HE’S BACK: IndyCar Series driver Helio Castroneves was acquitted on five of the six charges facing him in his highly-publicized tax evasion case. The sixth charge (conspiracy) ended in a hung jury. Thus Castroneves was back in a Team Penske Indy car at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He...

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Click on the logo to visit LTAA's website. LTAA Long-Range Planning Meeting Moves to Pasadena

A selection of the finest BMWs from the 2008 SEMA Show.

Dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows and activities have been announced. Details are: The 2009 NCMA Knowledge Exchange Conference, May 2–5, 2009, Newport Beach, California

In April, the SEMA Performance Parts and Accessories Demand Index (PADI) dropped to an all-time low, going from 30 in March to 26 this month.

It’s no secret that specialty-equipment sales declined in 2008 as a result of our economy taking a turn for the worse during the latter half of last year. Despite this market contraction, 37% of SEMA members recently surveyed noted that their company’s sales actually increased in 2008 over 2007.

Consumers remain hesitant to make new vehicle purchases. Recent economic instability has not only caused consumers to reconsider these substantial purchases, but has also led them to neglect maintenance.

While computers get smaller, phones become capable of sending email and iPods become personal entertainment centers, one aspect has remained relatively the same: the technology that fascinates us and simplifies our lives has been limited in its use within our vehicles.