Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Warren Kosikov |
SEMA Promotes Warren Kosikov to Senior Director of OE Relations
SEMA has promoted Warren Kosikov to senior director of OE relations, and will serve as the primary conduit between the association and OEs. Kosikov will oversee and coordinate SEMA Garage measuring sessions and all OE-related activities for the SEMA/PRI Shows and magazines, including booth, sponsorship and advertising sales. This streamlined approach will provide increased customer service and more consistency to SEMA’s OE partners. Kosikov will also oversee business development for the garage tools that are offered to members. He will report directly to Mike Spagnola, vice president of OEM and product development programs.
Chapman Returns to VP Racing Fuels to Serve as Independent Sales Representative
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has welcomed the return of Tommy Chapman as an independent sales representative in support of VP-South, a region that encompasses Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. Chapman will be responsible for developing and servicing customer accounts while also providing technical consulting on race fuels and VP’s StayWet track conditioner. He’ll also be involved in activating VP’s marketing and promotional programs. Chapman started his career in 1957 as a full-time drag racer, ultimately winning the Georgia State Championship. He continued racing part-time while working for the U.S. Treasury Department as a criminal investigator for 25 years before retiring in 1990. In 1992, Chapman joined VP Racing Fuels as its regional manager-South, where he stayed until retiring again in 2010.
 United Engine & Machine Co.’s new logo. |
United Engine & Machine Introduces New UEM Pistons Branding
United Engine & Machine Company has introduced a new corporate logo. Known as United Engine & Machine Co. since its founding in Fresno, California, in 1922, the original flying lady logo was designed by Vatinia Sulprizio—the founder’s sister—of the 1937 catalog cover. The original logo has undergone changes and updates over the years, and in June 2017, a new corporate logo was introduced. The new logo features bold, prominent UEM letters, reflecting the company's usage of the UEM acronym. The UEM fonts are surrounded by flowing graphics, emulating the lands of a piston, and supporting the UEM letters. The company’s name, United Engine & Machine Pistons, capture the striking new logo.
Power Automedia Sets Record Highs for Magazine Traffic With Almost 2 Million Visitors in April 2017
Power Automedia’s drag-racing magazine, Dragzine.com, reached more than 600,000 visitors and almost 1 million article reads. Other titles continued their success while producing content that gets read month after month as a resource for modifying vehicles. Some of Power Automedia’s highlighted magazines for the month of April 2017:
- Dragzine: 800,000 page views (+78%) and 695,000 visitors (+148%)
- LSX Magazine: 246,000 page views (+67%) and 219,000 visitors (+115%)
- Chevy Hardcore: 198,000 page views (+50%) and 170,000 visitors (+61%)
- Corvette Online: 97,000 page views (+85%) and 85,000 visitors (+123%)
- Engine Labs: 327,000 page views (+64%) & 289,000 visitors (+107%)
- OffRoad Xtreme: 105,000 page views (+66%) and 91,000 visitors (+74%)
Summit Racing Equipment’s Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Winters Retires, Al Noe Promoted
After 15 years of service, Summit Racing Equipment’s Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Winters retired June 2. Effective June 5, Al Noe has been promoted to chief marketing officer. In his new position Noe will provide leadership and direction for all marketing activities. As such, he is responsible for the following departments and their respective managers: advertising, business development, catalog production, costing and pricing, events and motorsports, internet marketing and purchasing.
 Caliber Collision employees celebrate the opening of the company’s 500th location in Ft. Worth, Texas. |
Caliber Collision Opens 500th Location
Caliber Collision Centers celebrated a major milestone in the company’s history with the opening of its 500th location in Ft. Worth, Texas, last week. Caliber Collisions’ 500 centers are located across 17 states and the District of Columbia.
Tri-State Enterprises Named AAM Member of the Year
The AAM Group honored Tri-State Enterprises as the 2017 Member of the Year at its Annual Membership Meeting last month in St. Louis. Each year, AAM makes this selection based on five key metrics of member participation: active participation, growth as a percentage, marketing participation, participation in group buys, and product line compliance. Tri-State owner Tristan Taylor accepted AAM’s custom trophy and an exclusive painting commissioned from automotive artist Jim Caswell on behalf of his company. The AAM meeting also saw awards given to the individual winners in each of the aforementioned categories. Recipients included Midwest Wheel (Active Participation), Toys for Trucks (Growth as a Percentage), Competition Specialties Inc. (Marketing Participation), Tri-State Enterprises (Participation in Group Buys), and Earl Owen Company (Product Line Compliance).
 Colin Smith |
Motorsport Network Hires NASCAR Digital Media Executive as Group CEO
Former NASCAR Digital Media Vice President Colin Smith will join the Miami-based Motorsport Network as the company’s new chief executive officer. He joins Motorsport Network after spending the past five years at NASCAR Digital Media. After initially overseeing the transition of NASCAR’s digital rights back in-house and building their end-to-end consumer platform, he then spent the past three years running NASCAR’s digital business. This included overseeing the brand’s website, mobile platform, subscription products, professional services, content, distribution, digital marketing and e-commerce. Prior to joining NASCAR Digital Media, Smith spent 15 years with Raycom Media/Raycom Sports working on U.S. collegiate sports in research, television syndication and distribution and digital business strategy. With 27 global editions of Motorsport Network’s websites, social media channels and magazines edited by local experts, Smith will oversee continued expansion of the brand.
 David M. Karpatkin |
King Engine Bearings Appoints Operations Manager
King Engine Bearings has announced that David M. Karpatkin has been appointed operations manager. He has more than 20 years’ experience in various industries, most recently as a district manager for ADT Security. He has also held key positions in sales, management and operations.
4 Wheel Parts Opens Boise, Idaho, Location
4 Wheel Parts revealed its brand-new Boise, Idaho, location with a family-friendly grand-opening celebration last weekend, where the retailer officially unveiled its 79th North American location.
CURT Group Acquires UWS
CURT Group has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire United Welding Services (UWS) from Thule Inc. Headquartered in Perry, Florida, UWS is a manufacturer of storage solutions and truck accessories for professional tradesmen and truck enthusiasts. The transaction is expected to close in June 2017. This acquisition complements CURT Group’s expanding brand portfolio and truck accessory product lines. In addition to a full line of towing and truck accessory products, CURT Group will be able to offer UWS customers an expanded distribution network. The expansive network of warehouses located throughout the United States and Canada will make UWS products more accessible.
 America’s Car Museum is celebrating its fifth anniversary June 3. |
America’s Car Museum Shifts Into Fifth Year
America’s Car Museum (ACM)—a four-story, 165,000-sq.-ft. facility located in the heart of the Tacoma, Washington, Museum District—is celebrating its fifth anniversary at the Wheels & Heels Annual Gala on June 3. Since opening its doors June 2, 2012, ACM has hosted visitors from all 50 states and 47 countries, housed 815 vehicles (including cars, motorcycles and boats) and conducted more than 600 museum tours. In 2016, ACM became a part of America’s Automotive Trust, a not-for-profit aimed at securing a vibrant future for the collector-car industry and honoring America’s motoring legacy for generations to come. America’s Automotive Trust was formed in 2016 with four founding member entities: ACM, the RPM Foundation, Club Auto and the Concours Club. The organization recently completed its second cross-country winter journey to the North American International Auto Show with a trio of vintage vehicles from the ACM collection and held enthusiast gatherings in many cities along the way. In addition to the June 3 fifth-year celebration, ACM will offer discounted admission on every fifth day of the month throughout the year, discounts for membership and additional items for existing members.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.