PRTC

NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AEROFLOW AND SUMMERNATS

Aeroflow Performance and Summernats have announced a 2023 Event Program partnership

Following the success of its activation at MotorEx earlier this year, Aeroflow has committed to growing its event activation program significantly in 2023, with Summernats 35 kicking off a new partnership. “MotorEx exceeded our expectations,” Aeroflow Performance Event and Competition Manager, Morice Mcmillin, said. “Engaging with existing and potential customers face-to-face is invaluable, as it provides us with the opportunity to educate them about our extensive and continually expanding range of performance products.” Since 2010, Aeroflow Performance Products says it has built a reputation for producing a range of quality parts that deliver excellent value for money and also cater for everything from Hot Rods, Street Machines and all-out Race cars. “Today, our performance parts catalogue includes over 11,000 items across fittings and hoses, fuel system components, performance turbochargers, ratchet shifters, air and oil filters, oil systems, silicone hoses, fabricated tanks, alternators and workshop tools,” Morice said. “Aeroflow Performance Products are created by car enthusiasts, for car enthusiasts, so the decision to grow our event activation program was easy as it aligns with our passion and our core customer base and coming on board as the Summernats Cruise Route sponsor is the perfect way to kick this event season off. “You’ll be hard pressed to not find something from the Aeroflow Catalogue on a car at any one of these events, so the decision to support those that support us was an easy one.” In addition to returning to MotorEx in 2023, Aeroflow has grown its events program, securing sponsorships at Summernats, RockyNats, Motorvation and Red CentreNats. “We’ve enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the team at Aeroflow,” Summernats Co-Owner and Director, Andy Lopez, said. “It’s exciting to see them step up and take the naming rights for the Summernats Cruise Route. It’s a great fit for the business as it allows Aeroflow to promote several different brands from their range.” Curated by the team at Media Scrum, the Aeroflow package extends way beyond what would be considered a traditional events program. “Working with the team at Media Scrum has certainly opened our eyes to the value of committing to an event program,” Morice said. “They invested the time to understand our business and created a plan that allows us to engage with our target audience across a full 12 months, as opposed to a burst of activity around each event.” In addition to event activations, Aeroflow’s deal includes a series of solus EDMs, EDM inclusions and promoted social media posts across the campaign period. “The combined digital footprint of these five events is enormous,” Morice said. “The EDM database exceeds 70,000, and the Summernats Facebook page alone has more than 370,000 followers. “We already have big plans to grow our brand equity, increase engagement and drive sales leveraging these audiences.” The combined annual attendance at these five unique events already exceeds 220,000, and that number is forecast to grow again in 2023. “Product sales at our events have already exceeded $30 million,” Andy said. “And with more than 600,000 potential online customers in our car enthusiast network, we expect to see more businesses take inspiration from Aeroflow’s playbook and book packages that take in all five of our events.” For more information about Aeroflow Performance and Summernats, visit www.aeroflowperformance.com and www.summernats.com.au

NEW ACL PRODUCT GUIDE LAUNCHED

The company used its appearance at SEMA to officially release the new guide

ACL Bearing Company (Australia) Pty Ltd released it’s 2023 Race Series Performance Engine Bearings Application Guide at the SEMA Trade show in Las Vegas, USA on Wednesday the 2nd of November. ACL Partner, Pat Musi of Musi Racing Engines in Mooresville, North Carolina (USA) was on hand to help ACL launch the latest guide at the Las Vegas show. The guide contains an additional 97 part numbers servicing an additional 18 engine applications taking the ACL Race Series performance engine bearing offering to over 250 varied engine applications covering a wide range of performance bearings for Australian, American, Japanese, Korean and European applications.

In addition, the latest guide includes further technical information and shell drawings for all part numbers, with this detail providing a quick reference tool for confirmation of the features of each bearing shell/set. “These enhancements further enhance the guide as a go to reference tool for performance engine bearings. It is a great technical resource for engine builders and parts stores, and we have received fantastic feedback during SEMA,” ACL Bearing Company (Australia) Pty Ltd General Manager, Chris Brooks, said. ACL says its Race Series performance engine bearings are internationally lauded, stating they have been built on the key foundations of robust metallurgy complemented by precision machining and plating. “People just love the product, and we are continually overwhelmed by the support we receive,” Chris said. To download a copy of the guide, visit www.aclperformance.com.au or for more information phone 1800 955 501.

TOP FUEL TO FIRE UP IN JANUARY

The Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship will contest two big events to open the New Year

The wildest nitro show on earth – Top Fuel Dragsters – are ready to blast into 2023 with two rounds of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship. The New Year Nitro event at Willowbank Raceway will be run first across January 6 and 7, followed soon after by a newly announced Australia Day event at Sydney Dragway across January 27 and 28. Both events will see the fastest drag racing vehicles in the country on track over two massive days and nights with vital championship points on the line as drivers continue their battle for the biggest prize in drag racing – the Stan Sainty Cup. Top Fuel headlines both events, with the massive New Year Nitro line up to also include Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Pro Stock and Sportsman categories. Joining the ontrack action is a huge firework spectacular, show and shine, food trucks, and more. “We’re really excited about Top Fuel’s return to racing in Queensland and I know that all of the teams and drivers are keen to put on a terrific show for the fans in January,” Top Fuel Racing Australia’s Nathan Prendergast said. “The vibe at each of the events in our first season was electric with the crowd really getting behind the teams and cheering them on to some awesome performances. “Drag racing is the most exciting motorsport on the planet and I can’t think of a better way to ring in the new year than a nitro party in Queensland.” Peter Xiberras, the reigning champion and driver of the PremiAir Hire Racing Top Fuel Dragster, was similarly eager about Top Fuel’s return to the Queensland venue. “I can’t wait to climb back into the cockpit in Queensland! We’ve travelled all around the country in the last year and had a great time with fans at a heap of different venues who loved seeing and feeling the horsepower, so I can’t wait to bring the PremiAir Racing team back to Willowbank,” Peter said. The Australia Day event meanwhile will offer a “mega nitro party” with the country’s fastest cars alongside a line-up that includes “crazy FMX stunts, pro drifters, a gleaming show ‘n’ shine, epic burnout display, and a mega fireworks spectacular.” The event also forms a round of the Australian Drag Racing Championship for Top Doorslammer, Top Motorcycle, and Pro Stock, with these wild machines being joined by a host of sportsman categories who will all race in front of a huge crowd and remote viewing audience on the live and free broadcast. “A massive crowd at a great time of year will see some incredible racing, be entertained by some wild freestyle motocross riders and drifters, enjoy a mega fireworks spectacular, and take in the madness of a burnout exhibition,” Championship Promoter, Andy Lopez, said. “Fans can also get right up close to the action in the pits where there will be Top Fuel parts giveaways and opportunities to meet the drivers, get a photo or an autograph, and see how much work goes into putting an 11,000hp nitro-guzzling engine together for another pass.” Lamattina Top Fuel Racing chief Phil Lamattina said he was looking forward to racing in Sydney for the first time this season. “It’s a pretty tight turn-around after New Year Nitro at Willowbank Raceway, but I know my team are up for the challenge and looking forward to putting on a great show for the Sydney drag racing fans,” Phil said. “Both the Fuchs and Burson Auto Parts cars will be there and I’m keen to see Sydney Dragway packed out again and catch up with all our racing mates.” For more information, visit www.topfuelchampionship.com.au

SEMA SHOW SUCCESS

The show acts as an annual epicenter of automotive business, trends and culture

The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show was held across November 1-4, featuring more than 1,900 exhibiting companies and nearly 65,000 buyers across all four Las Vegas Convention Center halls. SEMA Show industry attendees had access to thousands of the newest automotive aftermarket products from start-ups and iconic exhibitors, debuts from automakers, hundreds of custom vehicle builds, interactive experiences and demonstrations, celebrity appearances, extensive networking opportunities, and 70-plus education sessions led by top industry experts. Numerous automakers returned with larger exhibitor displays that not only provided more space to enrich their activations on the Show floor, but also help enhance their exposure. Also returning this year was the dedicated SEMA Electrified area in the North Hall, showcasing electric vehicles and products designed for modifying them or converting ICE vehicles to electric power. An expanded SEMA Overland Experience featured highly modified adventure-focused builds and trends that can add new profit centres for aftermarket businesses. Products on display included rooftop tents, awnings, portable kitchen systems, and much more. Other Show highlights included a new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) showcase, which provided attendees with experts and resources for modifying vehicles equipped with the high-tech safety features. eBay Motors presented its eBay Motors Experience, featuring drift ride-alongs and other demonstrations, and Optima Batteries debuted its new Optima Unleashed experience to host the Ultimate Street Car Invitational during Show hours. Some of the automotive industry’s premier artists also exhibited their creations in the SEMA Show Art Walk, and for the first time ever, Chip Foose provided the official art for the 2022 SEMA Show. SEMA Ignited also returned on November 4, giving consumers a chance to glimpse some of the vehicles and excitement from the world-famous trade-only SEMA Show. “The SEMA Show provides exhibitors a superior opportunity to connect and develop relationships with partners, buyers, distributors, and more, not just on the Show floor but also through activations, industry receptions, banquets, and awards presentations,” SEMA Vice President of Events, Tom Gattuso, said. “Small businesses and American manufacturing are the engines that power our economy, and the industry is back at full strength. As a reflection of the industry, the SEMA Show is the perfect showcase for both entrepreneurialism and American ingenuity. Quite simply, nowhere else can you witness this collection of small businesses and automotive passion, and build connections with other business leaders.” The SEMA Launch Pad finale, SEMA Industry Awards Banquet and the SEMA Best New Products Awards also highlighted the industry’s best and brightest. For more information about the 2022 SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com

ACS ON-SHOW AT SEMA

The company showcased its latest products at SEMA 2022

Australian Clutch Services recently exhibited its US-based performance brand, XClutch, at SEMA Show 2022. The brand, which is focused on performance street, 4x4 and motorsport applications, has been developed around the Xtreme Clutch range of products in Australia. ACS showcased a variety of new upgrades at the show including its new upgrade to suit the Toyota GR Corolla and a twin plate sprung organic clutch for 996 and 997 Porsche GT2/GT3 models. These new upgrades were also displayed in the SEMA New Products Showcase along with some of the latest products from international performance parts suppliers. “SEMA Show provides us with a fantastic opportunity to launch our new products to the market,” ACS Marketing Manager, Hayden Jarrett, said. “With industry professionals from around the world gathering in Las Vegas for the show, we are able to showcase our latest products for the US and international markets whilst also meeting with our key customers. “We sent a small team from Australia to help out on the stand and it was great to have an Australian contingent at the show for the first time since Covid.” The new products on display included ACS’ new performance concentric slave cylinder as well as a range of new sprung multi-plate performance upgrades. “We had a wide variety of performance upgrades on display including everything from single disc upgrades for the Jeep Gladiator all the way through to our quad plate carbon upgrade for the fifth gen Dodge Viper,” Hayden said. “Our engineering team have been working hard to cover the latest models and gaps between the American and Australian markets and we are always continuing to expand our range to ensure all popular applications have a variety of clutch options available for different performance goals and driveability requirements.” ACS continued its show schedule post-SEMA with a display at Automechanika Dubai from the 22nd to the 24th of November, and will also be on-show at PRI in Indianapolis from the 8th to the 10th of December. For more information, please visit www.australianclutch.com.au or call 1800 CLUTCH.