Compiled by SEMA Editors
facility in Olive Branch, Mississippi, while most manufacturing
processes will be transferred to its San Jacinto, California, plant.
Edelbrock Moving HQ to Mississippi, Announces Expansion
Edelbrock is closing its Torrance, California, headquarters and manufacturing plant and shifting its operations to separate facilities in-state and across the country. Edelbrock’s administrative offices will be moved to a 300,000-sq.-ft. facility in Olive Branch, Mississippi, while most manufacturing processes will be transferred to its San Jacinto, California, plant, located about 95 miles east of Torrance.
When asked about the move, Edelbrock Group Chief Commercial Officer Chris Douglas cited the company’s merger with COMP Performance Group in early 2020 as a primary factor. “We had seven campuses between us across the country,” he explained, “so it made a lot of business sense to sit down and ask, ‘What skill sets do we have at these various locations, and where can we make our organization stronger and combine efficiency?’
“Unfortunately, the decision-making process did impact Torrance, but it’s part of building a foundation and future expansion for our company,” he continued. “It’s bittersweet. Torrance has been the home for Edelbrock for many, many years, and we fully acknowledge that it may be difficult for the market to understand. But it is critical to fuel future growth.”
With the news, the company announced the expansion of its San Jacinto facility, which currently houses foundry and casting processes for its aluminum products. Douglas also revealed plans to open a new technical center in Cerritos, California, which is set to be fully operational by the time the Torrance facility officially shuts down on March 31. The Edelbrock Southern California Tech Center will house approximately 15 engineering and compliance employees to oversee some development and testing efforts, he said. Edelbrock has offered to relocate many of its 270 Torrance-based employees to either Olive Branch, Cerritos or San Jacinto. The shift in operations is not expected to affect production or shipping times for most of its core products.
VP Racing Fuels Makes Business Development Move
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced the appointment of James McVey to business development to focus on the OEM business. McVey earned a bachelor of multidisciplinary science degree at Texas Tech University. He served as vice president of sales and marketing at GreenStar LED, where he led the conversion of high-pressure sodium street lights to smart city LEDs in San Antonio, Texas, and other cities in North America and overseas.
Air Flow Research Adds to Marketing Team
Air Flow Research (AFR) has announced that Alex George has joined its team. George will be responsible for growing the company’s online presence and overall customer engagement in his new position. He brings more than six years of automotive aftermarket experience, holding positions in sales, marketing and operations. George will also play an instrumental role in AFR’s marketing communication strategy.
MAHLE Completes Keihin Acquisition
MAHLE has taken over the air conditioning business in Japan, Thailand and the United States from the former Keihin Corp. (now Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.). The antitrust authorities have given their approval. Four production sites and one development center are now being integrated into the MAHLE Group. With this acquisition, MAHLE is strengthening its position in the field of air conditioning systems. This is one of the strategic future fields of the group. A total of around 1,700 people are employed at the new locations.
Competition Specialties to Host 2021 Mega Show in Virtual Format
The 49th consecutive jobber-only MEGA SHOW brought to you by Westin and Superwinch will be a virtual extravaganza of new products, special virtual deals, and familiar cash drawings and prizes over one full week: March 3-10.
Plus, tradition prevails with Profit Paks, Plan-O-Grams, Counter Displays, and of course unlimited opportunities to earn drawing tickets for the chance to win Thousands of Dollars in Cash! Logging into Competition Specialties Inc.’s (CSI) new secure MEGA SHOW website, customers’ virtual experience may include the opportunity of extended terms up to 120 days. CSI will offer the year’s best pricing and deepest discounts available making MEGA SHOW 2021 the must attend virtual event for every successful jobber.
For further information and virtual MEGA SHOW registration, visit www.compspecialties.com.
Keystone Automotive Operations to Host Big Show in Texas
Keystone Automotive Operations will host the 2021 BIG Show in Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, March 5-6, followed by a virtual event from March 15-19, 2021. The world-class facilities of Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center hosted the 2019 BIG Show and attendees will once again be treated to special programs and events, show vehicles, product education, significant show-only sales and promotions along with the opportunity to network over the course of the two-day event.
The BIG Show will be limited to a specific number of customers, exhibitors and staff in order to facilitate the recommended spacing and other protocols that will be in place in this special year. The event will however, host the major manufactures that our customer partners have come to expect, as well as the other key show elements that have helped the BIG Show become a major industry attraction.
For more information, visit www.keystonebigshow.com.
Sonoma Names Nick Bublitz as Drag Strip Manager
Nick Bublitz has been named Sonoma Raceway’s drag strip manager, and will manage the raceway’s 1/4-mile drag strip and drag-racing programs. In his new role, Bublitz will be responsible for the drag strip’s day-to-day operations, including the weekly Wednesday Night Drags program, which is set to kick off on March 17. Bublitz takes over for Kyle Seipel, who has been the drag-racing manager at Sonoma Raceway since 2017, after stepping in for his mother, Georgia, upon her retirement after 30 years at the raceway. Bublitz, 29, began drag racing at the Northern California track 10 years ago when he attended Sonoma State University. He has earned six Wally trophies from Summit ET Series bracket drag-racing events and was the 2015 Division 7 ET Challenge Sportsman Champion. Bublitz is also currently the track announcer and race director at Redding Drag Strip.
Jason Bowling Promoted at Speedway Motorsports
Speedway Motorsports has promoted Jason Bowling to the position of senior vice president of ticket and marketing Information. In his new role, Bowling will oversee all consumer experience platforms for the company, including CRM, ticketing, email and mobile applications for Speedway Motorsports facilities. Bowling holds more than two decades of experience with Speedway Motorsports, having joined its facility Texas Motor Speedway as its credential coordinator in 1999. He later spent a decade as the director of tickets at the race track before being named Speedway Motorsports’ vice president of ticket and marketing information in 2014.
Cloyes Gear & Products Hires Troy Angst as CFO
Cloyes Gear & Products Inc., backed by Hidden Harbor Capital Partners, has hired Troy Angst as chief financial officer. Angst brings 30 years of experience to his new position, joining Cloyes most recently from Sharp Tooling Solutions in Romeo, Michigan, where he served as chief financial officer. Before this, Angst served as chief financial officer for Tritec Performance Solutions in Fenton, Michigan.
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