Although the Fall is technically heading towards “the offseason” for automotive culture, it actually marks the beginning of a lot of hectic work for those of us behind the scenes. It’s been called “the SEMA Crunch” by car builders and manufacturers, but it’s really the Trade Show Crunch. The SEMA Show falls in the last week of October, while the PRI Show comes just one short month later. If you are in sales, marketing, communications, events, or any of the forward-facing careers for a participating company, everything has to be in place at least a month before in order to make it to the trade shows in time.
Once PRI is over, we can take a small breath before launching holiday sales and social campaigns to wish our customers Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Now that we are through the Holidays, we thought it would be a good time to look back at both trade shows to give you an idea of what you missed. Edelbrock Group had some terrific new products that got customers talking, so we’ll highlight some standouts for you. Of course, no trip to SEMA or PRI is complete without checking out some of the sights and vehicular amazement evident at both shows!
Edelbrock Group New Products
Edelbrock was one of the founding members of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) when it was formed in 1963, and all of the Edelbrock Group power brands have been a part of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) since its inception in 1986. The six Edelbrock Group power brands include COMP Cams, TCI, FAST, Russell, and Lunati. EG has one of the larger product displays set up in Central Hall to show off its new and signature products. If you missed our new product sneak peek leading up to SEMA, look back at this article!
The SEMA and PRI trade shows culminate years of product research and development to improve end users’ vehicles. The demand for Dodge performance parts (specifically for the Hemi engine) has been at an all-time high for the past few years. The Edelbrock Group answered the call with several new products to improve the Dodge platform. Let’s take a look at a few that had people talking!
Edelbrock Gen III 6-Bolt Dodge Hemi Heads
Edelbrock cylinder heads are manufactured at its foundry in San Jacinto, California. In fact, cylinder heads own the second-highest production numbers at the foundry and are highly regarded because they use premium materials and machine them to the industry’s tightest tolerances, ensuring consistent performance with every cylinder head. With particular emphasis placed on holding precision tolerances on valve seat concentricity, the heads are supplied with premium manganese bronze valve guides for long wear, allowing the valves to seal securely, eliminating leak-down while increasing cylinder pressures during engine operation.
All Edelbrock cylinder heads also feature its patented Clean Cast Technology™, a revolutionary process that eliminates casting flaws and promotes a smoother internal surface finish for improved air and coolant flow. These benefits provide more power and increased cooling ability right out of the box. The foundry’s new 3D casting printer is shortening casting time considerably. Click here to learn more about the Edelbrock Foundry!
Victor CNC 6-Bolt (P/N 61155) – The top-of-the-line Victor CNC 6-Bolt head was developed for maximum performance. It features full CNC combustion chambers, CNC intake and exhaust ports, an improved valve train, and industry-leading six-head bolts per cylinder to increase clamping force. It is compatible with O.E.M. 15-bolt or aftermarket 23-bolt engine blocks and comes bare but fully machined and ready for assembly with the engine builder’s preferred components.
Performer RPM 6-Bolt (P/N 61135) – This cylinder head is engineered with the same architecture as the factory head so that stock components will fit without issue. The intake and exhaust ports are “as-cast,” with the port entry and exit CNC profiled to maximize airflow for out-of-the-box performance. These ports match the O.E.M. location for the 6.4-liter engine and can use the 5.7 Eagle, 6.1, or 6.2 intake manifold. Designed as a premium replacement head for any high-performance application, these heads offer the best performance value for the Chrysler Gen III Hemi engine platform.
Assembled with premium COMP Cams valve train components, this cylinder head features Beehive valve springs, chromoly steel retainers, heavy-duty stainless-steel valves, and top-quality valve seals — all assembled and inspected by qualified Edelbrock technicians. The Beehive valve springs allow up to .675”-lift camshafts, ideal for many mild to hot camshaft grinds, and the integral truss design helps stabilize valve train movement at high RPM.
TCI Automotive
TCI Automotive has been busy with some really exciting products for all of the Big Three, but let us stay with Dodge for the moment. If there is a weakness in Dodge’s drivetrain, experts might point to the 8HP70 transmission. Actually, the transmission is a fairly stout unit, but there is always room for improvement. TCI Automotive has been working on some options to get those Hemi Challengers and Chargers virtually bulletproof.
Stage 1 Torque Converter for Dodge 8HP70 (P/N 145000) – This new TCI Stage 1 Torque Converter is being introduced as the first in a series designed to pair well with COMP Cams HRT line of Gen III Hemi camshafts for the Dodge 8HP70 transmission. With a low stall speed of 2,700 to 3,000 RPM, this new converter works well with the COMP HRT Stage II camshaft for 5.7L and 6.4L Gen III Hemi engines. A smooth operating torque converter, it delivers on-demand power to get your car moving quickly with solid, positive lock-up to meet torque demands from the engine.
Several more “off-the-shelf” offerings are slated for the future, including mid-stall and high-stall Stages; however, custom-build options that are sure to fit your needs are available now. As a bonus, all converters in this series include a new SFI-approved flexplate specifically designed to work with each converter.
Max-Cool Transmission Cooler Kit for Dodge 8HP70 (P/N 824105) – TCI Engineers designed this kit to address overheating issues sometimes seen in the 8HP70 eight-speed automatic transmission installed in 2015 and newer Challengers and Chargers. This secondary cooler has a removable thermostat that will open the thermostatic cooler block when needed to reroute water through the heat exchanger, providing maximum cooling. This is a bolt-in kit designed specifically for these models.
The kit includes the heat exchanger, -6AN hoses cut to length and provided with fittings, brackets to affix the exchanger, the thermostatic cooler block, and all the fittings and hardware to complete the installation. If you’re stepping up the performance output of your Dodge, a trans cooler is a good piece of insurance to keep that 8HP70 from going up in smoke.
4X 4L60E Transmission Bellhousing Adapter and Flexplate Kit for Small-Block Ford Engines (P/N 271640) – This kit really got a lot of attention during the show. It allows a TCI 4X or GM 4L60E transmission to be installed behind a small-block Ford engine, giving customers another choice for a reliable and more plentiful four-speed overdrive transmission. The compact design means the transmission bellhousing fits most applications without any tunnel modifications. A steel flexplate specific to your engine and torque converter also comes with the bellhousing to mate a Ford converter to a TCI 4X or GM 4L60E transmission. Customers can purchase the bellhousing separately or as part of a package with a TCI 4X 4L60E that also includes a transmission cooler, dipstick, and all required hardware.
Cast in aluminum at the Edelbrock Foundry, this bellhousing adapter features precision machined faces, ensuring perfect alignment between the engine and transmission. Gusseting and ribbing provide serious strength to keep the input shaft planted, while an inspection plate allows access to the torque converter bolts for easy assembly and disassembly. If you want an economical way to get overdrive with your small-block Ford, look into this adapter!
SEMA And The SEMA Show
The SEMA Show is the world’s largest automotive aftermarket trade show. Combine that with the AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) Show taking place simultaneously, and Las Vegas is overrun with the automotive industry. Though they are both aftermarket parts trade shows, the big difference is in the words “specialty equipment.” SEMA is geared more toward improving a vehicle from its stock intention, whereas AAPEX is more about replacement parts. The SEMA Show takes place in no less than five convention center buildings and several outdoor areas as well. It is common to walk up to 10 miles daily and still run out of time to see it all.
If there is one word to describe the SEMA organization, it would be variety. The automotive aftermarket is so much more than a bunch of vehicle parts. SEMA is a diverse group of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, publishing companies, auto restorers, street-rod builders, restylers, car clubs, race teams, and so much more. SEMA encompasses the entire hobby of vehicle modification, including education and legislation to preserve it. Of course, the ultimate goal of a manufacturer is to sell parts, but the SEMA Show is also a great place to showcase the products on vehicles — some of them in action.
The PRI Show takes place in Indianapolis and can be thought of as a “mini-SEMA” as many of the same companies participate. The distinction for PRI is that it is focused on racing. And when we say racing, we mean anything where at least two people are battling to be first with a motorized vehicle. Like SEMA, PRI encompasses the entire hobby with education and legislation to maintain the right to race.
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow
One of the key principles that both SEMA and PRI organizations have worked on for several years is the education and promotion of the automotive trades for the next generation. This commitment is no more evident than in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow competition. HRoT is a 501c organization dedicated to automotive education made possible by the support of sponsors and dedicated volunteers.
The competition was the brainchild of Jim Bingham, who debuted the competition as the “Engine Challenge” in 2008 at the Race and Performance Expo. Vic Edelbrock Jr. was invited to be the guest of honor at that expo. When he saw the competition, he recognized the potential to engage young enthusiasts and encouraged Jim to expand on the concept. Both men worked within the industry to secure funding and sponsorships, and Hot Rodders of Tomorrow was born. HRoT has grown by leaps and bounds since that first Engine Challenge.
Many companies in the industry sponsor teams of high school students who compete to tear down and rebuild an engine in the fastest average time. The 2023 competition saw 32 teams from across the nation battle for the title. Five teams qualified for the finals during the SEMA Show, and five qualified at PRI for the Elite TEN Championship finals, which also took place at PRI.
In only their first year together as a team, Team COMP Cams, coached by Nathan Dial from Pontotoc Tech Center in Oklahoma, came in Tenth with an average time of 32:35. If this group stays together for a second year, they will be a force to be reckoned with for 2024. Undoubtedly, they will have to go through Forsyth Central High School in Georgia. The school is doing something right, with three teams finishing in the top ten this year. Team Fragola from Forsyth, coached by Tyler Turner, took the top average time with a blistering 17:16!
Students who participated in the playoffs and championships competed for over $3 million in scholarship opportunities from Ohio Technical College, Universal Technical Institute, and the School of Automotive Machinists & Technology. It is a testament to the sponsors’ and educators’ focus on preparing the next generation to continue innovating and building on our car culture. If you ever get the chance to see a competition, take the time to sit and watch the orchestrated dance of the teams as they work in unison to tear down and rebuild an engine. It requires athleticism, problem-solving, coordination, communication, and thinking on their feet — and it is one of the most exciting events you will see at SEMA or PRI.
SEMA and PRI Vehicles
Though both trade shows are about automotive products, undoubtedly, people are attracted to the vehicles. For the past ten years, builders have submitted vehicles to be considered in the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition. The competition recognizes one winner in each of four categories: Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; 4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; and Young Guns. An overall winner is crowned the Battle of the Builders Champion from those four categories. When the dust settled, Andy Leach of CAL Automotive Creations took home the trophy with a custom 1960 Buick Invicta named X-60.
Tire Fryer
Many vehicles make their debut at SEMA, as it is a high-profile event where they can get a ton of additional exposure, and 2023 was no different. One vehicle featuring many EG products first appearing at SEMA2023 was for a worthy cause. EG Ambassador and NHRA Top Fuel Dragster driver Clay Millican found and bought a super-clean, unmolested 2006 Pontiac GTO with only 1,349 miles on the odometer. Not one to leave a car stock, Millican worked with Jeff Lutz of Lutz Race Cars and Street Outlaws fame to modify the pristine “goat” topped off with an Edelbrock supercharger to be sold at the Mecum Indy auction in May. Proceeds from the sale go to the CRC Build for the Future Scholarship program.
Mean as a Mongoose
At the PRI Show, Edelbrock Group was offered the opportunity to have the extremely eye-catching Top Fuel Funny Car of Ron Capps in the booth. The car is a throwback to the iconic Hot Wheels flopper driven by Don Prudhomme back in the day. Capps was on hand to sign hero cards for fans for a little while. The striking yellow car caught everyone’s eye!
Drivers, Celebrities, and General Cool Sights
The SEMA and PRI Shows are great places to see the faces of the industry. There are famous people in the automotive industry everywhere you turn. You must keep your head on a swivel as world-class drivers, brilliant engine builders, fabricators, television stars, or industry greats can be found at press conferences, vehicle unveils, or just walking around chatting with vendors. Luckily, we had a camera!
Clay Millican and Jeff Lutz
Clay Millican is a lifelong ambassador of COMP Cams. You will never see him without a smile on his face, whether he is behind the wheel of his Rick Ware Racing Parts Plus NHRA Top Fuel dragster or coming up with the next social media idea. He pulled Jeff Lutz into the GTO project mentioned above. We caught them as they stopped by the EG booth along with CRC execs to thank CEO Chris Douglas for Edelbrock Group’s help on the project. When you get this group together and then include Arrington Performance‘s Mike Copeland, you can only imagine what projects might be on the horizon. Stay Tuned!
Ida Zetterström
2023 FIA Top Fuel Dragster Champion Ida Zetterström flew across the pond to make a big announcement about her career at the PRI Show as she leaps over to NHRA with JCM Racing for the 2024 racing season. She dropped by the EG booth and brought the trophy from her last race at Santa Pod Raceway to give to the Edelbrock Group for all the support in her meteoric rise to champion. Little did she know that she would also receive a trophy for the same reason! COMP Cams Machine Operator Dane Hamric designed and fabricated this one-of-a-kind token of the Edelbrock Group’s appreciation for being such an outstanding ambassador for the brands in Europe. Good luck in 2024, Ida!
Ida Zetterström presented the trophy from her last race at Santa Pod Raceway to VP Mark Campbell, while he and Trent Goodwin returned the favor with a custom-made trophy from the talented Dane Hamric of COMP Cams.
Riley’s Rebuilds
Speaking of meteoric-rising ambassadors, Riley Schlick of Riley’s Rebuilds took a break from her busy freshman year in college to travel to Vegas. Riley and her group of girlfriends exploded onto the scene in 2022 by rebuilding carburetors out of her parent’s garage for extra money. She made a Facebook post asking for extra parts for the rebuilds, which went viral. Edelbrock was tagged thousands of times, and Riley is now a dealer and brand ambassador. She is making the most of her celebrity, meeting many of her heroes, and appearing on numerous TV shows. At the SEMA Show, she hosted a class to teach other young women how to rebuild a carburetor and even met with Summitt Racing in the Edelbrock booth to talk about her experiences.
More SEMA and PRI Show Cars
The SEMA and PRI Shows may be product trade shows, but they wouldn’t be nearly as exciting without the vehicles displaying those products and the talented builders who utilize them. Some truly outstanding builds fight for the spotlight at these shows. Whether they have never been seen before or are a significant historic car you already know, everyone comes to see what is on display. So, without further ado, let’s finish this up with some standout vehicles from the shows!
Track-going or track-inspired cars were all over the property. People are certainly getting their vehicles out to have fun with them. It’s no longer about sitting in a lawn chair beside a stagnant vehicle!
Just Some More Wild and Crazy Creations at the SEMA Show
