Nominations for the awards presented by SEMA's councils and committees at the 2011 SEMA Show are due by August 19, 2011.

In its daily efforts to promote and protect the auto hobby, SEMA continues to partner with state lawmakers from across the country through the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Celebrating its six-year anniversary, the caucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles.

Vehicle Equipment Standards and Inspections: State policy makers continue to revise and update equipment and inspection standards—often with a bias toward the vehicle manufacturer’s original equipment, such as lighting, tires and wheels, suspension components and bumper/frame height. SEMA opposes arbitrary and unnecessarily restrictive equipment and inspection procedures.

For the true automotive pioneer, trailblazing is its own reward. You don’t race, tinker, invent and innovate with an eye toward peer accolades. You push the envelope for the sheer thrill of it—it’s who you are, what drives you, it’s the challenge that fires your soul.

“Scooter” Brothers has been working with cars since he could walk. He is the son of a mechanic, and even though his dad wasn’t interested in racing, Brothers got hooked on it while he was still in high school in the late ’60s. He got involved with some of the men who started a company called Racing Head Service and, with a four-year break while he served in the navy, he’s been in the automotive performance business ever since.

The Annual SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) has become one of the most popular events. This combined Speed Networking and Awards Breakfast premier event will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton, Ballroom A, Thursday, November 3, and beginning promptly at 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.

There are only 90 days left until the opening of the 2011 SEMA Show. Here are some of the key deadlines and updates for exhibitors preparing for the Show.

Chris Ripper of ATC Truck Covers recently posted the following question in SEMA’s Online Marketing forum: “What advice would you give to a small retailer or other type of business on how to spend a $25,000 annual marketing budget?” We encourage you to join the discussion online here.

Customer service is nothing more than communication. We are not selling just metal, chrome, rubber or plastic. We are selling information and services.

News and updates from SEMA's councils and committees.