Gessford Machine Inc. Named 2004
George Anderson, owner of Gessford Machine in Hastings, Neb., has been named the 2004 “Machine Shop of the Year” award by Engine Builder magazine and the Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA). AERA is a not-for-profit trade association, serving the engine rebuilder/remanufacturing industry, machine shops, equipment, parts and services suppliers since 1922.
Victor Reinz Names Machinist of the Year
Victor Reinz has named its Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year. Along with the AERA and the ASE, Clevite Engine Parts established the Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year Award in order to recognize the valuable contributions machinists make to the automotive rebuilding industry. This year’s award was presented at the AERA New Products Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev. on April 23, 2004.
NASCAR to Debut “NASCAR Performance Live” Radio Show
NASCAR will debut “NASCAR Performance Live,” a new one-hour radio show dedicated to discussing and examining the technical side of NASCAR. NASCAR will debut “NASCAR Performance Live,” a new one-hour radio show dedicated to discussing and examining the technical side of NASCAR.
PPG Introduces New Line of Custom Finishes
PPG Automotive Refinish recently launched a new brand for its line of custom finishes. The new Vibrance Collection will showcase what the company described as “hot colors, unique pigments and special-effect finishes,” as well as a line of special primers, clears and detailing products. PPG is also finalizing a new co-branding partnership with Hot Wheels, a Mattel, Inc. brand, to collaborate on the production of 12 anodized-looking Hot Wheels SPECTRAFLAME colors in the Vibrance Collection for use in automotive refinishing.
High-tech is Giving Drivers Another Set of Eyes on Highways
Advances in automotive technology are giving drivers another set of eyes. There is parking assistance that backs a car into a parking space, miniature cameras that help a driver see at night and in blinding sunlight, detection devices that sound an alert when a driver crosses into a lane without activating the turn signal or starts to get too close to a pedestrian.
Bridgestone Named Official Tire of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
For the third consecutive season, Bridgestone has been named the Official Tire of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Bridgestone first appeared as the Official Tire at Long Beach in 2002, the same year that the brand debuted as the Official Tire and sole supplier for Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford. This year, every Champ Car competitor will again be equipped with Bridgestone Potenza racing radials.
TIA Unveils New Logo for the TIA World Tire Expo
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has unveiled a new logo for the TIA World Tire Expo, the conference and exhibition for the commercial tire, retreading and recycling industries. The event is scheduled to be held April 20-22, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. “The new WTE logo works with our logo to insure that the tire industry knows that TIA is running this international show geared towards the commercial, retreading and recycling segments of the market,” said Larry Morgan, president of TIA.
Bendix Brakes Expands Partnership with Pedregon Racing
Honeywell’s Bendix brakes has renewed its associate sponsorship with former Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon for the 2004 NHRA POWERade drag racing series season. The brand has also expanded its involvement with the team by becoming an associate sponsor on 2003 Funny Car Champion Tony Pedregon’s Quaker State Funny Car.
DENSO Increases Motorsports Sponsorships for 2004
Japan-based DENSO Corp. has announced it will co-sponsor two new teams for the 2004 racing season — Panasonic Toyota Racing team in Formula One (F1), and Subaru World Rally team. DENSO will also continue to support the Panasonic Toyota Racing team as a technical sponsor.
ATMC Spring Conference to Focus on “Clean Diesel”
The Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC) will hold its 2004 Spring Conference and Business Meeting on April 18-20 at the Holiday Inn Fairlane-Dearborn in Detroit, Mich. The conference will focus on heavy-duty/diesel emissions and new technologies. Numerous automotive presentations on clean diesels, new emissions-related systems and their impact on the service technician will be on the agenda.