SAM MEMMOLO AND DAVE BOWMAN RETURN TO NATIONAL TELEVISION

– Masters Entertainment Group, Inc. (MEG) announced today, their newest television series “Motorhead Garage” featuring Sam Memmolo, and Dave Bowman, formerly of Shadetree Mechanic and Two Guys Garage. The series will debut on Fox Sports Network (FSN) National Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 11:30A nationwide. It will repeat on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 4:30P, and will run for twelve (12) consecutive weeks, at those time slots, in third quarter 2010. The series will then return to FSN in January of 2011 for an additional thirteen (13) weeks.

“We are extremely pleased to reunite this dynamic duo. Sam and Dave were the pioneers and originators of the “Automotive How To” programs,” stated Butch McCall, Executive Vice President of Masters. “They developed the concept of step by step “product installation” designed to help the automotive enthusiasts utilize the latest in aftermarket products.”

“I’m excited about getting back to work with my long time friend and co-host Dave Bowman, and bringing back some “Honest How To” for all our friends in the car hobby”, said Sam Memmolo.

The series will feature “Step by Step” instructions as each product installation is completed. The series will be archived on Masters Entertainment Groups Internet Television Network at motorheadgaragetv.com. “If our audience misses an episode of Motorhead Garage they can log on for free viewing and downloads,” McCall continued.

“I am really looking forward to once again share the garage and tool box with my pal Sam, and to bring to our audience the latest in technical information, products and procedures from all the manufactures” said Dave Bowman.

If you are interested in having your company’s products featured by Sam and Dave on “Motorhead Garage” contact Masters Entertainment Group at 423-968-7736 or email Butch McCall at butch@masterstv.com.

FORD ADDS 34 PARTS TO COLLISION TRUCKLOAD PROGRAM
Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) has refreshed the offerings on its popular Collision Parts Truckload Program.
Thirty-four new parts – all with significant list-price reductions – are now available, including radiators, grilles, exterior lighting, mirrors, steel bumpers, fascias and a wheel.
Meanwhile, Ford’s other competitive collision parts initiative – “Steel the Sale” will see its current parts list remain unchanged. The program’s 54 parts – including hoods, fenders and tailgates – allow dealers to more effectively compete with the imitation crash parts in the market.
“We’re continually evaluating programs to keep the most in-demand parts competitive,” said George Gilbert, manager of both FCSD part programs. “With over 400 high-demand parts currently available on the truckload program, repairers and insurers can offer our customers (Read More)

 

Recycled Rides Vehicle Donations Roll in
from Generous Insurers and Industry Partners

The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced its appreciation for the insurance industry and other strategic industry partners, who are stepping forward to provide the vehicles forming the foundation of NABC’s Recycled Rides program. Recycled Rides is a community awareness project whereby members of the NABC repair and donate refurbished vehicles to families and service organizations in need throughout the United States. Without vehicles for the collision repair industry to refurbish, there can be no program.

I-CAR INTRODUCES CONCEPT FOR
ROLE-BASED TRAINING CURRICULUM

Based upon two years of feedback received from the collision inter-industry, I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, outlined a realignment of its curriculum that defines a framework for industry training based upon an individual’s role and level of experience and responsibility.

“Since late 2007, I-CAR has worked with individual members of the inter-industry across segments to fully understand their training needs,” said Tom Moreland of AkzoNobel and current Chairman of the I-CAR International Board of Directors. “During these discussions it became clear that the inter-industry desires a training regimen clearly focused on an individual’s role in the automotive collision claim and repair process. The realignment, or Professional Development Matrix, provides collision repairers, insurers, vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and I-CAR with a clear roadmap to provide relevant training and eliminate redundancy.”Read More

 

ASA, Alliance Oppose NCOIL's
Model Crash Parts Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 2010 –The Automotive Serivce Association (ASA) and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance) support consumer choice in the type and quality of parts used to repair collision-damaged vehicles, and oppose the National Conference of Insurance Legislators' (NCOIL's) Model Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Crash Parts and Repair. ASA and the Alliance have released a brochure titled "Support Consumer Protection in Auto Repair: Oppose Model Crash Parts Legislation."

Recently, ASA wrote a letter to the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Administrator David L. Strickland, questioning why NHTSA does not regulate aftermarket crash parts. A major issue for ASA, which is highlighted in the brochure, is that our members are concerned with some insurance companies encouraging the use of these unregulated parts based on cost without consideration for quality and safety.

Following is an excerpt from the brochure that helps explain the joint stance on the issue: "The Alliance and ASA support state disclosure laws that require insurers and auto collision facilities to obtain the express written consent of vehicle owners before installing replacement crash parts." This is a long-held ASA policy.

The ASA/Alliance brochure is available on ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com.

Automakers, Repairers Respond
to Right to Repair Coalition Accusations

Boston, Mass. - With activity on S. 2268, the so-called "Right to Repair" bill heating up, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Association of International Automobile Manufacturers and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) responded to recent accusations from the "Right to Repair Coalition."

Right to Repair coalition spokesman Art Kinsman claims that passage of the bill "would help hard-working families get their car fixed at a repair shop of their choice," but he is wrong. Fact of the matter is that a majority of Massachusetts vehicle owners already get their vehicles serviced by the repairer of their choice. In fact, a recent study found that 96 percent of Massachusetts consumers who have their vehicles serviced by independent repairers have never had a problem getting their vehicle repaired.

Automakers and auto dealers recognize the role independent repairers play in the vehicle repair process. And while Kinsman is right to point out the number of jobs in the independent repair industry in Massachusetts, he neglects to acknowledge that the two largest associations representing independent repairers in the Commonwealth, the New England Service Station and Repair Association (NESSARA) and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) actively oppose the legislation.

Automakers provide affordable access to the necessary information to diagnose and service vehicles. All automakers maintain service information Web sites and make factory scan tools available to the independent repair community. The information is the same as that provided to franchised dealers and the tools are capable of performing the same functions. By investing in proper equipment and subscribing to service information providers, repair shops can gain access to everything they need to repair a motor vehicle of any make or model.

The so-called "Right to Repair" Act will not solve the dilemma facing the independent vehicle repairers. Instead, repairers must individually decide on a business model appropriate to the vehicles used by customers in their local service areas. That business decision will determine the level of investment in the equipment and technical training necessary to enable the repair of today's modern vehicles.

To understand the true intentions behind the so-called "Right to Repair" legislation one needs to look no further than the CARE Coalition. For nine years the CARE Coalition and its aftermarket parts-producing member companies have searched far and wide for a sympathetic legislature to champion their cause. Eight other states and the U.S. Congress have consistently rejected their claims. Consumer Reports went so far as to label the legislation "bogus."

Contrary to the claims of the CARE Coalition, you can be sure that the information they seek will lead to large, international aftermarket parts companies gaining quicker, cheaper access to proprietary designs of manufacturers. This will lead to increased offshore production of cheap copycat aftermarket parts, further eroding the U.S. manufacturing base. In addition, these copycat auto parts will not be subject to the same safety, durability and quality standards as the original equipment parts.

To use vehicle security systems, for which there is already a secure process in place for independent repairers and locksmiths to access information, as the poster child for withholding information is not only uninformed but also borderline reckless. Proponents of S. 2268 should check with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Highway Loss Data Institute who caution "if the information is widely disseminated or if the list of authorized recipients of the information becomes large, the security of the information will be compromised. Then thefts can be expected to go up as thieves defeat even these most sophisticated systems."

The National Insurance Crime Bureau states "because of our strong interest in preventing vehicle theft we want to express our concern over language contained within S. 2268 that would allow the release of sensitive vehicle security information. The release of this information would allow persons a considerable advantage when stealing not only Massachusetts vehicles but any vehicle utilizing this technology."

Every day in Massachusetts and across America, independent repairers service vehicles. In this economy, where consumers are holding on to their vehicles longer, auto repairers are not only surviving, but in many cases thriving. Here's an excerpt from a recent Boston Globe story that ran with the headline: The duct-tape economy repair businesses thrive in downturn. "We're fixing cars that would normally trade in for junk," said Bruce Sedgeman, owner of Bruce's Auto in Hanover where business is up about 25 percent as customers sink hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars into clunkers because they cannot afford to replace them. "We're seeing a lot more customers and a lot more older cars."

This legislation is a solution in search of a problem. It is also unnecessary; service information needed to repair vehicles is already widely available to aftermarket service shops. The legislation would be extremely harmful to the auto industry by forcing automakers to release intellectual property to aftermarket parts manufacturers. For the past eight years the U.S. Congress and states across the country have said "NO" to the so-called "Right to Repair" Act. We urge the Massachusetts Senate to do the same and oppose S. 2268.