Attendee and media registration for the 2012 SEMA Show is now open at www.SEMAShow.com/register. The annual trade-only event takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 30–November 2, 2012, in Las Vegas.
Buyers registering at www.SEMAShow.com/register before the early registration deadline pay just $25. They will also be sent their badges in the mail in advance of the event, allowing them to hit the Show floor immediately when the SEMA Show opens October 30.
Since the earliest performance parts began to emerge from the dust on dry-lakes proving grounds in Southern California following World War II, hot rods have been a mainstay of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. They spark the imaginations of builders in every car and truck niche, and they continue to enthrall the motoring public at show venues and on roads across the country.
The product listings on the following pages run the gamut from powertrain and drivetrain hard parts to interior and exterior accessories, but their common bond is that they were all featured in the hot rod category of the New Products Showcase at the 2011 SEMA Show. We’ve also interspersed observations about current trends from officers at leading companies involved in the hot rod industry, as well as from young executives who are closely connected to their enthusiast segments.
Performance Racing Industry (PRI), producers of the PRI trade show and Performance Racing Industry business magazine, finalized plans to be purchased by SEMA. With 20-plus years of publishing and management experience at PRI, John Kilroy will serve as vice president/general manager of PRI and assume day-to-day operations for the group. All of the operations, employees and offices will remain intact at PRI’s current location in Laguna Beach, California.
America is reviving its traditional love affair with the light-truck, SUV and off-roading segments. With experts predicting a third consecutive year of rising auto sales in 2012, the light-truck category seems to be leading the way. The Ford F-Series and the Chevrolet Silverado again ranked first and second, respectively, among the top ten vehicles sold last year. Meanwhile, Jeep continued its strong comeback for Chrysler. Many experts credit pent-up consumer demand, while others read from the figures tentative signs of economic recovery. Either way, the growth is welcome.