3/14/2011-Aftermarket Digest

New Distribution For Cleaning Product Brand
X-Tream Clean Products, a Charlotte-based developer of cleaning products designed for the industry, has a new distributor.
The company’s products will be carried by Summit Racing Equipment, a high-performance parts and accessories company based out of Tallmadge, Ohio.
“This is a huge step for the growth of our business and this will give us the full exposure we need to become a recognized player in the powersports industry,” Mark Skerlak of X-Tream Clean Products said in a press release. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity that Summit Racing Equipment has given our company.”
NGK Spark Plugs Announces New Aftermarket Positions
NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Inc. announced several internal appointments.
They include the promotion of Steven Burgett to customer administration department manager; Lindsey Ehlert to major accounts groups representative; Kevin Lyle to catalog administrator; Brandon Peeler to product coordinator; Nikki White to product marketing analyst; Kristopher Zdral to technical services supervisor and Veronica Barkley to aftermarket administrative assistant.
Burgett has been with NGK since 2001. In his new role, he will oversee customer service for NGK’s Spark Plug Aftermarket and NTK’s Cutting Tools Division. He will report to Michael Schwab, vice president of the company’s aftermarket division. 
Ehlert, who has been with NGK for five years, was previously the major accounts administrator for NGK. Her new position will be to oversee business with the aftermarket buying groups, which will have her building communication between NGK and its accounts, as well as determining suitable promotions to help grow the business for both parties.
AXO Announces New MAP Policy
AXO America Inc. has announced it has updated its MAP policy to increase the perception of the brand and margin for dealers, according to a company press release.
The new policy, which goes into effect March 15, will no longer allow dealers to advertise a 10 percent discount off MSRP. Advertised price will have to be MSRP.
AXO says the policy’s benefits for dealers will include increased margins, opportunities to access special seasonal promotions at deeper discounts, opportunities to focus on specific items during authorized promotional periods and create a “need to buy now” attitude during promotions.
MotoAdvisor Launches Automated Scheduling
MotoAdvisor Inc. has spent the winter upgrading SchedulePower², rolling out a series of program updates over the first quarter. The first release went out earlier this year and a second release is now live. The latest initiative is aimed at helping service departments schedule based on actual technician efficiency. SchedulePower² gives service managers the ability to accurately sell available time based on real technician efficiency, making it easier for service writers to dispatch jobs.
Carlisle Companies Announces New Headquarters
In conjunction with the Carlisle Companies’ launch of a new segment named Carlisle Brake & Friction, the company announced its new global headquarters for Carlisle Brake & Friction will be located in Solon, Ohio, the former headquarters to the Hawk Corp.’s Wellman Products Group.
On Dec. 2, Carlisle completed its acquisition of the Hawk Corp., which, in addition to Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction, will aid Carlisle’s position as a leader in high-performance braking solutions. As a result of the acquisition, Hawk Corp. headquarters in downtown Cleveland will be closed with personnel relocated to Solon.
Chris Koch, president of the newly formed Carlisle Brake & Friction, said, “We are very excited about the move to our new headquarters in Solon, and the integration of the two businesses. As we drive to create the No. 1 global supplier in high-performance braking solutions, our customers will continue to enjoy the same level of service and commitment they have experienced for the past 50 years. The strength of Carlisle Brake & Friction’s brands, including Wellman Products, Carlisle, Hawk Performance, Japan Power Brake, VelveTouch and Field Pro, give our customers access to a diverse range of the most highly engineered braking and friction products available to the market today.”
Carlisle Brake & Friction has 10 manufacturing facilities globally, including in the United States, and has more than 1,800 employees. It provides product for off-highway, high-performance racing, aerospace and alternative energy markets.
Drag, Parts Unlimited Debut Team For AMA Pro XR1200 Series
Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited announced the formation of a three-rider team for the 2011 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series. 
With both brands each sponsoring an entry, a third bike will be sponsored by Drag Specialties’ exhaust brand, Python Performance.
Riding the Parts Unlimited sponsored Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200 will be 2007 Daytona 200 winner, Steve Rapp. Finishing on the podium seven times in 2010 while competing in the Daytona Sportbike Championship, Rapp will be bringing 15 years of race experience in AMA Pro to bear on the 2011 season in the XR1200 class.
After getting his first taste of the XR1200 in the final round of the 2010 AMA Pro XR1200 Series with a second-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park, Michael Barnes will be piloting the Drag Specialties-sponsored XR1200.
Also making his debut on the XR1200 will be AMA Pro veteran Mike Morgan, on board the Python Performance-sponsored entry. Most recently, Morgan competed in the Daytona Sportbike Championship.  
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring both our Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties brands together for the first time, along with the Python brand in a single series,” said company Vice President Greg Blackwell. “The XR1200s are going to bring back a thundering roar to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway we haven’t heard since the days of the Battle of the Twins back in the ’90s.”
The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series kicked off during Bike Week at Daytona International Speedway, March 10-12.
LeoVince USA Unleashes the New Corsa Factory R
Leo Vince USA has announced its new Factory R Full Corsa system will be the official exhaust pipe of the Cycle World Attack Performance Kawasaki team when Eric Bostrom and JD Beach launch their assault on Daytona.
Leo Vince’s exclusive relationship with Kawasaki Motorcycle Corp. Japan coupled with its factory deal to sponsor and supply the returning Kawasaki World Superbike team provided access to engineer and develop five new systems for the new 2011 ZX-10R.
“We are excited to rekindle our relationship with Cycle World, Attack Performance and Kawasaki Motorcycles,” Tim Calhoun, executive vice president Leo Vince USA, said in a press release.
“Over the last four years Leo Vince has carved out a winning tradition at Daytona. Our latest exhaust technology, the Corsa Factory R, features superior horsepower gains and weight loss.” PSB