Drag racer and industry leader Jim McFarland was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame during ceremonies held on March 13.
Known as a true ambassador for the world of drag racing and high performance, McFarland began his career as a participating enthusiast, building and racing his own cars mainly in the various stock classes. Unlike a lot of the ‘seat of the pants’ racers of the early days, Jim was also a graduate automotive engineer and a lot of the early innovations for the stock classes came as a result of Jim’s engineering background. As an engineer, Jim has been instrumental in developing some of the best intake manifold and fuel induction systems available.
McFarland serves as a technical consultant for SEMA, working primarily in the area of state and federal environmental and regulatory issues. With an engineering background and 25 years of experience working directly with both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board certification staffs, he contributes a vital technical perspective to the Government Affairs office. He is a renowned automotive journalist and has served on multiple SEMA committees, three consecutive terms on the Board of Directors, and is a former SEMA Person of the Year and a member of the SEMA Hall of Fame.
Jim McFarland
The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation, owner and operator of the non-profit 501 (c)(3) museum and pioneer in automotive education, elected Los Angeles Attorney Steven E. Young as the Foundation’s new chairman of the board for 2008.
Young has served on the board since 2004. Previous chairperson and director Alexandria C. Philips will continue her role as chief financial officer. Additional directors include Secretary David Sydorick, William Tilley, and Margie Petersen, wife of the late Robert E. Petersen. Dick Messer continues in his capacity as the executive director of the museum.
The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is actively looking to add new members to its board of directors in order to support scheduled educational programs and extensive exhibition plans. Although named after Robert E. Petersen, the museum has always been an independent non-profit institution run entirely by the independent board. All self-sustaining revenue is provided by corporate sponsorships, museum attendance, parking fees and special events, such as the museum’s Tribute Nights and annual gala.
Dick Messer and Steven Young
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum named Wayne McMurtry as its newest board member. McMurtry, the NHRA's recently retired vice president of facilities operation and development, and an NHRA employee since 1981, fills the seat left open after the passing of board member Dick McClung.
A former NHRA world champion and two-time national event winner in Comp, McMurtry helped upgrade NHRA's facilities to ballpark-type levels of professionalism and spectator amenities during his tenure.
"I'm looking forward to helping the Wally Parks Museum in any way I can," said McMurtry. "It's really become the place to see the history of hot rodding, drag racing and all forms of motorsports. The Museum was Wally's dream, and I hope I can contribute to its continued success."
Wayne McMurtry
Dennis Jones, vice president of sales and marketing for Auto Truck Group was named as the 44th president of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA). Jones succeeds immediate-past president Tom Rawson, CEO of RKI Inc.
Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) is offering product sponsorships for any interested individuals participating in nationwide and local races and/or scheduled shows or events. The program is designed to help get a vehicle, equipped with DEI’s products, in return for show/race exposure along with the valuable feedback used to continue designing award-winning products.
This program is open to cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and personal watercraft. For consideration, log on to www.DesignEngineering.com and click on the “downloads” link (left menu) and review the sponsorship application that includes proposal requirements and release forms.
Media Management Marketing announced that it is offering free marketing consultations to companies who are experiencing troubling economic times. The company will provide free one-hour phone consultations on any marketing subject a company wishes to pursue, from how to land local radio, television or newspaper interviews to how to get the attention of a national trade or consumer magazine.
Management Marketing President Terry Kohl is the author of "Lost Your Job? Now What!," an e-book garnering attention nationwide. The free services will also include help on how to market yourself for a new job. For more information, contact Terry Kohl at 920/622-5536 or e-mail pr@TerryKohl.com.
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