NEWS NUGGETS

SCHUMACHER, WILKERSON DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM FIELD AFTER MEMPHIS: With only three races remaining in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, both Tony Schumacher and Tim Wilkerson have slowly pulled away from the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes after both picked up wins at last week’s O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals in Memphis.

Both drivers entered the Countdown to 1 playoffs in Charlotte leading their respective categories. It was Schumacher’s 53rd career win at the event (followed by a runner-up finish in Dallas) and the Memphis win helped build his lead in Top Fuel. Wilkerson’s first-round loss in Charlotte bumped him from first to fifth in the Funny Car standings. Two races and two wins later (Dallas, Memphis), Wilkerson has regained the top spot with a 72-point lead over second-place Jack Beckman heading into Richmond.

Though the top spots in all four categories remained the same following Memphis, with Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle defending world champions Jeg Coughlin and Matt Smith still leading the points in their respective categories, both saw those leads diminish drastically as the Countdown competition closed in on the leaders.

Pro Stock’s Mike Edwards was able to drive his Young Life/Penhall Pontiac GXP past runner-up Jason Line to collect his second win of the season and second at Memphis Motorsports Park. It also shot Edwards from ninth to fifth in the point standings, just 69 points behind leader Coughlin.

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Craig Treble grabbed his first Wally of the season and first win since joining Don Schumacher Racing in late August. But it was Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec who made the most noise, picking up his second runner-up finish in three races since the start of the Countdown to 1 playoffs and moving to within just 42 points of leader Smith in the standings.

AUTO CLUB ROAD TO THE FUTURE AWARD BATTLE TIGHTENS UP BETWEEN FIVE ROOKIE CONTESTANTS: With five rookie drivers in the four professional categories, this year’s Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award consists of the most talented drag racers to ever compete for the prestigious award.

Junior Pippin (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Rickie Jones (Pro Stock), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Bob Tasca (Funny Car) and Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) are all competing for the award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and offers a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy, being presented during the NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony on Monday, November 17 at the spectacular Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.

The nominees not only vary in the classes and vehicles that they race in each week, but also in age, with the youngest being Jones (21) and the oldest Pippin (55). The 2008 winner will join the ranks of such past winners as Tony Pedregon (1996, Funny Car), Ron Capps (1997, Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (1998, Top Fuel), Melanie Troxel (2000, Top Fuel), Brandon Bernstein (2003, Top Fuel) Robert Hight (2005, Funny Car) and Ashley Force (2007, Funny Car).

SCHUMACHER WINS THIRD-QUARTER DRIVER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Beating such drivers as NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and reigning Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, as well as Indy 500 winner and 2008 IndyCar champ Scott Dixon and runner-up Helio Castroneves, Top Fuel-defending champion and current points leader Tony Schumacher was voted third-quarter Driver Of The Year 2008 this past week.

Schumacher won every NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel event during that quarter, which ended September 14, including his 53rd career win which moved him past Joe Amato for all-time Top Fuel wins.

“It’s an honor to be singled out for this award,” said Schumacher. “Of course, I wouldn’t be in this position that I’m in right now if I didn’t have the best team that’s ever been assembled in the history of the NHRA.”

A total of 15 eligible drivers scored points in the third-quarter voting.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

VIRGINIA NHRA NATIONALS, VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, OCTOBER 10–12: Making its fourth stop in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, the NHRA POWERade Series returns to Richmond, Virgina, before the final two races of the season. Defending event winners include Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel); Gary Scelzi (Funny Car); and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock).

ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NHRA NATIONALS, OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 2: Making its second stop of the season in Las Vegas, drivers in all four professional categories will fight it out at the fifth and next-to-last race of the Countdown to 1. Defending event winners include Rod Fuller (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). 

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, NOVEMBER 13–16: The 2008 season ends where it started, in sunny California, and the Countdown to 1 comes to an end as POWERade world champions are determined in this final race. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

UP IN SMOKE: After riding a wave of momentum that began in Denver and included five final round appearances, 28 round wins and two Wallys, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman’s surge came to an end Sunday during the second round of eliminations when the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger smoked the tires early in the run—a rare sight to see from such a dominant team.

“We’re not sure what happened,” Beckman said. “It stings. We had a golden opportunity there. The other side of it is we did ourselves a lot of good taking Tony out first round, so we’re leaving here second in points.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4: The number of points separating second place driver in the Funny Car standings, Jack Beckman, from fourth place driver Tony Pedregon, making the race for the second spot (just 72 points behind leader Tim Wilkerson) one of the closest in the Countdown to 1 playoffs heading into the final three events.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that John Force Racing drivers John and Ashley Force, Robert Hight and Mike Neff will be featured on the news-magazine show "E:60," which will air on ESPN. "E:60" reporter Michael Smith will explore many subjects with the first family of drag racing. CLICK HERE to visit the site.

Filler for eNews

The finalists, and their hardware, for the DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour Championship.

Horsepower champions Danny Tyner and Darren Tedder topped all comers at the recent DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour Championship Shootout at the Street Machine Nationals in Springfield, Missouri. The multi-event series, which kicked off in May, pitted DynoMax-equipped horsepower enthusiasts against one another on the rollers for bragging rights.

In the end it was Tyner's '63 Ford Falcon, running Race Bullet Mufflers, that edged out defending champion Brian Anderson and his '64 Rambler Classic (also running Race Bullets) by more than 40hp (1766.52 to 1724.12) in the Power-Adder Class. Tedder's '71 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, meanwhile, blew away the All-Motor competition with a 956.83hp pull.

Shootout qualifiers hailed from all over North America, from Idaho to New York, Manitoba, Canada to Georgia. To qualify for the Championship, the drivers had to dyno-run their vehicle at a Qualifying Event during the Power to the Wheels series. The series, sponsored and managed by the manufacturer, was created to test the horsepower and torque of musclecars outfitted with DynoMax exhaust systems and mufflers. The 2008 series included two separate car classes, including Power-Adder and All-Motor.

To read more about the Tour, visit www.dynomax.com/power/power.html

Power-Adder Class Results

All-Motor Class Results

DJ Christopher Lawrence (middle) is the winner of Pioneer's 2008 America's Best DJ contest.

Pioneer’s Pro DJ Division presented trance DJ Christopher Lawrence with a gold-plated DJM-800 mixer for winning the 2008 America’s Best DJ (ABDJ) contest at an award ceremony held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in September. The ceremony was the culmination of a four-month contest and tour, presented by Pioneer Pro DJ and DJ Times magazine.

Since June, the top 100 DJs in America—as selected by the editors of DJ Times—have solicited their fans to vote for them, both online at www.americasbestdj.net and at 40 official ABDJ events at nightclubs and festivals nationwide. More than 35,000 votes were cast, and Lawrence prevailed as the gold medal champion, with turntablist legend DJ Qbert awarded the silver, and DJ/rock star DJ Skribble taking the bronze medal.

H&H Trailers recently opened its Southwest plant and distribution center located at 2490 W. Old Highway 66 in Kingman, Arizona. H&H Trailers will produce its aluminum line of trailers in the new facility, which will also serve as a distribution hub for its dealers in the southwest United States.

The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee announced that the New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association (NYSAAA) will assist in the creation of an online scholarship resource for students planning to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket.

This industry association cooperation will allow students interested in aftermarket careers to submit one application for 2009 scholarships online at www.automotivescholarships.com and receive consideration for scholarships from a variety of different automotive organizations. A complete list of scholarships available can be found online at the application website. Applicants must meet the individual scholarship qualifications to be considered.

Automotive Rhythms TV (ARtv), a subsidiary of Automotive Rhythms Communications LLC, created an exclusive auto lifestyle channel on YouTube. The ARtv YouTube channel can be viewed at www.YouTube.com/ARtvLive. Automotive Rhythms TV, hosted by President and Publisher Kimatni D. Rawlins, provides exclusive auto lifestyle content ranging from vehicle evaluations and test drives from around the world, automotive and bike shows, industry executive interviews, influencer profiles and segments highlighting the trendiest entertainment showcases, including awards shows, festivals, concerts, tours and much more.

Hovis Auto and Truck Supply's new three-building warehouse in Grove City, Pennsylvania.

Hovis Auto and Truck Supply plans to open a 133,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Grove City, Pennsylvania. The new warehouse will be used to supply Hovis’s 12 other western Pennsylvania locations as well as any new stores. The new warehouse was formerly a three-building sports complex. Building one is 78,000 sq. ft., building two is 22,000 sq. ft. and building three is 33,000 sq. ft.

Renovations are expected to start shortly, and the warehouse is projected to be operational by March of 2009. Located at the intersection of Interstate 79 and Interstate 80, the new warehouse is ideally situated to serve the 12 Hovis locations as well as all of Hovis’ customers.

Painless Performance created the Painless Performance Enterprise Fund to help spur investment in local community events and activities to help promote the performance automotive aftermarket. The company announced that the fund can be used for a variety of promotional products, such as youth-involvement programs, consumer awareness, sales and business incentives and technical training.

Painless Performance will set aside an initial amount of $150,000 as grant money for the fund. To be eligible to receive these funds, a SEMA-member retailer or distributor must submit an application that demonstrates how the particular project will enhance the awareness, community involvement, youth participation or technical knowledge of the targeted audience and demonstrate how the end result will provide a positive return on investment.

The review process for applications will consider the positive impact the investment will make on the automotive aftermarket as a whole. It need not be a "Painless-centric" program as long as it benefits the industry as a whole. The company announced plans to have complete information, application forms and examples of acceptable projects posted on its website the first week in October.

Phoenix Systems gave away more than 650,000 BrakeStrip test strips to help support the Motorist Assurance Program.

To help support the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) Brake Service Awareness Week, Phoenix Systems recently gave away more than 650,000 BrakeStrip test strips to professional technicians. BrakeStrip allows technicians to quickly diagnose brake fluid condition by testing for copper in brake fluid. For more information about BrakeStrip, visit www.brakestrips.net. Information about the Motorist Assurance Program and its annual Brake Service Awareness Week is available by contacting map@motorist.org.

Click on the logo to visit PRO's website.

PRO will hold an open meeting during the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The meeting is open to all PRO Council members, and will be in meeting rooms N219–N222, located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Now more than ever, PRO needs input from all its members. So please plan to attend on Thursday morning at the Show, and bring all your ideas with you!

What: PRO Open Meeting
When: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, rooms N219–N222

PRO Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

ARMO Special Projects in Motion

Sponsorships are being accepted for the ARMO Industry Awards Reception. Now is the time to participate in this great opportunity to show your support of the restoration market, its community, its people and its businesses. Click here to download and print a sponsorship form.
 
For more information, contact any Select Committee member or Jan Desma, 909/396-0289, ext. 134, or e-mail jand@sema.org.

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News

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

 
Click on the logo to visit HRIA's website.

HRIA Special Projects in Motion

Sponsorships are being accepted for the HRIA Industry Awards Reception. Participate in this great opportunity to show your support of the hot-rod community, its people and its businesses. Click here to download and print a sponsorship form.
 
For more information contact any Select Committee member or Jan Desma, 909/396-0289 ext. 134 or e-mail jand@sema.org.

HRIA Column in SEMA Member News

Read HRIA's column featured in the September/October 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 Column in SEMA Member News

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

Click on the logo to visit MPMC's website.

Auto Club Speedway of Southern California and SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council Celebrate Motorsports Awareness Month with the Take a Friend to a Race Campaign  

Auto Club Speedway has teamed up with the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), a council of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), to celebrate Motorsports Awareness Month with the "Take a Friend to a Race" Campaign, a grassroots program aimed at increasing attendance at motorsports events by introducing new fans to the sport.  

“We are very excited to be working with SEMA and the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council to get the word out about the great racing at Auto Club Speedway,” said Speedway President Gillian Zucker.  “SEMA members’ love of cars and motorsports, combined with our great event schedule, means we are the perfect partners to promote motorsports awareness.”

SEMA PR Contact: Della Domingo, dellad@sema.org.

MPMC Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

 
Click on the logo to visit SPC's website.

Find Out Where The Youth Market is Headed

You are invited to attend SEMA’s Street Performance Council Youth Focus Panel during the Formula Drift Final Fight Event.
 
Featuring dozens of youth speaking candidly about their hobby. Discover what they really think and want from the automotive specialty-equipment market.
 
Saturday, October 11 at 3:00 p.m.
 
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.
 
If you have any questions about the Focus Panel, contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112, or e-mail paulm@sema.org.

SPC Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit WTC's website.

WTC Column in SEMA Member News

Read WTC's column featured in the September/October 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.

Be a part of what some have called “The Most Productive Event at the SEMA Show.”
Get your company more exposure today by sponsoring the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN.
 
Sponsorship includes many exciting benefits:

• Breakfast tickets (additional available at $10 each)
• Scholarship fund donation
• Eligibility to place items in goody bags that will be distributed to all breakfast attendees
• Logo in the event’s looping PowerPoint presentation
• Small logo on advance promotional material and on-site handouts
• Thank-you recognition at event
• Recognition in applicable SBN news vehicles—electronic and print—prior to and after the event
• Company name linked to your corporate website on breakfast webpage
• Handout of pre-registered attendees

Come join us for the breakfast, see the Woman of The Year and Athena Awards—and stay for Speed Networking—all while supporting the worthy cause of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.
 
Sponsor companies need not be SBN members. All SEMA-member companies are eligible.

Click here to download the sponsorship form.
 
Attendee breakfast tickets can also be purchased by clicking here.

“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 program, click here.

SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN

Check out this video of SBN members in action during the valuable SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN held annually at the SEMA Show. Check out the video by clicking here

SBN Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit YEN's website.

Join YEN

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 program, click here.

YEN Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Filler for eNews

Filler for eNews

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

SEMA Webinar, "U.S. and the World Economy: Will They Shift Forward?" October 2, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
SEMA SPC Youth Focus Panel, October 11, 2008 3:00 p.m., Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, California
SEMA Webinar, "Right-On, No-Bull Guide to Marketing in a Tough Economy," October 16, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
SEMA WTC Open Meeting, November 3, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA Show 2008, November 4–7, 2008, Las Vegas 
SEMA Dealer Day, November 5, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA PRO Open Meeting, November 6, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA ARMO Shopkeeper's Roundtable, November 6, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN, November 6, 2008 7:15 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (PDT), Las Vegas
SEMA Installer Certification Program, Exam date: November 13, 2008
SEMA MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 20–22, 2009, El Segundo, California
SEMA Technical Skills & Training Conference, March 27–28, 2009, Orlando, Florida
PAACE Automechanika Mexico, July 15–17, 2009, Mexico

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.

A new report by the market research company Mintel estimates that the total automotive aftermarket (specialty equipment and “hard parts”) grew 3.5% in 2007 from the year prior. But the firm also expects that growth to stagnate in 2008 and slightly rebound in 2009. That’s the bad news.

The good news? Specialty-equipment accessories are among the fastest-growing segments of the aftermarket. According to Mintel’s “Automobile Aftermarket: The Market—US–August” report, the accessories segment posted a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% from 2002–2007. About 56% of segment sales came from appearance accessories, with another 28% coming from handling and performance accessories.

Based on Lang Aftermarket Annual data, Mintel estimates that total U.S. retail sales of specialty-equipment accessories increased from $12.2 billion in 2002 to $15.3 billion in 2007.

Other significant growth sectors included tire and brake segments, which, according to the report, “benefit from premium positioning and marketing.” Sales of security and detection products also showed high growth with a five-year CAGR of 7.2%.

In-car entertainment (ICE), meanwhile, has suffered since 2002 as consumers move away from CD-based music and toward MP3 downloads and portable players. Total U.S. wholesale sales of in-car entertainment dropped from $5.1 billion in 2002 to $3.6 billion in 2007.

Since 2005, however, the ICE segment has found new sources of growth in the form of mobile video and Bluetooth headsets for in-car cell phone usage. Sales of the former represent about 20% of the segment, according to the report.

GPS navigation systems were not included in Mintel’s ICE numbers, but the category’s growth has been explosive, up from $349 million wholesale in 2005 to $2.4 billion in 2007. The Consumer Electronics Association projects that the category will more than double in the next two years.

The report also cites the changing nature of the aftermarket consumer landscape, noting that the complexity of newer vehicles is fostering the growth of the DIFM—Do It For Me—market. At the end of 2007, parts and labor revenue for the DIFM market was almost four times that of the DIY market.

SEMA market research also shows that consumers have been purchasing more specialty-equipment accessories than in prior years, according to SEMA Market Research Manager Ty Michael. The most current SEMA data, which looks specifically at specialty-equipment sales, shows that the specialty accessories and appearance products market grew to $21.995 billion in 2007 from $15.47 billion in 2002.

Within this product category, sales of video/entertainment/GPS navigation systems skyrocketed 178% over the past five years to $1.526 billion last year. Specialty audio equipment has also risen substantially, jumping 95% from 2002 to 2007, reaching $4.9 billion.

Taken together, specialty mobile electronics have more than doubled in the past five years, increasing from $3.065 billion in 2002 to $6.427 in 2007, largely due to the explosive growth in specialty GPS navigation products.

For more original specialty-equipment market research, visit www.sema.org/research.

Enthusiasts like the idea of an electric Jeep. But will they buy one?

Chrysler plans to put an electric car into North American production by 2010 and recently displayed four working prototypes developed under its in-house ENVI organization. The four models include a Town & Country minivan, the GEM Peapod Neighborhood Vehicle (NEV), the Lotus-based two-seat Dodge EV, and a Jeep Wrangler.

Developed under ENVI, an in-house program dedicated to advancing electric vehicles and related technology, the models represent an exploration of future integration and a gauge for consumer demand. Throughout 2009, the company will dedicate approximately 100 test vehicles to government, business and utility fleets.

Of the four proposed vehicles, the Wrangler is arguably the most familiar to the specialty-equipment industry. “[We] applaud Jeep's efforts to create off-road vehicles that will reduce noise and carbon emissions," says Lori McCullough, executive director of SEMA member-company Tread Lightly. "When combined with proper riding behavior, this new vehicle can help off-road drivers significantly minimize their impact on the environment."

But would enthusiasts buy one?

SEMA contacted Jeep enthusiasts recently surveyed in the Automotive Lifestyles Survey the day after Chrysler's announcement. Forty people weighed in with their opinions about the electric concept and the challenges and opportunities presented by the news.

Enthusiasts responded with mixed, yet optimistic views when asked whether they would purchase an electric Jeep. Following are unedited comments that represent the general feeling of each grouping:

Very Interested

• “Good idea. The more new technology in this area will mean less dependence on fossil fuels.”

• “Great idea if it recharges rapidly and has true long range capability. Would use it for moderate off-roading.”

Somewhat Interested

• “My next new vehicle will definably be a gas-electric hybrid with the ability to travel 40 miles on electric power only. This range will cover my commute to work. The gasoline engine would only turn on if I made any additional destinations in my normal drive. I would not be interested in an electric-only vehicle. I would definitely use an electric Jeep off-road just like I use my current one.”

• “I would want the Jeep to be trail-rated and have at least the same capabilities and extras the current models offer (Rubicon package, sway bar, etc.). I would also want the capability to modify the vehicle lifts, larger tires, etc.”

Not Very Interested

• “I'd be worried about what happens if one of the batteries gets holed off-road. How protected are they? And how many miles of rock crawling up and down hills? And does the "small gasoline engine" make enough power to get out of a nasty trail if the battery dies in the middle of the day? I'd need to know a lot more about the trail-worthiness of it before getting even "somewhat interested".

• “I think that Jeep should offer it as an option for people who like the idea of having a Jeep, but don't actually drive it off-road!”

Not At All Interested

• “I just don’t think an electric motor vehicle is really a good option. Hydrogen-powered rigs are probably the best way to go to be green. We are just waiting for the science to figure out the kinks in it. Also, electric-powered Jeeps would be much too difficult for your average backyard gearhead to work on.”

• “It would take a tremendous amount of power off-roading and I cannot imagine being able to store that much.”

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.

Enthusiasts who purchased a new vehicle within the last year did not wait long before adding their personal touches to their rides. The latest results of SEMA’s Automotive Lifestyle Survey showed that 85% of those who purchased a new car or truck sometime in the last 12 months also purchased custom parts and accessories within the first two months of ownership.

SEMA administered the Automotive Lifestyle Survey in August and September of this year, and roughly 2,600 complete responses were received from automotive enthusiasts. Automotive magazine subscribers and online forum visitors were given the online survey. Approximately 98% of the respondents were male, the average age was 42 and income of those surveyed was around $90,000.

The top choices for products first purchased varied from performance to appearance and comfort upgrades. Cold air intake conversions topped the list (12%), followed by floor mats and window tinting (9% each), and performance air filter replacements, custom wheels and exhaust kits (6% each). Engine performance tuners, custom grilles, suspension lift kits and plus-sized tires also proved popular at 4% each.

Although many new-vehicle buyers purchased small or midsize cars (15%), 25% said they purchased a large pickup and 35% bought a sports car.

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.