ILLINOIS
Charlie’s CARSTAR in Cahokia hired Rick Wilkinson to serve as its production manager. “Rick brings more than a decade of experience as a collision center manager, and we are excited to have him join the Charlie’s CARSTAR team,” said Owner Charlie Eilers. Wilkinson’s experience includes collision center manager for Roberts Ford Inc. and Wood River Ford, both in Wood River. He is a Ford Master Certified Collision Center Manager through Ford Motor Co. and a member of Ford’s Medallion Elite Club.
Safety-Kleen Systems Inc. has acquired the assets of Gateway Petroleum Co. Inc. in Belleville. Gateway provides used-oil management services to customers in the eastern Missouri, central and southern Illinois, and Cape Girardeau areas. “The acquisition of Gateway Petroleum continues our strategic plans for growth in the oil services sector, and Gateway customers will now have access to the full range of Safety-Kleen’s environmental services and products,” said Safety-Kleen CEO and President Frederick J. Florjancic. He added that Safety-Kleen will honor current service agreements and schedules for Gateway Petroleum customers.
Matt Wells, executive vice president of the Automotive Parts and Service Association of Illinois (APSA-IL) has several member meetings planned for April. Topics of discussion include the economy versus industry, national legislative issues, access to OE service information, and state budget and legislation initiatives. Dates and places are: April 8, Rexroats in Effingham; April 9, Mississippi Flyway in Carbondale; April 15, APSA-IL office in Springfield; and April 16 at the Holiday Inn in Willowbrook. To register for any of the meetings, call Wells at 217-786-2850 or 800-369-2964.
Mid America Motorworks has several events planned for this spring and summer at its Effingham offices. The Spring Swapfest is scheduled for May 2. In addition to the swap meet, an auction and flea market has been added to this spring’s event. The swap meet is open to all makes and models of automobiles. For more information, visit www.mamotorworks.com/swapfest. The Funfest for Air-Cooled Volkswagen is slated for June 5-6. New this year is an Air-Cooled Volkswagen Auction, where everything from a project roller and a daily driver to a show car will be on the auction block. For more information, visit www.mamotorworks.com/funfest.
INDIANA
Mecum, a Marengo, Ill.-based performance and nostalgic car auctioneer, will auction off a unique set of Chevrolet Chevelles at the Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction on May 13-17 in Indianapolis. The collection will be sold as a group on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 3 p.m. EST. The sale will be broadcast live on national TV during "Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More" on HD Theater--Discovery Communications' first 24-hour high-definition cable network. Consignment, bidder, event, and accommodation information is available at www.mecum.com or by calling 815-568-8888.
KENTUCKY
The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee announced that the Kentucky/Indiana Automotive Wholesalers Association (KIAWA) will be collaborating with GAAS to create an online scholarship resource for students planning to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket. Applicants at the automotive scholarships Web site, www.automotivescholarships.com, will now be placed in consideration for the George W. Wilson III and KIAWA scholarship, named in honor of the first president of KIAWA who served from 1959-1994.
MISSOURI
Missouri state Sen. Bill Stouffer has introduced legislation that would change the Missouri Vehicle Safety Inspection Program to exempt vehicles from testing for their first 10 years. Senate Bill 58, introduced on Jan. 7, has been passed by the Senate and is now in the hands of the Missouri House of Representatives. These proposed changes allow a car to have up to 150,000 miles before its first vehicle safety inspection. The bill’s effect would be to create less-safe highways in the state of Missouri, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) said. ASA officials have asked Missouri repairers to contact their state representative to express their opposition to SB 58. ASA has also provided a prewritten letter for opponents at www.takingthehill.com.
Peterson Manufacturing Co. of Grandview announced that N.A. Williams Co. of Atlanta has become its new factory representative, serving the Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas markets. Peterson Manufacturing produces a complete line of vehicle safety lighting, mirrors, reflectors, and related products.
The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) announced the election of Ben Steinman of Ben’s Auto Body in Mexico to CAPA’s Board of Directors. Steinman, a 36-year veteran of the automotive service industry, has operated Ben's Auto Body since 1981. Steinman is an ASE-certified repairer and has been an active member of the ASA for more than 25 years.
