Financial doom and gloom dominated the headlines before we headed to the biggest industry trade show for those seeking all things vehicle related to make you go fast and look good doing it. Would the country's imminent recession pull the performance parts business into the tank? If the Specialty Equipment and Market Association (SEMA) Show is any kind of indicator, things are looking good! It's still going to be a tough 2002, but the collective attitude was positive.
Nearly 70,000 people attended the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) activities, which includes both the SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) at the Sands Convention Center. SEMA had more than 1,200 companies exhibiting over an awesome 625,000 square feet!
Surely, folks will be closely watching their wallets, but when the going gets tough, the tough go racing! We saw numerous companies with record numbers of new parts on display. The wheel and tire companies again dominated the giant trade-only show where PHR staffers and major mail-order houses seek out what's hot and what's not, but there was some news there, too. These days, SUV applications get the first fitments when it comes to new styles. However, we saw all sorts of technologies debuted last year in the 17-inch fitments that the consumers are demanding.
 Tony Bartone and his bad-ass...  Tony Bartone and his bad-ass buddies made the tow all the way from Long Island, New York, to Las Vegas to run their A-Fuel car at LVMS and to debut the '69 Camaro that we've all been waiting for. Yes, the 705-inch aluminum Merlin from our Feb. '00 cover is stuffed in the framerails |  Troy Trepanier showed off...  Troy Trepanier showed off his latest customer buildup as a guest of Popular Hot Rodding and PRIMEDIA. Look for this incredible '62 Cadillac, owned by Randy Wilcox, in an upcoming issue of PHR and you just won't believe the paint! |  Engine stuff was big, too....  Engine stuff was big, too. Chevy enthusiasts, who know about engines, fear the latest Magnum motors from Mopar, as they know these powerplants are an incredible value for the power they make. Mopar showed off this new 360 Magnum that finally has aluminum cylinder heads. |
The original equipment manufacturers, otherwise known as the Big Three from Detroit, had mixed offerings this year. With the demise of the Camaro and Firebird, only C5 Corvettes were on hand for serious GM performance enthusiasts. Yes, there were what seemed like a dozen Cavalier drag cars and tuner rides on display in the GM corporate booth, but the actual product that you can buy doesn't come close to resembling the amazing (read expensive) special projects on the floor. One couldn't mistake GM's desire to attract attention in the small-car market, even if they don't have the small cars to back it up.
Ford had a few cool Mustangs, but not much else to offer for the traditional performance fans. DaimlerChrysler showed off a few fun concepts, like a PT Cruiser with a Hemi between the framerails, and a hardtop Prowler, but without a rear-drive ride for the masses, there wasn't much to offer.
These new car disappointments shouldn't be construed as a lack of effort in terms of performance parts; however, as all the Big Three still care that their customers are satisfied and showed it with new engines, kits, and parts.
The brake industry has continued to blossom, with new fitments and new companies entering the marketplace. The cooperation and communication between wheel manufacturers and brake suppliers has never been better, witnessed by larger-diameter wheels designed to fit around rotor and pad upgrades that utilize the same caliper.
We could go for pages and pages, showing the cool stuff that we saw. So, we will! Enjoy and keep your chin up, enthusiasts, the performance industry is working hard, too.
 You've seen Nitto tires explode...  You've seen Nitto tires explode on the rodding scene thanks to their specialized fitments for musclecars, providing taller sidewalls in the bigger diameters so popular these days. They've taken it one step further by stretching their drag racing line beyond the popular 555-R drag radial to an all-out bias ply drag slick! There's Tomo and Conrad, looking proud and justifiably so, as this is not an easy feat to accomplish when you're used to building completely different styles of tires. Look for this one in a 15-inch diameter, 16 inches wide and 33 inches tall once it gets through testing. |  Now, this is an import that...  Now, this is an import that we can deal with! What a better way to show off plus sizing than on a vehicle that's never seen an automotive wheel? We need this setup for ATV Off Road Fury for PlayStation 2! |  Tool freaks will love this...  Tool freaks will love this new digital inclinometer from Webb USA. Called the Inclo-Matic (PN 675-05), the tool allows reference checking of suspension angles and setting of pinion angle without having to touch any mechanical parts on the car. The laser alignment ensures straight lines, and the digital readout makes quick references a snap. |
 The 5.0 Mustang is still a...  The 5.0 Mustang is still a great performance car, especially for those on a budget. Upgrading to beefier polyurethane motor mounts is often accompanied by a transmission mount upgrade, so Energy Suspension has chosen to sell the motor and transmission mounts as a package. It'll fit all '84-95 5.0-urged ponies. |  Vintage Air's new "Front Runner"...  Vintage Air's new "Front Runner" engine drive system ends the search for the right pulleys. The block-mounted drive setup allows for tight accessory packaging and the convenience of a single serpentine belt. Check with Vintage Air for prices and applications. |  Nitrous Express showed off...  Nitrous Express showed off its Rich/Lean Safety Sensor, a trick little device in SEMA's hot new product displays. This "next generation" safety device monitors your Air/Fuel ratio and automatically disengages your nitrous system when the mix gets dangerously lean. With its adjustable parameters, this smart piece should save a lot of parts and time for both racers and enthusiasts. |
 Are you a TPI kind of guy?...  Are you a TPI kind of guy? Do you think the industry has forgotten you? Think twice. K&N unveiled a Tuned-Port Injection Hot Rod kit, for folks with both stock road cars and hot rods that will take a TPI engine swap. It'll certainly make more power by relocating the air intake and by increasing the overall air capacity. |  The OER line of products,...  The OER line of products, available from Classic Industries and elsewhere, keeps growing, and the latest additions are sure to go over well with restorers and enthusiasts alike. A complete, new dash for '69 Camaros can now be had, and it looks as good as any original we've seen. If yours has been cut up or cracked after years of use, this one part can now replace the entire dash. |  Competition Engineering must...  Competition Engineering must have noticed the need for ultra-serious swaybars (similar to the stuff that Mark Stielow built for "The Mule" Camaro right here in PHR) and have answered the call with a universal antiroll bar kit (PN C2041). The beefy links and splined design allow fabricators to install this bar under almost any car or truck, and any doubts about its strength should be put to rest after getting a look at the links. The fully adjustable unit could improve the handling of just about anything! |