Movers & Shakers: Jeffries to Retire from Federated Auto Parts; Vantage Awarded Patent for Rear Suspension on Wheelchair Minivan

Federated Auto Parts announced that Gene Jeffries, a 50-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket, would begin his retirement at the end of December after having worked for Federated Auto Parts distributors for the past 13 years. Jeffries began his career in the automotive aftermarket 50 years ago working as a technician and shop owner in Indianapolis. His career also includes stints with Monroe Equipment Co., Unit Parts Company and Raybestos. In 1997, Jeffries joined Federated as president, a position he held for 10 years before transitioning into a reduced schedule as director of membership development, the position he currently holds.

Vantage Mobility International (VMI) announced that it was awarded a patent for an innovative rear suspension on a wheelchair minivan from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This invention, when applied to a lowered-floor Honda Odyssey or Chrysler Town & Country minivan, is helping physically challenged consumers gain additional freedom and independence. According to the company, the suspension helps provide a wheelchair van that maintains OEM suspension kinematics, has similar ride and handling characteristics of an unconverted Odyssey and has maximum wheelchair maneuvering room. The invention has since been applied to the Chrysler Town & Country.

Shell Racing Solutions named Hyperfuels as a direct distributor for Shell Racing Fuels new line of Unleaded Racing Technology (URT) fuels. Shell Racing Solutions is now offering Shell URT fuels in the United States, and Hyperfuels will carry the entire line of URT Fuels and distribute in Illinois, Texas and Indiana. The Shell Racing Solutions URT portfolio consists of fuels for all racing applications in the United States.