With more than 500 companies exhibiting in 2,500-plus booths, Racing & Performance is one of the largest and most powerful sections of the SEMA Show. It’s where buyers can see what’s new in nitrous systems, turbochargers, superchargers, exhaust replacements, racing fuels and more. Also featured will be the latest trends in regard to crew uniforms, helmets and safety equipment. Exhibitors in the Racing & Performance section are conveniently located in Central Hall and in the Front Exhibit Hall. 

To view all of the exhibitors in the racing & Performance section of the 2007 SEMA Show, click here.

Often called “the most productive event to attend at the SEMA Show,” the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) Breakfast changed its name to the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by the SBN. The new expanded program is open to all SEMA members and SEMA Showgoers and provides a delicious breakfast accompanied by the presentation of the coveted SBN Athena Award and the SBN Woman of the Year Award. Following the breakfast is the popular Speed Networking session, providing attendees one-on-one, three-minute segments of time to meet and exchange information. This new format will allow for the growing popularity of this event and for more industry involvement.

For more information on how to attend the breakfast, or for more details on the SBN, visit www.sema.org/sbn.

Passionate street-rod and custom enthusiasts spend on average 32% more on parts and accessories than enthusiasts of other stripes, according to data from SEMA's 2007 Automotive Lifestyles survey. Enthusiasts queried in the survey say they spent $4,792 on average in the last 12 months customizing their car or truck, while those who identified themselves as street-rod or custom enthusiasts spent about $1,500 more than the entire group of consumers sampled.

Street-rod and custom enthusiasts were defined as those that said they were “very interested” in street rods and customs and subscribe to at least one hot-rod-related enthusiast magazine. The Automotive Lifestyles survey as a whole was administered to automotive-enthusiast magazine subscribers, and those that visited enthusiast websites that posted the survey.

In 2006, specialty-equipment sales slotted for the street-rod and custom market reached $344 million, growing at 4.7% per year since 2000. For more insight into the overall hot-rod market, which houses the aforementioned street rod and custom niche, SEMA members can download a copy of the full-length 2006 Hot Rod Industry Report as another benefit to being a SEMA member. The report is filled with valuable facts and figures about the hot-rod industry and can be downloaded at www.sema.org/research.

The mobile-electronics market has ridden a spectacular wave of growth since 1999, expanding 67% in a six-year period ending in 2005, according to SEMA research. Fueled largely by demand for navigation and video entertainment products, retail sales from 1999–2005 rose from $3.3 billion to $5.5 billion. And a 2005 forecast by the Fredonia Group indicates that the segment will continue growing, with demand reaching $10 billion by 2008.

Six years ago, navigation and video entertainment products comprised just less than 12% of total mobile-electronics retail sales. By 2005, it had nearly doubled to 23%.

Still, audio systems are the heart of the market. The top seven modifications mobile-electronics enthusiasts perform are audio-related, starting with amplifiers (22.1% had installed, 12.8% planned to install), and continuing down through component speakers, head units and subwoofers. DVD players and video monitors were the eighth most popular purchase, with 7.4% having installed one and 12.4% planning on it.

These enthusiasts (from a sample of 5,000 subscribers to auto-enthusiast publications, these 2,349 indicated they had purchased or planned to purchase mobile electronics gear) are a fast-acting group, as well: 67% had purchased and installed a product within the first two months of ownership.

For more original SEMA research and insight into the mobile electronics segment, click here to read the Mobile Electronics Market Update from the December 2006 issue of SEMA News. Also, visit www.sema.org/research to download member-exclusive market research reports.

According to a Foresight Research report conducted last year, commissioned by SEMA's Research and Information Center, more than 1,700 fullsize truck owners revealed that 50% had spent or planned to spend $500 or more on accessories, ranging from a high of 63% for Dodge Ram owners to a low of 27% for Cadillac Escalade EXT owners.

And 20% of that group said they bought their trucks at a particular dealership because of the availability of accessories. Ironically, although Escalade EXT owners ranked low among most likely to accessorize, they're most likely (32%) to accessorize at a specific dealership and spend the most, an average of $1,470.

The restyling segment of the specialty-equipment industry, with $4.076 billion in 2006 retail sales, grew 7.28% from 2005 and represents a little more than 11% of the market, according to SEMA research.

The restyling market includes all products to modify the exterior and/or interior of vehicles, from sunroofs to ground effects, grille guards to drop-center bumpers. Restyling, likewise, isn't limited to any one type or class of vehicles and can be installed on showroom models to inspire consumer ideas or to dress up the family vehicle instead of selling it.

For more original SEMA research and insight into the restyling segment, click here to read the February 2007 issue of SEMA News. Also, visit www.sema.org/research to download member-exclusive market research reports.

SEMA and the U.S. government are co-sponsoring a webinar on Thursday, November 15, to educate SEMA members on improving their bottom line by minimizing regulatory problems associated with exports. Learn how to avoid typical problems encountered in automotive exports, including common Harmonized Tariff Schedule misclassifications, NAFTA compliance issues and export compliance issues.

Find out how to research duty and tax rates around the world, how to use Free-Trade Agreements and other related topics. During the Q&A session, you’ll be able to interact and ask questions through the computer or over the phone.

To register,contact www.buyusa.gov/auto/webinar.html or contact Ed Roytberg, U.S. Commercial Service Automotive Team: eduard.roytberg@mail.doc.gov; 909/466-4138.

Hundreds of international buyers will be looking for new suppliers at the SEMA International Happy Hour on Wednesday, October 31st  in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Where will you be?

For more information and a registration form, contact tradeleads@sema.org and request document #8004. Deadline to RSVP is October 16.

Increase International business at SEMA Show 2007 and drive more international buyers to your booth. More than 7,000 international buyers are pre-registered to attend the SEMA Show/AAIW. See what products they’re seeking and invite them to visit your booth—all online and free of charge to all SEMA Show exhibitors. Download the free database, contact these buyers, and invite them to visit your booth.  www.semashow.com/tradeleads.