Merger and acquisitions advisory and management consulting firm Schwartz Advisors announced that it recently added two new partners, Dennis Walvaert and Mitch Williams. Walvaert and Williams will work on merger and acquisition initiatives and strategic consulting projects for the company. Walvaert recently retired as the president of the Dayco North American aftermarket division and was responsible for Dayco's Australian operations. Williams is the former president and COO of Hella Inc., where he was responsible for aftermarket activities for Hella in the United States and Canada. He also served as COO for aftermarket accessory supplier Pilot Automotive.
Total Automotive Inc. Completes 10,000-Sq.-Ft. Expansion
Total Automotive Inc.
has completed a 10,000-sq.-ft. expansion of its main complex in
Chanhassen, Minnesota. With the expansion, the company plans to add 12
to 15 new positions in 2012, as well as to launch a new retail www.hingekits.com website and release more than 100 new hinge repair kits before the 2012 SEMA Show.
 Barrett-Jackson contracted collector car legend Rick Cole to serve as an automotive specialist. |
|
Collector Car Legend Rick Cole to Help Source Consignments for Barrett-Jackson
Collector car legend Rick Cole was contracted by the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction
to serve as an automotive specialist. Best known as the hobby’s
“Auctioneer to the Stars,” Los Angeles-based Cole will utilize his vast
experience in the auction arena to help Barrett-Jackson source
consignments for collector cars and add his 35-plus years of expertise
and knowledge to find some of most highly collectible automobiles and
automobile collections. Cole will work with Gary Bennett, vice president
of consignments. Cole’s history with collector car auctions started in
1978 when he established Rick Cole Auctions. He held hundreds of
successful auto auctions in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Palm Springs
and even originated the first collector car auction during the famed
Monterey auto week, selling more than 20,000 high-end and highly
sought-after classic vehicles throughout his career.
Hastings Launches New Piston Ring Website
Hastings Manufacturing has launched a new design to its website that the company reports features a larger format and push-point boxes that are more visually appealing and easier to navigate. In addition to new dedicated sections for OEM, aftermarket and performance racing, the company has also added new applications and a new brand video, which covers the brand’s history, notable accomplishments and awards.
Ryan Payne Named VP of Marketing for Source Interlink
Ryan Payne was hired by Source Interlink Media LLC to serve as vice president of marketing. He will be responsible for streamlining the company's internal and external marketing solutions to help deliver more efficient and collaborative ideas to clients. Prior to joining Source Interlink Media, Payne most recently served as account director at Team One Advertising in El Segundo, California, where he managed the Lexus National account and was responsible for web development and collateral.
Hopkins Acquires Assets of F3 Brands
Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. has acquired the assets of F3 Brands, a provider of oil drains, drain pans, lifting aids and automotive ramps. F3 is the non-fuel containment business of Blitz USA. In addition to the oil-change products, Hopkins acquired the 2X4 Basics line of storage, organization and lawn and garden kits. Hopkins will maintain the manufacturing facility located in Miami, Oklahoma. The oil-change-related products will be unified under the FloTool brand name and the automotive ramps will continue to bear the RhinoRamp mark. This is the second acquisition by Hopkins in the fluid management category in the past six months. In October 2011, Hopkins acquired Mr. Funnel.
Toyo Continues Support of UFC
Toyo Tires U.S.A. Corp. will continue as the Official Tire of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for 2012. In addition to Toyo logos inside the Octagon during six UFC Pay-Per-View events and several UFC on FX and FUELTV events, Toyo will also have an increased presence on www.ufc.com and plans to further incorporate UFC and mixed martial art fighters into its marketing efforts.
 Scott Shanks and his 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible was selected the winner to drive the 2012 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour as a guest of Royal Purple. |
|
|
|
Scott Shanks Wins Royal Purple High Performance Driving Experience Contest
Royal Purple announced the winner of its High Performance Experience contest. Scott Shanks and his ’70 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible was selected the winner to drive the 2012 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour as a guest of Royal Purple. The company reported that it received more than 340 entries for the contest on its Facebook fan page. As the winner of the Royal Purple High Performance Driving Experience Contest, Shanks will receive a Visa gift card to help defray expenses traveling on the tour, paid registration fees for the tour, VIP parking, a spot in the Royal Purple booth on tour and a variety of Royal Purple swag.
Wisconsin Repeals Automotive Refrigerant Law
IDQ Inc. announced that the company, along with the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), have successfully encouraged the Wisconsin legislature and Governor Walker to pass S.B. 370, which immediately allows Wisconsin consumers to buy R-134a refrigerant products at Wisconsin retailers and save money. IDQ refrigerant products will soon be available at such Wisconsin retailers as AutoZone, Advance Auto, O’Reilly, Wal-Mart, NAPA and others. Sponsored by Senator Glenn Grothman (R) and Representative Joe Knilans (R) and backed by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, IDQ’s actions negate the need for Wisconsin residents to drive to neighboring states to buy R-134a and could add an additional $6–9 million in additional annual revenue for local businesses.