Compiled by SEMA Editors
 The 4 Wheel Parts Down & Dirty Show Off-Road Edition Powered by Polaris RZR debuted April 3 and is hosted by motorsports personality Jim Beaver (right)—a professional off-road racer and nationally syndicated radio host. |
4 Wheel Parts Sponsors New Off-Road Radio Show With Motorsports Personality Jim Beaver
4 Wheel Parts (4WP) has announced the title sponsorship of a new radio show/podcast geared toward off-road racing, UTVs, rock crawling, overlanding and recreation. The 4 Wheel Parts Down & Dirty Show Off-Road Edition Powered by Polaris RZR debuted April 3 and is hosted by motorsports personality Jim Beaver—a professional off-road racer and nationally syndicated radio host. He has been on the air for more than a decade with the “Down & Dirty Radio Show Powered by Polaris RZR.” 4WP is backing the new “Off-Road Edition,” an offshoot of the original show, which returns Beaver to his off-road racing roots. Top desert and short-course racers will be among the first guests, and the show will continue to expand its range to cover all things off-road. The weekly podcast will be taped in-studio and at events with episodes dropping every Wednesday through an online radio and podcast network. The show can be found at www.downanddirtyshow.com.
Daystar Products Purchases Tuff Country
Daystar Products International has acquired Tuff Country Suspension. The transaction represents Daystar’s eighth during the past three years. Private equity firm Dubin Clark & Co. in 2017 partnered with Daystar to maximize the management team’s growth strategy. Daystar now offers hundreds of lift and leveling kits spanning 1–6 in. for nearly every truck, Jeep and SUV.
Elgin Industries Again Named John Deere Partner-Level Supplier
Deere & Company for the eighth consecutive year has recognized Elgin Industries as a Partner-Level Supplier in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. Deere & Company representatives presented the award to Elgin during a recent ceremony in Bettendorf, Iowa. Partner-Level status is Deere & Company’s highest supplier rating, awarded to companies that exceed expectations for product and service quality and are dedicated to continuous improvement. In addition to achieving Partner-Level Status for the past eight years, Elgin was Deere & Company’s 2018 Supplier of the Year and has been inducted into the John Deere Supplier Hall of Fame.
|  Tom Berger |
LTA Manufacturing Appoints Jefrrey Lacina New Director of Marketing; Names Tom Berger New Director of Quality Assurance
LTA Manufacturing LLC has selected marketing and communications professional Jeffrey Lacina as the company’s new director of marketing. In this new position, Lacina will be responsible for determining and implementing LTA Manufacturing’s marketing strategies, including producing literature, overseeing the website and its development, coordinating advertising, attending trade shows, maintaining industry relations and brand management for all LTA brands. Lacina will also manage social media for all of the brands and direct dealer communications and support programs. Most recently, Lacina was the race director of the Great Lakes Region of the World Racing League and also led his own Lacina Group Marketing & Communications firm.
LTA Manufacturing LLC has also announced the appointment of Tom Berger as the new director of quality assurance for the brands and its four subsidiaries: ATC Truck Covers, Jason Industries, LoadMaster and Ranch Fiberglass. Berger was previously the sales and customer service manager for ATC Truck Covers. In this new role, Berger will devise and implement procedures to inspect and report quality-assurance issues. He will monitor all operations that impact and affect quality and supervise and guide inspectors, technicians and other staff. As part of his position, Berger will also be in charge of implementing quality-control standards across all four brands to ensure that customer needs and satisfaction are met by all LTA Manufacturing companies. Berger has been with the company a total of 14 years. He joined the company in 2001 and remained until 2011. He left ATC Truck Covers shortly after the original facility was destroyed in a fire to continue working within the industry for another company. In 2016, Berger returned to ATC Truck Covers.
 Mahle Service Solutions will relocate production from York, Pennsylvania, to a facility in St. Johns, Michigan, which it will share with Mahle Engine Components. |
MAHLE Service Solutions Announces New Production Location for Next-Generation Repair Shop and Diagnostic Equipment
MAHLE Service Solutions is partnering with MAHLE Engine Components to relocate production from York, Pennsylvania, to a shared facility in St. Johns, Michigan. The move will take place by the end of 2019, and is intended to help the company profit from organizational synergies and boost the development of next-generation repair shop and diagnostic equipment to provide an improved customer service experience and increased overall efficiency. MAHLE Service Solutions will assemble its PRO series of shop tool and equipment products at the facility in St. Johns that include. Production is expected to begin by the end of 2019.
 The ROXOR Adventure Magazine is distributed exclusively by Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA) and details the features and inside design and engineering of the vehicle and the accessories created exclusively for ROXOR. |
Mahindra Introduces The ROXOR Adventure Magazine For Owners And Enthusiasts
The ROXOR Adventure Magazine was created to provide owners insights, information and entertainment regarding the world of ROXOR off-road. The new magazine is distributed exclusively by Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA) and details the features and inside design and engineering of the vehicle and the accessories created exclusively for ROXOR. With adventure in mind, the magazine tells the story of MANA, ROXOR, and the company’s dedication to creating a first-of-its-kind powersports/agricultural/work vehicle, the heritage of Mahindra and more. Enthusiasts are given an inside look at ROXOR and all that can be accomplished with one vehicle as well as information on the dealer network so they can build their own model. View the current issue online. Readers can also receive future issues at no charge by clicking the “subscribe free” button on the cover.
 U.S. Army Cpl. James Wesley Trent received a fully customized Ford F-250 Super Duty free of charge to replace his stolen one. |
Off-Road Community Bands Together to Help Soldier Receive Dream Truck
Recently returned from a year-long tour of duty in the Middle East, U.S. Army Cpl. James Wesley Trent was on leave with his family in Florida when he found his new customized Ford F-250 Super Duty stolen, stripped and burned to the ground, so members of the off-road community stepped in to help. After Trent returned to his base Fort Bliss, Texas, Phil Gottes, CEO of TuffTruckParts.com, contacted his parents to offer assistance. They had replaced the truck with a used stock model. During a surprise birthday party in December, Gottes promised Trent that his replacement truck would be entirely customized free of charge. American Force Wheels promised new 22-in. rims. Fabtech, AXIS Driveline and Yukon Gear donated a suspension lift kit and drivetrain components. Fab Fours, Ranch Hand, Bushwacker, Rolling Big Power (RBP) and Truck Hero supplied the exterior accessories to upgrade the truck with new bumpers, side steps, fender flares, a rack, a grille and a bed cover. Spec-D provided custom headlights. There was only one problem—Gottes was in Florida while Trent and his replacement truck were in El Paso, Texas—so 4 Wheel Parts’ (4WP) El Paso store with full vehicle bays decided to sponsor the labor. El Paso companies Rigo’s Graphics, Truck Wrap and Rick’s Headlight Restorations were enlisted to apply the custom wrap and finishing touches. On March 2, Gottes flew into El Paso to join the 4WP crew to present Trent with his finished custom truck.
 Evan Smith (right), president and CEO of Hypertherm, and OMAX co-founder and CEO John Cheung. |
OMAX and Hypertherm Form Waterjet Offering After Close of Merger Agreement
OMAX Corp. and Hypertherm have announced the successful closing of a previously announced agreement to establish OMAX as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hypertherm. The agreement, first announced March 20, formally combines OMAX’s direct drive pumps, software and applications technologies with Hypertherm’s complementary portfolio of intensifier-based pumps and abrasive recycling systems.
Continental to Co-Sponsor 2019 Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Advanced Instructor Training Tour
As part of its national training efforts, Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket has joined forces with the Tire Industry Association (TIA) to co-sponsor the 2019 Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Instructor Training Tour. The four-day, hands-on training classes will be hosted across the United States in seven cities with the goal of educating tire technicians on the proper safety procedures and guidelines for servicing passenger and light truck tire and wheel assemblies. The Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Program is a 300- and 400-level certification program that provides instruction on the recommended procedures for servicing modern automobiles and light trucks. Technicians who pass the course will be certified as Advanced ATS Instructors allowing them to certify other ATS instructors and technicians in the field. The tour features stops in Charlotte, North Carolina; Mission Viejo, California; Seattle; Detroit; Louisville, Kentucky; Denver and Baltimore. More information on tour dates and registration is available at www.tireindustry.org.
 Tracy Beecroft |
Lumileds Names Tracy Beecroft Senior Retail Sales Manager
Lumileds has appointed Tracy Beecroft its senior retail sales manager for North America. Beecroft will be responsible for retail and e-Commerce sales channels for Lumileds’ North America Aftermarket. Beecroft comes to Lumileds from the J-B Weld Company, where she served as the director of sales, new business development. In this role, Beecroft headed strategy and new product innovation for OES channels and was responsible for the management of automotive retail segment customers. Beecroft’s additional experience in the aftermarket includes three years at Trico Products Corp. and 15 years at the Robert Bosch Corp.
 Will Rowe |
R&R Marketing Consultants Names Will Rowe Northeastern Region Sales Director
R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. has named Will Rowe its Northeastern region sales director. An automotive industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, Rowe brings to the table a deep understanding of a wide range of spaces within the industry. Through his experience in retail, wholesale and executive roles, Rowe developed a knowledge of commercial fleet needs and a background in the recreational vehicle segment. Rowe identifies as a performance and off-road enthusiast.
Classic Performance Products Inc. Acquires American Legend Wheels
Classic Performance Products Inc. has announced the acquisition of American Legend Wheels from Motoractive USA—the U.S. subsidiary of Motoractive Australia. As of April 1, Classic Performance Products Inc. is the new home of American Legend Wheels. Day-to-day operations and contact information will remain the same at this time.
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.