Diamond Bar, Calif. As one of four industry experts presenting at the SEMA Emerging Trends and Technology (ETTN) inaugural Quick Talks – Experts Talk Vehicle Technology at the 2016 SEMA Show, Robert Simons, vice president of Research and Development, Edelbrock, will discuss 3D printing as a manufacturing technology that turns digital 3D models into solid objects by building them up in layers.

Simon’s presentation, “3D Printing Technologies” will take place on Thursday, November 3 at 9am in room N258 in the upper north hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.  His session will be one of four 15 minute Quick Talk sessions scheduled for the 2016 SEMA show.

In his presentation, Simons will chronicle how 3D printing technology has evolved into a next-generation manufacturing process that has the potential to allow the local, on-demand final production of products thereof. Initially used for rapid prototyping (RP), it is now possible to 3D print in a wide range of materials that include thermoplastics, thermoplastic composites, pure metals, metals alloys, and ceramics.

Robert Simons has been with Edelbrock for 8 years, initially serving as the Engineering Manager for the supercharger program, and later taking over responsibility for all research and development activities.  In this role, he is responsible for managing a team of over 20 mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, technicians and support staff.  He oversees all design, development, calibration & testing.  He was awarded 2 utility patents for the Edelbrock E-Force supercharger and the EFI Fuel Sump, and has two more utility patents currently pending with the USPTO.  In addition, Simons is in charge of all emissions certification activities, including the pending LSI certification of an all new, off road, V8 engine platform. 

Prior to Edelbrock, Simons served as the Powertrain Engineering Manager at Saleen Inc., in Irvine CA where he was responsible for the design, development, calibration & certification of all powertrain systems for Saleen vehicles. His tenure at Saleen spanned 7 years, and included such milestones as the development and launch of the Saleen S7 supercar, 1 U.S. patent, and the design of the Saleen Series VI supercharger system. Prior to Saleen, Simons was employed by the Department of Defense at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC).   Before joining NSWC, Simons earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland. 

About SEMA

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $36 billion specialty automotive industry of 6,633 member-companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends and market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765, tel: 909-610-2030, or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.

San Rafael, CA: Most performance enthusiasts know Stage 8 Locking Fasteners. Their zero-failure locking systems are so trusted, Kooks Headers and Exhaust now includes them in their exhaust systems.

But Stage 8 makes locking systems for much more than header and turbo applications.

An often overlooked part of an engine is the harmonic balancer. When the outer ring of a harmonic balancer slips from its normal position, a vibration results. This vibration may cause the fastener on the harmonic balancer to come loose and cause costly crankshaft damage.

Stage 8 Locking harmonic balancer bolts are easy to use and are real assurance against harmonic balancer failure due to loosening fasteners.

The unique and functional design is just four pieces: a grooved bolt (grade 8 steel), a retaining washer, a locking retainer and a snap ring.

Stage 8 harmonic balancer bolt kits are available for most engines. For more information go to http://stage8.com/perfauto.html and search by platform or call 415-485-5340.

For 31 years, Stage 8 Locking Fasteners has built the world’s best locking fasteners in a myriad of industries including automotive, industrial, railroad and military. Since 1985, Stage 8 has consistently delivered measurable increases in equipment reliability and safety as well as dramatic reductions in maintenance costs and equipment failures, especially header, exhaust and turbo applications.

August 23rd, 2016 TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN –ididit celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and the iconic steering components company will celebrate in style during their annual Car Show & Open House from 9 am to 3 pm Saturday, October 1st at the company’s Tecumseh, Mich. headquarters. The 2016 ididit Car Show & Open House will feature a top-notch car show, vendor exhibits, a custom golf cart giveaway supporting the Lenawee Humane Society, and other surprises to help celebrate the company’s three decades designing and manufacturing the industry’s best steering components.  The crew from the “Dustless Blasting Car Show” will be on location shooting an episode for MAVTV & REV’N. The event is free for all attendees and planned rain or shine. Since 1991, ididit’s annual Car Show & Open House has brought custom car owners and fans together to celebrate the history, beauty and engineering of classic cars and trucks. The company awards winners in seven categories at the end of the show, including Street Rods, Classic/Restored, Trucks, Lead Sled, Muscle Cars and Hot Rods. Attendees and exhibitors can also learn more from top aftermarket vendors, including Eaton Detroit Spring, American Speed, Woodward Fab, Classic Instruments and more. “Some of the best names in our industry are based right here in Michigan, and we’ll have them at our shop, ready to talk to you,” the company stated. Shop for deals while supporting Michigan and downtown Tecumseh with the “I Buy Nearby” weekend celebration at the show. Created by the Michigan Retailers Association, “Buy Nearby” is a year-round “shop locally” campaign. For more information on the ididit Car Show & Open House, including the 2016 car registration form, visit: http://www.ididitinc.com/special-events.php. For more information on the Buy Nearby effort, visit: www.buynearbymi.com. 

All ididit products are 100% American Made. For more information visit our website www.ididitinc.com or give us a call at 517-424-0577

Statesville, NC: It all started in ’66. That’s the year Chevrolet introduced the world to Camaro and forever changed our love affair with the sports car. Fifty years of advanced engineering and masterful design have come together in the sixth-generation Camaro sports car. But every cake needs icing. Kooks Headers and Exhaust recently released a complete stainless steel exhaust system for the 2016 Chevy Camaro SS, which can add an incredible 40-plus rear-wheel horsepower (RWHP) and 35-plus foot-pounds of torque.   It’s the best birthday gift you can give your 2016 Camaro. Available in 1 7/8-inch or 2-inch diameter primaries, as well as with GESI GREENCATS, Tuner Catalyst or off-road connection pipes, Kooks’ new 2016 Camaro exhaust system includes Cometic Gaskets and Stage 8 Locking Fasteners. Choose between polished or black exhaust tips. And because Kooks’ systems are proudly hand-crafted in America, with the highest attention to detail, you can rest easy with our limited lifetime warranty. For more information, call Kooks Headers and Exhaust at 1-866-586-KOOK (5665) or go to http://www.kooksheaders.com. Kooks Headers and Exhaust has been innovating header technology for more than 50 years. No other header company in the country can offer “custom” headers for as many late model domestic vehicles, while still building handmade custom race headers used in 3,000 + horsepower applications.          

PART	DESCRIPTION
22602400	1 7/8” x 3” Stainless Steel Header
2260H420	1 7/8” x  3” Stainless Steel Header and Catted Connection Pipe
2260H430	1 7/8” x  3” Stainless Steel Header and GREEN Catted Connection Pipe
22605300	3” Exhaust System with Polished Dual Tips. Must be used with Kooks Headers.
22605310	3” Exhaust System with Black Dual Tips. Must be used with Kooks Headers.
22606200	OEM x 3” Axle Back System with Polished Dual Tips
22606210	OEM x 3” Axle Back System with Black Dual Tips
22606250	OEM x 3” Axle Back System with Polished Quad Tips

 

Kingsport, TN: Performance industry mainstay Hedman Hedders understands how important grassroots racing has been to the success of the company. After all, owner Bob Vandergriff has described himself a racer first, business man second, who understands “the sportsman side is where the numbers are – and obviously we are in a numbers business.”

And with Vandergriff’s passion and focus on grassroots racing, it makes sense that Hedman Hedders was the first company to sign up as a sponsor for Contingency Connection’s grassroots race-marketing program back in 1994. Hedman Hedders and Contingency Connection have always had the same goal… to bring the best products in the performance aftermarket to the best weekend warriors across the country. Twenty-two years later, Hedman Hedders, along with sister companies Trans-Dapt Performance and Hamburger’s Performance, are still Contingency Connection sponsors and still seeing the benefit to their bottom line.

“We have seen the program expand tremendously over the years from a handful of drag racing tracks exclusively, to dozens of drag racing and oval tracks across the country,” Ron Funfar, President of the Hedman Performance Group said. “We feel the program offers us a great return on our relatively small investment, and comments of appreciation we get from weekend racers when we attend races are outstanding.”

Since 1994, Contingency Connection has coordinated a “make sense” marketing approach to reaching the masses of do-it-yourself, grassroots, racing enthusiasts that represent the largest market segment in the sport of racing. The program has grown to include nearly 100 sponsors and 100 tracks and series making it the largest, most effective way to promote products and services at the grassroots racing level.  Its reach is extensive, yet its concept so simple you might wonder “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Their flagship Racer Rewards program directly connects manufacturers with race tracks, traveling series, racers, and fans through a simple product couponing program and an aggressive on-site track presence with signage, announcements and decals on the race cars. Collectively manufacturers post an impressive $100,000 in Racer Rewards at each track, racers display manufacturer stickers and weekly winners earn certificates towards the purchase of performance products, which drives business back to the manufacturer.

“Both the Racer Rewards and AERA Engine Professional Rewards are aimed at connecting top manufacturers with weekend warriors and local shops that are the heart and soul of the racing industry,” Jackie Ressa of Contingency Connection said. “Our main goal is to put sponsor brands at the track, in the stands, and in the shop with end-user customers.”

The bottom-up marketing concept quickly attracted other top manufacturers such as ELGIN, Richmond Gear, Mahle, AutoMeter, Edelbrock, Wilwood, MSD, Quick Fuel, Painless, K&N, Moroso, Wiseco, Competition Products and the list goes on as manufacturers recognize grassroots racing as the backbone of the sport.

“All of our companies have a long history of involvement in racing and although there was a steady increase in the number of racers at the dragstrip, it was still very difficult to get the Hedman Hedders, Trans-Dapt and Hamburger’s Performance names in front of the small town, back road, Saturday night racers,” Marc Lewis of Hedman Hedders said. “In the early 90’s, when Jackie Ressa and Ronnie Ball approached us about getting involved in a race program that focused on the very same racers we were wanting to reach, we had to try it out.”

And while performance manufacturers were easily finding avenues to reach top-level pro racers, weekend warriors were a much more elusive (albeit just as important) demographic to market to.

Just ask Bobby Writesman of Holley, a company that posts 18 total brands in the grassroots Racer Rewards and/or Engine Professional Rewards programs.

“Today the bulk of racing programs and sponsorships seemingly focus on the high level touring series or professional ranks of racing,” Writesman said. “While every driver aspires to reach these heights it is at the local Saturday night circle track or drag-strip that many hone their skills and begin learning the value of quality performance parts such as Holley, MSD, Earls, NOS, Mr. Gasket etc.  The Contingency Connection is focused and fully committed to the grass roots level of racing.”

And according to Writesman, reaching the weekend warriors is paramount to successfully marketing Holley’s extensive line of performance products.

“Grassroots tracks across the nation are made up of thousands of Saturday night racers and teams. Introducing a new brand or quality product to a team or engine builder is the ultimate goal in marketing and sales,” Writesman said. “Racers become committed for life on certain brands such as Holley or MSD… and they likely first encounter these brands at a local track.”

Sean Crawford of JE Pistons couldn’t agree more.

“Although professional racing is a significant portion of our business, the majority is still weekend warriors,” Crawford said. “Without them our business wouldn’t be successful, so we continue to focus on supporting them whenever possible. The Contingency Connection program allows us to support racers at local tracks that we normally couldn’t reach directly.”   In addition to weekly awards, JE has sponsored the JE Sportsman of the Year bonus for nearly 15 years making it one of the highest paying, longest running sponsors at the grassroots level.

And most recently, manufacturers wanted a direct link to machine shops, engine builders, and performance shops—so Contingency Connection went back to the drawing board launching the “first of its kind” Engine Professional Rewards program.  Yet another simple coupon- based marketing program, the Engine Professional Rewards program sends money-saving manufacturer coupons directly to enrolled shops; increasing shop profitably. And in just 3 short years, what started with 300 enrolled shops has grown to 2,500 shops thanks to Contingency Connection’s AERA Engine Builder Association partnership. Shops enroll free and can learn more here.

Bottom line…Contingency Connection unites racers, tracks, shops, and manufacturers in a unique and powerful way.

For more information on the Contingency Connection’s Racer Rewards Program or Engine Professional Rewards Program, go to http://www.contingencyconnection.com/ or contact Jackie Ressa at 423-288-0285 or info@contingencyconnection.com.