SEMA News—June 2012
Industry News
Fast Facts
 Flex-a-lite will hit the road this summer for its 50th Anniversary Tour, which will span 50 days and include stops at automotive enthusiast events and major product distributors throughout the Midwest. |
The Petersen Automotive Museum hired David Boulé as director of corporate sponsorships. The recently created position was developed in response to the growing number of companies looking to support the museum as part of their marketing and communication activities. “As the Petersen continues to realize its potential and vision, we knew it was important to have a person who could find, nurture and ensure the satisfaction of our many corporate partners,” said Buddy Pepp, executive director of the museum. “Dave is that person.” Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation, Los Angeles, 323-964-6361.
Merger and acquisitions advisory and management consulting firm Schwartz Advisors announced that it recently added two new partners, Dennis Walvaert and Mitch Williams. Walvaert and Williams will work on merger and acquisition initiatives and strategic consulting projects for the company. Walvaert recently retired as the president of the Dayco North American aftermarket division and was responsible for Dayco’s Australian operations. Williams is the former president and COO of Hella Inc., where he was responsible for aftermarket activities for Hella in the United States and Canada. He also served as COO for aftermarket accessory supplier Pilot Automotive.
Brute Industries Inc., manufacturer of 52 Race Ramp products in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was recognized as one of the 2012 “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch.” The company was honored during a ceremony at the eighth annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event in May. The program was sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and was presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. For information about Michigan Celebrates Small Business, visit www.michigancelebrates.biz. Brute Industries, Escanaba, MI; 906-786-0585.
 Collector-car legend Rick Cole was contracted by the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction to serve as an automotive specialist. |
Total Automotive Inc. has completed a 10,000-square-foot expansion of its main complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota. With the expansion, the company plans to add 12 to 15 new positions and launch a new retail www.hingekits.com website in 2012 and release more than 100 new hinge repair kits before the 2012 SEMA Show. Total Automotive, Chanhassen, MN; 952-448-7750.
Ryan Payne was hired by Source Interlink Media LLC to serve as vice president of marketing. He will be responsible for streamlining the company’s internal and external marketing solutions to help deliver more efficient and collaborative ideas to clients. Prior to joining Source Interlink Media, Payne served as account director at Team One Advertising in El Segundo, California, where he managed the Lexus National account and was responsible for web development and collateral. Source Interlink Media, El Segundo, CA; 310-531-9900.
Toyo Tires U.S.A. Corp. will continue as the Official Tire of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for 2012. In addition to Toyo logos inside the octagon during six UFC pay-per-view events and several UFC on FX and FUELTV events, Toyo will also have an increased presence on www.ufc.com and plans to further incorporate UFC and mixed martial arts fighters into its marketing efforts. Toyo Tires U.S.A. Corp., Cypress, CA; 714-236-2080.
Royal Purple announced the winner of its High Performance Experience contest. Scott Shanks and his 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible were selected to drive on the 2012 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour as a guest of Royal Purple. As the winner of the Royal Purple High Performance Driving Experience Contest, Shanks will receive a Visa gift card to help defray expenses while traveling on the tour, paid registration fees for the tour, VIP parking, a spot in the Royal Purple booth on the tour, and a variety of Royal Purple swag. Royal Purple, Porter, TX; 281-354-8600.
The Velocity television network is bringing back the vehicle restoration series “Overhaulin’,” with a new season set to premiere in the fall of 2012. Restoration icon Chip Foose will return to the show with an all-new format, ready to transform the vehicles of several lucky and well-deserving individuals.
Morris Hamm will serve as the chief steward for the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series. A 40-year SCCA member with more than 25 years of stewarding experience, Hamm will be responsible for the officiating of the 46-year-old series. He has served as chief steward of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup and its predecessor SCCA Pro Racing Mazda Miata Cup, and he spent five years as the assistant chief steward of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships.
 Falken Tire launched a special sweepstakes featuring a 2013 Ford Mustang customized by Team Falken drivers Justin Pawlak and Vaughn Gittin Jr. |
Falken Tire launched a special sweepstakes featuring a 2013 Ford Mustang customized by Team Falken drivers Justin Pawlak and Vaughn Gittin Jr. The winner will be awarded the grand prize Mustang at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Entries can be made by completing the entry form and posting a “Like” on Falken Tire’s Facebook page. The sweepstakes runs throughout the Formula Drift season, which culminates with the “Title Fight,” Round 7, on October 12–13. Falken Tire, Fontana, CA; 909-466-1116.
RCH Designs announced that the company helped redesign and streamline the website for Monroe Brakes, www.monroebrakes.com. In addition to the two websites for Monroe (www.monroe.com and www.monroebrakes.com), RCH Designs has also built sites for “performance” divisions within Tenneco, Rancho Suspension (www.gorancho.com) and DynoMax Performance Exhaust (www.dynomax.com). RCH Designs, Huntington Beach, CA: 714-842-9899.
John B. Rogers Jr., president, CEO and co-founder of Local Motors, was selected as the jury captain for the Core77 2012 Design Awards. Core 77 is an online design resource for designers and enthusiasts that publishes articles, provides discussion forums, hosts portfolio and job listings and more for its community. Rogers recently chose the following designers to serve on the jury team: Victor Garcia, senior industrial designer at Peterbilt Motors; Aurelien François, community liaison and design at Local Motors; and Chris Cocalis, president and CEO of Pivot Cycles and BH USA LLC. According to Core 77, the awards celebrate the design profession and practitioners by recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise. Local Motors, Chandler, AZ; 480-371-6797.
A special birthday celebration for hot rod legend and So-Cal Speed Shop founder Alex Xydias will take place at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum on Saturday, June 16, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets, which are $90 per person, include dinner, silent and live auctions of items from Xydias’s personal collection, admission to the museum and an event keepsake. Tickets can be purchased through the museum at 909-622-3389 or ordered via e-mail at mvaladez@nhra.com. The event benefits both the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts, a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex.
 The Society of Automotive Engineers—Australia has appointed Geoff Pearson as executive director. |
Design Engineering Inc. will continue its product sponsorship program for 2012, which includes all of its performance brands: Ny-Trex, CryO2, DEI, Boom Mat, Radiator Relief and Spa Turbo USA. DEI announced that it will offer racers and project builders any DEI-branded product in exchange for media coverage at race and show events. The sponsorship program is applicable to any product for domestic or import automotive vehicles (gas or diesel), kart, personal watercraft or boat. There is no limitation based on the race series or class, show vehicle category or the number of products or the product mix that is requested. Learn more at www.designengineering.com, or e-mail mikez@designengineering.com. Design Engineering Inc., Avon Lake, OH; 440-930-7940.
Powdercoating equipment manufacturer Gema announced that it began operating as a new business unit of the Graco Corp. effective April 2, 2012. According to Gema, the company will operate as a separate business unit, and customers and industry partners will see no change in how the company conducts business. A transition will occur over the next several months as marketing, promotional and product materials are integrated with the new company name, Gema. Gema, Indianapolis, IN; 317-298-5072.
Yokohama Tire Corp. planted an additional 2,500 tree seedlings at its manufacturing plant in Salem, Virginia, bringing the facility’s total seedlings planted to 6,800. Yokohama aims to plant more than 500,000 trees worldwide by 2017 as part of its ongoing “Forever Forest” program. The campaign is under the direction of ecologist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, well known for his successful reforestation activities around the world. Under his guidance, Yokohama’s parent company, The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., is on course to attain its goal of half a million trees planted over a 10-year period at Yokohama’s 17 locations worldwide. To date, more than 200,000 trees have been planted. Yokohama, Fullerton, CA; 714-870-3800.
