Ontario, Calif.-–A-1 Radiator & Air Conditioning has been in the same location for 46 years and during that time it has become one of the most successful shops of its kind in the Inland Empire for one simple reason: “We’ve always treated customers like family,” A-1 owner Cliff Norman said.

Up-selling OE brake work by recommending OE caliper big brake kits (BBKs) is a win-win for repair shops and customers, said Mike Lin, marketing director for RacingBrake. Those BBKs should include a slotted/vented or larger rotors, move out brackets, steel braided lines, better pads, and brake fluid, Lin added.

Riverside, Calif.–Allied Auto Salvage is well known among body and repair shops, collision centers, insurance companies, and retail customers throughout the Riverside area even though the business has only been open since 2005, Co-owner Chris Whetstone said.

Corona, Calif.–On any given day, you’ll find the lot at Harvey’s Autotech filled by 8 a.m. with an eclectic mix of older cars and trucks to near-new vehicles, all waiting for service.

Performance. What does it mean? The Oxford American Dictionary defines it as “a vehicle's capacity to gain speed rapidly and move efficiently and safely at high speed.”

To help preserve the rich history and tradition of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and capitalize on the growing success of grassroots nostalgia drag-racing competition, the NHRA formed the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series in 2008, a national series that will crown year-end points champions in 14 categories.

Orange, Calif.—A quarter-century ago, Richard “Dick” Kartozian purchased what he said was a struggling off-road shop in the city of Orange. “I changed the name to Karco Specialties and converted it to a repair shop specializing in Toyota and Honda vehicles with the vision and purpose of providing the best-quality auto service possible.”

Los Angeles—Since opening its doors in 2002, DC Performance has established itself among Dodge Viper, Dodge Ram, Chrysler LX, and SRT platform owners as a premier West Coast shop for serious street and track enthusiasts who want to squeeze out every once of performance possible from their rides, said company co-founder and President Dan Cragin.

Los Angeles—Since opening its doors in 2002, DC Performance has established itself among Dodge Viper, Dodge Ram, Chrysler LX, and SRT platform owners as a premier West Coast shop for serious street and track enthusiasts who want to squeeze out every once of performance possible from their rides, said company co-founder and President Dan Cragin.

Los Angeles— Auto Supply Co. (ASC), now with four locations, has been serving the Los Angeles community for 77 years, making it L.A.’s oldest independent family-owned auto parts business, Co-owner David Scher said.

When Chuck Herr opened his first NAPA Auto Parts Store in Escondido in 1981, he had no idea his business would be where it is today, said his son, Matt Herr. The elder Herr said he owns six NAPA stores in the North San Diego County area, plus one in Beaumont and one in Yucaipa.

Oxnard, Calif.—The Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA) has just released its 2008 Consumer Marketing Report. “The purpose of the study was to examine the marketing programs of transmission shops and determine the general success of each of them,” ATRA CEO Dennis Madden said.

Oceanside, Calif.--Located just south of Camp Pendleton Marine Base—the busiest base in the United States—is the beachfront city of Oceanside. And just two blocks from the ocean sits Oceanside Transmission, a modern, mirror-sided building situated in the middle of an eclectic mix of 1940s and ’50s storefronts on Coast Highway.

Huntington Beach, Calif.— In 1978, Jim Broussard opened his import repair shop, then called Doctor “Z” Automotive. “It started in 1971 while I was working exclusively on Datsun makes and models such as the ‘Z’ car,” Broussard said.

Ontario, Calif.--In 1981, Inland Empire Driveline (IEDL) opened its doors in Ontario as a conventional driveshaft repair shop serving the auto repair and heavy trucking industries, Owner Greg Frick said.

Since Hyundai Motor America (HMA) began operating in 1986, the company has invested $1 billion in North America, including one of the most advanced assembly plants in North America, with one goal in mind, to build the finest, most dependable vehicles possible, said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. 

Diamond Bar, Calif.—The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has chosen Ford Motor Co. as the featured automaker of the 2009 SEMA Show held Nov. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

According to a recent report from the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing in Traverse City, Mich., motorists are still in love with light trucks, 4x4s, and SUVs. New industry data showed that last year's fuel price spike had only a marginal impact on the U.S. car market.

According to a recent report from the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing in Traverse City, Mich., motorists are still in love with light trucks, 4x4s, and SUVs. New industry data showed that last year's fuel price spike had only a marginal impact on the U.S. car market.

Moreno Valley, Calif.—Even though Moss Bros. Toyota has been open only a little over three years, Parts Director Rocky Black said it has an 88-year heritage of putting the customer first. “The Moss Auto Group, of which we’re a part, has been around since 1921, when J.A. ‘Red’ Moss, Sr. opened his first dealership in Blythe, Calif.

Lake Elsinore, Calif.—Lake Chevrolet, which opened in February 1998, is one of the most modern dealerships in southwestern Riverside County, Parts Manager Tom Koppenhaver said.

Ricky Johnson of the Traxxas TORC Series announced that the series, presented by AMSOIL, would hold rounds 13 and 14 at the Perris Auto Speedway on Sept. 25 and 26 instead of at Pala Motorsports Park.

Industry experts have found that worn suspension parts are often the most overlooked components of vehicles and yet are among the most crucial for safety, ride control, and comfort, said Aaron M. Shaffer, marketing manager for KYB America. In fact, research conducted by KYB America shows that around 86 percent of all vehicles are sent to the scrap yard still equipped with their OE dampers, Shaffer said.

Chico, Calif.—Brake Parts Supply (BPS) is an independently owned company and a member of TruStar that has been serving the North Sacramento Valley for more than 32 years.

Rancho Cordova, Calif.—After nearly a decade in business, Extreme Gear Off-Road was relocated in April 2009 from Orangevale to Rancho Cordova, about a half-hour closer to Sacramento, to reduce costs, work more efficiently, and improve the company’s profit potential, Owner Scott Arentz said.