Porsche Cars North America has officially opened its new $100 million Porsche Experience Center (PEC) and headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 27-acre complex located at the Northeast corner of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest investment outside Germany for the sports car manufacturer. The industry-first facility is complete with a driver development track, classic car gallery, restoration center, human performance center, driving simulator lab and a fine dining restaurant. A state-of-the-art business center features 13,000 square feet of conference and event space. The experience center has been specifically designed as a destination for the public, including automotive enthusiasts and Porsche customers.

“Today we celebrate a significant milestone in the history of Porsche as we expand our footprint in the United States and reaffirm our commitment to the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta,” said Matthias Mueller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche. “We are investing more than ever before, heightening visibility for the Porsche brand in the U.S. and worldwide.”

An estimated 30,000 guests are expected to visit the uniquely designed Porsche Experience Center each year. Visitors and corporate groups can hone their driving skills, reserve meeting space in the fully-equipped business center, view classic Porsche automobiles or dine at Restaurant 356, aptly named after the first production Porsche model.

“Our vision for our new home was to create a bold, energizing environment here in Atlanta to demonstrate the unique capabilities of our sports cars,” said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “The experience center coupled with our headquarters is truly the first of its kind in the automotive industry where we welcome employees, partners, customers and enthusiasts alike.”

The 1.6-mile Driver Development Track runs through the courtyard of the facility and includes six instructor-led driving modules. The Handling Circuit, Off-Road Course, Dynamics Area, Low Friction Handling Circuit, Low Friction Circle and the only Kick Plate in North America are designed to demonstrate the engineering and technological capabilities of all Porsche models.

“Porsche’s investment in its new headquarters represents the confidence it has in the future success of our state, our economy and our workforce,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “The facility at One Porsche Drive is as innovative, forward-thinking and performance-driven as the company itself. From their windows on I-75, travelers have borne witness to the progress being made here, and now, the day has come when these same visitors can truly experience all that Porsche and Georgia, have to offer.”

More than 70 alternative locations in a number of states were considered during site selection. In the end, Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong support from the city and the state were key reasons for the decision to expand in Atlanta. The proximity to the world’s busiest airport allows approximately 80 percent of the US population to reach the Porsche Experience Center within two and a half hours of flying time.

“I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to Porsche Cars North America and congratulate them on their grand opening,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Porsche discovered why Atlanta has the third-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies: a low cost of doing business, a high quality of life, access to the world’s busiest and most efficient passenger airport and the fastest-growing container port in the country. Businesses are voting with their feet and choosing Atlanta as the place to build and grow.  We are proud to have Porsche, an iconic, best-in-class company, make their new home here.”

Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) has called the Atlanta area home since 1998. PCNA is now joined by Porsche Financial Services, Porsche Business Services, Porsche Consulting and Mieschke Hofmann & Partners, with all five entities housed under the same roof. Ultimately, 450 employees will be based at the new headquarters, over 100 of whom fill positions that are new to Georgia.

The Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) has named the 13th annual Holley Hot Rod Reunion® presented by AAA Insurance a Top 10 Festival and Event for the upcoming summer. Held annually at Beech Bend Raceway, June 18-20 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the event features the finest classic hot rods and quarter-mile nostalgia nitro racing in a historic and scenic setting.



“The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance is a crown jewel event for the NHRA Museum,” said Larry Fisher, executive director,
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. “Holding the event at the historic venue of Beech Bend Raceway coupled with classic cars and nostalgic racing makes for a special weekend.”



The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance is produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and benefits the facility located in Pomona, Calif. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is a 501c(3) non-profit institution and collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets the vehicles, stories, and artifacts that represent the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms. 



"The Holley National Hot Rod Reunion is one of the Bowling Green community's favorite events,” said Telia Butler, public relations manager, Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “KTIA's Top 10 Festival & Event selection process is based on the event's cultural significance in the community, attendance and economic impact--all of which are overwhelming positive for the Hot Rod Reunion to our area. This award-winning designation is also promoted by the Kentucky Department of Travel & Tourism, featured in Kentucky Monthly magazine and praised in regional media. Rolling out the red carpet for classic hot rods and dragsters is a staple in the Bowling Green cultural makeup and we're always proud to host such enthusiastic auto lovers. We appreciate our visiting hot rodders and all they bring to our community and hope to continue hosting this iconic event."



The 2015 Summer Top Festivals & Events can be found on the KTIA website and will be featured in an upcoming article in the June issue of Kentucky Monthly magazine. KTIA is a 930-member statewide association representing all sectors of the state’s tourism and travel industry. Criteria for selection include popularity of the events, their impact on the local economy and cultural significance. As the voice for the travel industry, this organization is committed to promoting and strengthening the common objectives of their travel partners.



• SCHEDULE: The event kicks off with a FREE FANFEST in Downtown Bowling Green, Wednesday night 5-8 p.m. Gates open Thursday at 8 a.m. each day with racing beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 18; Racing starts at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 19; and 10 a.m. on Saturday June 20.

• TICKETS: Single day tickets are only $25, $75 at the gate for a three-day ticket, and children 15 and under are free accompanied by paid adult.

• ON THE WEB: For more information about the Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance, please visit www.nhramuseum.org.

In a move to expedite and streamline the tech and registration process at national events for Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors, the NHRA has announced a new program called the NHRA Sportsman Q-Card.
 
This program will allow contestants the ability to forego the traditional tech inspection and registration process for NHRA racers at Lucas Oil Drag Racing series events by taking advantage of the Extended Tech Inspection (ETI) and Sportsman Hard Card programs.
 
NHRA Sportsman Q-Card is available to all competitors in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. Competitors in these categories must have an active ETI on file with the NHRA Tech Department, a 2015 sportsman hard card and both must be in good standing with NHRA.
 
For additional information and guidelines on NHRA Sportsman Q-Card, visit NHRARacer.com.
 
In related news, NHRA recently announced the launch of live timing for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Fans and racers will now have the ability to follow round-by-round action from events across the country at both regional and divisional events.
 
“We recognize the desire of fans and racers to have the most up-to-date results from our Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,” said NHRA Vice President-Racing Administration Josh Peterson. “The addition of live timing allows everyone to follow the exciting action within the Sportsman categories from all over the country.”
 
In addition to the live results, fans and racers can replay runs or view results by driver for the event. Historical results from most 2015 events and some 2014 events are also available.
 
A link for live timing also can be found on NHRARacer.com.

New DIRTcar 358-Modified Starter Series events kick off the 2015 season for small block action on May 16 at Brockville (Ont.) Speedway before the championship stretch begins Sept. 6 with a 125-lap feature race on the quarter-mile Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway.
 
Eight additional long-distance point races at Autodrome Drummond, Mohawk International Raceway, Autodrome Granby, Le RPM Speedway, Weedsport Speedway, Brewerton Speedway and Brockville Speedway, plus the non-point 150-lap event at the New York State Fairgrounds during NAPA Super DIRT Week, will comprise the season-ending fall series leading to the determination of the 2015 champion.
  
The September and October long distance 358-Modified Series events are just one of three components of the points system that will crown a 2015 “358-Modified Series Champion.” For 2015, the “Series Champion” point total is a combination of home track bonus points (similar to 2014), plus “Starter Series” points (new for 2015), plus fall Series points.
 
The 2015 point system will require that 358-Modified drivers have a DIRTcar “home track” and be a member in good standing to be eligible for the 358-Modified series title at season end.
 
Twenty-one race dates at eight DIRTcar tracks have been designated as “Starter Series” dates, May 16 through Sept. 4. Drivers can earn points toward the overall 358-Modified Series championship by competing at any “Starter Series” races during the regular season, and earn a maximum of 180 points from any three races toward their final point total.
 
With the flexibility to earn “Starter Series” points throughout the regular race season, more drivers than ever before will enter the fall swing capable of winning the 358 Modified Series title.
 
Also up for grabs is the 2015 Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified points that will be computed by a driver’s best 16 finishes earned between January 1 and Labor Day, 2015.
 
The 358-Modified Series champion and the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Champion will be honored at the annual DIRTcar banquet held annually in November.
 
For more information, including a full schedule, click here.
 

Motorsports professionals planning to attend and exhibit in the world’s premier racing showcase may now register online for their Performance Racing Industry Trade Show credentials.
 
In addition, those making travel arrangements for the Show may also secure discounted hotel rates by visiting PRI’s dedicated Housing Department online at www.pri2015.com/housing.   
 
As in previous years, early registration is highly encouraged. In fact, racing retailers, engine builders, fabricators, race team members, track support and prep specialists, manufacturers, distributors and more are invited to visit the PRI Trade Show's online registration page to begin the quick and easy process of registering for the 2015 Show, scheduled for December 10–12, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
 
Qualified registrants will first receive an official confirmation email, followed by their credentials arriving in the mail, allowing them to bypass long lines at the registration desk on site at the Convention Center. The deadline to register online is November 19, 2015.
 
Now in its 28^th year, the PRI Show is strictly a trade-only event that brings the hottest new racing products, the latest motorsports technology, state-of-the-art machining equipment and more to the Racing Capital of the World for three days of unparalleled business, networking and educational opportunities all under one roof.
 
“An amazing amount of business got done last year at the PRI Trade Show, on the part of both attending buyers and exhibitors. The Indiana Convention Center is jam-packed with exhibits of the latest racing technology,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “A lot of business also gets done after Show hours, as the racing industry takes over downtown Indy each night. It’s truly a ‘can't miss’ event on the annual calendar for motorsports professionals.”
 
Email addresses will be required as part of the registration process—it is important to note, however, that PRI adheres to a strict policy that prohibits emails from being shared with anyone outside our offices.
 
In terms of housing, there is a full spectrum of rooms available to fit every taste and budget. And, as in years past, PRI has negotiated special deals with 40 Show hotels—13 of which are connected by skywalk to the Convention Center—in order to offer the best discounted rates to attendees.
 
For further travel and housing inquiries, contact Michelle Gallegos or Cristina Newhall at 866/635-6600. For international callers, dial +1 949/499-2044.   
 
As the world’s largest annual gathering of motorsports professionals, the PRI Trade Show delivers the absolute latest parts, equipment and services across all forms of racing, such as stock car, sprint car, midget, drag racing, dirt late model, open wheel, off-road, karting and more. Tens of thousands of attending buyers from all 50 states and more than 70 countries will pack the aisles to shop from among 1200 exhibiting companies occupying approximately 3200 booths.
 
In addition, the days leading up to and including the PRI Show—known as Race Industry Week—will include dozens of conferences, seminars, training sessions and special events designed to offer unprecedented access and value for motorsports professionals.
 
For more information on the PRI Trade Show, call 949/499-5413, or visit www.pri2015.com.  

Miller Motorsports Park plans to cease operations on October 31, 2015, according to the facility's website, which posted a short statement late last week.

"On behalf of my family, I would like to thank all of those who have supported the track over the years, both locally and worldwide, for their enthusiasm and use of the facility," Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, wrote on the Miller Motorsports Park site.

The 500-acre motorsports park in Tooele, Utah, opened in 2006, and has hosted a number of races, driving schools, and private events throughout the years.

"This is a huge disappointment," Tooele County Commissioner Shawn Milne told The Salt Lake Tribune. "The racetrack is top notch, and we appreciate the tourism it brings in."

The American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Series both held races there through 2010; the Pirelli World Challenge crowned its champions there last year and will hold an all-class weekend in August later this year.

In addition, the facility will still hold all racing events, driving schools, karting events, and other activities planned for this summer.

Bannockburn, Illinois-based Magnum Gaskets by MSI has announced a major surge in its product line to more than 10 TIMES its original coverage. The company is now offering a full line of aftermarket gasket sets for cars and light trucks from 1955 to 2014, including domestic and import vehicles.

“We are thrilled that we can now give the aftermarket what it’s been asking for – full line gasket coverage,” said Derek Data, Magnum Gaskets’ Vice President. “Customers trust our gasket quality and they appreciate our expertise—we just needed more SKU’s.”

Alex Grunfeld, Magnum Gaskets’ President added, “We have dramatically expanded our manufacturing capacity as well as our technology base so we can supply the most appropriate gasket construction for the application, whether it’s a classic Chevy or a late model Acura.”

Magnum’s rapid expansion includes entirely new product categories for the Magnum brand, including full sets, timing cover sets and rear main bearing seal sets, plus individual miscellaneous gaskets in polybags. It also includes greatly enlarged coverage in head gaskets and head sets as well as more depth of domestic and import coverage in all categories.

This announcement follows Magnum’s recent expansion of coverage for popular diesel and performance applications.  

The Magnum Gaskets brand was launched in 2012 by Modern Silicone Technologies (MSI), a leading contract manufacturer of high-tech molded gaskets for major aftermarket brands and OEMs.

For more information, visit www.magnumgaskets.com or call 847/580-6110.

AP Exhaust Technologies, LLC based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, has announced Keith Marchiando as its new chief financial officer (CFO) and member of the AP Exhaust Executive team.

Following the appointment of CEO Chris Ostrander in February, Marchiando’s appointment represents another key milestone in the transformation of AP Exhaust Technologies.

Marchiando joins AP Exhaust with over 25 years of global finance experience. Most recently he was CFO of Perceptron, Inc., a publicly traded global supplier of high technology measurement systems located in Plymouth, Michigan. He previously held CFO roles at Carbon Motors, a startup company developing the world’s first purpose-built law enforcement vehicle, and Dura Automotive, a $2.5 billion Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier to the automotive industry. He brings additional automotive experience from various finance roles at both Ford Motor Company and the Dow Chemical Company.

“I am truly delighted that Keith will be joining our organization. His wealth of experience in building and executing the financial infrastructure in global and complex businesses will be invaluable as we continue to align our company as the ‘Best Value Provider’ in the emissions industry and the best company with which to do business,” said Ostrander.

For more, visit www.apexhaust.com.

DIYAutoTune, an industry leader in feature-rich plug-n-play and professional engine management systems, announced that their no. 787 MS3-Pro 240SX has set a new record in the E Motor Blown Gas Altered class at the ECTA sanctioned Ohio Mile/ Hot Rod Top Speed Challenge in Wilmington recently.  

The 210.97 mph new record was the pinnacle of the team's achievement and a personal best for CEO/ Driver Jerry Hoffmann. The new record came on the tail of surpassing several previous records set by Hoffmann last year in the F motor Blown Gas Coupe class for which the 240SX was purpose-built.  

This year, DIYAutoTune added a new 79mm turbocharger, courtesy of Turbonetics, coupled with a new patent pending Spool Assist technology to unleash several hundred additional ft. lbs. of torque on the low end where it was lacking at launch.

The DIYAutoTune MS3-Pro Team concluded the weekend with two new records (total: nine) and a new personal top speed for CEO/ Driver Jerry Hoffmann. Here are the official race results:

Class         Displacement (L)      New Record / Previous (mph)
F/BGC         2.016-3.014              210.57 / 202.24
E/BGALT      3.015-4.276              210.97 / Open

Follow the team's journey from the beginning on its 'Bonneville or Bust' blog page: www.diyautotune.com/cars/project/diyautotune_s13_240sx.htm.

WELD Racing has announced its support of a new exhibit, “Hot Wheels: Race to Win,” that opens May 9 at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. After concluding on August 16, 2015, in Indianapolis, the exhibit will travel to other museums around the US over the next five years, returning to the racing capital, Indianapolis, every summer.              

The fun and interactive exhibit encourages children to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers with a behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling world of racing by investigating the scientific process for designing super-fast cars.

WELD Racing has supplied its Delta-1 for the exhibit, which is a revolutionary one-piece forged drag racing wheel used by John Force Racing and available in three versions for Top Fuel/Funny Car, Pro Mod/Top Alcohol, and Pro Stock.

WELD Racing’s contribution to the exhibit will show children how to build a lightweight wheel that does not sacrifice safety for speed.

The Hot Wheels exhibit allows children to be part of a dynamic race team working together to build and test the world’s fastest (and safest) speed machines, using Hot Wheels diecast cars to experiment and play. The exhibit provides hands-on experiences, authentic race gear, and captivating memorabilia to engage families in the process of experimenting with speed, power, and performance using Hot Wheels cars and track as their tools.

For more information on Kansas City, Missouri-based WELD Racing, visit www.WELDwheels.com.