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With social networking sites becoming increasingly relevant to a business marketing campaign, the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) is sponsoring the "How to Make Money With the Right Social Media Tools" webinar to ensure that SEMA members stay current with a technologically advancing market.
 
This webinar will introduce you to the basics of social media and social-networking sites. You will learn valuable social-networking tools and how social media can impact your sales. You will also hear current success stories that can be applied to your own business.

Title: "How to Make Money With the Right Social Media Tools"
When: Thursday, December 4, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT)
Presenter: Chad Israel, director of social marketing, Engauge Digital; sponsored by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN)

The "Fast-Track Product Development with 3-D Design Technology" webinar, presented by Oscar Muñoz, SEMA vehicle product data manager, was designed to introduce SEMA engineers to 3-D/CAD Technology, which allows them to create a more efficient design, engineering and manufacturing process.

"Once you start using the CAD application, the design process is really simplified," said Muñoz. "The technology is very intuitive now. There is no reason to stay away from it and relatively, the cost is not so great to prevent you from getting started in CAD."

The webinar presented an overview of the CAD systems, reverse engineering and rapid prototyping and manufacturing.

Features of the CAD system allow:

• Product-failure prediction   

• Predict buckling and collapse

• Heating and cooling simulation

• Simulate drop test and impact

• Nonlinear dynamics 

• Simulate loading effects

• Simulate plastic parts

• Fluid-flow simulation

• Machining code – tool-path simulation

With the CAD systems, the design process is simplified through tools that make product manufacturing and product engineering more efficient, which can extend into other business functions such as marketing and sales.

For a full audio or PDF download of the webinar, click here.

SEMA's Webinar Program: The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show right to your desktop. Different business-building sessions are constantly added to the program, offering members the latest insight and practices from today’s leading speakers.

All SEMA webinars are conducted live and are open to all employees of SEMA-member companies free of charge. To participate, all you need is a computer with Internet access and a telephone. All previous SEMA webinars are available for download by clicking here. To view upcoming presentations that you can attend via telephone and Internet, click here.

The Pontiac Torrent name survived only one generation and is due for replacement by this machine: the 2010 GMC Terrain. The Terrain will share the same Theta platform as its chassis-mate, the 2010 Chevy Equinox, says spy photographer Brenda Priddy.

It may also share the Equinox powerplants, including a direct-injection 2.3L four-cylinder or a V6. Slated to be built in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, the Terrain will likely sell in the low-/mid-$20,000s when it arrives at dealers next year.

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EXTENDED: 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth has signed a multiyear contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing.

BUYING A TRACK?: NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham is negotiating to purchase East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley, North Carolina.

BAJA: Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler drove their Trophy Truck to the overall victory in the Baja 1000, while Robby Bell, Kendall Norman and Johnny Campbell won in the motorcycle class.

INJURED: Up-and-coming racer Cameron Dodson was seriously injured in an automobile accident near Greenfield, Indiana. Dodson is in critical condition at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

DIED: Legendary sprint-car racer Chuck Amati died on November 8 after suffering a heart attack while driving. He was 68.

POWER RANKINGS: NHRA Top Fuel point leader Tony Schumacher remains at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings. The National Speed Sport News Power Rankings are published weekly in the 74-year-old motorsports publication.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

NEWS NUGGETS

WILKERSON LOOKS BACK WITH NO REGRETS, LOOKS FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE: Tim Wilkerson came into the 2008 NHRA season with five career victories and left the season with 11. He entered the campaign having just come off a 15th-place finish in 2007, but finished the 2008 season in second place after a storybook run.

To all who were witnessing this remarkable "arrival," the Levi, Ray & Shoup driver seemed fully capable of turning everything around, including the startling ability to erase the memory of seven DNQs from the year before by recording absolutely none in 2008. He also improved his round record from a pedestrian 14–16 in 2007 to an astounding 42–18 this year, a mark no other Funny Car driver could match.

In the end though, it was the final day and the ever-so-close, but narrowly missed, chance at a championship that far too many people remember.

Having spent most of the season leading the Funny Car points chase, Wilkerson entered the Countdown to the Championship knowing full well what the rules were and how they worked. By virtue of his first-place standing after the regular season, he began the Countdown at the top, but his lead was cut to 30 POWERade points, and the nine other drivers on his tail had once again picked up the scent.

It was not going to be easy, especially for a driver who had never finished higher than seventh in the standings and had no prior experience with the breathtaking pressure of a real championship run. But as Wilkerson saw it, nothing is ever easy in one of the world's most challenging sports, and there's no reason to look back with any regrets.

"It's all hard, everyday against every team," Wilkerson said. "You don't get any free passes, and no one takes it easy on you. We've seen the hardest of the hard times just trying to qualify, or sometimes even trying to break a streak of multiple DNQs, but we came into the year thinking we were better.

"It turns out, we were better and we had a great year. I'm not going to waste a minute of my time wishing anything different. It would've been a dream come true to win it, but we didn't so now the dream is still there.

"But like I said, it's a dogfight out there every week. If you want to know how tough it is, just look at our first two races this year, where we had a fast car, and qualified at the top in both Pomona and Phoenix, but we lost in the first round at each race. It almost didn't matter where you qualified this year because all 16 cars in the field could win."

ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE 2008 NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW DVD TODAY: Just in time for the holidays, the "2008 NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship Year in Review" will make the perfect gift for the number one NHRA fan in your family. All the drama, passion, heartbreak and excitement that were welded together into the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season can be experienced again with the 2008 NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship Year in Review.

This must-have documentary follows the battles for the four 2008 NHRA POWERade world championships from start to finish. Hosted by acclaimed NHRA announcer Bob Frey, the DVD contains more than 90 minutes of in-depth interviews with drivers who had memorable moments during the season, as well as plenty of side-by-side racing action from all 24 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events. Also included are special never-before-seen bonus features.

The "2008 NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship Year in Review" DVD will deliver all the action you can handle at 300 mph. Pre-order the "2008 NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship Year in Review" DVD for $19.99 (plus shipping, handling and applicable taxes) in the United States and Canada. The scheduled release date for the DVD is mid-December 2008 for the holiday season. Pre-order your copy today by visiting www.nhra.com.

CHEVY WINS 17TH MANUFACTURERS CUP TITLE: Following an incredible season, Chevrolet won the 2008 NHRA Manufacturers Cup for the 17th time, the most ever by any automobile manufacturer. The title is Chevrolet's second straight and third this decade, having also won in 2002.

Chevrolet won its first NHRA Manufacturers Cup title in 1966 in what was the first of four straight for the car builder to dominate the late '60s. Chevrolet also dominated the '70s, winning in seven of 10 seasons in the midst of a nine-year streak that lasted from 1973 through 1981, then won again in 1983.

Team Chevy's on-track drag racing accomplishments in 2008 were impressive, especially in the Pro Stock category, where Chevy drivers earned 11 victories, 23 final-round appearances, and eight No. 1 qualifying awards. Four Chevy Cobalt drivers made the Countdown to 1, and three Team Chevy drivers finished in the top five of the POWERade standings, including Jeg Coughlin, who captured his second straight NHRA POWERade championship behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.

Multiple victories at NHRA divisional and national levels by Chevrolet's stampede of Sportsman competitors were a key component in the Chevy Red Bowtie's 2008 NHRA Manufacturers Cup. More than 20 different Super Stock drivers competing in 2008 Chevy Cobalts contributed to more than half of Chevy's points total.

Chevy Super Stock stalwarts included Jimmy DeFrank, Ryan McClanahan, Justin Lamb, Jeff Lane, Peter Biondo and Justin Jenkins. Lucas Oil Sportsman national champions driving Chevrolets in 2008 included Frank Manzo, who captured his 12th Top Alcohol Funny Car crown with his Monte Carlo entry; Dan Fletcher in Comp with Rick Braun's Cobalt; and Ricky Decker in Super Stock with his Camaro.

Pontiac, which has won 10 NHRA Manufacturers Cup titles, finished in second place with 4,400 points.

The NHRA Manufacturers Cup has been awarded since 1964. It is presented to the automobile manufacturer whose current models in Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock earn the most points for qualifying and category victories at NHRA Drag Racing Series national and divisional events. 

Points are awarded to entries in Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock as follows: 60 points for an eliminator victory, 40 points for an eliminator runner-up and 20 points for an eliminator qualification.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

LASORDA ENJOYS WHIFF OF NITRO: Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda served as Grand Marshal for the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona, California. The baseball icon encouraged the fans to support their troops, enjoy the race and cheer on the Dodgers next season as they chase another World Series title. Lasorda said he was “overwhelmed” by the experience.

“I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did,” he said. “I'm totally impressed, particularly with how fast the cars go. I was impressed with how nice the drivers were, with the attendance and with how well the track is operated."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

72: That’s the number of days remaining until the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season kicks off at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, with the 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, February 5–8, 2009.

DID YOU KNOW…

… that a group of NHRA diplomats, including Pro Stock drivers Jim Yates, Jason Line and Warren Johnson and Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan, are on a special mission to visit U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East and Europe.

On their first stop during the tour they visited Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Camp Arifjan provides permanent support facilities for American forces in Kuwait. Fred Simmonds and Jeff Romack coordinated the tour and are leading the group, who will make their next stop at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Scott Bove

WC Vision LLC, the marketing and licensing rights holder for the SCCA World Challenge Championships, appointed Scott Bove to vice president of partnership relations. Most recently, Bove was working to develop safer cockpit environments and a safer wall system for oval courses for the Indy Racing League.    

UnderCover, a division of E.D. Industries, promoted David Wells, formerly vice president and sales director, to president of UnderCover Truck Covers. Earlier this year, UnderCover promoted Sally Goldberg to national sales manager, a position previously held by Wells.

“UnderCover is positioning itself for more activity in new products and markets, and with a team of management that understands the economy and truck market struggles, we plan to remain aggressive in several categories and look forward to the day that truck sales again become a leading role in vehicle sales," said Wells. 

Mark Williams

NASCAR fan Mark Williams of Palmyra, Virginia, is the grand prize winner in the MAHLE Clevite “Find Clevite” promotion. Williams was awarded a NASCAR VIP Weekend for two to the final race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The contest, held online at www.FindClevite.com, started in May and concluded on October 25. It was designed to help MAHLE Clevite celebrate its transition in 2008 to the MAHLE white decal from its legendary blue Clevite decal throughout all of NASCAR.  

VIPAR Heavy Duty announced that Lori Newton, a veteran sales and manufacturing executive, has joined the Global Parts Network LLC (GPN) as the director of operations for the organization’s new brake remanufacturing facilities. GPN is an independent company that provides service support exclusively to the VIPAR Heavy Duty network of distributors and suppliers.

VIPAR Heavy Duty announced last month that it would begin remanufacturing brakes at facilities in the eastern and western parts of the United States, and Newton will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the new facilities.

Selected from among more than 5,000 national and international entries, the Car Care Council earned top honors in the MarCom Awards—an international marketing and communications awards competition—for its Car Care Guides and redesigned website. The Car Care Guides were selected by judges for the Platinum Award, which is the highest honor in the brochure/handbook category, and the website, www.carcare.org, received the Gold Award in the Web Site Overall category.

The MarCom Awards are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals. The annual competition recognizes outstanding creative achievement among corporate, Fortune 500s, non-profit marketing and communications departments, advertising agencies, public relations firms, production companies, designers and freelancers.

ABT Sportsline Audi A5

GGI European Tuning, the exclusive North American importer of the Carlsson, Hartge and Sportec brands, announced that the ABT Sportsline is the newest brand to join GGI’s aftermarket component lineup for sport and luxury automobiles.

“Adding Audi and Volkswagen products complements our current product offering so we now cover the most popular German cars in North America," said GGI General Manager Arturo Guerrero. "A partnership with ABT is ideal because they are the leader in Audi and Volkswagen tuning in Europe, and we were very impressed by their engineering and quality control.”

Based in Kempten, Germany, ABT Sportsline is a factory-authorized tuner of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. GGI also announced that it will exclusively offer Yokohama Advan tires with ABT tuning packages. GGI unveiled a Yokohama-shod ABT-tuned Audi A5 during the 2008 SEMA Show.

Golight Inc. and Dorian Drake International Inc. signed an export management agreement through which Dorian Drake will work with distributors and dealers to promote sales of the Golight product line.

“Global demand for our products has grown remarkably,” notes Shawna Bauer, Golight’s automotive sales manager. “Dorian Drake has people with the market expertise and communication skills to work with customers all over the world. That will help us build long-term business relationships with distributors in new countries and new markets, just as we have in North America.” 

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