People Places & Racing News

Movers & Shakers: Ricky Best Joins Holley Performance Products; Blanchat Named Universal Lubricants Director of Marketing

Ricky Best joined Holley Performance Products as technical sales representative. He will handle sales and support for all of Holley’s brands and will specialize in Holley EFI, Holley carburetors and Earls plumbing. The company announced that Best will attend many race and enthusiast events to support all of Holley's brands.

SMP announced that it added a new line of motorcycle parts to its BWD brand family of products. The BWD motorcycle line offers direct replacement parts, primarily for Harley-Davidson, with OE match or heavy-duty improved construction. For more information, visit www.BWDbrand.com.

Universal Lubricants hired Nancy Blanchat as director of marketing. Blanchat will oversee all aspects of the marketing effort for Universal Lubricants' new ECO ULTRA green product line and will report to Peter Fox, vice president of marketing and retail sales. Prior to joining Universal Lubricants, Blanchat spearheaded the marketing effort for Fidelity Bank, interpreting strategy into marketing campaigns to support all bank initiatives. Before Fidelity Bank, she served for 14 years at the Coleman Company as director of marketing communications.

CARDONE Industries was recognized as the best example of printed catalogs for its NAPA Remanufactured and NewMaster Cylinders Catalog during the 38th annual conference of the National Catalog Managers Association (NCMA) in St. Petersburg, Florida. DENSO Sales of California took home the Gold for its web catalog at www.densoaftermarket.com. International Brake Industries collected top honors for its innovative CD-ROM catalog. The conference featured nearly 300 aftermarket professionals, from manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and a variety of print, electronic and information service providers.

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association presented its West Coast Custom of the Year to Joe Proski's ’50 Merc overhauled by Squeeg Jerger of Squeeg’s Kustoms in Chandler, Arizona. Squeeg’s work included relocating the bumpers, adding a drip rail, reworking the doors and new grille, completely reworking the interior and more. In addition, Jeffrey Chandler’s ’33 Ford roadster was crowned this year’s Street Rod d’Elegance. Designed by Chris Ito, the all-steel roadster was completely hand formed and fabricated by Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon. The cutting-edge burgundy and black two-tone street rod was upholstered by Sid Chavers.

Friction-material manufacturers Fras-le North America Inc. hired The Marx Group as the company's agency of record for marketing communications and public relations. The Marx Group will help Fras-le with planning, research, writing, delivery and in representing the company to industry trade publications.