Associated Equipment to Provide Tools for Use in SEMA Garage Detroit
SEMA and Associated Equipment have announced the use of the latest Associated Equipment battery chargers, reflash power supplies, testers and portable jump starters for the SEMA Garage in Detroit. Associated Equipment is a 70+-year-old U.S.-based manufacturer of wheeled and portable battery chargers, such as the companies Intellamatic line of battery chargers for today’s mix of different battery types found in modern vehicles. Associated Equipment also is an industry leader for portable jump boxes, battery and full electrical-system testers and jumper cables.
RNR Tire Express Announces Houston’s First Franchise Signing
RNR Tire Express (RNR) has signed a franchise agreement to bring a new location to Houston. The new store will be owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Taos Ford and Benito Olson. The new location is anticipating opening its doors to the public in the early 2023.
Ford and Olson have held a passion for the automotive industry for quite some time, and when Ford was introduced to the RNR franchise concept by one his employees, he brought in Olson to explore investing in the brand together. Upon visiting existing RNR locations and having the chance to meeting the Tampa executive team, both were equally impressed by the professionalism, culture, commitment, look and design that the franchise displayed.
I-CAR Presents Awards for Exceptional Contributions to Collision-repair Industry
The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) announced the 2021 recipients of its annual Jeff Silver and Russ Verona I-CAR Awards recognizing one individual and one collision-repair shop for advancing technical education and professionalism in the collision repair industry. The Awards were presented at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
The Jeff Silver Memorial Award, honoring an I-CAR Platinum individual who demonstrates true passion for training and professional growth, takes on special meaning this year as a memorial to the beloved industry leader. Silver, who served as CEO of I-CAR from 1985–1996, had a deep passion for training and professional growth. This award has been renamed the Jeff Silver Memorial Award, following Silver’s passing in September.
The 2021 Jeff Silver Memorial Award was awarded to Bill Condron, fixed operations director at Sawgrass Ford Collision Center in Sunrise, Florida. Condron has been a Platinum-recognized individual since 2012 and holds a paint supplier certification. In his role at Sawgrass, Condron is very involved with training while also overseeing all the service, parts, and collision operations.
The Russ Verona Memorial Award, honoring an I-CAR Gold Class shop that actively promotes technical training and a positive image for the collision repair industry, was awarded to Eveland Brothers Collision Repair Inc. in Merriam, Kansas. Company President Bill Eveland accepted the award for this family-owned and operated business, which has adhered to I-CAR’s Gold Class standard continuously since 1993. 2023 will mark its 30th year as a Gold Class shop, making it one of a very small group of shops in the country to reach this significant milestone.
Daud Gonzalez Joins PRI Editorial Team
Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has announced the hiring of Daud Gonzalez as its new coordinating/projects editor. He joins PRI following stints as a contributing writer with Internet Brands in El Segundo, California, and TopSpeed.com in Quebec, Canada. In his new role, Gonzalez will be responsible for a number of creative, organizational and administrative initiatives, including content generation, story and source development and oversight of outside contractors for PRI media; program and talent management for PRI Education and the PRI Trade Show; and more. He will be based out of PRI’s Aliso Viejo, California, office.
FASTRAK Racing Adds Bill Lupinos as Vice President
FASTRAK Companies International LLC has announced hiring of Bill Lupinos as the company vice president. According to a series release, Lupinos’ appointment will allow FASTRAK Founder, Owner and President Stan Lester to concentrate on his health. Lester will continue to be involved on a limited basis, consulting for the company and working on additional marketing to increase purses and point funds. FASTRAK is the governing body that oversees the Ultimate Super Late Model Series and the Heart of America Ultimate Super Late Model Series.
Lupinos, officially beginning on December 3, will work remotely from Kentucky with visits to the FASTRAK corporate office in Carnesville, Georgia. He currently works for Associate Distributors and also owns and operates Richmond Speedway in Richmond, Kentucky; the Heart of America USLMS; and a super stock series.
SuperSprings International Achieves ISO 9001 Certification
SuperSprings International (SSI)—the manufacturer of suspension solutions and products based in Carpinteria, California—has achieved ISO 9001:2015 Certification. ISO 9001 is a global standard that establishes a company’s commitment to quality by meeting qualifications across multiple areas of the business. At the base of the certification is a commitment to customer focus and continued improvement to the organization. For more information, visit superspringsinternational.com.
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