Raybestos brand brakes’ product offering has been re-engineered, following months of extensive research with repair technicians, the results of which can be seen in Raybestos’ new 1-2-3 brand strategy.

“We conducted both qualitative and quantitative research to understand precisely what techs want and need from a brake supplier,” said Jeff Stauffer, vice president of global marketing for Affinia. “The resulting Raybestos brand 1-2-3 strategy also addresses the proliferation of both parts and vendors, which has become a major problem for distributors.”

Research indicated that techs require a single line of hydraulics, two grades of rotors and three grades of friction, but the studies showed friction to be more complex, said Stauffer.

The friction line is segmented into three grades that reflect the needs described by technicians, according to Raybestos. The core offering, Professional Grade (premium) friction, provides “OE or better” quality and coverage and comes complete with all required hardware. This principle grade of OE-equivalent friction is augmented by two complementary offerings — Advanced Technology (ultra premium) friction, which is designed for specific severe-duty and performance applications, and Service Grade friction, which is priced to help technicians meet the needs of their budget-conscious customers. Raybestos brand rotors are offered in both Professional Grade and Advanced Technology lines. Professional Grade rotors give techs coverage for almost every vehicle in operation, including the latest models.

Advanced Technology rotors have a machine finish that exceeds what is offered by most OE suppliers and other aftermarket lines, and feature a corrosion-resistant coating, which is exclusive to the Raybestos line. Due to superior manufacturing, Raybestos brand Advanced Technology rotors are ready to install right out of the box and are backed by an industry-first “No Turn Guarantee,” according to the company.

Raybestos brand consolidated its two hydraulic lines into one Professional Grade line. The new line features innovative noise reduction technology, and form, fit and function that match OE.

For more information about Raybestos brand brakes, visit www.raybestos.com.

MAP Announces Inaugural Automotive Brake Safety Week
The non-profit Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) has announced that it will sponsor a weeklong nationwide consumer education and vehicle inspection campaign focusing on automotive brake system safety.

The nationwide MAP Brake Safety Awareness Week, scheduled for Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 2007, is expected to involve thousands of participating automotive service locations that will offer free brake and related undercar inspections and distribute a variety of complimentary consumer-focused educational materials. All program content, including vehicle inspection and customer communication guidelines, promotional materials and consumer literature, is being developed by MAP and affiliated organizations.

Support materials will be available, in limited quantities, free of charge to MAP participating service facilities and at a nominal fee to other service providers wishing to join the program.

Kornafel Appeals for Industry Collaboration Regarding Scholarship Applications
Pete Kornafel is on a mission — to organize a website that would serve as a one-stop application portal for aftermarket scholarships, and he is appealing to the industry to help make the site a comprehensive reality.

Kornafel, who is CARQUEST vice chairman, is passionate about the topic of automotive education. He currently serves as chairman of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Selection Committee, which has provided more than $1 million in scholarships over the last 12 years.

In 2007, GAAS awarded 142 U.S. and 12 Canadian scholarships. He points out, however, that there were some 400 qualified applicants. Kornafel strongly believes that getting more organizations involved will increase students’ chances of getting awards, or multiple awards from different organizations or companies, all based on just one application. And more students mean more technicians, which is good for the entire industry.

Kornafel hopes the program can be fully operational by the time GAAS begins accepting 2008 scholarship applications in September. In order to move the project along, he is appealing to the industry for assistance. For 2008, the committee will modify the website (www.automotivescholarships.com) to reflect that it is a single site for multiple scholarship applications. The committee will add additional pages for each scholarship, showing each organization and its individual award requirements.

Kornafel hopes the industry will collaborate with the GAAS Scholarship Committee in making the site as comprehensive as possible. There have been past collaborations with aftermarket companies and organizations that have netted positive results.

Companies or aftermarket associations that would like to collaborate with the GAAS Scholarship committee are invited to email Kornafel at [email protected].

AAIA’s Kathleen Schmatz Receives Honorary Doctorate from Northwood University
Northwood University honored Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) president and CEO Kathleen Schmatz with a doctor of laws, honoris causa, during its 2007 commencement ceremony at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, FL. Schmatz also served as graduation speaker at the ceremony.

A nationally recognized advocate of the automotive aftermarket and a sought-after speaker and presenter, Schmatz is frequently interviewed by the media, appearing on the NBC “Today” Show, MSNBC and in The New York Times. Before being named president and CEO of AAIA in 2004, Schmatz served as executive vice president. She joined AAIA after 30 years with Babcox Publications.

In other AAIA news, the association announced that NAPA has offered its more than 12,000 affiliated NAPA AutoCare Centers membership in AAIA’s Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN).

ACDelco Congratulates Local Service Center on 100th Anniversary
Around the world on June 2, the American Civil War ended (1865), President Grover Cleveland was married in the White House (1886), playwright Eugene O’Neill won a Pulitzer Prize (1920), and Queen Elizabeth II was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom (1953). And, in Menomonee Falls, WI, John B. Wittlin opened a blacksmith and automotive repair business in 1907, now known as Wittlin’s Automotive Service.

ACDelco congratulates Wittlin’s Automotive Service on its 100th anniversary of providing quality automotive service and parts to the Menomonee Falls community and on earning a spot in the history books.

To celebrate its centennial, Wittlin’s — a participant in ACDelco’s Total Service Support (TSS) program — held an open house and customer appreciation event in June. In addition to raffles, prizes and food, racing legend Mario Andretti was on hand to help commemorate the event.

In other company news, ACDelco is collaborating with Mitchell 1 to deliver one of the most advanced shop management tools in the industry. The newest addition of ACDelco’s Web Integrated Service Environment (WISE) software, WISE 3.0, is designed to help professional technicians stay on top of the latest technology, techniques and tools. With the ACDelco WISE 3.0 program, technicians will benefit from a portfolio of software from Mitchell 1, which includes OnDemand5 Manager, OnDemand5 Estimator, OnDemand5 Repair and the new QuickBooks interface.

AMI Announces New Scholarship from Zurich
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI), in conjunction with Zurich, formerly Universal Underwriters Group, has announced a new scholarship program to help automotive service professionals obtain the management education crucial for success in today’s competitive industry environment. One scholarship will be awarded to an Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division member who strives to be or is presently working in a management capacity.

Zurich introduced the scholarship program, called High Octane, specifically to address the educational needs of the automotive aftermarket. The scholarship will be applied toward the recipient’s expenses to attend the 2007 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) in Las Vegas, Nov. 1-3.

To request a scholarship application, call AMI at (800) 272-7467, ext. 241, or fill out a scholarship application online at www.amionline.org. Applications must be received by AMI on or before Aug. 17, 2007. The scholarship recipient will be notified by AMI on or before Sept. 7, 2007.

Toyota Offers Free Website Subscription to ASA Annual Convention Attendees
Automotive Service Association members who attended the ASA Annual Convention May 3-5 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville received quite a surprise during a luncheon sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales USA. It was announced that ASA members attending the convention would receive a free, one-year subscription to the Toyota Technical Information Service Website (http://techinfo.toyota.com), compliments of Toyota.

During his presentation, Jerry Raskind, Toyota’s wholesale development manager, shared Toyota’s philosophy of supporting independent repair shops that provide service and repairs to the owners of Toyota automobiles.

“Every Toyota owner is a common customer to all of us — to Toyota, to our regional offices, to our dealerships and to you,” Raskind said. “Every Toyota owner deserves a quality ownership experience. With that comes a quality service experience wherever they choose to have their cars maintained or repaired. To achieve this, we want to provide you — independent shop owners — with the most up-to-date service repair information for Toyota vehicles. We want to make sure people who drive Toyota vehicles are satisfied throughout the ownership experience, and we need your help to do that.”

Pro Motor Engines Wins 2007 MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder Showdown
Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman of Pro Motor Engines walked away with the top prize at the 2007 MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder Showdown — the Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy and a cash prize of $26,000. Kevin Webber and Scott Vester of Hendrick Motorsports received $9,000 in their runner-up effort. The 2007 MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder Showdown at NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC, wrapped up four grueling rounds with the championship on May 23 in front of nearly 1,500 screaming fans.

The MAHLE Clevite Engine builder Showdown is a tiered four-round competition for professional engine builders who assemble engines for NASCAR teams. Each team of two engine builders competes to build and successfully run a NEXTEL Cup 357-cubic-inch Ford engine in the shortest time possible.

Elgin Industries Celebrates 88th Anniversary With Expanded Automotive and Performance Lines
It’s doubtful that Martin Skok, the Czechoslovakian immigrant who in 1919 founded Elgin Industries, could have imagined that his fledgling operation would become one of the transportation industry’s largest manufacturers of engine and chassis components.

Skok’s company – now operated by his grandchildren – is celebrating its 88th anniversary with yet another expansion of its manufacturing capabilities. The company recently launched a comprehensive rocker arm production department featuring 14 state-of-the-art universal presses and precision tooling for a full range of popular automotive and performance applications.

Pennzoil Platinum Ultimate Protection Tour Kicks Off for 2007
The redesigned Pennzoil Platinum Ultimate Protection Tour has kicked off its nationwide tour that features an interactive 53-foot mobile display unit showcasing the benefits of Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil. Now in its third season, the tour will travel to more than 20 auto enthusiast events, select NASCAR races, and, for the first time ever, three National Tractor Pull Association (NTPA) races.

At each stop of the tour, Pennzoil will also recognize a local automotive enthusiast by awarding an individual with the Pennzoil Platinum Prize. Winners receive a lifetime supply of Pennzoil Platinum, along with the honor of being inducted into the Pennzoil Platinum Hall of Fame.

NASCAR Angels TV Show Features Parts Plus Car Care Centers
NASCAR Angels will soon feature two Parts Plus Car Care Centers who teamed with the reality TV show to help deserving motorists safely get back on the road, according to Mike Lambert, president of the Automotive Distribution Network.

The two Parts Plus Car Care Centers — California-based Culver Motor Clinic and Airpark Auto in Phoenix — will be featured in four total episodes with the next airings coming in July. Check your local listings for specific dates and times.

ASE Introduces Refrigerant Program Application Wizard
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) released its new Section 609 Wizard to help service technicians quickly determine their EPA-approved credentialing requirements for air conditioning service. The wizard helps eliminate some of the confusion when working on air conditioning systems used in different types of vehicles.

Using a stepped interview process, the wizard asks specific questions about the air conditioning system. Based on the responses, the wizard then advises the user whether an EPA-approved Section 609 program like the ASE Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Review and Quiz applies to the type of system being serviced.

The ASE Section 609 Wizard can be found on the ASE website at www.ase.com. Go to the Service Professionals section and click Online Refrigerant Recovery Program to see the link to the wizard. Alternatively, the wizard can be accessed from the ASE Campus website at www.asecampus.com.

New Promotion From Monroe Brakes Drives ‘Slick’ Bargain For Shop Owners, Consumers
The Monroe brakes brand, manufactured and marketed by Tenneco Inc., is offering an innovative consumer promotion this summer: the Monroe Brakes “Slick Offer” promotion. The program will help service dealers maximize their brake business while driving repeat sales through their oil change bays.

Running through August 31, 2007, the Monroe Brakes “Slick Offer” promotion rewards consumers with a mail-in rebate for the price of an oil change when they purchase a qualifying set of Monroe brake pads.

To qualify, consumers must submit their sales receipt verifying the purchase of qualifying Monroe brake products and oil change service with the necessary redemption form to program headquarters. Redemption forms are available at www.monroebrakes.com. All receipts and redemption forms must be postmarked by Sept. 20, 2007.