Action Executive to Join Jeff Gordon, Inc.
John Bickford Sr., executive vice president of strategic alliances for motorsports merchandise company Action Performance, has resigned to take the position of vice president and general manager of star NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon’s Jeff Gordon, Inc. Bickford will also oversee Gordon’s other business related interests.
Alan Jackson and NAPA BRAKE and CHASSIS Team Up to Take Seven Winners for an Extreme
The NAPA BRAKE and CHASSIS Extreme “Drive” promotion will reward seven regional service dealers with an all-expense paid trip to an Alan Jackson concert where they will meet the country superstar backstage. One of the seven concertgoers will have their name drawn from Alan’s hat and win the Extreme “Drive” grand prize: a Jeep Wrangler, a Bass Boat, a Ford F150 and a $1,000 Cabela’s Gift Certificate with a combined value of more than $60,000.
ASA Adds New Affiliate
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has named ASA-Texas as its 15th affiliate. Terry St. Pierre, owner of The Muffler Shoppe in Abilene, Texas, and president of ASA-Texas, said he is excited about the future of ASA-Texas and the direction it’s headed. St. Pierre said he encourages all service professionals to grow their local chapter, which will in turn grow their state groups, which will grow ASA on a national level.
Experts Warn Industry’s Growth in South Carolina Will Be Flat at Best
South Carolina is chasing automotive manufacturing jobs even as the industry’s work force is slipping away from the U.S. Some experts warn South Carolina will lose its auto jobs too, as automakers and parts companies move jobs abroad or squeeze out jobs at home through efficiency gains. Some experts warn South Carolina will lose its auto jobs too, as automakers and parts companies move jobs abroad or squeeze out jobs at home through efficiency gains.
ASA Launches New Government Affairs Web Site
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has launched a new Web site to help communicate with federal and state representatives about issues impacting the automotive repair industry. According to a press release issued yesterday, the new Web site will help ASA and its members “mobilize support or dissent for issues directly impacting the automotive repair industry on both federal and state levels.”
ZF to Build New Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina
ZF, a supplier of automotive driveline and chassis technology, plans to build a new suspension components manufacturing plant in Newton, N.C. ZF Lemforder Corp. — the car chassis division of ZF — will operate the plant. Construction on the 150,000-square-foot building is scheduled to begin immediately, with opening expected during spring 2005. The company is investing an estimated $30 million in the plant, which will create about 200 jobs.
Ex-Detroit Exec Named to Alcoa Post
A former Detroit executive has been named vice president and general manager of Alcoa’s Warrick Operations – the highest position at the facility, the company said Thursday. Michael Lucas, who began his duties Monday, came to Alcoa from Piston Automotive, a diversified company that provides manufacturing, assembly and logistics services to the automobile industry. He served as chief operations officer for Piston.
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.
Judge Approves $149 Million BFNAT Settlement
State District Judge Donald Floyd in Beaumont, Texas, has approved a $149 million settlement of 30 class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of Bridgestone/Firestone tire owners. The announcement comes more than three years after the 2000 recall of 14.4 million Firestone tires. Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) agreed to the proposed settlement last July.
J.L. French Has Less Red Ink for Quarter
Sheboygan-based auto parts supplier J.L. French Automotive Castings said Wednesday its restructuring efforts helped narrow its loss to $7 million in the fourth quarter from $70.5 million in the same quarter a year earlier.