A Profitable Partnership

This seems to indicate a resumption of the longstanding, mutually beneficial business partnership between parts manufacturers, restylers and car dealerships, which had stalled during the recession. That said, there are some differences in the way some restylers do business since the recession, and long-term challenges remain.

Getting in at the Dealer Level

Partnering with car dealers to sell accessories has long been a profitable tactic for restylers, adding sales to their bottom lines and helping to get a foot in the door with new customers, said Ginger Glover, president of Truckers Toy Store based in Morehead City, North Carolina. The question is, how best to do it, and how much is healthy?

“I’m not 100% dependent on dealerships,” Glover said. “It’s nice to have, but for me to build my business solely around their needs—I have no intention of doing that. As with what happened in 2008, lots of folks had their heads handed to them.”

It’s well known that accessorization is an added benefit that helps to sell cars. (See “SEMA Accessorization Study 2010,” available online). Even if dealers have a car that’s not a strong seller, showcasing it on the floor decked out with a brand-new wheel and tire package or the latest technological enhancements might catch the eye of 10 or 15 more potential customers. This increases their chances of getting that elusive sale, and the tactic is an additional point of purchase for parts manufacturers and dealers.

After a vehicle is sold, Glover sends an employee to the dealership, picks up the vehicle, fully dresses it and brings it back to the dealership so the salespeople aren’t off the floor.

“That’s important to them, because they have to leave the floor to take the vehicle to your facility,” Glover said. “They can’t sell anything if they’re off the floor. They may miss the chance to sell that big deal.”

To get involved at the dealer level, Glover suggested building a rapport with the dealership’s general manager and letting the salespeople know you’re there and what you can do for them.

“I liken it to a fishing expedition,” she explained. “You can throw your line in the water, but if you don’t work it, you’re not going to catch anything. Offer up ideas, let them know what you have available and how quickly you can get it and turn it around.”

 

	Help dealerships differentiate themselves by providing products and services not available from the factory.

On the other hand, almost the entirety of Auto Trim of Denver’s business is wholesale through 90% of the new- and used-car dealerships in the Denver area, according to Tony Hinton, general manager. Sometimes certain models aren’t equipped to meet customer demand for navigation systems or a leather interior, which is where Auto Trim of Denver comes into play.

“We offer an ‘à la carte’ type of arrangement,” Hinton said. “If a dealer needs leather to help sell a vehicle, we can provide that. We also help dealerships move cars by differentiating them. For instance, some cars might come from the factory with two or three interior color choices. We can create two-tone packages with logos and things they just can’t do from the factory.”

Working with dealerships is a completely different business from retail, Hinton explained, so it’s important for restylers to make a commitment and put forth the effort, especially on the sales side, because it doesn’t come automatically.

Another wholesale-to-dealer installer and restyler, Auto Trim Restyling, based in Manchester, Missouri, doesn’t have a retail store, so arranging for specialty-equipment parts to be sold at the dealer level is how it does business.

“I go to market at the dealership,” said Kevin McGowan, the company’s president and self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Aftermarket.” “It’s imperative I have great support from SEMA, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council and product manufacturers to help facilitate sales from the general public through the dealer.”

Industry Trends

Current trends tend to vary by customer and vehicle type, but recurring themes for trucks include lifts, rims and tires, followed by leather interiors and chrome packages, according to Glover.

For Hinton, next to leather, the big sellers are sunroofs, mobile video and navigation systems. He said that it’s important for customers to have a comfort level with the installation so that they know they’re not going to get anything inferior to what they would have had from the factory. Therefore, Hinton will not install any part that doesn’t meet or exceed factory specs
and warranty.

Trucks have long been a staple of the accessorization market, and one might assume that truck sales would decline with today’s volatile fuel prices, but that hasn’t been the case, according to Alan Farb, editor of Restyling magazine. True, small cars are selling at a higher rate than they have in a long time due to their fuel efficiency, but there is still pent-up demand for trucks. New-truck shoppers are buying grilles and grille guards, tonneaus, truck caps, toolboxes, racks, bed liners, towing systems and running boards.

Also, pinstriping is on the rebound, since most cars from the factory don’t offer it and because it’s an easy sell and doesn’t take much to make the vehicle “pop,” Farb said. Restylers can take a $7 roll of pinstriping material and wind up with $100 in net profit.

Wheels and tires are still huge sellers, which is something restylers should take advantage of. “Tire dealers sell a high volume of wheels because somebody comes in with a slick car looking for tires and they see a great wheel display,” Farb said.

According to McGowan, information technology is also highly popular in today’s market, especially with the younger generation, though it’s difficult to gauge specific sales in each market because there are so many different types of consumers. However, the more products available to the end consumer, the more they will help dealers sell the car.

“For cost reasons, OEMs can’t design a car with a remote start via an Android or an iPhone, whereas we can go to the dealer, help them put something together and promote it, which might help them sell a car to customers who didn’t know this option was available to them,” McGowan said. “The OEM can’t put a $500 or $600 part on every car; it’s unrealistic for them to spend that kind of money.”

How to Promote Accessorization

 

	One promotion by Auto Trim Restyling featured Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifting at the St. Louis Auto Show.

When working with dealers, you’ve got to sell yourself. Glover regularly meets one-on-one with her dealers, supplies them with catalogs that contain examples of the different parts that are available and explains why they need to get involved with the aftermarket.

To read the complete story, featured in the July 2012 issue of SEMA News, visit www.sema.org/sema-news/2012/07/a-profitable-partnership.

 

A Profitable Partnership

This seems to indicate a resumption of the longstanding, mutually beneficial business partnership between parts manufacturers, restylers and car dealerships, which had stalled during the recession. That said, there are some differences in the way some restylers do business since the recession, and long-term challenges remain.

Getting in at the Dealer Level

Partnering with car dealers to sell accessories has long been a profitable tactic for restylers, adding sales to their bottom lines and helping to get a foot in the door with new customers, said Ginger Glover, president of Truckers Toy Store based in Morehead City, North Carolina. The question is, how best to do it, and how much is healthy?

“I’m not 100% dependent on dealerships,” Glover said. “It’s nice to have, but for me to build my business solely around their needs—I have no intention of doing that. As with what happened in 2008, lots of folks had their heads handed to them.”

It’s well known that accessorization is an added benefit that helps to sell cars. (See “SEMA Accessorization Study 2010,” available online). Even if dealers have a car that’s not a strong seller, showcasing it on the floor decked out with a brand-new wheel and tire package or the latest technological enhancements might catch the eye of 10 or 15 more potential customers. This increases their chances of getting that elusive sale, and the tactic is an additional point of purchase for parts manufacturers and dealers.

After a vehicle is sold, Glover sends an employee to the dealership, picks up the vehicle, fully dresses it and brings it back to the dealership so the salespeople aren’t off the floor.

“That’s important to them, because they have to leave the floor to take the vehicle to your facility,” Glover said. “They can’t sell anything if they’re off the floor. They may miss the chance to sell that big deal.”

To get involved at the dealer level, Glover suggested building a rapport with the dealership’s general manager and letting the salespeople know you’re there and what you can do for them.

“I liken it to a fishing expedition,” she explained. “You can throw your line in the water, but if you don’t work it, you’re not going to catch anything. Offer up ideas, let them know what you have available and how quickly you can get it and turn it around.”

 

	Help dealerships differentiate themselves by providing products and services not available from the factory.

On the other hand, almost the entirety of Auto Trim of Denver’s business is wholesale through 90% of the new- and used-car dealerships in the Denver area, according to Tony Hinton, general manager. Sometimes certain models aren’t equipped to meet customer demand for navigation systems or a leather interior, which is where Auto Trim of Denver comes into play.

“We offer an ‘à la carte’ type of arrangement,” Hinton said. “If a dealer needs leather to help sell a vehicle, we can provide that. We also help dealerships move cars by differentiating them. For instance, some cars might come from the factory with two or three interior color choices. We can create two-tone packages with logos and things they just can’t do from the factory.”

Working with dealerships is a completely different business from retail, Hinton explained, so it’s important for restylers to make a commitment and put forth the effort, especially on the sales side, because it doesn’t come automatically.

Another wholesale-to-dealer installer and restyler, Auto Trim Restyling, based in Manchester, Missouri, doesn’t have a retail store, so arranging for specialty-equipment parts to be sold at the dealer level is how it does business.

“I go to market at the dealership,” said Kevin McGowan, the company’s president and self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Aftermarket.” “It’s imperative I have great support from SEMA, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council and product manufacturers to help facilitate sales from the general public through the dealer.”

Industry Trends

Current trends tend to vary by customer and vehicle type, but recurring themes for trucks include lifts, rims and tires, followed by leather interiors and chrome packages, according to Glover.

For Hinton, next to leather, the big sellers are sunroofs, mobile video and navigation systems. He said that it’s important for customers to have a comfort level with the installation so that they know they’re not going to get anything inferior to what they would have had from the factory. Therefore, Hinton will not install any part that doesn’t meet or exceed factory specs
and warranty.

Trucks have long been a staple of the accessorization market, and one might assume that truck sales would decline with today’s volatile fuel prices, but that hasn’t been the case, according to Alan Farb, editor of Restyling magazine. True, small cars are selling at a higher rate than they have in a long time due to their fuel efficiency, but there is still pent-up demand for trucks. New-truck shoppers are buying grilles and grille guards, tonneaus, truck caps, toolboxes, racks, bed liners, towing systems and running boards.

Also, pinstriping is on the rebound, since most cars from the factory don’t offer it and because it’s an easy sell and doesn’t take much to make the vehicle “pop,” Farb said. Restylers can take a $7 roll of pinstriping material and wind up with $100 in net profit.

Wheels and tires are still huge sellers, which is something restylers should take advantage of. “Tire dealers sell a high volume of wheels because somebody comes in with a slick car looking for tires and they see a great wheel display,” Farb said.

According to McGowan, information technology is also highly popular in today’s market, especially with the younger generation, though it’s difficult to gauge specific sales in each market because there are so many different types of consumers. However, the more products available to the end consumer, the more they will help dealers sell the car.

“For cost reasons, OEMs can’t design a car with a remote start via an Android or an iPhone, whereas we can go to the dealer, help them put something together and promote it, which might help them sell a car to customers who didn’t know this option was available to them,” McGowan said. “The OEM can’t put a $500 or $600 part on every car; it’s unrealistic for them to spend that kind of money.”

How to Promote Accessorization

 

	One promotion by Auto Trim Restyling featured Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifting at the St. Louis Auto Show.

When working with dealers, you’ve got to sell yourself. Glover regularly meets one-on-one with her dealers, supplies them with catalogs that contain examples of the different parts that are available and explains why they need to get involved with the aftermarket.

To read the complete story, featured in the July 2012 issue of SEMA News, visit www.sema.org/sema-news/2012/07/a-profitable-partnership.

 

A Profitable Partnership

This seems to indicate a resumption of the longstanding, mutually beneficial business partnership between parts manufacturers, restylers and car dealerships, which had stalled during the recession. That said, there are some differences in the way some restylers do business since the recession, and long-term challenges remain.

Getting in at the Dealer Level

Partnering with car dealers to sell accessories has long been a profitable tactic for restylers, adding sales to their bottom lines and helping to get a foot in the door with new customers, said Ginger Glover, president of Truckers Toy Store based in Morehead City, North Carolina. The question is, how best to do it, and how much is healthy?

“I’m not 100% dependent on dealerships,” Glover said. “It’s nice to have, but for me to build my business solely around their needs—I have no intention of doing that. As with what happened in 2008, lots of folks had their heads handed to them.”

It’s well known that accessorization is an added benefit that helps to sell cars. (See “SEMA Accessorization Study 2010,” available online). Even if dealers have a car that’s not a strong seller, showcasing it on the floor decked out with a brand-new wheel and tire package or the latest technological enhancements might catch the eye of 10 or 15 more potential customers. This increases their chances of getting that elusive sale, and the tactic is an additional point of purchase for parts manufacturers and dealers.

After a vehicle is sold, Glover sends an employee to the dealership, picks up the vehicle, fully dresses it and brings it back to the dealership so the salespeople aren’t off the floor.

“That’s important to them, because they have to leave the floor to take the vehicle to your facility,” Glover said. “They can’t sell anything if they’re off the floor. They may miss the chance to sell that big deal.”

To get involved at the dealer level, Glover suggested building a rapport with the dealership’s general manager and letting the salespeople know you’re there and what you can do for them.

“I liken it to a fishing expedition,” she explained. “You can throw your line in the water, but if you don’t work it, you’re not going to catch anything. Offer up ideas, let them know what you have available and how quickly you can get it and turn it around.”

 

	Help dealerships differentiate themselves by providing products and services not available from the factory.

On the other hand, almost the entirety of Auto Trim of Denver’s business is wholesale through 90% of the new- and used-car dealerships in the Denver area, according to Tony Hinton, general manager. Sometimes certain models aren’t equipped to meet customer demand for navigation systems or a leather interior, which is where Auto Trim of Denver comes into play.

“We offer an ‘à la carte’ type of arrangement,” Hinton said. “If a dealer needs leather to help sell a vehicle, we can provide that. We also help dealerships move cars by differentiating them. For instance, some cars might come from the factory with two or three interior color choices. We can create two-tone packages with logos and things they just can’t do from the factory.”

Working with dealerships is a completely different business from retail, Hinton explained, so it’s important for restylers to make a commitment and put forth the effort, especially on the sales side, because it doesn’t come automatically.

Another wholesale-to-dealer installer and restyler, Auto Trim Restyling, based in Manchester, Missouri, doesn’t have a retail store, so arranging for specialty-equipment parts to be sold at the dealer level is how it does business.

“I go to market at the dealership,” said Kevin McGowan, the company’s president and self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Aftermarket.” “It’s imperative I have great support from SEMA, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council and product manufacturers to help facilitate sales from the general public through the dealer.”

Industry Trends

Current trends tend to vary by customer and vehicle type, but recurring themes for trucks include lifts, rims and tires, followed by leather interiors and chrome packages, according to Glover.

For Hinton, next to leather, the big sellers are sunroofs, mobile video and navigation systems. He said that it’s important for customers to have a comfort level with the installation so that they know they’re not going to get anything inferior to what they would have had from the factory. Therefore, Hinton will not install any part that doesn’t meet or exceed factory specs
and warranty.

Trucks have long been a staple of the accessorization market, and one might assume that truck sales would decline with today’s volatile fuel prices, but that hasn’t been the case, according to Alan Farb, editor of Restyling magazine. True, small cars are selling at a higher rate than they have in a long time due to their fuel efficiency, but there is still pent-up demand for trucks. New-truck shoppers are buying grilles and grille guards, tonneaus, truck caps, toolboxes, racks, bed liners, towing systems and running boards.

Also, pinstriping is on the rebound, since most cars from the factory don’t offer it and because it’s an easy sell and doesn’t take much to make the vehicle “pop,” Farb said. Restylers can take a $7 roll of pinstriping material and wind up with $100 in net profit.

Wheels and tires are still huge sellers, which is something restylers should take advantage of. “Tire dealers sell a high volume of wheels because somebody comes in with a slick car looking for tires and they see a great wheel display,” Farb said.

According to McGowan, information technology is also highly popular in today’s market, especially with the younger generation, though it’s difficult to gauge specific sales in each market because there are so many different types of consumers. However, the more products available to the end consumer, the more they will help dealers sell the car.

“For cost reasons, OEMs can’t design a car with a remote start via an Android or an iPhone, whereas we can go to the dealer, help them put something together and promote it, which might help them sell a car to customers who didn’t know this option was available to them,” McGowan said. “The OEM can’t put a $500 or $600 part on every car; it’s unrealistic for them to spend that kind of money.”

How to Promote Accessorization

 

	One promotion by Auto Trim Restyling featured Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifting at the St. Louis Auto Show.

When working with dealers, you’ve got to sell yourself. Glover regularly meets one-on-one with her dealers, supplies them with catalogs that contain examples of the different parts that are available and explains why they need to get involved with the aftermarket.

To read the complete story, featured in the July 2012 issue of SEMA News, visit www.sema.org/sema-news/2012/07/a-profitable-partnership.

 

Earlier this year, some sources alluded to the fact that the MINI Paceman would hit dealerships as the Countryman Coupe, and it looks like that will be made official when the vehicle debuts at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

It all makes sense that MINI would put the Countryman name onto their two-door Paceman Concept, considering the production vehicle will share the same front end. It also appears that the Paceman Concept will closely resemble the final production Countryman Coupe, and it is still on schedule to hit dealerships in 2013 as a ’14 model.

Unfortunately, there is still no confirmation on what will power the new Countryman Coupe, but, according to Brenda Priddy & Co., the Paceman Concept did sport a John Cooper Works-built, 211hp, 1.6L twin-turbocharged engine—and this prototype is clearly an “S” version—also badged "ALL4" on the side.

Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.

Earlier this year, some sources alluded to the fact that the MINI Paceman would hit dealerships as the Countryman Coupe, and it looks like that will be made official when the vehicle debuts at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

It all makes sense that MINI would put the Countryman name onto their two-door Paceman Concept, considering the production vehicle will share the same front end. It also appears that the Paceman Concept will closely resemble the final production Countryman Coupe, and it is still on schedule to hit dealerships in 2013 as a ’14 model.

Unfortunately, there is still no confirmation on what will power the new Countryman Coupe, but, according to Brenda Priddy & Co., the Paceman Concept did sport a John Cooper Works-built, 211hp, 1.6L twin-turbocharged engine—and this prototype is clearly an “S” version—also badged "ALL4" on the side.

Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.

Earlier this year, some sources alluded to the fact that the MINI Paceman would hit dealerships as the Countryman Coupe, and it looks like that will be made official when the vehicle debuts at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

It all makes sense that MINI would put the Countryman name onto their two-door Paceman Concept, considering the production vehicle will share the same front end. It also appears that the Paceman Concept will closely resemble the final production Countryman Coupe, and it is still on schedule to hit dealerships in 2013 as a ’14 model.

Unfortunately, there is still no confirmation on what will power the new Countryman Coupe, but, according to Brenda Priddy & Co., the Paceman Concept did sport a John Cooper Works-built, 211hp, 1.6L twin-turbocharged engine—and this prototype is clearly an “S” version—also badged "ALL4" on the side.

Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.

	The Savvy/Currie/Falken Jeep LJ Unlimited won the Ultra4 Every Man Challenge Stock Class at the Glen Helen Motorsports Park in San Bernardino, California.

Team Falken Scores Second Win With Savvy Off Road in Every Man Challenge Stock Class Event
Falken Tire took its second win in the Ultra4 Every Man Challenge Stock Class partnered with Savvy Off Road and driver Gerald Lee. The win, at the Glen Helen Motorsports Park in San Bernardino, California, is the second for the Savvy/Currie/Falken Jeep LJ Unlimited, which captured the 2012 King of the Hammers inaugural Every Man Challenge event in Johnson Valley, California, this past February.
 
Lee earned the trophy besting a determined field of entrants. Qualifying started the event at the 2012 4Wheel Parts Glen Helen Grand Prix with the Jeep suffering electrical issues, placing it seventh overall. The race itself was more of a sprint, lasting 1.5 hours. Lee was able to place the stock class leader by lap three, taking the top positions and finishing second overall. The Every Man Challenge was created as a partner event to the growing King of Hammers race, allowing off-road enthusiasts a chance to race their stock and modified stock vehicles.

ALM Materials Handling will be the featured co-sponsor of the Automotive Lift Insitute No. 43 Ford Fusion to be driven by Aric Almirola at Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Pennsylvania 400.

ALM Materials Handling to Co-Sponsor Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Ford Fusion at Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Pennsylvania 400
ALM Materials Handling will be the featured co-sponsor of the Automotive Lift Institute No. 43 Ford Fusion to be driven by Aric Almirola at Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Pennsylvania 400, August 3–5, 2012. The Pennsylvania 400 will air live on ESPN Sunday, August 5, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

The Automotive Lift Institute's entry of the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford Fusion at this weekend's Pocono Race wears ALM's corporate paint scheme of orange, white and black and ALM's logo displayed on the hood along with the ALM website. 

	EnerSys has announced a two-race primary sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) No. 31 Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton, beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

EnerSys Sponsors Jeff Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway This Weekend
EnerSys, manufacturer of a line of motive power, reserve power, aerospace/defense and specialty batteries, including the ODYSSEY battery, has announced a two-race primary sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) No. 31 Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton, beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, Pennsylvania). Burton will also sport the red, white and black colors of EnerSys and the ODYSSEY brand at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, October 28.

Burton, currently in his 19th fulltime season in NASCAR’s premier division, has amassed 21 wins, 132 top-five finishes, 246 top-10 finishes, six Pole Awards and led 6,510 laps during his career. Burton sits 20th in the 2012 Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings with four top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place finish in the 2012 Daytona 500 and a runner-up finish earlier this month in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Burton qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from 2006 to 2008, and in 2010 with 14-time championship winning car owner Richard Childress.

	The Savvy/Currie/Falken Jeep LJ Unlimited won the Ultra4 Every Man Challenge Stock Class at the Glen Helen Motorsports Park in San Bernardino, California.

Team Falken Scores Second Win With Savvy Off Road in Every Man Challenge Stock Class Event
Falken Tire took its second win in the Ultra4 Every Man Challenge Stock Class partnered with Savvy Off Road and driver Gerald Lee. The win, at the Glen Helen Motorsports Park in San Bernardino, California, is the second for the Savvy/Currie/Falken Jeep LJ Unlimited, which captured the 2012 King of the Hammers inaugural Every Man Challenge event in Johnson Valley, California, this past February.
 
Lee earned the trophy besting a determined field of entrants. Qualifying started the event at the 2012 4Wheel Parts Glen Helen Grand Prix with the Jeep suffering electrical issues, placing it seventh overall. The race itself was more of a sprint, lasting 1.5 hours. Lee was able to place the stock class leader by lap three, taking the top positions and finishing second overall. The Every Man Challenge was created as a partner event to the growing King of Hammers race, allowing off-road enthusiasts a chance to race their stock and modified stock vehicles.

ALM Materials Handling will be the featured co-sponsor of the Automotive Lift Insitute No. 43 Ford Fusion to be driven by Aric Almirola at Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Pennsylvania 400.

ALM Materials Handling to Co-Sponsor Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Ford Fusion at Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Pennsylvania 400
ALM Materials Handling will be the featured co-sponsor of the Automotive Lift Institute No. 43 Ford Fusion to be driven by Aric Almirola at Pocono Raceway's NASCAR Pennsylvania 400, August 3–5, 2012. The Pennsylvania 400 will air live on ESPN Sunday, August 5, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

The Automotive Lift Institute's entry of the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford Fusion at this weekend's Pocono Race wears ALM's corporate paint scheme of orange, white and black and ALM's logo displayed on the hood along with the ALM website. 

	EnerSys has announced a two-race primary sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) No. 31 Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton, beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

EnerSys Sponsors Jeff Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway This Weekend
EnerSys, manufacturer of a line of motive power, reserve power, aerospace/defense and specialty batteries, including the ODYSSEY battery, has announced a two-race primary sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) No. 31 Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton, beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, Pennsylvania). Burton will also sport the red, white and black colors of EnerSys and the ODYSSEY brand at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, October 28.

Burton, currently in his 19th fulltime season in NASCAR’s premier division, has amassed 21 wins, 132 top-five finishes, 246 top-10 finishes, six Pole Awards and led 6,510 laps during his career. Burton sits 20th in the 2012 Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings with four top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place finish in the 2012 Daytona 500 and a runner-up finish earlier this month in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Burton qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from 2006 to 2008, and in 2010 with 14-time championship winning car owner Richard Childress.

	More than 450 members of the automotive specialty-parts industry attended the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California, Friday, July 27.

More than 450 members of the automotive specialty-parts industry attended the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California, Friday, July 27, to honor 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr., and raise money for children’s charities Childhelp and Victory Junction. They also came to thank departing SEMA Board of Directors members for their service and welcome new members. 



“It was great to recognize our new Hall of Fame inductees Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr.,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “Whether building the world’s appetite for all things automotive through media, spectacular hot rods or growing the industry through its trade associations, these inductees exemplify contributions at a world-class level. Also, I’m grateful for the contributions of our outgoing Board members and look forward to working with the new Board members. Their unique backgrounds and experiences will continue guiding the industry to grow and prosper. I’d like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the fundraising activities such a success. SEMA Cares is a wonderful example of how people in this industry are able to selflessly work together to help better the lives of others.”

The day’s activities kicked-off with the Pinewood Drag Races, sponsored by eBay Motors.
 The winners, by class, included:

	The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, sponsored by eBay Motors, featured hundreds of pinewood cars—built by children from Victory Junction and Childhelp and sponsored by SEMA-member companies—racing against the clock for bragging rights and to support these two worthwhile charities.

Build it for Me

1st: AJ Kuck, Transfer Flow
2nd: Kim Ziebell, Bushwacker
3rd: Mandi Woodell, Weathers Auto Supply

Stock

1st: Nate and Tom Gattuso, SEMA
2nd: SEMA Busineswomen's Network
3rd: Travis and Janette White, Rampage Products (with Childhelp children)

Modified

1st: Eric Saltrick, Matt Agosta, Steele Rubber Products
2nd: Nicholas Hoffend, Freeman Co.
3rd: Chuck Schwartz, Convexx

Unlimited

1st: John Menzler, Competition Cams
2nd: Russell Stephens, MSD Ignition
3rd: Nicholas Hoffend, Freeman Co.

Council Cup

Weathers Auto Supply, sponsored by TORA and represented by George Lathouris, TORA council chairman

Builder's Race

Derek White, Street Vizions (three-time defending champion)

After the races, a reception at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona launched the evening’s Installation Banquet & Gala. Emcee Dave McClelland hosted the ceremonies honoring SEMA Hall of Fame inductees and incoming and outgoing Board members. Luanne Brown, SEMA Cares Commitee chairman, and Paul "Scooter" Brothers, SEMA chairman of the Board, provided the opening remarks and welcomed everyone to the 2012 event.

Also in attendance, renowned comedian Christopher Titus—a self-professed "car guy"—fondly recalled his memories working on cars, which provided quite a few laughs. 



Later in the evening, outgoing Board members, Ron Funfar, Hedman Performance Group; Adrian Murray, Painless Performance; John Iannotte, NA Williams Co.; Ed Orzetti, Keystone Automotive Operations; Bob Moore, J&B Service; Chris Thomson, AIRAID Filter Co.; and Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems, were honored and thanked for their substantial contributions to the industry.

The newly elected members to the SEMA Board of Directors include Russell Stephens – president, MSD Performance, and Nick Gramelspacher – national sales manager, Meyer Distributing.


The 2012 SEMA Council leaders.		The 2012–2013 SEMA Board of Directors.
John Menzler (left) of Competition Cams runs the track at the Pinewood Drag Races, while Joe Sebergandio of Motor Media calls the races.		Dave McClelland once again hosted the event this year in Pomona.
SEMA Chairman of the Board Paul "Scooter" Brothers welcomes industry guests to the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser.		Comedian and fellow gearhead Christopher Titus reflects on his life experience with cars to provide the evening's laughs.
Mark Heffington, owner/president of Hypertech Inc., accepts his SEMA Hall of Fame recognition for his pioneering contributions to the aftermarket and racing communities.		Bob Larivee Sr., founder of Promotions Inc., accepts his SEMA Hall of Fame recognition as a ground-breaking entrepreneur and a publisher in the industry.
Russell Stephens of MSD Performance is welcomed as a new SEMA Board member.		Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing joins Russell Stephens as the second newly elected SEMA Board member.

	More than 450 members of the automotive specialty-parts industry attended the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California, Friday, July 27.

More than 450 members of the automotive specialty-parts industry attended the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California, Friday, July 27, to honor 2012 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr., and raise money for children’s charities Childhelp and Victory Junction. They also came to thank departing SEMA Board of Directors members for their service and welcome new members. 



“It was great to recognize our new Hall of Fame inductees Nick Arias Jr., Bill France Sr., Mark Heffington and Bob Larivee Sr.,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “Whether building the world’s appetite for all things automotive through media, spectacular hot rods or growing the industry through its trade associations, these inductees exemplify contributions at a world-class level. Also, I’m grateful for the contributions of our outgoing Board members and look forward to working with the new Board members. Their unique backgrounds and experiences will continue guiding the industry to grow and prosper. I’d like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the fundraising activities such a success. SEMA Cares is a wonderful example of how people in this industry are able to selflessly work together to help better the lives of others.”

The day’s activities kicked-off with the Pinewood Drag Races, sponsored by eBay Motors.
 The winners, by class, included:

	The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races, sponsored by eBay Motors, featured hundreds of pinewood cars—built by children from Victory Junction and Childhelp and sponsored by SEMA-member companies—racing against the clock for bragging rights and to support these two worthwhile charities.

Build it for Me

1st: AJ Kuck, Transfer Flow
2nd: Kim Ziebell, Bushwacker
3rd: Mandi Woodell, Weathers Auto Supply

Stock

1st: Nate and Tom Gattuso, SEMA
2nd: SEMA Busineswomen's Network
3rd: Travis and Janette White, Rampage Products (with Childhelp children)

Modified

1st: Eric Saltrick, Matt Agosta, Steele Rubber Products
2nd: Nicholas Hoffend, Freeman Co.
3rd: Chuck Schwartz, Convexx

Unlimited

1st: John Menzler, Competition Cams
2nd: Russell Stephens, MSD Ignition
3rd: Nicholas Hoffend, Freeman Co.

Council Cup

Weathers Auto Supply, sponsored by TORA and represented by George Lathouris, TORA council chairman

Builder's Race

Derek White, Street Vizions (three-time defending champion)

After the races, a reception at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona launched the evening’s Installation Banquet & Gala. Emcee Dave McClelland hosted the ceremonies honoring SEMA Hall of Fame inductees and incoming and outgoing Board members. Luanne Brown, SEMA Cares Commitee chairman, and Paul "Scooter" Brothers, SEMA chairman of the Board, provided the opening remarks and welcomed everyone to the 2012 event.

Also in attendance, renowned comedian Christopher Titus—a self-professed "car guy"—fondly recalled his memories working on cars, which provided quite a few laughs. 



Later in the evening, outgoing Board members, Ron Funfar, Hedman Performance Group; Adrian Murray, Painless Performance; John Iannotte, NA Williams Co.; Ed Orzetti, Keystone Automotive Operations; Bob Moore, J&B Service; Chris Thomson, AIRAID Filter Co.; and Tim Watts, Superlift Suspension Systems, were honored and thanked for their substantial contributions to the industry.

The newly elected members to the SEMA Board of Directors include Russell Stephens – president, MSD Performance, and Nick Gramelspacher – national sales manager, Meyer Distributing.


The 2012 SEMA Council leaders.		The 2012–2013 SEMA Board of Directors.
John Menzler (left) of Competition Cams runs the track at the Pinewood Drag Races, while Joe Sebergandio of Motor Media calls the races.		Dave McClelland once again hosted the event this year in Pomona.
SEMA Chairman of the Board Paul "Scooter" Brothers welcomes industry guests to the 2012 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser.		Comedian and fellow gearhead Christopher Titus reflects on his life experience with cars to provide the evening's laughs.
Mark Heffington, owner/president of Hypertech Inc., accepts his SEMA Hall of Fame recognition for his pioneering contributions to the aftermarket and racing communities.		Bob Larivee Sr., founder of Promotions Inc., accepts his SEMA Hall of Fame recognition as a ground-breaking entrepreneur and a publisher in the industry.
Russell Stephens of MSD Performance is welcomed as a new SEMA Board member.		Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing joins Russell Stephens as the second newly elected SEMA Board member.