SEMA Show exhibitors are invited to visit www.SEMAShow.com/tradeleads to view the thousands of pre-registered international buyers coming to the SEMA Show. Download the free database, identify those buyers seeking your products and invite them to visit your booth. 

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

If you missed the webinar "Making the Most of Your Media Moments at the SEMA Show," be sure to grab the download that will be available next week at www.sema.org/webinar. More than 3,000 media representatives attend the SEMA Show each year. Find out how you can capture their attention, and get your product and company featured in newspapers and magazines and on television and radio shows throughout the world. Through the webinar “Making the Most of Your Media Moments at the SEMA Show," Griff Allen will help you learn how to be an effective subject for any media outlet and represent yourself better than the competition.

To download this session when it becomes available, view upcoming webinars, or access past webinar session downloads, click here.

The 2007 SEMA Show is on pace to attract more qualified buyers than ever before.

“The SEMA Show exhibitors are attracting the highest quality buyers ever,” said SEMA Vice President of Communications and Events Peter MacGillivray. “Registration reports indicate that we are receiving the highest quantity of qualified buyers in our history,” MacGillivray added.

Buyers registered to attend the 2007 SEMA Show are highly qualified, influential decision makers. Early-registration data shows that nearly 90% of the buyers attending the Show have the ability to make product-buying decisions or recommendations for their companies. This is an increase from the 2006 Show, when 86% of buyers reported similar buying authority.

At this time more than 50,000 buyers have registered to attend Aftermarket Industry Week. That represents a 20% increase over the number of registrants at this time last year.

Buyers representing international companies are also highly qualified, with 91% able to make buying decisions or recommendations. Most of the Show’s buyers represent well-established businesses. More than 70% of registered buyers come from companies that have been in existence for more than six years.

Improving the quality of attendees at the Show is an ongoing effort by SEMA to maintain the integrity of the premiere trade-only event.

In addition to the increased buyer authority, early registration data also shows that the number of registered buyers in the Jobber category has passed the attendance figures for 2006, when a total of 913 jobbers attended the 2006 SEMA Show. With three weeks still remaining, the latest figures reveal that there are 1,030 jobbers registered to attend the 2007 Show—an increase of 12.8%.

Jobber Product Interest

Here is a breakdown of the jobber registration data and the types of products in which jobbers indicated interest. Registration data as of October 4.

For information about the 2007 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

Toyota Corporate Marketing Manager Brian Smith will deliver his presentation, "Marketing for Personalization," at the 2007 SEMA Show Luncheon and Keynote Address, Monday, October 29. The presentation will include a 20-minute PowerPoint and Q&A session, and it will touch on specialty-equipment marketing support for both Scion and the Tundra. The Luncheon discussion illustrates the importance of vehicle personalization and the specialty-equipment industry to the Toyota brands. 

Bill Kozyra, President and CEO of Continental Automotive Systems, will present at the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems and the Aftermarket Vehicle Technology Briefing Seminar, Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 9:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m., Room C205, Las Vegas Convention Center.

Kozyra will be joined by Ed Browalski, owner of Advanced Controls Engineering Consultants (ACEC), LLC, and SEMA Vice-President of Vehicle Technology John Waraniak for the seminar, which will provide SEMA members with an overview of the impact of ESC implementation on the aftermarket.

Attendees will take away a deeper technical understanding combined with practical approaches for determining the compatibility of  aftermarket (SEMA News August 2007) products with ESC systems. Methodologies and ways to assess the interaction between ESC and specific aftermarket products will be discussed and demonstrated. The seminar will be highly interactive and responsive to members' immediate questions and concerns. Topics include:

• Why should the aftermarket be aware of ESC?
• What are the basics of ESC?
• Which aftermarket products could affect ESC performance?
• What methods are available to assess how my product  might affect ESC?
• What are the positive aspects of ESC for the aftermarket?
• What new technologies soon to be introduced that will have similar impacts on the aftermarket?

In addition to participating in the seminar, Kozyra and Continental will also provide ESC demo vehicles and a simulator at the Show. Seating for the seminar is limited. To reserve your attendance, contact Inga Intriago at ingai@sema.org.

Also, make plans now to attend the three additional TBS sessions at the SEMA Show:
Connected Vehicle Technologies and the Aftermarket
Tuesday, October 30, 9:30 a.m. -10:15 a.m., Room LVCC, C205
Speaker(s): Steven Underwood, John Waraniak

Aftermarket Mobile Electronics Integration
Tuesday, October 30, 11:00 a.m. -11:45 a.m., Room LVCC, C206
Speaker(s): Chris Cook, Michael Blicher

Performance Diesel and the Aftermarket Industry
Wednesday, October 31, 11:00 a.m. -11:45 a.m., Room LVCC, C206
Speaker(s): Dean Tomazic, John Waraniak

A message from Richard and David Parks

Wally Parks, 23 January 1913–28 September 2007, Celebration of Life Tributes

"Many people have asked when the NHRA will hold a tribute to our father. We are in the planning stages right now, and we want to do it so that as many people as possible can come. A short tribute will be held at the California Hot Rod Reunion (CHRR) at the Auto Club of Southern California Raceway, in Famoso (north of Bakersfield), California, on October 12–14. NHRA will have a special trackside ceremony honoring our father on Sunday, November 4, prior to the final round of eliminations at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. A full Celebration of Life will be held in conjunction with the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals, in Pomona, California, in February 2008. Final details haven't been worked out yet. The public is invited, but due to the uncertainty of the weather, please check with National Dragster or the NHRA website at www.NHRA.com. Other groups have mentioned holding tributes and as I hear of them, I will pass the news on. 

Our family thanks you for your concern and condolences."

Richard and David Parks

The world-famous crew from West Coast Customs will produce the ultimate automotive experience at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and you can be a part of it! Register online today at www.wccexperience.com to participate in the build-up program. Four new Dodge vehicles are transformed into West Coast Custom cruisers during the SEMA Show.

In-booth master classes will be held on welding, fabrication, painting, mobile electronics and more, courtesy of West Coast Customs and participating sponsors. Choose from a variety of classes featured in the West Coast Customs Fabrication Shop, including Interior Shop, Electronic Shop, Paint Shop and Car Wrapping Shop.

The West Coast Customs Experience will feature live, 90-minute classes daily on techniques taught by the industry’s master craftsmen using the latest equipment. Instructors will not only be from West Coast Customs but will also include leaders from a variety of brands and manufacturers in the industry, such as Alsa Paint, Continental Tire, Sony and others.

Space is limited with only a select number available, so sign up today.

The West Coast Customs Experience will occupy approximately 10,000 sq. ft. outside, near the shuttle drop at the Las Vegas Convention Center, at the east end of the South Hall.

For more information, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

For the fourth straight year, "Car Crazy Central" will host SEMA TV. All of the best and most interesting people, cars and trucks will be featured in a series of live interviews during the course of the 2007 SEMA Show. Barry Meguiar, founder and CEO of Meguiar’s and "Car Crazy Central"—not to mention one of the most iconic individuals in the automotive industry—will be the official host of SEMA TV. Barry’s "Car Crazy Central" reports will run live on screens throughout the Show hall, reaching the estimated 100,000 daily visitors to SEMA. In addition, the broadcasts will air every night in more than 50,000 hotel rooms. All interviews will also be streamed on SEMA Insider powered by Toyota with “at-your-convenience” viewing available at http://sema.carcrazycentral.com.
 
This year "Car Crazy" offers another new and exciting media technology for the more than 250,000 people who are expected to attend SEMA: an interactive auto race designed in conjunction with MonsterVision, the leading technology in projection media. SEMA attendees using the Las Vegas Monorail to get to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center will have an opportunity to race each other while they wait for trains at each Monorail station. Start your engines…this is a "Car Crazy" experience for every automotive enthusiast.

Interviews are currently being booked. If you have an interesting, cool or unique story to tell, contact Sabrina at 714/573-0899 ext. 27, to be considered for an interview.

A number of companies will be holding press conferences to make newsworthy announcements at the 2007 SEMA Show. Below is the official press conference schedule for the 2007 SEMA Show:

Tuesday, October 30
9:10 – 9:30 a.m.
KIA: “Kia: Stylin’ the Brand”
North Hall - Booth 11534

9:40 – 10:00 a.m.
Mothers Polishes Waxes Cleaners, Inc.: “Chip Foose Inspired, Mothers Polish 1000 H.P. Propane Injected 1970 Chevelle”
Central Hall - Booth 22461

10:10 – 10:30 a.m.
Mattel/Hot Wheels: “Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary & Designer's Challenge Conference”
Central Hall - Booth 24741

10:40 – 11:00 a.m.
Ford Motor Company
Central Hall - Booth 22300

11:10 – 11:30 a.m.
Hyundai Motor America: “Debut of Hyundai Elantra Touring Concept”
Central Hall - Booth 24385

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.: “Production Car Performance Package Concepts”
Central Hall - Booth 24885

12:10 – 1:00 p.m.
Lexus Luncheon: “Lexus Performance Parts Announcement”
Motor Trend Proving Ground powered by Lexus

1:10 – 1:30 p.m.
National Hot Rod Association: “NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series, Countdown to the Championship 2007”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

1:40 – 2:00 p.m.
SEMA: “SEMA Design Awards and SEMA Show News Update”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

2:10 – 2:30 p.m.
Volkswagen of America, Inc.: “Volkswagen Press Conference”
Front Exhibit Hall - Booth 51000

2:40 – 3:00 p.m.
Continental Tire: “General Tire ‘Unleash the Fury’”
Lower South Hall - Booth 44027

3:10 – 3:30 p.m.
Hankook Tire American Corp: "Hankook Tire Unveils Ultra High-Performance Tire”
Lower South Hall - Booth 40953

3:40 – 4:00 p.m.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: "Cooper Maximizes Outreach”
Lower South Hall - Booth 40341

4:10 – 4:30 p.m.
Pirelli Tire: "Pirelli Official Partner of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series 2008-2010”
Lower South Hall - Booth 40509

4:40 – 5:00 p.m.
Mopar: “Chrysler Press Conference”
Lower South Hall - Booth 42427

5:10 – 5:30 p.m.
TAMA - Texas Auto Media Association: “Reader's Choice Awards”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

5:30 p.m.
SEMA: “SEMA Show Daily Update”
Panasonic Press Conference and Cocktail Reception: “Promote New Product Launch”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219


Wednesday, October 31
8:15 - 8:20 a.m.
SEMA: “SEMA Show Morning Update”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

8:20 - 9:00 a.m.
Aftersoft N.A. Media Breakfast: “Technological Future of Automotive Aftermarket”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

9:10 – 9:30 a.m.
Grand-Am Road Racing: “Grand-Am Rolex Series Team Sponsorship Announcement”
Front Exhibit Hall - Booth 59001

9:40 – 10:00 a.m.
duPont Registry: “duPont Registry Unveils Hennessey's Dodge Viper”
duPont Display - Silver Lot 1

10:10 – 10:30 a.m.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.: “2009 Corolla and Matrix Debut”
Las Vegas Hilton - Pavilion 9-11

10:40 – 11:00 a.m.
Monztrous Dezign Studioz: “Former Toy Chief and Rockstar Make New Product”
Upper South Hall - Booth 33908

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
TIA - Tire Industry Association: “2008 TIA Programs & Membership Counterfeit Tires”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Sears/Craftsman Tools Luncheon: “There's a Craftsman in All of Us”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

1:10 – 1:30 p.m.
Formula Drift: “Formula Drift Unveils 2008 plans”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

1:40 – 2:00 p.m.
CarDomain: “2007 CarDomain People's Choice Awards Announcement”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

2:10 – 2:30 p.m.
Hennessy Industries, Inc.: “Tire Review Top Shop Award - Presented by Ammco-Coats”
Lower South Hall - Booth 41709

2:40 – 3:00 p.m.
West Coast Customs/ALSA Corporation: “West Coast Customs/ALSA New Product Announcement”
West Coast Customs Experience, Booth 35817

3:10 – 3:30 p.m.
Bourgets Bike Works/ Superior Polishing: “Bourget’s Bike Works Introduces New Small Block Quadracycle”
Front Exhibit Hall - Booth 50126

3:40 – 4:00 p.m.
Mustang Project: “Smart-Signal Technology for Automotive Lighting”
Front Exhibit Hall - Booth 50343

4:10 – 4:30 p.m.
DynoMax: “DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour National Championship”
DynoMax Display in the Motor Trend Proving Ground powered by Lexus

4:40 – 5:00 p.m.
Concours Parts: “9/11 Hero Receives His Dream Car”
Front Exhibit Hall - Booth 50210

5:10 p.m.
SEMA: “SEMA Show Daily Update”
3M Press Conference and Cocktail Reception: “3M Brings Car Care to Consumers”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219


Thursday, November 1
8:50 – 9:00 a.m.
SEMA: “SEMA Show Morning Update”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

9:10 – 9:30 a.m.
Bestop, Inc.: “Bestop's Authorized Dealer Programs - How Will You Stand Out? How Do You Bestop? (Bestop's 2008 ad campaign)”
Upper South Hall - Booth 30445

9:40 – 10:00 a.m.
Baja Design: “LED Whitelight™ Innovation Enhances Driver Performance at Rugget Baja 1000”
Upper South Hall - Booth 31934

10:10 – 10:30 a.m.
Truck Covers: “American Cargo Lights - Awesome New Products From Truck Covers USA”
Upper South Hall - Booth 32427

10:40 – 11:00 a.m.
Snow Performance: “Snow Performance - New Stage - 3 Water-Methanol Injection System”
Front Exhibit Hall - Booth 50234

11:10 – 11:30 a.m.
JME Enterprises: “Revolutionary New Suspension for Mustangs”
Central Hall - Booth 20941

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Auto A Fondo Magazine: “’Tuner Del Año’ Award by Auto A Fondo Magazine”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Daytona and Friends Global Enterprises, Inc. Luncheon: “Daytona and Friends Worldwide Radio presents voices for SEMA Manufacturers”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

1:10 – 1:30 p.m.
Intellistick: “Intellistick: On-line, Realtime, Oil Analysis”
North Hall - Booth 13262

1:40 – 2:00 p.m.
Horntones: “Pimp Your Honk with Horntones! Introducing the Horntones FX-550”
North Hall - Booth 10880

2:10 – 2:30 p.m.
Injen & Amsoil: “Injen/AMSOIL Diesel Air Intake Product Launch”
Central Hall - Booth 21051

2:40 – 3:00 p.m.
In.Pro.Car.Wear, Inc.: “The Industry's First Full-Function LED & Fiber Optic Headlight”
Central Hall - Booth 20845

3:10 – 3:30 p.m.
Masters Entertainment Group: “ION TV Network to Feature New Motorsports Block in 2008”
Central Hall - Booth 20585

3:40 – 4:00 p.m.
ARB-USA: “ARB and the Motive Club Honor Motive Heroes”
ARB/Motive Club Jeep Wrangler in front of the LVCC (between Central and South Halls)

4:10 – 4:30 p.m.
Liner Solution & Crystaliner: “Bedliner Refurb Kit Opens New Automotive Installer Market; Precious Metals Metallics Introduces Bedliner Bling to Spray On Market”
Upper South Hall - Booth 33730

4:40 – 5:00 p.m.
Orange Electronic Co., LTD: “The Future Trend of TPMS”
Upper South Hall - Booth 34408

5:10 p.m.
SEMA: “SEMA Show Daily Update”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219


Friday November 2
1:30 – 1:50 p.m.
LVCVA (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors’ Bureau): “SEMA's Long-Term Commitment to Las Vegas”
Continental Tire Media Experience, Room S219

Media are encouraged to check the schedule each day for updates or changes to the listings. Schedules will be posted at www.SEMAshow.com and available in the Continental Tire Media Experience in Room S219.

With just three weeks until the 2007 SEMA Show opens, time is running out to register for the 2007 SEMA Show Internship Program. The Internship Program is an excellent opportunity for participating exhibitors to observe, influence and potentially hire new talent actively pursuing a career in the specialty-equipment industry.

According to SEMA research, 25% of specialty-equipment business owners list inadequate skill of workforce as a major obstacle facing their businesses, a contributing factor in SEMA's focus on industry education programs and initiatives, including the National Education Conference, Technical Briefing Seminars and Memorial Scholarship Fund.

SEMA Show interns are students enrolled in schools or universities that specialize in automotive-related fields of study and interested in a technical or business/management position after graduation. Interns will be assigned to exhibitor companies based on their chosen area of industry interest and will gain an enormous amount of exposure and insight into the career opportunities available to them through your participation.

Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to work with future innovators and leaders in the automotive specialty-equipment market industry. If you're interested in hosting an intern during the 2007 SEMA Show, or want more information about the SEMA Show Internship Program, go to http://www.sema.org/images/pdf/07_SS_Internship_Flyer.pdf to download the registration form.

For more on SEMA's industry education programs, visit www.sema.org/education. For more insight into the challenges facing today's industry leaders, visit www.sema.org/research and download the 2007 Trends and Forecasts-Q1 Update, available exclusively to SEMA members as another membership benefit.