Lanny Barnes Named 2004 Engine Builder Showdown Champ
A single cross-threaded oil pan nut stood between Lanny Barnes and the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown record build time. Despite the minor oversight, Barnes and his Richard Childress Racing partner, Todd Hamm, defeated Mike Maiwald and Shane Parsnow of Hendrick Motorsports in a closely matched race to capture the 2004 Clevite Engine Builder Showdown championship.
John Kerry Wants Timken, Union to Talk
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Thursday asked President Bush to help settle the dispute that threatens to close Timken’s three bearings plants in Canton, Ohio. The Canton Industrial Bearing Complex includes the plant where the president promoted his tax-cut plan last year. Kerry said Bush should urge the Timken Co. and the United Steelworkers of America Local 1123 to accept a federal mediator to help settle their disagreement.
Filter Manufacturers Council Honored as ‘Recycler of the Year’
The Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC) was honored with a “Recycler of the Year” award by the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), at the association’s Annual Members Conference Luncheon on May 12 in Washington, D.C. The Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC) was honored with a “Recycler of the Year” award by the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), at the association’s Annual Members Conference Luncheon on May 12 in Washington, D.C.
Monro Muffler Brake Announces Fourth Quarter and Record Full Year Results
Monro Muffler Brake has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year, which ended on March 27. The company said the results were in line with the previously announced expectations. Full year sales increased 8.3 percent to $279.5 million from $258 million in fiscal 2003, driven by a 4.7 percent increase in comparable store sales. New stores added $10.9 million, including $3.5 million from the newly-acquired Mr. Tire stores. The company attributed comparable store sales results to an approximate 16 percent increase in scheduled maintenance, a 6 percent increase in brake sales and a 19 percent increase in commercial sales.
As U.S. Gas Prices Rise, Pep Boys Offers Tips to Help Customers Improve Fuel Efficiency
As gas prices reach $2 per gallon or more in some regions, Pep Boys is using this as an opportunity to inform consumers about ways to improve fuel efficiency of vehicles.
“Brain Reserve” Consultant to Address the Impact of Female Consumers on the Aftermarket at GAAS
Tiffany Vasilchik, a senior consultant with Faith Popcorn’s Brain Reserve firm, will address the subject of the emerging influence of women on the aftermarket. Her presentation — “Futurescape: How Trends and The Female Consumer Are Driving Change in the Automotive Aftermarket” — will take place on Tuesday, May 18 at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago.
Modine Receives Award of Excellence
Modine Manufacturing has won the 2004 Award of Excellence for outstanding safety from the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Modine was presented the award for its Lawrenceburg, Tenn., facility. In July, Tennessee Labor Commissioner James Neeley will present the award at the Tennessee Safety Congress in Nashville.
DST Asks:Does Your Multi-Store Business Management System Capture and Consolidate Operating Information?
It’s the American way. Start your own business. Perfect your methods. Hire good people. Grow your customer base. Perfect the idea at one location, then expand by adding new locations that share the same business model. Thousands of successful retail enterprises have started in exactly this way. It’s a fundamental way to apply the principle we all learned in Economics 101 – economies of scale. Business 101 would call it leverage. Good entrepreneurs call it survival!
Modine Expands Global Presence through Acquisition in Asia
Modine Manufacturing Co. has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement for a major expansion into Asia through the acquisition of the Automotive Climate Control Division (ACC) of WiniaMando Inc. WiniaMando, headquartered in South Korea, designs and manufactures heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for commercial vehicles, trucks, buses and trains as well as other heat transfer components, such as oil coolers and charge air coolers.
ExxonMobil Celebrates 30 Years for Mobil 1
ExxonMobil is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the introduction of Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil. First introduced in 1974, Mobil 1 has become the world’s number one-selling synthetic motor oil, according to the company. ExxonMobil kicked off a celebration for the brand on April 13 in Beaumont, Texas, where Mobil 1 is manufactured and distributed for all of North and South America.