Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Chip Foose (center), president and founder of Foose Design Inc., is celebrating his 30th anniversary in design this year. |
Chip Foose Celebrates 30 Years in Design
Internationally acclaimed automotive designer and master fabricator Chip Foose, president and founder of Foose Design Inc., is celebrating his 30th anniversary in design this year. The Hot Rod Hall of Famer is best known for his starring role on TLC’s and Velocity Channel’s reality television show “Overhaulin.’” He is a lead customizer in Hollywood, building studio cars for films, including “Blade Runner” and “Gone in 60 Seconds.” He joined the Disney Animation and Pixar design family to contribute to the paint schemes and graphic treatments for the “Cars,” and “Cars 2” films, and those same designs are embodied, and were personally applied by Foose and his crew at Disney’s California Adventure’s “Cars Land” theme park. He has designed shoes and eyewear for Oakley Sunglasses and Oakley Three Palms Footwear and was a member of the Detroit’s MotorCity Casino and hotel design team where he was responsible for the property’s unique look.
His achievements so far are vast; he was the youngest inductee into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame, won the coveted “Ridler” Award four times at the Detroit Autorama, has been instrumental in designing and/or building eight America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Awards, the first recipient of the Good Guys Trendsetter Award, honored on numerous occasions by the Grand National Roadster Hall of Fame, the San Francisco Rod Custom Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Diecast Hall of Fame. His TV successes have inspired dozens of other shows and his vehicles have brought record values and attention at hundreds of shows, auctions and events around the world.
Rev’d Media Group Announces New Publisher and Magazine Launch
Rev’d Media Group has hired Casey Brammer as the new publisher overseeing all titles in the Rev’d Media portfolio. Looking to add to its growing magazine lineup, Rev’d will unveil its all-new car audio and 12V title, TunedIN Magazine, for Q3 2016, to round out current magazine and market offerings. This will make for a portfolio of five digital publications covering performance, lowered, lifted, late-model and now the audio segments.
 Scott McLaughlin |
Scott McLaughlin promoted to Holley/MSD Director of Sales
Holley/MSD has announced the promotion of Scott McLaughlin to the position of director of sales. In this position, he will be responsible for the continued cultivation of the Holley/MSD resellers with the ultimate goals of growing value and growing relationships. McLaughlin and the Holley/MSD sales team are responsible for representing the Holley, MSD, Mr.Gasket, ACCEL, Hooker, Flowtech, Earl’s, NOS, Demon, Weiand, Mallory, Diablosport, Edge, Superchips, Lakewood, Hays and Quicktime performance brands.
American Force Wheels Launches New Website Featuring Truck Configurator Tool
American Force Wheels recently launched its new interactive website. The new site boasts a number of new features, including the truck configurator tool, which is designed to give customers quick access to part numbers and costs, as well as product details, including photographs. The new site also features a new interactive map that allows American Force customers from around the world to connect, showcase and share their rides.
John Casanova Named President of Newly Formed NovaPacific Inc.
Qingdao Haizhilong Machinery Co. Ltd. (HZL)—a manufacturer of OE-grade automotive water pumps, fly wheels and vacuum pumps, has named John Casanova president – North America of NovaPacific Inc. of its newly formed manufacturing operation in Toledo, Ohio. NovaPacific was incorporated February 11, 2016. Casanova is an accomplished 30-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket industry. Prior to being appointed president of NovaPacific, Casanova served in senior executive sales, marketing and operational roles for industry brands including Visteon, Fram Filtration, Carter and Trico.
 “Sam’s Garage” can be found on Rev’n every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. (EDT). |
“Sam’s Garage” Joins Rev’n Lineup
Luken Communications LLC and Rev’n LLC welcome “Sam’s Garage” to the Rev’n programming lineup. “Sam’s Garage,” produced by Powerscope Productions Inc., can be found on Rev’n every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. (EDT). The first episode debuted April 6. Each weekly episode will take the Rev’n audience inside “Sam’s Garage” to focus on proper techniques and effective do-it-yourself diagnosis and repairs. The series is hosted by veteran TV personality and ASE master auto technician Sam Memmolo, who brings more than 24 years of television experience, and has garnered popularity among performance, hot-rod, street-rod and restoration enthusiasts. He currently co-hosts “Motorhead Garage” and previously co-hosted the popular series “Shadetree Mechanic” and “Crank and Chrome.”
CCW Debuts Enhanced Website to Showcase Its Custom Performance Wheels
CCW Forged Performance—a WELD brand and a leader in custom wheels for performance vehicles—has launched its new website. The redesigned website interface includes new and improved navigation functions and graphics to provide performance car enthusiasts with an enhanced user experience. Additional features include color options, a finish gallery and a complete size matrix with pricing to provide a clear representation of available fitments and options. A photo gallery is now part of the site so enthusiasts have a clear picture of how CCW wheels appear on a particular vehicle within each product category. Since CCW wheels are custom made to a customer’s specifications, the site includes contact information for a CCW personal fitment specialist.
“The Lifted Life” to Premiere on Velocity Network
Six one-hour episodes of “The Lifted Life,” produced by Denver-based MediaHub Productions, will air Saturdays from 8:00–9:00 a.m. (EDT) on the Velocity Network, beginning April 9, 2016. The reality show follows day-to-day operations at Five R Trucks—an internationally-known, family-run business. Each episode features Five R clients and their truck builds, including Freddy Dodge from Discovery Channel’s “Gold Rush” and Shane Carwin, former UFC heavyweight champion and retired military veteran. Steve Hill originally started Five R as a trailer sales and repair company in 1972 at age 16, entering the custom truck industry 10 years later. Hill’s sons Jake and TJ grew up in the business and have become partners. Hill’s father, 85, a retired union ironworker, supervises the shop and excels as the official shop storyteller, who will bend the ear of customers and staff alike about his days as a scrappy youngster during the Depression.
 WELD has completed its consolidation of HiPer Technology’s operations into its Kansas City, Missouri-based headquarters. |
WELD Consolidates HiPer Technology Into its Kansas City Facility
After acquiring the assets of HiPer Technology in October 2015, WELD has announced the completion of its consolidation of HiPer Technology’s operations into its Kansas City, Missouri-based headquarters. The physical move of HiPer Technology’s Lawrence, Kansas-based operations began March 1 of this year and was completed in less than one month to achieve the goal of minimizing any disruptions to customers and partners of the company. HiPer Technology by WELD is the largest manufacturer of high-performance “super structural” carbon-fiber wheels for all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and side-by-side (UTV) vehicles.
Sonny Croughn to Display at Champion 60th Anniversary Celebration
Legendary custom-car and hot-rod builder Sonny Croughn will have his famous D.A.R.E. high-horsepower custom trike on display at the Champion 60th anniversary celebration, May 6, in Clinton, Missouri, bringing awareness to national Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.). During this 60th year, Champion will sponsor national races, regional events, race teams and drivers, plus hold an open house with factory tours, gifts, picnics, car shows and a road rally.
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