MAHLE Motorsport’s new marketing manager is a true hot rodder at heart and in practice, having started building engines at age 13 and later landing the editor’s spot at iconic Hot Rod Magazine.

MAHLE Motorsport, the performance division of MAHLE North America, found in Rob Kinnan a solid blend of performance and racing enthusiasm, industry knowledge, and hands-on builder-racer experience for steering its marketing efforts. Many in the PRI/SEMA community know Kinnan well from his 30-plus years of participation. 

Kinnan mused that he graduated from Colorado State University with a “minor in street racing” and a degree in technical journalism. His goal was to be behind the camera and editing for the TV news feature show 60 Minutes. When those jobs seemed unavailable, he sent resumes to his favorite car magazines, Hot Rod and Popular Hot Rodding. While on a trip to Southern California in 1989, he cold-called John Dianna, former Hot Rod editor and at the time vice president, group publisher, and got a meeting. “Then, bugging him for about three months got my foot in the door for a 33-year career of surfing among the Petersen magazines,” Kinnan recalled for PRI. “Finally, I made it into Jeff Smith’s former chair as editor of Hot Rod.”

Kinnan helmed Hot Rod for seven years and also served as editor for Mustang Monthly and several other titles before his recent stint as marketing director for ATI ProCharger. After relocating from California to North Carolina, he joined MAHLE Motorsport. 

“I wanted to work at an established company with a spectacular reputation,” he said. “MAHLE’s reputation is second to none, and promoting such a fabulous company is a great job. Being an engine builder—well, more of an engine assembler—from an early age, it’s right up my alley.”

Kinnan shared why he feels he’s a good fit with MAHLE Motorsport.

PRI: Let’s start with your tight connection to hot rodding and motorsports. What was the experience that pulled you into an automotive career?

Kinnan: There wasn’t really a single experience that got me into it. By the time I was 13 years old, I was totally eaten up about cars and hot rods. My dad was a heavy equipment mechanic and had me rebuild a 361- cubic-inch Ford V8 truck engine at 13. Then I helped him build the 327 in my first car, a 1968 Camaro convertible, and from then on it was, “Forget the bicycle, bring on the hot rods.”

PRI: How would you say your career in publishing, and perhaps specifically as editor of Hot Rod, prepared you for marketing in the performance/motorsports category?

Kinnan: I had experience with both good and bad marketing from other companies pitching me their products, so I kind of knew what to do and what not to do. That was preparation in itself. My experience at ProCharger taught me some tricks as well, even though my entire tenure there was during the COVID-19 pandemic when the world and all racing was shut down. 

PRI: In your publishing career, you witnessed and experienced firsthand 30-plus years of evolution in performance cars and their influence on motorsports. How does your experience from that side of the fence inform your perspective on that market?

Kinnan: I think it would be how close some production cars are, performance-wise, to race cars. That was certainly not the case 30 years ago. I would say the perspective that gives me is that the OEMs know what they’re doing. And getting to know many of their engineers over the years has solidified that in my mind. 

PRI: What do you see as the main challenges in motorsports today?

Kinnan: That depends on whether you’re asking a racer or an engine builder. For racers, some of their biggest hurdles are acquiring and maintaining sponsorships. For builders, I think it’s easier, since the technology and brainpower that’s out there has brought us all the killer parts and tuning required to build huge power, which was much more difficult to do 30 years ago. I think the biggest challenge for them is developing their own ways for making that extra 1 horsepower than the next guy, which is increasingly difficult these days.

PRI: Who has been most influential to you in your professional career?

Kinnan: Right after I got the Hot Rod editor’s job, [NHRA and Hot Rod founder] Wally Parks told me in the tower at Pomona to always tell the truth, since the readers take what we say as gospel, and try to never disappoint them. And of course, Jeff Smith for launching my career and teaching me the basics of how to be a magazine guy. 

PRI: Excluding your cellphone/tablet/computer, what’s one thing you can’t live without? 

Kinnan: My camera. That’s because my camera has always been an integral part of getting the job done, whether that’s telling a story, illustrating it, or providing evidence of what’s going on in the world.

Rob Kinnan

TITLE:
Marketing Manager

ORGANIZATION:
MAHLE Motorsport

HOMETOWN:
Asheville, North Carolina

FAST FACT:
“My fantasy has always been, since I was maybe five years old, to win the Indy 500, or at least to qualify for the race. That would be the coolest thing in the world to me. Making a lap around the Brickyard in one of the actual Camaros that paced the race around 2010 got me close. I had a tear in my eye as I lapped that track just two weeks after the race.”

A look at some of the country’s in-demand motorsports products and services by region and racing segment.

Motorsports retailers and service providers are constantly tracking the latest parts and trends to give their customers a competitive edge. For the latest on which products and services are moving the retail needle, we present the following sales snapshot from shops across the US. 

Martino Motorsports

Youngstown, Ohio

Martino Motorsports is a racing team that sells and uses a variety of components and products as part of its operation. Approximately 85% of its customers are in racing, with 15% having a street focus. 

The popular, fast-moving products it uses and sells come from companies that include Lucas Oil Products, K&N Filters, NGK Spark Plugs, XS Power Batteries, Mickey Thompson Tires, Strange Engineering, Sonnax Performance, and ProCharger. The company has used and sold a majority of these brands for 30-plus years. Its customers are drawn to these products not only by reputation, but they can see the proven quality of the products in Martino’s dragster on every race day. 

As a racing team, Martino Motorsports is unlike traditional retail operations. It has always sold products trackside but is in the process of shifting focus from direct retail sales to installation and tuning for both street and strip. The company is also electing to promote the associates of its race program, allowing customers the option to purchase direct from the manufacturer if not from Martino.

According to Ryan Martino, the company’s marketing strategy is, “driven by the classic motto, win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Our on-track efforts with our race program undoubtedly ‘drive’ sales for us and the aforementioned associates throughout the year.”

When not racing, its sales message is driven by a strong social media presence. Martino explained, “Social media marketing has allowed us the opportunity to show how products are used, how they are installed, and what they look like during pre- and post-maintenance. Social media has further allowed us to answer any questions relating to the products/services that keep Martino Motorsports in the fast lane to success. Our social media sources have a daily global reach.”

Jeff’s Tuning and Performance

Ocala, Florida

Jeff’s Tuning and Performance is a shop that sells parts revolving around the high-tech dyno tuning services it performs. Approximately 20% of its customers are racers, while everybody else, as owner Jeff Joachim said, “just wants a fast daily driver.” The company has customers come from all over the Southeast US to get their cars tuned, and many of these serious racers compete at nearby Gainesville Raceway.

Many of the customers of Jeff’s Tuning and Performance buy supercharger kits and tuning kits, all of which can be installed in-house.

Fast-moving items in this realm are superchargers from Whipple, ProCharger, and East Coast Supercharging. For tuning, fast movers are SCT devices and custom tuning packages as well as HP Tuners MPVI interfaces. For engine builds, Jeff’s sells plenty of Clevite bearings and many Summit-branded components. 

Customers are drawn to Jeff’s because the company bundles complete supercharger packages that leave room for future horsepower growth, and all the components provide a very tangible gain in dollar per horsepower. 

The company has developed a solid reputation and is deservedly proud of it. Part of that reputation comes from working with these components since starting the business almost four years ago. That is why it hasn’t been necessary to market the business much. As Joachim explained, “We really don’t do much marketing. Once I explain it, they really do sell themselves at that point. We’ll show them their car on the dyno before and after, and they can see what they’ve paid for. Proof is in the product. The last thing I want to do is sell a product that doesn’t work.”

G.A.T. Racing

Tucson, Arizona

The shop at G.A.T. Racing provides a blended mixture of retail parts sales and fabrication for its customers. Owner Paul Banghart estimated about 85% of its customer base consists of hardcore racers along with a few street rods. The serious racers who make up its customer base primarily compete in the IMCA series or at the local NASCAR track, Tucson Speedway. 

Three of the best-selling fast movers from G.A.T. Racing are helmet tear-offs for dirt track racing from Racing Optics, Hoosier tires for its circle track customers, and rod ends and heim joints by FK Bearings. These are all common consumable items that wear, break, or bend during the course of dirt track races. Customers like these products because they’ve proven to work well in competition and are known to be of high quality. Due to this proven track record, G.A.T. has been carrying these products for many years, with no current problems keeping them in stock.

G.A.T. does no special marketing to sell these products, relying first and foremost on word-of-mouth testimonials from customers, along with a slight presence on Facebook. Stability also figures into the sales equation, as G.A.T Racing celebrated its 30th anniversary in business last year.

Why invest in consultants who require thousands of dollars when a knowledgeable expert is available through SCORE and SBDC? And at little or no cost.

As the fourth generation working in our small business, I remember several expressions my father told me that were signs of impending problems. The first was, “The check is in the mail.” Another was, “I’m from the government, and I am here to help you.” There is a third expression to be wary of, and it comes in a variety of forms when listening to a speaker at a trade show. The essence of the speaker’s message is that you need to hire that person on an individual basis or join their coaching program to take your business to the next level or solve any problem your business has.

Whether you are seeing opportunities for growth in your business, or your business is facing challenges, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are a couple of alternatives to find assistance and information. Before deciding to spend money with one of those consultants, investigate both of these organizations. You may find that the answers you seek are in “your backyard.”

SCORE

SCORE was created in 1964, and like the SBDC, receives funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Its task is to assist every person who is or wants to be a small business owner. Each of the 10,000 volunteers within SCORE has years of experience in their field. The process begins by visiting its website and entering a few questions, including:

• Does the mentor need to be local, or can that person be anywhere in the country?
• What language do you speak?
• What is your industry?
• What stage of life is your business in?
• Do you want in-person or online assistance?
• What aspect of business ownership do you want to discuss or learn more about?

SCORE offers workshops. Are you a machine shop and have a customer that won’t pay the bill? SCORE has a workshop that explains how to navigate small claims court. Perhaps you feel your business focus is too broad. SCORE has a workshop on finding your target customer. 

Maybe you have a business that sells equipment trackside, and you want to add something to your business. SCORE even has a class on how to start a food wagon business. It could work if the track didn’t have a rule that restricts who can sell food.

SCORE webinars are both live and archived in a recorded library of topics. SCORE also has in-person workshops; at the time of this writing, there were some 2,000 in-person workshops available at little or no cost. Enter your zip code and click a few boxes to narrow your search to find what is in your area.

SBDC

The second organization, America’s SBDC, has a state-level organization in every state with Texas and California having multiple chapters. Working with the SBDC begins by visiting the website and entering your zip code. There are nearly 1,000 centers across the country, with many affiliated with a college or university. SBDC offices offer counseling in a one-on-one setting. It also offers many online webinars and live events. The counseling is at no cost, and the majority of its live and online events are also free.

One example of a successful SBDC experience began with a business that consisted of a combination of manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing. The business was utilizing QuickBooks. Unfortunately, its version of QuickBooks was not correct for its situation. 

The company’s SBDC advisor made that observation and then recommended the correct version. While that was impressive, the advisor, qualified with QuickBooks, helped the business purchase the correct version of QuickBooks at a discounted price and transition its information to the new version. Another SBDC advisor, a CPA, reviewed and confirmed the work. The business owner continued to work with a SBDC advisor, both in the business and by online meetings, as the company grew as a part of the owner’s long-term plan toward retirement in the next five years.

First Steps

While both of the above scenarios sound wonderful and easy, there is more to working with either organization. A successful partnership requires work from both parties. 

Your work begins earlier than the initial meeting with an advisor. It starts with clearly defining your needs and expectations of the relationship. Also, be respectful of the time and effort of the SCORE or SBDC representative, whose schedule includes you as well as other clients. 

Before addressing an opportunity or challenge, reach out to the organization of your choice to establish a relationship. By doing so, when that opportunity or challenge arises, you will already have that “partner” in your corner with an understanding of you and your business.

Sometimes, a business owner and the advisor or counselor aren’t a good match. One example involved a counselor who had worked for a major chain retailer and was assigned to a retail business. Unfortunately, the counselor’s career was in logistics; moving freight for that retailer did not provide the background of experience needed for the client.

Another example involved an advisor with three years of work history at a large corporation but no experience in the aspect of business that was to be discussed.

These two experiences emphasize that you will need to verify that the counselor or advisor has experience and/or knowledge in the area of your business you want to focus on. If it’s not the right connection, you simply explain and ask for a different individual.

If you were going to hire one of those “consultants” or join one of their “insider clubs,” you should do your research. One of the benefits here is that the SBDC or SCORE is not getting in your wallet. Both of these organizations are a great source of information for your business.P

Tom Shay, of Profits Plus Solutions, will share his expertise at the 2023 PRI Show. He will give two seminars on Friday, December 8, covering “Why a business plan can make you more money” at 9:00 a.m., and “Disrupting or prompting: Does this affect how you approach business?” at 3:00 p.m.

Sources

Profits Plus Solutions
profitsplus.org

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
score.org

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
americassbdc.org

“Whether it’s a HANS, or a NecksGen, or a Simpson Hybrid restraint, they’re all designed to do the same thing for you and meet the SFI 38.1 standard,” said Simpson’s Trevor Ashline. “The end game is to lower neck tension.”

These safety devices have been proven to reduce injuries, and an increasing number of motorsports organizations are requiring them, but one size does not fit all.

Originally developed in the early 1980s by Dr. Robert Hubbard, an American scientist and professor of biomechanical engineering at Michigan State University, head-and-neck restraints were borne out of a need for additional protection during sudden changes in speed due to impacts. Without an additional device to protect the head and neck in these types of incidents, the situation was such that racing harnesses would keep the body in place, but everything above the shoulders was still potentially subject to violent movement. 

Over the past 20 years or so, head-and-neck restraints have become an increasingly common sight at road courses, drag strips, and circle tracks across the country. There’s a good reason for that. “Some states, like New Jersey, require the use of head-and-neck restraints in all forms of motorsport,” explained Trevor Ashline of Simpson Race Products, New Braunfels, Texas. “So whether you’re driving a Junior Dragster or a Cup car, you’re going to be wearing one. It just comes down to reducing the potential for injury. Modern street cars have airbags that serve a similar purpose, and they’re used all the way down to 30-mph impacts.” 

As sanctioning bodies began to see the value of these devices and mandate their use, other organizations running similar events soon followed suit. A growing number of racers are acknowledging the safety benefits of these devices as well. “We’re reaching a point where these devices are now commonplace at the grassroots level,” Kevin Shaw of RaceDay Safety, Dallas, Georgia, pointed out. “Even in disciplines where they aren’t required, you’ll typically see about half of the drivers using them anyway.” 

Advances in design now offer drivers some options when it comes to shape and size, but it can also make selecting the right head-and-neck restraint for a given driver, car, and racing discipline a trickier proposition. To help narrow things down, Ashline suggested starting off by consulting with other racers who’re competing in similar types of events to get feedback from them. “Whether it’s a HANS, or a NecksGen, or a Simpson Hybrid restraint, they’re all designed to do the same thing for you and meet the SFI 38.1 standard. The end game is to lower neck tension. So at that point it really becomes more about comfort and how well it integrates into your particular setup. Can you get into and out of the car with the device connected to the helmet? How well does it fit into your seat system with your shoulder belts? That kind of thing.” 

He added that the size of the driver can also be an important factor in head-and-neck restraint selection as well as the type of racing it will be used in. “Sometimes a yoke-style device such as a HANS will have limitations because they’re made out of carbon fiber and have a specific shape to them. So if you’re a body builder, for instance, and you have a big chest and big shoulders, you may find that a yoke device doesn’t fit well, and a hybrid is a better option. Hybrid-style restraints are also prominent in the dirt world because the harness actually helps keep the driver in position and return them back to position after an impact, which can provide additional protection if there are multiple impacts.” 

Shaw noted that some designs offer more modularity than others, too. “Just about every head-and-neck restraint manufacturer offers sizes that will work for body types ranging from small children to large adults,” he said. “Some of them won’t fit really big guys very comfortably, but Zamp’s head-and-neck restraint design is adjustable, so the effective size of the device can be changed to fit a wider range of drivers.”

When it comes to getting a proper fitment, both note that following the manufacturer’s measuring guide is essential, and it’s wise to take those measurements while wearing your other safety gear. “If you’re in a Top Fuel car or something like that, you’re going to be wearing a really thick fire suit, and the neck collar on that suit is going to be thick as well,” said Ashline. “So the neck size measurement you want isn’t just your neck—it’s your neck plus the material surrounding it.” 

When selecting a head-and-neck restraint for a young driver, both agree that the device should be properly sized for today rather than tomorrow. “You shouldn’t buy one that’s oversized in hopes of preventing them from outgrowing it too quickly,” Shaw said. “If you do that, they’ll often end up with a device that’s too wide at the shoulders, and then you’ll be unable to properly position the shoulder harnesses of the seat belt on the device. They’ll be spread out too far, which can compromise driver safety.”

Sources

RaceDay Safety 
racedaysafety.com

Simpson Race Products
simpsonraceproducts.com

Image courtesy of HSR

Officials with Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) have announced its 2024 calendar, which includes a return to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for the first time since 2016 and a new endurance race championship for the LMP3 division.

Next August at VIR on the IMSA Michelin GT Challenge weekend, HSR will run for the first time as a support series for IMSA's premier WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The HSR race will showcase select cars from HSR Group 3 (Small-Bore Historic Production cars), Group 5 (Big-Bore Historic Production and GT cars) and Group 7 (Historic Prototype and Sports Racers).

In addition, a four-race endurance championship for LMP3 cars will begin with a feature race during April's 46th running of the HSR Mitty at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, followed by the "HSR Classics" at Watkins Glen, Daytona and Sebring. True multi-class endurance races, the LMP3 rounds will see competitors race in the same run groups they have in recent years, sharing the track with other modern prototype and GT Modern (GTM) divisions while batting for their own class honors and championship points.

HSR was acquired by IMSA in early 2022.

For more details, read the HSR announcement.

2024 Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Race-Event Schedule*

*subject to change and additions

March 8-10: HSR Sebring Spring Fling/Sebring International Raceway/Sebring, Florida

April 25-28: 46th HSR Mitty at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta/Braselton, Georgia

June 6-9: HSR Classic Six Hours of Watkins Glen/Watkins Glen International/Watkins Glen, New York

August 23-25: IMSA Michelin GT Challenge Support Race/Virginia International Raceway/Alton, Virginia

September 19-22: HSR Atlanta Fall Historics/Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta/Braselton, Georgia

October 30–November 3: HSR Classic Daytona presented by IMSA and the HSR Daytona Historics/Daytona International Speedway/Daytona Beach, Florida

December 4-8: HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour, Pistons and Props, presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network, and the HSR Sebring Historic Races/Sebring International Raceway/Sebring, Florida

The University of Alabama (UA) College of Engineering will gather in person again for its Automotive Days on August 30-31.

The event aims to offer UA College of Engineering students the opportunity to explore future career possibilities, network with industry leaders and recruiters and learn more about opportunities in the growing automotive industry.

PRI Business Members and performance companies are invited to participate with a table or by hosting a discussion in this no-cost event. If your company is interested in the UA College of Engineering Automotive Days, click here.

Potential topics for technical talks and panel discussions include automotive problem-solving, electric vehicles (EVs) and diversity in automotive engineering.

UA College of Engineering Automotive Days Agenda*
Wednesday, Aug. 30

• 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Shelby Quad | Table Set Up by Industry Partners - Coffee/Pastries in NERC 1012
• 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Shelby Quad | Exhibit Fair and Car Display ("Come and Go" event for students to explore opportunities in the space industry)
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | NERC 1012 | "Come and Go" Lunch for Industry Partners, Table Clean Up
• 2:00pm - 2:30 p.m. | Hardaway | Crimson Racing Tour
• 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Hardaway | EcoCAR Tour
• 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | NERC 1012 | Hospitality Reception for Industry Partners with College of Engineering Faculty & Staff (Business Casual)
   

Thursday, Aug. 31

• 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Kilgore Parlor -3rd floor HM Comer | Leadership Breakfast hosted by Honda - Kenny Bevers speaking 
• 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | NERC 1012 | Tech Talk with Nicholas Khayata with Honda
• 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | NERC 1012 | Tech Talk with Andy Randolph
• 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | NERC 1012 | Mike Oatridge - AMP/ATI/EV Vehicles

*subject to change

Jeff Barna, the president and CEO of Santa Ana, California-based Yokohama Tire Corporation, has announced Jeremy Kahrs has been promoted to vice president of research and development at the Yokohama Development Center America (YDCA) facility in Cornelius, North Carolina.
 
Kahrs, who was YDCA's senior director of R&D, takes over all daily operations for YDCA. 

"Jeremy's technical expertise, along with his passion for engineering and his strong dedication to support the R&D team, have greatly contributed to YDCA's success," Barna said.
 
In his new role, Kahrs will report directly to Barna.
 
Barna has also announced that former YDCA VP Tom Kenny will take on an executive technical advisor position to define and oversee strategic projects and continue to support YDCA development. 

"Tom has been instrumental in establishing YDCA as a true technical center for the U.S.," Barna said. "In this new capacity, he will continue to work closely with the development team to make recommendations on future development, product testing and quality improvements."

For more information, visit yokohamatire.com.

Officials with Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Raceway--the 3/8-mile clay oval in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania--have announced that races are halted indefinitely following a county court ruling on noise ordinances. The track's statement is below.

On July 27, 2023, a hearing was held at the Columbia County Courthouse on a petition for a Preliminary Injunction filed by the Town of Bloomsburg against the Bloomsburg Fair [where the raceway is located.] The petition sought to enjoin the Fair from conducting any further automotive races at the Fairgrounds until such time as the Fair can show that racing can be conducted within the confines of the 65-decibel level as established by the Town's amended noise ordinance. 

On July 31, 2023, the Judge granted the Town's Petition, and although we are disappointed with the Court's decision, racing will halt at this time in compliance with the Court's Order. 

The Fair is presently considering its appellate rights in relation to this Order, and will continue to pursue damages against the Town for its losses in relation to this temporary shutdown of racing operations. We ask you to be mindful of the fact that the injunction order issued today is only preliminary, and the Fair will continue to litigate this matter in the Courts and fight for justice in the face of the Town's odious and unfair treatment of one of our area's most cherished organizations.

Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Raceway regularly races 602 crate modifieds, FWD 4-Cylinders, 305 PASS Sprints, All-Pro SpeedSTRs, Central PA Legends, wingless sprints, ARDC midgets, and more.

For the latest updates, visit facebook.com/BloomsburgFairRaceway.

Throdle, the social and marketplace digital platform, was selected as a finalist for the Rally IN-Prize Competition, a pitching competition that awards up to $5 million to worthy investments. Throdle, which is entered in the Sportstech category, is the only motorsports and Michigan-based company represented in the competition.

The 2023 Rally IN-Prize Competition will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from August 29-31.

"We are honored to represent Michigan, highlighting our commitment to innovation in automotive and motorsports," said Nadine Lee, CEO of Throdle. "Competing in Indiana, home of the Indy 500 and where Indiana's own PRI Show is held, adds a special significance to our participation and is a fitting step into the broader world of sports."

A panel of expert judges will evaluate pitches and select five of the most promising startups. Each of the recipients will receive a cash investment of up to $1 million.

For more information, visit throdle.com.

USAC officials have announced the 11th class of USAC Hall of Fame inductees, which features champion driver Bobby East; safety innovator Ted Halibrand; champion driver Tracy Hines; television producer Terry Lingner; vice president/general manager/editor/media/general manager Bill Marvel; and team owners and contributors, The Wilke Family.

The official 2023 USAC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday afternoon, September 29, during Driven2SaveLives BC39 weekend for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Championship at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

For inductee bios, visit the USAC announcement. For more information, visit usacracing.com.