SEMA News - June 2009
Industry News
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Registration for the 2009 SEMA Show is open and available at www.SEMAShow.com. |
Registration for the 2009 SEMA Show set for Tuesday through Friday, November 3–6, is open and available online. Register now.
Show attendees will enjoy a dedicated New Products Showcase area, a sectionalized floorplan, personalized matchmaking programs and electronic scanning devices that deliver product details by e-mail.
The 2009 SEMA Show also features two entirely new sections: Powersports & Utility Vehicles and Paint, Body & Equipment. Located in the South Hall, the Powersports & Utility Vehicles section will feature manufacturers of power-driven equipment—from motorcycles and ATVs to pocket bikes and specialty golf carts. The new Paint, Body & Equipment area, located in North Hall adjoining the Tools & Equipment section, will feature paint booths, frame machines, spray guns, filtration and breathing apparatuses and more. Complete information on the 2009 SEMA Show is available at SEMAShow.com.
Your Chance to Shape the Industry—Vote for the SEMA Board of Directors
Ballots for the SEMA Board of Directors election were sent to the primary contacts at SEMA-member companies within the corresponding categories on Friday, May 29, 2009, and are due back by Monday, June 22, 2009. Photos and backgrounds of all of the candidates will be posted on www.sema.org under the “leadership” tab.
The SEMA Board is comprised of a group of volunteers with the knowledge and expertise to help guide the association’s direction by confronting the industry’s challenges and highlighting its opportunities for the betterment of the entire membership.
The candidates for 2009 are:
Chair-Elect Category
Paul “Scooter” Brothers, Comp Cams
Gene Ezzell, Ezzell Performance Consulting
Manufacturers’ Category
Doug Evans, Source Interlink Media (Incumbent)
Mike Spagnola, Street Scene Equipment (Incumbent)
David Stutts, Hot Rod Air Inc. (Incumbent)
Jeep Worthan, Auto Meter (Incumbent)
Joel Ayres, Leer
Wen Chang, Topline Wheels
Laurel Dasher, Superchips
Myles Kovacs, DUB Industries
Ernie Silvers, Egge Machine Co. Inc.
Steve Wolcott, Pro Media
Distributor/Retailer Category
Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors Inc. (Incumbent)
Tony Napoli, American Speed Center (Incumbent)
Mark Toebben, Direct Communications Inc. (Incumbent)
Van Woodell, Weathers Auto Supply (Incumbent)
Zan Martin, Martin & Company Advertising
Joseph Risch, Whitney Automotive Group
Manufacturers’ Rep Category
Bryan Foster, Foster Babcock
Jeff Bates, Bob Cook Sales
Bernie Meyer, KAM Marketing
Top 10 New Street Rod/Custom Car Products
SEMA used a new digital tracking method for the 2008 SEMA Show New Products Showcase, allowing buyers to scan product barcodes with a key fob and receive product details via printout or e-mail. There were nearly 100 products entered in the Best New Street Rod/Custom Car Product category. The following are the top 10. See all of the products entered in the New Products Showcase at www.semadigital.com.
 | Air Ride Technologies | |
 | Auto Meter American Muscle Gauge Series www.autometer.com, 866/248-6356 | |
 | Classic Performance Products | |
 | Mattson’s Radiator/The Fan Man | |
 | Morrison Motorsport | |
 | Energy Suspension | |
 | Rodtana Design | |
 | Air Ride Technologies | |
 | Classic Performance Products ’60–’87 | |
 | Aicona Wheels TiRM www.aiconawheels.com, 877/6-AICONA |
FAST FACTS
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| Heidts Hot Rod & Muscle Car Parts named John Sonnefeldt its director of sales and marketing. Sonnefeldt has more than 15 years of experience in the automotive performance aftermarket, with extensive knowledge of drag racing, road racing, NASCAR, restoration and the car-building community. Heidts, Wauconda, IL; 800/841-8188 | 2NGK Spark Plugs (USA) Inc., a subsidiary of NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd., promoted Robert Pepper to vice president of manufacturing. Pepper has been with NGK since 2007, previously as director of manufacturing administration. He is responsible for all North American manufacturing and OEM/OES distribution, with locations in Irvine, California, and Sissonville, West Virginia. NGK Spark Plugs (USA) Inc., Wixom, MI; 248/926-6900. |
 | Detroit Speed & Engineering Inc.’s co-owner Kyle Tucker drove the Detroit Speed ’70 Camaro Test Car to a first-place finish during the Vendor Street Challenge Autocross at the Meguiar’s Orange County Get Together in Costa Mesa, California. Tucker posted a 29.1 during his final run, which was good enough to grab first place. Detroit Speed & Engineering, Mooresville, NC; 704/662-3272. | |
 | Penray announced that Larry Collet has joined the automotive division’s sales team as a regional sales manager. Collet is responsible for sales with current customers and helping to build and establish relationships with future customers. Prior to Penray, Collet spent 23 years with the ITW Performance Polymers Division of the Permatex chemical company. | |
 | A group of 13 Ohio Technical College students enrolled in the college’s alternative fuel program recently developed an all-electric-powered vehicle dubbed the Electro-Van. The fully functional ’97 Ford E350 runs solely on electricity and can reach speeds of up to 35 mph with a two-hour drive-time capacity. The van uses 21 batteries for power—solar panels have been added for recharging the batteries—and an electric motor that delivers up to 95 hp. Ohio Technical College, Cleveland, OH; 800/322-7000. | |
 | Continental Tire North America (CTNA) opened its new $11 million, 75,000-sq.-ft. North American headquarters in northern Lancaster County, South Carolina. CTNA’s CEO Matthias Schoenberg kicked off a special opening ceremony with a ribbon cutting and news conference. The facility currently employs 375 people with the opportunity to expand. CTNA, Charlotte, NC; 704/583-3900. | |
 | Ted Steven’s ’40 Mercury Coupe was awarded the 2009 Goodguys West Coast Custom of the Year at the 27th All American Get-Together in Pleasanton. Steven’s Merc was recently restored and freshened by Roy Brizio Street Rods in South San Francisco. In addition, Marvin Bok’s ’39 Ford convertible captured the Goodguys 2009 Street Rod d’Elegance award at the 9th Del Mar Nationals in April. Prior to sweeping the d’Elegance title in Del Mar, it was selected by Chip Foose for the Chip Foose Design of Excellence Award at the Grand National Roadster Show. Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, Pleasanton, CA; 925/838-9876. | |
 | Eaton Automotive, a division of Eaton Corp., announced that Jeff Saxton was moved to sales engineer for its automotive aftermarket performance products group. Saxton’s responsibilities include technician training and rep group management. He has been with Eaton since 1991. Eaton Corp., Eden Prairie, MN; 952/937-9800. | |
 | ACI (Agri-Cover Inc.) hired Britta Dahl in its marketing department as graphic designer. Dahl will oversee the company’s creative materials for print and online advertisements and literature. ACI, Jamestown, ND; 866/414-5422. |
SoffSeal Inc. promoted both Sandy Fox and Christopher Sondles to executive vice president. Fox and Sondles were mentored by the late Gary Anderson, SoffSeal’s founder and former president. Fox will oversee the company’s operations and finance, and Sondles will oversee product development, sales and marketing. SoffSeal Inc., Harrison, OH; 800/426-0902.
Azentek LLC announced that u-blox, a Swiss provider of GPS technology, will provide GPS receiver modules to the company. The modules provide navigation and location awareness in Azentek’s Atlas in-car personal computers and its SmartMirror device. Azentek, Grand Blanc, MI; 810/694-4500.
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. launched an all-new website, www.toyotires.com. The company’s goal with the complete site redesign, which includes a new web address, was to create a user-friendly resources tool for consumers and dealers. Toyo Tire, Cypress, CA; 714/236-2080.
Mota hired two automotive veterans to key positions within the company. Charlie Vogelheim, previously vice president of automotive development at JD Power & Associates, was named chief trust and transparency officer, and Steven J. McAuley, former CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services in the United Kingdom and vice president at Penske Auto Group, was named chief automotive officer.
Jim Wrobleski & Co. Inc. hired Tara Landry to handle data entry and general office duties, including managing office tasks, filing customer data sheets and working with the company’s manufacturers’ rep software. Jim Wrobleski & Co. Inc., Michigan City, IN; 219/879-8145.
Infineon Raceway has established the Little Racers Club, which is dedicated to the raceway’s youngest fans. For a one-time membership fee of $15, fans ages 12 and under will receive an official membership card, a backpack with Infineon Raceway and Little Racer’s Club logos and other benefits, including free tickets to certain raceway events. Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA; 707/938-8448.
Ann Durham was promoted to president of Global Vehicles U.S.A. Inc., the distributor of vehicles produced by India’s Mahindra & Mahindra. Durham joined the company in January 2008 as vice president, finance and administration and was promoted late last year to senior vice president, general manager. Alpharetta, GA; 770/753-4441.
The CarDomain Network acquired StreetFire.net, an automotive file-sharing website. The combined company will continue to invest in product improvements to both CarDomain.com and StreetFire.net. Glenn Rogers, previously CEO of StreetFire, will run the combined company as CEO. CarDomain Network Inc., Seattle, WA; 206/926-2100. Streetfire.net, Los Angeles, CA; 310/882-2086.
Barry Grant Inc. appointed Bobby Writeman to the company’s technical department. Writeman’s industry experience includes 32 years as an oval track sports manager for Holley Carburetors. Barry Grant Inc., Dahlonega, GA; 706/864-8544.
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has teamed with Bridgestone America’s business units, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC, to create a seven-minute reference video for consumers. The video, available at www.tireindustry.org, covers tire sizing, tire-replacement guidelines, proper tire rotation and more. TIA, Bowie, MD; 301/430-7280.
