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Movers & Shakers: Klassic Rides’ New Ownership Team; Kevin Reyer Honored as Master Refinish Technician

Compiled by SEMA Editors

  klassic
L-R: Fred Rice, Olindo Mare, Steve Lyon and Billy West are the new owners at Klassic Rides LLC.
  

Klassic Rides Has New Ownership Team

Billy West, operations manager and one of the owners of Klassic Rides LLC, of Denver North Carolina, has announced the completion of the acquisition of 100% of the ownership of Klassic Rides. The acquisition included the purchase of the business entity and the facility that houses Klassic Rides.

The new ownership team is a group of self-proclaimed “car guys” who were brought together by their common interest in cars and vehicles of all types. The new owners are West (owner/operations manager); Olindo Mare (owner/sales and marketing manager); Fred Rice (owner/business manager) and Steve Lyon (owner).

Klassic Rides is a premier automobile restoration shop, and specializes in full frame-off and partial restoration and repair of automobiles, trucks, musclecars and other special-interest and classic vehicles from all eras.

Klassic Rides opened in 2005. Today, Klassic Rides provides classic auto restoration and custom service to customers across the United States. The company has grown to 22 full-time employees, and occupies a 20,400-sq.-ft. facility.

SLAMSTOP Installs Network of Qualified Professionals for U.S. Growth

SLAMSTOP has announced it will begin its search for qualified automotive shops, body shops and car stereo installers in the United States to carry the SLAMSTOP device. The partnership will include quality, on-site training by a SLAMSTOP representative sent over from headquarters and also a business listing as a certified installer location on SLAMSTOP.com. SLAMSTOP—a soft-close car door device installed inside the door panel—uses a sensor that automatically monitors when a vehicle’s door reaches a specific distance from the car frame. As soon as the space is detected, a sensor is triggered and transfers the information to the SLAMSTOP operating system to secure the door shut the remainder of the way.

SLAMSTOP’s Southern California warehouse and installation training center, set to open in early 2015, is seeking automotive customizing experts who have extensive experience and knowledge about vehicle customization and are attracted to in-car technology and mechanisms. Certified installers will be required and able to install the device on a wide variety of vehicles.

Kevin Reyer
PPG Certified Master Technician Kevin Reyer (second from right) has received the 2014 PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of the Year Award.
 
  

Kevin Reyer Honored as Master Refinish Technician of the Year

PPG Certified Master Technician Kevin Reyer has received the 2014 PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of the Year Award. The presentation took place at an awards dinner in November during the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) board of governors conference. Paul Evans, PPG zone manager, refinish training; Glenn Dahl, chairman of the ASE board of directors; and Timothy Zilke, ASE president and CEO, presented the award to Reyer.

The award is an annual tribute to the PPG collision center technician receiving the highest score on the ASE Painting and Refinish test. Other qualities such as on-the-job excellence and community service can factor into the award. This year, 336 PPG candidates vied for the honor.

AutoRep Sales Named Champion Racing Oil Rep Firm of the Year

Champion Oil has announced that AutoRep Sales from Birmingham, Michigan, has been named its 2014 Rep Firm of the Year.

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