The vehicle photo gallery on enjoythedrive.com features images of all of the vehicles on display at the 2010 SEMA Show. All of the photos are available for download in a high-resolution format (JPEG). One of the best features of the site is that its searchable by several parameters, including vehicle year, exhibiting company name, vehicle make and more. Looking for photos of Mustangs at the Show? Simply include "Mustang" in the vehicle model box. Looking to see which Toyota models companies crafted for the Show? Search for "Toyota" in the vehicle make box.

Not only does the site include a 2010 SEMA Show vehicle-photo gallery, it contains videos of new products from the Show, access to a SEMA-member product directory, details on several SEMA programs and more. Check out enjoythedrive.com and get further connected with your industry.

	The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc, or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

	The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc, or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

True Story: Sales reps call the first 10 of the 100+ leads marketing collects from an event. Nine voicemails are left, no calls returned and the sales reps move on.

The Result: Sales thinks marketing doesn’t understand their needs. Marketing spent $10,000 on an event with wasted leads. And the rift between sales and marketing grows wider.

The lack of credibility and the distrust between these two departments is legendary, yet absolutely unnecessary. The solution is rooted in defined process, accountability and education. Join Kevin Joyce, practice leader for Demand Generation at MarketSource, for a one-hour presentation on bridging the gap between sales and marketing.

In this webinar you’ll learn how to:

• Drive more opportunities through fundamental lead-management processes
• Exceed revenue goals without increasing your marketing budget
• Create a revenue-generating, positive feedback loop
• Drive accountability in marketing and sales for lead management
• Boost lead quality for a quicker, higher value sale

Joyce’s area of expertise is developing and executing demand-generation strategies. Join him on Thursday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PST)/1:00 p.m. (EST) for "10 Steps to Making Marketing and Sales Best Friends."

Participate live or download the webinar when it’s convenient. And remember, SEMA webinars are free for SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

True Story: Sales reps call the first 10 of the 100+ leads marketing collects from an event. Nine voicemails are left, no calls returned and the sales reps move on.

The Result: Sales thinks marketing doesn’t understand their needs. Marketing spent $10,000 on an event with wasted leads. And the rift between sales and marketing grows wider.

The lack of credibility and the distrust between these two departments is legendary, yet absolutely unnecessary. The solution is rooted in defined process, accountability and education. Join Kevin Joyce, practice leader for Demand Generation at MarketSource, for a one-hour presentation on bridging the gap between sales and marketing.

In this webinar you’ll learn how to:

• Drive more opportunities through fundamental lead-management processes
• Exceed revenue goals without increasing your marketing budget
• Create a revenue-generating, positive feedback loop
• Drive accountability in marketing and sales for lead management
• Boost lead quality for a quicker, higher value sale

Joyce’s area of expertise is developing and executing demand-generation strategies. Join him on Thursday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PST)/1:00 p.m. (EST) for "10 Steps to Making Marketing and Sales Best Friends."

Participate live or download the webinar when it’s convenient. And remember, SEMA webinars are free for SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

Participants of the second SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference will meet one-on-one with top Chinese buyers, participate in networking events and tour the trade-only China International Auto Parts Expo.

Registration is now open for the second SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference, which will be held September 7–10, in Beijing, China. Participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with top Chinese buyers, participate in networking events and tour the trade-only China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE). This affordable turnkey, SEMA-member manufacturers-only package includes a professional interpreter, meals and hotel accommodations.

To reserve a spot, see a recap of last year’s program or view the schedule for the upcoming trip, visit www.sema.org/china.

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

Participants of the second SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference will meet one-on-one with top Chinese buyers, participate in networking events and tour the trade-only China International Auto Parts Expo.

Registration is now open for the second SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference, which will be held September 7–10, in Beijing, China. Participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with top Chinese buyers, participate in networking events and tour the trade-only China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE). This affordable turnkey, SEMA-member manufacturers-only package includes a professional interpreter, meals and hotel accommodations.

To reserve a spot, see a recap of last year’s program or view the schedule for the upcoming trip, visit www.sema.org/china.

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

• REVEX, located in Detroit, is seeking a bilingual eMarketing and Asian account manager to develop both existing customers and create new accounts. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of the application of B2B eMarketing strategies, understand Asian culture and have strong communication skills.

• American Tire is hiring performance account development specialists (PADS) in major U.S. cities to attain an annual sales plan within their territory. The PADS will be assigned a sales objective for the custom wheel and accessory business within their assigned territory.

• Buybrakes.com and IntakeSystems.com in Ocala, Florida, are hiring phone sales talent with automotive aftermarket, dealership parts or mechanic experience. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable about offering brake solutions to consumers who call in for advice on which brands they should use for their specific vehicle and its driving conditions. 

• Keystone Automotive Operations (KAO) is hiring an inside sales representative to drive sales growth and profitability in a defined territory, sell the KAO portfolio of products and related services, identify target customers and manage the product mix to increase profitability and market share. The ideal candidate must have experience in establishing customer relationships, be proficient in Microsoft Office, have an automotive background and possess a four-year college degree or equivalent work experience.

NEWS NUGGETS

BROWN, FORCE BEST OF CLASSES IN PRESEASON TESTING IN PALM BEACH: Top Fuel pilot Antron Brown and Funny Car world champion John Force picked up where they left off at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, vaulting to the top of their respective classes last weekend during preseason testing at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida. Brown powered his Matco Tools dragster to the top of the Top Fuel class, posting the quickest run of the two-day test session at 3.765 seconds at 322.80 mph. Brown’s teammate and seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher posted the second-quickest run of the class, while also posting the fast time of the session with a run of 3.771 at 324.90. In Funny Car, the defending and 15-time world champion was clearly the front-runner of testing in his class, posting a best run of 4.037 at 313.80. It was also the first taste Force got of crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli’s tuning style, as the pair will be matched up for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry driver and two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon had the second best pass of the weekend, posting a 4.040 at 310.48, just behind Force. Funny Car world champion runner-up Matt Hagan had the third quickest time in Funny Car as he powered his DieHard Dodge Charger to a 4.051-second pass. To see a complete list of all the drivers that participated in this preseason test, along with their posted times and speeds, visit NHRA.com.

UNI-SELECT AUTO PLUS TO SPONSOR NHRA FULL THROTTLE SERIES EVENT AND BECOME OFFICIAL AUTO PARTS STORE OF ATLANTA DRAGWAY: NHRA announced that Uni-Select and its Auto Plus network of automotive retail stores has signed a multi-year agreement to become the title rights sponsor of the 27th annual Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, and the Official Auto Parts Store of Atlanta Dragway, an NHRA-owned and operated facility in Commerce, Georgia. The Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA Nationals, September 29–October 2, is the third of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoff-style format to determine the world champions in each of its four Full Throttle Series classes. As the Official Auto Parts Store of Atlanta Dragway, Uni-Select Auto Plus will receive track signage and promotional rights along with hospitality during the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event held at the facility May 13–15. This is the first involvement in NHRA for Uni-Select Auto Plus. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and 60th anniversary season of NHRA kicks off at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

TIRE KINGDOM NHRA GATORNATIONALS, GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, March 10–13: The second stop in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and first race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, this showdown in the swamplands of Florida will bring added excitement as the NHRA celebrates its 60th anniversary. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Jason Line (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or go online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

WORKING AT IT AS WE GO: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on his approach to pre-season preparation for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season: “When we race, it’s always a work in progress and we add things as we go, so we’re not standing still or standing pat. We’ll just get after it and adjust as we go. That’s nothing new. When we get to Pomona, every crew chief and driver out there will be adjusting on the fly, based on the track, the air and all the variables we face on that day. The playing field is pretty level.”

60 YEARS IN NHRA HISTORY

1978, SNOW AT THE WINTERNATIONALS: After three days of near perfect weather, rain descended on the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona the Sunday of Eliminations, forcing the final day of the event to be rescheduled for the following weekend. That following Sunday, rain again hit the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, pushing eliminations to Monday, which saw temperatures plummet and rain turn into hail, followed by snow. The final eliminations were finished that Tuesday, which happened to fall on Valentine’s Day that year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers who have won the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals consecutive years. NHRA Legend Don Prudhomme is the only driver to have won the event four consecutive seasons. Below is a list of the drivers and the years they won:

Larry Dixon	2002–2003
Don Prudhomme	1975–1978
Al Segrini	1984–1985
Bob Glidden	1975–1976, 1978–1979
Greg Anderson	2006–2008
Warren Johnson	1993–1994
Jeg Coughlin	1999–2000
FranK Iaconio	1982–1983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Steve Chrisman has been added to the Nitro Fish Top Fuel team for the 2011 season? Or that Ronnie Humphrey will be competing in his first full season in 2011 with the Summit Racing/Ken Black-run team? Or that Brian Thiel, driver of the BTR N&S Tractor Case Dodge Charger Funny Car, plans to race at all 22 events this season? To follow your favorite teams and see how the silly season is shaping up, visit NHRA.com.

NEWS NUGGETS

BROWN, FORCE BEST OF CLASSES IN PRESEASON TESTING IN PALM BEACH: Top Fuel pilot Antron Brown and Funny Car world champion John Force picked up where they left off at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, vaulting to the top of their respective classes last weekend during preseason testing at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida. Brown powered his Matco Tools dragster to the top of the Top Fuel class, posting the quickest run of the two-day test session at 3.765 seconds at 322.80 mph. Brown’s teammate and seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher posted the second-quickest run of the class, while also posting the fast time of the session with a run of 3.771 at 324.90. In Funny Car, the defending and 15-time world champion was clearly the front-runner of testing in his class, posting a best run of 4.037 at 313.80. It was also the first taste Force got of crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli’s tuning style, as the pair will be matched up for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry driver and two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon had the second best pass of the weekend, posting a 4.040 at 310.48, just behind Force. Funny Car world champion runner-up Matt Hagan had the third quickest time in Funny Car as he powered his DieHard Dodge Charger to a 4.051-second pass. To see a complete list of all the drivers that participated in this preseason test, along with their posted times and speeds, visit NHRA.com.

UNI-SELECT AUTO PLUS TO SPONSOR NHRA FULL THROTTLE SERIES EVENT AND BECOME OFFICIAL AUTO PARTS STORE OF ATLANTA DRAGWAY: NHRA announced that Uni-Select and its Auto Plus network of automotive retail stores has signed a multi-year agreement to become the title rights sponsor of the 27th annual Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, and the Official Auto Parts Store of Atlanta Dragway, an NHRA-owned and operated facility in Commerce, Georgia. The Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA Nationals, September 29–October 2, is the third of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoff-style format to determine the world champions in each of its four Full Throttle Series classes. As the Official Auto Parts Store of Atlanta Dragway, Uni-Select Auto Plus will receive track signage and promotional rights along with hospitality during the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event held at the facility May 13–15. This is the first involvement in NHRA for Uni-Select Auto Plus. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and 60th anniversary season of NHRA kicks off at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

TIRE KINGDOM NHRA GATORNATIONALS, GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, March 10–13: The second stop in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and first race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, this showdown in the swamplands of Florida will bring added excitement as the NHRA celebrates its 60th anniversary. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Jason Line (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or go online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

WORKING AT IT AS WE GO: Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson on his approach to pre-season preparation for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season: “When we race, it’s always a work in progress and we add things as we go, so we’re not standing still or standing pat. We’ll just get after it and adjust as we go. That’s nothing new. When we get to Pomona, every crew chief and driver out there will be adjusting on the fly, based on the track, the air and all the variables we face on that day. The playing field is pretty level.”

60 YEARS IN NHRA HISTORY

1978, SNOW AT THE WINTERNATIONALS: After three days of near perfect weather, rain descended on the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona the Sunday of Eliminations, forcing the final day of the event to be rescheduled for the following weekend. That following Sunday, rain again hit the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, pushing eliminations to Monday, which saw temperatures plummet and rain turn into hail, followed by snow. The final eliminations were finished that Tuesday, which happened to fall on Valentine’s Day that year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8: That’s the number of drivers who have won the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals consecutive years. NHRA Legend Don Prudhomme is the only driver to have won the event four consecutive seasons. Below is a list of the drivers and the years they won:

Larry Dixon	2002–2003
Don Prudhomme	1975–1978
Al Segrini	1984–1985
Bob Glidden	1975–1976, 1978–1979
Greg Anderson	2006–2008
Warren Johnson	1993–1994
Jeg Coughlin	1999–2000
FranK Iaconio	1982–1983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Steve Chrisman has been added to the Nitro Fish Top Fuel team for the 2011 season? Or that Ronnie Humphrey will be competing in his first full season in 2011 with the Summit Racing/Ken Black-run team? Or that Brian Thiel, driver of the BTR N&S Tractor Case Dodge Charger Funny Car, plans to race at all 22 events this season? To follow your favorite teams and see how the silly season is shaping up, visit NHRA.com.