Author: Darrell Amberson

At our annual meeting in April my term as chairman will end. Therefore, this is my last Chairman’s Message. Donny Seyfer will become chairman, and I assure you he is more than capable. There will be one or two new…

Famous racer Bobby Unser said, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Winston Churchill gave further clarification on the topic when he said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Lately…

It’s December and the year is winding down. The holidays are upon us and before we know it we will start a new year. As we begin to reflect on the events of this year I think it appropriate to…

Hard to imagine that it is already November. In northern tier states such as Minnesota, the leaves are gone. Frosty mornings are the norm, many days are gray, and we await the snow that usually brightens our landscape for months…

As chairman, I’ve had the opportunity to do some special things and to meet some special people. As a speaker at a regional trade show recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with a featured guest, John Force. In…

Recently, I-CAR completed a survey. Over a long period they measured the performance of a number of collision shops while the staff went through many I-CAR classes. They were trying to establish the relevance of education to its return on…

It’s August, a time when we seize the opportunity to enjoy the last of summer and start looking forward to the fall. Autumn seems to be the time of back-to-school, back-to-work, and a refocus on business at hand. With ASA,…

As a former drag racer, I have experienced many times what it’s like to spend a great deal of time preparing for an event. The team and I would spend months preparing for the season, days or weeks preparing for…

“Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure…

May is upon us. It’s a time when our weather is moving well into spring and giving us the first tastes of our upcoming summer. We anticipate summer vacations and activities. It is speed month in Indianapolis, culminating in the…

In many ways ASA is experiencing a rebirth and is currently in a whirlwind of positive activity. We’ve reported on the changes in our leadership, structure, new show venue and heightened energy over the past year. We are working to…

I’ve lately been working on a new mechanical shop venture for the company I work for. The shop was previously occupied by a tenant whose business was failing. The business was apparently unable to keep up with its rent, utility,…

The more I think of it, the more heroes I have. Of course there are those who first come to mind, great leaders such as Abraham Lincoln. Then, the longer I think about it, there have been many who have…

As we put the holidays behind us and enter into a new year, we have the feeling that the calendar change has granted us a new beginning with fresh opportunities. It feels like a time when we put the old…

Help Wanted, Seeking Leaders to Serve Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Within ASA we have many great volunteers who give of themselves for others. And we…

I like motorsports. All kinds, including NASCAR, Indy, muscle cars, street rods, old classics and other collectibles. I’ve always had a special affection for drag racing and dedicated an important part of my life to it. I’ve also learned a…