The 2021 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show officially opened yesterday morning, kicking off with an industry breakfast featuring some of the hottest new products and special guest Jay Leno teasing a customized Mustang built for musician Keith Urban. With more than 1,300 exhibiting companies and 51,000 buyers confirmed to date, this year’s SEMA Show – which runs through Nov. 5 – marks the first full-facility event to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCS) since the pandemic.
 
“There is a lot of pent-up demand to reconnect in person,” said SEMA VP of Events Tom Gattuso. “Buyers are excited to see what’s new in the industry, and manufacturers are anxious to showcase what they’ve been working on for the past two years. The energy and passion on the Show floor is tremendous.”
 
Exhibitors wasted no time to showcase their new products and make industry announcements, as customers enthusiastically navigated the convention center seeking to develop new partnerships and strengthen existing ones. 
 
“We believe in the value of the SEMA Show and are excited to see our industry colleagues for the first time in two years,” said OPTIMA Batteries Director of Marketing Cameron Douglass. “We’re thrilled we were able to bring the excitement of the OUSCI race to the Show and have already reconnected with many of our buyers, distributors and partners, setting the stage for a great week.”
 
To help visitors stay on top of trends and opportunities, the SEMA Show includes a dedicated “SEMA Electrified” area where new innovations and cutting-edge technology took center stage. Located in the new West Hall, SEMA Electrified includes electric vehicles and products designed for modifying electric vehicles or converting vehicles to electric power. Nearby, an expanded “SEMA Overland Experience” highlights another new profit center for aftermarket businesses. Whether it is rooftop tents, awnings, portable kitchen systems, and related products on display, SEMA Overland Experience helps businesses visualize and see the opportunities in the extreme.
 
Other SEMA Show highlights include the largest collection of Chip Foose-built vehicles featured in a special corral that highlights some of the most influential and important vehicles created at Foose Design; a display of over 50 off-road racing vehicles ranging from motorcycles to trophy trucks in SCORE’s “Baja 1000 Experience”; an exclusive West Coast Customs Edition wide body kit on a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger in the West Coast Customs Experience; and interactive driving demos in the Hoonigan Burnyard Bash and the “Ford Out Front” experience.
 
“This is something we haven’t been able to do for almost two years, and we wouldn’t miss the opportunity to connect with manufacturers and others at SEMA 2021,” said Daryl Sampson, Turn 14 Distribution Vice President of Marketing. “We’ve upped our participation this year and all three of our booths have received a tremendous response already, and we’re looking forward to a productive and memorable week.”

SEMA Announces New Product Award Winners 

SEMA’s annual New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the SEMA Show. Products are judged in 16 award categories, and each category has one winner and two runners-up. 

More than 1,300 were entered into the 16 different Showcase categories to be considered for a SEMA New Product Awards this year. Winners were selected based on a variety of factors that included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability, and more. 

The New Product Award Winners are:

Collision Repair & Refinish Product
Winner: Keco Collision Glue Pull Repair System, Keco Body Repair Products
Runner Up: Eagle, Celette Inc.
Runner Up: Drain Cleaner SR250, Reliable Automotive Equipment, Inc.

Engineered New Product
Winner: Electronic StraightGate 50, Turbosmart
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay, Kaizen Speed, LLC
Runner Up: Smart Cap Module (SCM) – Integrated Damper Position Sensor, Off Road Research

Exterior Accessory Product
Winner: Lippert: Protective MultiPro / Multi-Flex Tailgate Sensor with Hitch Cap, CURT, Ranch Hand, UWS, LUVERNE, ARIES
Runner Up: Windshield Gard, Targe Industries
Runner Up: 4WP Factory Bronco front bumper, 4WP Factory/Pro Comp/Rubicon Express/Smittybilt

Interior Accessory Product
Winner: Cargo Dog, Cargo Dog
Runner Up: Speedway Motors Self Cancelling Turn Signal Switch, Speedway Motors
Runner Up: RetroSound Denver Radio, Retro Manufacturing LLC

Merchandising Display
Winner: Countertop or Wall Display for HEIGH10 Infotainment Unit, Stinger Off-Road
Runner Up: Floor Display for HEIGH10 Infotainment Unit, Stinger Off-Road
Runner Up: BD-BUILT 6.7L CUMMINS INJECTOR STOCKPLUS (0986435621) RAM PICK-UP 2013-2018, BD Diesel

Mobile Electronics Product
Winner: XAV-AX9500ES, Sony Car Audio
Runner Up: Cube GPS Tracker, Cube Tracker
Runner Up: Interior Ambient Lighting, VAIS Technology

Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product
Winner: CDEV SHOCK POWERED BY IIC, ICON Vehicle Dynamics
Runner Up: Dirt Dynamix Universal Truck Bed Pole Mount, Dirt Dynamix
Runner Up: Vehicle Recovery Kit – Baja, Warn / Factor 55 / Fabtech

Packaging Design
Winner: APB Pedal Pads American Handcraft Wooden Package, APB Brakes 
Runner Up: RetroSound Huntington Radio, Retro Manufacturing LLC
Runner Up: Driver Fatigue Monitoring System, HIMA Lighting

Performance-Racing Product
Winner: Electronic StraightGate 50, Turbosmart
Runner Up: OPTIMA YELLOWTOP Group Size H7, OPTIMA Batteries
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay, Kaizen Speed, LLC

Performance-Street Product
Winner: ZZ632/1000 Crate Engine, General Motors
Runner Up: VENOM CP3 CONVERSION KIT RAM 6.7L PICKUP 2500/3500 2019-2020, BD Diesel
Runner Up: Eluminator Mach E Motor, Ford Motor Company

Powersports Product
Winner: 2016-2021 Polaris XPT Flex Fuel Kit, Dynojet Research
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay With Control Module, Kaizen Speed, LLC
Runner Up: ProFit2 Profile Cage Clamps, Scosche Industries, Inc.

Street Rod/Custom Car Product
Winner: Icon Valve Cover, Pyramid Optimized Design & Manufacturing
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay With Control Module, Kaizen Speed, LLC
Runner Up: MB419 Ultra-Compact Multi-Function Controller Steering Wheel Control Board, MuxWiring

Tire and Related Product
Winner: Baja Legend EXP, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels
Runner Up: Discoverer Snow Claw, Cooper Tire
Runner Up: ET Street Front, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels

Tools & Equipment Product
Winner: EZ Roller-Spinner, EZ Spare and JAWS
Runner Up: Buffer with compound dispensing system, Super Shiner
Runner Up: Last Drop Wrench – Aluminum LDW80mm14F, Last Drop Wrench

Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product
Winner: Impact Shock-Absorbing Rear Bumper Step Fleet Kit, Lippert: CURT, Ranch Hand, UWS, LUVERNE, ARIES 
Runner Up: 2021+ GM SUV 2″/4″ LOWERING KIT, Max Trac Suspension
Runner Up: Roll-N-Lock M-Series XT, Truck Hero

Wheel and Related Product
Winner: Carbon One, Litespeed Racing
Runner Up: GUNISPARE, GUNIWHEEL
Runner Up: WARN Diamond Cutter Wheels, Warn / Factor 55 / Fabtech

Battle Of The Builders Top 40 Revealed

SEMA announced the Top 40 builders in the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. Battle of the Builders is a competition to honor and recognize builders at the premier automotive trade show, the SEMA Show.

The 2021 Battle of the Builders Top 40 are (by category):

HOT ROD
•    Brett Schmeski — 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS    
•    Mark Giambalvo — 1930 Ford Model A 2-Door Sedan    
•    Lonnie Gilbertson — 1965 Chevrolet Corvair    
•    Josh “Red” Gosnell — 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback    
•    Troy Gudgel — 1934 Ford 5 Window Coupe    
•    Troy Gudgel — 1969 Pontiac Firebird    
•    Mike Fillion — 1956 Oldsmobile 98    
•    Robert Matranga –1955 Chevrolet Bel Air    
•    Jeremy Miranda — 1967 Chevrolet Camaro    
•    Eddie Pettus — 1941 Willys Coupe    

SPORT COMPACT/IMPORT
•    Ryan Basseri — 2007 Honda S2000    
•    Shawn Bassett — 1999 Lexus GS300    
•    Peter Filippo — 2019 BMW M2     
•    Samantha Frazier– 1973 Nissan Datsun 240Z    
•    Paul Garcia — 1999 Nissan Skyline GTR VSPEC    
•    Marcus Fry — 1972 Nissan 240z    
•    Eddie Pettus — 1961 Austin Healey Sprite    
•    John Sarkisyan — 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL     
•    Neil Tjin — 2019 Ford Mach-E    
•    Simo Veharanta — 1982 Porsche 911 RSR    

TRUCK & OFF ROAD
•    Willie Davis — 1971 Ford F100    
•    Brad Deberti — 1965 Chevrolet C10    
•    Keith Kyker — 1969 Ford F100    
•    Jeremy Miranda — 1959 Chevrolet Apache    
•    Craig Piggott — 1974 Ford Bronco    
•    Kamaka Pocock — 1967 Chevrolet C10    
•    Daniel Smalley — 1958 Chevrolet Apache    
•    Bryan Thompson — 1934 Ford Pickup    
•    John Wargo — 1968 Chevrolet C10    
•    Randy Weaver — 1965 GMC C10    

YOUNG GUNS
•    Kaylee Crayton — 2013 Scion FR-S    
•    Thomas Dickerson — 1967 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang    
•    Ezra Evans — 1951 Ford F1     
•    Dayton Jacobson — 2000 Chevrolet S10    
•    Chelsie Lesnoski — 1993 Mazda RX-7 FD    
•    Cole Marten — 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR    
•    Jonas Neels — 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 HD    
•    James Thomas — 1949 Ford F1
•    Joe Wilder — 1969 Chevrolet Camaro     
•    Corey Williams — 1968 Dodge Charger    

The Battle of the Builders Top 12 will be announced in SEMA Central, on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 1:30 p.m. PST. These 12 finalists, chosen by industry judges, represent the best of the best in the industry.