For the second year in a row, SEMA invited automotive enthusiasts from around the country to apply for acceptance to the Opinion Leader Program. More than 1,000 applications were received. Participants were accepted based on their responses to a survey, as well as their activity level on various...

After an exciting competition late last year, the Street Performance Council (SPC) Select Committee earned the distinction of winning the 2010 SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) Council Challenge. The contest ran between August and October, and the winner was the council Select Committee that was...

In the November 2010 issue of SEMA News, we discussed how SEMA-member companies might use auctions to find the perfect vehicle to feature in promotions and advertising. Such vehicles can provide value well beyond their material worth by helping customers realize long-held dreams. In some cases...

Marketers looking to get a handle on social media as a promotional tool have found an easy solution: Integrate the medium into existing e-mail marketing programs. The pioneers of this method say that a little creative contact with current and potential customers on social networks, such as Facebook...

The economy and the environment have been the major drivers for many markets over the last three years, and they have also been consistent topics of conversation among tire and wheel experts. The tire industry underwent a sort of accordion buckling in inventory as the economic slowdown led consumers...

The seventh annual Global Media Awards program found 150 companies being recognized by an international panel of automotive journalists at the 2010 SEMA Show. Twenty-four of the top automotive journalists hailing from 15 important world markets for specialty products rolled up their sleeves, and...

The Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) presented its Robert E. Petersen Media Award to Steve Wolcott of ProMedia LLC in conjunction with the MPMC Media Trade Conference in January. The award is presented to a member of the print, electronic or broadcast media who has made a substantial...

SEMA urged the U.S. Congress to support a provision to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using designated funds to increase the amount of allowable ethanol content in gasoline to 15% (E15). SEMA contends the legislation is necessary to protect automotive enthusiasts and...

NEWS NUGGETS ONE WEEK TO GO! NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES READY TO BEGIN 2011 WITH KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS: After nearly three months off, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is just one week away from the 2011 season and the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA...