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| Visit HRIA's website. |
HRIA Builds Custom Pinewood Racers for Auction
The first annual HRIA Builders Pinewood Race was held in Pasadena, California, as part of the SEMA Show 'N Shine car show and Pinewood Drag Races. This new event featured some of the nation’s top hot-rod and custom car builders bending the rules of pinewood car racing to create one-of-a-kind creations for the track. Aside from required dimensions and weights, the only rule for the builders was to use at least one piece of the wood block provided.
All of the participating builders far exceeded the expectations for the race, creating masterpieces that will eventually be auctioned for Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Alan Johnson's Hot Rods and Pinkee’s Rod Shop chose to create their hot rods from billet aluminum, while Rich Evans Designs and Street Vizions went with a more traditional approach of forming their cars from wood. Other builders looked for loopholes in the rules, as Rob Ida Concepts and Cotati Speed Shop entered hot rods with only three wheels.
The cars built by Clay Smith Cams and Carl’s Custom Cars embodied the spirit of traditional hot rods, while Boerne Stage Kustoms paid tribute to the land speed bullets of the past. The paint skills of these builders was on display with great entries from Hot Rods & Custom Stuff and Fesler Built.
Finally,
Art Morrison engineered the most unique and advanced pinewood car in
the race, fabricating an actual chasis and suspension, along with ball-bearing wheels.
Although some of the cars look much better than they raced, all of
these pinewood cars are unique works of art. Derrick White with Street
Vizions captured the HRIA Cup by leaving all the other entrants in the
dust with his traditional hot-rod pinewood car. But, the true winners of
this event will be the kids of Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
All of these cars will be on display at the SEMA Show in November, and
available for bidding on eBay beginning November 1. HRIA congratulates
Street Vizions and thanks all of these builders for their time and
dedication to this special event. Get ready for next year, as we are
sure the cars will be even more unique and wild as we add more great
builders to the race. Click here to see photos of the event.
Nominations Open for HRIA Awards
Each year, HRIA awards the Industry Recognition of an Individual, Business of the Year and Hall of Fame to the top businesses and individuals for their contributions to the hot-rod sector of the special-equipment market. The winners of these awards will be recognized at the 2010 SEMA Show HRIA Awards Reception taking place on November 3, 2010, in Las Vegas at the Hilton Las Vegas.
To nominate a business or individual for one or more of the 2010 HRIA
Awards, please click on the links below for the full award criteria:
Business of the Year Award
The HRIA will recognize the company that has provided exceptional
service, integrity and business ethics throughout the past year. The
Business of the Year should have made a significant contribution and
impact on the hot-rod industry and promoted the hobby as a whole. If
you know of a SEMA-member company that fits this profile, please click
on the above link and complete the form today.
Industry Recognition Award of an Individual
The HRIA Industry Recognition of an Individual is a person who has
actively promoted, supported and benefited the hot-rod industry over
the past 10 years or more. This individual is generally perceived as a
leader in the industry and serves it in a manner that benefits the
greater good. If you know of a professional in our industry who fits
this profile, please click on the above link and complete the form
today.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? HRIA is!
Be sure to follow HRIA on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/hria and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
HRIA Column in SEMA Member News
Read HRIA's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about HRIA and how to join, contact Zane Clark or call 909/978-6696.
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| Visit ARMO's website. |
As a result of the recent elections, ARMO has four new members on the Select Committee. Todd Bidwell of Parts Unlimited and Camee Edelbrock of Schiefer Media each began their first term as a Select Committee member last Thursday, July 1. Matt Agosta of Steele Rubber Products, while “new” for this year, is actually beginning his second round on the Select Committee. Agosta is a former ARMO chair, and former SEMA Board of Directors member. The complete ARMO Select Committee roster for 2010–2011 may be found on the ARMO website at www.sema.org/armo.
ARMO Industry Award Nominations Open
Nominations for the annual ARMO Industry awards are now open. Nomination forms are completely electronic this year, simply click on the “Nominate Your ARMO Top Performers Today” link in the upper left corner of the ARMO homepage at www.sema.org/armo. Each form takes just a minute or less to complete and submit, and all ARMO members are encouraged to participate.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? ARMO Is!
Be sure to follow ARMO on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/armo and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
ARMO Column in SEMA Member News
Read ARMO's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about ARMO, contact Jim Skelly.
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| Visit TORA's website. |
Each year, the TORA recognizes industry achievements through its annual awards program. The winners of these prestigious awards will be recognized at the 2010 SEMA Show TORA Awards reception taking place on November 3, 2010, at the Las Vegas Renaissance Hotel.
Online nomination forms are available on the TORA website at www.sema.org/TORA.
Nominations are currently being accepted for:
- 2010 TORA Retailer of the Year Award
- 2010 TORA Hall of Fame Award
- 2010 TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence
The new online nomination forms are quick and easy to use. Don’t miss this opportunity to nominate a person or company that deserves recognition.
TORA Welcomes New Select Committee Members
As a result of recent elections, TORA welcomes two brand-new Select Committee members. David Crocket of Rolling Big Power and Isaac Ronquillo of Big Country/Go Rhino Products began their first terms as select committee members last Thursday, July 1. The election results also included returning incumbents Tom Brooks of Truckin’ Thunder, Bill Cole of Yankee Customs Inc., Fred Snow of Hella Lighting and Melanie White of Hellwig Products.
The complete 2010–2011 TORA Select Committee may be found on the TORA homepage at www.sema.org/TORA.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? TORA Is!
Be sure to follow TORA on all of your favorite social networking sites.
To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/TORA and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
TORA Column in SEMA Member News
Read TORA's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For more information about TORA, contact Jim Skelly.
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| Visit MPMC's website. |
Media Trade Conference Exhibitor Registration Now Open
MPMC-member companies may now register for one of the 100 available exhibitor suites at the 2011 MPMC Media Trade Conference. Exhibitor registrations must be submitted using the online registration form [here].
The 14th annual MPMC Media Trade Conference takes place on January 25–27, 2011, at the Embassy Suites LAX South in El Segundo, California. A maximum of 100 MPMC manufacturers are assigned a suite in the hotel and host as many as 42 one-on-one, 30-minute meetings with editorial staff from national and international automotive media.
Exhibitor registration is open until August 20, 2010. If more than 100 registrations are received by the deadline, then the 100 available suites will be assigned via lottery. See event Rules and Regulations or via the online registration form.
MPMC Hall of Fame—Who Will Be the First Inductees?MPMC is proud to announce the formation of the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council Hall of Fame. The MPMC Hall of Fame will permanently acknowledge those who have made a significant contribution to the motorsports manufacturing segment of the aftermarket and/or the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council.
Nominations are currently being accepted online from the MPMC website at www.sema.org/mpmc.
There are many individuals who deserve a place in the MPMC Hall of Fame. Of course, only so many can be inducted each year. The online form is quick and easy to use, so don’t delay. Get your nomination or nominations in now.MPMC Welcomes New Select Committee Members
MPMC welcomes six brand new members to the Select Committee as a result of recent elections. They are:
- William Baty, Centerforce Clutches
- Todd Gartshore, Baer Inc.
- Scott Hall, Moroso Performance Products
- John Sonnefeldt, Holley Performance
- Steve Williams, K&N Engineering
- Gary Wright, Painless Performance Products.
“This year saw quite a turnover in the Select Committee,” said newly
installed Chairman Kyle Fickler of Weld Racing. “We have an interesting
mix of returning incumbents and fresh faces which should make for a
dynamic group. Vic Wood (newly installed chair-elect) and I are looking
forward to working with everyone.”
The MPMC Select Committee, with member profiles, can be seen on the MPMC homepage at www.sema.org/mpmc.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? MPMC Is!
Be sure to follow MPMC on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/mpmc and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
Take a Friend to a Race Fan Page
The MPMC Motorsports Awareness campaign, highlighted by the Take a Friend to a Race program, now has its very own Fanpage on Facebook. If you’re not a fan yet, you should be!
MPMC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MPMC's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly.
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| Visit MRC's website. |
MRC Long-Range Planning Meeting
MRC will host its annual Long-Range Planning meeting at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, from 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Dinner will be served. All reps are welcome and encouraged to participate in this open and interactive forum.
Participate in the meeting: Be part of the present—be part of the future—address issues faced daily by reps in all segments of the automotive industry.
For meeting coordinators to be able to accommodate food and beverage, attendees are asked to take a moment and download the RSVP form, call 909/978-6693 or e-mail stacib@sema.org by September 15, 2010.
MRC Rep Conference Coming to Vegas!!
The 9th annual MRC Rep Conference moves to Las Vegas at the 2010
SEMA Show. Bryan Shirley, president and CEO of the Manufacturers’
Agents National Association will host an open and interactive session
titled “Survival of the Fittest! Is that You?” The economy has redefined the new automotive aftermarket…now it’s time to redefine yourself!
The MRC Rep Conference will convene at the Las Vegas Hilton on Sunday,
October 31, 2010, from 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. The early-bird price for
SEMA members is $49 ($69 for non-members). Online event registration is now available! For additional information, contact SEMA Council Liaison Staci Bostock at 909/978-6693 or stacib@sema.org.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? MRC is!
Be sure to follow MRC on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/mrc and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
MRC Column in SEMA Member NewsRead MRC's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about MRC, contact Staci Bostock.
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| Visit PRO's website. |
Each year, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) recognizes
the Manufacturer of the Year, Nat Danas Person of the Year, Restyler of
the Year and the Jim Borre Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners of
these awards will be recognized at the 2010 SEMA Show PRO NovemberFest
Awards Reception taking place on November 2, 2010, in Las Vegas at the
Hilton Las Vegas.
To nominate a business or individual for one or more of the 2010 PRO
Awards, please click on the links below for the full award criteria:
Manufacturer of the Year
The PRO Manufacturer of the Year has been established to honor an
outstanding manufacturer in the restyling industry whose creativity,
dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments have enhanced
the stature and growth of the industry within the aftermarket
community. If you know of a SEMA-member company that fits this profile,
please click on the above link and complete the form today.
Nat Danas Person of the Year
The PRO Person of the Year honors an individual within the restyling
industry who has acted with a high degree of integrity and
professionalism and has contributed to the general stature of the
industry. Membership in and contribution to SEMA and PRO should be a
primary consideration, with significant impact on the local level. If
you know of a professional in our industry who fits this profile,
please click on the above link and complete the form today.
Restyler of the Year
The PRO Restyler of the Year recognizes those who have acted
professionally and with a high degree of integrity. This award honors
those who improve standards and promote trends that benefit the
industry. This recipient has demonstrated knowledge of product lines
and technical proficiency. If you know of a professional in our
industry who fits this profile, please click on the above link and
complete the form today.
Jim Borre Lifetime Achievement Award
This award honors an outstanding individual in the restyling, trim or light-truck accessory industry who has made significant contributions toward the betterment of the aftermarket industry on both a local and national level. This individual represents the highest level of professionalism, service and integrity. If you know of a professional in our industry who fits this profile, please click on the above link and complete the form today.
The deadline for nominations submissions is July 30, 2010. For more information, please contact Arlene Wood at 909/978-6689.
Have you ever wondered how to get more involved in the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Council?
What exactly do the council leaders do throughout their term? Very
simply, the Select Committee is elected by members of the council to
serve a two-year term. They participate in monthly conference calls and
meetings that are held at various trade events throughout the year.
Each Select Committee member volunteers for at least 20 hours
throughout the year, and some volunteer even more. Some share their
experience and vision, others provide creative solutions to challenges
our member companies are facing and others get their hands dirty and
get it done. Each Select Committee member is supported by their company
in their PRO efforts, and for that we say, “thank you,” to those
companies!
The leaders of the PRO gathered earlier this year in Lima, Ohio, for
its annual Long-Range Planning meeting. This meeting focused on
bringing value to the PRO-member companies. The past 18 months have
been extremely challenging for all of our companies, and the council is
dedicated to utilizing SEMA’s resources to further benefit each PRO
member.
Guiding the group’s effort was the council’s mission statement to “address
the challenges facing the restyling segment of the automotive
aftermarket and to develop effective strategies for dealing with
industry-specific issues.” A handful of exciting objectives are
being developed for the council over this year and next. If you are
passionate and have an interest in being involved, there are plenty of
opportunities to volunteer for a task force with a limited investment
of time that provides a great way to network and share your ideas.
Please reach out to the task force chair if you want to participate or
have comments.
Education Task Force
Brian Champa (Check Corporation) and Bill North (Webasto Product North America) co-chair this task force and can be reached at bchampa@checkcorp.com or bill.north@webasto-us.com.
The education task force is charged with developing successful programs
for members to enhance their businesses. The Technical Skills &
Training Conference (TSTC) recently launched, and the group is tasked
with expanding the number of events each year to ensure that training
and education become primary drivers for our industry.
NovemberFest Task Force
Mike Stanifer (Innovative Creations Inc.) chairs this group and can be reached at mike@icionline.com. The SEMA Show
in Las Vegas provides the backdrop for critical networking functions.
This group focuses on making PRO’s awards reception the place to be and
offering a fun forum to bring passionate members with common interests
together.
Membership Task Force
Joey Johnston (Tops & Trends) chairs this group and can be reached at joey@topsandtrends.com.
The success of any council or initiative is dependent upon its members.
This task force focuses on growth, promotion and retention. It is
important that we mentor new members on council activities, events,
meetings and benefits.
ProPledge Task Force
David Stringer (Insignia Group) chairs this group and can be reached at dstringer@insigniagroup.com.
The purpose of this group is to promote industry standards and to
improve the perception of aftermarket installations throughout the
restyling industry. ProPledge offers dealers a warranty program and is
committed to delivering quality products and services.
There are so many other things the council leadership does throughout
the year. You are the expert at what your business needs, and this
council wants to deliver. Feel free to get in touch with us or come to
one of our PRO events. Our hope is that if you haven’t been a part of
PRO yet, you will be in 2010 and beyond.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? PRO Is!
Be sure to follow PRO on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/pro and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
PRO Column in SEMA Member News
Read PRO's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about PRO, contact Zane Clark or call 909/978-6696.
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| Visit SBN's website. |
“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker
Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s
Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your
questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information
for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a
new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.
“Ask A
Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA
mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related
questions.
Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a
specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the
expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with
your project.
Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing
your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired
with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and
assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.
So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to
cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by
the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help
from our friends.
Visit the SEMA Mentoring Program now.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? SBN is!
Be sure to follow SBN on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/sbn and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
SBN Column in SEMA Member News
Read SBN's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about SBN, contact Angela Lee.
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| Visit SPC's website. |
Participate in the automotive aftermarket at a whole new level by joining the SPC.
The purpose of SEMA councils is to help our member companies succeed and prosper. In the SPC, our mission is to provide market information, education and support to our members concerning new and emerging trends. Whether it’s the latest business technology, forecasting sales, future marketing solutions or up and coming vehicle platforms, we give you and your company the chance to see what’s on the horizon.
Then we’ll help you understand and acquire the skills, tools and
technologies to lead the way. The SPC has the most diverse membership
of any SEMA council, and that will allow you to network with other
professionals from every facet of our industry and gain insights into
areas you may not have previously considered. Find out about the parts,
people, technologies, strategies, trends and, most important,
possibilities.
This is your chance to give something back to the industry, your
profession and to grow personally along the way. Join the SPC today and
become an active member of the specialty equipment and automotive
market — Tracie Nuñez, Advanced Clutch Technology, SPC Chairman
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? SPC is!
Be sure to follow SPC on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/spc and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
SPC Column in SEMA Member News
Read SPC's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about SPC, contact Angela Lee.
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| Visit WTC's website |
Each year, the Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) recognizes the Person or Company of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners of these awards will be recognized at the 2010 SEMA Show WTC Industry Awards Reception taking place on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, in Las Vegas at Renaissance Hotel’s Envy Cellar and Pool.
To nominate a business or individual for one or more of the 2010 WTC Awards, please click on the links below for the full award criteria:
Person or Company of the Year
The WTC Person or Company of the Year is presented to an individual or company who has demonstrated exceptional service, integrity and business ethics throughout the last 12 months. Furthermore, this award serves to honor the person or business that has devoted resources to a product or service related to the wheel and tire industry. If you know of a SEMA-member company that fits this profile, please click on the above link and complete the form today.
Lifetime Achievement
The WTC Lifetime Achievement award serves to honors an individual who has devoted a majority of his/her lifetime, business time and resources to a product or service related to the wheel and tire industry. This individual epitomizes professionalism, integrity and service over a period of 20 or more years. If you know of a professional in our industry who fits this profile, please click on the above link and complete the form today.
The deadline for nominations submissions is July 30, 2010. For more information, please contact Arlene Wood at 909/978-6689.
Have you ever wondered how to get more involved in the SEMA Wheel and Tire (WTC) Council?
What exactly do the council leaders do throughout their term? Very simply, the Select Committee is elected by members of the council to serve a two-year term. They participate in monthly conference calls and meetings that are held at various trade events throughout the year. Each Select Committee member volunteers for at least 20 hours throughout the year, and some volunteer even more. Some share their experience and vision, others provide creative solutions to challenges our member companies are facing and others get their hands dirty and get it done. Each Select Committee member is supported by their company in their WTC efforts, and for that we say “thank you” to those companies!
The leaders of the WTC gathered earlier this year at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California, for its annual Long-Range Planning meeting. This meeting focused on bringing value to the WTC-member companies. The past 18 months have been extremely challenging for all of our companies and the council is dedicated to utilizing SEMA’s resources to further benefit each WTC member.
Guiding the group’s effort was the council’s mission statement to “identify common problems and opportunities relating to the wheel and tire industries that the council, as an interested body of companies, can address for the common good.” A handful of exciting objectives are being developed for the council over this year and next. If you are passionate and have an interest in being involved, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for a task force with a limited investment of time that provides a great way to network and share your ideas. Please reach out to the task force chair if you want to participate or have comments.
Science and Technology Task Force
Tim Dietz (Standards Testing Laboratories Inc.) and can be reached at tdietz@stllabs.com. This group focuses on aftermarket and OEM advances that affect our industry. From creating wheel standards to improved processes for tire-pressure monitoring systems and electronic stability control, the Science and Technology Task Force plays a pivotal role in the industry’s advancement.
Education Task Force
Kelly Austin (Ultra Wheel Company) chairs this group and can be reached at kelly@mail.ultrawheel.com. The education task force is charged with developing successful programs for members to enhance their businesses. The WTC Task Force is responsible for partnering with the SEMA Educational Institute to create and promote online learning resources.
Communication and Marketing Task Force
Doug Frymer (Law Offices of Douglas A. Frymer) chairs this group and can be reached at legal@starshieldarmor.com. This group focuses on membership outreach, growth and retention. It is imperative that councils effectively communicate services provided by WTC and SEMA to our members. Communication and services ensure that there is proper dialogue between leadership and membership.
SEMA Show Task Force
David Insull (American Tire Distributors) chairs this group and can be reached at dinsull@atd-us.com. The SEMA Show in Las Vegas provides the backdrop for critical networking functions. This group focuses on making WTC’s awards reception an ideal place to get together, honor one another and network with all those who share a common passion.
There are so many other things the council leadership does throughout the year. You are the expert at what your business needs and this council wants to deliver. Feel free to get in touch with us or come to one of our WTC events. Our hope is that, if you haven’t been a part of WTC yet, you will be in 2010 and beyond.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? WTC is!
Be sure to follow WTC on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/wtc and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
WTC Column in SEMA Member News
Read WTC's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about WTC and how to join, contact Zane Clark or call or 909/978-6696.
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| Visit YEN's website. |
YEN Insights: The Death of DIY?
Growing up, I would always be right next to my Dad if he was working on our family’s cars. From the old ’57 he used to drive when we lived in South Florida, to the always faithful Ford Ranger pickup we had later on, if wrenches were being turned for any reason, I was right next to him hoping to help. This helped to plant the seeds of my automotive passion that have me writing this piece for SEMA.
A lot of kids today have no idea what that’s like. In a world of typically bland, boring, pedestrian cars that families own today, a majority of people are content to just take their cars to the dealership or local service shop for repairs and routine maintenance. While time saving and convenient in the hustle and bustle of modern living, it’s also been the unnoticed cancer that is slowly undermining our industry. This lack of DIY (do-it-yourself) home car care means no seeds are being planted in the minds of today’s children that could grow into a passion for cars and other things automotive.
While not noticeable now, in 15–20 years, we may have a mature generation that will, for the most part, have no concept of what it’s like to actually work on a car. I could see this as a generation of young drivers who look at an automobile with no more passion or interest than they would have looking at a toothbrush. Once either is worn out, just replace it and move on.
This creates a horrifying possible future for our industry. Combined with the decimation of auto shop classes in school systems nationwide, we could be looking at the near extinction of our hobby within the next 30–50 years.
What can we do to stop this? Many things. BUT, we have to first sound the alarm on the problem, through organizations such as SEMA and its individual councils. We need to develop plans for making sure the younger generation isn’t left on the side of the road while we fight to keep our hobby alive today, defending it from attacks by the uniformed, uninvolved, anti-automotive vandals who are beating at the gates of the performance automotive industry as I write this.
In short, we need to start mobilizing now, to save our hobby, our industry, and our well being! —Patrick Hill, Super Chevy magazine
YEN Insights: E3 and Me!
As a SEMA YEN member, I am always experiencing new and exciting things. I attended my first SEMA Show in Las Vegas in 2008 and was overwhelmed to say the least. The sheer size and scope of the Show was amazing and getting to meet industry contacts all in one place was a great luxury. Just less than two years later, I received an opportunity to go to the 2010 E3 Expo in Los Angeles. I expected it to be much like the SEMA Show, aside from the subject matter, of course, but was surprised that it was actually very different.
The main focus at E3 is clearly media, whereas SEMA seems to be more focused on industry buyers and professionals. Although industry professionals have meetings at E3 and some booths are geared toward buyers, most all booths were intended for media. The show was very interactive and ‘hands-on’ with a lot of playable game demos and chances to use new hardware such as the PlayStation Move.
The VIP media were able to bypass lines in order to get their take on the latest and greatest games and demos. E3 is clearly about getting the products in front of the media and making a memorable impression in hopes they will share with the rest of the world. Media outlets, such as GameSpot and G4TV,had full booths set up for the sole purpose of live reporting from the show.
There were a few booth props that got my attention. As for the cars, there was a Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Pagani Zonda R, a Tron-style cycle, a Forza Ferrari and an Atari Mercedes McLaren SLR. Other attention-getting strategies included costumed characters walking around or celebrities, such as WWE wrestlers, making appearances. Some booths had private, stylized theaters, such as a bunker/mining-themed theater for Red Faction and a creepy horror-themed theater for FEAR.
Some replicas on display included a "Battlestar Galactica" Cylon, a giant T-Rex, a larger-than-life jungle scene and a true-to-scale Red Faction mech-suit. A few booths relied solely on props and had no audio/video at all, such as the Dead Rising 2 booth that featured a dirtbike, some game-style weapons, and a caged zombie played by a real person. At one point, the “zombie” escaped and was walking away from the booth as some “law enforcement” tackled it to the ground, cuffed it and put it back in the cage.
Not only was E3 a blast, but I learned some valuable marketing strategies that could be applied at shows like SEMA. The private theater was a great way to obtain a captive audience for your video and product demonstrations. The use of props and costumed characters is definitely an attention-grabber but taking it a step further with a stunt like the zombie escape is really clever.
Finally, it would be interesting to see SEMA recruit more media booths to do live reporting from the show. Overall, E3 was not as large as the SEMA Show, but it was dense with effective booths and a blast to experience. Looking forward to next time!—Robert Waddell, Upscale Automotive, SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) member
Join YEN
Did
you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has more than 500
members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee?
If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of
39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If
you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our
website at www.sema.org/yen.
YEN Member of the Month Spotlight
Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA
website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections
or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen.
Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? YEN is!
Be sure to follow YEN on all of your favorite social networking sites. To find these sites, go to www.sema.org/yen and use the links in the top right-hand corner.
YEN Column in SEMA Member News
Read YEN's column featured in the July/August issue of SEMA Member News.
For information about YEN, contact Angela Lee.