Broadview, IL – David Caracci, newly elected chairman of the board of directors for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), has laid out his “positive vision for the aftermarket as we work together to meet the challenges and potential of today and tomorrow.” As he assumes one of the most influential roles in the U.S. automotive aftermarket, Caracci called for “industry-wide involvement and participation to assure a robust, healthy future for our industry.”
Caracci, vice president of sales, national accounts for Robert Bosch Corporation’s aftermarket division, said he believes strongly in the benefits of community participation.
Caracci has served as president of the National Engine Parts Manufacturers Association, chairman of the Engine Repower Council, president of the Automotive Sales Council and member of the board of directors of the Car Care Council before becoming chairman of AAIA. “Participation in industry activities helps pay back the industry and at the same time grow professionally. These activities let you learn from others, often the best in the industry. Get involved. Help strengthen the association,” he said.
Top Engine Builders Win $20,000!
Lanny Barnes (center) accepts a $20,000 check from Terry Shively, vice president and general manager of Clevite Engine Parts. Barnes, head engine builder for Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Busch Series program and his partner Todd Hamm, won the 2004 Clevite Engine Builder Showdown with a time of 20 minutes, 52 seconds.
The RCR team beat the team of Mike Maiwald and Shane Parsnow from Hendrick Motorsports (21:33). Both teams were assessed one-minute penalties for build infractions.
From left, Richard Childress, Hamm, Barnes, Shively and John Roberts, host of the event, which was filmed for broadcast on Speed TV.
MACS Co-Sponsors 2004 SAE Alternate Refrigerant Systems Symposium
Lansdale, PA – MACS is a supporter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) 2004 Alternate Refrigerant Systems Symposium, June 29 through July 1 in Scottsdale, AZ, participating as a sponsor. At this prestigious sixth summer meeting of more than 200 engineers from automobile manufacturers, A/C system component suppliers and government representatives will gather to present technical papers and evaluate new mobile A/C refrigerant systems.
Ward Atkinson, MACS technical adviser, is the chairman of the SAE Interior Climate Control Standards Committee and the facilitator of the event.
“The SAE Alternate Refrigerant Symposium is a significant annual event in helping to determine the future direction of mobile A/C systems and helping MACS prepare the service industry for any changes,” remarked Elvis Hoffpauir, MACS president and COO.
More information on the event can be found at www.sae.org/events/aars/.
ASE Online Registration for Fall ’04 Testing Now Open
Leesburg, VA – In order to simplify the registration process for the Fall 2004 ASE certification tests, the online registration process is now available 24 hours a day.
To register for the Nov. 9, 16 and 18 testing dates, go to the ASE website, www.ase.com, and click on the animated registration message.
The Fall registration deadline is Sept. 24.
Olds Rolls Into History
Lansing, MI – It was the end of the line for the oldest car brand in the United States, as the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line at the Lansing Car Assembly plant in April.
The car – an Alero – will have signatures of plant employees inside the hood and be displayed at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing when it’s not being used as part of General Motors Corp.’s touring fleet.
Notes about Oldsmobile:
- It was named for Ransom E. Olds, who started the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing in 1897.
- The company became part of GM in 1908.
- Of the 35.2 million Oldsmobiles ever made, more than 14 million were built in Lansing.
- Oldsmobile is the oldest U.S. automotive brand name, behind only the Daimler name worldwide.
Source: Associated Press
Cutlines: GM plant employees gather as the last Olds built rolls off the assembly line in Lansing, MI. (Photos courtesy of GM) GM plant employees signed the inside of the last Olds’ hood.
Delphi Wins Four SAE Awards for Environmental Excellence
Troy, MI – Delphi Corp.’s environmental practices have been recognized for the fourth-straight year with four Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Awards from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
SAE honored Delphi at a ceremony in Washington D.C. recently with awards in the categories of New Methods and Tools, Process Innovations, Stationary Energy and Emissions, and Mobile Energy and Emissions.
The awards distinguish individuals who have made significant innovations in reducing environmental impacts in the transportation industry.
“This SAE recognition reflects Delphi’s continuous commitment to help protect and preserve the global environment,” said Glenn Howarth, Delphi’s director of environmental services.
The E2T Award for Mobile Energy and Emissions was the result of Delphi’s Valve Train Cylinder Deactivation System.
The award recognized Delphi’s innovations in fuel source, fuel savings, CO2 reduction and energy use reduction in transportation. It also recognizes innovations that reduce mobile source emissions through design improvements, source reduction or control efficiency.
Delphi’s Cylinder Deactivation System, an advanced valve train technology, selectively “turns off” half of the engine’s cylinders under certain conditions to boost fuel economy between 8 and 10%, while lowering CO2 emissions proportionately. The system has the potential to save 60 million gallons of fuel per year.
CARDONE Leverages Remanufacturing Experience to Enter New Parts Market
Philadelphia – Continuing a long history of industry firsts, CARDONE Industries announced that it has entered the new automotive parts market. Leveraging three decades of automobile parts remanufacturing experience, CARDONE now offers a line of totally new manufactured parts, under the brand name CARDONE Select.
The CARDONE Select line will complement and add to the company’s extensive remanufactured parts offering that covers more than four decades of makes and models of import and domestic cars, trucks, mini-vans and SUVs. Every CARDONE Select part will be 100% new.
“Cardone Select is a direct result of our 35 years of experience in remanufacturing,” said Michael Cardone, Jr.
Information about CARDONE Select parts is available at www.cardone.com.
AAPEX Online Registration Now Open
Online registration for the 2004 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) – scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 5 – is now available online at www.aapexshow.com. Online registration is only $10 – a $40 savings from on-site registration fees.
“Interested participants will find a wealth of helpful information and services at the site, in addition to the online registration,” said Bill Glasgow Sr. of W.T. Glasgow Inc., AAPEX show management. “Whether it’s locating a product on the show floor, reserving a hotel room or creating a personal itinerary, AAPEXshow.com has it and much more,” he added.
Visitors to the site can search thousands of product categories and identify potential suppliers by company name or brand. The product search alone is of immense value to distributors, retailers and program groups.
Other features include:
- Virtual floor plan, which allows the attendee to see exactly where exhibitors are located in the Sands Expo Center and helps determine a focused and efficient visit of the show floor.
- “My Planner” feature, which allows attendees to develop a personalized hour-by-hour itinerary of networking events, meetings and seminars.
- Increased services for the exhibitor, such as a listing and links for information on promotion and sponsorship opportunities.
- AAPEX information six different languages: English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese and French.
- Information and entry forms for exhibitors interested in displaying product or packaging in the New Product and Packaging Showcase, located at the AAPEX entrance.
Clevite To Offer Subscription Update Service
Ann Arbor, MI – In an effort to keep customers informed on the latest, most accurate information, Clevite Engine Parts is now offering a new web content update service to its customers. This service, known as RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows customers to “subscribe” to content updates for any of the Clevite website areas that have the RSS service implemented.
Clevite’s website, www.engineparts.com, will offer RSS links on its most popular areas, including New Product Bulletins, Tech Bulletins, Press Releases and the Solutions section of the website. There is no fee for the service, which notifies subscribers whenever an update or additional content is posted to RSS active areas.
The notification of updated content comes through to the customer, not as e-mail, but rather through the use of a free RSS news reader program. The RSS news reader shows customers, at a glance, all of the RSS content they have subscribed to anywhere on the web and the latest information headlines, which can be selected to proceed to the full information page.
“(RSS) offers up-to-the minute, accurate information to those customers who want and deserve the latest information our team can provide,” said Mark Axley, director of information technology for Clevite Engine Parts.
For more information, visit the Clevite Engine Parts corporate news section and click on “What is RSS?” You will be directed to a CNET site, where you can download various RSS readers.
