The MPMC Media Trade Conference allows journalists and manufacturers to discuss new products and projects in a relaxed, informal environment.

Editors and reporters are invited to interview leading performance parts manufacturers in private, uninterrupted meetings during the 2009 MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 20–22, 2009, in Los Angeles, California.

Hosted by the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), the annual event consists of more than 100 manufacturers and gives journalists a one-of-a-kind opportunity to sit down with key executives and technical staff. The event is arguably the single most convenient way for editors to obtain high-quality interviews with leading manufacturers quickly and efficiently.

One media representative who participated for the first time last year reported, “I came away from this show with 49 new business cards, met people that I had never met before, and...I had quality time with each of them.”

A veteran MPMC Media Trade Conference media participant echoed those sentiments, noting, “In my opinion, this is the most important thing we do each year for editorial and product information.”

Media registration is now open at www.sema.org/media. Plan on allowing approximately five minutes to register, as you will be asked to select the participating manufacturers that best fit your editorial coverage. Media with questions should contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org.

MPMC members or manufacturers interested in learning more about the event should contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

SEMA Show attendees will have the opportunity to pick up on the expertise that has made West Coast Customs a familiar name not only within the auto industry, but also to mainstream audiences.

The WCC Experience will feature live, in-booth classes on a wide range of topics, including welding, fabrication, painting and mobile electronics. Classes are taught by WCC experts, as well as leaders from various brands and manufacturers in the industry. There will be three 90-minute classes offered per day.

Sponsors of the WCC Experience include American Express OPEN, Continental Tire, Sony, Snap-on Tools, Global Finishing Solutions, Mobil 1 and Quality Toyota Corona.

CLICK HERE to pre-register for classes. Spaces are limited.

The 2008 SEMA Show will be held November 4–7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information or to register for the Show, please visit www.SEMAShow.com.

GM presented its Design Award for Best High-Performance Product to Melling Performance
for its billet oil pump at the 2007 SEMA Show.

General Motors will present the GM Design Awards for several categories at the 2008 SEMA Show. The categories are divided into two groups:

Group A) Vehicles: Cars, SUVs, trucks, hot rods, restored vehicles

Group B) Component/system designs

To be considered for a GM Design Award, fill out and submit the application LOCATED HERE. You can apply for more than one vehicle or component award, and the form can be forwarded to any suppliers that have contributed a new/innovative component design to your GM Show vehicle.

Note: The component design awards are presented to the design/manufacturing company and not the displayer.

Award judging takes place on Monday–Wednesday, November 3–5, and an award breakfast is set for 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Due to the short time to complete the judging and inform the winners, only the winners will be notified of the breakfast invitation.

If your vehicle will be displayed as a feature vehicle, it is understood that locations may not be provided until Sunday or Monday afternoon. Fill out the form now, and provide the location information to Bob Kern at 313/300-9471 as soon as it's known.

The deadline to submit applications for the GM Design Awards is 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28. GM requests that companies submit only one vehicle or component application per sheet. The fax number is available on the application form.

For questions or additional information, contact Kern as well.

New Products Showcase Deadline

The deadline for exhibitors of the 2008 SEMA Show to register products for the SEMA Show New Products Showcase is this Friday, October 3. For more information and to register your product, click here.

SEMA presents a New Products Showcase at the SEMA Show each year, providing exhibitors with an outstanding opportunity to introduce products, packaging and merchandising to industry buyers and media.

The first product entered into the New Products Showcase is free if entered by October 3 using your exhibitor password. Your password was sent to your company's Show contact (the same password used for exhibitor registration and your SEMA Show Directory listing update). If you need to obtain your password, contact Michelle Sandler at 702/450-7662, ext. 119, or e-mail msandler@convexx.com. All additional entries have a $75 fee per product if received by October 3. After October 3, you must submit your product entry at the Show, and the fee is $250 per product.

Feature Vehicle Application Deadline

SEMA has extended the deadline to apply for feature vehicle space at the 2008 SEMA Show.

Companies now have until October 10, 2008, to spotlight their vehicles. Vehicle spaces are $300 for SEMA and TIA members and $400 for all non-members.

“The feature vehicle displays allow exhibitors to showcase their products on the coolest cars and to really attract the attention of the crowd,” said Gary Vigil, SEMA trade shows director.

Exhibitors can submit a feature vehicle application online at www.SEMAShow.com/featurevehicle. For questions, call 702/450-7662, ext. 116, or e-mail featurevehicle@ConvExx.com.

Complete information on the 2008 SEMA Show is located at www.SEMAShow.com.

Let your competitor complain about the tough economy while you prosper. Brian Offenberger of BizGrowth Search Engine Solutions will tell you why a tough economy is the best time to capture profitable market share and show you how to incorporate 10 proven steps to increase profit, avoid lowering prices and install a "recession-proof" strategy that actually grows your business in good times and bad.

Title: "Right-On, No-Bull Guide to Marketing in a Tough Economy"
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008, 10:00 a.m—11:00 a.m. (PDT)
Presenter: Brian Offenberger, BizGrowth Search Engine Solutions

CLICK HERE to register.

Also, don't miss this great webinar next month, "Fast Track Product Development with 3D Technology," presented by SEMA Vehicle Product Data Analyst Oscar Muñoz. Before you create the next hot vehicle product, think twice about your approach. Reverse engineering can take months of acquiring and measuring your target vehicle, rendering the components on computer-aided design (CAD) and validating those models against production vehicles, not to mention the toll it exacts on your operations budget.

This seminar introduces the new, affordable, 3D-based technologies available to replace the tedious process of reverse engineering. Learn about laser scanners, Coordinate Measuring Machines, Rapid Prototype Printers and today’s desktop-computer CAD applications, and improve the look of your bottom line.

Title: "Fast Track Product Development with 3D Design Technology"
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT)
Presenter: Oscar Muñoz, SEMA Vehicle Product Data Analyst

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.

SEMA members are invited to attend SEMA’s Street Performance Council (SPC) Youth Focus Panel during the Formula Drift Final Fight Event.
 
The panel features dozens of youth speaking candidly about their hobby. Hear what young enthusiasts really think as they uncover what they want from the automotive specialty-equipment market.
 
When: Saturday, October 11, 3:00 p.m.
 
Where: Irwindale Speedway
500 Speedway Drive
Irwindale, California 91706
 
RSVP Required
The location of the Youth Focus Panel is in a restricted area, and a special pass is needed for access. Contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112, or e-mail paulm@sema.org to RSVP for the event. If you have any questions regarding the SPC Youth Focus Panel, contact Moritz as well.
 
SPC Mission Statement
SPC is one of eight SEMA councils. SPC’s mission is to provide market information, education and support to members concerning new and emerging trends.
 
Learn more about the SPC by visiting www.sema.org/spc or by e-mailing spc@sema.org.

Although wrapped in camouflage, auto spy photographer Brenda Priddy says there's no mistaking that this is the all-new high-performance Ford Taurus prototype. Photos of a clay version leaked months ago, Priddy says, and this one carries over familiar styling cues from Ford's stylish European model, the Mondeo.

The high-performance model should pack a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 capable of around 350 hp, all-wheel drive, Ford's new SR1 (Shock Ratio 1) suspension (used in the Lincoln MKS), 20-inch wheels, twin exhaust pipes and chrome accents on the front end.

Some observers think it will revive the "Taurus SHO" designation, while a few of Priddy's "well-placed" sources say to expect a Euro-inspired "ST" badge. "We should know for sure early next year," she says.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plans to update the new performance tests for motorcycle brakes, first adopted in 1972. The test requirements are part of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 122, Motorcycle Brake Systems, which applies to both two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles. The NHTSA is proposing to specify a more stringent dry-brake measure; provide new high-speed, wet-brake and heat-fade tests; specify tests and performance requirements for antilock brake systems; and add a new power-assisted-braking-system failure test. The rule would match a global technical regulation that has already been adopted. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

It has come to SEMA's attention that some SEMA members have received a one-page notice offering a "free" listing in The Fair Guide operated by Construct Data Verlag (also known as Construct Data AG) based in Austria. However, the small print at the bottom of the page notes that by signing and returning the document, you have entered into a three-year, non-retractable contract to pay up to $1,000 a year for the listing.

Example of Fair Guide solicitation:

Some companies may be using misleading advertising to convince you to sign a contract for a listing in a catalog or online directory. Here is how it works: a group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication. That group then sends you a one-page form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "FREE" listing in their guide (in the fine print at the bottom of the page however, it states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing).

They argue that you have signed a legally-binding contract and will send you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms. While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note the following:

With respect to The Fair Guide/Construct Data AG, many companies are disputing the validity of the contracts. The Austrian Advertising Council has found The Fair Guide mailings to be misleading and hence a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code. The Austrian government has therefore recommended that all affected companies withdraw from the contract with Fairguide.com due to error.

For this purpose, they have provided a specimen letter, based specifically on Austrian civil law, according to which, based on the agreement that Austria shall be the place where this can be applied.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:
 
Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov
 
You can also file a mail fraud complaint with the United States Postal Service here: www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm.  

The Austrian Government has also requested that any information or complaints also be forwarded to: 

Dr. Martin Bartenstein
Minister of Economy and Work
Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Arbeit (BMWA)
Stubenring 1
A-1010 Wien
Austria
E-mail: minister@bmwa.gv.at

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

PULLING OUT: Having supported the Hooters Pro Cup Series since its creation in 1994, Hooters Restaurants of America will end its sponsorship of the touring stock-car series at the end of the 2008 season. United Speed Alliance Racing, the sanctioning body for the series, is seeking a replacement sponsor.

GOING TO INDY: Hollywood stuntman and NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett will race full-time in the IndyCar Series next season, driving for Beck Motorsports. Also, Vitor Meira has been hired to drive for A.J. Foyt Racing in the IndyCar Sries next year.

DIED: Award-winning actor, successful road racer and Indy car team owner Paul Newman died over the weekend after a battle with cancer. He was 83 years old.

INTERVIEW: This week’s October 1 issue of the National Speed Sport News includes an interview with new Director of Ford Racing Technology Brian Wolfe.

POWER RANKINGS: With his 13th victory of the season, NHRA Top Fuel point leader Tony Schumacher remained 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.

A SPONSOR?: National Speed Sport News will present the sixth annual Economaki Champion of Champions award to the series champion in December deemed by the NSSN staff as the most worthy of the honor. NSSN is currently seeking a presenting sponsor for the award. Call Liz Mellott (704/455-8045) or Chris Sessions (704/455-8046) for information.

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.