Clevite Engine Brands Now ‘NASCAR Performance’
Driving home an expanded partnership with NASCAR, Clevite Engine Parts has secured exclusivity with all Clevite brands as NASCAR Performance products. Expansion of the relationship will position Perfect Circle piston rings, Victor Reinz gaskets and Clevite 77 engine bearings as NASCAR Performance products. The Clevite relationship with NASCAR is now secured through 2010, and expands to the entire offering of Clevite Engine Parts.

Clevite 77 engine bearings have long-carried status as a NASCAR Performance product, but Victor Reinz and Perfect Circle piston rings are new additions. "This is a great opportunity for Clevite Engine Parts to increase awareness of the superior quality in our product lines. We are pleased with this contract expansion and are committed to providing the products NASCAR demands to maintain a competitive edge," said John Washbish, President of Dana’s Office of Customer Relationship Management.

In addition to its NASCAR Performance licensing agreement, Clevite Engine Parts will remain a supporter of NASCAR’s contingency programs. Providing monetary awards to the engine builder, the contingency program requires competitors to display the Clevite Engine Parts decal. The level of reward granted is dependent on finishing order of the race team.

ERC Programs Indicate Strength Of AAIA Segment
The Engine Repower Council (ERC) has made several announcements that indicate the strength and potential of the engine building and remanufacturing industry. ERC is one of several segments of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

Finance Packages: AAIA and ERC have met to research finance packages that installers can offer their customers for remanufactured/rebuilt engines. Leading finance program providers have asked AAIA for an assessment of the amount of business that they can expect from the financing program. ERC’s board has suggested a conservative estimate of 1,000 shops with an average ticket price of $3,000 to $4,000 could participate in the financing programs.

ERC is considering providing two separate financing programs. One program would be for consumers with good credit who can easily be approved by programs such as the MBNA program; the second for those that are considered "sub-prime" and have more difficulty acquiring credit.

• ERC and BCCA Web Site Traffic: As awareness of the "Be Car Care Aware" campaign continues to grow, traffic to the Car Care Council and ERC Web sites has also increased. For the period spanning Sept. 15-Nov. 15, www.car-care.org received 494,323 hits, while www.enginerepower.org received 7,544. As an added bonus, the ERC pages are listed in the top six positions on Google when searching for the keywords "engine repower" and "repowered engine."

For more information on joining the Engine Repower Council, which works to increase rebuilt/remanufactured engine sales through consumer awareness publicity and installer assistance programs, call AAIA’s ERC representative, Arlene Davis, at 301-654-6664, ext. 1064.

Engine Industry Vet David Caracci Named Bosch VP
David Caracci, AAIA board vice chair, will become vice president of sales, national accounts for the aftermarket division of Robert Bosch Corporation, effective Feb.1.

Caracci will report directly to Knut "Ben" Bendixen, president, aftermarket division of the Robert Bosch Corporation. Caracci will lead Bosch sales for the retail aftermarket. Working for Caracci will be David Falk, director of national accounts and the Bosch team of national account managers.

Caracci joined the aftermarket division of the Robert Bosch Corporation in March 2002, as general manager of sales and marketing, charging and starting systems products. Prior to joining Bosch, Caracci spent 14 years at ROL Manufacturing of America. He was also affiliated with KSG Industries and Dana Corp. He brings 34 years of automotive industry experience to his new position with Bosch.

Rottler Names Rodriquez New Sales Manager
Luis A. Rodriguez has been named sales manager of Kent, WA-based Rottler Manufacturing. Rodriguez will be responsible for marketing and sales of Rottler products in Latin American Market as well as helping develop Rottler’s range of cylinder head machinery and equipment. He has over 10 years of experience in the cylinder head industry working for Serdi Corp. and over 20 years in the engine rebuilding industry.

Do You Know Clevite’s Machinist of the Year?
Clevite Engine Parts will again sponsor the Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year Award. Along with the AERA (Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association) and the ASE (National Institute for Automotive Excellence), Clevite Engine Parts presents this award to recognize the valuable contributions machinists make to the automotive rebuilding industry.

This year, Clevite will award $250 to the person who nominates the winner of this year’s award, in an effort to encourage bosses, colleagues, family and friends to nominate a broader selection of deserving machinists.

To be eligible, a machinist must be a full-time employee of a machine shop specializing in automotive or heavy-duty engine work and be ASE certified in any one of the three specialist classifications:

• Cylinder Head Specialist
  
• Cylinder Block Specialist
  
• Engine Assembly Specialist

Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year Award applications will be distributed in the January and February mailings of the AERA newsletter. All applications must be submitted to Dana/Clevite Machinist of the Year Nominations headquarters by March 26, 2004. The Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year Award will be presented at the AERA New Products Showcase in Las Vegas, NV on April 23, 2004.

The Victor Reinz Machinist of the year award consists of an all-expense paid trip to the AERA Expo, $500 in spending money, a custom Victor Reinz jacket and a commemorative plaque. Information on the Machinist of the Year Award as well as additional applications can be found on the Clevite Engine Parts web site at www.engineparts.com.

Racer John Lingenfelter Dies On Christmas Day
John Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engine-ering, died on Thursday, December 25, 2003 in Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur, IN. He had been hospitalized in a semi-comatose state since November 2002 when he entered into a coma during surgery that was necessary due to a racing accident in Pomona, CA, in October 2002. He was 58.

John was a member of New Beginnings Faith Center, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA); Multi Time NHRA World Record Holder; National Corvette Museum (NCM); Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA); Adams County Lodge #127 Fraternal Order of Police; and a past member of Bonneville Nationals, Inc. (BNI).

According to NHRA, over his distinguished career, Lingenfelter won 13 career national event events in Competition Eliminator and was the first driver in the class to break the six-second quarter-mile barrier. He finished second in the Pro Stock Truck standings in 1998, which was the first year of competition for the now defunct class. At a career-best E.T. of 7.08 seconds, his Cavalier was once considered the world’s quickest four-cylinder drag racing vehicle.

Elgin Celebrates 85 Years Of Service To Industry
Founded in 1919, the Elgin, IL-based engine and chassis parts manufacturer Elgin Industries is celebrating its 85th anniversary.

First established as Elgin Machine Works by Czechoslovakian immigrant Martin Skok, the company today operates an advanced manufacturing and headquarters facility in Elgin. The product line now includes a broad range of original equipment and replacement engine parts (push rods, piston pins, valvetrain components and Elgin PRO-STOCK performance parts) and automotive and heavy-duty chassis components, including a world-class offering of king pin sets for commercial-vehicle applications.

Elgin also operates one of the world’s most extensive heat-treat facilities, serving leading manufacturers across the Midwestern U.S., and recently expanded its in-house finishing capabilities with state-of-the-art CNC machining cells. The company has earned dozens of quality awards and is QS9000 certified.

Martin Skok’s passion for automobiles extended to motorsports, where his "Elgin Piston Pin Special" became a favorite among racing fans attending the Indianapolis 500, beginning in 1926.

Researchers Develop Magnetic Engine Bearings
Researchers at Texas A&M University, in collaboration with NASA’s Glenn Research Center and the University of Toledo, have developed bearings that allow aircraft engines to run more efficiently, according to reports.

The magnetic bearings support rotating shafts via a magnetic force and a feedback control system. This allows for non-contact support of the rotating shaft, which eliminates the friction associated with conventional bearings. The bearings can operate at temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The current maximum is 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Elimination of the lubrication system, a reduction in friction, and the bearings’ ability to operate at ultra-high temperatures results in significant cost savings. Applications include military and commercial aircraft engines as well as the turbines that power land-based machinery, such as steel mills and petrochemical plants.

Swift Selects Cummins ISX Engines As Powerplant
Swift Transportation has selected the Cummins ISX engine as the primary power in a two-year agreement with Volvo Trucks North America.

Swift Transportation is a regional truckload carrier operating throughout the US and in Mexico. The company operates a fleet of about 16,900 tractors and 49,600 trailers from a network of 35 terminals. Swift serves as a core carrier for several large shippers, transporting goods such as paper products, nonperishable foods, building materials, and retail and discount department store merchandise.

It is expected that more than 2,000 ISX engines will be supplied to Swift during each year of the agreement.

The ISX engine was the first heavy-duty truck engine to be certified and compliant to the 2004 EPA standards when it was first introduced in April 2002. Since then, more than 25,000 Cummins heavy-duty engines have accumulated more than a billion miles of real-world service.

Ward’s Announces Top 10 Best Engines For 2004
Two unusual engine "formats" top the list of winners in Ward’s 10 Best Engines Awards for 2004. Mazda’s all-new Renesis rotary engine and Toyota’s more-powerful hybrid-electric Prius drivetrain are two non-traditional engine systems winning Ward’s 10 Best Engines honors for 2004.

Renesis is the newest iteration of the rotary engine design to which Mazda alone has remained devoted since the company’s first production engine in 1967. The other unique engine to win this year is Toyota’s Prius hybrid-electric drivetrain that combines several high-tech components into a gas-electric "system" that delivers high mileage, excellent responsiveness and remarkably low emissions. Toyota’s hybrid "system" is comprised of a small, highly efficient 4-cylinder gasoline engine, an electric motor to enhance the gasoline engine’s power, a continuously variable transmission and a sophisticated powertrain-control unit which leverages the best attributes of each component.

Subaru earns its first spot on the list with its high-performance horizontally opposed "boxer" 4-cylinder, which powers the Subaru WRX STi. The turbocharged boxer engine delivers one of the highest horsepower-per-liter ratings of any engine available in the United States, making it unusually powerful in relation to its size, an attribute always appreciated by Ward’s 10 Best Engines editor-judges.

Rounding out the new entrants to the list is Audi with its power- and technology-laden 4.2L DOHC V8, which propels the special S4 variant of the company’s A4 compact sedan/wagon lineup. The Audi V8 produces 340 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the market’s most powerful V8s.

Trucks and SUVs continue to account for a significant portion of the U.S. market, and their engines are well represented in the 2004 Ward’s 10 Best Engines. A significant first-time winner is DaimlerChrysler’s 5.9L inline 6-cylinder turbodiesel, developed in conjunction with and built by well-known diesel engine maker Cummins. The new Cummins 600 turbodiesel is the standard engine for DC’s Ram Heavy Duty pickup line and is the most powerful diesel engine available in the segment.

Two truck/SUV engines returning as Ward’s 10 Best Engines winners are General Motors’ outstanding Vortec 4.2L dual-overhead-cam inline 6-cylinder and DaimlerChrysler’s 5.7L Hemi Magnum V8.

Six-cylinder engines, the most popular choice of U.S.-vehicle buyers, are represented by Nissan Motor Co.’s "VQ" 3.5L DOHC V6, the only engine to win a Ward’s 10 Best award each year in the competition’s decade-long history, Honda Motor Co. Ltd.’s 3L DOHC V6 available in the Accord and BMW’s 3.2L inline 6-cylinder found in its M3 coupe and convertible.

The Ward’s 10 Best Engines for 2004 are (shown with tested vehicle):

• Audi AG 4.2L DOHC V8 (S4)

Act Early for Best Exhibitor Space at Automechanika
AAIA and allied U.S. aftermarket groups once again will sponsor the U.S. Pavilions at Automechanika 2004. American aftermarket firms can gain trade advantages by exhibiting in this giant biennial show, featuring some 4,000 exhibitors and more than 160,000 attendees.

Set for Sept. 14-19, 2004 in Frankfurt, Germany, Automechanika will provide choice U.S. Pavilion locations in Hall 1, Parts & Components; Hall 4, Accessories & Tuning; and Halls 8 and 9, Repair & Automotive Service. Space sales generally wrap up in the late spring, and firms acting early have the best choice of space. For information or forms, contact Lee Kadrich at 301-654-6664 or lee.kadrich@aftermarket.org .

Delphi Donates to GAAS Scholarship Fund
Delphi Corp. has contributed $3,000 to the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship fund, which provides scholarships to students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

The scholarships are funded through corporate donations and proceeds from the annual GAAS. This two-day program brings together numerous industry executives and examines the issues and trends affecting the automotive aftermarket industry and influencing its future. GAAS has become the aftermarket's premier educational conference. The 2004 event is set for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 18-19, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago, Ill.

For more information on GAAS, go to www.globalsymposium.org .

HDMA Heavy Duty Dialogue 2004 Takes Place Feb. 9
The heavy duty industry's top experts will be featured at HDMA Heavy Duty Dialogue 2004, slated for noon on Monday, Feb. 9, through noon Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at the Atlanta Airport Hilton and Towers, Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, GA.

The HDMA Heavy Duty Dialogue 2004 features speakers including: Larry Chimerine, Ph.D., President of Radnor International Consulting; Anthony Lupo, Attorney, Arent Fox; Stu MacKay, President, MacKay & Co.; Chip McClure, President, Federal-Mogul

The event will feature panel discussions on: "The Impact of 2007 Emissions Regulations" and "The Standardization of the North American."

A registration form is at http://www.mema.org/public/events/pdf/HD_Dialogue2004.pdf. For more details, contact Brent Hazelett (919-406-8809 or bhazelett@mema.org) or Ro Olson (919-406-8861 or rolson@mema.org).

Vehicle Recycling Partnership
Chrysler, Ford and General Motors have signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Argonne National Laboratory and the American Plastics Council to cooperate on recycling initiatives, reports WardsAuto.com. It says the new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement will be part of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) partnership formed by the Big Three automakers in 1992.

Under the new program, the partners promise to accelerate research activities related to recycling. They plan to focus on technologies that allow materials to be recovered and reused within the existing recycling infrastructure. Argonne’s new pilot recycling facility in Chicago will be used by the consortium. The lab features a two-stage bulk separation process in which shredder residue is divided into four groups. This includes "fines" (oxides, glass and dirt), polyurethane foams, polymers (ABS, nylon, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene and PVC) and metals.

Currently, about one-fourth of a car’s content ends up as unusable shredder residue due to the difficulty of separating and sorting non-metallic materials, according to Ward. Another problem: lackluster demand for recycled materials. Recycling is an increasingly important issue confronting the auto industry. The European Union will require that 85% of every vehicle be recycled by January 2006.

Efforts aimed at requiring automakers to increase recycling responsibilities are under way in the United States as well. Maine, for example, requires all mercury products to be recycled.

About 15 million vehicles are discarded annually in the United States and sent to recycling companies. With greater demands for better fuel economy and lower emissions, automakers are incorporating increasing amounts of lightweight and non-metallic materials into vehicles.

The partnership aims to combine the Plastics Council’s knowledge of polymers and recycling processes with Argonne’s research expertise and USCAR’s industry savvy. Ward reported the deal is a multimillion-dollar agreement.

Source: SEMA Research and Information Center (RIC)

50 Percent Of Buicks Will Be Trucks In Two Years
Two years from now, trucks will account for half of Buick's volume, says General Marketing Manager Roger Adams, up from 30 percent this year.

Buick's car business, down in volume and featuring the same kind of incentives the rest of GM offers, still is profitable, Buick insists. Buick is also putting high-content vehicles into daily rental fleet cars. This helps residuals and gives users a better impression of the brand. Overall, however, Buick will take its volume down about 10 percent this year because of lower fleet sales. But it forecasts that within the next five years Buick's volume will reach 500,000 units annually.

By then Buick will have discarded supercharging. The Park Avenue Ultra, which will be around a couple more years, will be the last of the brand to use supercharging.

Meanwhile, Buick will employ newer engines, such as a high-feature V6 that generates 250 hp compared with the 240 hp of today's supercharged pushrod engine. The use of more refined and powerful engines is one of Buick's goals.

Source: SEMA

Heavy Duty Maintenance Study Now Available
Heavy Duty Truck Maintenance in the U.S.A. 2004 is now available. HDMA has published this annual survey of private fleet decision-makers, for-hire fleet managers and owner/operators about maintenance preferences and practices since 1978, making it longest running study of the heavy duty aftermarket in the transportation industry.

To order a copy of Heavy Duty Truck Maintenance 2004, log on to www.mema.org

Truck Sales Steady
Retail sales of heavy duty trucks continued at a steady pace during the summer, with 37,701 class 8 trucks sold during the three-month period from July through September. This compares with the 41,851 class 8 units sold during the same period last year - an unusually busy period during which pre-buying of trucks equipped with engines designed for the old EPA standard emissions was in full swing. The summer buying figures also followed the relatively brisk spring buying figures, which saw an average of 12,516 class 8 trucks sold during each of the months of April, May and June.

These sales figures indicate that truck sales are rebounding from the effects of the recession and that buyers are beginning to accept the new engine technology used by engine manufacturers to bring their products into compliance with EPA emissions regulations. Even if sales remain steady through the end of the year, however, 2003 sales figures will amount to about 140,000 class 8 trucks, which is far below the 262,512 sold in 1999 and 211,553 sold in 2000. Indeed, truck sales have never recovered from the collapse beginning in mid-2000 - after the record years of the previous decade - as illustrated by the fact that monthly sales have never reached the 14,794 units sold in December 2000.

Nevertheless, the sales figures for the last six months may give hope to those who are predicting that the recovery has begun. One measure of economic activity is factory shipments, and trucking companies and private fleets may be investing in new equipment to meet the anticipated increased demand for goods. Conversely, higher truck sales may indicate that truckers are encountering the increased maintenance costs of older vehicles, and have recognized the necessity of replacing aging trucks with newer ones.

CART Buyout Complete
Open Wheel Racing Series, LLC ("Open Wheel") has completed its negotiations with CART, Inc. and Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. to purchase specific assets, including contracts with promoters, sponsors, and teams, through the planned Chapter 11 bankruptcy process of CART, Inc. This agreement allows for the continuation of the 2004 Champ Car World Series season.

Open Wheel will begin the immediate planning and implementation of the operational details required to conduct the Champ Car World Series in 2004 as the closing of the transaction continues. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions including the approval of the bankruptcy court.

"Our goal throughout this process was for an expedient resolution so our teams and sponsors could proceed with full confidence," said Paul Gentilozzi, an Open Wheel partner. "We’re extremely grateful to all of the sponsors, teams, promoters, and fans that have expressed their ongoing encouragement. Their loyalty has been phenomenal; they’ve stayed with us throughout this initiative and have supported us at every turn.

"Effective immediately, we’re ready to begin work to implement our vision for Champ Car in 2004 and for many seasons beyond," explained Gentilozzi. "Our purchase was with the express intent of supporting our teams and sponsors competing now and in the future.

"Therefore, as a show of strength and good faith, Open Wheel has accepted the liability of almost $2.7 million in 2003 prize monies which we will pay to our teams that elect to participate in the 2004 Champ Car season," revealed Gentilozzi.

"There’s been a great deal of speculation about car count for next year," continued Gentilozzi. "We talk to our teams on a daily basis and we’re more than confident that we’ll have a full field of cars in 2004. In addition, we anticipate new team and driver announcements in the very near future."

Kevin Kalkhoven, an Open Wheel partner and co-owner of PK Racing, was instrumental in the acquisition process. "This was an extremely complex deal," noted Kalkhoven, former CEO of JDS Uniphase, a leading global supplier of components and modules for advanced fiber optic telecommunications networks. "I pride myself in my knowledge and expertise in acquisitions and mergers, but I was surprised by the complexity of the transaction.

"But I’m positive the agreed upon format is definitely the correct one and one which will allow our Series to grow and flourish in 2004 and beyond," added Kalkhoven.

OWRS partner Gerald Forsythe has had a long emotional and financial commitment to the Champ Car World Series and is convinced that the asset purchase agreement was key to ensure the Series’ future. "This was absolutely the right move for the future and longevity of Champ Car," commented Forsythe, who co-owns Team Player’s and is a limited partner of the BAR Formula One team. "I have every confidence that this decision will prove successful."

In a related move, Open Wheel nominee Richard P. Eidswick has been appointed as CEO of CART, Inc. to see the organization through the Chapter 11 proceedings. During the transition, Eidswick will report to the CART Board of Directors.

Eidswick is co-founder and Managing Director of Arbor Partners, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based venture capital firm which primarily invests in companies focused on the creation of next-generation application software and communication technologies. In addition to capital, Arbor Partners offers clients a comprehensive set of business-building resources including assistance with strategic planning, development of product and marketing strategies, and the establishment of corporate partnerships.

"I’m confident that the Champ Car World Series will emerge from the bankruptcy process stronger than ever," said Eidswick. "I look forward to working with all parties involved to build on our strengths and explore new opportunities as we position Champ Car for 2004 and beyond."

The Champ Car World Series 2004 racing season begins on April 18 with its 22nd running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Reigning Champ Car Drivers’ Champion Paul Tracy will return to defend his 2003 Long Beach win.

Compromise Reached on Small Engine Appropriations Rider
A last minute compromise was reached between senators regarding a rider in the FY 2004 EPA appropriations bill that would have prevented states from issuing regulations affecting small non-road engines, those under 50 hp. Under the deal, California would be able to move forward with its small engine emissions regulations, but the remainder of the states would be required to wait until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes a national standard for small engines required under the legislation by December 2004, with final rules in place by the end of 2005. EPA further would be required to study California's standards to ensure that they do not cause undue safety and fire hazards as opponents of the California regulation had claimed.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., had led the battle for prohibiting the promulgation of the strict state small engine emissions standards based on the safety concerns and that manufacturing jobs located in his state would move off-shore as a direct result. The rider likely will be included in a FY 2004 Omnibus Appropriations bill to be enacted before the end of session this week.

CARB Sets Hearing Date For Heavy Duty Service Information Rules
The California Air Resources Board has issued a formal proposal to expand the scope of service information requirements to include heavy-duty vehicles, defined as those above 14,000 lbs. Similar to rules applying to cars and light trucks, the proposal would mandate that engine and transmission manufacturers maintain Web sites with all emissions-related service information.

Although car company diagnostic tools also would be required to be available to independents, engine manufacturers may require independent service providers to undergo some training before being able to purchase diagnostic equipment necessary to reprogram on-board computers.

The manufacturers also could require the tool companies to provide for technician training as a condition of purchase of data stream information.

The service information requirements would not become effective for heavy-duty vehicles until CARB completes rules now under development to extend on-board diagnostic II rules to include heavy-duty vehicles. It is expected that the trucks will begin using OBD II technology in model year 2007. The full board is scheduled to consider the proposal on Jan. 22 in Sacramento, Calif. For additional information on this proposal, visit www.arb.ca.gov/regact/cmvsip04/cmvsip04.htm.

Detroit Auto Show Adds Aftermarket Display
Source: Automotive News

The 2004 North American International Auto Show will have something new in the lower level of Cobo Hall -- automakers' aftermarket performance products.

Automakers with aftermarket displays in the lower level will include Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota Motor Corp.'s Scion and Honda Motor Co. ASC Inc. of Southgate, Mich., a roof system and specialty vehicle supplier, also will be there. They will share Michigan Hall with standard displays from Volkswagen AG and Isuzu.

The aftermarket displays will be "all our main floor exhibitor manufacturers who are very much involved in this market because it's billions of dollars," says Charles Fortinberry, the Show's senior co-chairman.

Show organizers say the new exhibits will achieve two goals: Make Michigan Hall more of a destination for show-goers, and attract a youthful crowd. The majority of automakers' vehicle exhibits will remain on the first-floor level.

After hearing that the Tokyo Motor Show was losing show-goers under 30 years old, Detroit show chiefs decided to talk to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). "We have simply agreed to cooperate," Cook says.

SEMA holds its own aftermarket parts and accessories show in Las Vegas each fall, but is interested in exhibiting at the Detroit show. But the Detroit show's aftermarket area will still be far more cars than parts. "We don't want a carnival atmosphere," Fortinberry says.

The Detroit show is working to grow in the number of vehicle unveilings, floor space and attendance. For example, about 64 vehicle unveilings are scheduled for next year, compared to 61 this year.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is expected to announce in January his plans for the show's future, which could include a renovated Cobo Hall or a new convention center.

"I think the mayor personally would like to see a whole new convention center," Fortinberry says. "That's not to say that's the plan to come back from the (city's Cobo expansion) committee."

MEMA Participates in Americas Business Forum
A representative from the MEMA Washington, D.C., office participated in the Americas Business Forum (ABF) negotiations which took place in Miami, Fla., on Nov. 17-19.

The ABF enables the private business sectors and non-governmental organizations from the member countries of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) to participate in the ongoing trade discussions between the 34 countries. The ABF subsequently provides a set of recommendations to the country ministers, addressing the areas of tariffs, rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property, customs procedures, and technical barriers to trade.

On behalf of its member companies, MEMA served as a leader in the effort to permit the import and export of remanufactured goods under the aegis of the FTAA. Many nations in Latin America presently maintain a ban on the import of any remanufactured good and specifically remanufactured automotive parts. MEMA argued that such goods carry warranties and meet the standards applicable to new goods; they are not used goods.

Although the market access group of the ABF was not able to reach consensus on this issue, MEMA was able to secure the inclusion of the MEMA-supported definition of a remanufactured good in the ABF report along with a notation to the ministers that a number of groups supported this language. MEMA continues to meet with the administration on this issue, to secure the inclusion of remanufactured goods in all future trade agreements and to encourage the US government to press this issue within the FTAA.

MEMA also strongly defended the duty drawback provision at the ABF talks, contending that full drawback rights for U.S. manufacturers and exporters should be maintained within the FTAA. Duty drawback, which is permitted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), lowers production and operating costs by allowing manufacturers and exporters to recover duties that were paid on imported materials when the same or similar materials are exported either whole or as a component part of a finished product. This mechanism is widely used by automotive parts manufacturers in the United States and represents a significant benefit for MEMA members in terms of their ability to compete in the global market. MEMA worked in conjunction with the NAM and several auto vehicle manufacturers to ensure that this language was included in the ABF market access report to the trade Ministers. A number of other countries echoed their support for this language in the end.

"Two Guys Garage to feature Comp Cams and Aeroturbine"
Upcoming episodes of Two Guys Garage will feature a top-end buildup on an LS1 motor, and exhaust installation on a Ford F-150 Lariat. The show airs Wednesday evenings at 8:00 pm EST on SPEED Channel.

Comp Cams makes a repeat appearance on the popular how-to automotive series on January 21. The company’s roller camshafts, intake manifolds, rocker arms and simulation software will head the lineup. Comp Cams has previously featured its products during the first season of Two Guys Garage, as well as on Shadetree Mechanic, which aired for ten consecutive years on TNN.

Aeroturbine makes its Two Guys Garage premiere with its performance exhaust in the January 28 show. Later, the hosts go to the Parts Counter with ‘Grab-It’ damaged screw remover, Moduline’s Pro cabinet, and ‘Power Vision’ mirrors.

In its second season on SPEED Channel, Two Guys Garage covers virtually every aspect of customizing and building a performance car. Hosts Sam Memmolo and Dave Bowman tackle high-tech how-to problems on this weekly series. Check local listings, or log on to twoguysgarage.com.

Hastings Manufacturing Begins Trading on Pink Sheets
Hastings Manufacturing has begun trading on the Pink Sheets, an electronic quotation service for over-the-counter securities. The stock is trading under a new symbol, HGMG.

Hastings Manufacturing Co. serves the automotive parts market with a complete line of internal engine products including piston rings and pistons sold under the Hastings brand name; and gaskets, import pistons, engine bearings and a variety of other engine components sold under the ACL brand. Hastings also markets engine additives sold under the CASITE brand through The Casite Co., a joint venture that markets both directly and through independent representatives.

SEMA Spring Expo Seminars Geared to Needs of Small Business
Automotive industry professionals who attend the SEMA Spring Expo 2004, March 5-6, at the Indiana (Indianapolis) Convention Center, will be able to take advantage of a custom educational program designed for their specific business needs.

"We’ve put together two days of training that fulfills requests from our members, specifically those companies that belong to two SEMA Councils – the Light Truck Accessory Alliance and the Professional Restylers Organization," said Faith Barnese, SEMA vice president of membership and councils.

Seminar and workshop content includes sessions on human resources, teambuilding, marketing and sales – all topics of general interest within the market, Barnese said. In addition, Expo attendees can participate in education programs of narrower interest scheduled during the weekend, including a roundtable discussion about paint matching and associated topics – critical issues for light-truck accessory dealers and installers – and a symposium aimed at accessory warehouse distributors.

Specific details about speakers and registration for the seminars are available at www.SEMASpringExpo.com. Reservations for the PRO Industry Awards Reception and the LTAA Annual Awards Banquet may also be made online. Friday exhibit hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Expo is an event that delivers the world-famous SEMA Show experience to the doorsteps of regional auto and truck specialty equipment businesses. National and international exhibitors display light-truck and auto accessories, automotive performance equipment, trim and restyling accessories, and mobile electronics.

For information about exhibiting at SEMA Spring Expo 2004, contact sse@sema.org. For specifics about the programs and events at the Expo, visit www.SEMASpringExpo.com.

Dana Gives $1,000 to South Carolina Technical College
The Dana Corp. Foundation recently contributed $1,000 to Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, in Orangeburg, SC. The money will be used to purchase tooling supplies for its machine tool technology program.

In the spring of 2002, Dana opened a $30 million axle manufacturing facility in the Orangeburg County-City Industrial Park. Orangeburg-Calhoun Tech helps train its employees.

American Honda Launches Online Parts Catalog and Ordering System
American Honda has launched a new on-line parts catalog and ordering system on its Service Express web site. The web site, launched in October 2002, is available to independent repair facilities on a subscription basis through participating Honda and Acura dealers. The site provides service and repair information for every OBD-II-equipped Honda and Acura automobile going back to 1996, including service manual diagnostic and repair procedures, electrical wiring diagrams, service bulletins and technician newsletters.

The new full-line parts catalog and ordering system is available to subscribers, at no additional cost, 24 hours a day. The system also denotes those parts necessary for a specific repair, which can save time and money for a shop. Parts orders will be filled at the receiving dealer during that dealer's normal business hours. There are three ways to search for parts: through a key word, browse the catalog with a display of parts by category type, or browse by repair using a common repair name.

For more information about Service Express and the parts catalog and ordering system, visit: www.ServiceExpress.Honda.com.

SEMA Spring Expo to Feature Business Education Programs
The SEMA Spring Expo 2004, which will be held Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6, will feature two full days of business education programs. The SEMA Spring Expo will take place at the Indiana (Indianapolis) Convention Center.

"We've put together two days of training that fulfills requests from our members, specifically those companies that belong to two SEMA Councils – the Light Truck Accessory Alliance and the Professional Restylers Organization," said Faith Barnese, SEMA vice president of membership and councils.

Seminar and workshop content includes sessions on human resources, teambuilding, marketing and sales--all topics of general interest within the market, Barnese said. In addition, Expo attendees can participate in education programs of narrower interest scheduled during the weekend, including a roundtable discussion about paint matching and associated topics--critical issues for light-truck accessory dealers and installers--and a symposium aimed at accessory warehouse distributors.

The schedule of education programs, business meetings, and social functions begins on Industry Day, Thursday, March 4, with an education track sponsored by the Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) but open to all Expo attendees. The program includes an HR (human resources) seminar (12:15-1:15 P.M.), a teambuilding seminar (1:30-2:30 p.m.) and two concurrent programs beginning at 2:45 p.m. and continuing until 4:30 p.m. Those are the paint-matching discussion with representatives from BASF, DuPont and PPG, and a symposium organized by the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) Accessory WD Subcommittee (PROWD).

For more details on the SEMA Spring Expo, go to: www.SEMASpringExpo.com.

Magna and DaimlerChrysler in Joint Venture Discussions
Magna International is in discussions with DaimlerChrysler to potentially purchase a controlling interest in New Venture Gear. DaimlerChrysler and Magna are discussing forming a joint venture to operate the business. New Venture Gear was a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and General Motors Corp. that was dissolved last year, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press .

New Venture Gear, which has manufacturing operations in Syracuse, NY, and Roitzsch, Germany, produces drivetrain systems, including transfer cases. The company had sales of approximately $1.4 billion (CDN) in 2002 in its Syracuse and Roitzsch operations.

Dana and Permo-Drive Technologies Sign Supply Agreement with U.S. Army
Dana and Permo-Drive Technologies Ltd. have signed an exclusive licensing agreement for the design, development and supply of the Permo-Drive Regenerative Drive System (RDS) for use in the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTVs). The Army has indicated its intent to introduce a hybrid drive system into its FMTVs -- possibly as soon as 2006.

Under terms of the agreement, Dana will be the production development source and the sole supplier of the RDS technology for this family of vehicles.

Currently, Dana plans to supply the RDS to Stewart & Stevenson, which manufactures a wide range of military and public transportation equipment. Stewart & Stevenson was awarded the contract to produce the FMTV for the Army from the Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). Initially, the RDS will be limited to new vehicle production and will later expand to retrofit the existing fleet of FMTVs.

Permo-Drive began work with the military after signing a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center (NAC) in Warren, MI. Under this agreement, Permo-Drive developed and tested its hybrid-hydraulic RDS system in the FMTV.

For more information on Permo-Drive, go to: www.permo-drive.com. For more on Dana, visit: www.dana.com.

Federal-Mogul and Siemens VDO to Jointly Develop Combustion Sensor
Federal-Mogul and Siemens VDO have announced they will jointly develop a combustion sensor that is integrated into the glow plug in diesel engine applications. The agreement covers both manufacturing and marketing of the new technology. Volume production is scheduled to start in 2006.

This new sensor will, for the first time, enable the combustion to be monitored directly in the cylinder. The injection system and the engine management play a vital role in reducing vibrations, noise, emission of pollutants and fuel consumption in modern diesel engines. In order to precisely control the combustion process in diesel engines with multiple injections, Federal-Mogul and Siemens VDO will use a sensor that monitors the pressure curve directly in the cylinder through a sensor located in the glow plug, which facilitates the cold start of diesel engines.

For more information on Federal-Mogul, visit: www.federal-mogul.com.

Caterpillar to Open Automotive Parts Distribution
Caterpillar Logistics Services has announced it will operate a 252,000-square-foot automotive parts distribution facility for Mazda North American Operations. Construction of the $9 million project has begun, and Cat Logistics expects to occupy the facility March 1, reports Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.

Clevite Engine Parts Announces Engine Builders of the Year for 2003 NASCAR Series
Clevite Engine Parts has announced the Clevite Engine Builders of the Year for the 2003 Winston Cup, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series, Busch North Series and Winston West Series.

The 2003 Clevite Engine Builder of the Year championship race was one of the closest in the award's history, the company said. In the Winston Cup, Craftsman Truck and Winston West Series only a few points separated the winner from the runner's up.

Mike Maiwald of Hendrick Motorsports, engine builder for the No. 24 car of Jeff Gordon, received the Engine Builder of the Year Award for the Winston Cup Series. The Clevite Engine Builder of the Year is awarded $77,000 in prize money and a trophy.

Lanny Barnes of Richard Childress Racing, took home the award for the Busch Series. Barnes builds for Kevin Harvick's No. 21 and received a cash prize of $10,000. This is the second Clevite Engine Builder of the Year award for Barnes.

Kroyer Racing Engines' Kevin Kroyer won the award for both the Craftsman Truck and Winston West Series. Kroyer builds engines for the No. 62 truck of Brendan Gaughan and the No. 08 car of Scott Lynch. This is the fourth year in a row that Kroyer has received the Winston West Engine Builder of the Year Award. He received $10,000 for his achievement with the Craftsman Truck Series and received $1,000 for the Winston West series.

Dennis Fischer of Fischer Engineering Co. took home the award for the Busch North Series. Fischer is the chief engine builder for Andy Santerre's No. 6 car. Fischer has built engines for award-winning drivers and teams in many of racing's top series, and took home $5,000 for his achievement.

For more information about Clevite, go to: www.engineparts.com.

AutoZone Becomes Title Sponsor of NASCAR Elite Division
AutoZone and NASCAR have announced a major first for the two organizations. AutoZone will become the title sponsor of the NASCAR Elite Division, which will now be re-named the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division.

The division consists of four individual racing series in four regions of the country - Midwest, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division features late model style cars competing on a variety of short tracks and superspeedways and serves as a feeder system to the NASCAR Grand National Division and NASCAR's three national series.

The agreement with AutoZone marks the first time all four NASCAR Elite Division series will be nationally sponsored.

"This is an incredible opportunity for AutoZone to establish a strong relationship with NASCAR's most avid fans," said Lisa Kranc, AutoZone's senior vice president of marketing. "We will be deeply involved in NASCAR on a national basis. As the title sponsor at more than 50 exciting racing events, we will have the chance in more than 3,200 AutoZone stores to create additional excitement around NASCAR racing."

The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division serves as the first "tier" of NASCAR's regional racing program, which is designed to give competitors at local short tracks a path to advance their careers toward the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series or the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Once competitors have honed their skills in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, the next step is the NASCAR Grand National Division, which consists of the Busch North Series and the Winston West Series.

For more information on AutoZone, go to: www.autozone.com.

NHTSA, Delphi, IRL Team Up on Race Car Safety Research
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Delphi have teamed up with the Indy Racing League (IRL) on research and testing that could ultimately improve racecar safety.

Using the THOR advanced crash test dummy developed by NHTSA, joint research was conducted recently at Delphi's safety systems testing facility in Vandalia, OH, in cooperation with the medical director's office of the IRL. The THOR dummy offered significantly improved measurement capabilities in the head, neck and thorax regions, which was a key aspect in the success of the study, the group said.

The intent of the research was to reconstruct specific racing accident events to better understand the causes of motor sports injuries. With a clearer picture of what happens to the driver and car during an accident, the IRL hopes to seek solutions for new safety innovations to help reduce the severity of driver injuries in the event of a crash.

Delphi has been instrumental in leading the advancement of racing safety. In 1999, Delphi became the first to install a hydraulic sled in North America. The sled has a thrust equivalent to that of two 747 jets at take off. It also features on-board data acquisition and on- and off-board digital video sampled at 1,000 and 45,000 frames per second respectively. The sled can simulate the forces of an actual crash using data from Delphi's earpiece sensor system worn by IRL drivers and Delphi's Accident Data Recorder 2, which are mandatory equipment for all IRL teams.

Delphi began providing complete sled testing to the racing industry in 2000. Since then, the company has amassed a large database of crash and safety information that is now used to help improve racecar and racing safety systems design and performance.

For more information on Delphi, go to: www.delphi.com/media. To learn more about NHTSA, visit: www.nhtsa.dot.gov. More information on IRL can be found at: www.indyracing.com.

Dana To Divest Aftermarket Group
Dana Corp. has announced its intention to divest the company's automotive aftermarket group in a move to sharpen its focus on the OE marketplace. Dana's board of directors stated that the key benefit of this action is the enhanced strategic focus it will bring to the company.

Commenting on the announcement, Dana's acting President and COO Bill Carroll said "This move will enable us to leverage our historic strengths in product and process technology to the benefit of our OE customers -- and ultimately, our shareholders."

Dana's Automotive Aftermarket Group produces and markets a broad line of replacement products, including Raybestos brakes, Wix filters and a variety of under-vehicle components. The group, which employs more than 15,000 people worldwide, reported sales of approximately $2.2 billion in 2002.

The proposed divestiture does not involve Dana's Clevite distribution and marketing activities based in Ann Arbor, MI, or its related operations in Churubusco, IN; Collierville, TN; and Olive Branch, MS.

Carroll said that possible uses of proceeds from a sale include reinvestment in the company's core businesses; the further reduction of Dana's debt, which would likely accelerate the company's return to investment-grade status; and a contribution to the company's pension plans.

"We believe this action will significantly enhance Dana's strategic and financial flexibility, while adding value for our shareholders," Carroll said.

Dana said it is targeting completion of the divestiture in 2004. Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman, Sachs & Co. have been retained by Dana to assist in the sale process.

For more information on Dana, go to: www.dana.com.