NEARLY GONE: Toyota officials acknowledged that slumping car sales nearly led to the company pulling its Formula One racing program. Tadashi Yamashina, chairman of Toyota Motor Sports, said the pressure is on and for the team to survive it “must win” this season.

A SAD DAY: Fans and racers alike are morning the loss of one of America’s historic short tracks. Manzanita Speedway, located in Phoenix, was sold March 12 and will be used for industrial development. The final race at the half-mile oval, which has been holding auto races for 58 years, will be April 11.

FUEL CONSIDERATIONS: As the Indy Racing League considers a new engine formula that would be used beginning in 2012, one thing holding up the process is the fuel to be used. While the IndyCar Series currently uses ethanol, several of the manufacturers interested in supplying engines would prefer to use a gasoline/ethanol blend. No decision has been made either way at this point in the process.

BUD RUNS DRY: Currently in its 30th season of sponsoring Kenny Bernstein Racing, Anheuser-Busch informed the legendary NHRA drag racer that its Budweiser brand will not return to sponsor the team with Kenny’s son Brandon driving in 2010, ending the longest sponsorship relationship in motorsports history.

HIRED: Joe Mattes has been named interim president of Motorsports Authentics.

TOP DOG: With Donny Schatz struggling during a two-day World of Outlaws visit to Silver Dollar Speedway, Kyle Busch moved to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings. The rankings appear weekly in America’s Motorsports Authority.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click here for a special industry rate.

NEWS NUGGETS 

TASCA GETS FIRST CAREER WIN; DIXON GETS FIRST 2009 WIN AT GAINESVILLE: It was a Sunday of firsts in the nitro classes of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series as Funny Car driver Bob Tasca picked up his first career win, while former two-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon picked up his first win with his new Al-Anabi team.

From Friday qualifying to Sunday's finals, Tasca proved that he had the car to beat, securing the No. 1 qualifying position, then moving past names like Jim Head, Tim Wilkerson, John Force and close friend Tony Pedregon in the final round. It was his first win of the season and first career win in the Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang.

“Tony is my best friend—I was the best man at his wedding—and I can’t tell you what he means to me,” said Tasca. “Our families are going to Disney World tomorrow—my wife is his wife’s best friend, too—and he hugged me before the final and said, ‘B, either way, we’re going to Disney tomorrow, but if you win you’re buying dinner.’”

For Dixon, his first win of the season and first win for the newly organized Al-Anabi Racing team was exactly what they needed to forget the early season woes the team has faced.

“I know how hard it is to make these cars go down the track, but they make it look easy,” said Dixon, referring to his new team. “It’s an amazing group. Alan Johnson is a genius and Jason McCulloch [crew chief] is working right underneath him, and I’m happy for him to get his first win. I’m also happy for Sheik [team co-owner Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani] and to be able to get his first win the third race out.”

In Pro Stock, former world champion Jason Line was able to drive his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP past Allen Johnson and pick up his second win of the season on a holeshot, while Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana drove past former world champion Matt Smith to pick up only his second career win.

UNITED ASSOCIATION TO SPONSOR CHICAGO AND ENGLISHTOWN EVENTS; ALSO MAJOR ASSOCIATE SPONSOR FOR DON PRUDHOMME RACING: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) has secured title-rights sponsorship of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in Chicago and Englishtown. UA also announced that it will partner with Don Prudhomme Racing as the major associate sponsor of the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Top Fuel dragster driven by Spencer Massey.

The United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals will be contested June 4–7, at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, and the United Association NHRA SuperNationals will take place the following week, June 11–14, at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown.

In addition to sponsoring NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events in Chicago and Englishtown, UA will receive display space at three additional events: the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Castrol at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois; the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka, Kansas; and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

NHRA AND HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK TEAM UP TO OFFER RELIEF DEALS FOR RACE FANS: Houston Raceway Park (HRP) and NHRA are giving Houston race fans more than one opportunity to see some of their favorite drivers at a discounted price for the 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, March 27–29. Topping the exceptional deals is a half-price general admission ticket for Friday’s second professional qualifying session. No advance purchase is required, and there is no limit to the number of tickets sold at this price.

Fans can simply buy their tickets at the track any time after 4:00 p.m. on Friday. HRP and the NHRA are also offering free Friday general admission tickets to all active military personnel that can show proof of status and coupons for $8 off any adult general admission ticket for any day are available at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout the area, while Houston-area Wingstop Restaurants will distribute $5 off general admission coupons for Friday’s action.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, MARCH 27–29: Heading back to the Lone Star State, all four categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Series will compete for points toward the Countdown to the Championship. Defending event winners include Antron Brown (Top Fuel); Del Worsham (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, APRIL 2–5: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing returns to Las Vegas for the annual spring event. Defending event winners include Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); and Jason Line (Pro Stock).

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, APRIL 16–19: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing heads south for its annual stop in Georgia. Defending event winners include Antron Brown (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Mike Edwards (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

‘HAMMERING’ THE TREE: Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector “The Hammer” Arana on his win at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, only the second win of his career: “I knew I had the fastest bike and didn’t want to push the tree,” said Arana. “I wanted to win this race. I red-lighted on my last qualifying run Saturday and couldn’t sleep last night thinking about that. It feels awesome to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke, and I want to win some more.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4: Number of Pro Stock Motorcycle riders that have won the season opening race in Gainesville, Florida, then gone on to win the second stop on the PSM schedule in Houston. Hector Arana hopes to become the fifth driver to follow up his Gatornationals win with another Wally in Houston.

• John Myers, 1990
• Dave Schultz, 1991
• Craig Treble, 2002
• Angelle Sampey, 2003, 2006

DID YOU KNOW…

…that reigning NHRA world champions Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon and Jeg Coughlin will once again be honored as the Palms Casino Resort will circulate a limited number of $5 and $25 gaming chips featuring the three reigning champs when the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series heads back to Las Vegas for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. The chips will be made available April 2 in advance of a pre-race party taking place from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. in the Key West Room at the popular hotel. 

Have you moved on? Up? Know someone who has? Let us know: editors@sema.org.

ACC Performance hired Jim Grady as vice president of sales and marketing. Grady will focus primarily on implementing a marketing plan for ACC warehouse distributors and complete the selection of manufacturers’ representatives throughout the United States and Canada. He will also coordinate all of the sales and marketing for ACC Performance.

Meyer Distributing presented Rolston Hogstrom Inc. with the 2008 Meyer Distributing Manufacturer’s Representative of the Year Award during the 2009 National Truck Equipment Association Work Truck Show in Chicago. The Rolston Hogstrom sales agency covers the territory of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Eastern Iowa and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Folio Magazine recently featured SEMA-member Ford Muscle in its publication. Ford Muscle was noted for its innovation in using user-generated content effectively and profitably. Read the story by clicking here.

YoParts.com announced that Race Day Media will manage all of YoParts.com PR, marketing and media-related services. YoParts.com provides a subscription-based marketplace where automotive consumers benefit from wholesale pricing. YoParts.com also provides advice to help its clientele with their vehicle builds.

Scosche Industries has reopened its facilities in Alabama. Completely redesigned, Scosche’s Alabama warehouse has more than 31,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space dedicated to shipping to dealers and distributors in 37 states. The new facility includes four truck bays to provide quicker ground service to more states than any other location in the United States.

Ben Oh and Jennifer Wong, formerly of Car Audio & Electronics magazine, have launched a new online venture, Motormusicmag.com. With a heavy emphasis on feature vehicles, videos, how-to’s, and gear reviews, the site is a new stop in the search for timely, comprehensive mobile electronics coverage.  

Traxxas announced that it’s the 2009–2011 series title sponsor of The Off-Road Championship (TORC) Series. The Traxxas TORC Series will bring together the best of Midwest short-course off-road racing with new West Coast venues. Race fans will also be able to enjoy the action through national television coverage beginning in June. 

Optima Batteries was named the official battery of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships. Optima Batteries will award the top three finishers from each SPEED GT and SPEED Touring Car race with a certificate for a free battery. Additionally, fans can sign up at each SPEED World Challenge driver autograph session to win a free OPTIMA battery.

The COMP Performance Group has acquired Quarter Master Industries, a Lake Zurich, Illinois-based manufacturer of clutches, flywheels, driveshafts and bellhousings for performance and racing. The company and all staff will remain in its current facilities, and will continue to focus on the hardcore circle track and drag race markets, as well as street performance crossover products.

In honor of its 35th anniversary, Skyjacker Suspensions is offering a $35 consumer shock rebate on all Skyjacker HYDRO H7000 Series and NITRO N8000 Series shocks. To qualify for the rebate, consumers fill out the appropriate forms and submit the invoice and UPC, alleviating the need for dealers to fill out rebate paperwork.

Have you moved on? Up? Know someone who has? Let us know: editors@sema.org.

Click on the logo to visit YEN's website.

Did you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has more than 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee? If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

YEN Member of the Month Spotlight

Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen.

Discover The SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN

“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker

Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.

“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.

Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.

Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career.  In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.

So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.

For more information on the SEMA Mentoring Program, click here.

YEN Column in SEMA Member News

Read YEN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

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Click on the logo to visit ARMO's website.

In conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in Indianapolis, ARMO hosted a seminar entitled "10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Website Results Tomorrow," presented by Brian Offenberger. At the event, five lucky winners were awarded free consultations with Offenberger. The lucky winners were:

• Tom Marx–Marx Group Advisors                              
• David Chamberlain–All Classic Restoration                             
• Dana Miller–Sambrea, Inc.                                         
• Stan Pridham–KMS Tools                                         
  
• Michael Manning–American Autowire                               
  

Free Marketing for ARMO Members

Once again, the ARMO New Products Showcase will be held at the Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from Wednesday to Sunday, April 22–26, 2009. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your creative and innovative products to hobbyists and the industry for FREE!

This year, there will be no judging, but rather a focus on simply showcasing the products entered. Entries will be photographed at Spring Carlisle and the photos, product descriptions and company name will be displayed in the ARMO booth at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Please review the information on the ARMO New Products Showcase entry form. Entries are due by Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Please direct questions and submit forms to Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Read ARMO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

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Click on the logo to visit HRIA's website.

More than 400 hot-rod enthusiasts packed nearly 40 workshops at the Education & Training Day held

in conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show.

Education & Training Day at the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show A Tremendous Success!

More than 400 hot-rod enthusiasts, including business owners, car builders and committed staff attended nearly 40 manufacturer workshops last week at the Education & Training Day, held in conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in Indianapolis. Many classrooms exceeded capacity as attendees learned about topics that ranged from suspensions and brakes to air conditioning and fuel injection. Armed with fresh product knowledge and selling techniques, participants will undoubtedly benefit greatly with higher sales and more bottom line profits. Be sure to mark March 11, 2010 on your calendar for next year’s Education & Training Day, presented by the Hot Rod Industry Alliance.

HRIA Column in SEMA Member News

Read HRIA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about HRIA, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

 

Click on the logo to visit TORA's website.

TORA Long-Range Planning Meeting Moves to Pasadena

Mark your calendar for the annual TORA Long-Range Planning Meeting, which is moving to a new time and location. The Long-Range Planning Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 30, from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena, California. The meeting is being held in conjunction with the annual Council Leadership Seminar and SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser.

“The TORA Long-Range Planning Meeting is typically held in the East or Midwest,” said TORA Chairman Ron DiVincenzo. “It was slated for Orlando in March, in conjunction with the TSTC. When that got postponed, we had to look elsewhere. This will be our first time on the West Coast and perhaps we can meet face-to-face with some West Coast TORA members who would otherwise not attend the Long-Range Planning Meeting.”

Detailed information will be mailed to all TORA member companies shortly. You may also contact TORA staff liaison Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org for more information.

George Lathouris Named TORA Chair-Elect

The TORA Select Committee has named Keystone’s George Lathouris as its chair-elect. Lathouris will assume his new responsibilities on July 1, when Kelly Kneifl assumes the duties of chairman from current Chairman Ron DiVincenzo. Congratulations to George!

TORA Column in SEMA Member News

Read TORA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about TORA, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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Click on the logo to visit MRC's website.

Manufacturers Seeking Rep List Now Available

Manufacturers’ representatives are encouraged to contact Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org to request the Manufacturers Seeking Rep List, which is available at no cost. Compiled using information collected from manufacturers prior to the 2008 SEMA Show, the listing contains details on manufacturers currently seeking the services of manufacturers’ representatives along with the lines available and company contact information. The list was originally available in the MRC Rep Center during the week of the 2008 SEMA Show.

MRC Column in SEMA Member News

Read MRC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MRC, contact Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org. 

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MPMC Column in SEMA Member News

Read MPMC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

Click on the logo to visit PRO's website.

PRO Project Planning Meeting

The annual PRO Project Planning Meeting is slated for Thursday and Friday, June 18–19, 2009, in Detroit. The Crown Plaza Hotel, minutes from the Detroit Metro Airport, will once again host the event and is offering a blocked-out room rate of only $115 for meeting attendees. Lunch is included both days, with a continental breakfast also included on Friday morning.

The Project Planning session begins at 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning, continues through lunch and then moves into breakout groups in the afternoon. The breakout groups continue on Friday. Everyone will reconvene mid-morning on Friday for breakout reports and a box lunch before adjourning at 1:00 p.m., in time for those early afternoon flights back home.

There is no better opportunity to share ideas and plan for solutions than at the PRO Project Planning Meeting. Official meeting notices will go out shortly with more details. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

PRO Business Development Guidebook Now On Sale

In today’s ever-changing marketplace, staying ahead of the competition is more important and challenging than ever. To be successful, you not only need an effective business strategy, but also the tools and resources to help your company excel and stand out from the pack. The PRO Business Development Guidebook is your handy reference guide.

Beginning with an overview of the importance of having a business plan—including tips on how to develop a business plan and the many purposes it can serve—the manual offers chapter-by-chapter strategies for making your business a success.

From understanding the basics of business finance and the importance of quality and service and how to make them hallmarks of your business, to building knowledge and skills among your employees to branding your restyling business as a market leader, the guidebook offers information critical to the day-to-day and long-term operation of your business.

Whether you’re starting your own restyling business or already own one—be it mobile or brick and mortar—you’ll find the answers that you’ve been looking for in the guidebook. PRO Council members contributed much of the information contained in the guidebook, drawing on their experience and knowledge to present a valuable business tool.

Click here to download the PRO business guidebook order form, or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

PRO Column in SEMA Member News

Read PRO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about PRO, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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Click on the logo to visit SPC's website.

SPC Column in SEMA Member News

Read SPC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

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Click on the logo to visit WTC's website.

WTC Long-Range Planning Meeting

Attend the WTC Long-Range Planning Meeting and help shape the course of the council’s agenda. It’s time to voice your opinion.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009, from 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. at:

SEMA Headquarters
AAA Building—Second Floor
1575 South Valley Vista Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765

RSVP by Friday, May 8, 2009 to Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

WTC Column in SEMA Member News

Read WTC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about WTC, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Click on the logo to visit SBN's website.

Discover the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN

Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.

“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.

Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.

Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.

So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.

For more information on the SEMA Mentoring Program, click here.

SBN Column in SEMA Member News

Read SBN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about SBN, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Filler for eNews

Dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows and activities have been announced. Details are:

SEMA Webinar, "Protecting Your Finances from the Economy," March 19, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

SEMA Webinar, "Inventory Management: Stop Storing Cash in the Warehouse," March 25, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)   

SEMA Webinar, "Job Costing Systems That Will Boost Your Cash Flow," April 2, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

SEMA Webinar, "Tough Times Bring Change: Learn How to Manage Moving Forward," April 9, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

"The Race Goes Green" Conference, April 16, 2009, Long Beach, California
 

 The 2009 NCMA Knowledge Exchange Conference, May 2–5, 2009, Newport Beach, California

SEMA Webinar, "Contract Law 101: Sponsored by SEMA SPC," May 7, 2009 (PDT)

SEMA Wheel & Tire Council Long-Range Planning Meeting, May 14, 2009, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (PDT), Diamond Bar, California

SEMA Webinar, "Black Book," May 21, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

SEMA Webinar, "Sales and Marketing Strategies Guaranteed to Make SEMA 2009 a Success," June 11, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

SEMA Webinar, "An Interactive Discussion on Selling Online," June 25, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

PAACE Automechanika Mexico, July 15–17, 2009, Mexico City

SEMA Webinar, "Introduction to Internet Marketing," July 16, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

SEMA Internet Symposium, August 1, 2009, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (PDT), Pasadena, California

SEMA Webinar, "Internet Marketing Tools," August 6, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (PDT)

SEMA Webinar, "25 Ways to be Successful at the SEMA Show," August 20, 2009 (PDT)

SEMA Webinar, "Basics of Website Design and Content," September 24, 2009

SEMA Show, November 3–6, 2009, Las Vegas

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949/930-9268.

Looking for Some Extra Publicity for Your Industry Event?
Publicize your events through the SEMA Online Calendar of Events located at www.sema.org/calendar. The calendar is stocked with information on events taking place throughout the year, broken down by month. Examples of events featured in the calendar include consumer shows and club events, educational and training workshops, conventions and trade shows, races and more.

To submit your event details for the calendar, e-mail company name and the date(s), location and name of the event to Shirley Presecan at shirleyp@sema.org.

Last month, 11.4% (index = 43) of consumers surveyed said that they planned to purchase custom parts and accessories for their vehicle sometime within the next three months, according to the February SEMA Performance Parts and Accessories Demand Index (PADI). This is actually an increase from a January index of 36, or roughly 9.6% of consumers making purchase plans.

Of those consumers making purchase plans, 18.3% said that they plan to modify a pickup, up from 15.9% in January and the highest vehicle segment targeted for customization last month.

Pickup sales have been down. In February, sales declined 54% with several of the top-selling pickups last month experiencing an even greater dip. Still, as pickup sales plummet, one question arises: Why does the SEMA PADI show that the most popular vehicles targeted for future customization plans are still pickups?

Simply put, the number of pickups currently on the road today represents nearly one quarter (21%) of all of the vehicles registered in the United States. According to September 2008 data from Experian Automotive, current vehicle registrations included more than 51 million pickups registered.

The second table below shows a breakdown of these pickups by make. Specialty-equipment manufacturers and retailers hurting from the decline in new pickup sales could still find opportunity for sales growth in products for older pickups because owners are looking to make their current pickup last longer.

This could include enhancing the appearance, utility and performance with custom parts and accessories. Vehicle registration data is now available to SEMA members at no charge. To obtain data for any make, model or year of any vehicle in the United States and learn which older vehicle markets may be worth diversifying into, contact the SEMA Research & Information Center at research@sema.org.

Total pickup sales declined 54% in February compared to the same period last year. The Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series light-duty pickups outsold all other pickups last month.

There are currently more than 17 million Ford pickups registered in the United States today, the highest pickup make of the more than 51 million trucks currently registered. — SEMA Research & Information Center

Automotive enthusiasts purchase a wide range of custom performance parts and accessories for their vehicles, so while analyzing a  "Top 10" or "Top 20" list of products purchased does give useful insight into these enthusiasts, taking a more holistic approach may prove more helpful. With that in mind, the list of all specialty-equipment products purchased by automotive enthusiasts surveyed by SEMA is listed in the table below.

Automotive magazine subscribers and website/forum visitors were surveyed during August–September of last year, with 3,037 total responses collected.

By age group, enthusiasts 16–27 years of age said that they purchased cold air intake conversions for their vehicles at a much higher rate than their older counterparts. Wheel purchases and stereo upgrades also tapered off as enthusiasts get older. Some performance parts, such as carburetors, however, were actually purchased at a higher frequency as enthusiasts age.

However, one element does prevail: Product purchases vary among enthusiasts, especially when looking at age ranges. Marketing strategies often target particular demographics depending on product, and the table below shows which products are purchased most often by which age group.


The table above shows the percent of enthusiasts who have purchased one or more of the 115 specialty automotive products listed. By age group, product choices vary significantly in several cases. — SEMA Research & Information Center

A 2005 Toyota Prius by Barris Kustom Industries displayed in the Making Green Cool Zone at the 2008 SEMA Show.

With the price of gas quickly rising as soon as it fell and an overall emphasis on reducing dependence on fossil fuels, hybrids are quickly making their way to enthusiasts’ consideration for a future vehicle purchase. Around 22% of automotive enthusiasts surveyed say that they will “definitely” consider a gas-electric hybrid upon their next vehicle purchase.

Since these enthusiasts surveyed said they spent roughly $2,800 each, on average, on specialty equipment over the last year, future hybrid-buying enthusiasts could represent potential profits for specialty-equipment companies.

Automotive magazine subscribers and website/forum visitors were surveyed during August–September of last year, with 3,037 total responses collected. Their answers to the survey provide a look at how enthusiasts spend their money customizing vehicles and clues to future purchases, including whether they plan to purchase hybrids.

Recently, hybrids have lacked something that even the most obscure cars do not: tuning and dress-up parts availability. There have been a select handful of parts that have been marketed toward hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Honda FCX Clarity, but nothing ever specific to them. With this in mind, famed Japanese Honda tuner Mugen recently released its own set of tuning parts for the Japanese Honda Insight.

Mugen, known for building Honda NSXs used in Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) racing, have stepped into the realm of tuning hybrids, according to Autoblog.

Keeping in mind the current ecological push to be green, Mugen started by choosing the Honda Insight hybrid, opting to leave the engine untouched. The company chose to create a performance oil filter and exhaust with a sport silencer kit, leaving all other engine components stock, retaining mpg and low emissions. What Mugen did decide to modify were the aerodynamics and handling components.

They started by creating a new front fascia for the car while integrating a new grille and lip spoiler, then creating new side skirts and a redesigned rear fascia. To complete the package and give the car a real sport-compact look, the company created a rear wing reminiscent of the RSX Type R spoiler.

On all four corners of the Insight, Mugen included a new set of dampers and springs, dropping the Insight 20 mm and the option of using either 15- or 16-inch wheels.

At the 2008 SEMA Show, several companies displayed modified versions of gas-electric hybrids, showing attendees that a market for these vehicles is alive and ready. Barris Kustom Industries, A123Systems-Hymotion and VIP Autosalon, for example, all showed customized versions of the popular Prius.

 
2007 Toyota Prius by A123Systems-Hymotion displayed in the Making Green Cool Zone at the 2008 SEMA Show.

2008 Toyota Prius by VIP Autosalon displayed in the Making Green Cool Zone at the 2008 SEMA Show.

The possible creation of performance-marketed products specifically developed for hybrids is a concept that SEMA members may look into to help not only push for a green environment, but also to help open and expand the tuning market. SEMA members have the opportunity to create more dress-up and tuning parts for hybrids, but they also have the possibility of creating parts that will further increase the fuel efficiency and help reduce the emissions of hybrids.  — SEMA Research & Information Center

Realizing that the industry needs new tools to help companies survive the tough economy, SEMA has launched a new financial benchmarking program. Data collected thus far shows that SEMA-member manufacturers project varying levels of growth for the next three months. While 46% project sales to be down, 22% already expect that sales will make an upward trajectory within the next three months compared to this time last year.

So far, more than 600 companies have decided to participate in SEMA’s financial benchmarking program. The program is designed to accumulate data that you can use to see how your company is doing in comparison to others in the industry. Each month, information from responding companies will be aggregated and reports generated for the basic distribution categories of the industry. 

The program asks a battery of financial questions that provide essential information for business management. Using aggregated data from similar companies, SEMA members will be able to benchmark their operations, answering questions such as:

• How does my cost of goods compare to my peers?
• Does my company invest more in marketing than others in my category?
• Is my quick ratio above or below the norm for the industry right now?
• How are my inventory turns doing compared to similar operations?
• Are the amount of product returns my company is having out of whack right now?

The data will provide benchmarking information for just about all aspects of a company’s financial operation. The added benefit is that trend data will emerge over time, again providing a yardstick by which to compare your company’s operation.

To ease concerns that some company executives may have about SEMA seeing their individual company data, the association has contracted with an outside vendor—Hedges & Company—to collect and aggregate the information each month. They willingly enter into legally binding non-disclosure agreements with any who request them and report only aggregated data to SEMA and program participants.

Below you will find a few nuggets from the data being collected:

Data collected thus far shows that SEMA-member manufacturers project varying levels of growth for the next three months. Around 22% already expect that sales will make an upward trajectory within the coming three months compared to this time last year.

Manufacturers surveyed said that 52% of their sales, on average, go through the traditional “distributors” channel, while a combined 25% go directly to a jobber's chain store.

If you have not responded to the notices you've received from Hedges & Company, don’t wait any longer to take advantage of this valuable new tool offered by SEMA. If you haven't received a notice for your company to participate, contact the SEMA Research & Information Center. — SEMA Research & Information Center