Mitch Schneider, nationally recognized automotive service professional, author and lecturer, has joined Babcox Publications as a senior contributing editor.

Beginning in July, Schneider’s popular commentary will appear monthly in Babcox’s Tech Group publications, including Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service. In addition to frequent exclusives on aftermarketNews.com and Autocarepronews.com, another column written specifically for store professionals will appear regularly in Counterman magazine.

“We are thrilled to have Mitch on the Babcox team,” said Bill Babcox, president and CEO. “We think he will be a great asset to our organization and will add a new dimension to our publications.” Schneider has 40 years of experience in the automotive service industry. He’s an ASE-certified master automotive repair technician and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. A longtime contributor to several automotive industry publications, Schneider has developed a strong industry following for his lively and frank writing style. He has won several awards for excellence in journalism.

“I’m very excited about this move. Everything about this feels right,” said Schneider. “The magazines Babcox produces are excellent. I’ve been reading them for years. I’ve always been impressed with Babcox’s agility, how it responds to conditions in the marketplace. As a service dealer, as a professional in the industry, that means a lot. Since I started writing, my goal has always been to leave the aftermarket a little better than how I found it. I believe we not only have a responsibility to report what goes on in the industry but also to move it forward.” Schneider will write for Babcox from his home in California, where he continues to run his business, Schneider’s Automotive Repair, Inc., located in Simi Valley.

Tenneco Aggressively Expanding Product Lines
Tenneco Inc. will introduce 575 additional part numbers to its Walker and DynoMax aftermarket emission control product lines this month, continuing the company’s aggressive expansion of coverage for domestic and import passenger vehicles.

Among the new Walker products available this month are 123 direct-fit catalytic converters, 102 Quiet-Flow3 direct-fit mufflers and assemblies, 75 SoundFX mufflers and 35 resonator assemblies. More than 100 additional direct-fit catalytic converter SKUs will be added in June.

CRP Industries Opens Canadian Operation
CRP Industries Inc., a supplier of automotive products and longtime partner with Continental AG as an importer of ContiTech-branded belts in North America, is opening a new office in Toronto to better serve a growing customer base in the Canadian automotive aftermarket.

The opening of CRP’s Canadian office is part of CRP’s NAFTA market business strategy. “We are seeing growth opportunities for our products in Canada and Mexico,” stated Dan Schildge, COO of CRP. CRP Canada’s office will allow CRP customers across Canada to have an open channel of communication with their representatives and also expedite the resolution of any service needs. CRP Canada will offer a program of timing belts, timing belt kits and serpentine belts covering a complete line of automotive makes and models for the Canadian market. CRP Canada’s Toronto office can be contacted at (905) 569-9186 or via e-mail at kedwards@ crpindustries.com.

ACDelco Extends Free Battery Replacement Warranty
ACDelco is extending the warranty period on its Professional Series 6YR and 7YR batteries. The free replacement limited warranty period for ACDelco 6YR and 72-month Maintenance Free (MF) batteries, previously 18 months, is now 30 months. And, the free replacement limited warranty period for ACDelco 7YR and 84-month MF batteries, previously 24 months, is now 50 months.

ACDelco Professional 6YR and 7YR batteries are available for a wide variety of applications, from small passenger vehicles to SUVs. See the limited warranty on the battery for complete details. Or, log on to http://www.acdelco.com/parts/ battery/battery-warranty.htm.

NAPA CHASSIS Goes ‘Extreme’
NAPA CHASSIS is changing the way it conducts business in 2006 and beyond through a new initiative called Extreme, a campaign highlighting components such as training, testing and engineering. To help kick-start the Extreme campaign, NAPA CHASSIS formed a sponsorship with SCORE (International Off-Road Racing), North America’s premier Baja off-road racing series. Sponsorship extends to three SCORE races this summer: Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 2-4, in Mexico; SCORE Las Vegas Terrible’s Cup II, July 27-29 in Las Vegas; and SCORE Las Vegas PRIMM 300, Sept. 8-10 in Las Vegas.

NAPA CHASSIS’ Extreme campaign includes three quarterly promotions for dealers and technicians. One customer will walk away with the Extreme grand prize — a $50,000 Extreme Makeover of his repair shop. Contact your NAPA CHASSIS representative for more details.

Bosal Offers Aftermarket Rewards Program For Technicians
Bosal USA, Inc. has introduced a special rewards program for professional automotive technicians who buy and install Bosal replacement and performance exhaust products.

Bosal has teamed up with Aftermarket Rewards, a fast-growing business-to-business rewards program specializing in serving automotive aftermarket companies. Bosal customers will earn points based on the volume of their Bosal purchase and apply those points toward the redemption of a wide variety of merchandise and apparel.

For more information on the program, visit www.aftermarketrewards.com.

True Test Engines Begins Single-Unit Distribution
Orient Engine, a Falmouth, KY-based remanufacturer of Japanese engines, has opened True Test Engines, a separate business unit developed specifically to meet the needs of independent repair facilities and new car dealers.

Named after a unique hot-run testing procedure in which each engine is actually started and run under its own power, True Test provides installers with a line of fully tested Japanese long blocks sold at competitive prices, along with free shipping and core retrieval; a three-year, unlimited mileage nationwide warranty; and professional customer service support.