SCCA Pro Racing hired Jeremy Thoennes as technical manager responsible for the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships. He joins the SCCA Pro Racing staff after serving as club racing technical services manager for Sports Car Club of America Inc. since 2002. Thoennes has been in motorsports his entire professional career, serving as car chief, crew chief, engine builder and fabricator for several racing teams in both oval and road racing. His first experience on the race organization side came with a two-year stint at SCCA Enterprises as assistant technical director. Thoennes becomes the first staff member to work for all three entities of SCCA—the parent company, SCCA Inc., and its two subsidiaries, SCCA Pro Racing and SCCA Enterprises.
Jeremy Thoennes
Azentek won Telematics Update Magazine’s "Best Aftermarket Device" award for its Atlas CPC-1000 all-in-one fully integrated in-car multimedia PC. The Telematics Awards recognize and celebrate the key companies driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in automotive and GPS technology. For more information, visit www.telematicsupdate.com/detroit2008/awards_index.shtml.
Detroit Speed hired Steve Crisp as its director of business development. Crisp, who most recently was the director of motorsports for JR. Motorsports, brings more than 20 years of experience to the company.
Steve Crisp
Eastern Manufacturing Inc. purchased the assets of The Automotive Edge/Hermoff Manufacturing from Dorman Products Inc., a Colmar, Pennsylvania-based supplier of OE automotive replacement parts, automotive hardware, brake products and household hardware to the automotive aftermarket and mass merchandisers. The announcement was made by George Schafer, president of Eastern Manufacturing, who noted, “This acquisition is an excellent business and growth opportunity for Eastern, and will expand both our manufacturing and distribution capabilities. The Hermoff and Automotive Edge business units will not only increase sales volume and open new distribution channels in Canada, but also add some new units to the Eastern product line.”
The JCB GT, the world's fastest backhoe loader dragster, with driver Neil Smith behind the wheel, will be speeding down the track, June 13–15, at the 2008 Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The 1,300hp "backhoe on steroids" is capable of speeds of more than 150 mph and lights up the sky with its flame-shooting exhaust.
The 6th annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion is a three-day festival of speed, hot rods and American automotive enthusiasm produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Information, including a full activities schedule, entry forms and tickets, is available through the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum at http://museum.nhra.com. Proceeds of the Holley Hot Rod Reunion benefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
JCB GT—the world's fastest backhoe loader dragster.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire announced that it is accepting student-made, safety-themed videos for its 2008 Safety Scholars Video Contest. The company is again turning to America’s teens for solutions presented in a creative format to help make roads safer for everyone. The Safety Scholars Video Contest now includes a chance for young video producers to have their auto safety videos broadcast as a public service commercial.
The contest will award three $5,000 college scholarships for the most compelling and effective videos that drive home life-saving messages on auto and tire safety. The top 10 filmmakers will also receive a new set of Bridgestone tires. For complete information, visit www.SafetyScholars.com.
The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), and Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA), have announced that the groups will file suit against the U.S. Forest Service to restore access to improperly closed off-highway recreation trails located in the Upper Tellico Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area in North Carolina. On December 18, 2007, the agency issued a closure order, which UFWDA, BRC and Southern contend is based on outdated and incomplete science. The lawsuit will seek to declare the closure order unlawful and set it aside.