Roseville, Calif.--The winner of a Pro Spot Welder in the March Taylor Memorial Fund drawing is Dave Finkelstein of Golden State Collision Centers in Roseville Calif., who was presented his prize on Feb. 19 by Ron Olsson, president of Pro Spot International Inc. On Nov. 3, 2008 a silent auction was held and raffle tickets for the Pro Spot were sold during the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting in Las Vegas.  Both events contributed $25,000 to the March Taylor Memorial Fund. The drawing took place at the Jan. 15 CIC meeting at the Radisson Hotel in Maricopa, Ariz.

The Banks Sidewinder S-10 Duramax pickup broke the 180 MPH barrier on March 7, at the NHRDA Desert Diesel Nationals at the Speedworld Dragstrip in Wittman, Ariz.  The new NHRDA record of 180.00 MPH @ 7.7708 seconds made it the first ever diesel pickup at that speed in the quarter-mile.  The Banks Sidewinder S-10 made multiple 7-second passes down the dragstrip which brought the crowd to its feet every run.  No other machine at the meet was as fast or as consistent.

Doug Whiteman, owner of George’s Sierra Shell station in Fontana, has been named ASE Technician of the Year 2008 by NAPA Los Angeles.  Whiteman’s business was recognized as the best out of all the approximately 100 NAPA stations in the Los Angeles area.  Whiteman said he was surprised and pleased to receive the honor.  The station, on the corner of Sierra and San Bernardino avenues, was originally bought by George Whiteman, Doug’s father, in 1972.  Doug Whiteman took over the operations in 1995.  The station now employs 13 people.

Sacramento-The board of directors and committees of the State of California Auto Dismantlers Association (SCADA) gathered at the Sheraton Grand hotel in Sacramento on April 4 for their second-quarter business meetings.

Sacramento--The State of California Auto Dismantlers Association (SCADA) recently held its fifth annual legislative day in Sacramento.  The day kicked off at the Sutter Club with a meeting that included key legislative leadership. 

San Francisco-FH Dailey Chevrolet in San Leandro has been servicing the Bay Area since 1910 and has one of the strongest wholesale parts departments in Northern California, said Parts Manager Peter Chin.

On March 25, Car West Auto Body’s President and CEO Craig Moe hosted the grand opening of his newest facility—a 52,000-square-foot “super shop” located on five acres in Fremont.  Touted as the largest collision repair center in the Bay Area, the facility features state of the art equipment.  The idea is to be a one-stop, do-it-all shop for insurance company and retail work, Moe said.

Heidi Steele, the first woman to win two major truck racing championships in one season--the Best in the Desert and Score International Off Road Racing--has been named Dirt Sports magazine’s 2008 Driver of the Year. Steele has become the first woman to win the award.  “This is a truly amazing and unforgettable feeling,” said Steele of San Clemente, who is married to off-road champion and TV commentator Cameron Steele.

Sacramento, Calif.--The leadership of the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) held its annual legislative fly-in day on April 29 at the state Capitol. 

John L. Sullivan Chevrolet in Roseville unveiled the 2010 Chevy Camaro on May 8.  The well-attended event included information booths, drawings for a chance to win the new Camaro, and a chance to be the first to test-drive it. Sales Manager Joe Brunner told attendees that the fifth-generation Camaro as a true 21st century car.

Poway Valley Collision in Poway is the recipient of two awards for clean business practices.  The first was presented on April 29 by the San Diego County “Green Business Program,” which recognizes efforts in environment compliance, pollution prevention, energy conservation, water conservation, and solid waste reduction.  The second award was presented by the Air Pollution Control District.  The San Diego County “Clean Air Award” is given only to one business a year in recognition of significant steps to protect the environment.    

Sacramento, Calif.—The California Autobody Association (CAA) is quarreling with the insurance industry over insurers’ insistance that what the CAA calls a “blend within panel” is actually a partial refinish.

“Auto Dismantlers:  More Than Spare Parts” was the theme of a working conference in Pacoima on May 29 and was attended by state agencies and nonprofit organizations. 

Kumho has announced the opening of Tires 4U, the first outlet in North America dedicated to the Kumho Tire global retail format, in Buena Park, owned and operated by Benjamin Lee. 

Automofo.com, a new learning/coaching model designed to deliver education and solutions for automotive repair shops throughout North America, signed its very first customer on May 15 when Troy Love, owner of Auto Tech in San Ramon, went online and purchased Automofo.com’s basic package. Auto Tech is a 9-year-old 4,000-square-foot six-bay shop with five employees that performs general automotive repair on all makes and models.

Chip Foose was grand marshal of the first SEMA Show N’ Shine public car show on Aug. 1, in the newly remodeled Pasadena Convention Center, where more than 200 vehicles were displayed to help two worthy children’s charities. Taking place along with the car show was the 2nd Annual SEMA CARES Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors. Proceeds from the car show and the Pinewood Drag Race went benefit Childhelp, www.childhelp.org, and Victory Junction Gang Camp, www.victoryjunction.org.

Dave Schaub, founder of Schaub's Meat, Fish and Poultry in Palo Alto, will be making a journey across all 49 mainland states in nine days in his 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster. Schaub set up his road trip to raise at least $100,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities and is asking for a penny a mile. 

La Mesa, Calif.--Representing paint manufacturers such as BASF, DuPont, PPG, Sherwin Williams, and Akzo Nobel helped attract more than 100 people to Drew Ford on July 28 for an evening with the California Autobody Association (CAA) San Diego Chapter Waterborne Expo and BBQ. 

CAA presents its third annual golf tournament in San Diego

The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) announced the nine recipients for the 2009 Memorial Scholarship Program.  The selected students will each receive funds toward their 2009 academic year. 

Northern California Auto Dismantlers Association (NCADA) members celebrate the annual picnic/barbeque in Sacramento

Concord, Calif.-The East Bay chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) hosted a dinner with CCC representatives to discuss industry trends and new tools.

Ron DuPratt Ford in Dixon held its annual Customer Appreciation Day on Oct. 9 at the dealership.  Employees, family, and neighbors convened for a day of great food, raffle prizes, golf, and the opportunity to meet with various vendors.

Sacramento, Calif.-Lee Stevenson, technical sales support manager for Blue Diamond Parts LLC, a Ford Motor Co./Navistar Inc. joint venture, and the Blue Diamond staff were at the Clairton Hotel in Sacramento on Oct. 21 to promote the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine for 2011.