By SEMA Editors
Royal Purple to Unveil a GAP Racing ’67 Camaro at the 2017 SEMA Show
Royal Purple will unveil a custom-built ’67 Camaro by GAP Racing at the Royal Purple SEMA Show booth (#23543), Tuesday, October 31, at 2:00 p.m. The ZL1-inspired build features a Chevrolet Performance LT4 engine, custom Baer brake calipers and HRE Wheels. While remaining stylistically a ’67 Camaro, parts have been adapted from several generations of the Camaro, including the ’18 model, for a combination of retro and modern styling. The unveiling will include interviews with Royal Purple product specialists and GAP Racing owner Tim Palazzolo. The reveal will be live-streamed on the Royal Purple Facebook page using Facebook Live. Three other vehicles will be displayed in the booth, including a ’32 Ford built by Tim Strange, a ’67 Chevrolet C10 truck built by Brady Cassel, and Bobby Ducote of “Street Outlaws” ’86 Ford Mustang. Royal Purple will also host various celebrity signings throughout the Show, including TV personalities Katie Osborne, co-host of “PowerNation TV,” and Heather Storm, a co-host of Velocity’s “Garage Squad.”
 Kaleigh Jerzykowski |
Hart Marx Advisors Announces New Detroit-Area Office; Marx Group Appoints Kaleigh Jerzykowski as Assistant Account Executive
Hart Marx Advisors has opened a new office location in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The new office space, located at 43700 Woodward Ave., Ste. 106, spans 2,800 sq. ft., and will house Hart Marx Advisors alongside sister company Marx Group, a full-service marketing communications agency specializing in the automotive and trucking industries. Hart Marx Advisors currently operates offices in California and Florida with advisory board members located in the U.K. and throughout North America.
In addition, Marx Group has appointed Kaleigh Jerzykowski as an assistant account executive. Jerzykowski will work out of the company’s Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, location, supporting the company’s automotive clients, providing public relations, social media, graphic design, event management and web-development services. Prior to joining Marx Group, she had been the social media and events coordinator for the Clarkston (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce and a staff reporter for the Oakland Post at Oakland University.
National Auto Body Council Receives National “Power of A Summit Award”
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) was honored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with its highest award—the Power of A Summit Award—in recognition of the impact NABC’s Recycled Rides program has made to change and save thousands of lives across the country. The National Auto Body Council was one of six associations presented with the award at ASAE’s recent Power of A Summit Award Dinner in Washington, D.C. The award is given to associations that make exemplary commitments to creating a stronger America and the world. Since the program’s inception 10 years ago, nearly 2,000 vehicles have been donated through Recycled Rides.
 Jeff Stacy |
Aeromotive Names Jeff Stacy as Vice President
Aeromotive has announced a new management position with the addition of Jeff Stacy as the company’s new vice president. Hired this month, Stacy boasts a career in the automotive aftermarket that spans more than 25 years, and previously worked at Aeromotive in 2004 as sales manager before being promoted to vice president of operations. Stacy’s first position with the automotive aftermarket was with Automotive Performance Wholesalers (APW), located in Kansas City. With APW’s purchase by Keystone Automotive, Stacy was relocated to Pennsylvania and promoted to senior buyer. After an 11-year career with APW/Keystone, Stacy joined Aeromotive Inc. as the company’s sales manager before a promotion to vice president of operations. After six years with Aeromotive, Stacy joined Fragola Performance Systems/FK Rod Ends as president of sales and marketing, serving in that capacity for seven years. Stacy briefly worked as sales director for R&R Marketing Consultants Inc., where he was tasked with the company’s eastern expansion and in managing relationships with key clients, before joining Aeromotive in October. Stacy will report directly to president Steve Matusek and is working from the company’s headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas.
Power Automedia Unveils 2018 Print Magazines and Digital Properties
Power Automedia has released its 2018 media kit, which includes the addition of properties from Xceleration Media. In addition, plans were announced for a redesign of the Power Automedia digital platform. Power Automedia’s digital line-up for 2018 includes 15 web-based magazines, which reach 1.9 million monthly readers, 5.2 million Facebook fans and feature 664,034 email subscribers. Three digital magazines have joined Power Automedia: Power & Performance, OneDirt and Drag Racing Scene. Two new print publications are being added with the launch of Ford Muscle and LSX Magazine. For 2018, Power Automedia’s digital platform is being redesigned to feature larger high-res images and a more engaging ad and content layout. The relaunch is planned for December 2017.
MAHLE Service Solutions Announces New Collaboration Platform for Christian Brothers Automotive
MAHLE Service Solutions has announced a new agreement with Christian Brothers Automotive to provide the company with an enhanced enterprise technician collaboration platform. The customized version of the new MAHLE Forum will offer a rich web and mobile application for experience and knowledge-based collaboration with built-in workflows, service information management, data analytics and diagnostic tool integration. The platform, MAHLE Forum, will be used by Christian Brothers Automotive at all 160 of its locations. The new collaboration environment, called CBA Connect, will allow Christian Brothers Automotive technicians to interact with and support other technicians within the organization when they need help diagnosing or repairing vehicles.
 The Georgia Department of Economic Development has recognized Lund’s leadership within the industry and state. |
Lund International Receives Georgia Automotive Company of the Year Award
Lund International has announced that it has been selected as the recipient of the Georgia Automotive Company of the Year award for 2017 by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Presented by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, the Georgia Automotive Awards recognize individual companies for their contributions to the state and in their communities. With Georgia as a premier destination for automotive manufacturers and the technology companies that are developing the transportation system of the future, the awards celebrate the industry’s collective accomplishments. Lund International was lauded for its active participation in statewide, regional, national and international activities and its contributions to civic organizations and initiatives.
Brembo Recognized as a Top Global Leader for Environmental Sustainability
Brembo has been identified as a global leader in corporate response to climate change and has been awarded a position on this year’s “Climate A List” by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). The list was created by CDP, a non-profit global environmental disclosure platform, which assists companies in measuring and managing information on climate change. Thousands of companies submit annual climate disclosures to CDP for independent assessment against its scoring methodology. Out of the thousands of companies around the world that submit their environmental data every year through the CDP independent assessment process, approximately 100 make the “A List.”
 Tony Morris (left) has joined the GET’M Garage team as carburetor department manager. |
International Racer, Carb Specialist Tony Morris Joins GET’M Garage
International drag racer and carburetor specialist Tony Morris has joined the GET’M Garage team as carburetor department manager. In this role, he will be responsible for all facets of carburetor assembly, rebuilds and at-track diagnostics. Prior to joining GET’M Garage, Morris worked for 14 years with a well-known carburetor modifier in Orlando, Florida, where he started manufacturing small precision parts. Because of his in-depth carburetor knowledge, he was later promoted to carburetor department manager, where he oversaw all aspects of carburetor production. He was a mainstay at the track, providing onsite track technical support for racers. Originally from Birmingham, England, before moving to the United States, Morris raced competitively in Germany, scoring five championships there. He continues to race internationally, and travels to Europe several times a year to tune customer carburetors.
Dana Inaugurates New Axle Production Facility in Toledo, Ohio
In support of its global growth plans, Dana Inc. has inaugurated a new high-tech axle-production facility in Toledo, Ohio. The site of the new Dana facility was initially home to Willys-Overland Motors, which developed the original Jeep. The 300,000-sq.-ft. facility was built to support a number of new light-vehicle programs, including the new Jeep Wrangler, which will be manufactured less than three miles away at FCA US LLC’s Toledo Assembly Complex. By 2020, the facility will support four vehicle programs and employ more than 350 people. The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority redeveloped the property in conjunction with NAI Harmon Group. To support this investment, Dana received financial and other assistance from the State of Ohio and JobsOhio, the Regional Growth Partnership, Lucas County, the City of Toledo, the Port Authority, and First Energy.
 Steve Horn |
Steve Horn Joins Premium Guard Inc. as Corporate Ambassador and Senior Strategist
Premium Guard Inc. (PGI) has appointed aftermarket industry veteran Steve Horn as its corporate ambassador and senior strategist. The announcement was made by Anan E. Bishara, president and CEO of PGI, who noted that Horn will take part in shaping the company’s business strategies. Horn will report directly to Bishara. He will also have additional responsibilities, including customer strategy, product strategy, directing special projects and involvement in industry events. Before joining PGI, Horn worked in a variety of positions at ATP Automotive from 2010 to 2016, where he served as vice president – sales, senior vice president – sales, and executive vice president. Prior to joining ATP, Horn was the vice president sales and marketing at Champion Laboratories, where he initiated the global rebranding of the Luber-finer brand. Before Champion, he was the business unit president at Perfection Clutch, where he was responsible for building a new sales group in the United States and Canada. Horn has also served in senior leadership positions at ARI, Raybestos Brakes, and Apex Automotive Warehouse.
Tommy Pike Customs to Have Five Vehicles on Display at SEMA Show
Tommy Pike Customs will display five vehicles created and built in its Greenville, South Carolina, shop at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, October 31–November 3. Pike will feature a ’17 Camaro SS, ’17 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD Dually and a ’17 Dodge Ram Rebel in the Shell Pioneering Performance display. Additionally, Tommy Pike Customs will have an unnamed vehicle on display in the MOPAR booth and a ’17 Toyota Tundra will be displayed at the AAPEX Show. Pike will make multiple appearances, including an autograph session October 31, at 2:00 p.m., on the Shell Pioneering Performance Stage (booth #60005), and a meet-and-greet at the MOPAR Booth (#43155) November 1, at 2:00 p.m.
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Hunter to Present at SCRS Repairer Driven Education Panel
Hunter Engineering will participate in the SCRS Repairer Driven Education – OEM Session II: “The Impact of Advanced Vehicle Systems on Routine Repair Process and Procedure (OEM2),” Thursday November 2, 2017, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at the 2017 SEMA Show. During OEM Session II, Kaleb Silver, senior product manager for Hunter Engineering will present on challenges facing the industry, and the impact of advanced systems on routine services such as wheel alignments. After the presentation he will welcome a distinguished panel featuring representatives of OEM, Association and Tier I suppliers to discuss the growing complexities facing the repair marketplaces. Registration available at www.scrs.com/rde.
Auto Custom Carpets Inc. Acquires Automotive Carpet Division of Trim Parts Inc.
Auto Custom Carpets Inc. has announced the acquisition of the automotive carpet division of Trim Parts Inc. Auto Custom Carpets Inc. will transfer the acquired carpet business operations to its manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Georgia.
 AmericanMuscle.com, in conjunction with RTR, is giving away a ’18 Mustang RTR Spec 3 RTR. |
AmericanMuscle Announces 2018 Mustang RTR Giveaway
AmericanMuscle.com, in conjunction with RTR, is conducting a giveaway of a ’18 Mustang RTR Spec 3 RTR, or “Ready to Rock”—a special performance model of the Ford Mustang designed by Vaugh Gittin Jr. The RTR package is specially installed by Ford dealers nationwide. The Ford-licensed RTR products combine elements from Japanese drift culture and European sports-car influences to create a modern package geared toward the late-model Mustang enthusiast. AmericanMuscle.com's giveaway began October 24, 2017, and will run until March 31, 2018. Entrants can apply weekly for a chance to win the grand prize of one new ’18 Mustang RTR Spec 3 valued at approximately $60,000. The winner will be announced the first week of April 2018.
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