By Ashley Reyes

Get the facts about the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act). The bill was recently reintroduced to the U.S. representatives and protects Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated race cars and the motorsports-parts industry’s ability to sell products that enable racers to compete.

All SEMA members are invited to join a Facebook live chat, Wednesday, June 9, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT) to hear from SEMA Vice President of Government and Legal Affairs Dan Ingber and SEMA Director of Congressional Affairs Eric Snyder as they discuss how the RPM Act impacts SEMA members and what the industry can do to support it.  

The RPM Act must be passed into law to confirm that it is legal to make emissions-related changes to a street vehicle for the purpose of converting it into a race car used exclusively in competition, and that it is legal to produce, market and install racing equipment. Tune into the Facebook live presented by the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) to get your questions answered, and if you haven’t already, write a letter to your members of Congress to support the bill by visiting www.sema.org/rpm.

Location: YEN Facebook page.

By Ashley Reyes

Mark your calendars for the following upcoming webinars and stay tuned to SEMA eNews as additional sessions are announced throughout the year. For a comprehensive library of upcoming and on-demand sessions that members can access anytime, visit www.sema.org/virtual-education.

Newly Added: Wednesday, June 9 – Facebook Live Chat featuring Dan Ingber and Eric Snyder

Track: Industry Talks

The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act) is a bill that impacts the entire automotive aftermarket. Get the facts and answers to your questions during this live chat presented by the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN). SEMA representatives will explain why the bill is critical to protecting the right to convert street vehicles into dedicated racecars and the motorsports-parts industry’s ability to sell products that enable racers to compete.

Location: YEN Facebook page

Thursday, June 10 – State of the Industry: Where Are We Now?

Series: SEMA Industry Insight Series

Track: Trends and Research

During this live webinar, SEMA members will learn about the current state of the specialty-equipment industry and where the market is headed. Presented by SEMA Market Research, the webinar will feature new stats on specialty-equipment sales, hot and emerging markets, and an outlook and projections for 2021 and beyond.

Register here.

Wednesday, June 16 – ADAS Technologies: Real-World Systems & Trends

Series: ADAS Webinar Series  

As part 1 of the SEMA ADAS webinar series, this webinar will feature top industry experts as they provide a high-level look at current ADAS systems’ function, technology and trends. Participants will learn the basics of how these systems work, and how they are affected by various vehicle modifications or repairs.  

Register here.

Tuesday, June 22 – Everything but the Kitchen Sink of Job Hunting

Series: Perfecting Your Job Search Series, Powered by SBN

Track: Industry Segments, Powered by SEMA Councils and Networks

Learn how to stand out as a well-rounded candidate beyond your resume and interview. Featuring Maru Trevizo, vice president of human resources at SEMA, this webinar will cover how to successfully leverage attire, follow up, recommendations and networking to land a desired job position. Participants will have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned through interactive breakouts.

Register here.

Wednesday, June 30 – ADAS Technologies: Making Sense of Simulation, Testing and Calibration

Series: ADAS Webinar Series

As part 2 of the SEMA ADAS webinar series, this webinar will feature top service providers in the ADAS simulation, testing and calibration spaces. Participants will learn what resources are available in the marketplace to help SEMA members develop and install parts safely while maintaining OEM functionality of the ADAS system.  

Register here.

Newly Added: Wednesday, July 14 – ADAS Technologies: How to Navigate Product Development

Series: ADAS Webinar Series

During the last session of the three-part ADAS Webinar Series, attendees will hear case studies from leading aftermarket manufacturers that have successfully developed and launched products for ADAS-equipped vehicles. Participants will learn the steps they took to understand the systems, design compatible parts and validate the functionality of all OEM features.

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

Available when you need them, where you need them; SEMA’s On-Demand Virtual Education library includes dozens of recorded sessions that SEMA members can access anytime, anywhere.  

Below are newly added and popular recordings that are available. For a complete list of sessions and registration information for upcoming webinars, visit www.sema.org/virtual-education.

SEMA Industry Insight Series
The Growing Diversity of the Light Truck-Market, Powered by TORA
Truck and off-road professionals will be able to make more informed, strategic business decisions using new research on the vehicle landscape and trends facing the market for pickups, SUVs, CUVs and vans. Find out where sales are shifting toward and how this may impact aftermarket sales.

Team Management Series, Powered by SBN
Reducing Micromanagement and Increasing Employee Self Sufficiency
Learn about the dangers of micromanagement and how to increase employee self-sufficiency. During this webinar, Allison Harding from Vintage Air is joined by one of her personal mentors, Christine Ashmore from Morgan Stanley, as she shares tips for improving efficiency and productivity within work departments.

Wheel and Tire Industry Insights, Powered by WTC
Preparing for National Tire Safety Week
National Tire Safety Week, a consumer tire safety awareness campaign by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), will take place June 28–July 4. Listen in as experts share important information that tire companies can use to participate in the campaign, prepare their staff and marketing in advance, and educate consumers on proper tire care and maintenance.

Track: Industry Segments, powered by SEMA Councils and Networks
More Than Just Jeeping: Other Ways People Go Off-Road
While Jeeps continue to dominate the off-road market, the growing popularity of overlanding and related outdoor activities represents a huge opportunity for companies to expand their selection and grow their businesses. Learn about the evolving landscape of the off-road market, the different ways people are going off road, and what related products businesses may want to consider.

By Maurice O’Connell

The 2021 SEMA Show Priority Space Selection begins June 7, and ends Wednesday, June 23. It will include more than 1,700 companies selecting space for their displays at the Show in November.

SEMA sales, Show and finance departments will work in tandem from the offices in Diamond Bar, California, to assist exhibitors with their booth selection, address questions, provide assistance and receive deposit payments.

Booth selection order is based on seniority, and exhibitors will be notified of their date and time to choose their space. Within that hour, a SEMA sales representative will call the exhibitor’s main contact to select the booth location.

Exhibitors are encouraged to be prepared by planning ahead one hour to view the Show’s online floorplan for a look at each exhibit hall. The floorplan is updated every 30 minutes, and exhibitors can watch as the Show takes shape and monitor the desired hall or section for a general idea of where they want to display.

To change the name and key contact for booth selection, submit a proxy form advising SEMA Show management that the exhibitor would like an alternative number called, or visit the “Reserve Your Booth” section on the SEMA Show Exhibitor page.

Exhibitors with any questions should reach out to the SEMA Show Department for assistance at 909-396-0289 or semashow@sema.org.

The 2021 SEMA Show will be held November 2–5 in Las Vegas. Reserve a booth space now by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The latest digital issue of Off-Road Business highlights ORBA’s first 20 years of keeping public lands open for motorized recreation, outlines the joint campaign by ORBA and Tread Lightly to educate UTV riders to ride responsibly, describes an OHV trip to Little Finland (Devil’s Fire) in Nevada and more.

Click here to view the magazine.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act), H.R. 3281, enjoys strong bi-partisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives as lawmakers voice their enthusiasm for passing the legislation.

With the racing world’s eyes on the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend, the Indy Star printed an article from Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) that advocated for Congress to pass the RPM Act, entitled “Indiana's auto-racing tradition is under attack. Here's how we save it.”

Rep. Pence is a leading voice on the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee for the RPM Act and understands the importance of racing and the motorsports parts industry in Indiana and throughout the country.

Back in Washington, D.C., Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) took to the U.S. House floor to speak to his colleagues about why he was proud to serve as an original co-sponsor of the RPM Act.

Click here to watch a video of Rep. Keller’s speech.

Support for the RPM Act continues to grow with each week that passes. Currently, 58 members of the House have cosponsored the bill, including new cosponsors Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN).

Click here to see the current list of RPM Act co-sponsors, and don’t forget to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support the bill and fight for it to become law.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named The Stop Shop as the council’s latest member spotlight company. In this week’s feature, company owner Todd McClure shares the story of his company and what projects The Stop Shop is working on in 2021.

SEMA: Tell us the story of your business. How did you start?

Todd McClure: The Stop Shop was founded in 2015 as a wholesaler and retailer of classic car parts and automotive hardware. The company has evolved from a single person packing and shipping orders from a basement to a five-employee manufacturing facility just a few years later. We provide fluid transfer solutions for brake, fuel and transmission components. These products include both the materials shops and DIY customers need to make their own fluid transfer lines. We also manufacture fully prebent and assembled tubes for both new model and classic vehicles.

SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?

TM: We decided to start manufacturing in 2018. We take a lot of pride in being a true USA manufacturer of many of the products we now sell. It was a big leap for a small company to invest in the equipment and people needed for this step, but it has opened a lot of doors for our company and we couldn't be happier that we went for it when we did.

SEMA: Tell us about your business now in 2021 and what projects are you working on?

TM: We have worked hard to keep our projects diversified through wholesale, jobber and retail customers. We find ourselves currently working on new parts for anything from musclecars to Jeeps to import vehicles. We also manufacture some products that aren't used in the automotive industry at all.

SEMA: Tell us about a particular project, product or build you are proud of.

TM: Last year we completed our first complete restoration (but is a restoration ever really complete?!) Many of us have worked for decades in the restoration market, but none of us had ever actually done serious work to a car. We completed work on a ’67 Firebird convertible and we learned so much throughout the process. While we consider ourselves experts in classic car brakes, we certainly had a lot to learn everywhere else on the car. That car is now my daily driver whenever the weather is permitting.

SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket, particularly in the restoration segment?

TM: Pick a specialty or a product and become an authority on it. Be an expert on something, no matter how small, rather than trying to know it all. This will let you stay focused and become the woman or man that people in the industry look to for your specialty. Focus on products that people need, not only the fun and flashy products that they want and you will do well. There is an incredible amount of opportunity in our industry and we have a lot of fun.

Fill out an ARMO member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on ARMO’s and media, SEMA eNews and future ARMO member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

Stewart Webb is the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest spotlight member. Webb is a social media strategist at Drake Automotive Group, manufacturer of reproduction parts for classic Ford Mustangs. Get to know what keeps him in the industry and how he prepares for important meetings in his Q&A with SEMA.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Stewart Webb: A CEO once told me, “Everyday is a job interview at work. Act and dress everyday as if it’s your first days on the job. The day you become complacent is the day you lose the job.”

This has motivated me to work hard every day and to always look for new opportunities to help my employer and myself grow.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

SW: The people behind the builds keep me in the industry. I enjoy seeing the passion and dedication people have in their field and what they can accomplish with their skills.

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

SW: You can find me wrenching or at shows and events getting content for work.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

SW: I dress sharp and appropriately. I’m prepared mentally by having a game plan and bring value to everyone in the meeting to help impact the team.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?

SW: I would go to lunch with Scott Drake. Scott was a visionary in the industry when he started his company more than 30 years ago. I’m honored to help carry his legacy and build from the foundation he created. I’m grateful to have him in my life and to learn from his experience and wisdom.

If you are a current YEN member, fill out a YEN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on YEN’s social media, SEMA eNews and YEN-member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

Despite the ongoing pandemic, members of the SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) built new connections and developed valuable business relationships through YEN’s Virtual Happy Hours held earlier this year. Following the success, YEN is planning to continue to provide members with future Virtual Happy Hours, the next taking place on June 7 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).

With YEN members connecting in small breakout groups, the Virtual Happy Hour allowed participants to meet new colleagues and get to know each other quickly and easily. The low-cost format also makes it easy for YEN members to stay up-to-date on YEN programs and resources.

The June 7 Happy Hour agenda includes updates on the YEN professional development program, upcoming industry events, SEMA Launch Pad, and the YEN reception at The SEMA Show. There are no specific topics for the breakouts, so attendees should be prepared to introduce themselves, learn about each other’s jobs, what their personal hobbies are or why they joined YEN.

Register here.

By Maurice O’Connell

Exhibiting at the SEMA Show and entering at least one product in the New Products Showcase puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry.

Entry Fees:

• The first product entered in one category in the New Products Showcase is free.
• Additional $75 per product category before October 8.
• After October 8, the cost is $150 per entry.
• No refunds provided after October 8.
• Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space availability basis.

Enter your new products now!

For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.