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Movers & Shakers: Chip Foose to Unveil ’39 Cadillac Custom "Madam X" Coupe

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Foose to Unveil ’39 Cadillac Custom "Madam X" Coupe

Madam X Coupe
Chip Foose will debut his latest custom creation—the ’39 Cadillac Madam X Coupe—later this summer.

Chip Foose will debut his latest custom creation—the ’39 Cadillac "Madam X" Coupe—later this summer. Originally built for automotive dealership magnate Wes Rydell and his wife Vivian, the Madam X was originally designed more than 80 years ago as a concept vehicle for Cadillac, but it was never built. Foose will bring this “Cadillac that never was” into the real world with the utmost craftsmanship and quality.

“The Madam X Cadillac is turning out to be one of the most stylish cars I’ve ever built,” said Chip. “It’s a great combination of modern technology and old-school coachbuilding tradition. I can’t wait to reveal it.”

For more information about the forthcoming debut or current news on Madam X Cadillac project, www.chipfoose.com.

Hunter Offers Members of the Trade Trip to SEMA Show

Hunter Post

Hunter's two-part social media contest offers trips to the 2016 SEMA Show and the chance to win a SmartWeight Touch wheel balancer.

Hunter Engineering has launched a two-part social media contest offering trips to the 2016 SEMA Show and the chance to win a SmartWeight Touch wheel balancer.

Two shops can win a trip to the 2016 SEMA Show by following Hunter on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube, and posting their answer to the question: “Why do you choose Hunter?” (using hashtag #WeChooseHunter) to be entered into the contest. Winners will be announced via social media on September 15. During the Show, visitors to Hunter’s booth (#41029) can upload a photo or video of their favorite Hunter equipment to for a chance to win a free SmartWeight Touch wheel balancer (using the hashtag #HunterAtSEMA). The winner will be announced via social media, Thursday, November 3.

There is no limit to the amount of times a Hunter follower may post and enter the contest. Contact Madeline Triplett at 314-716-0467 for more information.

Bestop Inc. Announces Acquisition of Baja Designs

Bestop has announced that it has acquired Baja Designs (BD) of San Marcos, California. Recognized as “The Scientists of Lighting” for more than 20 years, BD engineers lighting systems to stay at the forefront of off-road racing and on- and off-road driving. The acquisition reflects Bestop’s priority of growing both organically and through acquisitions in the automotive aftermarket. The company continues to invest in brand development and aggressive product innovation, while evaluating opportunities to extend into new product categories.

yokohama
Dan Funkhouser

Yokohama Tire Corp. Promotes Dan Funkhouser to Senior Director of Commercial Sales

Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has promoted Dan Funkhouser to senior director of commercial sales. His responsibilities will include all business segments in the commercial division, according to Rick Phillips, YTC vice president of sales. Funkhouser was promoted to director of commercial dealer business in 2014. He joined YTC in 1994 as a district sales representative in Minnesota and was promoted to national account manager in 1998. In 2008, Funkhouser was promoted to manager of national accounts.

VP Madditives and VP Small Engine Fuels Now Available at AutoZone

VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced its “Madditive” line of gas and diesel additives and its VP Small Engine Fuels product family are both now available at AutoZone stores throughout the United States. Marketed as “Race Fuel Technology for Your Daily Driver,” VP Madditives include off-road and street-legal formulas to optimize performance in gas and diesel engines, while VP Small Engine Fuels are formulated for outdoor power equipment to prevent fuel system damage caused by ethanol-blended street gas.

1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels Closes Escrow On New Facility

1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels has closed escrow on its new one-acre facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. Located in Eastern Los Angeles County near the Orange County border, operations will commence during the month of September. The new location will be 12078 Florence Ave., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. Customers and vendors are advised to call 1-800-383-7974 before visiting or shipping to the new address. All phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

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Seth Fogle

Brenton Productions Expands Client Capability with Experienced Media Professional Seth Fogle

Brenton Productions has announced the appointment of Seth Fogle as the company’s new director of sales. Fogle will lead Brenton’s sales media staff in support of their client marketing programs. Fogle comes to Brenton from NBC Charlotte and TEGNA Broadcasting, where he served as sales manager and regional digital director of sales since 2011. He was Gannett Broadcasting’s first regional digital director at TEGNA/Gannett Headquarters in McClain, Virginia, before moving to WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to joining TEGNA/Gannett, Fogle was the Atlantic Division digital sales manager, Vivial/Berry. He began his career in media working for the Gibbons/Peck Marketing and Erwin Penland Advertising agencies.

nmra
Lonnie Grim

ProMedia Names Lonnie Grim as NMRA, NMCA and NMCA WEST Event Technical Director

ProMedia Events & Publishing has announced the promotion of Lonnie Grim to the post of event technical director for the NMRA, NMCA and NMCA WEST event series. Grim is currently the technical director for the Chevrolet Performance Challenge Series and will continue those duties as well. He is a 20-year veteran in the sport of drag racing, assuming many roles through those years. The Arkansas resident currently holds an NHRA Silver level SFI certification and has been an NMRA/NMCA tech inspector since 2007. In addition to sitting on various SFI and NHRA councils, Grim spent seven years as a full-time Sportsman racer in NHRA drag racing and he also operates Lonnie Grim Motorsports, a multi-faceted drag racing and street-rod custom shop. Grim's prior experience includes positions as event director for Drag Week and Engine Masters Competition, and competition director for Holley LS Fest, Roadkill Nights, Car Craft Midnight Drags, ADRL in Qatar Winter Series, the Mod Nationals and select Super Chevy events. The promotion takes effect immediately as all four national event series under the ProMedia brands are wrapping up the 2016 season and planning for 2017.

DENSO Announces New General Manager of Remanufacturing

DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc. has named Yijun “Henry” Peng general manager of its remanufacturing operations in Murrieta and Long Beach, California. In the newly created position, Peng is responsible for overseeing all aspects of DENSO’s existing remanufacturing business, as well as its major expansion initiatives to meet growing market demand for top-quality reman products in the North America. Peng was tapped for his expertise in all facets of remanufacturing to manage this increasingly significant segment of DENSO’s aftermarket business. He joins DENSO with nearly 15 years of experience in the automotive and financial industries. He previously worked for Cummins Inc., where he started as a strategic sourcing manager responsible for procurement, contracts, supplier readiness, compliance and process improvement.

West Coast Customs Technical Trade School Announced

West Coast Customs recently announced plans to open a technical trade school dedicated to providing first-class training for those seeking aftermarket trades. The company simultaneously launched an Indiegogo campaign featuring exclusive perks, including a select run of West Coast Customs Academy work shirts, fully-customized West Coast Customs Jeep or a one-of-a-kind concept car prototype build.

The goal of West Coast Customs Academy is to motivate, train and provide students with technical skills relative to the automotive aftermarket trades. The Academy offers a comprehensive 48-week training program featuring a curriculum format comprised of six trade-level instructional segments including Auto Body, Upholstery, Fabrication, Wheels and Tires, Electronics, and Wrap and Tint. According to the company, with West Coast Customs Academy classes commencing early 2017, plans for a two-hour WCCA special on FOX Sports have already been green lit.

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