CARS Features OEM Technology Sessions

Independent repair shop owners and technicians got an opportunity at the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) to prepare for the vehicles they will be servicing in the near future.

In a first for CARS, which was held Nov. 4-6 at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, representatives of seven auto manufacturers held new product technology sessions. Representatives of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Isuzu, Toyota and Volkswagen presented the sessions on Thursday, Nov. 4.

These individual sessions allowed each manufacturer an opportunity to provide attendees specific information on new systems or features that are being incorporated into automobiles of the future.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA), which sponsors CARS, saw the OEM sessions as a great opportunity to give shops and technicians a competitive advantage.

Louden Welcomes CARS Attendees, Redding Outlines Legislative Efforts

Persons attending the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) on Friday, Nov. 5, got a Texas-size welcome from CARS Chairman Steve Louden, AAM. They also received an update on the Automotive Service Association's legislative efforts from Robert L. Redding Jr., ASA's Washington, D.C., representative.

The chairman's welcome remarks and Redding's talk came at a breakfast on the first morning of CARS, which was held Nov. 4-6 at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. CARS was officially launched the night before at a reception for service professionals in the automotive repair industry.

Louden, the owner of Louden Motorcar Services Inc. in Dallas and a longtime member of ASA, told attendees this year's CARS had set a record for attendance, which, he said, "is fantastic." He asked attendees, "Where else could you go to find more networking and education opportunities - plus a chance to attend all the other shows going on during Industry Week? Can you feel the power? I hope so!"

Redding discussed the recent election's impact on independent repairers, specific issues in play for ASA in 2005, and how ASA could best use its advocacy resources for 2005.

Among key issues, said Redding, are Association Health Plans, right to repair legislation, the Clean Air Act and licensing.

One of the greatest things that has happened in the past year, said Redding, was the creation of the TakingTheHill Web site - which informs members about key issues and makes it easy for them to contact their senators and representatives. Redding urged members to use it.

Exhibitor Showcase Biggest, Best Ever

Jim Linder, center, chats with visitors at his exhibit.

A key part of CARS is the Exhibitor Showcase, and this year's Showcase was the largest - and best - in CARS history.

Fifty-five companies were exhibiting, the exhibit hall was packed with people, and it proved to be a two-way street for attendees and exhibitors. A win-win situation.

Service professionals attending CARS like the exhibits because it gives them an opportunity to see new products first-hand, ask the exhibitors questions and get information they need. They often buy products on the spot.

Exhibitors like the opportunity to display their wares, meet potential customers, answer any questions attendees have and sell their products.

To find out exhibitors' "take" on being there, AutoInc. polled veteran CARS exhibitors as well as first-timers. Following is what they said.

• Veteran exhibitor Jim Linder of Linder Technical Services: "The folks attending CARS are people who want to be as professional as they can be. They're serious about the industry in which they work. They want to get it right; they want it better. A shop owner from Boston doesn't pack his bags, leave his business for most of a week, pay all the expenses involved in getting here, and not be serious about it all. So we get quality people visiting our booth."
• Brian Warfield of Mitchell 1: "In the early days, it was all about quality. Now we have the quantity (speaking of how the show has grown in both number of booths and attendance). ASA shops are the best of the best."
• Jill Stenson of CustomerLink Systems Inc., which has exhibited for three years: "We do a lot of our business over the phone. It's nice to meet people we've talked to. And we meet a lot of new people."
• Larry Hecker of Motorist Assurance Program: "We've been coming to CARS for three years. We're glad we're here. Attendees are the 'cream of the crop.' They're here to learn and do what's best for their business."
• First-time exhibitor John Forro of AST Training said, "It's by far the best trade show we've ever been to. We've made a lot of contacts."

CARS Attendees Win Prizes Exceeding $20,000

More than $20,000 in prizes was given away in drawings during the Exhibitor Showcase at the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) held Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas.

Winners were announced immediately following the CARS Luncheon with Exhibitors, held in the Sunset Ballroom of the Flamingo Hotel. All CARS attendees were eligible to win.

Luncheon attendees were invited back to the Exhibitor Showcase, where the names of the drawing winners were posted on the booths of participating exhibitors.

Among the top prize giveaways won in the drawings:

• AutoZone/ALLDATA drew Dan Torbeck's name as the winner of one Sony Clie PDA and a $500 gift certificate from giftcertificates.com (prizes worth a total of $700). Torbeck, AAM, is with Torbeck's Auto Repair in Cincinnati and president of ASA-Ohio.
• The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) gave one AMI Self-Study Program (winner's choice) to David Pothier, AAM, of Cars Unlimited Inc. in Oak Bluffs, Mass.
• The Automotive Service Association (ASA) awarded one all-expense trip to CARS 2005 (a $1,300 value) to Cindy Elzey of Rich's Auto Center Inc. in Fort Wayne, Ind.
• The Automotive Training Institute presented a one-week Service Manager Course valued at $3,600 to Rick Baker's Auto Service in Pleasant Hill, Ohio.
• IDENTIFIX posted Kurt's Service Center in Rockford, Ill., as the winner of a one-year subscription to IDENTIFIX's Direct-Hit Online Diagnostic System, which costs $1,118.
• Linder Technical Services awarded a one-week Guru School training class in Indianapolis, a $2,000 value including up to $500 for airfare, to L&B Auto Repair of Snohomish, Wash.
• Melior listed S&S Service Center Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., as the winner of Snap-on Diagnostic Tool online training worth $1,000.
• Toyota Motor Sales USA presented two TIS annual subscriptions (worth a total of $700) to Vander Wal's Garage Inc. in Shelton, Wash., and Mahneke Motors of Goleta, Calif.