purpose-built venue to exchange ideas, learn new concepts for success and network with other like-minded businesspeople.

The Off-Road Success Center will offer educational seminars, one-on-one consultations, demonstrations and free print materials along with a range of vehicles that will include vintage models provided by Jeep Jamboree USA and OMIX-ADA. Each seminar will be led by industry specialists, who will share best practices and tips for maximizing operational, sales and marketing strategies within the off-road industry.

Further information, including confirmed experts as well as dates and times of each seminar, see “Industry News” on p. 12 of this issue.

Auto Dealer Accessory Conference and Show Tour

Formerly known as Dealer Day, the Auto Dealer Accessory Conference and Show Tour has been designed exclusively for franchised and independent automotive dealers. It will be held Wednesday, October 31, from 9:30 a.m.–11:45 a.m. and will feature a focused panel discussion addressing critical areas of accessory integration and how they impact operations in all key dealership departments. Then dealership employees will lead intimate roundtable discussions covering accounting, fixed operations, finance and insurance, new and used sales, accessory sales and more, providing participants with the chance to have their specific questions answered and learn what is working for other dealerships.

Attendees will also be given preferred seating at the Connected Vehicle Keynote (featuring Anthony Levandowski, Google), followed by an insider’s tour of the SEMA Show that will highlight key products and services that can help dealers increase sales and add profit to their operations.

For complete information on the Auto Dealer Accessory Conference, visit www.SEMAShow.com/auto-dealer.

Technical Skills & Training Conference

Automotive restyling dealers, installers and manufacturers will have a chance to receive specialized education and hands-on learning at the Technical Skills & Training Conference (TSTC), which will be held in conjunction with the SEMA Show for the first time and is slated for November 1 from 11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in rooms N101–N103 of the LVCC.

Sponsored by SEMA’s Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council, the TSTC is free with SEMA Show registration, so it’s a great place to learn how to grow and expand an accessory business with help from industry-leading manufacturers through interactive sessions on proper installation techniques for custom interiors, heated seats, mobile electronics, paint protection, window films, vehicle graphics, sun roofs, vehicle connectivity and more.

SEMA Seminars

The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) offers free and “pay-to-attend” courses that provide unparalleled opportunities to learn firsthand what trends will affect automotive specialty-equipment businesses. More than 50 free educational courses and several “pay-to-attend” events will cover everything from online marketing to customer service, management, industry trends and more. These events are open only to registered 2012 SEMA Show attendees, exhibitors and media. For more information, see “Product Knowledge Direct From the Source” on p. 42, “2012 SEMA Show Education Days Brochure” on p. 67 and “Targeted Educational Programs” on p. 92. For the latest information, visit, www.SEMAShow.com/education.

Built From eBay

Here’s a different spin on the project-car theme: eBay, in association with Source Interlink Media (SIM), has partnered with four garages to build four distinctly different vehicles. As the four are being completed, they are being voted on by visitors to a build-specific website (www.builtfromebay.com), where they will ultimately choose their favorite. When the vehicles are completed, they will be auctioned off on eBay, and the proceeds will go to four affiliated charities. The unique caveat is that each vehicle was purchased on eBay and all of the parts—vintage and new alike—were also acquired on eBay.

The campaign is called Built From eBay. Team captains from the four SIM publications selected the four garages, said Matt Boice, vice president of the Enthusiast Media Group of Source Interlink Media. Hot Rod magazine selected Mackey’s Hot Rods in Huntington Beach, California, to complete a ’68 Chevrolet G20 Van supporting The Semper Fi Fund. Four Wheeler selected Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, to build its ’70 Grand Cherokee Commando supporting the California Trail Users Coalition. European Car chose GSR Autosport in Lake Forest, California, to build a ’84 Porsche 911 supporting SEMA Cares. And Lowrider chose Duran’s Quality Painting in Baldwin Park, California, to complete a ’66 Chevrolet El Camino supporting the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Built From eBay display and all its exciting features can be found at the outdoor front Silver Lot, within the DUB Live area.

Auto Apps Conference

The SEMA Automotive App Developers Conference will take place in the Vehicle Technology Center in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC starting at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31. The conference is designed to attract the attention of technology providers, connect them with specialty-equipment manufacturers and help to generate new business opportunities for the industry. This event, which will highlight the SEMA Show as the focal point for vehicle connectivity, will include presentations from OE engineers, telematics and communications providers and specialty aftermarket suppliers. Attendees will include application developers from the leading technology firms in the United States
and abroad.

Ideas Alive

The Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase is the number-one SEMA Show buyer and media destination. It totals more than 25,000 sq. ft. of innovation and opportunity, and it’s where SEMA Show exhibitors’ best product ideas come alive. This year, the New Products Showcase will be housed in the east end of the upper level of the LVCC’s South Hall. In addition, the First-Time and Featured Exhibitors Section that debuted at last year’s SEMA Show will return in 2012 and will be located alongside the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase. With more than 2,000 manufacturers exhibiting throughout the SEMA Show, the First-Time and Featured Exhibitors section serves as an easy and convenient location for buyers to hone in on hundreds of new and emerging manufacturers who are exhibiting at the Show for the first time.

“Buyers and media often make the New Products Showcase their first stop, visiting the area even before the Show opens on Tuesday morning,” said Peter MacGillivray SEMA vice president of communications and events. “Visitors will note the products that interest them in the Showcase and create a list of exhibitors that they want to visit. This often becomes their plan for the week.”

Legendary vehicle designer Chip Foose will be making appearances at Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase. Be sure to watch for further announcements and schedules.

Overhaulin’ Studio

After a hiatus of several years, the “Overhaulin’” television show returns on the Discovery Channel with Chip Foose. The crew will also return to the SEMA Show to film a new episode with Foose and co-hosts Chris Jacobs and Jessie Combs. True to the “Overhaulin’” premise, they will “steal” a car from an unsuspecting victim, then source products from SEMA Show exhibitors as they remake the vehicle over the course of the SEMA Show week, culminating in a surprise reveal. The “Overhaulin’” studio will be located in the alcove at the front of the Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road Section in the LVCC South Hall. Keep an eye out for further developments.

Silent Auction and Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit

Two other popular features that return this year are the SEMA Silent Auction and the Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit, which will be run by recent SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Bob Larivee Sr. As always, the auction will feature dozens of pieces of memorabilia, art and unique apparel. In fact, some of the artists whose work will be displayed in the Hot Rod Heritage Art Exhibit have donated pieces to the auction, which will benefit the SEMA Cares charity. Both displays will be housed just upstairs from the Grand Lobby in front of the Members’ Lounge outside the
North Hall.

GM at the SEMA Show

General Motors will once again play a substantial role in the SEMA Show. Its multi-venue extravaganza will include a historical display, live interviews with four current race drivers over four days of the Show and a repeat of the Chevy Drive in the open area between the Central and South Halls, where attendees can hitch a ride. All that plus one of the largest exhibition spaces in the LVCC, which will be filled with newly completed project cars and the hottest
GM products.

West Coast Customs

West Coast Customs (WCC), one of the world’s most influential custom car shops, joins the SEMA Show once more with an array of exquisite cars and trucks. WCC has served as the backdrop of the MTV television show “Pimp My Ride” and TLC’s “Street Customs.” For 2012, founder Ryan Friedlinghaus and his West Coast Customs crew will show off the shop’s capabilities in a new exhibit in the northwest corner of the Restyling & Car Care Accessories section at North Hall. It’s sure to be a state-of-the-art display of automotive ingenuity.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

High school teams from across the country will compete for the national championship title by tearing down and rebuilding identical high-performance 350ci Chevrolet small-block engines fitted with top performance parts. Tailored after the efforts that go on between rounds of drag races throughout the country, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow “Showdown at SEMA” is the culmination of eight preliminary competitions around the nation, each of which will send a regional champion to Las Vegas. The final tale will be told by the team with the fastest time and the least number of penalty points. Look for the final rounds this year on the outside plaza in front of the Central Hall near the Car Crazy Studio.

Car Crazy Studio

And speaking of car crazy, The Car Crazy Studio has become a staple attraction at the SEMA Show, with host Barry Meguiar interviewing industry legends and celebrities on an elevated stage on the outside plaza in front of the LVCC. The interviews are broadcast live on screens throughout the convention center and have featured such NASCAR luminaries as Jack Roush and Robby Gordon and industry captains, such as Pete Chapouris, George Barris and Myles Kovacs. You never know who might turn up, so pay attention!

Ford Out Front

Ford will again feature its current crop of star drivers and racing vehicles in the Ford Out Front exhibition just outside the halls of the LVCC. The Ford Out Front experience will showcase Ford high-performance drivers performing drifting, Gymkhana and freestyle demonstrations in Ford high-performance products. In 2011, Ford brought drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Ken Block to the SEMA Show, and the program is slated to be just as exciting for 2012. Be there for driving demonstrations by drifting masters.

Mopar Alley

The best way to navigate between the east end of Central and South Halls is through Mopar Alley—a show within the Show featuring some of the hottest cars, trucks and parts available from Mopar, including some of the best examples from the original musclecar era. In 2011, the Challenger was a highlight vehicle. When you’re ready to transition from hall to hall, be sure to take a stroll through this Chrysler memory lane and glimpse into the future with a collection of Mopar, Dodge, Fiat and Chrysler vehicles.

2012 DUB Show Tour

The centerpiece of last year’s DUB display was the Luxury4Play X Platinum Motorsports matte-white Bugatti Veyron. In addition, Forgiato brought out a display rig that showcased all the company’s new wheel offerings along with Lexani/Asanti and its luxury line of wheels and accessories. DUB promises more cars, trucks, artists and entertainers at this year’s event, which is the final stop in the 2012 DUB Show Tour. It will feature custom cars, trucks, SUVs, exotics, lowriders, motorcycles and more—all in DUB style.

Motor Trend Radio Stage

Motor Trend Radio brings its industry-leading brand of broadcast content to the 2012 SEMA Show with all the latest automotive news, product reviews, celebrity guests and more. Automotive expert Alan Taylor hosts the show, flashing his quick wit and in-depth knowledge. Stop by the Motor Trend Radio stage at the east end of the LVCC South Hall to get the latest lowdown on what’s shakin’.

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Mustang Build

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women under the direction of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) and built entirely by SBN members is a joint effort by Ford Motor Co., Source Interlink Media and SEMA that is designed to shine a light on women working in the automotive specialty-equipment industry and encourage more women to pursue automotive careers. Ford donated a ’13 Ford Mustang GT, and the build took place in July and August at the Source Interlink Media headquarters in El Segundo, California, with several of Source Interlink Media’s female employees participating on the build.

Modifications were made to all aspects of the car, including the engine, undercarriage, drivetrain, interior, sound system, exterior and paint, and the finished vehicle will be auctioned off to raise money for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. To learn more about the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women, visit www.SEMA.org/SEMAmustangbuild.

Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN

Get connected at the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN, and enjoy a hot meal, too! The Speed Networking breakfast allows attendees to meet dozens of men and women (all industry professionals), providing the chance to meet more business contacts at one meal than most people make in half a year. The breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, with the networking to quickly follow. For more information, visit www.SEMA.org/sbn and click on the Speed Networking Breakfast link.

WD-40 F-100

WD-40 Co., in conjunction with Street Scene Equipment and Mike Spagnola, is building an immaculate ’53 Ford F-100 designed by Chip Foose. The pickup will be showcased at the SEMA Show and will then be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2013. WD-40 has raised more than $400,000 for SEMA Cares charities Childhelp and Victory Junciton with its last three project-vehicle builds, and the F-100 will add significantly to that total. Keep an eye out for the truck in a prominent position at the SEMA Show.

SEMA Cruise at Show Close

The SEMA Show is undoubtedly a highlight of the year for the industry, but the highlight for the local populace is the SEMA Cruise, a feature that was introduced last year. At the conclusion of the Show, as the booths are dismantled and the products are packaged for shipment home, the display cars are driven out of the convention center. While this parade of rolling art has always been highly anticipated, it became an official part of the Show in 2011.

When the SEMA Show officially ends at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, the SEMA Cruise begins. With the Show’s carpets rolled up, you’ll want to stick around to see this one last automotive blast.

Featuring awards, giveaways, entertainment and even seating for the crowds who throng to view the hundreds of vehicles, the parade will once again conclude a Show full of must-see features like the many highlighted above. 

SEMA News—October 2012

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fast Facts

Source Interlink Media announced the appointment of Jerry Pitt as senior marketing director for the Performance Auto Group. In his new role, Pitt will focus on integrated marketing programs across the Performance Auto, Motorcycle and Truck & Off-Road groups as well as interact with all other divisions at the company. Pitt will transition from his post as publisher of Hot Rod, a position he’s held since 2005, and Jeff Dahlin will assume that role at Hot Rod. As senior marketing director, Pitt will focus on Source Interlink Media brand and division collaboration and creating access for marketing partners across Source Interlink Media’s entire media portfolio. Source Interlink Media, El Segundo, CA; 310-531-9900; www.sourceinterlink.com.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee. Egge Machine Co. Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA; 562-945-3419. California Small Business Association (CSBA), Los Angeles, CA; 800-350-CSBA.

Terry L. Karges was appointed executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Karges succeeded Buddy Pepp beginning August 15. Pepp retired after a two-year run as executive director of the museum. Karges brings four decades of automotive, entertainment and motorsports management experience to the Petersen Automotive Museum. “Terry is a very well qualified businessman with a strong management background that the board of directors feels will do a terrific job as the Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Chairman of the Board Steve Young. Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA; 323-930-CARS.; www.petersen.org.

Hemmings Motor News has hired Ken DeVries as senior account executive. According to the company, DeVries has been a successful sales manager and account executive for more than 25 years. “We are excited about having Ken on our sales team,” said Jeff Yager, director of advertising for Hemmings Motor News. “His experience, enthusiasm and desire will be instrumental in growing our business.” Prior to joining Hemmings Motor News, DeVries was the key account sales manager with Auto Trader Classics/Autotrader.com. He has also served as a Select Committee member on SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO). Hemmings Motor News Bennington, VT; 800-227-4373.

Brembo announced the addition of Federated Auto Parts Distributors to its list of distributors for the company’s complete range of OE replacement products. “We are proud to now add Federated Auto Parts as one of our key aftermarket customers in North America,” said Ferde Sanders, aftermarket manager of Brembo North America. “With the selected distribution model of our premium aftermarket range, we believe that this is a unique opportunity for Federated members to be able to offer quality braking products developed from our 50-year heritage with OE manufacturers and race teams to their great customers.” Brembo, Plymouth, MI; 734-468-2100.

Mike Alexander comes on board as editor of Power Automedia’s RodAuthority.com. Michael Harding has been drafted from StreetLegalTV.com staff writer to associate editor, and Rick Seitz is joining the Power Automedia team as staff writer for StreetLegalTV and LSXTV.com.

The Aftermarket Foundation recently launched a new website, www.aftermarketfoundation.org. Established 52 years ago, the Foundation has helped countless members of the automotive aftermarket who, because of a catastrophic illness or terrible accident, have fallen on hard times with no place to turn. All 29 board members are major players in the automotive aftermarket and represent many of the major aftermarket corporations and trade associations, including SEMA. Aftermarket Foundation, Tequesta, FL; 772-286-5500.

WyoTech-Laramie was awarded an honorable mention for community service by the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities as part of the association’s annual achievement awards. According to Wyo-Tech, the Community Service Award honors a campus that goes above and beyond to implement charitable community programs and engages staff and students in volunteer efforts. More than 1,000 WyoTech-Laramie students logged more than 13,896 volunteer hours providing some form of community service. WyoTech-Laramie, Laramie, WY; 866- 202-6582.

Sears Holdings Corp. has selected Chris Duke, host of the “Motorz” television show, as the exclusive automotive tool spokesperson and advisor for all Sears automotive print and online catalogs. The decision was announced this month as part of a growing relationship between the two companies. Duke is a well-known television personality, producer and 13-year automotive industry veteran.

On the morning of November 29, 2012, Dave Despain will present a live version of his Wind Tunnel TV program that airs on Speed Channel during the Grand Opening Breakfast on opening day of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show. And joining him this year will be 15-Time NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Champion and driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang John Force. Motorsports professionals are encouraged to pre-register now for credentials for the PRI Trade Show. PRI, Laguna Beach, CA; 949-499-5413.

The board of directors of Curtis Industries LLC appointed Scott Nelson CEO and president, effective immediately. Nelson succeeds John Rachwalski, who is retiring but will remain on the board of directors and as a consultant to the company. Nelson was most recently president EMEA for Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment and was previously CEO of Doosan Infracore International, which included Bobcat Co., Ingersoll Rand Portable Power and the attachments business unit sold by Ingersoll Rand in December 2007. Curtis Industries LLC, Worcester, MA; 800-343-7676.

SEMA News—October 2012

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fast Facts

Source Interlink Media announced the appointment of Jerry Pitt as senior marketing director for the Performance Auto Group. In his new role, Pitt will focus on integrated marketing programs across the Performance Auto, Motorcycle and Truck & Off-Road groups as well as interact with all other divisions at the company. Pitt will transition from his post as publisher of Hot Rod, a position he’s held since 2005, and Jeff Dahlin will assume that role at Hot Rod. As senior marketing director, Pitt will focus on Source Interlink Media brand and division collaboration and creating access for marketing partners across Source Interlink Media’s entire media portfolio. Source Interlink Media, El Segundo, CA; 310-531-9900; www.sourceinterlink.com.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee. Egge Machine Co. Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA; 562-945-3419. California Small Business Association (CSBA), Los Angeles, CA; 800-350-CSBA.

Terry L. Karges was appointed executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Karges succeeded Buddy Pepp beginning August 15. Pepp retired after a two-year run as executive director of the museum. Karges brings four decades of automotive, entertainment and motorsports management experience to the Petersen Automotive Museum. “Terry is a very well qualified businessman with a strong management background that the board of directors feels will do a terrific job as the Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Chairman of the Board Steve Young. Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA; 323-930-CARS.; www.petersen.org.

Hemmings Motor News has hired Ken DeVries as senior account executive. According to the company, DeVries has been a successful sales manager and account executive for more than 25 years. “We are excited about having Ken on our sales team,” said Jeff Yager, director of advertising for Hemmings Motor News. “His experience, enthusiasm and desire will be instrumental in growing our business.” Prior to joining Hemmings Motor News, DeVries was the key account sales manager with Auto Trader Classics/Autotrader.com. He has also served as a Select Committee member on SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO). Hemmings Motor News Bennington, VT; 800-227-4373.

Brembo announced the addition of Federated Auto Parts Distributors to its list of distributors for the company’s complete range of OE replacement products. “We are proud to now add Federated Auto Parts as one of our key aftermarket customers in North America,” said Ferde Sanders, aftermarket manager of Brembo North America. “With the selected distribution model of our premium aftermarket range, we believe that this is a unique opportunity for Federated members to be able to offer quality braking products developed from our 50-year heritage with OE manufacturers and race teams to their great customers.” Brembo, Plymouth, MI; 734-468-2100.

Mike Alexander comes on board as editor of Power Automedia’s RodAuthority.com. Michael Harding has been drafted from StreetLegalTV.com staff writer to associate editor, and Rick Seitz is joining the Power Automedia team as staff writer for StreetLegalTV and LSXTV.com.

The Aftermarket Foundation recently launched a new website, www.aftermarketfoundation.org. Established 52 years ago, the Foundation has helped countless members of the automotive aftermarket who, because of a catastrophic illness or terrible accident, have fallen on hard times with no place to turn. All 29 board members are major players in the automotive aftermarket and represent many of the major aftermarket corporations and trade associations, including SEMA. Aftermarket Foundation, Tequesta, FL; 772-286-5500.

WyoTech-Laramie was awarded an honorable mention for community service by the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities as part of the association’s annual achievement awards. According to Wyo-Tech, the Community Service Award honors a campus that goes above and beyond to implement charitable community programs and engages staff and students in volunteer efforts. More than 1,000 WyoTech-Laramie students logged more than 13,896 volunteer hours providing some form of community service. WyoTech-Laramie, Laramie, WY; 866- 202-6582.

Sears Holdings Corp. has selected Chris Duke, host of the “Motorz” television show, as the exclusive automotive tool spokesperson and advisor for all Sears automotive print and online catalogs. The decision was announced this month as part of a growing relationship between the two companies. Duke is a well-known television personality, producer and 13-year automotive industry veteran.

On the morning of November 29, 2012, Dave Despain will present a live version of his Wind Tunnel TV program that airs on Speed Channel during the Grand Opening Breakfast on opening day of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show. And joining him this year will be 15-Time NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Champion and driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang John Force. Motorsports professionals are encouraged to pre-register now for credentials for the PRI Trade Show. PRI, Laguna Beach, CA; 949-499-5413.

The board of directors of Curtis Industries LLC appointed Scott Nelson CEO and president, effective immediately. Nelson succeeds John Rachwalski, who is retiring but will remain on the board of directors and as a consultant to the company. Nelson was most recently president EMEA for Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment and was previously CEO of Doosan Infracore International, which included Bobcat Co., Ingersoll Rand Portable Power and the attachments business unit sold by Ingersoll Rand in December 2007. Curtis Industries LLC, Worcester, MA; 800-343-7676.

SEMA News—October 2012

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fast Facts

Source Interlink Media announced the appointment of Jerry Pitt as senior marketing director for the Performance Auto Group. In his new role, Pitt will focus on integrated marketing programs across the Performance Auto, Motorcycle and Truck & Off-Road groups as well as interact with all other divisions at the company. Pitt will transition from his post as publisher of Hot Rod, a position he’s held since 2005, and Jeff Dahlin will assume that role at Hot Rod. As senior marketing director, Pitt will focus on Source Interlink Media brand and division collaboration and creating access for marketing partners across Source Interlink Media’s entire media portfolio. Source Interlink Media, El Segundo, CA; 310-531-9900; www.sourceinterlink.com.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee. Egge Machine Co. Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA; 562-945-3419. California Small Business Association (CSBA), Los Angeles, CA; 800-350-CSBA.

Terry L. Karges was appointed executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Karges succeeded Buddy Pepp beginning August 15. Pepp retired after a two-year run as executive director of the museum. Karges brings four decades of automotive, entertainment and motorsports management experience to the Petersen Automotive Museum. “Terry is a very well qualified businessman with a strong management background that the board of directors feels will do a terrific job as the Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Chairman of the Board Steve Young. Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA; 323-930-CARS.; www.petersen.org.

Hemmings Motor News has hired Ken DeVries as senior account executive. According to the company, DeVries has been a successful sales manager and account executive for more than 25 years. “We are excited about having Ken on our sales team,” said Jeff Yager, director of advertising for Hemmings Motor News. “His experience, enthusiasm and desire will be instrumental in growing our business.” Prior to joining Hemmings Motor News, DeVries was the key account sales manager with Auto Trader Classics/Autotrader.com. He has also served as a Select Committee member on SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO). Hemmings Motor News Bennington, VT; 800-227-4373.

Brembo announced the addition of Federated Auto Parts Distributors to its list of distributors for the company’s complete range of OE replacement products. “We are proud to now add Federated Auto Parts as one of our key aftermarket customers in North America,” said Ferde Sanders, aftermarket manager of Brembo North America. “With the selected distribution model of our premium aftermarket range, we believe that this is a unique opportunity for Federated members to be able to offer quality braking products developed from our 50-year heritage with OE manufacturers and race teams to their great customers.” Brembo, Plymouth, MI; 734-468-2100.

Mike Alexander comes on board as editor of Power Automedia’s RodAuthority.com. Michael Harding has been drafted from StreetLegalTV.com staff writer to associate editor, and Rick Seitz is joining the Power Automedia team as staff writer for StreetLegalTV and LSXTV.com.

The Aftermarket Foundation recently launched a new website, www.aftermarketfoundation.org. Established 52 years ago, the Foundation has helped countless members of the automotive aftermarket who, because of a catastrophic illness or terrible accident, have fallen on hard times with no place to turn. All 29 board members are major players in the automotive aftermarket and represent many of the major aftermarket corporations and trade associations, including SEMA. Aftermarket Foundation, Tequesta, FL; 772-286-5500.

WyoTech-Laramie was awarded an honorable mention for community service by the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities as part of the association’s annual achievement awards. According to Wyo-Tech, the Community Service Award honors a campus that goes above and beyond to implement charitable community programs and engages staff and students in volunteer efforts. More than 1,000 WyoTech-Laramie students logged more than 13,896 volunteer hours providing some form of community service. WyoTech-Laramie, Laramie, WY; 866- 202-6582.

Sears Holdings Corp. has selected Chris Duke, host of the “Motorz” television show, as the exclusive automotive tool spokesperson and advisor for all Sears automotive print and online catalogs. The decision was announced this month as part of a growing relationship between the two companies. Duke is a well-known television personality, producer and 13-year automotive industry veteran.

On the morning of November 29, 2012, Dave Despain will present a live version of his Wind Tunnel TV program that airs on Speed Channel during the Grand Opening Breakfast on opening day of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show. And joining him this year will be 15-Time NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Champion and driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang John Force. Motorsports professionals are encouraged to pre-register now for credentials for the PRI Trade Show. PRI, Laguna Beach, CA; 949-499-5413.

The board of directors of Curtis Industries LLC appointed Scott Nelson CEO and president, effective immediately. Nelson succeeds John Rachwalski, who is retiring but will remain on the board of directors and as a consultant to the company. Nelson was most recently president EMEA for Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment and was previously CEO of Doosan Infracore International, which included Bobcat Co., Ingersoll Rand Portable Power and the attachments business unit sold by Ingersoll Rand in December 2007. Curtis Industries LLC, Worcester, MA; 800-343-7676.

SEMA News—October 2012

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fast Facts

Source Interlink Media announced the appointment of Jerry Pitt as senior marketing director for the Performance Auto Group. In his new role, Pitt will focus on integrated marketing programs across the Performance Auto, Motorcycle and Truck & Off-Road groups as well as interact with all other divisions at the company. Pitt will transition from his post as publisher of Hot Rod, a position he’s held since 2005, and Jeff Dahlin will assume that role at Hot Rod. As senior marketing director, Pitt will focus on Source Interlink Media brand and division collaboration and creating access for marketing partners across Source Interlink Media’s entire media portfolio. Source Interlink Media, El Segundo, CA; 310-531-9900; www.sourceinterlink.com.

Ernie Silvers, CEO/president of SEMA member Egge Machine Co. Inc., has joined the board of the California Small Business Association (CSBA). As a new board member, Silvers will play a vital role in representing the needs of CSBA members and the millions of small businesses throughout California. Established in 1915 and located in Santa Fe Springs, California, Egge is a third-generation family business. Silvers joined the company in August 1995 as sales manager and became Egge’s first non-family member CEO/president in 2005. In addition to his work with CSBA, Silvers has served in various leadership positions with SEMA and is currently a board member on the SEMA Political Action Committee. Egge Machine Co. Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA; 562-945-3419. California Small Business Association (CSBA), Los Angeles, CA; 800-350-CSBA.

Terry L. Karges was appointed executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Karges succeeded Buddy Pepp beginning August 15. Pepp retired after a two-year run as executive director of the museum. Karges brings four decades of automotive, entertainment and motorsports management experience to the Petersen Automotive Museum. “Terry is a very well qualified businessman with a strong management background that the board of directors feels will do a terrific job as the Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Chairman of the Board Steve Young. Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA; 323-930-CARS.; www.petersen.org.

Hemmings Motor News has hired Ken DeVries as senior account executive. According to the company, DeVries has been a successful sales manager and account executive for more than 25 years. “We are excited about having Ken on our sales team,” said Jeff Yager, director of advertising for Hemmings Motor News. “His experience, enthusiasm and desire will be instrumental in growing our business.” Prior to joining Hemmings Motor News, DeVries was the key account sales manager with Auto Trader Classics/Autotrader.com. He has also served as a Select Committee member on SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO). Hemmings Motor News Bennington, VT; 800-227-4373.

Brembo announced the addition of Federated Auto Parts Distributors to its list of distributors for the company’s complete range of OE replacement products. “We are proud to now add Federated Auto Parts as one of our key aftermarket customers in North America,” said Ferde Sanders, aftermarket manager of Brembo North America. “With the selected distribution model of our premium aftermarket range, we believe that this is a unique opportunity for Federated members to be able to offer quality braking products developed from our 50-year heritage with OE manufacturers and race teams to their great customers.” Brembo, Plymouth, MI; 734-468-2100.

Mike Alexander comes on board as editor of Power Automedia’s RodAuthority.com. Michael Harding has been drafted from StreetLegalTV.com staff writer to associate editor, and Rick Seitz is joining the Power Automedia team as staff writer for StreetLegalTV and LSXTV.com.

The Aftermarket Foundation recently launched a new website, www.aftermarketfoundation.org. Established 52 years ago, the Foundation has helped countless members of the automotive aftermarket who, because of a catastrophic illness or terrible accident, have fallen on hard times with no place to turn. All 29 board members are major players in the automotive aftermarket and represent many of the major aftermarket corporations and trade associations, including SEMA. Aftermarket Foundation, Tequesta, FL; 772-286-5500.

WyoTech-Laramie was awarded an honorable mention for community service by the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities as part of the association’s annual achievement awards. According to Wyo-Tech, the Community Service Award honors a campus that goes above and beyond to implement charitable community programs and engages staff and students in volunteer efforts. More than 1,000 WyoTech-Laramie students logged more than 13,896 volunteer hours providing some form of community service. WyoTech-Laramie, Laramie, WY; 866- 202-6582.

Sears Holdings Corp. has selected Chris Duke, host of the “Motorz” television show, as the exclusive automotive tool spokesperson and advisor for all Sears automotive print and online catalogs. The decision was announced this month as part of a growing relationship between the two companies. Duke is a well-known television personality, producer and 13-year automotive industry veteran.

On the morning of November 29, 2012, Dave Despain will present a live version of his Wind Tunnel TV program that airs on Speed Channel during the Grand Opening Breakfast on opening day of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show. And joining him this year will be 15-Time NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Champion and driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang John Force. Motorsports professionals are encouraged to pre-register now for credentials for the PRI Trade Show. PRI, Laguna Beach, CA; 949-499-5413.

The board of directors of Curtis Industries LLC appointed Scott Nelson CEO and president, effective immediately. Nelson succeeds John Rachwalski, who is retiring but will remain on the board of directors and as a consultant to the company. Nelson was most recently president EMEA for Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment and was previously CEO of Doosan Infracore International, which included Bobcat Co., Ingersoll Rand Portable Power and the attachments business unit sold by Ingersoll Rand in December 2007. Curtis Industries LLC, Worcester, MA; 800-343-7676.

SEMA News—October 2012

EVENTS
With Steve Campbell

A Few Minutes With Chuck Schwartz

The Chairman of ConvExx Talks About Priorities at the SEMA Show

	Chuck Schwartz has accrued many honors since becoming a trade show producer in 1976. He was elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2010 following nearly 30 years as the producer of the SEMA Show.

Chuck Schwartz has accrued many honors since becoming a trade show producer in 1976. For instance, he was elected chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events in 1999, served on the IAEE board of directors for seven years, received the IAEE Pinnacle Award and is an Auto International Association Hall of Fame winner. He was also elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2010 following nearly 30 years as the producer of the SEMA Show.

The Schwartzes began producing the Show in 1982 as Epic Enterprises before creating ConvExx in 2001, and they have worked closely with SEMA staff to grow the Show into the complex and all-encompassing automotive extravaganza that it has become today. In fact, Chuck has attended every SEMA Show since its inception, first as a buyer, once as an exhibitor and then as the producer of the event.

ConvExx now produces and manages exhibitions, shows and conferences throughout the country, with services that include sales, marketing and logistics both before and during each event. We could think of no one better than Chuck Schwartz to quiz about what exhibitors, buyers and media should know in the run-up to the 2012 SEMA Show.

SEMA News: What is the first thing that exhibitors should do when they arrive to set up for the SEMA Show?

Chuck Schwartz: Assuming they’ve received their badges in the mail (which they can do by registering prior to October 8), the first priority for exhibitors is to find their booth location within the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). They should next check to ensure that all of their freight has arrived. If it hasn’t arrived yet, check with the closest service desk or floor managerfor assistance.

There are signs above every service desk that say “Services Available.” In the North Hall, the service desk is upstairs near Room N263C. In the Central Hall, the service desk is near the Ford booth but underneath the concourse (down the steps and through the doors beside the concession stands). In the upper and lower South Halls, the service desks can be found in the meeting rooms at the east end of each hall. Around the hall are concierges with portable tablets who can assist you in finding freight, checking or ordering services and assisting with Show information.

Freeman has the ability to look at most major carriers’ sites and help to track freight. Exhibitors should be sure that they have all of their freight tracking numbers with them when they arrive at the SEMA Show site, even if they don’t plan to set up that day.

	The SEMA Show—the world’s premier automotive trade event—has been housed in the Las Vegas Convention Center for three decades. Nobody knows the place better than ConvExx CEO Chuck Schwartz.

CS: Freeman is an exhibition service contractor, which means that it handles many of the services needed to set up and then dismantle a show. Freeman provides material handling, furniture, carpet, electrical, exhibit rentals, labor to set up pre-made booths and supply air, gas and other services to exhibitors.

Freeman staff can be found at the service desks along with representatives that can supply audio/visual equipment, telephones and Internet, floral arrangements and lead-retrieval systems.

SN: How can exhibitors get the best bang for their buck at this year’s SEMA Show?

CS: Be prepared. Order your electrical, furniture, lead retrieval and audio/visual equipment early to take advantage of the best discounts. Meet with your Show staff so they know what’s expected of them and what your company’s goals are. Know the Show Office phone number onsite (702-943-3505), and don’t be afraid to call and ask questions.

Show Management is willing to review your exhibit layout even before you arrive in Las Vegas and will advise you of any problems immediately so that you can fix them before you go, which is much less costly than fixing them onsite. We’ll also make suggestions on efficient and cost-effective materials to use.

SN: What is the most often missed opportunity for SEMA Show exhibitors?

CS: The Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase and the Featured Product Showcase. The first product is free. Every buyer spends time in this area looking for the latest innovation that can make his or her business a success. Although the New Products Awards are billed as a contest, that’s not the most important feature of the Showcase. It’s the visibility to thousands of buyers and the media. The items entered in the Showcase can be shipped to the new products area before the Show and then be shipped back to the exhibitor’s office after the Show. For complete information about the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase, including shipping to and from the Show, go to www.SEMAShow.com/newproducts and click on the link to the Rules & Guidelines.

SN: What is the hottest new program for exhibitors at the 2012 SEMA Show?

CS: We have new floorplan software on the SEMA Show website, and it provides exhibitors with a number of valuable features. Every exhibitor should be sure to go to the site (www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan) and update their listing and products, as attendees can search by products as well as by company name and booth number.

SN: Where can buyers find information about the SEMA Show, such as exhibitor locations, educational opportunities and the answers to frequently asked questions?

CS: The SEMA Show website at www.SEMAShow.com has all the answers. It includes the interactive floorplan we talked about earlier as well as lists and descriptions of all the seminars, the ability to create calendars of events and lists of booths an attendee might wish to see. It’s got separate sections for exhibitors, attendees and media, with appropriate content for each category. It truly is a one-stop information library.

	The floor of the SEMA Show may seem like a maze, but the electronic map available online is a great navigation tool and also provides contact information and descriptions of every exhibitor.

CS: Use the calendar on the Show website, www.SEMAShow.com, to choose educational sessions and to locate priority exhibitors in advance of the Show. Be sure to visit the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase and Featured Products areas to find new products. Use the electronic scanners provided onsite to collect information and then visit the exhibitors whose products are relevant to your business. And be sure to read the pre-Show information in SEMA News so that you’ll know about Show highlights and exhibitor specials.

SN: How can buyers ensure that they locate all of the exhibitors that are pertinent to their market segments?

CS: Again, check www.SEMAShow.com to easily find every registered exhibitor. The exhibitor listings include not only contact information but also a company profile and product or service categories. Even those in the First Time & Featured Exhibitor sections are noted with the icon from their appropriate section, and there is also a link that allows you to search by section if you’re specifically looking for, say, restoration products or racing and performance products.

SN: What is the best new program for buyers at the 2012 SEMA Show?

CS: Use the calendar and interactive floorplan on www.SEMAShow.com to choose educational sessions and note exhibitors both before the Show and onsite. SEMA is working on a mobile app for Apple and Droid smartphones that will also provide search functions. It should be up by the time you read this.

SN: What is the most important thing that media attendees should know about covering the SEMA Show?

CS: The media need to become familiar with the Media Center, located on the Skybridge between the Central and South Halls. It contains not only computers with Internet connections and preloaded with common software, but also lounge areas, meeting rooms, a press room where many of the SEMA Show press conferences are held and a distribution area where exhibiting companies place a variety of press releases and other materials in both print and electronic formats. The Media Center is open throughout the Show, and there are always staff available there who can either answer frequently asked questions or get the answers quickly.

SN: Are there any post-Show programs that attendees, buyers or the media should be aware of?

CS: Attendees and exhibitors can track the companies they talked to through Buyer Connect from CompuSystems, which is listed in the exhibitor manual section of the Show website (www.SEMAShow.com/esm) under Lead Retrieval Scanner Rental. A week or so after the SEMA Show, exhibitors will receive a list of the companies or individuals who swiped their cards at the exhibitors’ booths, and buyers will receive a list of the exhibitors whose booths they visited and where they swiped their cards for easy follow up.

Media should visit www.SEMAdigital.com, which houses thousands of high-resolution images for download following the Show. The photos include not only all of the new products that were entered in the New Products Showcase—including exhibitor contact information—but also images of the display vehicles, many of the celebrities who attended, shots from press conferences and much more, and they’re all authorized for any legitimate press use.

SEMA News—October 2012

EVENTS
With Steve Campbell

A Few Minutes With Chuck Schwartz

The Chairman of ConvExx Talks About Priorities at the SEMA Show

	Chuck Schwartz has accrued many honors since becoming a trade show producer in 1976. He was elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2010 following nearly 30 years as the producer of the SEMA Show.

Chuck Schwartz has accrued many honors since becoming a trade show producer in 1976. For instance, he was elected chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events in 1999, served on the IAEE board of directors for seven years, received the IAEE Pinnacle Award and is an Auto International Association Hall of Fame winner. He was also elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2010 following nearly 30 years as the producer of the SEMA Show.

The Schwartzes began producing the Show in 1982 as Epic Enterprises before creating ConvExx in 2001, and they have worked closely with SEMA staff to grow the Show into the complex and all-encompassing automotive extravaganza that it has become today. In fact, Chuck has attended every SEMA Show since its inception, first as a buyer, once as an exhibitor and then as the producer of the event.

ConvExx now produces and manages exhibitions, shows and conferences throughout the country, with services that include sales, marketing and logistics both before and during each event. We could think of no one better than Chuck Schwartz to quiz about what exhibitors, buyers and media should know in the run-up to the 2012 SEMA Show.

SEMA News: What is the first thing that exhibitors should do when they arrive to set up for the SEMA Show?

Chuck Schwartz: Assuming they’ve received their badges in the mail (which they can do by registering prior to October 8), the first priority for exhibitors is to find their booth location within the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). They should next check to ensure that all of their freight has arrived. If it hasn’t arrived yet, check with the closest service desk or floor managerfor assistance.

There are signs above every service desk that say “Services Available.” In the North Hall, the service desk is upstairs near Room N263C. In the Central Hall, the service desk is near the Ford booth but underneath the concourse (down the steps and through the doors beside the concession stands). In the upper and lower South Halls, the service desks can be found in the meeting rooms at the east end of each hall. Around the hall are concierges with portable tablets who can assist you in finding freight, checking or ordering services and assisting with Show information.

Freeman has the ability to look at most major carriers’ sites and help to track freight. Exhibitors should be sure that they have all of their freight tracking numbers with them when they arrive at the SEMA Show site, even if they don’t plan to set up that day.

	The SEMA Show—the world’s premier automotive trade event—has been housed in the Las Vegas Convention Center for three decades. Nobody knows the place better than ConvExx CEO Chuck Schwartz.

CS: Freeman is an exhibition service contractor, which means that it handles many of the services needed to set up and then dismantle a show. Freeman provides material handling, furniture, carpet, electrical, exhibit rentals, labor to set up pre-made booths and supply air, gas and other services to exhibitors.

Freeman staff can be found at the service desks along with representatives that can supply audio/visual equipment, telephones and Internet, floral arrangements and lead-retrieval systems.

SN: How can exhibitors get the best bang for their buck at this year’s SEMA Show?

CS: Be prepared. Order your electrical, furniture, lead retrieval and audio/visual equipment early to take advantage of the best discounts. Meet with your Show staff so they know what’s expected of them and what your company’s goals are. Know the Show Office phone number onsite (702-943-3505), and don’t be afraid to call and ask questions.

Show Management is willing to review your exhibit layout even before you arrive in Las Vegas and will advise you of any problems immediately so that you can fix them before you go, which is much less costly than fixing them onsite. We’ll also make suggestions on efficient and cost-effective materials to use.

SN: What is the most often missed opportunity for SEMA Show exhibitors?

CS: The Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase and the Featured Product Showcase. The first product is free. Every buyer spends time in this area looking for the latest innovation that can make his or her business a success. Although the New Products Awards are billed as a contest, that’s not the most important feature of the Showcase. It’s the visibility to thousands of buyers and the media. The items entered in the Showcase can be shipped to the new products area before the Show and then be shipped back to the exhibitor’s office after the Show. For complete information about the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase, including shipping to and from the Show, go to www.SEMAShow.com/newproducts and click on the link to the Rules & Guidelines.

SN: What is the hottest new program for exhibitors at the 2012 SEMA Show?

CS: We have new floorplan software on the SEMA Show website, and it provides exhibitors with a number of valuable features. Every exhibitor should be sure to go to the site (www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan) and update their listing and products, as attendees can search by products as well as by company name and booth number.

SN: Where can buyers find information about the SEMA Show, such as exhibitor locations, educational opportunities and the answers to frequently asked questions?

CS: The SEMA Show website at www.SEMAShow.com has all the answers. It includes the interactive floorplan we talked about earlier as well as lists and descriptions of all the seminars, the ability to create calendars of events and lists of booths an attendee might wish to see. It’s got separate sections for exhibitors, attendees and media, with appropriate content for each category. It truly is a one-stop information library.

	The floor of the SEMA Show may seem like a maze, but the electronic map available online is a great navigation tool and also provides contact information and descriptions of every exhibitor.

CS: Use the calendar on the Show website, www.SEMAShow.com, to choose educational sessions and to locate priority exhibitors in advance of the Show. Be sure to visit the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase and Featured Products areas to find new products. Use the electronic scanners provided onsite to collect information and then visit the exhibitors whose products are relevant to your business. And be sure to read the pre-Show information in SEMA News so that you’ll know about Show highlights and exhibitor specials.

SN: How can buyers ensure that they locate all of the exhibitors that are pertinent to their market segments?

CS: Again, check www.SEMAShow.com to easily find every registered exhibitor. The exhibitor listings include not only contact information but also a company profile and product or service categories. Even those in the First Time & Featured Exhibitor sections are noted with the icon from their appropriate section, and there is also a link that allows you to search by section if you’re specifically looking for, say, restoration products or racing and performance products.

SN: What is the best new program for buyers at the 2012 SEMA Show?

CS: Use the calendar and interactive floorplan on www.SEMAShow.com to choose educational sessions and note exhibitors both before the Show and onsite. SEMA is working on a mobile app for Apple and Droid smartphones that will also provide search functions. It should be up by the time you read this.

SN: What is the most important thing that media attendees should know about covering the SEMA Show?

CS: The media need to become familiar with the Media Center, located on the Skybridge between the Central and South Halls. It contains not only computers with Internet connections and preloaded with common software, but also lounge areas, meeting rooms, a press room where many of the SEMA Show press conferences are held and a distribution area where exhibiting companies place a variety of press releases and other materials in both print and electronic formats. The Media Center is open throughout the Show, and there are always staff available there who can either answer frequently asked questions or get the answers quickly.

SN: Are there any post-Show programs that attendees, buyers or the media should be aware of?

CS: Attendees and exhibitors can track the companies they talked to through Buyer Connect from CompuSystems, which is listed in the exhibitor manual section of the Show website (www.SEMAShow.com/esm) under Lead Retrieval Scanner Rental. A week or so after the SEMA Show, exhibitors will receive a list of the companies or individuals who swiped their cards at the exhibitors’ booths, and buyers will receive a list of the exhibitors whose booths they visited and where they swiped their cards for easy follow up.

Media should visit www.SEMAdigital.com, which houses thousands of high-resolution images for download following the Show. The photos include not only all of the new products that were entered in the New Products Showcase—including exhibitor contact information—but also images of the display vehicles, many of the celebrities who attended, shots from press conferences and much more, and they’re all authorized for any legitimate press use.

SEMA News—October 2012

EVENTS
With Steve Campbell

A Few Minutes With Chuck Schwartz

The Chairman of ConvExx Talks About Priorities at the SEMA Show

	Chuck Schwartz has accrued many honors since becoming a trade show producer in 1976. He was elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2010 following nearly 30 years as the producer of the SEMA Show.

Chuck Schwartz has accrued many honors since becoming a trade show producer in 1976. For instance, he was elected chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events in 1999, served on the IAEE board of directors for seven years, received the IAEE Pinnacle Award and is an Auto International Association Hall of Fame winner. He was also elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2010 following nearly 30 years as the producer of the SEMA Show.

The Schwartzes began producing the Show in 1982 as Epic Enterprises before creating ConvExx in 2001, and they have worked closely with SEMA staff to grow the Show into the complex and all-encompassing automotive extravaganza that it has become today. In fact, Chuck has attended every SEMA Show since its inception, first as a buyer, once as an exhibitor and then as the producer of the event.

ConvExx now produces and manages exhibitions, shows and conferences throughout the country, with services that include sales, marketing and logistics both before and during each event. We could think of no one better than Chuck Schwartz to quiz about what exhibitors, buyers and media should know in the run-up to the 2012 SEMA Show.

SEMA News: What is the first thing that exhibitors should do when they arrive to set up for the SEMA Show?

Chuck Schwartz: Assuming they’ve received their badges in the mail (which they can do by registering prior to October 8), the first priority for exhibitors is to find their booth location within the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). They should next check to ensure that all of their freight has arrived. If it hasn’t arrived yet, check with the closest service desk or floor managerfor assistance.

There are signs above every service desk that say “Services Available.” In the North Hall, the service desk is upstairs near Room N263C. In the Central Hall, the service desk is near the Ford booth but underneath the concourse (down the steps and through the doors beside the concession stands). In the upper and lower South Halls, the service desks can be found in the meeting rooms at the east end of each hall. Around the hall are concierges with portable tablets who can assist you in finding freight, checking or ordering services and assisting with Show information.

Freeman has the ability to look at most major carriers’ sites and help to track freight. Exhibitors should be sure that they have all of their freight tracking numbers with them when they arrive at the SEMA Show site, even if they don’t plan to set up that day.

	The SEMA Show—the world’s premier automotive trade event—has been housed in the Las Vegas Convention Center for three decades. Nobody knows the place better than ConvExx CEO Chuck Schwartz.

CS: Freeman is an exhibition service contractor, which means that it handles many of the services needed to set up and then dismantle a show. Freeman provides material handling, furniture, carpet, electrical, exhibit rentals, labor to set up pre-made booths and supply air, gas and other services to exhibitors.

Freeman staff can be found at the service desks along with representatives that can supply audio/visual equipment, telephones and Internet, floral arrangements and lead-retrieval systems.

SN: How can exhibitors get the best bang for their buck at this year’s SEMA Show?

CS: Be prepared. Order your electrical, furniture, lead retrieval and audio/visual equipment early to take advantage of the best discounts. Meet with your Show staff so they know what’s expected of them and what your company’s goals are. Know the Show Office phone number onsite (702-943-3505), and don’t be afraid to call and ask questions.

Show Management is willing to review your exhibit layout even before you arrive in Las Vegas and will advise you of any problems immediately so that you can fix them before you go, which is much less costly than fixing them onsite. We’ll also make suggestions on efficient and cost-effective materials to use.

SN: What is the most often missed opportunity for SEMA Show exhibitors?

CS: The Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase and the Featured Product Showcase. The first product is free. Every buyer spends time in this area looking for the latest innovation that can make his or her business a success. Although the New Products Awards are billed as a contest, that’s not the most important feature of the Showcase. It’s the visibility to thousands of buyers and the media. The items entered in the Showcase can be shipped to the new products area before the Show and then be shipped back to the exhibitor’s office after the Show. For complete information about the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase, including shipping to and from the Show, go to www.SEMAShow.com/newproducts and click on the link to the Rules & Guidelines.

SN: What is the hottest new program for exhibitors at the 2012 SEMA Show?

CS: We have new floorplan software on the SEMA Show website, and it provides exhibitors with a number of valuable features. Every exhibitor should be sure to go to the site (www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan) and update their listing and products, as attendees can search by products as well as by company name and booth number.

SN: Where can buyers find information about the SEMA Show, such as exhibitor locations, educational opportunities and the answers to frequently asked questions?

CS: The SEMA Show website at www.SEMAShow.com has all the answers. It includes the interactive floorplan we talked about earlier as well as lists and descriptions of all the seminars, the ability to create calendars of events and lists of booths an attendee might wish to see. It’s got separate sections for exhibitors, attendees and media, with appropriate content for each category. It truly is a one-stop information library.

	The floor of the SEMA Show may seem like a maze, but the electronic map available online is a great navigation tool and also provides contact information and descriptions of every exhibitor.

CS: Use the calendar on the Show website, www.SEMAShow.com, to choose educational sessions and to locate priority exhibitors in advance of the Show. Be sure to visit the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase and Featured Products areas to find new products. Use the electronic scanners provided onsite to collect information and then visit the exhibitors whose products are relevant to your business. And be sure to read the pre-Show information in SEMA News so that you’ll know about Show highlights and exhibitor specials.

SN: How can buyers ensure that they locate all of the exhibitors that are pertinent to their market segments?

CS: Again, check www.SEMAShow.com to easily find every registered exhibitor. The exhibitor listings include not only contact information but also a company profile and product or service categories. Even those in the First Time & Featured Exhibitor sections are noted with the icon from their appropriate section, and there is also a link that allows you to search by section if you’re specifically looking for, say, restoration products or racing and performance products.

SN: What is the best new program for buyers at the 2012 SEMA Show?

CS: Use the calendar and interactive floorplan on www.SEMAShow.com to choose educational sessions and note exhibitors both before the Show and onsite. SEMA is working on a mobile app for Apple and Droid smartphones that will also provide search functions. It should be up by the time you read this.

SN: What is the most important thing that media attendees should know about covering the SEMA Show?

CS: The media need to become familiar with the Media Center, located on the Skybridge between the Central and South Halls. It contains not only computers with Internet connections and preloaded with common software, but also lounge areas, meeting rooms, a press room where many of the SEMA Show press conferences are held and a distribution area where exhibiting companies place a variety of press releases and other materials in both print and electronic formats. The Media Center is open throughout the Show, and there are always staff available there who can either answer frequently asked questions or get the answers quickly.

SN: Are there any post-Show programs that attendees, buyers or the media should be aware of?

CS: Attendees and exhibitors can track the companies they talked to through Buyer Connect from CompuSystems, which is listed in the exhibitor manual section of the Show website (www.SEMAShow.com/esm) under Lead Retrieval Scanner Rental. A week or so after the SEMA Show, exhibitors will receive a list of the companies or individuals who swiped their cards at the exhibitors’ booths, and buyers will receive a list of the exhibitors whose booths they visited and where they swiped their cards for easy follow up.

Media should visit www.SEMAdigital.com, which houses thousands of high-resolution images for download following the Show. The photos include not only all of the new products that were entered in the New Products Showcase—including exhibitor contact information—but also images of the display vehicles, many of the celebrities who attended, shots from press conferences and much more, and they’re all authorized for any legitimate press use.