Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Corky Coker's TV show "Backroad Gold" will debut on the Travel Channel, February 5, at 9:30 p.m. (EST). | |
The Travel Channel Presents "Backroad Gold" With Corky Coker
Corky Coker of Coker Tire has a new TV show, "Backroad Gold," which will debut on the Travel Channel February 5, 2014, at 9:30 (EST). The show will feature Corky and his son-in-law Greg Cunningham scouring the back roads, highways and small towns of the Southeast for forgotten classics, where Coker buys and restores his finds out of the Honest Charley Garage. In some cases, viewers will be able to buy one of his finds.
Gantt-Thomas and Associates Inc. Welcomes Denise Perkins as Director of e-Commerce Development
Gantt-Thomas and Associates Inc. (GTA)—a Midwest-based sales and marketing agency—has hired Denise Perkins as director of eCommerce development. In this newly formed position, Perkins will oversee processes and procedures that will maximize the company's vendor partners' impact with both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce customers resulting in increased sales and an enhanced end-user experience. Perkins comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry. Most recently, she served on the Internet sales team for Lund Industries as e-commerce account manager. Prior to that role, she held positions in operations and purchasing at Relco Corp./Reliable Automotive Inc. and as senior product manager, director of production management and category general manager for Jeep truck and towing at US Auto Parts/JC Whitney. Perkins will be based in the company's Lenexa, Kansas, office.
Trim Parts Holdings Acquires Assets of First Place Auto Products
Trim Parts Holdings Corp. (TPH), parent company of Trim Parts Inc. and Parts Unlimited (PUI), has acquired the assets of First Place Auto Products (FPAP) of Canton, Ohio. Mitch Williams, CEO of Trim Parts Holdings, said, “Mopar enthusiasts around the country are mourning the recent passing of Fritz Wurgler, founder of First Place Auto Products. We felt that the best way to honor his passion for Mopar products was to purchase the assets and continue with the First Place Auto brand."
Williams continued, "We will soon restart and expand production of FPAP products within our TPH Group. FPAP manufactures a high-quality product and is known as one of the top brands in the Mopar Market so it was a strong fit for Trim Parts Holdings. Customers of FPAP shouldn’t notice any difference as we will continue with the high quality FPAP is known for and the great personal service that Fritz was known for. The only difference moving forward will be that FPAP will enjoy the natural advantages of being part of a larger group of companies." More information is available through Jim Pennekamp at Trim Parts Holdings at jpennekamp@trimparts.com.
Race Technologies Expands Role in Brembo Racing
Brembo Racing has announced that Race Technologies—Brembo's partner for its high-performance, GT and Sports Car businesses—will expand its role and will now handle all logistics and commercial account management for Brembo's entire racing business.
The Brembo Racing staff in North America will continue to be responsible for all engineering and technical support for the top racing market and will support new-product development directly with the Brembo Italy team. Together, Brembo and Race Technologies will add racing staff and improve inventory availability. The level of “on-track” and “off-track” support will be increased to meet both customer and market needs. All racing business will continue to be supported from the company's Mooresville facility where staffs from both Brembo North America and Race Technologies will be present.
 OPTIMA Batteries has formed an alliance with the newly formed Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) to prioritize safety and generate an exciting platform to have fun driving high-performance street vehicles. | |
OPTIMA Batteries Forms Alliance With Ultimate Street Car Association
OPTIMA Batteries has formed an alliance with the newly formed Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) to prioritize safety and generate an exciting platform to have fun driving high-performance street vehicles. The USCA will be the exclusive sanctioning body for “The OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Qualifying Series” and the “OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational.” OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Street Car Qualifying series features street cars of every genre on famous tracks around the country in a televised series ("OPTIMA Batteries Search for the Ultimate Street Car"). Each participant will enjoy three days of automotive events in their street-legal performance car, and registration is officially open for the first two events of the year—Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (March 7–9) in Monterey, California, and Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
The USCA was formed by ChumpCar World Series founder John Condren along with Jimi Day and Wally Olczak of FM3 Performance Marketing. USCA is open to everything from European cars, to sport compacts to pro-touring muscle cars and exotics. The events encourage participants of all levels with on-site education and instruction available for new and experienced drivers alike. From great social activities to camaraderie on the road, USCA strives to offer a valuable and memorable experience. For more information on the Ultimate Street Car Association, visit www.ultimatestreetcarassociation.com.
C&R Racing Inc. Launches New Division for the Street Performance Market
For more than 25 years, C&R Racing has supplied cooling systems for Champions in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, ALMS, Grand-Am and SCCA. Since 1993, every NASCAR Cup series champion has had a C&R radiator. For 2014, C&R Racing Inc. has launched a new product division—C&R Performance—which will include its entire line of OE fit radiators, radiator modules, oil coolers and drivetrain components for today's street performance and Pro Touring markets. C&R appointed R&R Marketing and Consultants to represent the C&R Performance product line throughout the Midwest and all points West. The company also appointed Rep Performance Marketing (RPM) to represent the C&R Performance line throughout the Southeast.
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