Mighty Auto Parts Named One of Wall Street Journal’s Top 25 Franchises
Atlanta — Mighty Distributing System of America has been selected as one of the Wall Street Journal’s top 25 franchises. The parts distributor was selected from the nation’s more than 2,500 franchise brands.

In the article titled, “The 25 Franchises that Made the Cut,” Lauren Kim, senior editor at WSJ StartupJournal.com said, “[the businesses] must be well-established, have expert leadership, exhibit overall financial health and have a proven record of the franchise’s success.” Mighty was the only automotive-related franchise listed in the survey that disclosed some 35 qualifying facts and financial figures.

Ken Voelker, Mighty’s president, suggests that its leadership as a model service business is “due to the fact that we stay in sync with the current trends and needs of the automotive industry. Perhaps the most significant trend today is a pronounced service shift from repair to preventive maintenance. Mighty,” according to Voelker, “is well-positioned to benefit from this trend.”

“Mighty’s vertical integration strategy has been one of the most compelling attractions for tire dealers, quick lubes, car dealerships and oil distributors,” added Barry Teagle, vice president of franchising. “Our newer franchisees include successful operators that have overlaid their core business with a Mighty franchise and as a result, have become their own supplier of OEM quality parts and professional grade fluid maintenance products.”

As to the thousands of repair shops serviced by Mighty distributors that have not grafted a franchise into their existing business, Teagle claims that the “silver bullet” of the franchisor is the technical, business and sales expertise of the local franchises, especially trained in inventory management.

Source: aftermarketNews.com

ASA Announces Mechanical Division Operations Committee
Bedford, TX — The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced its 2006-’07 Mechanical Division Operations Committee. Earl Dohner, AAM, E&E’s Garage, Brookville, OH, has been re-elected as Mechanical Division director. As such, Dohner serves on ASA’s board of directors and chairs the Mechanical Division Operations Committee. The position of Mechanical Division director is a two-year term.

Additional members of the operations committee were announced by ASA’s board of directors, including Dave Walter, Kehoe Automotive Center Inc., Carol Stream, IL, who is serving as assistant division director.

Joining the operations committee is Steve Brotherton, Continental Imports of Gainesville, Gainesville, FL.

In addition to Walter, returning committee members are Robert Ayers, AAM, Ayers Automotive Repair, Santa Barbara, CA; Rick Baker, AAM, Rick Baker’s Auto Service Inc., Pleasant Hill, OH; Mike Brewster, AAM, Gil’s Garage Inc., Burnt Hills, NY; Mike Koebke, Gus Mann Automotive, San Antonio, TX; Bill Moss, Auto Advantage, Manassas, VA; Howard Pitkow, Wagenwerx Inc., Wyndmoor, PA; Terry Steenholdt, T.D.S. Auto Repair Inc., Sioux Falls, SD; and Bob Wills, Wills Auto Service, Battle Creek, MI.

The committee works on behalf of all ASA mechanical members to advance and promote the automotive service and repair industry.

Calling All Gearheads!
Ann Arbor, MI — Clevite Engine Parts is making it easier for gearheads of all kinds to share ideas and parts with the launch of “Gearhead Gab.”

Gearhead Gab, an online forum, is designed to bring the huge community of engine builders, rebuilders, machinists, students and enthusiasts together to discuss industry issues, exchange information and swap parts. It is available by visiting www.motorheadheaven.com and clicking on the link for Gearhead Gab.

ALLDATA Introduces Tire Pressure Monitoring System Quick Reference Guide
Elk Grove, CA – ALLDATA LLC has announced the addition of a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) “Quick Reference” guide, located in ALLDATA’s Technician’s Reference section. Every popular domestic and foreign vehicle equipped with TPMS through model year 2006 is included.

The TPMS Quick Reference guide makes finding the OEM reset procedures quick and convenient. ALLDATA also provides factory TPMS system description and operation articles, repair and diagnostic procedures, wiring diagrams, safety precautions, Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and recalls.

House Subcommittee Holds Antifreeze Hearing
Washington, D.C. — The Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing May 23 to discuss antifreeze bittering agents. On the agenda was H.R. 2567, a bill to amend the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to require engine coolant and antifreeze to contain bittering agents to render them unpalatable.

Introduced in May 2005 by Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., H.R. 2567 was immediately referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce where it was then sent to the Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.

To review the testimony or the text of H.R. 2567, visit ASA’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com.

First AMI Course To Be Offered Online
Bedford, TX — The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) announced that its Automotive Service Management Course is available in an online format on the institute’s website: www.amionline.org. This 18-credit course is required for completion of the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.

This is the first AMI course to be offered online. It also is available to students in a self-study print format. The course is an introduction to three of the most critical business development skills: sales and marketing, personnel management, and financial and business management. A post-course exam is required once all modules are taken. To learn more about the course, visit the Self-Study section of the AMI Online Catalog.

DENSO Launches Summer Tune Up Campaign
Long Beach, CA — DENSO Sales California has launched a summer sales campaign “Tune In And Tune Up” to all DENSO warehouse distributors, jobber/counter persons and service technicians. The program runs through Sept. 30, 2006.

DENSO is offering its warehouse distributors an incentive for qualified orders of DENSO First Time First Fit brand spark plugs, oxygen sensors, ignition wire sets and fuel pumps they purchase. Ask your DENSO sales representative for order details.

DENSO is also rewarding the jobber/counter person and professional service technician by offering them an opportunity to win electronic prizes for selling DENSO First Time First Fit brand spark plugs, oxygen sensors, ignition wire sets and fuel pumps. In addition, DENSO is offering a free DENSO Motorsports Cap to those who pre-register. For additional information about DENSO’s Summer Tune In & Tune Up campaign, call 1-888-96-DENSO or go to www.densoaftermarket.com.

Identifix Publishes 100,000th Test and Fix
St. Paul, MN — Identifix recently announced that it has added the 100,000th Hotline Archive to Direct-Hit; its award-winning online diagnostic product.

Each month the most interesting diagnostic problems are selected to be written as Hotline Archives from more than 15,000 calls received by the 37 factory-trained Identifix Master Technicians who staff the Repair Hotline operated by Identifix. These Master Technicians document the vehicle problem/symptoms, likely cause(s); useful tests and any helpful hints all on a one-page document that can be printed and taken to the vehicle to fix the car. With more than 1,000 new Hotline Archives added each week to Direct-Hit, Hotline Archives represent the best source for current diagnostic problems being seen in shops.

“Hotline Archives allow us to share with the entire industry the knowledge we gain from talking to 10,000 shops each year,” said Jeff Sweet, Identifix president. “By using Hotline Archives, a shop is able to see whether other shops are observing similar problems on vehicles. The shop can then take advantage of the short-cut tests created by our Master Technicians and use likely causes to find fixes faster.”