Last year’s BEN Ball more than lived up to its billing as ‘the night of the year’ for the automotive industry. It will live long in the memory of all guests and is already attracting interest and enquiries for this year. BEN has decided to reward this interest with the offer of an early bird booking discount. Therefore every booking made before the end of March will qualify for a full 10 per cent reduction on all prices.
Exide has launched the 12/7 Battery Charger, a unit it says is specifically designed to always achieve 100 per cent charge, even in extreme weather. The 12/7 works for all types and sizes of 12v batteries, including those for cars, motorcycles, boats and caravans. The unit is aimed at both consumers and professionals.
Ford Retail’s UK parts division, @first Parts, has reported an annual turnover of over £100 million in 2013, the first time since its launch in 2004. According to the company, overall parts sales saw an increase of 14 per cent year-on-year, whist the Trade, Bodyshop and Ford Dealers divisions reported an annual growth of 13 per cent, 22 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
The Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA) Land Speed Records Commission has homologated Continental Tire the Americas’ world speed records for both ten kilometres and ten miles from a standing start. The tyre maker, in conjunction with Michael Shank Racing, Ford, Roush Yates Engines and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) set out to break the records at Daytona International Speedway on 9 October 2013; the attempt was made by Colin Braun, who drove a Ford EcoBoost-powered Daytona Prototype (DP) fitted with Continental’s ExtremeContact DR (Dry, Race) tyres.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s Board of Directors has elected two members of the company’s finance leadership team to new roles. Scott Honnold, vice-president and treasurer, was elected vice-president, Business Development. Tom Kaczynski, vice-president, Investor Relations, was elected vice-president, Treasurer & Investor Relations. The changes take effect 1 January 2014.
Dmack is hoping to help four Ford Fiesta R5 drivers challenge for WRC2 honours at the revived Wales Rally GB round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Jari Ketomaa used the DMG+2 gravel tyre at Rally Finland in August to drive to victory, and he will challenge again when the championship kicks off on Thursday in North Wales. Norwegian Eyvind Brynildsen will join him, driving a pair of Autotek-run Fiesta R5s in Dmack livery. Two local British drivers will also use Dmack in attempting to make home advantage count in the north and mid-Wales forests.
In the USA, the Hercules Tire & Rubber company has announced the addition of four new 17-inch sizes to its ultra high performance, W-speed rated Raptis WR1 range. The Raptis WR1 combines sleek, modern aesthetics and exceptional steering response with a silica compound and an asymmetric tread design to deliver high-performance character all year round. The new sizes are:
Car enthusiasts looking for a car that’s big on style and perfect for London’s busiest roads should head for the Regent Street Motor Show on November 2. One of the stars of the day will be the world’s smallest ever production car, the Peel P50, as driven by Jeremy Clarkson on BBC’s Top Gear.
Osian Pryce won the Trackrod Yorkshire Rally, round five of the British Rally Championship, following a three-way battle that took the event to the final stage. Pirelli, on whose tyres the BRC is competed, said that the rally matched last year’s corresponding event, which staged one of the championship’s closest finishes, for excitement. The manufacturer’s supported Pirelli Star Driver Mark Donelly helped make the event for Pirelli, driving a mature rally to bring his Pirelli-backed Citroen DS3 R3T home in fifth. Meanwhile championship leader Jukka Korhonen – a former Pirelli Star Driver himself – looks likely to clinch the title in the Dorset and Hampshire forests, where the six-round series concludes with Rallye Sunseeker International (18-19 October).
At the end of the Silverstone meeting there are five drivers in contention for the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. While Andrew Jordan is in command after extending his advantage, two wins for Jason Plato and another for reigning champion Gordon Shedden kept their respective title hopes alive. Two other former champions in Matt Neal and Colin Turkington are also in contention in the final three races of the season at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time.
David Millward, transport editor of the Daily Telegraph, has been looking into the growing number of people who have difficulty in parking. He says: "Drivers who find that parking only seems to get harder may attribute it to their increasing age, or perhaps harbour suspicions that slots are getting smaller. However, the problem most likely lies in their car just being too big.
Marty McCormack and Phil Clarke clinched the inaugural West Wales Rally Spares RAC Rally Championship with one round still to run as they slid their Kumho-shod MKII Escort to a fourth consecutive victory on 8 September’s Red Kite Historic Stages event. Commenting on the result, Kumho’s European motorsport manager Steve Thompson said: “Marty and Phil have performed faultlessly throughout this excellent new championship and thoroughly deserve their win. We are naturally delighted with the way our tyres have aided their cause.”
British firm Trax JH Ltd, the second largest wheel balance weight manufacturer in Europe, has been selected to supply wheel weights for the new Ford Transit to be built in Kansas City, USA. Widely known in Europe, the Transit will be new to North America and is expected to be sold as the “T” series. The model will be launched in 2014.
Steek cord supplier Bekaert has revealed details of its succession plans for boths its chairman and CEO. Baron Buysse, chairman of the board of directors of Bekaert, will retire in May 2014 after 14 years in the chair of the company’s board.
Bert De Graeve, CEO of Bekaert since 2006, will become chairman of the board in succession of Baron Buysse as of May 2014.
Michelin has introduced a new size in its TB5 range of road legal race tyres aimed at young classics. The 17/58-14 or 185/60VR14 is suitable for Peugeot 205GTi, VW Golf GTi, Toyota Corolla Gti, Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti and Ford Escort XR3i. Vintage Tyres, which distributes the Michelin classic line-up, says the new TB5 fitment “will offer the ultimate in performance for both track and road on these cars.”
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.