SEMA Chairman Named 2004 Meguiar’s Award Recipient
Corky Coker of Coker Tire, chairman of SEMA’s board of directors, was chosen as the 2004 Meguiar’s Award recipient by the Meguiar’s Award Selection Committee. The award recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted the collector-car hobby. Past recipients include: Steve Earle, founder of the Historic Sports Car Racing Association; Robert Petersen, founder of Motor Trend and Hot Rod magazines; and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno.
Goodyear to Seek Millions in Loans
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., on the verge of posting its third straight annual loss, said Tuesday it plans to take on an additional $300 million in loans to fund its turnaround. The Akron, Ohio, company said it is also taking steps to follow through on a promise made last year to the United Steelworkers of America to complete a large bond sale. The sale is designed to improve the company’s strength and protect union jobs.
NASTF Updates OE Service Information Matrix
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has updated its OE Service Information Matrix. NASTF established the OE Service Information Matrix in 2001 with the assistance of the International Automotive Technicians’ Network (iATN). The matrix provides OE company contacts for obtaining service information, training materials and tools. The update incorporates revisions since the October 2003 update. The matrix is updated quarterly, with the next update scheduled for April 2004.
ArvinMeritor Reports Fiscal Year 2004 First-Quarter Results
ArvinMeritor reported sales of $2.2 billion and net income of $19 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for its first fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 2003. This is compared to the prior year’s first-quarter net income of $32 million, or $0.47 per diluted share. Results for the first quarter of 2004 include a net charge of $0.09 per diluted share as a result of the company’s decision to withdraw its tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Dana Corp. This charge includes $16 million of pre-tax costs, partially offset by a pre-tax gain of $7 million on the sale of Dana stock owned by the company.
Dupli-Color TV Commercial Receives Advertising Award
Automotive paints, primer and coatings manufacturer Dupli-Color Products Group was the recipient of a Gold ADDY. The Cleveland ADDY Awards Competition is the first of a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The ADDY Awards Competition is the industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.
DST Unveils New Automated Email and Fax Options for its DSTWare Suite of Products
DST Inc. has launched new automated e-mailing and faxing options for users of its iSeries-based DSTWare suite of products. KeyesMail and KeyesFax were developed by Computer Keyes, a Woodway, Wa.-based software developer. Both KeyesMail and KeyesFax are full function automated packages for the iSeries systems.
Coyle Named to Fuel Systems Job at TI Automotive
Patrick Coyle has been named North American regional director for TI Automotive’s Global Fuel Systems Division. Previously, Coyle was responsible for global fuel-system quality. TI Automotive is a tier one supplier of integrated fuel-storage and delivery systems.
Delphi Becomes Official Safety Supplier to IRL
In the first-ever agreement of its kind, Delphi has been designated the “Official Safety Supplier” to the Indy Racing League (IRL). Beginning this year, the league’s safety and rescue team will become the Delphi Indy Racing League Safety Team. The Delphi Indy Racing League Safety Team includes 15 trained professionals who will attend all IndyCar Series and Menards Infiniti Pro Series events to handle on-site emergencies. In addition, Delphi will provide new safety technologies for safety vehicles used by the team and will provide hydraulic sled testing and analysis services at the Delphi Safety Systems Test Center, a state-of-the-art safety testing facility in Vandalia, Ohio.
Holley and DuPont to Sponsor Second Annual NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, June 18-20
Holley and DuPont Automotive Finishes, the major sponsors of last year’s inaugural NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, have signed on again for the second annual event. The second annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, is set for June 18-20, at Beech Bend Park, in Bowling Green, Ky. Like last year, Holley is the title sponsor while DuPont Automotive Finishes is the presenting sponsor.
“DST Asks”: Adding Service/Installation as an Additional Profit Center in a Parts Enterprise
How many readers know that Starbucks, the ubiquitous coffee retailer, actually began operating as a coffee roaster in Seattle, selling bags of whole bean coffee in Pike Street Market? It took a visionary leader, Howard Schultz, coupled with an ambitious operating plan and enterprise management technology to morph the business into the worldwide coffeehouse chain and merchandising success story we see today. And this all happened in an incredibly short period of time…with growth from 17 outlets in 1987 to 7,225 outlets today. All of this was based on the simple premise, “We already have customers who buy our coffee beans — what if we brewed the coffee for them, too?” We see a similar opportunity in parts distribution.