NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 1, 2007

BEDFORD, TX – According to the Automotive Service Association (ASA), industry surveys indicate a growing interest in shop licensing. In addition, many state legislatures are considering legislation aimed at licensing automotive service shops. Danny Guido, AAM, of Tony's Service Center in Phoenix, will serve as moderator of a five-person panel of experts to present their perspective on shop licensing.

The forum will take place Saturday, Feb. 3, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Ellis East Room at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 N. 2nd St. For more information, contact ASA.

(Source: ASA)

ELK GROVE, CA (Jan. 24, 2007) — While many automotive repair shop owners know that copying and/or distributing copyrighted software illegally is considered piracy, what they may not be aware of is that even possession of software that has been illegally copied is piracy.

To protect their customers and product integrity, ALLDATA is aggressively pursuing civil and criminal action against all software pirates.

"ALLDATA has a zero tolerance policy on software piracy," says Susan Slish, product security program manager with ALLDATA. "In addition to continually improving our software's internal security, we investigate all leads regarding the unlicensed distribution of our products. We want criminals to know that they will be caught and prosecuted."

Recently, two individuals, Andy T. Tran and Vu P. Nguyen from Business Computer Solutions in Long Beach, CA, were charged with copyright infringement. They were sentenced to five years' felony probation, restitution to be paid to ALLDATA over a five-year period and 60 days of community service.

According to the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the software industry annually loses about $12 billion worldwide from piracy — $2 billion in North America alone.1 To combat this problem, several federal agencies, including the U.S. Copyright Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee and the U.S. Department of Justice, maintain software piracy divisions. Their sole purpose is to track down and prosecute software pirates and cyber criminals, including those who use unlicensed software, either ignorantly or deliberately.

ALLDATA advises that if the price of the software is too good to be true, the chances are it is illegal or unlicensed. In addition, pirated software packaging can look very similar to the genuine product. To be certain you are receiving authentic products, buy only from an authorized representative.

(Source: ALLDATA)

DIAMOND BAR, CA (Jan. 22, 2007) — The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is enhancing its upcoming Spring Expo (SSE) and OFFROAD Show (SOR) by offering a series of educational seminars and tutorials specifically geared for the service professional or retailer. Scheduled for March 23 and 24, 2007, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the seminars will focus on a number of key topics, emphasizing those most important to retailers and other automotive specialty equipment entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses.

The seminars include:

* Reading Your Customer's Face to Discover What They Really Want and Like

* Teaming Up for Success: Getting Extraordinary Results From Ordinary People

* Cash flow Management Secrets Your Accountant Never Shared

* ASE A-6 Electrical/Electronics Systems Exam-Training & Preparation

(Source: SEMA)

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 22, 2007) — PPG Industries' Sungate Infrared Reflective (IR) Windshield is designed to increase vehicle fuel efficiency up to 4 percent, saving up to $66 per year in vehicle fuel costs.

Recent PPG testing showed the special windshield’s use reflects about 50 percent of the sun's infrared energy to help keep vehicles cooler, which could reduce air conditioning use up to approximately 20 percent. The windshield reduces transmission of ultraviolet and infrared solar energy to help reduce interior heat buildup, shorten cool-down time and reduce heat gain while driving.

"The Sungate IR-reflective windshield reduces the initial workload on a vehicle's air conditioning system, which represents the biggest use of power for climate control in a vehicle," says Mukesh Rustagi, global product market manager, PPG Automotive OEM Glass. "Because the air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard, fuel efficiency increases and emissions are reduced, and consumers experience a cooler vehicle upon entry."

He adds that the technology can help automakers meet the anticipated tougher emissions and fuel economy requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) revised Supplemental Federal Test Procedure (SFTP) without compromising vehicle affordability, safety or performance.

(Source: PPG)

NASHVILLE (Jan. 23, 2007) — Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) has expanded its Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval tire line with two new sizes: P245/40R18 88Y RFT and P285/35R19 90Y RFT. These tires are designed to fit Chevrolet's sixth-generation C6 Corvette.

Engineered with the company's UNI-T technology, the new tires incorporate Run-Flat Tire Technology to offer a sense of security by allowing drivers to travel up to 50 miles at 50 mph in the event the tire experiences a loss of air.

(Source: BFNT)

LARKSPUR, CA (Jan. 25, 2007) — H3R Performance has released a new four-minute video on the benefits of carrying a vehicle fire extinguisher in order to protect an owner's investment.

With statistics showing that 800 vehicle fires occur every day, the video demonstrates why consumers should be prepared in case a fire breaks out. The video explains how the company’s HalGuard premium, clean-agent line of extinguishers can put out a blaze without damaging vehicles with messy residue caused by standard dry chemical units.

The video can be viewed online at www.h3rperformance.com/halguard_products.htm.

(Source: H3R Performance)

RACINE, WI (Jan. 16, 2007) — A & E Inc., parent company to A & E Hand Tools and Eckmann Pressed Metal, announced the celebration of its 75th year in business.

A & E Hand Tools manufactures hand and specialty tools, retaining ring pliers, automotive test equipment and foam products. It also distributes German-crafted tools and equipment that are distributed through many brands, including Kastar Hand Tools, Hi-Tech Hand Tools, Star Products, Tool Control Solutions and Hazet-North America.

Eckmann Pressed Metal supplies metal stampings and pulleys to the OEM market and specializes in design, construction and operation of most stamping operations, ranging from simple blanking dies to complex progressive dies.

(Source: A&E Inc.)

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 24, 2007) — The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is reporting it raised nearly $10,000 in its 2007 Automotive Education Foundation fundraising campaign. The majority of that money was raised at the association's annual Race for Automotive Education, held Jan. 16-18.

During the course of the three-night event, 30 teams of mechanical and collision repair shops and industry suppliers — 150 racers — competed against each other in state-of-the-art European karts.

In addition to proceeds from the race, many association members made voluntary contributions to the foundation with their dues payments. The majority of the money raised will go toward scholarships for automotive students enrolled in NATEF-certified mechanical and collision repair programs in Minnesota.

AASP-MN’s Automotive Education Foundation was established in 2002, and since its inception, the association says it has distributed more than $54,500 directly to students through the scholarship program.

(Source: AASP-MN)

POWAY, CA (Jan. 24, 2007) — Mitchell 1 is accepting applications for its Automotive Technology Outstanding Student Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded through the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) Education Foundation at its annual conference July 16-20, 2007, in Long Beach, CA. 

The $2,500 annual scholarship from Mitchell 1 will recognize a current student for outstanding achievement in automotive technology/auto repair scholastics. Scholarship applicants must be current students majoring in automotive technology/auto shop repair course work and meet the following criteria:

* Must be nominated by his/her NACAT instructor.

* Must have a minimum overall 3.0 grade point average (GPA).

* Must be a high school senior with proof of a commitment to an accredited college or university, or already enrolled in his/her first year at an accredited college or university.

* Must be a U.S. citizen.

Applicants are required to submit the following materials for scholarship consideration:

* A nomination letter from his/her NACAT instructor (limited to two pages). The nominating NACAT instructor must be a member in good standing.

* A cover letter from the applicant indicating his/her career path in theautomotive repair industry, thoughts about the future of the industry and his/her personal educational needs/desires. It should be presented in typewritten form by the scholarship applicant.

* An unofficial transcript of grades may be submitted by the student, but must be validated by the instructor submitting the nomination letter. An official transcript embossed with the school registrar's stamp and signed by the registrar will also be accepted.

Scholarship applications must be postmarked by May 14, 2007, and will be reviewed by the NACAT Education Foundation Award committee. The committee will select the top candidate and one alternate. For more information visit:

* www.mitchell1.com

* www.nacat.com

* www.calautoteachers.com/NACAT2007.htm

(Source: Mitchell 1)