The gentleman on the left—Winston Roche of North Hollywood, California—bought his ’34 Ford sedan as a new car. His job as a civil engineer took him all over the country, and the Ford’s trusty Flathead V8 carried him on his rounds for 20-some years, covering more than 300,000 miles in the process. By...

Catalysts for growth in 2021 include bringing the industry a productive SEMA Show in November and the PRI Trade Show in December. As this issue of the magazine goes to print, both shows are coming together as planned, with the vast majority of businesses indicating determination and plans to set...

For many decades, motorcycles and ATVs dominated the powersports category. In recent years, however, UTVs have exploded onto the scene, becoming the category’s chief growth driver. Still, there is a lot of crossover in the powersports lifestyle, and enthusiasts frequently own more than one type of...

The Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) has long been a clearinghouse for information on trends, technology, product development and legislative and regulatory issues that affect the market segment it represents. For instance, to assist in the development of new products, the council created the WTC Wheel...

Truck culture is at the heart of the Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA). From its earliest days as the Truck Cap Industry Association, which later morphed into the Truck Cap & Accessory Association, to its more recent identity as the Light Truck & Accessory Alliance (LTAA), the group has continually...

When the SEMA Board of Directors approved the creation of a council structure in 1993 (in lieu of committees that existed at the time), the concept was considered somewhat radical. In the decades since, the council model has not only taken hold but mushroomed.

Creating a business climate that fosters growth and success for its members is at the heart of the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council’s (MPMC) mission. To that end, the MPMC provides a range of resources—legislative and technical support, the Racing & Performance Section at the SEMA Show...

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) has ranked education as a key component of its mission from its early days as the Street Rod Market Alliance (SRMA). In the mid-’90s, SEMA and SRMA launched the Street Rod Industry Trade Conference. Held at a hotel in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with...

Two years ago, Tray Smith assumed the role of chair of the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) after having served two years as chair-elect. At the same time, Ben Tucker was chosen by his peers on the select committee to serve in the chair-elect slot.

SEMA-member accessory and performance-parts manufacturers nowadays have access to an array of tools to aid in the design and development of new products. They range from OEM CAD data and 3-D scanning and printing to vehicle measuring sessions and more. But that has not always been the case.