Northwest

From left: Vale High School student Josh Duckworth, who won Oregon’s SkillsUSA competiton, and his instructor Drew Barnes, met NATA’s Margaret Ragan and association members at the event.

NATA partners with Mecum for museum tour and raise student funds

Wilsonville, Ore.—More than 120 people packed a room at the World of Speed museum in Wilsonville, Ore., for the Northwest Automotive Trade Association’s monthly “Lunch & Learn” in June. The event, sponsored by Mecum Auctions, gave attendees a chance to tour the museum and its hands-on...

Wesco acquires Auto Paint Specialty's three stores in western Washington state

Lynnwood, Wash. – The Wesco Group Inc. has completed its acquisition of Auto Paint Specialty (APS,) a three-store PPG platinum distributor in the western Washington area. Dan Gemeroy, the president of APS, has joined the acquisition team at the Wesco Group. Gemeroy said, “the decision became easy...

This 1932 Ford Coupe, known as Whiplash and built by Steve’s Restoration in Portland, will be a featured vehicle at the Mecum Auction in Portland.

Northwest People & Places - June 2018

ALASKA Ben Brooks from Hutchison High School in Fairbanks won the state’s SkillsUSA competition in Automotive Service Technology. He is eligible to attend the national SkillsUSA competition June 27-28, in Louisville, Ky. More than 6,200 students from high schools and colleges will compete in more...

Racers on the track at the 2017 Pacific Northwest Historics race at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

Motorsports and performance events alive and well in Northwest

Each year the Northwest region experiences an increase in the number of automotive-related motorsports and performance events from Anchorage to Boise, Seattle to Missoula, Spokane to Portland. The Northwest Car Events Calendar 2018 Edition lists hundreds of events that include cars shows, auto...

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4X4 won the top award at Mudfest for both its on-road attributes and exceptional off-road capabilities.

Jeep wins 2018 Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year Competition

Shelton, Wash.-The Ridge Motorsports Park was again the testing site for the two-day 2018 Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year Competition, affectionately known as Mudfest. Presented by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA), the 24th annual event drew 25 automotive media...

David Huntley (left) and Mike Millsap say Greg’s has multiple service and repair locations in the greater Seattle area with 56 employees.

Strength in numbers — from shops to car counts

Kent, Wash.—Brothers Greg and David Huntley were no strangers to the business world when they opened their first Greg’s Japanese Auto shop in Renton in January 1987. They had been involved in various ventures in Anchorage, Alaska, since they were teenagers, including operating an auto repair...

Emissions specialists need to recertify as program begins to wind down

Seattle, Wash.—Washington State began testing vehicle emission systems more than three decades ago with current testing in most of Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties. Both personal and fleet vehicles that fall into the light-duty category in the noted counties are required to be...

Byron Davis of Autobody Specialties says his company uses a single team-pay system for all production employees.

Collision shop relies on customer service, cycle time to outperform larger competitors

Springfield, Ore.—Byron Davis’s company participated in as many as a dozen insurer direct repair programs, but he has scaled that back significantly without hurting the business. “We’re down to five DRPs. We weeded out,” said Davis, owner of Auto Body Specialties, which operates a 10,500-square-...

Northwest Calendar of Events - June 2018

June 1-3 * Spokane Festival of Speed, Spokane Raceway, Airway Heights, Wash. Visit spokanefestivalofspeed.org. June 3 * 37th annual All Mopar Spring Roundup, Mariner High School, Everett, Wash. Visit www.moparsunlimited.com. June 9 * 36th annual Yakima Valley Swap Meet & Car Show, State Fair...

United Paint Specialties Joins the Wesco Group

LYNNWOOD, WA – May 10th 2018 – The Wesco Group inc. announced today it completed the acquisition of United Paint Specialties a two store operation in Western Washington. Pat Sherman the President of UPS will join the Wesco Group as an equity partner, and will help us grow as we expand our footprint...