The 2011 MPMC Media Trade Conference returned its El Segundo, California, location after a one-year hiatus.
	The event's lunch breaks along with the council and media receptions provide participants with opportunities to unwind, network with industry peers and further establish relationships with members of the media.

Imagine for a second a place where members of the media gather waiting for news about your company's newest products. Not only does this imaginary place have media in waiting, but private rooms with space to display new products and conduct interviews. And over three days, your company has the opportunity to spread the word about its parts and company developments, both available and in the works, to more than 30 reporters. This interaction is personal and face-to-face, not through a produced-for-the-masses spec sheet or press release. Best of all, this is no imaginary scenario, it is the reality behind SEMA's annual MPMC Media Trade Conference.

Recently held at the Embassy Suites LAX South in El Segundo, California, the 2011 conference featured performance parts manufacturers and members of the working press conducting private meetings over the course of three days. The manufacturers are all part of SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), a SEMA council dedicated to perpetuating the growth and prosperity of motorsports parts producers.

SEMA News traveled to the event to interact with member companies, find out the latest products in the works and get a read on the business climate and what to expect in 2011. Using company participation and the amount of new products getting prepared for the shelves as indicators, and judging by the investment companies are making in new-product development, the outlook in the performance parts market for 2011 looks promising for motorsports companies and enthusiasts alike.

Held nearly three months after the SEMA Show, the format of the event provides a setting for one-on-one interaction without the time constraints or scheduling snafus that may occur during a trade show. This provides participants the opportunity to deliver product and company news quickly to media members who are seeking performance-specific content. "I feel that the conference was a fantastic networking event where we get a rare opportunity for one-on-one time with people that we may not have had much time to talk with at the SEMA Show," said Marty Staggs, general manager of Turbosmart USA. "It also let us connect with people whom we may not have been aware of or whom may not have been aware of us."

The MPMC also uses the event to conduct several council activities, including the group's long-range planning meeting and the presentation of two council awards: the Robert E. Petersen Award and the MPMC Chairman's Award. The open long-range planning meeting gives the council a chance to plan activities and identify issues to address in the coming year. The Robert E. Petersen Media Award recognizes an individual from the media who has made a positive impact on the motorsports industry and the MPMC during the past year. The MPMC Chairman's Award honors an individual for contributions and support of the MPMC throughout the year.

Below are some photos from the event. In addition, a complete photo gallery of the 2011 event will soon be available on the MPMC website. More information on the MPMC is available at www.sema.org/mpmc. For additional information on the 2011 MPMC Media Trade Conference, contact SEMA Senior Council Director Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

Lee McGuire of Skyjacker Suspensions.		Marty Staggs of Turbosmart USA.
William Baty (left) and Bryan Wilson of Centerforce Clutches.		Steve Davis and Pat Davis (right) of D.U.I. Performance Distributors.
Ken Maynard (left) and Tom Miller of Design Engineering Inc.		Chris Thomson of AIRAID.
MPMC's Chairman Kyle Fickler (middle) and Chairman-Elect Vic Wood (right) present the Robert E. Petersen Media Award to Steve Wolcott of ProMedia LLC.		Darr Hawthorne (left) accepts the MPMC Chairman's Award from MPMC's Kyle Fickler.

 

 

	The 2011 MPMC Media Trade Conference returned its El Segundo, California, location after a one-year hiatus.
	The event's lunch breaks along with the council and media receptions provide participants with opportunities to unwind, network with industry peers and further establish relationships with members of the media.

Imagine for a second a place where members of the media gather waiting for news about your company's newest products. Not only does this imaginary place have media in waiting, but private rooms with space to display new products and conduct interviews. And over three days, your company has the opportunity to spread the word about its parts and company developments, both available and in the works, to more than 30 reporters. This interaction is personal and face-to-face, not through a produced-for-the-masses spec sheet or press release. Best of all, this is no imaginary scenario, it is the reality behind SEMA's annual MPMC Media Trade Conference.

Recently held at the Embassy Suites LAX South in El Segundo, California, the 2011 conference featured performance parts manufacturers and members of the working press conducting private meetings over the course of three days. The manufacturers are all part of SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), a SEMA council dedicated to perpetuating the growth and prosperity of motorsports parts producers.

SEMA News traveled to the event to interact with member companies, find out the latest products in the works and get a read on the business climate and what to expect in 2011. Using company participation and the amount of new products getting prepared for the shelves as indicators, and judging by the investment companies are making in new-product development, the outlook in the performance parts market for 2011 looks promising for motorsports companies and enthusiasts alike.

Held nearly three months after the SEMA Show, the format of the event provides a setting for one-on-one interaction without the time constraints or scheduling snafus that may occur during a trade show. This provides participants the opportunity to deliver product and company news quickly to media members who are seeking performance-specific content. "I feel that the conference was a fantastic networking event where we get a rare opportunity for one-on-one time with people that we may not have had much time to talk with at the SEMA Show," said Marty Staggs, general manager of Turbosmart USA. "It also let us connect with people whom we may not have been aware of or whom may not have been aware of us."

The MPMC also uses the event to conduct several council activities, including the group's long-range planning meeting and the presentation of two council awards: the Robert E. Petersen Award and the MPMC Chairman's Award. The open long-range planning meeting gives the council a chance to plan activities and identify issues to address in the coming year. The Robert E. Petersen Media Award recognizes an individual from the media who has made a positive impact on the motorsports industry and the MPMC during the past year. The MPMC Chairman's Award honors an individual for contributions and support of the MPMC throughout the year.

Below are some photos from the event. In addition, a complete photo gallery of the 2011 event will soon be available on the MPMC website. More information on the MPMC is available at www.sema.org/mpmc. For additional information on the 2011 MPMC Media Trade Conference, contact SEMA Senior Council Director Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

Lee McGuire of Skyjacker Suspensions.		Marty Staggs of Turbosmart USA.
William Baty (left) and Bryan Wilson of Centerforce Clutches.		Steve Davis and Pat Davis (right) of D.U.I. Performance Distributors.
Ken Maynard (left) and Tom Miller of Design Engineering Inc.		Chris Thomson of AIRAID.
MPMC's Chairman Kyle Fickler (middle) and Chairman-Elect Vic Wood (right) present the Robert E. Petersen Media Award to Steve Wolcott of ProMedia LLC.		Darr Hawthorne (left) accepts the MPMC Chairman's Award from MPMC's Kyle Fickler.

 

 

	The OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Invitational shines the spotlight on today's hottest import and domestic vehicle as they are put to the test through a series of performance and design events in order to find the 2010 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car.

For the third year in a row, the hottest cars in the world had the chance to shed some rubber and flex some muscle to crown the best of the best at the 2010 OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Invitational. Now, these modified machines will enter living rooms across the country through SPEED Channel's Ultimate Street Car Invitationals TV special, Friday, March 11.

Taking place following the close of the 2010 SEMA Show, the one-hour TV program shines the spotlight on today's hottest import and domestic vehicle as they are put to the test through a series of performance and design events in order to find the 2010 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car.

Selected by a panel of experts, the vehicles highlighted during the special include several head-turners from the 2010 SEMA Show, such as the Raybestos ’32 Roadster Pickup; the Ring Brothers’ ’66 Mustang; Tom Ciancitto’s ’37 Ford Pickup; Kevin Kraack’s ’09 Mercedes C63 AMG; Brian Finch’s ’72 Camaro; and Mark Stielow’s ’69 Camaro, which was selected as the Sony Gran Turismo Awards "Best in Show" vehicle winner.

The 2010 OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Invitational is scheduled to air at the following times (all times Eastern):

• Friday, March 11, 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, March 11, 11:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 12, 11:00 a.m.
• Saturday, October 29, 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 4, 8:00 p.m.

This year’s show also includes race footage shot from dozens of in-car, on-track and aerial high-definition cameras along with exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the performance automotive industry. The show is hosted by automotive enthusiast Bill Goldberg and automotive racing reporter Jamie Howe.

For more information, visit www.optimainvitational.com.

	The OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Invitational shines the spotlight on today's hottest import and domestic vehicle as they are put to the test through a series of performance and design events in order to find the 2010 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car.

For the third year in a row, the hottest cars in the world had the chance to shed some rubber and flex some muscle to crown the best of the best at the 2010 OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Invitational. Now, these modified machines will enter living rooms across the country through SPEED Channel's Ultimate Street Car Invitationals TV special, Friday, March 11.

Taking place following the close of the 2010 SEMA Show, the one-hour TV program shines the spotlight on today's hottest import and domestic vehicle as they are put to the test through a series of performance and design events in order to find the 2010 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car.

Selected by a panel of experts, the vehicles highlighted during the special include several head-turners from the 2010 SEMA Show, such as the Raybestos ’32 Roadster Pickup; the Ring Brothers’ ’66 Mustang; Tom Ciancitto’s ’37 Ford Pickup; Kevin Kraack’s ’09 Mercedes C63 AMG; Brian Finch’s ’72 Camaro; and Mark Stielow’s ’69 Camaro, which was selected as the Sony Gran Turismo Awards "Best in Show" vehicle winner.

The 2010 OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Invitational is scheduled to air at the following times (all times Eastern):

• Friday, March 11, 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, March 11, 11:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 12, 11:00 a.m.
• Saturday, October 29, 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 4, 8:00 p.m.

This year’s show also includes race footage shot from dozens of in-car, on-track and aerial high-definition cameras along with exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the performance automotive industry. The show is hosted by automotive enthusiast Bill Goldberg and automotive racing reporter Jamie Howe.

For more information, visit www.optimainvitational.com.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has backed down from the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA)-opposed ''Cash for Clunkers" program, which would have provided Australians with a $2,000 payment (USD $1,993) for trading in pre-’95 cars for new vehicles. The $430 million (USD $428 million) program was originally a campaign pledge by Australia’s Executive to take 200,000 older vehicles off Australian streets. She blamed the lack of funds on the recent severe flooding in that country.

For more information on international legislative/regulatory developments, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has backed down from the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA)-opposed ''Cash for Clunkers" program, which would have provided Australians with a $2,000 payment (USD $1,993) for trading in pre-’95 cars for new vehicles. The $430 million (USD $428 million) program was originally a campaign pledge by Australia’s Executive to take 200,000 older vehicles off Australian streets. She blamed the lack of funds on the recent severe flooding in that country.

For more information on international legislative/regulatory developments, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

When Petersen Publishing Company photographer Eric Rickman took this photo in October 1958, Paul Schiefer's involvement in developing a safe, "slipper" clutch for drag racers was still a decade away. So was the honor of being the very first inductee into SEMA's Hall of Fame, a milestone that took place in 1969. Instead, what drew Rickman down to Schiefer Manufacturing in the San Diego area on that fall day was an assignment to photograph an assortment of Schiefer's products as part of a lengthy review of competition clutches and flywheels that Bob Pendergast was putting together for Hot Rod magazine's April 1959 issue. [Read more]

When Petersen Publishing Company photographer Eric Rickman took this photo in October 1958, Paul Schiefer's involvement in developing a safe, "slipper" clutch for drag racers was still a decade away. So was the honor of being the very first inductee into SEMA's Hall of Fame, a milestone that took place in 1969. Instead, what drew Rickman down to Schiefer Manufacturing in the San Diego area on that fall day was an assignment to photograph an assortment of Schiefer's products as part of a lengthy review of competition clutches and flywheels that Bob Pendergast was putting together for Hot Rod magazine's April 1959 issue. [Read more]

The SEMA Show is a week full of business connections, emerging trends, educational seminars, industry icons and, of course, custom vehicles. Check out enjoythedrive.com and click on the "view all vehicles" button on the home page to see all of the rides that were on display at the 2010 SEMA Show. Access the site to view the vehicles and download your favorites. One of the best features of the site is that it's searchable by several keywords, including vehicle make, vehicle model and exhibiting company's name.

This week's gallery features a collection of Mazda cars on display during the 2010 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Show is a week full of business connections, emerging trends, educational seminars, industry icons and, of course, custom vehicles. Check out enjoythedrive.com and click on the "view all vehicles" button on the home page to see all of the rides that were on display at the 2010 SEMA Show. Access the site to view the vehicles and download your favorites. One of the best features of the site is that it's searchable by several keywords, including vehicle make, vehicle model and exhibiting company's name.

This week's gallery features a collection of Mazda cars on display during the 2010 SEMA Show.