Keith Black Racing Engines looks for buyers
With Wall Street in chaos, can the trickle-down effect be heading for Main Street or pit road? Two recent business announcements might seem to point that way.
Keith Black Racing Engines, a legendary name synonymous with drag racing, laid off much of its work force this week and is for sale, according to Ken Black, president of the company.
Keith Black (in a 1964 photo above) opened his first shop in 1959 in a small location on Atlantic Boulevard then expanded the operation to its current location in South Gate, CA. Black died in the summer of 1991 from complications of cancer at the age of 64. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1995. His son, Ken, took over the operation of the business in 1991.
In a phone call Friday morning, Ken Black told the Agent that while they have laid off most workers, the company has parts in stock and is still working on engines that have been ordered. An up-turn in engine orders (and payments) could get the company going again, he said, but the company is for sale. The phone number for KBRE is 562-869-1518. (photo courtesy WDIFL.com) [10/03/08]
Arrow sold to Keystone
Arrow Speed Warehouse, the fourth largest automotive aftermarket parts warehouse in the country, also is closing its doors after 51 years. Arrow, based in Kansas City, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Street Side Auto, which sells specialty automotive parts over the Internet, both declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plan to sell their assets to Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. in Exeter, Pa.
Keystone, as in Joe Amato. So, we guess this is a good news – bad news kind of thing, depending on which company you are. [10/03/08]
Sarge turns spy?!
NHRA Top Fuel Champion and businessman Tony Schumacher has been elected to Board of Directors of Sky Detective, Inc.
"We are pleased to have Tony Schumacher join the board of directors of Sky Detective," said CEO Jerry Thompson. He is a world-class athlete, an exceptional businessman and a true patriot. Tony proudly drives the
U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster and devotes a great deal of time to visiting our troops at home and abroad. He knows what it takes to be the very best in class and his winning attitude, experience, knowledge and contacts on the track and in the business world will be a tremendous asset in establishing Sky Detective as a global leader in the LBS (Location Based Services) industry."
Schumacher said that he first took an interest in Sky Detective as an investor before joining the board. "I personally have seen the limitations of current tracking technology in my trips to visit American troops in Iraq and realized that Sky Detective is far ahead of any other company in the Location Based Services industry. Sky Detective's technology has the capability of saving the lives of soldiers and citizens, deterring street crime and preventing the theft of high-value assets worldwide.”
Headquartered in Eagle, Idaho, Sky Detective provides state-of-the-art global intelligence, security, and GPS/CDMA assisted asset tracking solutions used for heavy equipment, cargo containers, shipping and logistics, fleet management, vehicle theft prevention and recovery, prison and jail reduction and offender and gang control in the United States and around the globe.
Maybe Schumacher should put a tracking device on J.R. Todd, just to make sure he isn’t gaining too much ground on the Countdown leader. (Chris Haverly photo) [10/03/08]
Ashley Force to receive Female Athlete of the Year Award
Ashley Force will receive the 2008 Female Athlete of the Year Award from the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation (JMMF) at its Tenth Anniversary “Tribute to Living Legends of Sports and Media” Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 30, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Other honorees include 2008 “Great Ones” Award recipient, Olympic gold medalist and boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard; Sportswriter of the Year Award recipient; Los Angeles Times sports columnist Helene Elliott, the first woman to be inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame (2005); and Howard Bingham, legendary sports photographer.
“We are very excited about our line-up of honorees on this 10th anniversary event,” said Linda McCoy-Murray, President and Founder of the JMMF. “Each honoree is deserving of an award that bears Jim Murray’s name.”
The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation was established in 1998 by McCoy-Murray. As of 2008, the JMMF has awarded 63 journalism scholarships totaling $332,500. The 2008 scholarship winners are Kyle Austin, Syracuse University; Kyle Goon, University of Maryland; Ryan Haney, Trinity College-Hartford; Alex Herbach, University of Southern California; Bill Oram, University of Montana; Michael Sanserino, Indiana University; and Mark Viera, Penn State University.
For more information on the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation go to www.jimmurrayfoundation.org (Rich Singer photo) [10/03/08]