Mike Cooper, 2011 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion.

Cooper Reflects on MX-5 Championship
When your only expectations of a racing season are to continue to learn and drive as fast as possible, the season is bound to be a success. Indeed, a driver that takes that simple goal, grows throughout the winter and even more during the season, and leaves 2011 as the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup champion has exceeded all expectations and is well on his way to a long and successful racing career.

This year, Mike Cooper is that driver. Unlike many young racers, the 22-year-old Cooper didn’t grow up at the racetrack. Counting two seasons of MX-5 Cup competition, his racing experience totals, well, two seasons of MX-5 Cup competition.

After a driving school, Cooper ran three weekends of the Skip Barber MX-5 Series during the winter of 2010, and decided to run the MX-5 Cup season with Atlanta Motorsports Group just a couple of weeks before the season began. Cooper won once and finished third in the points as a rookie, then won the 2011 opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway in his No. 6 AMG Racing Mazda MX-5 to cement himself as a real contender for the season-long title.

The year of experience clearly made a difference for the Syosset, New York, native. It was early in the season when Cooper decided he might have a real shot at a championship, going on to five wins, two additional podium finishes, and six pole positions in a hotly contested season.

The season's most important lesson may be that a driver who didn’t grow up on the path to Formula One can begin a professional career in the affordable SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup.

Now the NYIT business school student is working on the next step of his career, which includes a funded ride up the MAZDASPEED Motorsports ladder, thanks to his championship.

	Richard Meins at Macau in 2010.

United Autosports and GR Asia Field McLaren and Audi for Macau Victory Bid
Leeds-based Anglo-American team United Autosports returns to Macau for only its second visit, November 17–20, with leading British sportscar racer Danny Watts (Thornborough) and Hong Kong-based Briton, Richard Meins, at the wheel of the GR Asia-sponsored cars. However this year, instead of taking the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 cars for Watts and Meins as it did in 2010, the team will race a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 development car, which will be run in conjunction with GR Asia Ltd, one of United Autosports’ Asian partners.

Running the 12C GT3 will be something of a taster for when the team takes possession of its own brace of McLarens at the end of the year, and the experienced Watts will have the reins of the car in Macau in a bid to improve on his third-place finish last year.

Competing in the blue ribbon Macau race amidst its extensive program of worldwide events, gives a clear indication of United Autosports’ commitment and ambition to become one of the leading sportscar teams in the world. Plus, Meins regards this year’s Macau outing as "unfinished business," having had mechanical issues last year, and is determined to take a top finish this time round.

The 58th running of the prestigious Macau 3.8-mile lap races, which attracts over 300 drivers, is headlined by the F3 Macau Grand Prix, and is the only street race in the world with both car and motorcycle competition taking place on the same weekend. This year the Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup will be a 12-lap counter, two laps more than last year, clearly denoting the popularity of the over-subscribed event.

In addition to the high profile Formula 3 and GT races, the four-day event also features the FIA WTCC – Guia Race of Macau, the CTM Macau Touring Car Cup, the City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as a road sport challenge race.

 

	Mike Cooper, 2011 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion.

Cooper Reflects on MX-5 Championship
When your only expectations of a racing season are to continue to learn and drive as fast as possible, the season is bound to be a success. Indeed, a driver that takes that simple goal, grows throughout the winter and even more during the season, and leaves 2011 as the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup champion has exceeded all expectations and is well on his way to a long and successful racing career.

This year, Mike Cooper is that driver. Unlike many young racers, the 22-year-old Cooper didn’t grow up at the racetrack. Counting two seasons of MX-5 Cup competition, his racing experience totals, well, two seasons of MX-5 Cup competition.

After a driving school, Cooper ran three weekends of the Skip Barber MX-5 Series during the winter of 2010, and decided to run the MX-5 Cup season with Atlanta Motorsports Group just a couple of weeks before the season began. Cooper won once and finished third in the points as a rookie, then won the 2011 opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway in his No. 6 AMG Racing Mazda MX-5 to cement himself as a real contender for the season-long title.

The year of experience clearly made a difference for the Syosset, New York, native. It was early in the season when Cooper decided he might have a real shot at a championship, going on to five wins, two additional podium finishes, and six pole positions in a hotly contested season.

The season's most important lesson may be that a driver who didn’t grow up on the path to Formula One can begin a professional career in the affordable SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup.

Now the NYIT business school student is working on the next step of his career, which includes a funded ride up the MAZDASPEED Motorsports ladder, thanks to his championship.

	Richard Meins at Macau in 2010.

United Autosports and GR Asia Field McLaren and Audi for Macau Victory Bid
Leeds-based Anglo-American team United Autosports returns to Macau for only its second visit, November 17–20, with leading British sportscar racer Danny Watts (Thornborough) and Hong Kong-based Briton, Richard Meins, at the wheel of the GR Asia-sponsored cars. However this year, instead of taking the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 cars for Watts and Meins as it did in 2010, the team will race a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 development car, which will be run in conjunction with GR Asia Ltd, one of United Autosports’ Asian partners.

Running the 12C GT3 will be something of a taster for when the team takes possession of its own brace of McLarens at the end of the year, and the experienced Watts will have the reins of the car in Macau in a bid to improve on his third-place finish last year.

Competing in the blue ribbon Macau race amidst its extensive program of worldwide events, gives a clear indication of United Autosports’ commitment and ambition to become one of the leading sportscar teams in the world. Plus, Meins regards this year’s Macau outing as "unfinished business," having had mechanical issues last year, and is determined to take a top finish this time round.

The 58th running of the prestigious Macau 3.8-mile lap races, which attracts over 300 drivers, is headlined by the F3 Macau Grand Prix, and is the only street race in the world with both car and motorcycle competition taking place on the same weekend. This year the Star River-Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup will be a 12-lap counter, two laps more than last year, clearly denoting the popularity of the over-subscribed event.

In addition to the high profile Formula 3 and GT races, the four-day event also features the FIA WTCC – Guia Race of Macau, the CTM Macau Touring Car Cup, the City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as a road sport challenge race.

Venchurs VWerks debuted the ultimate JK8 built for television stars Will and Stephanie Hayden at the 2011 SEMA Show.

Former Head of Mopar, Pat Muldoon Debuts Newest Project
As a new member of the team at Venchurs, Pat Muldoon unveiled his first project at the 2011 SEMA Show—a JK8 for Will and Stephanie Hayden, owners of Red*Jacket Firearms and stars of the hit Discovery Channel show "Sons of Guns." The vehicle is fitted with a Mopar body package, Scrambler-inspired bed conversion, Mopar suspension, huge off-road tires, custom paint and a bed-mounted cannon. Before joining the Venchurs team, Muldoon served Chrysler as senior manager of product development engineering. With more than 20 years of progressive product engineering experience, Muldoon has built some of the brand's best-known show cars and concepts, including the Mopar Jeep Wrangler Blue Crush, the V-10 Drag-pack Challenger and the Mopar Ram Runner.

Ricardo Guevara Retires From Konig Wheels
Konig American has announced that, after 31 years, company President and CEO Ricardo Guevara is retiring. Joseph Schaefer, who has served as Konig’s general manager for the past 15 years, assumes the role and responsibilities of president, and Raymond Chan of YHI International, Singapore, takes his place as Konig American's new general manager. Guevara remains chairman of the company, which he founded in 1981 as the exclusive North American importer of Konig Racing Seats from Germany. In 1991, Guevara expanded the company's product lines to import wheels, including the popular Tuner wheel model, which Konig hails as its first major success. Today Konig serves more than 20 countries with five brands aimed at multiple vehicle segments.

Tatsuo Mitsuhata

Tatsuo Mitsuhata Named President and CEO of Toyo Tire USA

Toyo Tires of Osaka, Japan, has announced the appointment of Tatsuo Mitsuhata as president and CEO of Toyo Tire USA Corp. (TTC) beginning January 1, 2012. Currently serving as general manager of sales strategy in the Toyo Tire Overseas Sales Division, Mitsuhata previously worked at TTC from 1994 to 1998 as the company’s coordination manager. A 23-year veteran of Toyo Tires, Mitsuhata quickly rose through the company's ranks, overseeing Middle East sales operations from Greece, and then all sales within the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and China from the Toyo Tires corporate offices in Japan. His experience also includes oversight of all sales operations in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy, and an acting president position for the company’s Germany/Austria Division. Mitsuhata replaces current President and CEO Yasushi Takagi, who now returns to Japan as general manager of corporate planning for Toyo Tires in January.

 

The SEMA Show focuses the spotlight on the parts and technologies of the specialty-equipment market and all of the professionals who represent the heartbeat of the industry. The Show also serves as the industry's stage to honor those whose tireless efforts and contributions have shaped an industry and a hobby enjoyed by millions throughout the world.

Below are the recipients of awards presented during the 2011 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet that took place last Thursday, during Show week.

SEMA Warehouse Distributor of the Year: Motor State Distributing

Quality performance parts and accessories, prompt, courteous service, and fair pricing were important in 1964, when the company started as a part-time venture in George Lane's tiny garage. Today these attributes still guide day-to-day operations at Motor State Distributing.

SEMA Manufacturers' Rep Agency of the Year: Bob Cook Sales

Bob Cook Sales was created in June of 1979 with a goal to provide superior representation on behalf of its manufacturer clients to the automotive aftermarket. Through a quality mix of performance and accessory products, Bob Cook Sales covers the mass retail, farm stores, fleet accounts, imports, restoration, speed and performance, expediters, export, accessory boutiques, race teams, NASCAR teams, traditional warehouse and jobbers, performance distributors and jobbers and street-rod markets.

PWA Manufacturer of the Year: Painless Performance

PWA presents its Manufacturer of the Year Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the specialty-equipment industry and in appreciation of conscientious efforts in support of the warehouse distributor concept of merchandise distribution.

PWA Person of the Year: Rich Barsamian, Advanced Clutch Technology

PWA presents its Person of the Year Award in recognition of outstanding contribution and in appreciation of their conscientious dedication as an individual member to the specialty-equipment industry.

The SEMA Show focuses the spotlight on the parts and technologies of the specialty-equipment market and all of the professionals who represent the heartbeat of the industry. The Show also serves as the industry's stage to honor those whose tireless efforts and contributions have shaped an industry and a hobby enjoyed by millions throughout the world.

Below are the recipients of awards presented during the 2011 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet that took place last Thursday, during Show week.

SEMA Warehouse Distributor of the Year: Motor State Distributing

Quality performance parts and accessories, prompt, courteous service, and fair pricing were important in 1964, when the company started as a part-time venture in George Lane's tiny garage. Today these attributes still guide day-to-day operations at Motor State Distributing.

SEMA Manufacturers' Rep Agency of the Year: Bob Cook Sales

Bob Cook Sales was created in June of 1979 with a goal to provide superior representation on behalf of its manufacturer clients to the automotive aftermarket. Through a quality mix of performance and accessory products, Bob Cook Sales covers the mass retail, farm stores, fleet accounts, imports, restoration, speed and performance, expediters, export, accessory boutiques, race teams, NASCAR teams, traditional warehouse and jobbers, performance distributors and jobbers and street-rod markets.

PWA Manufacturer of the Year: Painless Performance

PWA presents its Manufacturer of the Year Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the specialty-equipment industry and in appreciation of conscientious efforts in support of the warehouse distributor concept of merchandise distribution.

PWA Person of the Year: Rich Barsamian, Advanced Clutch Technology

PWA presents its Person of the Year Award in recognition of outstanding contribution and in appreciation of their conscientious dedication as an individual member to the specialty-equipment industry.

The vehicle photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com includes more than 2,000 photos of the vehicles on display at the 2011 SEMA Show. A new category, grouping or vehicle type is included in SEMA eNews each week.

This week's gallery highlights some heavily modified Camaros. Check out all of the photos available for download at www.enjoythedrive.com.

The vehicle photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com includes more than 2,000 photos of the vehicles on display at the 2011 SEMA Show. A new category, grouping or vehicle type is included in SEMA eNews each week.

This week's gallery highlights some heavily modified Camaros. Check out all of the photos available for download at www.enjoythedrive.com.

	HushMat has partnered with RA Motorsports from Lee's Summit, Missouri, to support the American Cancer Society Mystical Build ’67 Shelby Mustang Fastback.

HushMat has partnered with RA Motorsports from Lee's Summit, Missouri, to support the American Cancer Society Mystical Build ’67 Shelby Mustang Fastback unveiled at the SEMA Show in the Dynacorn booth. The Mustang is being built by RA Motorsports through parts donated by a long list of companies, including HushMat, PPG, Dynacorn, Ford Motor Co., Mustangs Unlimited and many others.

“It is projects like the Mystical Build Mustang that bring out the very best in automotive aftermarket parts suppliers, distributors and builders and HushMat is proud to support this very fine cause” stated Founder Tim McCarthy. 

The Mustang will be sold with the proceeds going to benefit the American Cancer Society. More information is available at www.Mysticalbuild.org.    

	HushMat has partnered with RA Motorsports from Lee's Summit, Missouri, to support the American Cancer Society Mystical Build ’67 Shelby Mustang Fastback.

HushMat has partnered with RA Motorsports from Lee's Summit, Missouri, to support the American Cancer Society Mystical Build ’67 Shelby Mustang Fastback unveiled at the SEMA Show in the Dynacorn booth. The Mustang is being built by RA Motorsports through parts donated by a long list of companies, including HushMat, PPG, Dynacorn, Ford Motor Co., Mustangs Unlimited and many others.

“It is projects like the Mystical Build Mustang that bring out the very best in automotive aftermarket parts suppliers, distributors and builders and HushMat is proud to support this very fine cause” stated Founder Tim McCarthy. 

The Mustang will be sold with the proceeds going to benefit the American Cancer Society. More information is available at www.Mysticalbuild.org.    

 

	Jon Goldman

Most Americans sort their mail over the trash. To get your direct mail opened, you need outrageous marketing that will smash through the clutter. Join the SEMA Education Institute (SEI) and presenter Jon Goldman for a webinar, Thursday, November 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PST) as he explores creative ways to effectively use direct mail.

During this session, Goldman will cover:

• The three Rs of direct marketing.
• The two things you need to get high response rates
• The single most important word you should use in your marketing to get prospects to jump at your offer.

Goldman is the creator of Lumpy Mail, and he has used it successfully with clients from Häagen-Dazs to the Atlanta Braves. Now you can find out how to use this marketing technique in your own business.

Don’t miss this information-packed webinar, Thursday, November, 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

Members and nonmembers: Participate live or download the webinar when it's convenient.