Diamond Enterprises to Compete in USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
Diamond Enterprises and Donley Motorsports have joined forces to form a new race team. The team will race in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and compete on a limited five-race schedule for 2005. Behind the wheel of the team’s Pontiac Grand Prix will be Jerame Donley.
Auto Parts Industry Presses Senate To Pass Association Health Plan Bill
Ten trade associations representing the entire scope of the auto parts industry, from suppliers to aftermarket, challenged the United States Senate to enact the “Small Business Health Fairness Act” (S. 406). The bill would allow small businesses to purchase affordable health care coverage through a trade association. In a show of solidarity, the 10 groups submitted a joint letter to the Senate urging immediate support for the bill, commonly referred to as “Association Health Plans” (AHPs).
Dura Lube Acquisition Completed
Into Great Brands Inc. has completed its purchase of the Dura Lube family of products, joining into the company’s MotorKote Hyper Lubricants as “one of the leading packaged goods companies in the automotive aftermarket,” according to the company. Dura Lube Products is the maker of Dura Lube Advanced Engine Treatment, Advanced Fuel System Treatment and Dura Shine, among other chemicals and lubricant additives. MotorKote Products is a heavy-duty line of synthetic lubricants and fuel optimizer products.
Prolong Expands Retailer Lineup for 2005
Prolong Super Lubricants, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of patented consumer automotive, commercial/industrial and household products, announced that its products will be carried in close to 15,000 retail stores in the U.S. this year, a significant increase in the number of outlets over the prior year, according to the company.
AMSOIL Launches New Line of Extended Life Motor Oils
Superior, Wis.-based Amsoil Inc. announced this week it has reformulated and renamed its XL-7500 line. “XL” stands for extended life lubricants. The new American Petroleum Institute-certified XL series of synthetic motor oils has been designed to meet the new SM/GF-4 specifications for oil viscosity. AMSOIL XL is a 100 percent synthetic motor oil available in four viscosity grades, 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30 and 10W-40. It can be purchased in quarts, cases and drums.
ChevronTexaco Named Volvo Truck and Mack Aftermarket Supplier of the Year
ChevronTexaco Products was named an Aftermarket Supplier of the Year by Volvo Trucks North America, Inc., and Mack Trucks, Inc. during their fourth annual Partnership Plus Awards. The awards were announced in Las Vegas during the Volvo and Mack UPTIME 2005 meeting in February. The event is held for all parts and service personnel from Volvo and Mack dealerships in North America.
Lubegard Acquires Pro II 9000 Brand
Lubegard by International Lubricants, Inc. (ILI) recently announced its acquisition of PRO II 9000, adding to its line of EPA Registered synthetic air intake and fuel-system products. Lubegard plans to maintain the PRO II 9000 brand name. PRO II 9000 is a compete air and fuel system service with products for air intake cleaning, intake valve and combustion chamber cleaning, fuel injection and total fuel system cleaning.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Supply and Demand Issues of R-134a
Reports have been coming into our office about the rise in price of R-134a, mobile air conditioning system refrigerant. Sources have told us there are several factors behind it, namely the increase of offshore R-134a demand, both from Europe and Asia, uncertainty over the future use of the refrigerant (especially in Europe) and increased demand for R-134a for non-vehicle applications such as industrial. We asked top experts from the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide to help us sort out this issue. Read on to find out what’s really going on with R-134a.
MACS Issues Reminder on Refrigerant Usage in Mobile A/C Service
The reduced availability and increased cost of HFC-134a refrigerant is causing increasing concern to the service and repair industry. To address this concern, the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide has issued a reminder to all service technicians who perform mobile A/C system service and repair regarding acceptable refrigerant use.
Valvoline Named Vendor of the Year by Monro Muffler Brake
Valvoline has been named ‘Vendor of the Year’ by Monro Muffler Brake for the second consecutive year. Valvoline is the lubricants, filter and service chemical supplier to the Rochester, NY-based chain.