Around ASA

By B.J. Johnson

Lowe's Motor Speedway Hosts ASA Affiliate Event

The Southeast Automotive Trade Show, sponsored by ASA-North Carolina, was held March 22-23 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The two-day event included an Automotive Management Institute seminar, an I-CAR air conditioning class, a silent auction and trade show.

The trade show was held in the Winston Cup Garage, which is located in the middle of the speedway. More than 30 exhibitors displayed the latest products and services available, while racecars were testing out the track. In addition, several attendees enjoyed a real NASCAR experience through the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Those who have a desire for speed were given the opportunity to ride in an authentic NASCAR Winston Cup style stock car for three laps. Attendees also had access to tour several racecar garages. “Everyone loved it,” said Hero Joyner, ASA-North Carolina executive director.

Additional activities included Bill Haas, AAM, ASA vice president of divisions, education and training, as the keynote speaker for the Saturday luncheon, and an exhibitor appreciation reception held that same evening with live entertainment. According to Haas, the event was “incredible.”

ASA-North Carolina is currently working on next year's event, with exhibit booth space nearly sold out already.

VISION Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Pictured (l to r) are Juel Clevenger, AAM, and Todd Mehalko, ASA membership coordinator, working the ASA booth at VISION.

ASA-Mo/Kan's VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo event celebrated its 10th anniversary during this year's show. The show was held Feb. 22-24 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel & Exhibit Hall in Kansas City, Mo., and attracted more than 750 attendees.

The lineup for training included management instructors Bob O'Connor and Bob Cooper. Technical trainers included Jim Linder, Randy Dillman, Dan Marinucci, Chris Chesney and Dave Mitchell. Course topics ranged from OBDII evaporative emissions systems, balance and vibration issues, troubleshooting charging systems to transmission essentials and electronics overview. In addition, Bill Haas, AAM, ASA vice president of divisions, education and training, presented a keynote address. And Todd Mehalko, ASA national membership coordinator, provided trade show attendees information on ASA and its benefits.

As a part of the celebration, ASA-Mo/Kan took the opportunity to thank two of its dedicated and loyal members for their contributions to the success of the event. Doug Stoll and Jerry Holcom were presented with the affiliate's Visionary Award. Stoll and Holcom were the initial “visionary founders” of the event. “The honors were presented in recognition of their imagination and drive that made VISION a reality,” said Sheri Hamilton, executive director.

Plans for next year's event are already under way. VISION 2003 will be held Feb. 21-23 at the Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Kan.

Affiliate Scholarship Honors Member as Namesake

Pictured (l to r) are Chris Dameron, Troy Byrd, Hero Joyner and George Haislip.

During the Southeast Automotive Trade Show, sponsored by ASA-North Carolina, a scholarship fund was created by the proceeds from a silent auction. The auction raised approximately $1,500 and will be used to send the North Carolina VICA competition winners to the national finals. Show exhibitors and Pat Overton, ASA-North Carolina president, donated the auction items.

To honor one of its longtime supporters, ASA-North Carolina named the scholarship after Troy Byrd, who “has been involved with the association for as long as anyone can remember,” said Chris Dameron, AAM, ASA Collision Division director and past president of ASA-North Carolina.

Byrd has served in many affiliate positions including executive secretary. George Haislip, affiliate past president; Hero Joyner, affiliate executive director; and Dameron went to Byrd's home to personally present him with a plaque and inform him of the scholarship. Dameron reported that Byrd was overwhelmed and extremely honored.

ASA Announces New Affiliate

The ASA board of directors unanimously approved ASA-Rhode Island as the newest affiliate group in the ASA organization.

“The members in ASA-Rhode Island were very diligent in their efforts to gain affiliation,” said ASA Chairman Dan Frohlich, AAM. “We look forward to working together as we continue to reinvent ASA as a partner for industry professionals.”

Paul Furtado, owner of The Car Works in Warren, R.I., summed up the feelings of the new affiliate members by saying, “Joining ASA should be a no-brainer for any professional automotive service facility. The chance to network with other like-minded professionals alone is worth the annual dues.”

AAPEX Chooses CARS

Since Thursday, Nov. 7 is the first day of the Automotive Service Association's 2002 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), this day has been chosen by organizers of the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) as Service Professionals Day at the show.

AAPEX will take place Nov. 5-8 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

CARS, the premier event of ASA's Mechanical Division, runs Nov. 7-9 at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. It features management education seminars and technical training classes. In addition to the educational programs, CARS offers a federal legislative update, optional tours, entertainment and more.

Bill Haas, ASA's vice president of divisions, education and training, said, “CARS provides the single greatest opportunity for shop owners, managers and technicians to receive quality education that will prove profitable every single day of their careers. ASA is proud to be part of a day dedicated to the service professional. This will be a great complement to an already successful event.”

According to the two trade associations that sponsor AAPEX - the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) - the addition of ASA and the creation of a Service Professionals Day makes good sense for AAPEX exhibitors and the industry. The two associations agree that providing an opportunity for technicians and shop owners to see new products first-hand and talk with exhibitors adds value to AAPEX and helps the industry.

AAPEX and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, which are held at the same time in Las Vegas, comprise AAIW. Nearly 70,000 trade show visitors from around the world attended Industry Week in 2001.

NATIONAL NEWS

John Scully, ASA vice president of membership and operations, received his Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation from the Automotive Management Institute. Shown here is Scully during the graduation ceremony held at the ASA 2002 Annual Convention April 8-13 in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Thomas Carper, D-Del., are considering offering an amendment to the Senate Energy Policy bill that will raise automobile fuel efficiency.

The U.S. Senate has already voted to allow the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to set the standards for fuel efficiency in an amendment sponsored by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo. The amendment Carper and Specter may introduce will require the DOT to set a standard to reduce American dependence on foreign oil by 1 million gallons of oil per day by 2015.

Reminder of the Month

Any national regular member interested in being considered for the Automotive Service Association national board of directors should contact the national office and request a Consideration Form. Contact Jo Ann Abramuk toll free at (800) 272-7467, ext. 211. Consideration Forms must be completed and postmarked no later than July 26, 2002.

Members of the 2003 nominating committee are Chairperson Jim Keller, AAM, Motorcar Collision, Milwaukee; Dale Feste, AAM, Dale Feste Automotive, Hopkins, Minn.; John Mock, AAM, Johnny Mock's Auto Body Shop Inc., Turtle Creek, Pa.; Don Stone, AAM, AAA Quality Transmissions, Stuart, Fla.; March Taylor, Auto Body Hawaii Inc., Kailua Kona, Hawaii; and Michael West, Southtowne Auto Rebuild Inc., Tukwila, Wash.

Rate This Article:

ASA Main Page || AutoInc. Main Page || Stolen Auto Parts Program Proposed || Competing Technologies for Power, Precision and the Wireless Service Bay || Information Availability: A Collision Repairer's Crisis || You Can't Feed Them If You Don't Know Them || ASA's 2002 Annual Convention || Guest Editorial || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Shop Profile || Members' Advantage || Chairman's Message