Online Registration Opens for First-Ever Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week
Online registration for the first-ever Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), Jan. 23 – 27, 2006, at The Mirage in Las Vegas, is now open at: hdaw.org.
BASF Facility Exceeds One Million Hours of Safe Operation
BASF’s Coatings Technical Support Center in Whitehouse, Ohio, recently marked more than one million hours of operation without a recordable injury or work-related illness. According to Ken Perry, technical director, BASF Automotive Refinish, one million hours represents more than three and a half years of continuous operation at the site, which employs approximately 140 people.
DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports Extend NASCAR Sponsorship
DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports have announced the extension of DuPont’s longstanding sponsorship of the #24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The new pact builds on an association launched 13 years ago with 21-year-old rookie driver named Jeff Gordon. Under the new contract, DuPont continues as the primary sponsor for three years, through the 2008 racing season, with the option to extend for an additional two years. Financial terms were not disclosed.
School Fuels Dream of NASCAR Career
As Bryan Station High School senior Joseph Hampton breezed through the hallways of the Eastside Technical Center, his fellow classmates greeted him with smiles and hellos. He carried himself with an air of confidence and pride, knowing that in a few months he would be attending the “Harvard of automotive schools.”
Exide Technologies Names New President for Transportation Americas Division
Exide Technologies has announced the appointment of Edward J. (E.J.) O’Leary, as president – transportation Americas, effective June 6. O’Leary succeeds Randy Siuda, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities. O’Leary has more than 25 years of management experience in the automotive industry and most recently served as president – The Americas at Oetiker Inc. His prior experience includes CEO of iStarSystems, vice president sales and distribution – The Americas at Federal-Mogul Corp., executive vice president sales and marketing at Cooper Automotive and national sales manager – Monroe Auto Equipment Co. at Tenneco Inc.
Clevite Engine Parts, NASCAR Technical Institute and Dianne Dorton Team Up to Honor Late Engine Builder Randy Dorton
This year’s final round of the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown will become a particularly poignant celebration, serving as a memorial to the life of the late Randy Dorton, former director of engine development for Hendrick Motorsports. Dorton, and seven other members of the Hendrick Motorsports team, along with two pilots, were killed in a plane crash last October. The Dorton family, along with Clevite Engine Parts and the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI), where the final round of competition will be held on May 24, have teamed up to organize a number of events in memory of Dorton.
Spirit of NAPA Award Goes to NAPA Filters
NAPA Filters was presented the 2004 Spirit of NAPA Award, according to Terry McCormack, president and CEO of Affinia Group Inc. The Spirit of NAPA is presented to the manufacturer supplier who has provided the most outstanding service to the NAPA organization during the year.
HDDA Elects Not to Participate in CFS Conference
Earlier this week it was announced a joint operating committee of heavy duty manufacturing and distribution associations has created the first ever Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, which is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in February. HDDA, one of the members working to organize the new event, followed this week’s announcement with the news it will not participate in the 2005 Council of Fleet Specialists Executive Conference as a result of the new event. HDDA is part of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association.
First-Ever Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week Planned for 2006
Make room on your calendar for February 2006, when the first ever Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week is scheduled to take place. The new event will feature a trade show, training, educational and social functions and one-on-one business meetings. The new Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week was created in response to requests from manufacturers, distributors and truck fleet/heavy duty service specialists to reduce the number of meetings and redundancy in the heavy duty aftermarket.
Executive Interview: Affinia President Terry McCormack Discusses the Future
Yesterday it was announced that Dana Corp. had completed the sale of the Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG) to Cypress Group, a New York-based buyout firm. The new company, renamed Affinia, will be lead by Terry McCormack, an aftermarket veteran of more than 30 years. McCormack spent three decades in positions of increasing responsibility at Dana, and was named president of Dana AAG in 2000. Join us as McCormick describes to us his visions for the future of Affinia and reflects back on AAG’s time under the Dana organization.