The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) offers a new business manual to deliver innovative and practical solutions to improve restyling businesses.
The PRO Business Development Guidebook: The Nuts and Bolts of Running a Successful Restyling Business provides chapter-by-chapter strategies for running a successful business, including developing a comprehensive business plan, understanding the basics of finance, tips for making quality and service the hallmarks of your business and training skilled employees, among other advice.
“The PRO Business Development Guidebook was created to serve as an expert reference manual to help restyling companies stay ahead of the competition in today’s ever-changing marketplace,” said Ellen McKoy, SEMA senior director of dealer relations. “It provides step-by-step advice in excellent detail, such as guidelines for drafting business plans and templates for financial forecasting, so business owners can really use the information in their daily operations.”
Members of PRO and TORA, the Truck and Off-Road Alliance, also a SEMA council, may purchase copies of The PRO Business Development Guidebook at the introductory price of $49.95. The non-member price is $149.95.
Additional business tools available from the PRO Council include the PRO Sales Training Manual: A Restyler’s Guide to Selling Dealer-Direct, a manual for developing profit-generating accessory programs; Vehicle Accessorization: The Fast Track to Greater Profits, a sales training DVD and companion brochure; and the Owner Information Packet, a two-part glovebox insert for consumers to store product warranties, accessory operating instructions and more.
For more information on any of these products, call SEMA at 909/396-0289, ext. 103, or visit www.sema.org/pro.
The best way to maximize your SEMA Show investment is by being prepared. Tune in to SEMA's webinar on Thursday, August 28, to learn tips on how to avoid common exhibitor pitfalls and ways to effectively market your company and products at the 2008 SEMA Show. SEMA Show management veteran Chuck Schwartz, chairman of ConvExx, will show you how to properly brand your exhibiting product and control your exhibiting costs. This valuable session will streamline your Show plan and help first-time exhibitors and SEMA Show veterans save time and money.
Title: "25 Common Mistakes Made by SEMA Show Exhibitors"
When: Thursday, August 28, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PST)
Presenter: Chuck Schwartz, CEM, Chairman, ConvExx
To register now for this webinar, click here.
And don't forget to mark your calendar for the October 2nd webinar, "United States and the World Economy: Will it Shift Forward?" presented by William Strauss, senior economist and economic advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Strauss has been with the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank since 1982 and his primary responsibilities include analyzing the current performance of both the Midwest economy and the manufacturing sector for use in monetary policy. During William’s presentation you will get a better understanding of the current state of the U.S. economy, its future outlook and primary risks facing the overall health of the system.
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.
Filler for eNews
Filler for eNews
Automotive spy photog Brenda Priddy says this heavily dressed SUV/wagon-looking thing is Acura's unnamed sport crossover for 2010.
"In typical Acura fashion, early prototypes are often tested only after dark, and this was no exception." Priddy says. Contrary to the camouflaged disguise, Priddy says sources tell her that the vehicle will have more coupe-like styling. She also believes the CUV may ride on the same chassis as the newly debuted 2009 TL and would probably indicate very similar V6 powertrains.
Filler for eNews
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne issued a proposal to allow a federal agency to approve a commercial development project (road, power plant, homes, etc.) if it determines on its own that the project will only have an indirect effect on a threatened or endangered species.
Under current law, all federal agencies must first consult the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration if there is the potential to impact an endangered species. This has lead to a review process that can last months or years and then be subject to lawsuits.
There is general consensus in Congress that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) needs to be updated since more money has been spent on ESA lawsuits than in protecting plants and animals. Simultaneously, SEMA contends that the ESA has been responsible for closing millions of acres of land without accomplishing its mission of protecting species. The issue is of consequence to SEMA members that market products for use on off-highway vehicles since OHV access has been denied to roads and trails in ESA-protected areas.
Lawmakers have been unable to agree on a common approach for legislative changes so the Bush Administration is seeking ways to accomplish these goals, if possible, through regulations. For example, the proposed rule would limit the ability of the government to use the ESA as a tool for regulating climate change (eg., linking reduced habitat to greenhouse gas emissions from a power plant). A final rule is expected to be issued by the end of 2008.
For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.
Nearly 2.1 million acres of land in central Utah would be open to off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and energy development under a proposed resource management plan issued by the federal government. The land is controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Richfield office and located in Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne, Piute, Garfield and Kane Counties. Among other actions, the plan would permit substantially increased OHV use in the Factory Butte badlands area, which has been subject to restricted access due to concerns about endangered plants.
The BLM is in the process of issuing six separate land-use plans that will determine how 11 million acres of agency-controlled Utah lands are managed over the next 10–15 years. Plans covering the Moab and Kanab regions have already been drafted, while plans for Monticello, Price and Vernal are still being prepared. All plans are subject to public comment.
Land access is an important issue to SEMA since many members produce equipment for the off-road community. SEMA supports rational land-management decisions that provide balanced protection with opportunities for quality recreation experiences. Click here to view the Richfield resource management plan.
For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.
IT’S OFFICIAL: Stewart Haas Racing officially announced the hiring of Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman as its second driver for the 2009 season.
INVESTOR?: Danny Sullivan, the 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner, is part of a group of investors that are trying to buy Bill Davis Racing, the NASCAR team, which fields cars in the Sprint Cup Series and trucks in the Craftsman Truck Series.
NEW ROAD: Humpy Wheeler, who retired as president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May, has created the Wheeler Company, which will be a management-consulting operation focused on sports, motorsports and general business.
ROAD RACING: IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon will be joining the de Ferran Motorsports American Le Mans Series team for the October 4 Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta. He will team with car owner Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud in the team’s Acura ARX-01b for the 10-hour endurance race.
IT’S BACK: The Southern 500 name will return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington (South Carolina) Raceway next May. The Southern 500 was traditionally held Labor Day weekend, but the race went away in 2004 when the track lost one of its two Cup Series dates.
POWER RANKINGS: NHRA Top Fuel point leader Tony Schumacher remained at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings after his 10th victory of the season in just 17 races on Sunday at Pennsylvania’s Maple Grove Raceway. 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
HAPPINESS AND HEARTACHE IN READING AS FINAL FEW SPOTS DISAPPEAR IN COUNTDOWN TO 1: To say that Funny Car driver Jack Beckman had an exciting weekend would be an understatement. The Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger driver not only picked up his second win of the season, but he did it facing one of his drag racing heroes and drag racing school employer, Frank Hawley. But Beckman’s excitement began long before he reached the final round of Sunday’s Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania. In fact, some might say it was his second-round win against John Force that brought the most excitement. Not because Beckman had posted a 4.185-second run against the drag racing legend, but because Beckman’s win and Funny Car competitor Del Worsham’s second round loss secured his spot in the Top 10 in the point standings and a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.
It was a similar scene for many drivers that day, as round wins and round losses paved the way for many drivers as more than 14 drivers clinched their spots heading into the last race of the regular season, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Such was the case for Top Fuel pilot Doug Herbert. With a first round loss to Dave Grubnic, Herbert was left on the outside looking in, though not for long. After Grubnic lost to Larry Dixon in the second round, Herbert’s spot was clinched.
A similar occurrence happened to Pro Stock phenom Dave Connolly. Connolly, who missed the first five races of the season, made it all the way to the final round only to lose on a red light to Cagnazzi-racing teammate Jeg Coughlin. But it was Connolly’s second round win against points leader Greg Anderson that secured the driver’s second Countdown to the Championship appearance. Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle points leaders Tony Schumacher and Matt Smith only strengthened their point lead over the competition with their wins at Maple Grove.
FIELDS SET FOR U.S. SMOKELESS SHOWDOWN, RINGERS PRO BIKE BATTLE: While some were clinching their spots in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, others were securing positions in the bonus events as the final fields were set for the U.S. Smokeless Showdown and Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, which will occur during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
In the U.S. Smokeless Showdown, Funny Car driver John Force moved into the final eighth-place spot in the field. Force qualified fifth for the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals last weekend while Gary Scelzi and Jerry Toliver failed to qualify for the event. The last-effort run will match father against daughter, as John will face Ashley Force in the first round of the event. Ashley enters the event in the top spot, while John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight sits second. Hight will face seventh-place Del Worsham in the first round, while brothers Cruz and Tony Pedregon will be the final first-round pair in the field.
In the Ringer’s Gloves Pro Bike Battle, Chip Ellis locked up the top spot in the field and secured a first-round matchup against eighth-place Matt Guidera. Second-place driver Matt Smith will do battle with seventh-place Chris Rivas, while three-time and defending bonus event winner, Andrew Hines will go head-to-head with sixth-place driver Karen Stoffer. Eddie Krawiec and Angelle Sampey round out the final first-round pair.
FORCE INDUCTED INTO MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA: This past week, drag racing legend John Force was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, Michigan. NHRA President Tom Compton introduced the 14-time champion to the celebrated audience during the presentation Wednesday night, August 13. Force joins a long list of motorsport greats, which include such drag racing legends as Don Prudhomme, Joe Amato, Shirley Muldowney and Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS, O’REILLY RACEWAY PARK AT INDIANAPOLIS, AUGUST 27–SEPTEMBER 1: The final stop for the regular season, drivers in the NHRA POWERade Series will have one last chance at the historic Raceway in Indianapolis to secure a spot in the Top 10 in the point standings and advance to the Countdown to 1.
Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors will also have the chance to compete for cash and bragging rights in the U.S. Smokeless Showdown and the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle. Defending winners of the race include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Mike Ashley (Funny Car); Dave Connolly (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY @ CONCORD, SEPTEMBER 11–14: In the first race of the Countdown to 1, the NHRA POWERade Series heads to the newly constructed zMAX Dragway @ Concord and its first visit to North Carolina. All four professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) will compete in this inaugural event.
O’REILLY SUPER START BATTERIES FALL NATIONALS, TEXAS MOTORPLEX, SEPTEMBER 18–21: Making its second stop of the season in the Lone Star State, drivers in all four professional categories will fight it out in the second race of the Countdown to 1. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Dave Connolly (Pro Stock); and Peggy Llewellyn (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
HE SAID, SHE SAID
A TOUGH DAY; A TOUGH LOSS: Funny Car driver Del Worsham knew that to secure a spot in the Countdown to 1, he needed to make sure he stayed one step ahead of Jack Beckman and Mike Neff Sunday at Maple Grove. After a second round loss to Cruz Pedregon, Worsham could only watch as his hopes for the 2008 POWERade world championship came to an end with each round won by Beckman.
“When you wake up on Sunday and see that Jack (Beckman) had to race Wilkerson in round one, and then probably (John) Force in round two, you think maybe that part of the deal will go your way,” said Worsham. “That was an enormous mountain to climb, so give Jack and his team all the credit they deserve, because they took out some huge hitters to eliminate us from the Countdown. They earned every bit of it.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
7: The number of open spots left in the Top 10 point standings in all four professional categories heading into the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals; the final race of the Countdown to 10 regular season (two in Top Fuel, two in Pro Stock, three in Pro Stock Modified).
DID YOU KNOW…
…that four-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Andrew Hines has won the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle bonus event in Indianapolis three times in five appearances, but has never won the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
For more information, visit www.nhra.com.