Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Lincoln MKC and Dodge Charger SRT8.

Eight candidates entered this year’s election, each vying for a position on the 2013–2016 SEMA Board of Directors.

The Hot Rod Power Tour is nearing its 20th birthday (this year’s running in June swings from Texas to North Carolina), but the roots of long-distance hot-rod hauling go back much further than that. The October 1963 issue of Car Craft covered an annual road trip made by members of the Los Angeles and Bay Area Roadster Clubs.

The story, “Cruisin’ for a Reason,” described how members would start from their respective ends of California and convene at a hotel in Fresno, roughly halfway between each club’s home base. “More than a dozen cars in each group made the tour, drawing glances of admiration and respect from thousands of motorists along the freeways and super-highways,” wrote Lynn Wineland, one of three Petersen staffers who went on the tour.

Feature Articles Now the Top Digital Marketing Tool

Three new studies have unearthed a startling trend in online marketing: The traditional feature article—used for centuries to market brands in conventional media—is now the go-to digital marketing tool for 2013. Driving the trend are changes Google has made to its search engine during the past few years. Essentially, the revamp rewards websites that post interesting, quality content and heavily penalizes sites that cough up yawn-fests stuffed with keywords only a search robot could love.

It’s Easier Than You Think!

Not too long ago, it took an expert in HTML to enable you to launch a website for your business. It was all very mysterious and was often communicated in a “trust us, you wouldn’t understand” manner. Today, there are numerous ready-to-go platform solutions that have made what was once an expensive and expertise-intensive process into a do-it-yourself reality. In fact, many business owners today are finding that understanding their business technology and managing the details internally is not only relatively easy to do, but also brings a whole new level of control into the business that most often produces better results while saving money.

The SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) has announced a new competition that offers executive-level innovators under the age of 40 a platform to showcase their business plans for marketing a new automotive product and service. The “SEMA Launch Pad” contest will earn the grand-prize winner a package of advertising tools to help take his or her business to the next level.

Through this competition, five finalists will have their business plans peer reviewed by industry leaders at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The grand-prize winner will earn an array of prizes, including a 10x10-ft. booth at the 2014 SEMA Show, an ad in Hot Rod or 4 Wheel & Off Road magazine, a Family Events sponsorship package and more. Even if companies don’t win the grand prize, they will still benefit from the opportunity to be promoted to thousands of industry professionals eager to learn more about innovative products and services.

New Offerings to Make the Automobile Smarter, More Efficient and More Entertaining

Only a few decades ago, most automotive systems were mechanical or analog. Carbureted engines, manual transmissions and knob-tuned AM radios were standard equipment. But even the most basic of today’s cars and trucks offer a cornucopia of electronic controls that improve functionality and the driving experience. New specialty-equipment devices ranging from telemetry for hands-free communications and satellite navigation to powertrain tuning software and radio-frequency links with the home provide an almost dizzying array of options even beyond the sophisticated creations delivered at showrooms by the carmakers.

The mobile-electronics displays housed in the North Hall of the annual SEMA Show have increased in number and scope every year, and many exhibits in other product categories—street performance, off-road, tools and equipment, you name it—derive some portion of their usefulness from high-tech components. In the following pages, we’ve cataloged the electronic offerings that were unveiled in the New Products Showcase during the 2012 event. Retailers in particular might want to examine the listings for items that will draw consumers and boost sales.

Here Are Things SEMA Members Need to Know

Although it was enacted into law in 2010, the Affordable Care Act may continue to be bewildering for many SEMA members. The following article is intended to provide clarity on how the law applies to member companies and their workers and identify threshold issues to consider when speaking with an insurance professional.

SEMA-Member Guide to the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (also called Obamacare) is one of the most complex and sweeping laws enacted since the Great Depression. Signed into law in March 2010, the law is being phased in over many years. The cornerstone of the law takes effect January 1, 2014, when individuals are required to have health insurance either through their employer or on their own.

While the United States continues to lead the way in automotive customization, vehicle owners throughout the world are increasingly seeking hot new products to make their cars and trucks personal and unique. This growing international interest means that SEMA manufacturing members have opportunities to grow their businesses overseas. Exporting products can be profitable, but determining where the hot markets are and what the hot products are can be a challenge. The SEMA international relations department is focused on assisting. Check out some of the recent media clips that do a great job of explaining just how SEMA is helping.

Breaking news from SEMA member companies, including The Coker Group, SCCA Pro Racing, Holley Performance Products, Racepak, National Performance Warehouse and more.