People Places & Racing News

Movers & Shakers: Design Engineering Sponsors Hot Rodders of Tomorrow; Motovicity Launches “Ticket to Ride” Promotion

  aftermarket news, automotive aftermarket news, aftermarket business
Design Engineering (DEI) recently announced its sponsorship of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge—an engine-build competition and scholarship program for high school shop teams.
   

Compiled and Edited by SEMA Staff 

Design Engineering Sponsors Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge
Design Engineering (DEI) recently announced its sponsorship of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge. A scholarship program for high school shop teams, the challenge consists of a series of competitions that exhibit each team's skill at breaking down and reassembling a small-block Chevrolet engine. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, created in 2008, was the brainchild of Jim Bingham, owner of Winner’s Circle Speed and Custom Inc. The engine challenge was developed initially as a special event for Winner’s Circle’s Race & Performance Expo. With only five teams competing in the inaugural year but with added encouragement from Vic Edlebrock, Winner’s Circle has grown the event to become a nationwide competition that today encompasses over 600 students; seven events, including the national championship at the annual PRI show, and 150 sponsors. 



With financial support from DEI and other performance manufacturers, educational institutions, SEMA, PWA, AERA and more than $6 million has been raised for student scholarships from OTC, SAMS and UNOH. Every student that places first through fifth in the nationals will win college scholarship funds. First place team members win $10,000 each, second place team members win $9,000 each, third place win $8,000 each, fourth place wins $7,000 each and fifth place wins $6,000 each to be used to pursue a career in the automotive aftermarket.  

The first Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge event begins February 22 at the Race & Performance Expo in Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois, and culminates at the 26th annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show that will be held in Indianapolis in December. The display of the top teams competing at the annual SEMA Show is a highlight for spectators and determines the teams that will compete at the Nationals event at PRI. For a full schedule events or to sign up a high school team to compete, go to www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com.

Motovicity Distribution Launches “Ticket to Ride” Promotion
Motovicity Distribution will give away a ’13 Scion FR-S and ’13 Ford Mustang with an assortment of performance products along with each of the cars through its “Ticket to Ride Promotion.” Winners of the project cars will then document the installation of the supplied performance parts, as well as document before-and-after performance tests. The promotion runs through September 30, 2013, and is open to all Motovicity customers. Because Motovicity is a wholesale-only distributor, only registered performance-parts retailers and participating speed shops are eligible to participate. Winners will be selected from a random ticket drawing in early October.

Once the winners have received their prize vehicles, the builds will begin. Motovicity will provide regular updates on the progress of the installations, and the final project cars will be performance tested by a professional race car driver on a closed track to analyze the performance gains.

“The winning teams not only get a brand-new project car and some of the best performance parts in the world for free, but they get to show-off their talents and mechanical capabilities to a national audience,” said Brett Kinsfather, Motovicity marketing manager.

Among the participating companies: Vibrant Performance, Exedy, StopTech, Royal Purple, Sparco and Gates Racing are supporting both project builds. AEM Electronics, Eibach and Energy Suspension are supporting the Scion FR-S build, and KW, Whiteline, BBK and STACK are supporting the Mustang build. More information on the sweepstakes, contest rules and registration are available at www.motovicity.com/tickettoride.

  aftermarket news, automotive aftermarket news, aftermarket business
Alpine Electronics of America Inc. honored the rep firms Focused Marketing Solutions (above)  and Driven Sales and Marketing (below) as its Rep Firms of the Year.
  aftermarket news, automotive aftermarket news, aftermarket business
   

Alpine Electronics Honors 2012 Rep Firms of the Year

Alpine Electronics of America Inc. recently presented its annual sales achievement award to two firms from its aftermarket sales rep force. Rep firms Driven Sales and Marketing and Focused Marketing Solutions were both recognized as Rep Firms of the Year. The awards were announced earlier this month at Alpine’s annual sales meeting. Both firms were presented with the “Bill Whitehouse Rep Firm of the Year Award.” The award was recently renamed in honor of Bill Whitehouse, a 12-year direct sales rep of Alpine who passed away in 2012. Whitehouse himself was named Rep of the Year in 2010 and 2011, becoming first person to achieve the recognition two years in a row. “Driven Sales and Marketing and Focused Marketing Solutions dedicated themselves as true partners with their retailers,” said Mike Anderson, Alpine’s assistant vice president of sales. “The  tenacity and leadership they showed in 2012 helped their retailers and Alpine achieve sales goals, while setting a path for ongoing success.”

Brenton Productions Named Lifetime Trustee of University of the Aftermarket Foundation
Brenton Productions—producers of Two Guys Garage and Truck U on the SPEED cable TV network—has become a lifetime trustee of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. "As content providers of automotive educational television, Brenton enthusiastically supports efforts to train the next generation of automotive aftermarket leaders," said John Passante, president, Brenton Productions. "There is a great need to find more skilled workers for our industry and we believe the University of the Aftermarket Foundation is helping fill the gap so more young people can get their aftermarket careers started. We encourage other companies in our industry to join with us and help grow the foundation's scholarship program."

Passante will become a member of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation board of trustees. The foundation encourages industry support, including donations for the purpose of honoring or memorializing individuals or otherwise recognizing special events. Contributions help ensure the availability of training and education to continue to strengthen the automotive aftermarket industry.

Lincoln Technical Institute Sponsors Grime Boss Nitro Funny Car
Jim Dunn Racing announced that Lincoln Technical Institute is a sponsor of its Grime Boss Nitro Funny Car. This is the third year Lincoln Tech has collaborated with Jim Dunn Racing. Lincoln Technical Institute is the “official technical school” of the NHRA. The school offers specialized automotive training across the United States that helps prepare students for jobs in the fast-growing field of high-performance motorsports. During the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello season, Lincoln Technical Institute plans to have a major presence at several national races and take part in four Youth and Education Services events put on by NHRA. The first race of the 2013 season for the Jim Dunn Racing team is the 53rd NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, February 14. For more information about Lincoln Technical Institute, visit www.lincolnedu.com.

PlastiKote Joins PBEPRO
PlastiKote announced that the company has joined PBEPRO, an online source for paint, body and equipment information. The PBEPRO website now features PlastiKote product information, data sheets and MSDS sheets. In addition, the PlastiKote color guide and information about the PlastiKote automotive touch-up program, including its revolutionary scratch repair kit, are available on the site. In the future, PlastiKote instructional videos will also be available for viewing at www.pbepro.com.  

Classic Recreations Adds New Shop, Expands Restoration Services
Classic Recreations will now offer restoration services for vintage vehicles of all makes and models at the company's new shop that has been aded to its Oklahoma headquarters. According to a company release, the 7,500-sq.-ft. shop opens June 5, 2013, and will welcome an additional crew of at least seven restoration experts, making the shop capable of all manner of projects and builds.

“Mustangs definitely have a special place in my heart, but I have a passion for all classics—musclecars, sports cars, street rods and more,” says Jason Engel, founder of Classic Recreations. “I have very fond memories of building my first Camaro, and know that diversifying is something Classic Recreations is capable of. I’m excited for the opportunity to reach other enthusiasts whose choice of vehicle might not be a Mustang.” Engel explained that as musclecar values continue to rise and enthusiasts see these vehicles as investments they can actually enjoy, the need for an all-encompassing restoration facility with in-house paint and body, assembly, upholstery facilities and engine tuning all on-site so nothing is farmed out and details are strictly controlled became imperative.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org