Aug. 10, 2009 – Aftermarket Digest

Custom Chrome will celebrate 40th anniversary

In celebration of its 40th anniversary of serving the V-twin industry, Custom Chrome International (CCI) has planned a world tour of events, including the return of the Custom Chrome International Dealer Show.
“The past year has been a tremendous time of rebuilding and rebirth for the CCI brand,” Holger Mohr, CEO of Custom Chrome, said in the release. “We will not let this milestone pass without a shout.”
The CCI Dealer Show will take place Friday through Sunday, March 12-14, 2010, at the company’s headquarters in Morgan Hill, Calif. Friday will be dedicated to seminars and sales representative training, while Saturday and Sunday will be focused on the dealer event itself. “It seems perfectly fitting that 2010 will not only mark our 40th anniversary, but also the return of what has historically been one of the most significant annual events on the V-twin industry calendar,” Mohr said in the release.
CCI also announced a European Dealer Show in Mainz, Germany, March 27-28, 2010, a dealer reception at the Moon Eyes Show in Japan and a dealer reception at the Gold Coast Rally in Australia. The company also will soon be releasing dates for its international event schedule and additional celebration events.

Western power to distribute Two Brothers Racing products

Western Power Sports (WPS) will distribute Two Brothers Racing (TBR) exhaust and performance products. Two Brothers Racing products are currently available to WPS dealers with its full-line catalog available at www.wps-inc.com.
Western Power Sports President Craig Shoemaker says he’s excited to distribute the brand. “TBR has a reputation for building great pipes,” he said in the release, “and we are proud to be able to offer their products to our dealers.”
The companies complement each other well, says Jeff Whitten, vice president of Two Brothers Racing.
“Distributing Two Brothers Racing exhaust through Western Power Sports is exciting for both companies,” he said in the report. “Our commitment to quality, customer service and creating innovative products for our customers is mirrored in WPS’ commitment and dedication to their dealers’ satisfaction. It’s a relationship that we’re excited about for sure.”

Yoshimura starts new high-performance division

Yoshimura R&D of America has started a new division dedicated to high-performance parts generated from racing.
The new Yoshimura Race Shop division offers race-bred, mostly non-exhaust parts and services to the general public. These highly customized performance engine, chassis and electrical parts have been developed and fine-tuned in racing.
These specialty YRS parts are anodized and machined with a distinctive Yoshimura Magnasonian finish. Although developed this year on the GSX-R1000 motorcycles, these products will be available for most high performance sport bikes, like the CBR1000RR, GSX-R600, Yamaha R-1 and DR-Z400SM.
Featured in this line are the newly re-designed YRS Case Savers, which are designed and reinforced to prevent costly crankcase damage in the event of a low-side crash.
In addition to parts, complete race engine services are also now available for select Suzuki models, particularly the GSX-R1000 machine.

Vee Rubber USA announces scooter distribution plans

Vee Rubber USA has announced Scooterworks USA/Scooterworks Direct as its exclusive importer and distributor for scooter tires for the United States.
Vee Rubber USA said in a press release, “We are very pleased to be part of such a prestigious distributor of scooters, tires and accessories. We look forward to working with Scooterworks USA/Scooterworks Direct and their professional and dedicated dealer network.”

LeoVince adds marketing manager, brand managers

LeoVince USA has made two additions to its staff and added responsibilities for two existing employees, the company reported.
Former LeoVince employee Jon Bekefy has returned in a new role as events and marketing manager. Bekefy worked with the company in 2005 and 2006 before moving to Ducati North America for two years in the role of brand manager.
Cory Johnson has been hired as LeoVince’s Parts Unlimited brand manager. Johnson has been working in the powersports industry since the ’80s, including a recent stint as North American sales and marketing manager at Sunstar/Braking.
Off-road race manager Ted Campbell has been given an added role as LeoVince’s Western Power Sports brand manager. He will be working with WPS management and staff on a daily basis and traveling throughout the country training sales reps and visiting dealerships. Campbell raced in professional Motocross and Supercross for 15 years and has been working for LeoVince since 2005.
Randy Hyden has been promoted to the position of LeoVince’s Tucker Rocky brand manager. Hyden has 23 years experience in the powersports industry, starting with Rocky Cycle, later to become Tucker Rocky.

Off-road business association adds three board members

The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) board of directors recently voted to add three members: Don Emde of Don Emde Publications Inc., Greg Adler of 4 Wheel Parts, and Steve Myers of International Racing Consultants.
ORBA is a national trade association composed of off road-related businesses united to support the prosperity and growth of the off-road industry.
“We are honored to have such well-known industry professionals offer to serve,”?Cory Hove, chairman of the board, said in a press release. “In these economically challenging times it is easy to let land-use issues fall onto the back burner. I am encouraged that these professionals understand the importance of these issues and are willing to volunteer their time to help.”
Emde is known for a motorcycle racing career that includes winning the prestigious Daytona road race in 1972, an event that his father also had won back in 1948. In 1990, he and his wife started a publishing company.
Adler is the president and CEO of the nation’s largest off-road retailer, Transamerican Auto Parts, whose family of companies include 60 4 Wheel Parts Performance Centers, Transamerican Wholesale, 4 Wheel Drive Hardware, Pro Competition Tires, Wheels and Suspension, and Truck/Jeep Fest.
Adler has grown up in the off-road industry and has a personal interest in the decisions being made regarding land use.
“ORBA is very important to us to make sure we continue to be the voice of the people that enjoy taking their vehicles off-road,”?Adler said.
Myers has been racing actively in the off-road industry for the past 27 years. Three generations of his family have raced various vehicle classes in various venues, such as Best In The Desert, SCORE and Dakar. Currently he is the president of International Racing Consultants, which specializes in advanced satellite communications in land, air and sea sports as well as commercial and personal logistics.

PURE Polaris to offer fire and rescue accessories

PURE Polaris announced it is working with RKO Enterprises to offer a Fire and Rescue solution for Polaris Ranger side-by-side vehicles.
Fire and rescue units across the United States and around the world rely on side-by-side-mounted equipment to get to hard-to-reach areas. To offer a premium product, Polaris looked to RKO Enterprise, which has more than 60 years of experience designing and building the most advanced and best fire apparatus in the industry. Their products feature exclusive Stainless Steel Precise Butt Welded Piping Systems that come with a lifetime warranty, and similar to Polaris, their products are made in the United States. “Combining the leader in the utility vehicle fire and rescue apparatus with the number one Off-Road Vehicle Manufacturer creates the ultimate Off-Road Utility Vehicle Fire & Rescue solution,” said Mike Stone, senior product line specialist for PURE Polaris. “RKO’s commitment to high-quality products and outstanding customer service makes them the perfect partner.”

Dunlop remains Official Tire of Motocross Championship

Dunlop Tire is continuing its support of motocross by renewing its relationship with the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and MX Sports Pro Racing as the series’ official tire. Dunlop is the choice tire of factory teams Honda Red Bull Racing, GEICO Powersports Honda, Jagermeister KTM and Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM. PSB