Accused killer pleads 'not guilty'
LOS ANGELES-Michael Frank Goodwin, former business partner of Mickey Thompson, pled not guilty June 29 to charges he conspired to kill the legendary racer and his wife Trudy.
Mr. Goodwin appeared in Los Angeles County court for the first time since that court filed charges against him. He continues to be held without bail, according to the L.A. District Attorney's office. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.
Earlier in June, L.A. County prosecutors charged Mr. Goodwin with two counts of murder and special circumstances of lying in wait and multiple murders after a California appellate court ruled Orange County had no jurisdiction to try Mr. Goodwin. Orange County prosecutors had filed similar charges against Mr. Goodwin in 2001 and held him without bail until dropping the case in May.
The Thompsons were gunned down in the driveway of their home in 1988 by two unidentified shooters who reportedly fled on bicycles and remain at large. Mr. Goodwin, who had a falling out with Mr. Thompson over a business deal, has been a suspect in the case since shortly after the murders.
Stein appointed ACCC chairman
MEMPHIS, Tenn.-Howard Stein, president of Jacksonville, N.C.-based Target Tire, has been appointed chairman of the board of American Car Care Centers (ACCC) Inc.
Mr. Stein, whose appointment became effective May 1, replaces Bill Williams, president of Jack Williams Tire Co. Inc., who headed the group during the past year. Mr. Stein said his objectives include membership at all levels, adding value programs through the building of vendor relationships and differentiating ACCC from competing programs.
Target Tire, which carries Michelin, Continental, General, Bridgestone, Firestone, Cooper and Hankook among its tire lines, has a dealer network numbering 120.
TIA extends CarCareONE
BOWIE, Md.-The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has extended its 20-year credit partnership with GE Retail Sales Finance, which means TIA members can continue to offer financing through the CarCareONE credit card network.
The extension is for five years, TIA said. The private label credit partnership was launched in 1984.
SEMA to host certification exam
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.-The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) will hold a fall test session for its new Custom Wheel & Tire Specialist Exam on Nov. 9.
The test will begin at 7 p.m. at more than 700 locations, SEMA said. Registration for the test closes Sept. 22.
The exam, known as Z5, is the fifth in a series of installer certification exams offered by the aftermarket association. The test was designed with help from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The SEMA credential is valid for five years. For more information, call SEMA at (909) 396-0289, ext. 158, or visit www.sema.org/certification.
CARE Web site offers new info
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) has updated its Web site to provide more in-depth coverage of aftermarket issues, including the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.
The site, www.careauto.org, also has a new look and other new resources, CARE said.
CARE-which represents a number of companies in the automotive aftermarket, including NAPA, Midas, Carquest, AutoZone, Jiffy Lube and others-also expanded its coverage of the Right to Repair Act, which is before Congress. The site includes an overview of the legislation, a list of its co-sponsors, links to e-mail members of Congress, an online petition and sample letter, legislative updates by state and various statistics.
Michelin debuts wiper blades
GREENVILLE, S.C. -Michelin North America Inc. has extended the Michelin brand into other automotive accessories with a line of high-performance wiper blades, the tire maker said.
Michelin Lifestyle Ltd. has launched a wiper blade line that initially will be distributed in 1,250 Target Corp. stores nationwide plus in other retailers such as Blain's Farm & Fleet (33 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa) and Strauss Discount Auto (100 stores in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania).
More automotive retailers in the U.S. and Mexico will join the ranks in the coming weeks, Michelin said.