Compiled by SEMA Editors
Warn Industries Acquires Fabtech Motorsports
Warn Industries has announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Fabtech Motorsports, the manufacturer of suspension systems and lift kits for Chevy, Ford, Ram, Jeep, Hummer, Nissan, and Toyota, based in Chino, California. Fabtech’s product offerings include suspension systems, shocks, and leveling kits. The company was founded in 1989 as a custom fabrication firm specializing in racing suspension systems and Prerunner builds, cages, bumpers, and other products. Today, the company has more than 2,000 SKUs in its portfolio and includes off-road and performance brands Dirt Logic and Stealth Shocks.
No Prep Edition has been awarded a Silver Telly
Award in the General Television – Automotive
category for the 42nd Annual Telly Awards.
Alloy Studios Wins Telly Award for $10K Drag Shootout: No Prep Edition
Alloy Studios, a division of Power Automedia, has announced its third season of $10K Drag Shootout: No Prep Edition has been awarded a Silver Telly Award in the General Television – Automotive category for the 42nd Annual Telly Awards. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies. Power Automedia and Alloy Studios have partnered to create content for “Horsepower Wars” since 2018, creating several successful web shows such as “Pony Wars” and “Junkyard Challenge.” The full list of the 42nd Annual Telly Awards winners can be found here.
Americana Tire and Wheel Announces Major Rebranding Effort
Americana Tire and Wheel (ATW)—Kenda’s distribution arm serving the North American towable trailer, utility, RV, marine and agricultural industries—has relaunched as Kenda Americana Tire and Wheel. Changes to the brand include a fresh logo, new website, revised catalog and updated email addresses. The new website for Kenda Americana Tire and Wheel will be updated on a regular basis with company news, new product offerings and the most recent company catalog. Visitors are encouraged to explore the new site and learn more at www.americanatire.com.
Jerry Pitt Joins Power Automedia Team as Business Development Manager
Power Automedia has announced the recent hiring of Jerry Pitt as business development manager. He has more than 30 years of experience in automotive aftermarket journalism and publishing. Prior to joining Power Automedia, Pitt was an editor with Petersen Publishing and migrated to the publisher role, eventually taking the helm of Hot Rod magazine. After seven years with Hot Rod, Pitt transitioned to senior director of sales and original programming at Studio Ten, where he was instrumental in integrating non-endemic and aftermarket partnerships in programming for shows including “Roadkill” and “Dirt Every Day.” At Power Automedia, Pitt will rejoin former colleagues Jonathan Mill, executive producer and general manager of Alloy Studios (Power Automedia’s video production division) and fellow Business Development Director Ed Zinke.
Hot Shot’s Secret Donates Funds to Battle Scarred Motorsports to Help Wounded Veterans Race
Hot Shot’s Secret has announced a donation of $6,000 to Battle Scarred Motorsports. The funds will be used to convert donated police cars into hand-controlled race cars that can be used by veterans and first responders that no longer have full use of their legs. Battle Scarred Motorsports, formerly USMC Racing, is an organization whose mission is to make an impact in the lives of service members and first responders both past and present, on the track turning laps or on the crew helping in the pits. In addition to this donation, Hot Shot’s Secret also provides all of the oils, fuel and oil additives for the entire Battle Scarred Motorsports race team and for their diesels that tow the race cars.
Bob Cook Sales’ Cathy Clark Earns CPMR Designation
Cathy Clark of Bob Cook Sales has earned her Certified Professional Manufacturers Representative (CPMR) designation. CPMR candidates invest one week annually for three years to gain knowledge and insight into operating a more progressive and efficient rep firm. In addition, they acquire an international network of colleagues from many industries.
Graduates earn the right to use the distinctive designation and gain membership to MRERF’s Institute for Professional Advancement (IPA). Bob Cook Sales is in a very select group of aftermarket automotive rep firms that have five agents with their CPMR certification: Cathy Clark, Ryan Davenport, Mike Katz, Eddie Hamilton, and Les Rudd.
ATC Drivetrain Launches Remanufacturing Solutions for Electric Vehicles in North America and Asia
capabilities for electric vehicle systems at its
Oklahoma City facility to serve the North
American automotive market, and at its Zhangjiang,
China, facility to serve the Asian automotive market.
ATC Drivetrain (ATC) announced that it is launching remanufacturing capabilities for electric vehicle systems at its Oklahoma City facility to serve the North American automotive market, and at its Zhangjiang, China, facility to serve the Asian automotive market.
The company reports that the investments will allow ATC to remanufacture batteries and electric drive units for both plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. The move represents the next step in the company’s electrification strategy and builds on the processes initially developed in ATC’s UK facility.
ATC will launch remanufacture of both NiMH and LiON batteries and electric drive units in the third quarter of 2021 in Oklahoma City, and fourth quarter of 2021 in Zhangjiang, China.
Center, a 130,000-sq.-ft. facility that will expand GM’s performance
and racing capabilities.
General Motors Breaks Ground on Charlotte Technical Center
General Motors has broken ground on the new Charlotte Technical Center, a 130,000-sq.-ft. facility that will expand GM’s performance and racing capabilities. Additionally, the center will accelerate strategic knowledge transfer between motorsports and production vehicle development. Representatives of Chip Ganassi Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports joined GM for the groundbreaking at the complex in Concord. The site was selected for its proximity to partner racing teams and major technical suppliers. The new technical center will support racing efforts across all series in which GM competes. The facility is a $45 million investment for GM and is scheduled to open in early 2022.
The center will also provide more opportunities for GM to recruit top talent in the fields of software engineering, computational science, electrical engineering, and other technical skill sets. The new technical center will feature advanced virtual tools, including three state-of-the-art Driver-in-the-Loop simulators, aero development and other software-enabled vehicle modeling technology designed to enable faster analysis and iteration.
Dean Mohamad Qatu courtesy of EMU.
Roush Donates $1 Million to Support Automotive, Math Programs
Jack Roush, the founder, CEO, and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, has donated $1 million to Eastern Michigan University—his alma mater. The gift will help support mathematics and automotive programs in the University’s GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology. It includes a $200,000 fund for the purchase of industry-standard automotive lab equipment, along with $400,000 to each of the mathematics and automotive programs at the school.
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