For those not familiar with SEMA, let me bring you up to speed quickly.  SEMA, Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association, is a group that serves the $36.7 billion automotive specialty-equipment industry - from doing research projects on trends to giving business to business solutions.  The SEMA Show is held during the first week in November and is the premier automotive accessories trade event in the world. The event is closed to the public, but offers the industry and media an opportunity to see the new releases for 2009 and early releases for 2010.

Only Las Vegas can house such a convention that is spread across multiple buildings.  There are over 2,000 exhibitors filling over one million sq ft of exhibit space and 125,0000 attendees bumping into each other in the aisles.

I know there is a mileage count somewhere for the person that walks the entire show.  It is something totally ridiculous.  And I will have to say I came pretty close to being able to see it all in four days….but not quite.  There was so many great new products to see and talk about that our pace got cut down as our conversations got longer.

It was exciting to walk the off road hall that had side x side products oozing out of each booth.  Mike and I took notes on each and will be bringing you more detailed information in the magazine.  The diesel performance hall had some great new gadgets.  The tool section had some really neat new tools that are must haves and will show up in our Garage issue (trust me, if I think they are cool, I know you will think they are must have’s).  The audio/video section was booming out the tunes and in the mix we found some gadgets that will make being on the trail more fun.  The main hall was all of your big boy corporations, and it took a little to sort through them, but with talking came the introduction of the side x side product that they had in the back corner or not even displayed.  The tire and wheel building was the last building to run through (by then my roller bag needed new wheel bearings!)  and we found a couple new wheels and tires that are ready to hit the market.

I took a lot of pictures for you.  Some are of new products that you will see featured in the magazine, others are of really exceptional vehicles that lined the inside and outside of the halls.  There was no lack of chrome or color, but interestingly the flat paint is the newest trend – and not only black but reds and oranges too.   Enjoy…and look to the New Product section of the magazine for more coverage on the products you need to know about.

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Receives ANSI Accreditation to Develop Voluntary Vehicle Standard for this Emerging New Product Category

Formed by the major manufacturers and distributors to promote the safe and responsible use of a new and emerging category of recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) received ANSI accreditation on November 3, 2008 to develop a standard for the equipment, configuration and performance requirements of ROVs. In addition, ROHVA has published Safety
Rules for these increasingly popular off-road vehicles. An ROV — sometimes broadly referred to as a side-by-side or UTV — is a motorized off-highway vehicle designed to travel on four or more non-highway
tires, with a steering wheel, non-straddle seating, seat belts, an occupant protective structure, and engine displacement up to 1,000cc. Current models are designed with seats for a driver and one or more passengers. ROVs’ performance and durability make them ideally suited for a variety of outdoor
recreational activities as well as many work applications. The following “ROV Safety Rules” focus on safe and responsible ROV use:

1. Always wear protective gear, use the seat belts, keep all parts of your body inside the ROV, and wear a helmet when driving the ROV for recreational purposes.
2. Never drive on public roads — another vehicle could hit you.
3. Drive only in designated areas, at a safe speed, and use care when turning and crossing slopes.
4. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
5. Never drive an ROV unless you’re 16 or older or have a driver’s license. ROVs are not toys.
6. Never carry more passengers than the ROV is designed for, and never allow a passenger who is too small to sit in a passenger seat to ride in the ROV.
7. Read and follow the operator’s manual and warning labels.

“The safety of the driver and passengers of ROVs is the top priority of the ROHVA member companies,” said ROHVA Vice President Tom Yager. “ROHVA and our member companies strongly recommend that ROV drivers and passengers follow these important safety rules to avoid crashes and injuries.” ROHVA submitted its application for accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on June 13, 2008 and received accreditation to develop a standard for ROVs on November 3. ROHVA will manage the standards development process and make certain that the final standard is in full compliance with ANSI guidelines. An approved ANSI standard for equipment configuration and performance requirements in this emerging product category will benefit consumers.
In addition, ROHVA will serve as the primary resource for information on ROVs. To coincide with its ANSI accreditation the association has launched a website, www.rohva.org, and has published ROV Safety Rules as well as a description of this emerging vehicle category. Further specific ROV educational materials are currently under development and will be posted to the site.
ROVs offered in dealerships across the country include the Arctic Cat Prowler, Kawasaki TERYX(TM), Polaris Ranger(R) and Ranger RZR(TM), and Yamaha Rhino models. The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) was formed to promote the safe and responsible use of recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) manufactured or distributed in North America. Based in Irvine, Calif., the not-for-profit trade association is sponsored by Arctic Cat, Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, and Yamaha.