HIGH SPEEDS: NASCAR officials have lowered the tolerance level of the pressure-relief valve on the radiator, hopefully forcing drivers to pull out of the draft to cool down their engines and eliminate the excessive speeds seen during the Budweiser Shootout.

BIG BUCKS: Thanks to an endowment left by midget racing historian Crocky Wright, the USAC Mopar National Midget Series Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Indiana, will pay the winner $20,000 this year.

RENOVATE: Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, will be resurfaced and reconfigured later this year. As part of the project, the dogleg on the backstretch will be made even more pronounced.

GET FUELED: Beginning in 2012, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will switch from carbureted engines to fuel-injected powerplants. The series will test the technology throughout 2011 before implementing the program next year.

SEE YA LATER: Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan, won’t return to the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule in 2012.

DEUCES ARE WILD: Kurt Busch used a push from Jamie McMurray to capture the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night.

NEW FAMILY: Memphis International Raceway, previously known as Memphis Motorsports Park, has officially joined the International Hotrod Association family.

BACKING: Lucas Oil will sponsor the POWRi National Midget Series beginning this season.

NUMBER SEVEN: Bobby Gerhart drove to his seventh ARCA Racing Series victory at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night, holding off Chris Buescher for the triumph.

POLE STARTER: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 after his 186.089 mph lap at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

RIP: Veteran Indianapolis Motor Speedway announcer Tom Carnegie, who worked at the speedway from 1946 until his retirement in 2007, died Friday. He was 91.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click here for more information.

Australia is one of the easiest places in the world to do business. Need a distributor or manufacturer? Join the United States Pavilion. The 2011 edition of the biennial Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo will be held in Melbourne May 12–14.

For more information, contact Christine Ellis, the Pavilion organizer, at 734/453-3500 or by e-mail at cellis@facetcompany.com.

Australia is one of the easiest places in the world to do business. Need a distributor or manufacturer? Join the United States Pavilion. The 2011 edition of the biennial Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo will be held in Melbourne May 12–14.

For more information, contact Christine Ellis, the Pavilion organizer, at 734/453-3500 or by e-mail at cellis@facetcompany.com.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited and encouraged to grab the specs they need for the 2012 Scion iQ during a SEMA Measuring Session on March 15.

The iQ is the automaker's premium micro-subcompact and features a 1.3L four-cylinder with continuously variable transmission.

During the session, manufacturers can crawl in and around the new micro-subcompact to take the measurements needed to develop products. Cameras are permitted for this session.

To participate, RSVP now. The deadline to sign up for the session in March 11. More information is available from Bill Wolf or Kelly Clancy.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited and encouraged to grab the specs they need for the 2012 Scion iQ during a SEMA Measuring Session on March 15.

The iQ is the automaker's premium micro-subcompact and features a 1.3L four-cylinder with continuously variable transmission.

During the session, manufacturers can crawl in and around the new micro-subcompact to take the measurements needed to develop products. Cameras are permitted for this session.

To participate, RSVP now. The deadline to sign up for the session in March 11. More information is available from Bill Wolf or Kelly Clancy.

SEMA members participating in the first SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference examine a customized Jeep at the CIAPE show.

Vehicle sales in China are growing across the board, but the luxury and SUV segments are increasing at the fastest rate, propelled by rising incomes and a wave of second-car buyers with a desire for something more upscale. That’s just one trend that bodes well for SEMA members eyeing the China market for future sales.

First, the big picture. China’s passenger-car market was the world’s largest in 2010. It grew by 33.17% compared to the previous year to 13.76 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). J.D. Power and Associates forecasts China’s passenger-car market will hit 20.9 million units by 2015. That includes cars, SUVs and MPVs.

“The luxury-car and SUV segments are gaining share in recent years, especially from 2008,” Jenny Gu, a senior analyst with J.D. Power in Shanghai, told SEMA. “One major reason is that the percentage of second-time buyers is increasing, and their first choice is an SUV or a luxury car.”

In 2010, SUVs accounted for 14% of the passenger-vehicle market; that will grow to 16% by 2015. Luxury cars accounted for 3.8% of the market in 2010; that will grow to 4.7% by 2015.

Based on new-vehicle registration data, SUV imports accounted for 51.7% of all imports in 2010, says Fourin’s China Automotive Intelligence Report No. 24, December 2010.

Why SUVs?

“These models offer great performance on rough roads and higher safety than ordinary passenger cars,” says the report.

More than half the buyers of imported cars in China were young, rich men. Some 66.8% of the buyers were male; 88.3% used cash; more than 90% were private owners; and men in their 30s and below accounted for 55% of the total, making China’s luxury-car purchase group the world’s youngest, said Fourin. The largest portion of the imported cars—some 34.6%—cost more than 500,000 RMB, ($75,900 USD).

Rising incomes in China’s tier-one and tier-two cities make them especially hot markets for luxury cars, said Gu. Residents in smaller cities are also developing an appetite for luxury cars, however, and manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are adding dealerships there.

Of China’s luxury-car consumers, J.D. Power’s Gu said: “When demand becomes more diverse, some customers pursue trendy or niche markets. They like to be special, especially for those young elite or those who come back from foreign countries. They prefer import models. One reason is the design is the global trend. Also, there is a sense that the quality is better than locally produced models.”

SEMA is sponsoring a members-only trip to Beijing, China, September 7–10, 2011. Participants will have the chance to network and meet one-on-one with distributors and retailers of specialty products from throughout China.

For more information, visit sema.org/china or contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

SEMA members participating in the first SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference examine a customized Jeep at the CIAPE show.

Vehicle sales in China are growing across the board, but the luxury and SUV segments are increasing at the fastest rate, propelled by rising incomes and a wave of second-car buyers with a desire for something more upscale. That’s just one trend that bodes well for SEMA members eyeing the China market for future sales.

First, the big picture. China’s passenger-car market was the world’s largest in 2010. It grew by 33.17% compared to the previous year to 13.76 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). J.D. Power and Associates forecasts China’s passenger-car market will hit 20.9 million units by 2015. That includes cars, SUVs and MPVs.

“The luxury-car and SUV segments are gaining share in recent years, especially from 2008,” Jenny Gu, a senior analyst with J.D. Power in Shanghai, told SEMA. “One major reason is that the percentage of second-time buyers is increasing, and their first choice is an SUV or a luxury car.”

In 2010, SUVs accounted for 14% of the passenger-vehicle market; that will grow to 16% by 2015. Luxury cars accounted for 3.8% of the market in 2010; that will grow to 4.7% by 2015.

Based on new-vehicle registration data, SUV imports accounted for 51.7% of all imports in 2010, says Fourin’s China Automotive Intelligence Report No. 24, December 2010.

Why SUVs?

“These models offer great performance on rough roads and higher safety than ordinary passenger cars,” says the report.

More than half the buyers of imported cars in China were young, rich men. Some 66.8% of the buyers were male; 88.3% used cash; more than 90% were private owners; and men in their 30s and below accounted for 55% of the total, making China’s luxury-car purchase group the world’s youngest, said Fourin. The largest portion of the imported cars—some 34.6%—cost more than 500,000 RMB, ($75,900 USD).

Rising incomes in China’s tier-one and tier-two cities make them especially hot markets for luxury cars, said Gu. Residents in smaller cities are also developing an appetite for luxury cars, however, and manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are adding dealerships there.

Of China’s luxury-car consumers, J.D. Power’s Gu said: “When demand becomes more diverse, some customers pursue trendy or niche markets. They like to be special, especially for those young elite or those who come back from foreign countries. They prefer import models. One reason is the design is the global trend. Also, there is a sense that the quality is better than locally produced models.”

SEMA is sponsoring a members-only trip to Beijing, China, September 7–10, 2011. Participants will have the chance to network and meet one-on-one with distributors and retailers of specialty products from throughout China.

For more information, visit sema.org/china or contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

SEMA members participating in the first SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference examine a customized Jeep at the CIAPE show.

Vehicle sales in China are growing across the board, but the luxury and SUV segments are increasing at the fastest rate, propelled by rising incomes and a wave of second-car buyers with a desire for something more upscale. That’s just one trend that bodes well for SEMA members eyeing the China market for future sales.

First, the big picture. China’s passenger-car market was the world’s largest in 2010. It grew by 33.17% compared to the previous year to 13.76 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). J.D. Power and Associates forecasts China’s passenger-car market will hit 20.9 million units by 2015. That includes cars, SUVs and MPVs.

“The luxury-car and SUV segments are gaining share in recent years, especially from 2008,” Jenny Gu, a senior analyst with J.D. Power in Shanghai, told SEMA. “One major reason is that the percentage of second-time buyers is increasing, and their first choice is an SUV or a luxury car.”

In 2010, SUVs accounted for 14% of the passenger-vehicle market; that will grow to 16% by 2015. Luxury cars accounted for 3.8% of the market in 2010; that will grow to 4.7% by 2015.

Based on new-vehicle registration data, SUV imports accounted for 51.7% of all imports in 2010, says Fourin’s China Automotive Intelligence Report No. 24, December 2010.

Why SUVs?

“These models offer great performance on rough roads and higher safety than ordinary passenger cars,” says the report.

More than half the buyers of imported cars in China were young, rich men. Some 66.8% of the buyers were male; 88.3% used cash; more than 90% were private owners; and men in their 30s and below accounted for 55% of the total, making China’s luxury-car purchase group the world’s youngest, said Fourin. The largest portion of the imported cars—some 34.6%—cost more than 500,000 RMB, ($75,900 USD).

Rising incomes in China’s tier-one and tier-two cities make them especially hot markets for luxury cars, said Gu. Residents in smaller cities are also developing an appetite for luxury cars, however, and manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are adding dealerships there.

Of China’s luxury-car consumers, J.D. Power’s Gu said: “When demand becomes more diverse, some customers pursue trendy or niche markets. They like to be special, especially for those young elite or those who come back from foreign countries. They prefer import models. One reason is the design is the global trend. Also, there is a sense that the quality is better than locally produced models.”

SEMA is sponsoring a members-only trip to Beijing, China, September 7–10, 2011. Participants will have the chance to network and meet one-on-one with distributors and retailers of specialty products from throughout China.

For more information, visit sema.org/china or contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

WTC's Learn & Show afforded the opportunity for wheel and tire manufacturers to display their products.

The inaugural Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) Learn & Show, held February 9, 2011, at SEMA’s Diamond Bar offices, offered three educational sessions and provided opportunities for industry leaders and peers to network and display their products. These sessions identified industry-specific challenges, sales strategies and profit-building techniques and also highlighted installer training.

Additionally, the one-day event consisted of an open meeting that allowed attendees the opportunity to participate, voice their concerns and help drive council initiatives.

Led by Russ Fuller of Revolution Supply Co. and Ed Jones of Bartec USA, the first session, entitled “TPMS – Myths and Facts,” discussed tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) use, pitfalls and ways in which to profit.

“Our first showcase was a great success,” said Fuller. “WTC is committed to delivering value to all SEMA members and the end customer—the retail tire store. This conference delivered valuable education and information to all attendees. WTC looks forward to delivering more of the same throughout the year and at next year’s conference and showcase.”

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) sponsored the second session, entitled “Training Resources for Retail Tire Technicians,” in which Sean MacKinnon, TIA's director of automotive training development, discussed all aspects of automotive tire service. He also introduced TIA's Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) training program, which covered topics ranging from personal protective equipment and general shop safety practices to TPMS diagnostics.

“I found the WTC Learn & Show to be an excellent experience,” said MacKinnon. “The willingness of all attendees to exchange information in order to build a more positive industry was amazing to see. I am looking forward to being a part of many more and am thrilled that I was able to be a part of the inaugural SEMA WTC Learn & Show.”

In the third session, entitled “Hear What the Pros Think!” attendees listened to industry leaders as they provided their unique perspective on the industry and the potential trends that will shape the future. Presenters included Myles Kovacs, DUB magazine founder and president; Rich Botello, Explorer Competition; and Brock Weld, BMF Wheels.

“I thought the WTC Learn & Show conference was a valuable resource for any retailer trying to make money in this economic environment,” said Weld. “To have industry leaders share their thoughts collectively in an informal setting is both uncommon and valuable for anyone in the wheel and tire industry.”

The educational sessions ran concurrently with the Product Showcase, which featured exhibits highlighting new products, business services and equipment. There were also some cool cars on display.

“It's a true honor to be selected to participate in the first annual SEMA WTC show panel; sitting in the same room with industry giants is always an exciting time,” said Kovacs. “SEMA events always remind me just how powerful of an industry we have, and we all need to band together for the betterment of our entire industry.”

Exhibitors included:

• 1-800 EveryRim.com
• American Tire Distributors
• Bartec USA
• Konig American
• Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
• Nitto Tire USA
• Prestige Autotech Corp.
• Revolution Supply Co.
• Tire Industry Association
• Ultra Wheel
• Vision Wheel
• Wheel Consultants
• Wheel Pros

A custom Ford F-150 fitted with Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels was on display.	A custom Mazda RX-8 Formula Drift car sporting Nitto tires also was on display.
A Product Showcase highlighted new products, business services and equipment.	The event offered opportunities for industry leaders and peers to network and display their products.
The inaugural WTC Learn & Show featured three educational sessions.	Industry panelists included (L-R): Ron Bergenholtz, Bergenholtz Racing; Myles Kovacs, DUB magazine; Rich Botello, Explorer Competition; Brock Weld, BMF Wheels; and Joe Schaefer, Konig Wheels.

 

WTC's Learn & Show afforded the opportunity for wheel and tire manufacturers to display their products.

The inaugural Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) Learn & Show, held February 9, 2011, at SEMA’s Diamond Bar offices, offered three educational sessions and provided opportunities for industry leaders and peers to network and display their products. These sessions identified industry-specific challenges, sales strategies and profit-building techniques and also highlighted installer training.

Additionally, the one-day event consisted of an open meeting that allowed attendees the opportunity to participate, voice their concerns and help drive council initiatives.

Led by Russ Fuller of Revolution Supply Co. and Ed Jones of Bartec USA, the first session, entitled “TPMS – Myths and Facts,” discussed tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) use, pitfalls and ways in which to profit.

“Our first showcase was a great success,” said Fuller. “WTC is committed to delivering value to all SEMA members and the end customer—the retail tire store. This conference delivered valuable education and information to all attendees. WTC looks forward to delivering more of the same throughout the year and at next year’s conference and showcase.”

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) sponsored the second session, entitled “Training Resources for Retail Tire Technicians,” in which Sean MacKinnon, TIA's director of automotive training development, discussed all aspects of automotive tire service. He also introduced TIA's Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) training program, which covered topics ranging from personal protective equipment and general shop safety practices to TPMS diagnostics.

“I found the WTC Learn & Show to be an excellent experience,” said MacKinnon. “The willingness of all attendees to exchange information in order to build a more positive industry was amazing to see. I am looking forward to being a part of many more and am thrilled that I was able to be a part of the inaugural SEMA WTC Learn & Show.”

In the third session, entitled “Hear What the Pros Think!” attendees listened to industry leaders as they provided their unique perspective on the industry and the potential trends that will shape the future. Presenters included Myles Kovacs, DUB magazine founder and president; Rich Botello, Explorer Competition; and Brock Weld, BMF Wheels.

“I thought the WTC Learn & Show conference was a valuable resource for any retailer trying to make money in this economic environment,” said Weld. “To have industry leaders share their thoughts collectively in an informal setting is both uncommon and valuable for anyone in the wheel and tire industry.”

The educational sessions ran concurrently with the Product Showcase, which featured exhibits highlighting new products, business services and equipment. There were also some cool cars on display.

“It's a true honor to be selected to participate in the first annual SEMA WTC show panel; sitting in the same room with industry giants is always an exciting time,” said Kovacs. “SEMA events always remind me just how powerful of an industry we have, and we all need to band together for the betterment of our entire industry.”

Exhibitors included:

• 1-800 EveryRim.com
• American Tire Distributors
• Bartec USA
• Konig American
• Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
• Nitto Tire USA
• Prestige Autotech Corp.
• Revolution Supply Co.
• Tire Industry Association
• Ultra Wheel
• Vision Wheel
• Wheel Consultants
• Wheel Pros

A custom Ford F-150 fitted with Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels was on display.	A custom Mazda RX-8 Formula Drift car sporting Nitto tires also was on display.
A Product Showcase highlighted new products, business services and equipment.	The event offered opportunities for industry leaders and peers to network and display their products.
The inaugural WTC Learn & Show featured three educational sessions.	Industry panelists included (L-R): Ron Bergenholtz, Bergenholtz Racing; Myles Kovacs, DUB magazine; Rich Botello, Explorer Competition; Brock Weld, BMF Wheels; and Joe Schaefer, Konig Wheels.