Tabla de contenidos para April 2024 en SEMA Magazine

Last year SEMA magazine assigned me a story on key trends in the hot-rod aftermarket (June 2023). Nearly everybody I spoke to for that article mentioned that they were getting requests for ’88–’98 truck parts and services. We were all surprised, but for entirely different reasons. To them, this was a shot out of left field. To me? Well, I just wondered why it took this long for that series—Old Body Style or “OBS” to enthusiasts—to catch on. A lot of us in the industry get so focused on our little niches or interests that we fail to notice the world around us. For many, that series pickup isn’t just another truck; it’s another new truck. “BUT IN 1988, WHEN [CHEVROLET] CAME OUT WITH THAT WHOLE NEW SOFTENED-UP FRONT END,…

At the Gunther Werks facility in Huntington Beach, California, a restored Porsche 993 awaits one very lucky owner. Did we say “restored?” A better term would be “reimagined.” Except for the original chassis, crankcase and VIN plate, virtually every element of the Porsche has been painstakingly reworked. The end result is stunning. The coupe boasts a complete carbon-fiber exoskeleton with each exterior panel laser-aligned to the precise millimeter. The paint is meticulously perfect, applied in the exact, one-off color and shade specified by the customer via visual modeling and confirmed from samples. From steering wheel to seats, to shifter and bezel, the car’s unique interior, too, exudes premium metals, materials, fabrics and stitching—again, exclusively detailed to customer specifications. Of course, the heart of the Porsche is its 4.0L, naturally aspirated,…

It’s often said that content is king. And while we are very much in agreement with the theory, we also understand that generating high-quality content on a consistent and effective basis can be both time consuming and costly. In some cases, even knowing what to create can present its challenges. Sure, content is king, but every king needs an army and, fortunately, the troops aren’t as far away as you might think. Dubbed “user-generated content (UGC) platforms,” these services are designed to discover brand-affirming content on social media, curate it, and then reshare it as authentic endorsement from the people who actually use their products and services. Says Tressa Robbins, content and social media manager, Burrelles, a media monitoring company: “UGC is one of the best ways to cultivate and…

VÖXX PRODUCTS MODENA WHEEL voxxwheel.com In the world of automotive craftsmanship, the Feather Forged Modena wheel by Vöxx Products is a true masterpiece, offering a harmonious blend of style, strength and versatility. This flow-formed wheel is offered in 18-, 19-and 20-in. staggered widths. Color options include silver mirror machined face and gloss black. WESTIN HDX RUNNING BOARDS westin.com Westin’s new HDX running boards feature allaluminum construction, and the boards’ two levels of stepping surface allow for easy entry into the vehicle, onto the roof and into the bed. The 5.1-in.-wide step area utilizes a rugged grip pattern, and the triangular internal board design conceals the bracketry for a clean look. Injection-molded bracket covers and mounting kit are included, and the boards feature a textured black finish. SEASUCKER HANGING BIKE RACK…

If there appears to be a rekindled interest in metal fabrication around automotive custom shops and race garages, especially from younger want-to-be craftsmen, then consider the prominent role of social media. “You’ve got these old-school guys like Gene Winfield who didn’t mind sharing their skills,” explained Phil Heck of Woodward Fab, a division of Heck Industries in Hartland, Michigan. “But he’s rare. Most of his generation were pretty secretive about how things got done in the shop. They didn’t leave the doors open so people could wander in and see what they were doing. Now everything’s being shared on YouTube. What might have been a secret years ago is now common knowledge. There’s just so much stuff on the internet that demonstrates how easy it is for anybody to do…

Few members of the automotive aftermarket have been more passionate advocates for the truck and off-road market than Greg Adler. Since 2019, he has served as president and owner of Off Road Warehouse, an omnichannel retail company which now has 10 stores in four U.S. states. Prior to that, he was CEO and president of Transamerican Auto Parts/4 Wheel Parts, which developed the Pro-Comp and Smittybilt brands, among many others. Under his leadership, Transamerican grew from a small family-owned business to a corporate powerhouse with $800 million in revenues. A genuine enthusiast, Adler has also been involved in motorsports for more than 30 years, with an emphasis on short-course off-road racing and competing at King of the Hammers. A former member of the SEMA Board of Directors, he’s also the…

STATE UPDATE IOWA—INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE (ICE): Iowa has introduced SEMA-supported legislation to ensure consumers’ choice of vehicle power plants and fuel by preventing a county or city in the state from limiting access to certain power sources. Under current law, new gas- and diesel-powered vehicle sales may be threatened if narrow energy policies are adopted. MARYLAND—EXHAUST NOISE: Maryland has introduced SEMA-opposed legislation to allow three counties to use exhaust noise cameras to issue citations. Rather than investing in unproven technology, Maryland must implement a fair testing procedure and decibel limit for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations. Other states have adopted a limit of 95 decibels when tested under an SAE International procedure, which provides a fair and reasonable working system. This SEMA-supported SAE test is conducted in a…

The 2024 SEMA and PRI Washington Rally on May 8 and 9 provides an opportunity for our members to spend the day on Capitol Hill educating their members of Congress on the issues that are important both to your business and the specialty-automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries. With the 2024 election heating up and the balance of power in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate up for grabs, it’s more important than ever for SEMA and PRI members to come to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the industry. Whether it’s protecting the right to repair and modify vehicles with advanced technology, combating vehicle technology mandates that limit consumer choice, or protecting motorized access to federal-government lands, there are many issues facing SEMA and PRI members in the nation’s…

Getting ready to retire? Want to sell your business? Or maybe you’d like to expand your footprint, create diversity in your product offerings, or buy out a competitor. These kind of moves, collectively known as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have been a factor in shaping the automotive aftermarket for decades, and continue to play a prominent role in the industry. In recent years, sellers have included such familiar aftermarket names as Teraflex, Haltech Engine Management, Transamerican Auto Parts, Fox Racing, Camburg Engineering and many more. Other companies well known to SEMA members have been buyers, including the likes of Magnaflow, Turn 5, Dorman Products, Meyer Distributing, BorgWarner, Hypercraft, Gold Eagle, Wheel Pros, Race Winning Brands, Summit Racing, among others. Buying and selling activity in the automotive aftermarket occurs for a…

“ Hire Prudhomme,” said Keith Black. The first time Roland Leong drove his brand-new AA/Fuel dragster didn’t end well. The 20-year-old crashed halfway down Lions Drag Strip. In the aftermath, Black, the famed engine builder, suggested that he’d be better off working on the car and hiring an experienced driver. Black’s recommendation came from the relationship he had with Don Prudhomme, who had just wrapped up his stint driving the Greer-Black-Prudhomme rail. Prudhomme had previously met Leong when the G-B-P car raced in Hawaii and agreed to join the team. They headed off to Pomona to gather with the 75 other Top Fuel dragsters hoping to make the show at the 1965 NHRA Winternationals. LEONG OWNED AND TUNED A VARIETY OF DRAGSTERS AND FUNNY CARS, ALL NAMED “HAWAIIAN” IN A…