SEMA

In the halls of Congress, success is often directly related to the size of your rolodex. The more friends you have in your corner, the more likely you are to get things accomplished. With the automotive specialty aftetmarket industry continuing to grow, having a powerful voice in the nation’s capital is critical to keeping that engine running smoothly. Thanks to the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, the industry is connected with some of the most important contacts in Washington—the politicians.

Delaware Governor John Carney signed into law a bill easing the process of registering a street rod by favorably changing the existing age and equipment requirements. The new law amends the definition of street rod from a vehicle manufactured before ’70 to one 25 years old or older. The law also removes the requirement that a street rod’s tires be covered by fenders.

Harold Hunt, owner of SuperATV in Madison, Indiana, is a motorsports enthusiast, and he instills that same passion in the people he hires. They aren’t just clerks; they go out on the weekends and ride so that they can come back to the shop and relate their product knowledge and experience to customers.

Preparations for the 2019 SEMA Show are in full swing, and staff just delivered our annual Exhibitor Summit—a two-day info-fest to help new AND seasoned exhibitors learn how to capture maximum value from the SEMA Show. How do we know what makes up a successful Show strategy? You give us the answers—through post-Show surveys completed annually by thousands of SEMA Show buyers and exhibitors. These surveys help us stay current with the objectives of buyers and sellers, identifying trends and seeing where buyers and exhibitors are aligned—and sometimes misaligned. Below are some top examples where exhibiting manufacturers may be missing the mark—and how to get on target.