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LAS VEGAS, 4 November – The SEMA Show in Las Vegas is the premier gathering of auto makers and specialty products manufacturers. Each year, thousands of show attendees demonstrate the trends and products that will make their way to retail and showroom floors around the world, making the SEMA the place to be to spot what is next in the world of automotive style and technology.

Appropriately, the Global RallyCross Championship was on the minds and lips of many of the shows attendees..  The show was capped by a panel discussion that featured series general manager, George Tamayo, joined by several motorsport luminaries, including motocross legend Ricky Johnson, who mentioned an interest in getting his son involved in, “the next big thing,” and star custom bike builder Roland Sands.  The discussion focused on the convergence of motorsport and action sports and how specialty automotive products can find a market within this niche.

“I thought is was a good discussion with a variety of people from different segments of the automotive, motorsport and powersport worlds that if we can collaborate effectively, the market for each of us will grow individually,” Tamayo said.  “In the same way that different genres of music have crossed over one another to create new hits, so too can motorsport.  Brian Deegan and Travis Pastrana are great examples of that and Dave Mirra has made the successful transition from another form of sport entirely.  That kind of cross-pollination is great for Global RallyCross.”

In addition to the Tamayo’s panel discussion, GRC President Brian Gale, and CEO Chip Pankow busied themselves during a host of productive meetings with manufacturer, vendor and marketing partner representatives.

“There’s a great vibe out their right now around the GRC,” Gale said.  “The automotive industry is genuinely excited about the series potential, and it seems like every everyone is looking for ways to be involved.  We’re going to have some announcements regarding 2012 coming soon that I think will keep stoking the fire with GRC fans.”

A multitude of GRC cars and stars were on display throughout the show, which is the second largest trade-show hosted in Las Vegas.  Brian Deegan’s gold medal winning Ford Fiesta was the centerpiece of Ford’s display area, while Rhys Millen Racing’s Veloster held court at the Hyundai display.  Deegan, Tanner Foust and Ken Block also put on a variety of driving demonstrations with Ford’s new Octane Academy initiative in their GRC cars.