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Borem and Hoffman, who had an engine-build time of 16 minutes and 25 seconds, with no penalties, went head-to-head with Hendrick Motorsports’ Kevin Webber and Scott Vester, who finished second with a build time of 17 minutes and 47 seconds with no penalties.
For their efforts (the third fastest build time overall), Webber and Vester received $9,000. 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.
“This year was one of the most competitive and exciting Showdowns ever,” said Jesse Jones, Director of Marketing for MAHLE Clevite Inc. A record 19 teams from 10 of the biggest NASCAR engine shops took part in the competition. “This proves success in our goal of reaching out to NASCAR engine builders with our message of quality and performance,” Jones said.
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. The Showdown is slated to air on Horsepower TV later this year.
PACCAR To Build New Engine Plant And Tech Center In Mississippi
PACCAR has announced that its new $400 million engine facility and technology center will be constructed in Columbus, MS.
“PACCAR is pleased to locate its engine facility in one of the most dynamic and progressive areas in the Southeast,” said Mark Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer. The facility will initially hire approximately 200 employees, with future plans to employ as many as 500 as production increases over time.
Construction on the 400,000-sq.ft. facility will begin in mid-2007 and is due to be completed in 2009. The new facility will manufacture 12.9L and 9.2L diesel engines for Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF vehicles and complements PACCAR’s state-of-the-art engine facility in the Netherlands.
This will be PACCAR’s most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly facility, according to Jim Cardillo, executive vice president.
For more information about PACCAR, go to www.paccar.com.
Jasper Anniversary ‘Rolling Showcase’ Tour Hits the Road
In celebration of its 65-year anniversary, Jasper Engines and Transmissions is holding open house events at its 36 (and soon to be 38) branch locations across the country.
As part of the celebrations, Jasper has designed a mobile marketing trailer, christened the “Jasper Rolling Showcase.” The “Showcase” consists of a 28 ft. stacker trailer pulled by an 18 ft. tandem axle box truck. The trailer houses the Jasper Powered NASCAR NEXTEL Cup show car and a Jasper Powered V8 theme painted trike along with NASCAR racing simulator games.
The truck is fully stocked with product displays, a portable generator and a 5-ton capacity heat pump to provide inviting temperatures to those who gather under the 540-sq.ft. tent.
For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, visit www.jasperengines.com.
ROL Mfg. to Acquire Corteco’s Traditional Aftermarket Business
ROL Manufacturing has reached an agreement in principle to acquire specific assets of Corteco’s North American Traditional Aftermarket Business (TAB) from Freudenberg-NOK. Closing is expected to take place this month, subject to the fulfillment of customary closing pre-conditions.
Specifically, the agreement includes the assets in the U.S., Canada and Mexico which are related to Corteco Engine Gaskets & Seals, Omega Power Steering Hose, and MounTec Engine and Transmission Mounts.
“The addition of Corteco’s engine, power steering and mount products better enables us to exceed the ever increasing needs of our customers,” said Julian Haller, president, ROL Manufacturing.
“This transaction will enable Freudenberg-NOK to focus on providing aftermarket sealing solutions in the transmission and rebuilder (power steering) market segments through its TransTec brand and to OE Service and Tier 1 customers through its Freudenberg-NOK and Corteco brands,” said Tom Musgrave, president of the Corteco Division.
In addition, ROL Mfg. and Freudenberg-NOK have agreed to form a strategic alliance by means of a supply agreement to be executed at the time of the closing of the acquisition. The agreement provides for the exchange of services, parts and technology in order to maximize focus and service for their respective customers and markets.
“The acquisition coupled with our strategic alliance demonstrates ROL Mfg.’s focus to strengthen its position as a leader in the traditional aftermarket,” said Julian Haller.
“We are very excited about our strategic alliance with ROL and the opportunities it will bring in the future,” added Musgrave.
To ensure a seamless transition for its customers, customer service, product management, packaging and distribution for all three product lines will remain at Freudenberg-NOK’s Milan, OH, facility for up to one year, until these functions can be transferred to ROL’s facility in Oviedo, FL.
Following the acquisition, the Omega Power Steering Hose manufacturing plant in Solon, OH, and the Corteco de Mexico business in Queretaro, Mexico, will continue to operate as is and all employees are expected to be retained. The Newport, TN, gasket manufacturing plant will be closed. All manufacturing equipment and activity will be transferred to ROL’s new, state-of-the-art facility in Montreal, Canada. Several quality and plant management employees from the Newport facility will be retained on a contract basis by ROL Mfg.
For more information, visit www.rolmfg.com.
Crane Cams To Reward Leading Feature Winners In Seven IMCA Divisions
Crane Cams rewards the accomplishments of IMCA drivers making the most visits to victory lane this season. In its first season as a national sponsor for seven sanctioned divisions of the International Motor Contest Association, Crane Cams will award $1,000 in each class to the five drivers with the most wins in feature fields of 10 or more cars.
The driver with the most wins receives a $300 product certificate, with $250 to the runner-up, $200 for third, $150 for fourth and $100 for fifth.
Crane Cams awards will be given in the Modified, Late Model, Sprint Car, Karl Chevrolet Northern Sport Mod, Jeff’s Performance Southern SportMod, Stock Car and Hobby Stock classes. Product certificates will be mailed from the IMCA home office after point standings become official in October.
“We’ve always known about IMCA and the potential value of their sponsorship programs,” Crane Cams’ Mike Allen said. “One of the things IMCA brings to the table is the number of drivers they have all across the country. We also hope this program helps more of the engine builders for those drivers aware of the different products we have to offer.”
For more information, visit www.cranecams.com or www.imca.com.
NCMA Raises $6,500 For The Aftermarket Foundation Charities
The National Catalog Managers Association (NCMA) raised $6,500 for the Aftermarket Foundation during the 34th annual NCMA Knowledge Exchange conference in Savannah, GA, in early May.
Starting in 2004, NCMA has used its annual conference as an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the Foundation, a charitable organization that assists individuals and families in the automotive aftermarket who have fallen on hard times.
“We are very pleased with the growth of our fundraising efforts. NCMA members and our vendor partners are to be congratulated for their generous and enthusiastic contributions to such an important cause,” said NCMA Past President Mark Seng of Federal-Mogul Corp.
For more information regarding the Aftermarket Foundation, visit www.aftermarketfoundation.org.
NEWS IN BRIEF
The Board of Directors of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has named COO/CFO Tim Zilke to succeed Ron Weiner, ASE’s President and CEO for 25 years, effective January 1, 2008. Zilke, the current COO/CFO, is a 15-year veteran of ASE. Other changes within the organization include the promotion of Trish Serratore to Senior Vice President and the extension of Bill Kersten’s tenure as President of the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. For more information about ASE, visit the Web site at www.ase.com.
Federal-Mogul Corporation recently received The Vendor of the Year Award and the Outstanding Manpower Award for 2006 from Hahn Automotive Warehouse, Inc., located in Rochester, NY. Awards were based on votes of more than 200 Hahn employees.
The COMP Performance Group has hired Brian Reese as Director of Business Development. As the former Director of Engineering at SLP Performance Parts, Reese specialized in aftermarket performance with a special focus on late-model engines. Dave Sebring, the former Marketing and Engineering Director for the Mr. Gasket Company, has been named General Manager of TCI® Automotive, a division of COMP Performance Group.
Egge Machine Company has appointed Shirley Hooper to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing.
The Chrysler group will spend $570 million on a new plant in Saltillo in northern Mexico, where it will make V6 engines for passenger cars.
