Product and Catalog Showcase

With 2014 only a few weeks away, it's the perfect time for retailers to freshen up their catalog collections. To that effort, the following catalogs and new product announcements represent some of the hottest specialty-equipment products from SEMA members. 

Interested in placing an ad in the SEMA News Product and Catalog Showcase?

For questions regarding advertising:

Brian Paik
909-978-6677
brianp@sema.org

Monica Terlouw
909-978-6695
monicat@sema.org

For questions regarding ad specs:

Advertising Coordinator
David Block
909-978-6648
davidb@sema.org

For more pricing information or to download a copy of the current SEMA News rate card, visit http://www.semanews.com/

By AJ Carney

	SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association's current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region.

SEMA invites industry professionals to the first stop of the 2014 Town Hall tour, where members and prospective members will gather at Flowmaster, B&M & Hurst Warehouse in Sacramento, California, Wednesday, January 29, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and SEMA staff.

Panelists Include:

• Nate Shelton – B&M Racing and Performance Products Inc.
• Joel Ayres – Bedslide/Takit Inc.
• John Hotchkis – Hotchkis Performance LLC

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association's current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region. These personal interactions provide members with the chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. They also give SEMA staff valuable feedback that will help identify current benefits to enhance members' business operations and better meet their needs.

SEMA has led Town Hall Meetings in several cities across the United States. We invite you to attend a Town Hall near you.

For more information or to register, visit www.sema.org/townhall/sacramento or contact Andrea “AJ” Carney at 909-978-6697 or andreac@sema.org.

By AJ Carney

	SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association's current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region.

SEMA invites industry professionals to the first stop of the 2014 Town Hall tour, where members and prospective members will gather at Flowmaster, B&M & Hurst Warehouse in Sacramento, California, Wednesday, January 29, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and SEMA staff.

Panelists Include:

• Nate Shelton – B&M Racing and Performance Products Inc.
• Joel Ayres – Bedslide/Takit Inc.
• John Hotchkis – Hotchkis Performance LLC

SEMA's Town Hall Meetings provide members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association's current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region. These personal interactions provide members with the chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. They also give SEMA staff valuable feedback that will help identify current benefits to enhance members' business operations and better meet their needs.

SEMA has led Town Hall Meetings in several cities across the United States. We invite you to attend a Town Hall near you.

For more information or to register, visit www.sema.org/townhall/sacramento or contact Andrea “AJ” Carney at 909-978-6697 or andreac@sema.org.

SEMA News—October 2013

HERITAGE
By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archives

Bonneville Giants

On October 2, 1964, Walt Arfons’ Wingfoot Express, with Tom Green at the wheel, earned a place in land-speed racing history by setting a new record of 413.20 mph, besting the previous 407.45 mark set the previous year by Craig Breedlove.

Turned out Walt’s record would be short-lived. His half-brother, Art Arfons, set a 434.02-mph mark just three days later in his Green Monster. Breedlove eclipsed that mark with a 526.28-mph average before famously running his Spirit of America into a water-filled ditch, only to have Art come back and top that, running the Monster to a 536.71-mph average.

Bonneville was a busy place in October of 1964.

Walt, who passed away in June at age 96, never experienced the same level of success as his brother, even though he is credited with pioneering the use of jet engines on dragsters. Walt’s first jet car, which used a Navy-surplus Westinghouse engine, was built in 1960. It carried another of Walt’s innovations: drogue parachutes to slow the car.

Walt’s first land-speed record attempt in the Wingfoot Express—its name a tribute to sponsor Goodyear Tire’s company logo—was at Bonneville in the summer of 1963.

“The trial runs proved unsatisfactory,” wrote Dick Wells in the January 1966 issue of Hot Rod magazine, as “the engine gulped through its intake a snoutful of salt.” Walt brought the Wingfoot Express back to Bonneville in September 1964 (when Hot Rod photographer Eric Rickman snapped this photo for the January 1965 issue) and had to sort out some power-delivery issues before making the record runs in early October.

Wells’ 1966 Hot Rod story was a roundup of the various teams making jet-powered and wheel-driven assaults on speed records at Bonneville in 1965. Walt returned that year with an all-new Wingfoot—this one a needle-nosed, dart-shaped racer. He again proved to be an innovator, exchanging the previous year’s jet propulsion system for a series of jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) rockets.

The rocket-powered Wingfoot showed early promise, with shakedown runs clocked at over 400 mph. But technical gremlins kept the car from ever fully delivering on its potential, even after 10 additional JATO rockets were mounted to augment the original 15.

During what was to be the Wingfoot Express’s final run in 1965, driver Bob Tatroe was traveling at more than 400 mph when the car’s retro-rocket system—which was supposed to brake the car in an emergency—went off unintentionally.

“The retros accidentally went into action, forcing a reverse thrust and causing a fire,” Wells wrote. “As Tatroe and the Express streaked across the salt, behind was a trail of flames from the burning tail of the car, along with the rockets blazing their power.

It was a spectacular show, but a frustrating climax to Walt Arfons’ attempt at the land-speed racing record.”

SEMA News—October 2013

HERITAGE
By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archives

Bonneville Giants

On October 2, 1964, Walt Arfons’ Wingfoot Express, with Tom Green at the wheel, earned a place in land-speed racing history by setting a new record of 413.20 mph, besting the previous 407.45 mark set the previous year by Craig Breedlove.

Turned out Walt’s record would be short-lived. His half-brother, Art Arfons, set a 434.02-mph mark just three days later in his Green Monster. Breedlove eclipsed that mark with a 526.28-mph average before famously running his Spirit of America into a water-filled ditch, only to have Art come back and top that, running the Monster to a 536.71-mph average.

Bonneville was a busy place in October of 1964.

Walt, who passed away in June at age 96, never experienced the same level of success as his brother, even though he is credited with pioneering the use of jet engines on dragsters. Walt’s first jet car, which used a Navy-surplus Westinghouse engine, was built in 1960. It carried another of Walt’s innovations: drogue parachutes to slow the car.

Walt’s first land-speed record attempt in the Wingfoot Express—its name a tribute to sponsor Goodyear Tire’s company logo—was at Bonneville in the summer of 1963.

“The trial runs proved unsatisfactory,” wrote Dick Wells in the January 1966 issue of Hot Rod magazine, as “the engine gulped through its intake a snoutful of salt.” Walt brought the Wingfoot Express back to Bonneville in September 1964 (when Hot Rod photographer Eric Rickman snapped this photo for the January 1965 issue) and had to sort out some power-delivery issues before making the record runs in early October.

Wells’ 1966 Hot Rod story was a roundup of the various teams making jet-powered and wheel-driven assaults on speed records at Bonneville in 1965. Walt returned that year with an all-new Wingfoot—this one a needle-nosed, dart-shaped racer. He again proved to be an innovator, exchanging the previous year’s jet propulsion system for a series of jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) rockets.

The rocket-powered Wingfoot showed early promise, with shakedown runs clocked at over 400 mph. But technical gremlins kept the car from ever fully delivering on its potential, even after 10 additional JATO rockets were mounted to augment the original 15.

During what was to be the Wingfoot Express’s final run in 1965, driver Bob Tatroe was traveling at more than 400 mph when the car’s retro-rocket system—which was supposed to brake the car in an emergency—went off unintentionally.

“The retros accidentally went into action, forcing a reverse thrust and causing a fire,” Wells wrote. “As Tatroe and the Express streaked across the salt, behind was a trail of flames from the burning tail of the car, along with the rockets blazing their power.

It was a spectacular show, but a frustrating climax to Walt Arfons’ attempt at the land-speed racing record.”

By Linda Spencer

Ron Delgado, CEO, Injen Technologies, and Ed Rossi, the firm’s vice president, demonstrate their products in the SEMA Hall at the Middle East Motor Tuning Show (MEMTS). Looking on in the dark suit on the left is U.S. Ambassador to the UAE, Michael Corbin. In addition to a booth in the SEMA Hall at the MEMTS, the SEMA Middle East package includes a briefing by a U.S. embassy representative, visits to local performance and accessory shops and a networking reception. Hotels and meals also are included.

Register now for the 2014 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference and get your products in front of key buyers from throughout the Middle East. Join U.S. manufacturers of a wide array of products, including for street and off-road performance specialty lights, performance air filters, sport exhaust systems, ECUs, radar detectors, bedliners, lubricants and dynamometers, whose products will be viewed by hundreds of pre-vetted buyers starting in December. For more information or to register, visit SEMA.org/MiddleEast.

Register today.

By Linda Spencer

Ron Delgado, CEO, Injen Technologies, and Ed Rossi, the firm’s vice president, demonstrate their products in the SEMA Hall at the Middle East Motor Tuning Show (MEMTS). Looking on in the dark suit on the left is U.S. Ambassador to the UAE, Michael Corbin. In addition to a booth in the SEMA Hall at the MEMTS, the SEMA Middle East package includes a briefing by a U.S. embassy representative, visits to local performance and accessory shops and a networking reception. Hotels and meals also are included.

Register now for the 2014 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference and get your products in front of key buyers from throughout the Middle East. Join U.S. manufacturers of a wide array of products, including for street and off-road performance specialty lights, performance air filters, sport exhaust systems, ECUs, radar detectors, bedliners, lubricants and dynamometers, whose products will be viewed by hundreds of pre-vetted buyers starting in December. For more information or to register, visit SEMA.org/MiddleEast.

Register today.

By SEMA Editors

This year’s 26th annual PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013, will offer cutting-edge business education, advice and direction for racing businesses, race tracks and racers through various conferences, seminars and programs.

The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show has long been known as "The Three Biggest Business Days in Racing," with more than 1,200 exhibitors featuring the latest in motorsports innovation and technology.

But with the recent growth of Race Industry Week, it’s also now considered a can’t-miss event for racing businesses that wish to keep pace with the latest trends.

This year’s 26th annual PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013, will offer cutting-edge business education, advice and direction for racing businesses, race tracks and racers through various conferences, seminars and programs.

“With the current economy, everyone in the racing industry is trying to do more with less,” said John Kilroy, publisher and general manager, PRI. “The variety of business-oriented offerings during Race Industry Week gives attendees the opportunity to fine-tune their marketing and sales programs and keep up with the latest trends and concerns.”

Winning the eRace, PRI’s exclusive digital marketing conference for racing professionals, features experts in multiple areas of online promotion. The program includes presentations on e-mail marketing and website best practices, as well as an exclusive strategy session on social media featuring a panel of industry experts.

“At Crane, we have a very tech-heavy staff, but our marketing staff is smaller,” said Lisa Holly, who attended last year’s inaugural Winning the eRace conference on behalf of Crane Cams. “When you have a small marketing staff, social media and digital media can be very overwhelming and extremely time-consuming. Coming to Winning the eRace gives us a clearer direction on where Crane needs to go and where we’re lacking and what we need to change.”

Elsewhere, eBay Inc., will sponsor an e-commerce related seminar, "Expanding Reach With e-Commerce: Trends & Best Practices," with Brian Servatius, business development manager for eBay Motors, providing a snapshot into the state of e-commerce, emerging trends worth understanding and best practices for merchandising products and managing online customers.

On December 11, the second-annual Race Track Business Conference is designed to create dialogue and interaction among motorsports professionals by incorporating track operators, sanctioning body executives, track designers, attorneys, financiers and more.

The conference brings together experts from all forms of tracks—oval, drag strip, road course, kart tracks and motocross—to provide operators with winning strategies from the industry’s leading race track executives. The speaker lineup includes legendary race promoter Humpy Wheeler, Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood and many others.

“We are pleased to once again be joining the 2013 PRI Show as part of Race Industry Week,” said Tim Frost, publisher of National Speedway Directory—the annual book and online tools that provide information on North American race tracks. “With the return of the PRI Trade Show to Indianapolis, this conference will become the central place for all race tracks. The agenda and speakers will offer valuable insights and networking opportunities for the attendees.”

Separately, the "Insuring Success" seminar also is designed for race track operators and promoters. Lowery Robinson, executive vice president of Specialty Insurance Group, will cover "Event Cancellation, Prize Indemnity and Contingence Income."

A pair of seminars presented from the racer’s point of view also will be available for Show attendees. Two-time sprint car champion Jason Meyers will share his formula for success in business in "The Business of Winning," where he will discuss everything from public relations to sponsorships to professionalism both on and off the track on the morning of December 14.

In addition, racer-turned marketing and business strategist Tom Marx of The Marx Group will offer "Marketing Metrics That Matter"—a seminar on how small businesses can benefit from tracking and understanding sales, marketing, public relations and social media figures.

This year’s PRI Trade Show is expected to play host to exhibits from more than 1,200 racing companies occupying some 3,400 booths, and attract more than 40,000 racing professionals from across the United States and 72 countries.

The show returns to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004, after the show’s owner, SEMA, acquired the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in late 2012, consolidating it with the PRI Trade Show under the PRI brand for 2013 and beyond.

By SEMA Editors

This year’s 26th annual PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013, will offer cutting-edge business education, advice and direction for racing businesses, race tracks and racers through various conferences, seminars and programs.

The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show has long been known as "The Three Biggest Business Days in Racing," with more than 1,200 exhibitors featuring the latest in motorsports innovation and technology.

But with the recent growth of Race Industry Week, it’s also now considered a can’t-miss event for racing businesses that wish to keep pace with the latest trends.

This year’s 26th annual PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013, will offer cutting-edge business education, advice and direction for racing businesses, race tracks and racers through various conferences, seminars and programs.

“With the current economy, everyone in the racing industry is trying to do more with less,” said John Kilroy, publisher and general manager, PRI. “The variety of business-oriented offerings during Race Industry Week gives attendees the opportunity to fine-tune their marketing and sales programs and keep up with the latest trends and concerns.”

Winning the eRace, PRI’s exclusive digital marketing conference for racing professionals, features experts in multiple areas of online promotion. The program includes presentations on e-mail marketing and website best practices, as well as an exclusive strategy session on social media featuring a panel of industry experts.

“At Crane, we have a very tech-heavy staff, but our marketing staff is smaller,” said Lisa Holly, who attended last year’s inaugural Winning the eRace conference on behalf of Crane Cams. “When you have a small marketing staff, social media and digital media can be very overwhelming and extremely time-consuming. Coming to Winning the eRace gives us a clearer direction on where Crane needs to go and where we’re lacking and what we need to change.”

Elsewhere, eBay Inc., will sponsor an e-commerce related seminar, "Expanding Reach With e-Commerce: Trends & Best Practices," with Brian Servatius, business development manager for eBay Motors, providing a snapshot into the state of e-commerce, emerging trends worth understanding and best practices for merchandising products and managing online customers.

On December 11, the second-annual Race Track Business Conference is designed to create dialogue and interaction among motorsports professionals by incorporating track operators, sanctioning body executives, track designers, attorneys, financiers and more.

The conference brings together experts from all forms of tracks—oval, drag strip, road course, kart tracks and motocross—to provide operators with winning strategies from the industry’s leading race track executives. The speaker lineup includes legendary race promoter Humpy Wheeler, Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood and many others.

“We are pleased to once again be joining the 2013 PRI Show as part of Race Industry Week,” said Tim Frost, publisher of National Speedway Directory—the annual book and online tools that provide information on North American race tracks. “With the return of the PRI Trade Show to Indianapolis, this conference will become the central place for all race tracks. The agenda and speakers will offer valuable insights and networking opportunities for the attendees.”

Separately, the "Insuring Success" seminar also is designed for race track operators and promoters. Lowery Robinson, executive vice president of Specialty Insurance Group, will cover "Event Cancellation, Prize Indemnity and Contingence Income."

A pair of seminars presented from the racer’s point of view also will be available for Show attendees. Two-time sprint car champion Jason Meyers will share his formula for success in business in "The Business of Winning," where he will discuss everything from public relations to sponsorships to professionalism both on and off the track on the morning of December 14.

In addition, racer-turned marketing and business strategist Tom Marx of The Marx Group will offer "Marketing Metrics That Matter"—a seminar on how small businesses can benefit from tracking and understanding sales, marketing, public relations and social media figures.

This year’s PRI Trade Show is expected to play host to exhibits from more than 1,200 racing companies occupying some 3,400 booths, and attract more than 40,000 racing professionals from across the United States and 72 countries.

The show returns to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004, after the show’s owner, SEMA, acquired the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in late 2012, consolidating it with the PRI Trade Show under the PRI brand for 2013 and beyond.

By SEMA Editors

This year’s 26th annual PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013, will offer cutting-edge business education, advice and direction for racing businesses, race tracks and racers through various conferences, seminars and programs.

The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show has long been known as "The Three Biggest Business Days in Racing," with more than 1,200 exhibitors featuring the latest in motorsports innovation and technology.

But with the recent growth of Race Industry Week, it’s also now considered a can’t-miss event for racing businesses that wish to keep pace with the latest trends.

This year’s 26th annual PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013, will offer cutting-edge business education, advice and direction for racing businesses, race tracks and racers through various conferences, seminars and programs.

“With the current economy, everyone in the racing industry is trying to do more with less,” said John Kilroy, publisher and general manager, PRI. “The variety of business-oriented offerings during Race Industry Week gives attendees the opportunity to fine-tune their marketing and sales programs and keep up with the latest trends and concerns.”

Winning the eRace, PRI’s exclusive digital marketing conference for racing professionals, features experts in multiple areas of online promotion. The program includes presentations on e-mail marketing and website best practices, as well as an exclusive strategy session on social media featuring a panel of industry experts.

“At Crane, we have a very tech-heavy staff, but our marketing staff is smaller,” said Lisa Holly, who attended last year’s inaugural Winning the eRace conference on behalf of Crane Cams. “When you have a small marketing staff, social media and digital media can be very overwhelming and extremely time-consuming. Coming to Winning the eRace gives us a clearer direction on where Crane needs to go and where we’re lacking and what we need to change.”

Elsewhere, eBay Inc., will sponsor an e-commerce related seminar, "Expanding Reach With e-Commerce: Trends & Best Practices," with Brian Servatius, business development manager for eBay Motors, providing a snapshot into the state of e-commerce, emerging trends worth understanding and best practices for merchandising products and managing online customers.

On December 11, the second-annual Race Track Business Conference is designed to create dialogue and interaction among motorsports professionals by incorporating track operators, sanctioning body executives, track designers, attorneys, financiers and more.

The conference brings together experts from all forms of tracks—oval, drag strip, road course, kart tracks and motocross—to provide operators with winning strategies from the industry’s leading race track executives. The speaker lineup includes legendary race promoter Humpy Wheeler, Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood and many others.

“We are pleased to once again be joining the 2013 PRI Show as part of Race Industry Week,” said Tim Frost, publisher of National Speedway Directory—the annual book and online tools that provide information on North American race tracks. “With the return of the PRI Trade Show to Indianapolis, this conference will become the central place for all race tracks. The agenda and speakers will offer valuable insights and networking opportunities for the attendees.”

Separately, the "Insuring Success" seminar also is designed for race track operators and promoters. Lowery Robinson, executive vice president of Specialty Insurance Group, will cover "Event Cancellation, Prize Indemnity and Contingence Income."

A pair of seminars presented from the racer’s point of view also will be available for Show attendees. Two-time sprint car champion Jason Meyers will share his formula for success in business in "The Business of Winning," where he will discuss everything from public relations to sponsorships to professionalism both on and off the track on the morning of December 14.

In addition, racer-turned marketing and business strategist Tom Marx of The Marx Group will offer "Marketing Metrics That Matter"—a seminar on how small businesses can benefit from tracking and understanding sales, marketing, public relations and social media figures.

This year’s PRI Trade Show is expected to play host to exhibits from more than 1,200 racing companies occupying some 3,400 booths, and attract more than 40,000 racing professionals from across the United States and 72 countries.

The show returns to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004, after the show’s owner, SEMA, acquired the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in late 2012, consolidating it with the PRI Trade Show under the PRI brand for 2013 and beyond.