ARMO Member News

Collector Car Appreciation Day 2013 is still several months away, but there may be no better time to remind everyone in the restoration and other automotive specialty-equipment segments of this important celebration. In this issue of SEMA Member News, two Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) members explain in their own words how they use Collector Car Appreciation Day to not only celebrate with other enthusiasts, but also educate the non-enthusiast public about the importance of preserving our automotive heritage.

Along with incumbents Lenny Schaeffer of Chop Shop Customs and Matt Agosta of Steele Rubber Products, the Automotive Restoration Manufacturers Organization (ARMO) welcomed three new members to its Select Committee as a result of elections in the spring. Tray Smith is the vice president and co-owner of H&H Classic Parts, a large retailer of restoration parts specializing in Chevrolet products. Erika Woody is the owner of Hydro-E-Lectric, a manufacturing company that produces parts to keep convertible tops and power windows functioning on all types of cars from ’46–present. Jim Pennekamp is the national sales manager at TrimParts, one of the original ARMO manufacturer members.

More than 50 products from 25 ARMO-member companies were on display at the 2012 ARMO New Product Showcase. The annual event is held as part of Spring Carlisle, one of the largest restoration events in the country. The Showcase was open this year on Thursday through Saturday, April 26–28. “Carlisle is the natural venue for this event,” said ARMO Chair-Elect Dennis Roberts of Distinctive Industries. “Upward of 100,000 restoration enthusiasts come to Spring Carlisle, and these are the people who use our products. East Coast dealers and distributors who don’t get to the SEMA Show also attend this event, and the New Product Showcase gives them a chance to see our latest offerings.”