SEMA Member News—November/December 2013
What to Expect From TORA at the SEMA Show
A New Look for the TORA Booth
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Thank You to Jeep Build Sponsors TORA thanks the following members who contributed to the Jeep Build:
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The Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) booth will look a little different at the SEMA Show this year. When attendees first approach South Hall, they will notice five vehicles on display outside the entrance.
This representation of the wide variety of TORA-member companies and products is sure to be an eye opener for everyone. Inside the Upper South Hall, TORA select committee members will be present at booth #34151 to interact one-on-one with attendees and answer questions. If you have never met your TORA leadership, this is a great chance to do so.
Also for the first time, TORA will host a networking happy hour on Tuesday, November 5, and Thursday, November 7, from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. at the booth. This is a chance to meet and mingle with SEMA’s Vice President of OEM and Product Development Programs Mike Spagnola to learn about the SEMA Garage-Industry Innovations Center (Tuesday) and Government and Public Affairs Manager Colby Martin to hear about what’s new with the SEMA Action Network (Thursday).
TORA Awards Reception
The TORA awards reception will be held Wednesday, November 6, at the Las Vegas Hotel Garden Patio from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
There is no better opportunity to network with hundreds of industry peers. The evening will also include tributes to some of the most influential professionals in the industry during the awards presentations.
The Fall Nationals Pinewood Drags will take place at the reception. The event raised more than $2,500 for SEMA Cares charities last year.
Reception attendees may rent Pinewood racers in exchange for $20 donations to SEMA Cares, then compete for the Fall Nationals Top Eliminator title.
A supply of Pinewood racers built by kids from Childhelp, a non-profit that assists child abuse victims, will be on hand for racing, but be warned: Last year’s inventory sold quickly.
Don’t be late if you want to be part of this fun networking event. In its fourth year, the Fall Nationals is fast becoming an TORA SEMA Show tradition.
New Product Showcase a Success
TORA-member companies once again showed off their latest products in August at the annual TORA New Product Showcase.
The event was part of the Carlisle Truck Nationals held August 2–4, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
That event hosts one of the largest gatherings of truck enthusiasts in the country. In addition to hands-on exposure in front of this crowd, each product entered in the showcase was professionally photographed, and the photos and product descriptions were posted in a gallery at www.SEMA.org/TORA.
All of this product exposure is free to TORA members as a membership benefit.
The only cost incurred is for shipping the products back and forth from Carlisle. SEMA and Carlisle Event staffs unpack and set up each product for display and then repack everything for return shipment.
Another highlight of this year’s event was the TORA-sponsored Jeep Build. The build was more than just an exercise for TORA; it also expanded on the idea of a product showcase by demonstrating to a large group of consumers that the products on display can make a vehicle look and perform better when installed by qualified service personnel.
Wish you had participated? Not yet an TORA member? Visit www.sema.org/TORA and download an application today. You don’t want to miss another TORA New Product Showcase!