Emerald Acquires Lodestone Events, Producers of the Overland Expo Series
Emerald Holding Inc. has announced that it has acquired all of the assets comprising the business known as Lodestone Events, producers of the Overland Expo series of vehicle-based, adventure-travel consumer shows. The acquisition supports Emerald and Lodestone’s shared mission to power connectivity, builds on Emerald’s decades of experience in outdoor recreation with its outdoor retailer wholesale trade show and represents the company’s strategic expansion into the growing business-to-consumer (B2C) event space.
All Lodestone employees will join the Emerald team, with Lodestone founders Lindsay Hubley and Jessica Kirchner joining Emerald’s management team and continuing to lead the Overland Expo series. The team will also oversee Emerald’s previously announced Outdoor Adventure X show—Emerald’s new consumer lifestyle event for the outdoor recreation enthusiast. Outdoor Adventure X will take place June 17–18 at Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville, Utah, the weekend preceding Outdoor Retailer’s business-to-business (B2B) summer show in Salt Lake City.
The acquisition of Overland Expo event series and daily digital content signifies another important step in Emerald’s portfolio optimization strategy: strengthening the company’s position in high-growth markets and expanding further into consumer events.
“We are passionate about gathering communities of enthusiasts to get trained, outfitted and inspired for their outdoor adventures, and are grateful to be partnering with Emerald, who are so strongly aligned with our business philosophy. We look forward to continuing to enhance the client and attendee event experience and 365-day digital content strategy with the Emerald team,” said Hubley.
Tread Lightly! Announces Memphis Audio, Trailstamp as Newest Official Partners
Tread Lightly! has announced Memphis Audio and Trailstamp as its newest official partners. As an official partner of Tread Lightly!, Memphis Audio and Trailstamp will support Tread Lightly!’s mission to protect off-road trail access and public lands through stewardship projects and responsible recreation education. In addition to the partnership, Trailstamp now offers a Tread Lightly! branded Trailstamp. For every purchase, $5 will be donated to Tread Lightly! To learn more about Tread Lightly!, visit www.treadlightly.org.
ARP Publishes New 2023 Catalog
ARP has just published its updated full-line catalog for 2023. The 180-page, full-color publication, details the 5,000-plus fastener kits manufactured by ARP, plus tech information. Several dozen pages are devoted to the science of fastener manufacturing and their proper use. In addition to the many kits covering engine, driveline and accessory fasteners, the catalog details the specialty products and tools that facilitate efficient engine assembly. The catalog can be view online, dowloaded as a PDF or a printed version requested at www.ARP-bolts.com. Special product guides for Chevy LS/LT, Ford Coyote or Chrysler Gen III Hemi engines are also available for downloading.
Dave Amato Joins Northern Radiator as Sales Manager
Dave Amato was recently named sales manager for Northern Radiator, a distribution-based supplier of cooling system components for heavy-duty truck, high-performance, automotive, industrial and other markets. Amato’s previous experience includes more than 25 years at Baldwin Filters Inc. in various sales and marketing leadership positions, including vice president of sales for the United States and Canada. Prior to joining Northern Radiator, he served as vice president of sales and marketing for Bulldog HD/DMA Sales. Amato brings a wealth of automotive, commercial and heavy-duty truck industry knowledge and sales leadership experience. In his new role, he will be focused on the continued growth of Northern’s overall sales and market share while offering best-in-class aftermarket parts programs and sales support to our customers.
Meguiar’s to Sponsor Barrett-Jackson Future Collector Car Show
Barrett-Jackson has announced that longtime partner Meguiar’s will be the presenting sponsor for the Future Collector Car Show (FCCS) held January 22 during the auction company’s 2023 Scottsdale Auction. For the first time, the Future Collector Car Show presented by Meguiar’s will be held on the Polo Field at WestWorld of Scottsdale as a part of Barrett-Jackson’s nine-day flagship event.
The FCCS presented by Meguiar’s is a one-day, family-friendly, concours-style event featuring vehicles that best represent the future of the collector car hobby, with the goal of celebrating the cars we love today and the future collectibles of tomorrow. At FCCS, spectators will enjoy a variety of vehicles ranging from highly modified custom builds to original and perfectly preserved rides, effectively creating an experience where generations of vehicle owners can find common ground in their love of future collectibles.
Prior to FCCS on January 22, judges will hand-pick the top cars for each category from the applications submitted. The target year range for featured vehicles is ’80 to present-day, with exceptions for vehicles that have seen recent increases in collectibility. The FCCS team will look for quality vehicles, highly modified enthusiast builds, rare or low-production number cars and unique or uncommon vehicles. Every vehicle entered in the show qualifies for the coveted Best of Show trophy, with other award categories that include a People’s Choice award selected by spectators on-site.
Admission to FCCS will provide access to the entire Barrett-Jackson event on Sunday, January 22, including access to auction cars on display, the Exhibitor Marketplace, sponsor displays, and Hot Laps and Thrill Rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track. Visit FCCS.Barrett-Jackson.com for additional information on how to enter your vehicle, award categories, tickets and more.
AWE Launches New Mobile and Desktop Website, AWE-Tuning.com
AWE has launched its newest online experience, a fully mobile (and desktop) friendly website. The new website uses AWE’s newly converted ACES and PIES data to ensure fitment compliance and easy importing for its dealer-partner network.
“The new site is just warming up. Featuring mobile galleries of some of our favorite builds, a fully mobile-friendly browsing experience, and easy access to contacts, support, dealers, FAQs and more. Our goal is to make the simplest experience to get the best-sounding exhausts on the planet (and other leading AWE products),” stated AWE Director of Software Development Will Stopa.
With the launch, AWE has stated that it is accepting applications for quality online retailers, brick-and-mortar shops and installers to be listed on their dealer map.
Shelby American Centennial Edition Mustangs
Shelby American is honoring the 100th anniversary of its founder’s birth with a small run of Centennial Edition Mustangs. Only 100 of the ’23-model-year supercharged Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustangs will be available through Shelby American in Las Vegas, with a few available through official mod shops around the world. A prototype was unveiled in Gardena, California, last weekend, and the final production-ready version will be introduced at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, starting this weekend.
“The world is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Carroll Shelby’s birth, recounting his many accomplishments,” said Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American. “Though he had never flown before, he became one of the most skilled pilot instructors in the U.S. Army Air Force. Carroll never took a single management class, but created a successful team with some of the most talented drivers, development experts, fabricators and production people in the world. From his wins behind the wheel to his business successes and philanthropic initiatives, Carroll earned every victory.”
Based on the ’23 Ford Mustang GT, the new Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustang is different from the Shelby Super Snake. Enthusiasts can choose a fastback or convertible with either a manual or automatic transmission. As a post-title program, any stock Ford Mustang color is accepted. Only 100 of the ’23 Centennial Edition Mustangs will be built by Shelby American in Las Vegas with a handful transformed by international mod shops. Consumers with a qualifying Ford Mustang GT can arrange to have their cars transformed by Shelby American or an official Shelby mod shop.
Each Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustang includes membership in Team Shelby, the worldwide club Carroll Shelby established in 2008, and will be eligible for documentation in the official Shelby Registry. The package MSRP starts at $49,995, not including the base car. Production will begin in Las Vegas during the second quarter of the year and owners of a ’23 model year Ford Mustang can contact Shelby American about transforming their car into a Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Mustang. Select dealers and Shelby mod shops worldwide also have access to the program.
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