SEMA News—February 2013
INDUSTRY NEWS
Fast Facts
 Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (TTC) hired Roy Bromfield as chief operating officer. |
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Steve Garrett joined Design Engineering Inc.’s marketing team as art director and media coordinator. He will serve as a coordinator for all media and PR activities and handle the company’s graphic design for collateral, print and online advertising, packaging and catalogs. Prior to joining DEI, Garrett worked as a graphic design artist for The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and was responsible for designing all print and online advertising for dealerships in the area as well as product design for special advertising sections. Design Engineering, Avon Lake, OH; 800-264-9472.
DCi Print & Direct Marketing reported that Vern Koch, vice president of marketing, retired at the end of 2012. Koch, who joined DCi in 1995, will help with the transition to Matt Julich, the company’s new vice president of sales and marketing.
Rampage Products announced a territory expansion with Innovative Marketing Services (IMS) into western Canada and the U.S. mountain states region. IMS previously covered only the western coastal region of the United States. “Being that both of our firms are mutually dynamic, and Innovative Marketing services has worked very hard in continuing to expand its sales force and market area coverage at the same time that Rampage Products has done the same, it was a natural fit for our respective companies to work together on this enhanced opportunity,” stated Dave Williams, vice president of sales for Rampage Products. “We look forward to managing and growing our business with IMS in this expanded territory.” Rampage Products, Corona, CA; 951-277-4949.
 A.R.E. dealer John Kass, owner of Double Eagle Truck Caps in Alamogordo, New Mexico, had the winning bid of $39,900 for a custom A.R.E. Pro Football Hall of Fame truck. |
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Bilstein of America aftermarket and motorsports division selected Schiefer Media as the company’s new agency of record. Schiefer will manage Bilstein’s buys in all forms of media as well as its creative and public relations efforts. Bilstein reported that it will count on Schiefer’s comprehensive knowledge of the performance aftermarket industry as well as its expertise in strategic media buying/planning/execution. “We trust that their focus on new media and technologies will allow us to improve development of Bilstein’s brand voice in a crowded industry,” said Steven Beaty, aftermarket and motorsport president of Bilstein. Schiefer Media, Newport Beach, CA; 949-336-1700.
Max-Trac Tire Co. Inc. (dba Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels) has selected Chris Barbara as president. The company announced that Barbara is responsible for driving sales by expanding opportunities to grow the Mickey Thompson business. He will lead and execute a strategic plan that includes traditional and emerging opportunities, such as Internet sales, as well as development of new markets for existing products and product mix opportunities to drive increased profitability. Barbara brings 14 years of experience in the tire industry to his new position. Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Stow, OH; 330-928-9092.
Advanced Flow Engineering (aFe) announced the grand opening of the first aFe Power Factory Store, located at 232 Granite St., Corona, CA 92879. Hours of operations are Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (PST). The factory store will include “Power Professionals” to answer technical questions, shop for aFe and Takeda apparel and see what new products are being launched. aFe acquired the building next to aFe headquarters earlier this year for the new research-and-development, shipping and factory location. After several months of planning and construction, the factory store opened to the public on Monday, October 15. aFe, Corona, CA; 951-493-7155.
 Brent Horner of Lima, Ohio, received the Technician of the Future award, sponsored by Mitchell 1 and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). |
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Meyer Distributing Inc. has added a new distribution hub in East Hanover, New Jersey. The new facility will directly feed the Northeast with next-day delivery and house one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories in the region, according on the company. “The strategic positioning of the East Hanover, New Jersey, distribution hub allows Meyer to vastly improve service frequency and delivery times to the entire Northeast,” said Nick Gramelspacher, vice president of sales and marketing. “We are also establishing service to many regions, such as Long Island, Binghamton, Albany, New Hampshire and Vermont to benefit our 3PL customers, our snow and ice equipment customers and the automotive accessory division of Meyer Distributing.” Meyer Distributing, Jasper, IN; 800-MEYERUSA.
Transamerican Auto Parts Co. hired Jim Jackson as international sales manager, a newly created position. According to Transamerican, Jackson is highly regarded in the automotive aftermarket industry, most recently serving as president of ARB USA/Air Locker Inc. for 23 years. Prior to that, Jackson was the international sales manager for six years at Warn International. Although Jackson’s duties will require travel, he is based at Transamerican Auto Parts’ headquarters in Compton, California. Transamerican Autoparts LLC, Compton, CA; 310-900-5000.
Marx Group Advisors named John Nodson as the company’s vice president. He will be responsible for providing hands-on experience as an analyst and dealmaker for acquisitions and divestitures. Nodson is also an advisory board member of Marx Group Advisors. Nodson was previously with Standard Motor Products for 35 years, most recently as director of marketing, where he provided leadership for business units building and managing multiple brands and full lines of engine management, brake products and retail accessories. Since 2009, Nodson has been the vice president of research for The Marx Group, an allied organization of Marx Group Advisors that specializes in marketing communications in the automotive and commercial vehicle aftermarket. In that role, he had been managing the market research department, including primary and secondary research, focus groups and online studies.
 Betts Spring Co. hired Eddie Cadena as the company’s new marketing coordinator. |
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The trade association Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) named Simpson Communications LLC as its public relations agency of record. Simpson Communications will promote the organization’s lift certification and safety messages to the vehicle-service industry. “With the recent introduction of our Lift Inspector Certification Program, we’ve expanded our mission to include vehicle lift inspection in addition to our traditional activities designed to help promote a stronger automotive lift safety environment,” said ALI President R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman. The Lift Inspector Certification Program was created to provide third-party qualification of vehicle-lift inspectors and to certify those who pass tests and practical-experience requirements, demonstrating that they are qualified to properly inspect vehicle lifts in accordance with ANSI standards and in support of OSHA’s General Duty Clause and provincial requirements in Canada. Automotive Lift Institute Inc., Cortland, NY; 607-756-7775.
Source Interlink Media announced that Motor Trend has selected the ’13 Tesla Model S as its 2013 Car of the Year, marking the first time that a vehicle not powered by an internal-combustion engine has been selected during the award’s 64-year history. The announcement was made after a diverse group of 25 contenders were put through a series of tests by Motor Trend to examine nearly every aspect of each vehicle. When it was all over, a panel of 11 judges voted unanimously for the Tesla Model S. Source Interlink Media, El Segundo, CA; 310-531-9900.
Ingersoll Rand announced the winners of the Extreme Toolbox Overhaul Contest held at the 2012 SEMA Show. The grand-prize winner was Conner Jex from Spanish Fork, Utah. Jex was randomly drawn to win a custom-designed toolbox, the complete line of IQ(V20)-series cordless tools and select pneumatic Max-series tools from Ingersoll Rand. Alan Buebar, the runner-up from Dalhart, Texas, received the newest addition to the IQ(V20)-series cordless tool line—the 3/8-in. W5130 mid-torque cordless impact tool. Ingersoll Rand, Annandale, NJ; 908-238-7000.
The third annual Hot Rod Magazine Championship Drags, held in June 1966, was a scorcher. On the track, that is. All the big names in drag racing came to Riverside loaded for bear: McEwen, Chrisman, Landy, Leal, Ongias, Swingle—and records tumbled.
State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus Dinner
SEMA joined with the Off Road Business Association (ORBA) and a number of other motorized recreation groups to oppose designating 1.4 million acres of land in Utah as a national monument. The area surrounds Canyonlands National Park and is referred to as “Greater Canyonlands.” There is no widespread local or congressional support for the designation, which could threaten to close off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and shared access. The president has the authority to declare a national monument, but monuments are typically small in acreage. A number of conservation groups are now pressuring President Obama to designate the large swathe of Utah land and simultaneously close 1,050 miles of OHV routes and monitor 1,450 miles for possible future closure. SEMA and its motorized recreation partners sent a letter to the president urging the administration to abandon the idea, citing the positive economic impact of motorized recreation activities, which account for more than $257 billion in annual economic impact nationwide. The letter calls for a more collaborative approach to land-use decisions, including input from local citizens, elected leaders and other stakeholders.
SEMA and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) and Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) announced that the next Collector Car Appreciation Day will be celebrated on July 12, 2013. The date marks the fourth consecutive commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.