Belron S.A., an international glass-replacement company with its U.S. headquarters in Denver, recently acquired Safelite Glass Corp. Subject to regulatory approval, the new organization will be called Belron US. Safelite operates 212 locations and 2,200 mobile vehicles. Belron operates 90 branches and 500 mobile vehicles, operating under Elite Auto Glass, GlasPro, Auto Glass Specialist, Windshield Pros, and Maverick Glass.GO Chrysler Jeep West in Golden has hired Bryan Beyer to serve as wholesale parts adviser. Beyer, who started on Feb. 5, said he has more than eight years of experience with aftermarket parts.
In other Go Chrysler Jeep West news, Claire Cummings has been named chairwoman for the Colorado chapter of Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES). Cummings said she will work with AYES Colorado State Manager Bob Sidebottom to place students in summer internships at dealership service departments.
In February, Northwood University honored 12 dealerships across the United States and one from Germany during its 
Dealer Education Award breakfast at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Among the honorees are Michael J. Shaw of Mike Shaw Group, Denver; and Lisa J. Schomp of Ralph Schomp Automotive, Littleton. Shaw and Schomp were honored for their contributions to industry and nonindustry education.
NAPA Auto Parts opened a company-owned jobber store at 3400 S. Federal Blvd. in Sheridan on Jan. 29. Store Manager Paul Walter said the new 9,000-square-foot store is much bigger than the previous one at 2705 S. Tejon St. He said he expects retail business to increase because the store is much more accessible and visible to motorists.The Champ Car World Series of Indianapolis has canceled the Grand Prix of Denver. The race was called off because of difficulty attracting a tile sponsor and promoter as well as keeping a race manager. Last year marked the fifth time the Denver race was held.
Norwegian-based AutoSock AS held a demonstration of its wheel-traction device, AutoSock, on Feb. 6 at the U.S. Truck Driving School in Wheat Ridge. The event was co-hosted by distributor McGee Co. AutoSock, an alternative to tire chains, is intended to improve traction and braking on icy or snow-packed roads, said Chuck McGee, owner of McGee Co. Several representatives from Denver-area trucking firms were present for the demonstration. Chris Hizhniak, a senior at Caliche High School who is enrolled in the secondary
automotive technology program at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, earned the NAPA Student of the Month Award for November 2006. Hizhniak was selected based on his in-class academic performance and his extensive lab activities. Hizhniak, whose primary project has been working on his own Pontiac Trans Am, plans to continue his learning in automotive technology and will enroll in NJC's advanced program this next fall.WYOMING
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) reported that the Wyoming House Transportation Highways and Military Affairs Committee has approved a proposed law to create vehicle titling and registration classifications for street rods and custom vehicles. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Under the measure, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. The bill is similar to legislation enacted into law in Colorado.
