Movers & Shakers: 14 Qualify for 2013 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow; ODYSSEY Named Official Battery of Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School

	Fourteen high school Auto-Tec teams have qualified for the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge finals at the PRI Trade Show, Wednesday–Saturday, December 11–14, in Indianapolis.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Qualifications Underway; New Rules for 2013 Season
Three events have taken place for the 2013 season of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow, and 14 High School Auto-Tec teams have qualified for the finals at the PRI Trade Show, Wednesday–Saturday, December 11–14, in Indianapolis. To help provide more opportunities for teams to experience the thrill of competition on its highest stage, the qualifying rules were changed for the 2013 season. In an effort to establish a true race-against-the-clock competition, any High School Auto-Tec Team that is timed at 35 minutes or less will automatically qualify for the finals. The change will help to increase the number of schools that will qualify, allowing more students to participate. For more information on the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, visit www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com.

ODYSSEY Named Official Battery of Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School
EnerSys announced that ODYSSEY battery was named the official battery of Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School in Mooresville, North Carolina. Started by professional drag racer Doug Foley, the school provides a comprehensive training center where individuals can safely learn how to drag race. As the official battery for the driving school, ODYSSEY batteries will be exclusively used in all of Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School dragsters, door cars and race cars. The ODYSSEY battery logo will also appear on all vehicles and on Doug Foley’s Racing School website. Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School consists of the Dragster Experience, which teaches individuals how to drag race, and the Dragster Blast Ride Along, designed for individuals to experience the ride from the passenger seat.

	Nick Rogers’ radical ’51 Mercury custom won the Goodguys 2013 Mother’s Custom of the Year award at the Goodguys 31st All American Get-Together presented by Specialty Sales Classics.

Goodguys 2013 Mother’s Custom of the Year—Nick Rogers’ ’51 Merc
Nick Rogers’ radical ’51 Mercury custom won the Goodguys 2013 Mother’s Custom of the Year award at the Goodguys 31st All American Get-Together presented by Specialty Sales Classics. Rogers’ sleek candy-blue Merc beat out a field of customs to collect its second award this spring. The car also won the coveted Custom d’Elegance crown at February’s Sacramento AutoRama. The Merc was finished and produced for the show season by Bill Ganahl’s South City Rod & Custom. Highlights of the Merc include forward-slanted B-pillars and the addition of a ’50 Merc rear window (among other subtle cosmetic enhancements) that were artistically executed by Matt Townsend (Townsend Customs & Hot Rods). The addition of an evil ’53 DeSoto grille,’49 Merc dash and ’55 Ford side trim (featuring Packard spears) only enhanced the Merc’s curb appeal. The candy blue House of Kolor paint was sprayed by Joe Compani. Fellow finalists for the Goodguys 2013 Mother’s Custom of the Year Award included John D’Agostino (’40 Cadillac), Tony Cuevest (’49 Merc), Don Kirk (’40 Ford) and Jeff James (’54 Chevy).

Yokohama Tire Corp. Establishes New Subsidiary in Mexico
Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) established a new subsidiary—Yokohama Tire Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada De Capital Variable), incorporated in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. The subsidiary was created to meet the growing demand for consumer, commercial and OTR tires in Mexico, and Yokohama expects it to provide critical sales, distribution and business logistical advantages. Yokohama Tire Mexico will be headed by 45-year tire veteran Gary Nash, who has been appointed president of the new company. Nash was previously vice president of YTC’s OTR sales, where he will now take on the new title of executive advisor to OTR sales and marketing.   

	CEO of Marx Group Advisors Tom Marx will present "Aspects of Buying/Selling a Small Business," Wednesday, April 17, during a Production Engine Remanufacturers Association webinar.

Marx Group Advisors CEO Presents Seminar on Valuing Your Business for Sale
CEO of Marx Group Advisors Tom Marx will present "Aspects of Buying/Selling a Small Business," Wednesday, April 17, during a Production Engine Remanufacturers Association (PERA) webinar. The one-hour session (10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. [CST]) is designed for small- and midsize company owners, especially those who are thinking of selling and need information on the right way to prepare and follow through to successfully value their business. Webinar registration, open to PERA members and non-members, is available through GoToMeeting. “Our research has found that 70% of all small and midsized businesses never sell after they are put on the market," explained Marx. "Selling a business is not like selling a piece of real estate or any other type of asset."

Marx will address the questions people ask about how to sell and value their business, including ways to ensure the value of the business is maximized. He will provide the information needed to get a business ready to go to market; on how deals are structured; and why, when and how to use an intermediary to support you. He will also talk about proven steps to follow to increase the chance of closing the sale of a business.

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