Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Holley Performance Products was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Kentucky Association for Manufacturers (KAM). | |
Holley Named Manufacturer of the Year by KY Association for Manufacturers
Holley Performance Products was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Kentucky Association for Manufacturers (KAM) at the 2015 KAM Manufacturer and Employee of the Year Awards ceremony. This award is presented annually to a manufacturer in Kentucky that showcases exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, community leadership and policy contributions to enhance the overall prosperity of the Commonwealth. Tom Flynn, general manager of Holley's Bowling Green operations, accepted the award at a banquet luncheon at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville.
In 2014, Holley announced the creation of a new research and development facility at its Bowling Green headquarters. The new R&D facility brought an investment of $1.3 million to South Central Kentucky and created 20 new jobs. Holley has launched more than 600 new products in the last year, which has led to increased staff hires in engineering, R&D, sales, tech and operational support.
This past year, Holley announced a partnership with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College and Warren County Area Technical Center in a Motorsports Education initiative called On Track. In addition, Holley annually brings the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion to Beech Bend Raceway, which draws about 20,000 visitors and pumps an estimated $4 million into the Bowling Green economy. Holley also holds its Holley LS Fest in Bowling Green, which brings in thousands of competitors, spectators and media from around the country each year.
On September 27, Holley announced the acquisition of more top companies in the automotive performance aftermarket, including MSD Group. That acquisition also included several other top brands/companies including Mr. Gasket, Accel, Superchips, Edge, Racepack, Mallory, Hays, QuickTime and Lakewood.
Luken and New York Broadband Sign Major Affiliation Agreement
Luken Communications LLC has announced a multi-station, multi-network affiliation agreement with New York Broadband LLC, encompassing three stations and two Luken networks. The new affiliates, located in New York (DMA 1), Dallas-Ft. Worth (DMA 5) and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (DMA 6), will be distributed between Luken’s “Retro TV” and “Rev’n.” New York-area viewers can already find “Retro TV” and “Rev’n” over the air on WXNY channels 32.4 and 32.5, respectively. The other stations plan to launch “Retro TV” and “Rev’n” within the next several weeks. With the added affiliations, the footprints of “Retro TV” and “Rev’n” will include 79.8 million households and 54 million households, respectively.
 Kahn Media will work with Weistec to develop a brand strategy that expands its customer base beyond Mercedes AMG enthusiasts. | |
Weistec Engineering Names Kahn Media as PR Agency of Record
Kahn Media Inc. has been appointed the public relations agency of record for Weistec Engineering—a leader in Mercedes AMG performance. Based in Anaheim, California, Weistec offers its customers a full range of products and services for all Mercedes AMG models and will field a two-car team in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge series. Kahn Media will work with Weistec to develop a brand strategy that expands its customer base beyond AMG enthusiasts and into the mainstream, expanding its distribution network and promoting its products and vehicles worldwide. Kahn Media will also handle PR for Weistec’s new racing team, which will field two AMG Customer Sports GT3s in the Pirelli World Challenge series next year.
General Tire Named Official Tire Supplier of ARCA Beginning in 2016
In conjunction with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, General Tire has announced that it will become the official tire supplier to the ARCA Racing Series beginning in 2016. The sponsorship marks General Tire’s entry into stock-car racing. General Tire’s agreement includes the official tire and sole supplier status in the ARCA Racing Series. The program also includes a complete television package, including commercials, in-car cameras and billboards, as well as at-track activation, race entitlements and track signage programs. General Tire will continue to provide full support to all ARCA teams.
 Jerry Hayden and his ’04 Dodge Ram 1500 are the fall 2015 Truck Madness winners. | |
RealTruck Announces Fall 2015 Truck Madness Winner
RealTruck.com has announced that Jerry Hayden and his ’04 Dodge Ram 1500 are the fall 2015 Truck Madness winners. The online single-elimination, bracket-style tournament welcomed all Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota trucks to submit an entry, beginning back in August of this year. After all the submissions were received, only four Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota trucks were selected to compete. The tournament saw four rounds of voting by online visitors. A new round was kicked off each week, with only the most popular models from each make continuing onto further rounds. As the winner of RealTruck’s Fall 2015 Truck Madness tournament, Hayden will receive a $1,500 RealTruck gift card. To create his custom build, Hayden installed more than a dozen mods from lightbars to nerf bars.
Premier Restoration Enterprises Expands Footprint With New Facility
In order to keep up with current client demand, Premier Restoration Enterprises moved into a new, larger facility, which has been designed for maximum efficiency with separate areas for metal working, mechanical, paint, body work and a clean room for assembly. The company’s custom heated and cooled storage offers services for vehicles being stored, ranging from battery trickle, fuel additives, maintenance start-up, spring commissioning and full detailing. There is also a showroom and customer lounge.
VP Racing Fuels Brand Program Expanding to Canada
VP Racing Fuels is expanding its retail branding program to Ontario, Canada, with the help of its newest distributor partner—Belleville, Ontario-based Rosebush Energies. Rosebush Energies owns and operates two retail locations and services 10 other retail sites in Eastern Ontario, in addition to distributing heating oil, propane and other products and services to residential and industrial accounts.
 Seven vehicle graphics installers from around the world were named the Regional Wrap Kings in the “Wrap Like a King” Challenge. |
Seven Regional Winners Named in Avery Dennison
Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has announced that seven vehicle graphics installers from around the world were named the Regional Wrap Kings in the “Wrap Like a King” Challenge featuring Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Films, Conform Chrome, and digital Supercast vinyl wrap. The following vehicle graphics installers were named Regional Wrap Kings:
- North America East – Designer Wraps in Millville, New Jersey
- North America Midwest – Spade Kreations in Cincinnati, Ohio
- North America Central – PG NOLA in New Orleans, Louisiana
- North America South – MetroWrapz in Hollywood, Florida
- North America West – SS Customs in Redwood City, California
- Canada – Sekanskin in Mississauga, Ontario
- Europe – SIGNal Reklame GmbH in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
A panel of international industry judges chose the West, Central, Midwest, East, South, Canadian and European Wrap Kings out of 173 total entries. The 2015 Challenge judges included Ryan Friedlinghaus, Eric Ide, Markus-Marcel Knoch, Myles Kovacs, Justin Pate, Adrian Rope and Molly Waters. The regional winners will go on to compete for the ultimate “King of the Wrap World” title at the 2015 SEMA Show, November 3–6, 2015 in Las Vegas.
LOWRIDER Unveils New Identity Through Redesigned Magazine and Website
TEN: The Enthusiast Network has announced that LOWRIDER has introduced editorial and design changes to the LOWRIDER brand. The new editorial format, viewable in magazines beginning this month, includes removing female models from its pages to better focus on the art of lowrider car building and Hispanic automotive culture. The LOWRIDER brand will feature positive contributions from the lowrider community and promote initiatives that create social awareness to combat negative stereotypes.
 Bill Hoffpauer |
Bill Hoffpauer Joins CRP Automotive as Regional Sales Manager – SE
CRP Automotive—a source of OE-quality replacement parts for European and Asian import-vehicle applications—has announced the appointment of Bill Hoffpauer as its regional sales manager for the southeastern United States. Hoffpauer has taken over the responsibilities of Daniel McSwain, who has retired after nine years of service with the company. Hoffpauer will manage the sales portfolio of CRP Automotive’s six-brand family in the southeastern United States, including both regional and national accounts. He will also play key roles in helping to expand relationships with current customers and establish new accounts and business opportunities.
Precision Turbo & Engine Becomes an ISO 9001:2008 Registered Company
In September 2015, Precision Turbo and Engine became an ISO 9001:2008 registered company. The ISO 9001:2008 requirements enhance all aspects of a company's operations. ISO 9001:2008 certification requires a company to provide quality services and products while maintaining high levels of customer service and continuous improvement.
 Richard O'Leary |
Hopkins Names Richard O’Leary to Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. has announced the addition of Richard O’Leary as vice president and chief human resources officer. O’Leary will lead and direct all human resource-related activities for Hopkins at its eight locations around the world. Most recently, O’Leary was the corporate vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer for Milacron LLC—a global leader in the plastic technology and processing industry.
 SEMA Show attendees will have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with OPSTRAX and Toyota representatives and demo the OPS technology suite. |
Toyota SEMA Show Booth to Feature OPSTRAX Demos
SEMA Show attendees will be able to speak one-on-one with OPSTRAX and Toyota representatives and demo the OPS technology suite—a parts-management system that helps collision centers efficiently order Genuine Toyota parts and track orders throughout the fulfillment process to receive an accurate time of delivery. The OPS technology suite integrates into the collision center’s current workflow by connecting to their estimating system, providing the tools needed to streamline and improve their repair business.
The OPS technology suite includes:
- OPSTRAX—a parts procurement and communication tool between dealers and collision centers. This allows collision centers the ability to submit and track parts orders electronically and it allows dealerships to view all orders through a centralized online location.
- VALUTRAX—allows Toyota dealers the opportunity to offer collision centers Genuine Toyota parts at a more competitive price.
- DELIVERYTRAX—Tracks all parts order deliveries with real-time delivery information and status updates to increase business efficiency.
- TRAXPOD—Sends desktop shipping notifications and informs collision centers of deals and discounts from their Toyota dealership.
To find out more, visit the Toyota booth at SEMA, #24700, located in Central Hall.
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