Mike Cooper earned the win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Cooper Grabs Third 2011 Playboy MX-5 Cup Win At Mazda Raceway
After holding off an early battle, Mike Cooper, from Syosset, New York, ran away with his third SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup win of 2011 on Saturday morning at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Jason Saini, of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Jeff Mosing, of Austin, Texas, joined Cooper on the podium.

Cooper started from the pole in the No. 6 AMG Racing Mazda MX-5 and was chased from the start by Dean Copeland. The pair ran within two car lengths until lap 13, when Copeland’s No. 7 Copeland Motorsports/Sync Speed Inc. Mazda MX-5 spun in the exit of Turn Five while giving chase.

From there, Cooper cruised to an 11.861-second victory in the 45-minute timed race, which covered 25 laps at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit. Cooper sprinted 55.95 miles in 44:56.013, averaging 74.710 mph. The championship leader also turned the fastest lap of the race on lap 11, in a time of 1:42.378 (78.697 mph). Copeland never rejoined the race and was ultimately scored in 15th position.

Jason Saini, chasing Cooper in both the championship race and on the track on Saturday, finished second in the No. 28 the AutoBarn.com/New Balance/Phiten/SunTrust/CJ Wilson’s Children’s Charities Mazda MX-5.

Saini was hounded by Jeff Mosing’s No. 10 Race Now For Autism/Frank’s International/ALARA Racing MX-5 for the last half of the race, with Mosing catching Saini but settling for third. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was the third consecutive runner-up finish for Saini. Mosing finished on the podium for the fourth time in five races this season.

Justin Hall, from nearby Davis, California, edged Ara Malkhassian in a side-by-side finish for fourth and fifth positions. The pair battled all race long, with Malkhassian’s No. 11 ALARA Racing MX-5 drafting Hall’s No. 4 AMG Racing MX-5 down the final front stretch but finishing less than one-half car length behind at the finish line.

Open-wheel racer Joel Miller (No. 55 AMG Racing Mazda MX-5) finished sixth in what was not only his first Playboy MX-5 Cup race, but his first career race in any car with fenders. Tim Probert (No. 26 ALARA Racing MX-5) matched his season best with a seventh-place finish.

Ryan Hazelton (No. 5 AMGRacing/Fubar.com MX-5), Alan Fudge (No. 9 AMG Racing/Quest Software MX-5) and Henri Richards (No. 12 ALARA Racing MX-5) completed the top 10 on Saturday, each making their MX-5 Cup debut. Frankie Muniz crossed the finish line in 8th position, but was disqualified following the race for contact with another driver.

Cooper now holds a 27-point point advantage in the Playboy MX-5 Cup Championship, holding a 357–330 point lead over Saini. Copeland sits third with 271 points, followed by Malkhassian (268) and Mosing (266).

Round Seven and Eight of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup season will take place at Brainerd International Raceway, September 2–4, with a doubleheader race event.

Team Receives News About Jordan Jemsek Leaving Children's Hospital Cancer-Free After Successful Bone Marrow Transplant Surgery
Cequent Consumer Products, DKMS, Bobby Labonte and the JTG Daugherty Racing team has seen first hand the power of how a great partnership can help save lives and encourage thousands of people to support a lifesaving cause. The word spread quickly that six-year-old Jordan Jemsek returned home this week to Charlotte from Washington, D.C., cancer-free. She had been in D.C. since February for a bone-marrow transplant and recovery and her battle against Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML) is now over.

“Jordan left me a message and it’s awesome to know the transplant worked,” Labonte said. “It’s an incredible story that we were a small part of during the sequence of events that led to her being cancer-free.”

The story of Jordan’s homecoming was also covered by the media in Charlotte, July 7. Cequent Consumer Products is sponsoring 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte and Team JTG this year with brands Reese Towpower and Highland featured on Labonte’s No. 47 Toyota car. Cequent gave DKMS—one of the world’s largest bone-marrow donor centers—the back panel of the Reese Towpower/Highland car for Cequent-sponsored races. Jemsek’s picture was on the Reese car at the Bud Shootout in the preseason race at Daytona International Speedway to encourage fans to “getswabbed” and register to be a bone-marrow donor and possible match for Jemsek.

Jemsek’s story came to light after JTG team member Joey McCarthy told the team about Jemsek. He had read about it in the Charlotte Observer and has a child Jemsek’s age.

Besides the publicity of getswabbed.org on the Reese Towpower car panel, Jemsek’s story was featured on SPEED and FOXSports.com. Labonte and his team visited Jemsek at Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital before the start of the race season. The visit compelled the team to work with DKMS, Reese Towpower and Synder’s-Lance Inc. to help spread the word about Jemsek’s need for a bone-marrow donor.

Race fans and the public rallied with outpouring support and thousands of potential bone-marrow donors registered over from all around the United States. Cequent Consumer Products and DKMS recently teamed up in May for three lifesaving events during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Week in Charlotte to provide the public an opportunity to get swabbed and save a potential life by registering to become a bone-marrow donor at a two-day event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and at another event at the Michael Waltrip Racing Fan Fest.

To help other Leukemia patients in need of a bone-marrow transplant, a match must be found for each patient. Visit getswabbed.org for information on how to become a bone-marrow donor.

Roush Yates Wins in Sprint, Dirt, and Autocross
Randy Martin and Chuck "The Cobra" Hebing ruled the Sprint Car series with their Roush Yates Ford 360 engines, as Mike Maier captured his first win of the season in the Goodguys Autocross series. Meanwhile, Scott Bloomquist continued his quest for the Lucas Oil Late Model Series Championship by winning his eighth race of the season.

Martin took the lead on lap 11 to win the $1,200 purse event. He continued his successful weekend by capturing another win Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Twin Features at Knoxville Raceway. This marked Martin's 18th career win at Knoxville, tying him for third all-time.

Hebing continued his streak at the 25-lap Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint/SUNY Canton Series. He led the final lap to score his second ESS victory of 2011. This was Hebing's fifth career Sprint Car win at the Utica-Rome Speedway and his 14th overall ESS win.

Maier, of Maier Brothers Racing, recently purchased a used Roush Yates 358 CID Nationwide Engine for Autocross racing in a ’66 Ford Mustang and won the Autocross race in the 14th Annual Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. Maier captured wins on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon.

Bloomquist made it three in a row in the Lucas Oil Late Model Series on Saturday night as he won the "Clash at the Mag" at Magnolia Motor Speedway. The 47-year-old hall of famer beat out his arch-rival Billy Moyer to earn his eighth win of the season and the 34th of his career.

Bloomquist is now only 15 points shy of the Championship lead. The "Clash at the Mag" can be seen on SPEED July 31 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

	Guy Smith scored his first outright win of the season in the third round of the American Le Mans Series at Lime Rock Park, July 9.

Smith Extends Championship Lead With First Outright Alms Win of the Season


Guy Smith extended his lead in the American Le Mans Series when the Yorkshireman scored his first outright win of the season in the third round of the series at Lime Rock Park, July 9.



Smith added to his sixth- and second-place finishes from the opening two rounds with his first victory since Mid Ohio last August.



American co-driver Chris Dyson started their No. 16 G-OIL/ModSpace/Construct Corps Lola Mazda Coupé from pole position on the 31-car grid in the 165-minute race.



Dyson staved off immense pressure from Lucas Luhr/Klaus Graf (Lola Aston Martin) before briefly relinquishing the lead but handed over the Lola to Smith back in the lead with just short of an hour on the clock during a full-course caution.



Smith, who set the fastest lap of the race, led by 12 seconds before pitting for fuel and tires with 52 minutes remaining but resumed still ahead of the Luhr/Graf Lola, which pitted at the same time. A brief safety car period with 20 minutes to run cancelled out Smith’s 25-second lead but the Briton still took the checkered flag 19.969 seconds ahead, the Smith/Dyson Lola having led 165 of the 187-lap race.





United Autosports’ Bell & Guasch Continue To Lead British GT Championship
Matt Bell (GB) and Michael Guasch (USA) head into a near two-month summer break still leading the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

The Anglo-American pairing for United Autosports lead the 10-race series by two-points courtesy of a last lap overtaking maneuver in the second and final race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) July 9.

Having achieved sixth place in the opening race, the No. 23 Molecule Audi R8 LMS of Bell/Guasch secured fourth in class in Race Two when Guasch overtook their closest championship rival on the final lap.

The Bell/Guasch “combo” has now achieved five top-sixes from the opening six rounds and has led the series since their round-three victory in May. The “sister” No. 24 Teknavo Audi of John Bintcliffe (GB) and Jay Palmer (GB) registered ninth place in the second race after the latter had crashed out on oil in the opening encounter.

 

	Mike Cooper earned the win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Cooper Grabs Third 2011 Playboy MX-5 Cup Win At Mazda Raceway
After holding off an early battle, Mike Cooper, from Syosset, New York, ran away with his third SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup win of 2011 on Saturday morning at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Jason Saini, of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Jeff Mosing, of Austin, Texas, joined Cooper on the podium.

Cooper started from the pole in the No. 6 AMG Racing Mazda MX-5 and was chased from the start by Dean Copeland. The pair ran within two car lengths until lap 13, when Copeland’s No. 7 Copeland Motorsports/Sync Speed Inc. Mazda MX-5 spun in the exit of Turn Five while giving chase.

From there, Cooper cruised to an 11.861-second victory in the 45-minute timed race, which covered 25 laps at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit. Cooper sprinted 55.95 miles in 44:56.013, averaging 74.710 mph. The championship leader also turned the fastest lap of the race on lap 11, in a time of 1:42.378 (78.697 mph). Copeland never rejoined the race and was ultimately scored in 15th position.

Jason Saini, chasing Cooper in both the championship race and on the track on Saturday, finished second in the No. 28 the AutoBarn.com/New Balance/Phiten/SunTrust/CJ Wilson’s Children’s Charities Mazda MX-5.

Saini was hounded by Jeff Mosing’s No. 10 Race Now For Autism/Frank’s International/ALARA Racing MX-5 for the last half of the race, with Mosing catching Saini but settling for third. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was the third consecutive runner-up finish for Saini. Mosing finished on the podium for the fourth time in five races this season.

Justin Hall, from nearby Davis, California, edged Ara Malkhassian in a side-by-side finish for fourth and fifth positions. The pair battled all race long, with Malkhassian’s No. 11 ALARA Racing MX-5 drafting Hall’s No. 4 AMG Racing MX-5 down the final front stretch but finishing less than one-half car length behind at the finish line.

Open-wheel racer Joel Miller (No. 55 AMG Racing Mazda MX-5) finished sixth in what was not only his first Playboy MX-5 Cup race, but his first career race in any car with fenders. Tim Probert (No. 26 ALARA Racing MX-5) matched his season best with a seventh-place finish.

Ryan Hazelton (No. 5 AMGRacing/Fubar.com MX-5), Alan Fudge (No. 9 AMG Racing/Quest Software MX-5) and Henri Richards (No. 12 ALARA Racing MX-5) completed the top 10 on Saturday, each making their MX-5 Cup debut. Frankie Muniz crossed the finish line in 8th position, but was disqualified following the race for contact with another driver.

Cooper now holds a 27-point point advantage in the Playboy MX-5 Cup Championship, holding a 357–330 point lead over Saini. Copeland sits third with 271 points, followed by Malkhassian (268) and Mosing (266).

Round Seven and Eight of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup season will take place at Brainerd International Raceway, September 2–4, with a doubleheader race event.

Team Receives News About Jordan Jemsek Leaving Children's Hospital Cancer-Free After Successful Bone Marrow Transplant Surgery
Cequent Consumer Products, DKMS, Bobby Labonte and the JTG Daugherty Racing team has seen first hand the power of how a great partnership can help save lives and encourage thousands of people to support a lifesaving cause. The word spread quickly that six-year-old Jordan Jemsek returned home this week to Charlotte from Washington, D.C., cancer-free. She had been in D.C. since February for a bone-marrow transplant and recovery and her battle against Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML) is now over.

“Jordan left me a message and it’s awesome to know the transplant worked,” Labonte said. “It’s an incredible story that we were a small part of during the sequence of events that led to her being cancer-free.”

The story of Jordan’s homecoming was also covered by the media in Charlotte, July 7. Cequent Consumer Products is sponsoring 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte and Team JTG this year with brands Reese Towpower and Highland featured on Labonte’s No. 47 Toyota car. Cequent gave DKMS—one of the world’s largest bone-marrow donor centers—the back panel of the Reese Towpower/Highland car for Cequent-sponsored races. Jemsek’s picture was on the Reese car at the Bud Shootout in the preseason race at Daytona International Speedway to encourage fans to “getswabbed” and register to be a bone-marrow donor and possible match for Jemsek.

Jemsek’s story came to light after JTG team member Joey McCarthy told the team about Jemsek. He had read about it in the Charlotte Observer and has a child Jemsek’s age.

Besides the publicity of getswabbed.org on the Reese Towpower car panel, Jemsek’s story was featured on SPEED and FOXSports.com. Labonte and his team visited Jemsek at Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital before the start of the race season. The visit compelled the team to work with DKMS, Reese Towpower and Synder’s-Lance Inc. to help spread the word about Jemsek’s need for a bone-marrow donor.

Race fans and the public rallied with outpouring support and thousands of potential bone-marrow donors registered over from all around the United States. Cequent Consumer Products and DKMS recently teamed up in May for three lifesaving events during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Week in Charlotte to provide the public an opportunity to get swabbed and save a potential life by registering to become a bone-marrow donor at a two-day event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and at another event at the Michael Waltrip Racing Fan Fest.

To help other Leukemia patients in need of a bone-marrow transplant, a match must be found for each patient. Visit getswabbed.org for information on how to become a bone-marrow donor.

Roush Yates Wins in Sprint, Dirt, and Autocross
Randy Martin and Chuck "The Cobra" Hebing ruled the Sprint Car series with their Roush Yates Ford 360 engines, as Mike Maier captured his first win of the season in the Goodguys Autocross series. Meanwhile, Scott Bloomquist continued his quest for the Lucas Oil Late Model Series Championship by winning his eighth race of the season.

Martin took the lead on lap 11 to win the $1,200 purse event. He continued his successful weekend by capturing another win Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Twin Features at Knoxville Raceway. This marked Martin's 18th career win at Knoxville, tying him for third all-time.

Hebing continued his streak at the 25-lap Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint/SUNY Canton Series. He led the final lap to score his second ESS victory of 2011. This was Hebing's fifth career Sprint Car win at the Utica-Rome Speedway and his 14th overall ESS win.

Maier, of Maier Brothers Racing, recently purchased a used Roush Yates 358 CID Nationwide Engine for Autocross racing in a ’66 Ford Mustang and won the Autocross race in the 14th Annual Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. Maier captured wins on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon.

Bloomquist made it three in a row in the Lucas Oil Late Model Series on Saturday night as he won the "Clash at the Mag" at Magnolia Motor Speedway. The 47-year-old hall of famer beat out his arch-rival Billy Moyer to earn his eighth win of the season and the 34th of his career.

Bloomquist is now only 15 points shy of the Championship lead. The "Clash at the Mag" can be seen on SPEED July 31 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

	Guy Smith scored his first outright win of the season in the third round of the American Le Mans Series at Lime Rock Park, July 9.

Smith Extends Championship Lead With First Outright Alms Win of the Season


Guy Smith extended his lead in the American Le Mans Series when the Yorkshireman scored his first outright win of the season in the third round of the series at Lime Rock Park, July 9.



Smith added to his sixth- and second-place finishes from the opening two rounds with his first victory since Mid Ohio last August.



American co-driver Chris Dyson started their No. 16 G-OIL/ModSpace/Construct Corps Lola Mazda Coupé from pole position on the 31-car grid in the 165-minute race.



Dyson staved off immense pressure from Lucas Luhr/Klaus Graf (Lola Aston Martin) before briefly relinquishing the lead but handed over the Lola to Smith back in the lead with just short of an hour on the clock during a full-course caution.



Smith, who set the fastest lap of the race, led by 12 seconds before pitting for fuel and tires with 52 minutes remaining but resumed still ahead of the Luhr/Graf Lola, which pitted at the same time. A brief safety car period with 20 minutes to run cancelled out Smith’s 25-second lead but the Briton still took the checkered flag 19.969 seconds ahead, the Smith/Dyson Lola having led 165 of the 187-lap race.





United Autosports’ Bell & Guasch Continue To Lead British GT Championship
Matt Bell (GB) and Michael Guasch (USA) head into a near two-month summer break still leading the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

The Anglo-American pairing for United Autosports lead the 10-race series by two-points courtesy of a last lap overtaking maneuver in the second and final race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) July 9.

Having achieved sixth place in the opening race, the No. 23 Molecule Audi R8 LMS of Bell/Guasch secured fourth in class in Race Two when Guasch overtook their closest championship rival on the final lap.

The Bell/Guasch “combo” has now achieved five top-sixes from the opening six rounds and has led the series since their round-three victory in May. The “sister” No. 24 Teknavo Audi of John Bintcliffe (GB) and Jay Palmer (GB) registered ninth place in the second race after the latter had crashed out on oil in the opening encounter.

A new certification program, available through the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB), is available to help business owners and professionals increase their knowledge and proficiency of the automotive aftermarket. Endorsed by SEMA, the program consists of four unique online courses, all designed specifically for business owners and managers in the automotive aftermarket.

“Our goal is to provide SEMA members and the industry with ongoing training and education,” said Tom Myroniak, SEMA vice president of marketing and member services. “It’s great to see organizations, such as CSUSB, offering our industry relevant programs, and we’re happy to endorse the series to our members.”

The five aftermarket business courses available through the program are: "Principles of Automotive Business Management," "Principles of Aftermarket Marketing," "Aftermarket Finance Components," "Aftermarket Operations" and "Logistics Management." Each four-week series component is available at a single low cost and expected to take one to two hours per week, making it both affordable and convenient for working professionals to participate.

“This new program was developed specifically with the SEMA member in mind,” said Dick Dixon, Cal State San Bernardino automotive and motorsports management professor and program director. “Business owners and managers, particularly those who are new to the automotive aftermarket or those who simply want to strengthen their knowledge of this unique industry, will find the program to be informative and useful. Student participants will gain new knowledge and skill sets that will help them better understand their marketplace and the management of their enterprise.”

Because the courses are available online, it’s easy and convenient for participants to complete the program. Each course is expected to take one to two hours per week, and upon completion of the 16-week program, participants will receive a CSUSB Automotive Education Certificate of Competency.

“SEMA Education Institute offers a variety of training tools,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA education director. “Whether it is a SEMA webinar, onsite seminar or third-party programs such as CSUSB’s, our hope is that members will take advantage of the opportunities that are available and continue to strengthen their knowledge base.”

To learn more about the program and how to participate, contact Dixon at 909/447-0812 or ddixon@csusb.edu.

A new certification program, available through the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB), is available to help business owners and professionals increase their knowledge and proficiency of the automotive aftermarket. Endorsed by SEMA, the program consists of four unique online courses, all designed specifically for business owners and managers in the automotive aftermarket.

“Our goal is to provide SEMA members and the industry with ongoing training and education,” said Tom Myroniak, SEMA vice president of marketing and member services. “It’s great to see organizations, such as CSUSB, offering our industry relevant programs, and we’re happy to endorse the series to our members.”

The five aftermarket business courses available through the program are: "Principles of Automotive Business Management," "Principles of Aftermarket Marketing," "Aftermarket Finance Components," "Aftermarket Operations" and "Logistics Management." Each four-week series component is available at a single low cost and expected to take one to two hours per week, making it both affordable and convenient for working professionals to participate.

“This new program was developed specifically with the SEMA member in mind,” said Dick Dixon, Cal State San Bernardino automotive and motorsports management professor and program director. “Business owners and managers, particularly those who are new to the automotive aftermarket or those who simply want to strengthen their knowledge of this unique industry, will find the program to be informative and useful. Student participants will gain new knowledge and skill sets that will help them better understand their marketplace and the management of their enterprise.”

Because the courses are available online, it’s easy and convenient for participants to complete the program. Each course is expected to take one to two hours per week, and upon completion of the 16-week program, participants will receive a CSUSB Automotive Education Certificate of Competency.

“SEMA Education Institute offers a variety of training tools,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA education director. “Whether it is a SEMA webinar, onsite seminar or third-party programs such as CSUSB’s, our hope is that members will take advantage of the opportunities that are available and continue to strengthen their knowledge base.”

To learn more about the program and how to participate, contact Dixon at 909/447-0812 or ddixon@csusb.edu.

	Mike Spagnola (left) was the 2010 SEMA Person of the Year award recipient.

The deadline to submit nominations for the SEMA Awards—SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Rep Agency of the Year and SEMA WD of the Year—is Friday, July 29, 2011.

SEMA members are invited and encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to honor the SEMA-member companies that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the specialty-equipment industry through professionalism, business ingenuity, ethics and more.

To access the criteria for each award, visit the SEMA Awards website. The site also lists the previous honorees for each of the awards.

For questions or more information, contact Staci Bostock at 909/978-6693 or e-mail stacib@sema.org.

	Mike Spagnola (left) was the 2010 SEMA Person of the Year award recipient.

The deadline to submit nominations for the SEMA Awards—SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Rep Agency of the Year and SEMA WD of the Year—is Friday, July 29, 2011.

SEMA members are invited and encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to honor the SEMA-member companies that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the specialty-equipment industry through professionalism, business ingenuity, ethics and more.

To access the criteria for each award, visit the SEMA Awards website. The site also lists the previous honorees for each of the awards.

For questions or more information, contact Staci Bostock at 909/978-6693 or e-mail stacib@sema.org.

 

	Michael Kelly

Year after year, e-mail continues to be a powerful marketing and sales tool with a high return on investment. You’ve mastered the fundamentals but now you want to take your e-mail campaigns up another notch and fully leverage this important medium.

Join Michael Kelly, ClickMail Marketing, Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) for a SEMA Education Institute webinar as he discusses more advanced e-mail techniques. Kelly brings more than 20 years experience in the telecommunications and messaging industries and is one of the founders of ClickMail Marketing. During this session, Kelly will discuss:

• Lifecycle and drip-marketing e-mail strategies
• Integrating e-mail with social media
• White lists, black lists and other considerations
• E-mail for mobile phones
• Key strategies for A/B-split testing

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and take your e-mail marketing efforts to the next level. Join Michael Kelly and SEI, Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) for this instructive webinar.



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.

Members: click here for more information and to register.

Non-members: click here for more information and to register.

 

	Michael Kelly

Year after year, e-mail continues to be a powerful marketing and sales tool with a high return on investment. You’ve mastered the fundamentals but now you want to take your e-mail campaigns up another notch and fully leverage this important medium.

Join Michael Kelly, ClickMail Marketing, Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) for a SEMA Education Institute webinar as he discusses more advanced e-mail techniques. Kelly brings more than 20 years experience in the telecommunications and messaging industries and is one of the founders of ClickMail Marketing. During this session, Kelly will discuss:

• Lifecycle and drip-marketing e-mail strategies
• Integrating e-mail with social media
• White lists, black lists and other considerations
• E-mail for mobile phones
• Key strategies for A/B-split testing

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and take your e-mail marketing efforts to the next level. Join Michael Kelly and SEI, Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) for this instructive webinar.



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.

Members: click here for more information and to register.

Non-members: click here for more information and to register.

 

	The CarCareONE consumer credit card allows members to offer their customers more time to pay with six- and 12-month special financing options.

SEMA offers many benefits that can help members save money and grow their businesses, including consumer credit solutions. SEMA has partnered with GE Money on the CarCareONE consumer credit card, which allows participants to offer their customers more time to pay with six- and 12-month special financing options. It’s a win-win program for participating members and their customers. CarCareONE participants can:

• Create loyalty that translates to repeat customers, referrals and steady business.
• Demonstrate care for customers, their cars and their safety.
• Build customer trust in their business.

According to GE Money, a customer’s first credit card purchase averages $1,210 for the 12-Month CarCareONE card and $658 for the six-month CarCareONE card while other bank cards average only $180.

For more information or to enroll, go to www.SEMA.org/ConsumerCredit or contact Monica Terlouw, SEMA's senior director of member development, at 909/978-6695 or monicat@sema.org.

 

	The 2011 Business Technology Symposium will include five essential business technology super sessions presented by leading industry experts.

Whether you’re a small-business owner, on the IT staff or in charge of marketing and sales, you can’t afford to pass up these five essential business technology super sessions presented by leading industry experts. The 2011 Business Technology Symposium (BTS), presented by SEMA’s Street Performance Council (SPC), will be held Wednesday, July 27, 2011, from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach, California. The event will include a networking lunch. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about emerging trends and technology.

2011 Business Technology Symposium Super Sessions:

Mobile's Role in the Automotive Aftermarket (10:00 a.m.): Today's buyers increasingly rely on their mobile devices to make purchases and do product research. Consumers purchased 90,000 parts and accessories and 2,000 cars per week using eBay apps globally in Q1 2011—and that is only one mobile app example! Find out why mobile is an increasingly influential medium when it comes to auto purchases. Innovations in mobile include VIN barcode scanning to upload vehicle information and one-click-parts finder technology to locate parts and accessories specific to your vehicle. Consumers are most likely to remember a parts purchase when they are at a car show, trading tips with a friend at a sporting event or even at the parking lot walking by a custom car—all when you are on the go. Learn more on why auto purchases, especially repair, replacement and modification parts, are such a great fit for mobile. PRESENTER: Steve Yankovich, Vice President of Mobile, eBay.

Product Design and Manufacturing Technology That Could Change the Aftermarket (11:00 a.m.): Imagine a world where new products can be designed as shapes on a computer and easily turned into objects using 3-D printers. You can “print” or make a dozen, see if there is a market for them and “print” 50 more with minor modifications using feedback from early users—all while reducing costs and waste. The technology is here and gaining ground quickly. This session will examine design innovation (customer feedback on product development and improvement), the latest in scanning tools and related equipment (purchase and rental), CAD/CAM software (including inexpensive free tools) and additive manufacturing/rapid prototyping machines. The future is here. Don’t miss this intriguing discussion. PANEL: Tom Myroniak, SEMA; Rodrigo Meraz, 3D InfoTech; Brandon Roby, Whole Hog Technologies; Chris Strong, 3D InfoTech; and Terry Wohlers, Wohlers Associates.

Manufacturer & Distributor Online Marketing Essentials (1:15 p.m.): With limited resources and almost unlimited opportunities, where should your company invest in the digital space? Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, mobile, eCommerce—what will really net the best return on investment? What is the best way to generate new leads and engage current customers? Learn what the current trends are and what’s working best for companies in the aftermarket. PANEL: John Berg, Swirl; Randy Buller, Part Authority; Famous Rhodes, eBay Motors; James Yim, Falken Tire; and Edward Yu, Cie Studios.

Connecting With Customers: Effective Content Marketing (2:15 p.m.): The rules of marketing have changed. Previously, marketing and sales consisted of blanket messages about your company’s superior products or services. Today’s savvy customers want relevant and valuable content that is tailored specifically to them. This session will examine how to develop and deliver compelling content that will help convert prospects to customers as well as how to keep them engaged. PRESENTER: Robert Rose, Chief Troublemaker, Big Blue Moose.

Capture, Manage & Nurture Leads to Win More Customers (3:30 p.m.): It is invaluable when a potential customer initiates contact with your company. But how do you attract them? And once you have them, what is the process to convert them efficiently and effectively? This session will discuss how to attract highly qualified customers, nurture them along in the sales process and work toward converting them to a loyal customer. PRESENTER: Kirsten Knipp, Director of Product Evangelism, HubSpot.

SAVE $50 when you register before July 22. Registration must be received by July 25. For more information, visit sema.org/bts.

Click here to view the 2010 BTS highlights video.

To donate door prizes or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Staci Bostock at 909/978-6693 or StaciB@sema.org.