Compiled by SEMA Editors
Truck Hero Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Omix-ADA
Truck Hero Inc. has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Omix-ADA Inc. and its family of brands, which includes Rugged Ridge and Alloy USA. The transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed, is expected to close by the end of October. Founded in 1992 by Al Azadi and headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, Omix-ADA’s product offering includes more than 13,000 active SKUs across the accessories, replacement and restoration categories. Omix-ADA’s products are sold in more than 90 countries worldwide, with more than 800 active customers across every Jeep aftermarket channel, including warehouse distributors, jobbers, automotive dealerships, national retailers and online retailers. By continuously investing in new products and product lines, Omix-ADA is able to service Jeep owners with models dating back to 1941. During the early period of the integration of Truck Hero and Omix-ADA, Azadi intends to serve as an advisor and consultant to Bill Reminder, president and CEO of Truck Hero, on a limited basis. This transaction marks Truck Hero’s 13th acquisition since its formation in 2007.
 The Spookstock Foundation will feature a ’50 Ford business coupe, built by Hard Up Garage, in the ARC Audio Booth at the 2017 SEMA Show. |
Spookstock Foundation Hot Rod to Be Featured at SEMA Show, Auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for Charity
The Spookstock Foundation will feature a ’50 Ford business coupe, built by Hard Up Garage’s Sam Hard and Megan Light (Michael Lightbourn), in the ARC Audio Booth (#11917, #61006), at the 2017 SEMA Show. In January 2018, the hot rod will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, with all of the proceeds going to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) and the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation (CIAOMF). These organizations provide the surviving children of America’s shadow warriors education funding for post-high-school education. In an effort to build awareness and interest, the ’50 Ford business coupe will be featured at a private annual event Spookstock produces in Washington, D.C., with senior leadership from Special Operations and U.S. Intelligence agencies. The car will then be shipped to Las Vegas to be displayed at the 2017 SEMA Show.
 Dan Brown |
Dan Brown Joins Premium Guard Inc. as Executive Vice President of Product
Premium Guard Inc. (PGI) has appointed aftermarket industry veteran Dan Brown as its executive vice president of product. The announcement was made by PGI President and CEO Anan E. Bishara, who noted that Dan Brown will be responsible for driving the timely development of new products, supporting the growth and management of the current product portfolio and delivering a positive customer experience. In his role as executive vice president of product, Brown will report directly to Bishara. Additional duties will include product team management, training, and development, partnering with internal teams to design, develop and commercialize new products based on quantitative and qualitative research. He will work directly with customers to develop specific technology/product solutions, continually updating and refining PGI’s product process management system. Brown will also oversee PGI’s quality control team in Asia. Before joining PGI, Brown was director of product management at Dorman Products Inc.
 SpeedVideo and the Ultimate Callout Challenge have announced a multi-year agreement to live-broadcast the company’s diesel events, starting in 2018. |
SpeedVideo and Ultimate Callout Challenge Announce Multi-Year Live Broadcast Agreement
SpeedVideo and the Ultimate Callout Challenge have announced a multi-year agreement to live-broadcast the company’s diesel events, starting in 2018. The Ultimate Callout Challenge is an event that takes place over the course of three days, in which participants compete in dyno performance, drag racing and sled-pulling activities. With SpeedVideo, diesel fans all over the world will be able to view the event in HD with studio-quality audio. In addition to the live broadcasts on SpeedVideo.com, the high-definition coverage will be shared via Facebook Live, YouTube, and Power Automedia’s magazine, Diesel Army. The official Ultimate Callout Challenge/SpeedVideo schedule will be released in the near future.
 Galpin Motors hosted its sixth annual Galpin Car Show, October 8, featuring nearly 1,000 unique and custom show cars on display across the entire Galpin campus. |
Sixth Annual Galpin Car Show Featured Nearly 1,000 One-of-a-Kind Vehicles
Southern California’s Galpin Motors hosted its sixth annual Galpin Car Show, October 8, featuring nearly 1,000 unique and custom show cars on display across the entire Galpin campus, creating six car shows in one. Millions of dollars’ worth of luxury and exotic vehicles, including Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, Porsches and more were on display at Galpin Premier. Galpin Mazda hosted the White Rabbit Food Truck and a variety of Japanese import cars, including custom Miatas, Subarus and Toyotas. Galpin Volkswagen was home to a diverse collection of classic bugs, buses and custom microbuses. Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) featured many custom and vintage vehicles, including its own Ed “Big Daddy” Roth collection, famed Metallica guitarist James Hetfield’s Aquarius and the Moonliner, which raced at Bonneville Salt Flats, among others. The Petersen Museum displayed the first Tucker 48, which was owned by Preston Tucker himself, the ’32 Ford Phaeton from Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” and Elton John’s Delahaye in the GAS showroom. Three Ford GTs were featured throughout the show.
 Michael Palm |
CRP Automotive Re-Appoints Michael Palm as Vice President of Sales and Marketing
CRP Automotive has announced the re-appointment of Michael Palm as vice president of sales and marketing. Palm was previously vice president of marketing and brand management. He will now reassume the lead of the automotive sales team and continue to be responsible for automotive cataloging and corporate marketing. Palm’s re-appointment comes as a result of a recent restructuring of the executive management team, which combined the executive sales and marketing positions. A 21-year veteran of the company, Palm began his career with CRP in 1986, working in product development and marketing. He left the company in 1995 to join Berlitz International, where he served in several marketing roles, including director of worldwide marketing. In 2005, Palm returned to CRP as vice president of marketing. Palm is now directly responsible for the planning and execution of CRP’s marketing and sales management strategy, corporate brand positioning and promotion of the company.
 John Allen |
John Allen, Allen Racing Engines Joins TOPP Performance Race Parts
TOPP Performance Race Parts (TPRP) has announced the addition of John Allen and Allen Racing Engines to its portfolio of experienced leaders and brands. Allen brings 20 years of industry and engine-building experience. Since 1992, Allen has worked in the racing industry with a specialized focus on engine building in modified race cars. In 2009, Allen founded Allen Racing Engines, and has been assembling award-winning engines for drivers year after year. Allen has built engines for two of the top-five drivers in the nation for the UMP DIRTcar Series for back-to-back years, competing against an estimated 3,000 other drivers. He has placed in the top five on the engine builders win list consistently on a national level, with numerous track championships on a local level. Currently, Allen has drivers running his engines in the UMP DIRTcar Series who are winning in the Northern Indiana region, Deep South region and standing fourth in national points for South East Dirt Modified Series.
 Leo Kagan |
ColorBond to Present Cleo Award, Host “Tackle My Ride” Autograph Session, Celebrate Leo Kagan’s 101st Birthday in SEMA Show Booth
In conjunction with the Cleo award ceremony, ColorBond Automotive Paint is hosting an autograph session in its booth #23889 with the crew of the NFL Network’s “Tackle My Ride,” Wednesday, November 1, at 12:00 p.m. At 1:00 p.m., ColorBond will celebrate the fourth annual recipient of the Cleo Interior Restoration Trophy—Eddie Black, owner of Black’s Body Shop located in Adairville, Georgia. Black customized a ’12 Camaro for Vic Beasley, an NFL all-star outside linebacker who plays for the Atlanta Falcons. Followed by the giveaway of an autographed Vick Beasley NFL football, a birthday party will be held in the booth for SEMA Hall Of Fame member Leo Kagan, who turns 101. The Cleo was established in 2012 to honor him.
 Andrew Briggs |
Yokohama Tire Corp. Announces Organizational Changes
Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has announced that Andrew Briggs has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president of marketing and product management. Briggs, who will report to Jeff Barna, YTC’s COO, replaces Fred Koplin, senior director of marketing and motorsports, who has retired after 12 years with YTC. Briggs has been with Yokohama for 14 years. He joined YTC in 2003 and has held several positions, including account manager; senior manager of motorsports; and senior director of marketing, product planning and motorsports. Briggs was promoted to senior director of tire business and product planning in 2015.
 Hyundai Elantra Sport |
 Chevrolet Colorado |
Fear One to Feature Two Vehicles in Covercraft SEMA Show Booth
Fear One and Covercraft have teamed up again to showcase two custom vehicles—a Chevrolet Colorado and Hyundai Elantra Sport—at the SEMA Show. Covercraft will feature both vehicles in booth #23343 in the Central Hall at the 2017 SEMA Show.
Lund International to Debut Eight SEMA Project Vehicles and More Than a Dozen New Products at SEMA Show Press Conference
Lund International will host a lunch, Tuesday, October 31, from 12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m., in SEMA Show booth #31027 in the Upper South Hall, where the company will debut eight new vehicles, including a new musclecar project, which will be paired with a major announcement. The program will be emceed by Sam Mahdavi, host of Velocity Network’s “Sam’s Garage” and “The Lund International Truck and Jeep Show,” along with Lund CEO Mitch Fogle. Lund International brands will showcase more than a dozen new products for the Jeep, truck and musclecar markets as part of its “Road to Success” New Product Passport program. Throughout the week, Mahdavi will perform daily live product installs in the all-new Lund International Garage.
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