Robert Spector

Robert Spector, of Robert Spector Consulting, has been involved in customer service since the age of 13, when he first went to work in his mother and father’s butcher shop. Working alongside his parents, he learned firsthand what it takes to take care of customers—and to keep them loyal. Those lessons inspired his latest book, The Mom & Pop Store, which features interviews with successful independent retailers from all over the world.

Join Spector and the SEMA Education Institute (SEI), as they bring together the practical wisdom of mom and pop with the sophisticated strategy of Nordstrom—the subject of Spector's bestselling book, The Nordstrom Way. Spector believes that elements of great customer service are universal, regardless of the size of your organization.

Don’t miss this information-packed webinar Thursday, January 26, at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

Participate live or download the webinar when it's convenient. And remember: SEI webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

Here is a photo collection of more than 330 Ford vehicles on display during the 2011 SEMA Show. The collection is just part of the thousands of Show photos of new products and custom vehicles. View all of the photos at www.semaphotos.com.

Here is a photo collection of more than 330 Ford vehicles on display during the 2011 SEMA Show. The collection is just part of the thousands of Show photos of new products and custom vehicles. View all of the photos at www.semaphotos.com.

President Obama wants Congress to grant him authority to reorganize the federal government, starting with the merger of one department and five agencies that govern business, trade and export issues. Former presidents had such authority for more than 50 years, from the Hoover through Reagan administrations. President Obama has requested a 90-day fast-track procedure, giving Congress an up-or-down vote on each proposal. The intent is to consolidate functions and reduce duplication and the federal workforce.
 
The White House has specifically proposed merging the Commerce Department and five agencies tied to the business community: the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corp. and the Trade and Development Agency. The new department would oversee trade, investment, business/economic development, technology and economic statistics and be led by a cabinet-level secretary. While Congress considers the issue, President Obama intends to elevate the current SBA administrator position to a cabinet-level post, at least until the new department is organized.
 
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is leading the effort over the next 12 months to explore ways to streamline the agencies. For example, the agencies provide quite different export services for businesses, from loan guarantees to negotiating of trade agreements to direct assistance to U.S. companies.  
 
SEMA is reviewing the proposal. While we welcome efforts to consolidate functions within the federal government and to make the SBA administrator a cabinet-level post, the reorganization also poses a challenge to preserving unique SBA and export-related programs that address the specific needs of the small-business community. 

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

After 120 days of voting, SEMA members approved a motion to amend the association bylaws to authorize, among other changes, a smaller Board of Directors. The vote concluded January 11, with more than 94% of voting SEMA companies registering their approval.

The affirmative vote will enable the following changes:

• Reduce the number of Board seats from the current 22 to 10, with flexibility to allow future addition of two seats at the Board’s discretion (one each in Manufacturer and Distributor/Retailer categories). The Board will continue to be led by four officer seats, for a total of 14 Board members.
• Create a new Board seat for “Services”—a member segment currently blended into the Distributor/Retailer category.
• Board-member terms will be amended from three, two-year terms to two, three-year terms.  
• Each SEMA member will now have the opportunity to cast votes for Board candidates in all categories (currently each member can vote for candidates in only the member’s category, i.e. manufacturer).  

Moving to enact these changes, the Board has developed a process to transition to a smaller Board by means of a three-year election cycle, taking into account the need to continuously maintain a balanced Board. That process will begin with the 2012 Board elections and be reflected in the upcoming round of voting for new Board members.  

“These changes will enable the Board to be more effective and encourage more participation by member companies,” said Scooter Brothers, chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the membership for weighing in on this important decision. The significant turnout indicates that SEMA-member companies are thoughtful and active participants in the industry and association activities, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

For a more complete review of the proposal and details about what bylaws will change, members may visit www.sema.org/voteNOW/faq.

After 120 days of voting, SEMA members approved a motion to amend the association bylaws to authorize, among other changes, a smaller Board of Directors. The vote concluded January 11, with more than 94% of voting SEMA companies registering their approval.

The affirmative vote will enable the following changes:

• Reduce the number of Board seats from the current 22 to 10, with flexibility to allow future addition of two seats at the Board’s discretion (one each in Manufacturer and Distributor/Retailer categories). The Board will continue to be led by four officer seats, for a total of 14 Board members.
• Create a new Board seat for “Services”—a member segment currently blended into the Distributor/Retailer category.
• Board-member terms will be amended from three, two-year terms to two, three-year terms.  
• Each SEMA member will now have the opportunity to cast votes for Board candidates in all categories (currently each member can vote for candidates in only the member’s category, i.e. manufacturer).  

Moving to enact these changes, the Board has developed a process to transition to a smaller Board by means of a three-year election cycle, taking into account the need to continuously maintain a balanced Board. That process will begin with the 2012 Board elections and be reflected in the upcoming round of voting for new Board members.  

“These changes will enable the Board to be more effective and encourage more participation by member companies,” said Scooter Brothers, chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the membership for weighing in on this important decision. The significant turnout indicates that SEMA-member companies are thoughtful and active participants in the industry and association activities, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

For a more complete review of the proposal and details about what bylaws will change, members may visit www.sema.org/voteNOW/faq.

After 120 days of voting, SEMA members approved a motion to amend the association bylaws to authorize, among other changes, a smaller Board of Directors. The vote concluded January 11, with more than 94% of voting SEMA companies registering their approval.

The affirmative vote will enable the following changes:

• Reduce the number of Board seats from the current 22 to 10, with flexibility to allow future addition of two seats at the Board’s discretion (one each in Manufacturer and Distributor/Retailer categories). The Board will continue to be led by four officer seats, for a total of 14 Board members.
• Create a new Board seat for “Services”—a member segment currently blended into the Distributor/Retailer category.
• Board-member terms will be amended from three, two-year terms to two, three-year terms.  
• Each SEMA member will now have the opportunity to cast votes for Board candidates in all categories (currently each member can vote for candidates in only the member’s category, i.e. manufacturer).  

Moving to enact these changes, the Board has developed a process to transition to a smaller Board by means of a three-year election cycle, taking into account the need to continuously maintain a balanced Board. That process will begin with the 2012 Board elections and be reflected in the upcoming round of voting for new Board members.  

“These changes will enable the Board to be more effective and encourage more participation by member companies,” said Scooter Brothers, chairman of the Board. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the membership for weighing in on this important decision. The significant turnout indicates that SEMA-member companies are thoughtful and active participants in the industry and association activities, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

For a more complete review of the proposal and details about what bylaws will change, members may visit www.sema.org/voteNOW/faq.

The shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. recently delivered these photos of the Nissan Pathfinder for 2013. The team reports that the new Pathfinder will ride on a uni-body platform, replacing the current body-on-frame version that is slated for production for the '13 model year.

The Pathfinder is riding on the D platform, which is also shared with the Infiniti JX, Nissan Murano and Nissan Maxima. The new Pathfinder is front-wheel-drive, and an all-wheel-drive option will be made available, according to Priddy & Co. Carrying the codename P42K, the Priddy team also expects three rows of seats, engine offerings similar to those on the JX, and likely a new hybrid offering.

Photo credit: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company

The shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. recently delivered these photos of the Nissan Pathfinder for 2013. The team reports that the new Pathfinder will ride on a uni-body platform, replacing the current body-on-frame version that is slated for production for the '13 model year.

The Pathfinder is riding on the D platform, which is also shared with the Infiniti JX, Nissan Murano and Nissan Maxima. The new Pathfinder is front-wheel-drive, and an all-wheel-drive option will be made available, according to Priddy & Co. Carrying the codename P42K, the Priddy team also expects three rows of seats, engine offerings similar to those on the JX, and likely a new hybrid offering.

Photo credit: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company

 

	Robby Gordon

Robby Gordon and Toyo Tires Win Stage 9 of the Dakar
Excitement is building in anticipation of crowning the overall winner for the 2012 Dakar this coming Monday. Robby Gordon is focused on capturing that glory, winning Tuesday’s Stage 9 by 1:38 over race-leader, Stephane Peterhansel. Gordon’s charge has reduced Peterhansel’s lead to less than six minutes with four days left of competition.

Tuesday’s 556 km stage ran from the coastal cities of Antofagasta to Iquique, northward along the Pacific coast of Chile. Competitors were faced with a variety of terrain, including canyons, hills and perilous silt-beds known as “fesh fesh.” Throughout the rally, Gordon has relied on Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires to help keep his two-wheel-drive #303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER on a searing pace. As of Tuesday’s Stage 9 of the 2012 Dakar, Toyo Tires has recorded eight podium finishes with Team SPEED, three of those being stage wins.

Gordon’s teammate, Nasser Al-Attiyah was chasing Gordon in second place after Checkpoint 2 in Tuesday’s stage. Misfortune then struck the hard-charging Al-Attiyah’s #300 Qatar HUMMER as he was sidelined with a mechanical problem. Al-Attiyah won Stages 2 and 7, while also finishing third in Stage 3 in this year’s race.

Highlights of the Dakar are broadcast in the United States each night on the NBC Sports Network (formerly known as Versus) at 1:30 a.m. (EST).

Lingenfelter Announces New Performance Nationals Event
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) has announced a brand-new event for customers and enthusiasts in 2012: The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals.

The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals is a jam-packed weekend that will feature drag racing, autocross, a car show, speed stop challenge, countryside cruise and a manufacturer's midway, September 21–23, 2012, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

With classes that level the playing field between professional and amateur drivers, the Lingenfelter Performance Nationals will offer drag racing, an invitation-only bracket race and a Battle of the Brands event that pits Ford, GM and Chrysler vehicles against one another. Trophies, plaques and cash prizes will be awarded to car show and race winners. The Lingenfelter Performance Nationals will also be an official qualifying event for the OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational.

	The No. 126 Irish Mike’s BMW 325 of Michael Flynn topped Group 5 with a 16.549-second margin of victory overall.

Opening Round of the BFGoodrich Tires SCCA Super Tour Completed At Sebring
Winners were crowned on Sunday at Sebring International Raceway at the first of nine BFGoodrich Tires SCCA Super Tour events in 2012, with 267 drivers participating in the weekend’s double National Club Racing weekend. The schedule featured three race groups in the morning, followed by four more races after lunch. Each race was scheduled for 13-laps around the 17-turn, 3.7-mile circuit.

Simon Gregg’s No. 59 Gregg Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette cruised to the win in a race that was shortened to 10 laps after a fire in Russ Snow’s STO-class No. 20 Chevrolet Corvette. Snow pulled off course and got out of the burning car, but was transported by helicopter as a precaution against smoke inhalation and subsequently released from the hospital.

The abbreviated race helped the No. 86 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche GT-3 of Mark Boden top Mark Jurczyk’s No. 121 BTRacing Porsche GT3 Cup. Jurczyk had lost two gears in his transmission during the race, allowing Boden to move past on the final lap and take the victory. John Yarosz’s No. 89 Hoosier/Phoenix Performance Chevrolet Corvette was poised to challenge David Pintaric’s Kryderacing/Hoosier/Carbotech/WRP Investments Dodge Viper for the STO win, but the yellow and checkered came out early, solidifying the win for Pintaric.

Keith Grant drove to a 17.923-second overall win in Group Two that looks drama-free in the box score, but Grant came from the back of the field in his No. 70 Hoosier Tires Swift 014a Formula Atlantic machine to take the commanding victory.

The group two battle came in D Sports Racing, where Scott Tucker’s No. 55 West WX10 held off a charging No. 85 KD Racing/Goodyear Tire Stohr WF-1 piloted by Charles Dempsey by 0.325-second. Dempsey set a new Sebring class record with a fast time of 2:02.980. In Formula Continental, Chuck Moran’s No. 45 Van Diemen RF99 moved past the No. 80 Hoosier Van Diemen RF01 of Brian Belardi in the final turn of the race to take the win.

Todd Buras’ No. 178 Krispy Kreme Mazda Miata led flag-to-flag to take a 2.216-second victory and set a new track record with a lap of 2:35.518 (86.575 mph).

In Group Four, Greg Ira’s CU Yacht Charters Datsun 240Z cruised to a 3.960-second win. Mark Weber survived the attrition in F Production to earn the win in the No. 125 Goodyear/Red Line Oil/Exclusive Sports Car Photography Mazda Miata.

The No. 126 Irish Mike’s BMW 325 of Michael Flynn topped Group 5 with a 16.549-second margin of victory overall.

The tightest race of the group came in Touring 2, where John Kachadurian’s No. 180 Grey Fox Racing BMW M3 topped Mark Boden’s Fall-Line Trim-Tek Porsche GT3.

Brian Schofield’s No. 61 PM Racing Spec Racer Ford took the top spot in the Group 6 race, holding off Andrew Charbonneau’s No. 27 Lord of The Rings Spec Racer Ford by a 0.408-second.

The battle for the overall lead in the seventh, and final, group was between two classes, with the No. 1 Hillenburg Motorsports Formula Mazda of Darryl Wills setting a new track record of 2:09.068 (104.317 mph) and taking the overall win by 1.808 seconds over the No. 23 Jay Motorsports Formula Enterprises car of Jason Wolfe. Lewis Cooper III earned a Formula F win and lowered the track record to a 2:16.062 in his No. 0 Polestar/Martini/Voss Water Van Diemen Ford.

The last class to cross the finish line was also the closest, as is typical for a Formula Vee race on a track with long, drafting straights like Sebring. In the end, the No. 37 Hoosier Vortech 2004 of Charles Hearn squeezed out a follow the leader win over the No. 28 www.NorthShoreVetHospital.com Caracal D of Russell Fredericks by a 0.197-second.

Round Two of the nine-race BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour comes at Texas World Speedway, March 9–11, for the BFGoodrich Tires Southwest Super Tour.

	Ross Martin qualified No. 1 earning a front-row start in the Pro Open Final.

Record Crowd at Canterbury
Ross Martin qualified No. 1 earning a front-row start in the Pro Open Final. He hammered the throttle taking the holeshot and took the lead early. About halfway through the race, he got tangled up in the corner but he was able to fight back enough to still end up on the podium finishing third.

Martin went into the weekend up 13 points in the Year-End Pro Open Points race and finished the weekend with a 20-point lead. Teammate Mike Bauer also qualified for both finals finishing eighth in Friday's Final and went on to bring home his best Pro Open Final finish this season last Saturday.

In the Pro Lite Class, James Johnstad finished fourth on Friday and eighth on Saturday making him fourth in the Pro Lite Class Year-End Points.

2012 Pirelli World Challenge Schedule of Events

• March 23–25, Streets of St. Petersburg (with IndyCar), St. Petersburg, Florida (Rounds 1 and 2: GT, GTS and TC)
• April 13–15, Streets of Long Beach (with IndyCar/ALMS), Long Beach, California (Round 3: GT, GTS)
• April 27–29, Miller Motorsports Park (co-headliner, NASCAR West), Tooele, Utah (Round 4: GT, GTS; Rounds 3, 4, 5: TC; Rounds 1, 2, 3: TCB)
• May 10–12, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (with ALMS), Monterey, California (Round 5: GT, GTS; Round 6: TC)
• June 1–3, Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, (with IndyCar/GA Rolex), Detroit. (Rounds 6, 7: GT, GTS)
• June 22–24, Mosport International Raceway (Pirelli World Challenge Headliner), Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. (Rounds 8, 9: GT, GTS; Rounds 7, 8, 9: TC; Rounds 4, 5, 6: TCB) 
• August 3–5, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (with IndyCar/ALMS), Lexington, Ohio (Rounds 10, 11: GT, GTS; Rounds 10, 11: TC)
• August 24–26, Infineon Raceway (with IndyCar), Sonoma, California (Round 12: GT, GTS; Rounds 12, 13, 14: TC; Rounds 7, 8, 9: TCB)