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.
ASC Adds Marketing Coordinator/Analyst
Traci Stoddard has joined ASC Industries as the new marketing coordinator/analyst for the North Canton, Ohio-based business. Her responsibilities at ASC will include coordination of advertising, general marketing and development of collateral material for the automotive water pump division.
NHTSA’s Runge, Continental Teves’ Kozyra to Speak at Automotive Suppliers’ Legislative and Public Policy Summit
Dr. Jeffrey Runge, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be joined by William Kozyra, president and CEO of Continental Teves North America, on Thursday, May 6, for a discussion on automotive safety, at the MEMA Legislative and Public Policy Summit: Advancing American Manufacturing, in Washington, D.C. Runge and Kozyra will discuss such topics as NHTSA’s and Congress’ views toward encouraging voluntary industry guidelines vs. mandates and how industry and government should address innovation and technology out-pacing regulation.
NHRA Tour de Force Storms Detroit
Legendary hot-rodder and storyteller John Force wants a major drag racing strip in the Detroit area, and he’s willing to invest time and money to make it happen. Force, the king of funny cars and one-liners, was in town last week for the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress at Cobo Center, in Detroit. His job: to chat with engineers and shake hands with backers, including Ford Motor Co. executives, who support his passion to go fast over a quarter-mile.
SEMA Spring Expo Reaches New Level Of Success
Organizers for the 2004 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Spring Expo, have reported that this year’s show was the biggest regional show the association has held to date. The Expo took place March 5-6 at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis. A day of seminars preceded the actual exhibit. Although attendance figures have not yet been audited, show organizers said preliminary reports show an increase of approximately 65 percent in buyer attendance, and 30 percent in total attendance from the SEMA Spring Expo in Nashville last February.
New Video to Highlight Importance of Automotive Suppliers
MEMA and its market segment associations, in conjunction with Blue Sky Productions, are producing a special 5-minute video that highlights the importance of automotive suppliers – in terms of how they contribute to America’s manufacturing base and economy and how they fit into the entire automotive industry. John McElroy will narrate the video which will be shown at industry events, to legislators and regulators on Capitol Hill and on the MEMA Web site.
It’s Not Too Late to Celebrate National Car Care Month
April is National Car Care Month (NCCM) and while it is now less than a month away, it’s not too late to get in the game. Car Care events last year provided startling results with ninety percent of vehicles that were inspected during National Car Care Month failing one or more aspects of the inspection, according to the Car Care Council. Don’t let 2004 be a repeat performance.
Dana Corp. Prepares for 100th Anniversary Celebrations
Dana Corp. will kick off its centennial-year celebrations at an automotive technology event in downtown Detroit, this while banners announcing the anniversary will begin peppering downtown Toledo. The Toledo firm, which turns 100 on April 1, will start its centennial celebration at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress. Dana will return to the March 8 to 11 event at Cobo Center for the first time since 2001 after bowing out, along with other large suppliers, for business and financial reasons.
ABC, ESPN to Provide Live Coverage of IRL Indycar Series
ESPN and ABC Sports have signed on to be the exclusive carriers of Indy Racing League (IRL) events, providing live television coverage of all 16 IRL IndyCar Series events for the 2004 season.
CCAR Partners with OSHA to Create a Safe Workplace in the Auto Industry
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has formalized an alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to address worker safety and health issues in the automotive industry. The alliance not only highlights workplace vehicle safety, but will also focus on abrasive wheel machinery (including associated silica hazards) and ergonomics. The alliance provides CCAR affiliates and others in the automotive industry with information, guidance and access to training resources that will further safety and health for industry workers.