Winner Of Raybestos 1964 GTO-R Road Racer Announced At SEMA

Nina Murray of Flesherton, Ontario, Canada, was publicly announced as the winner of the Raybestos 1964 GTO-R from the brand’s summer 2011 North American promotion. Murray’s name was drawn as winner from more than the nearly 60,000 unique entries received. The announcement was made earlier this week in the Original Parts Group booth at the SEMA Show by Raybestos brand representatives, builders Kevin Tully and Chad Hill from Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle, and dozens of other build partners involved in the project.

“My husband and I are so thrilled about this prize. We used to go to car races at the local track in Varney when we first started dating, so it’s pretty cool that we have won our own race car. Since we can’t make it to Las Vegas, we already have plans to attend the auto show in Detroit to see it before it’s ours in June” said Murray. “We’re very excited!”

With the announcement made, Murray must patiently wait until June 2012 to receive the keys to her new car. Until then, the Raybestos ’64 GTO-R is scheduled for additional TV and on-track appearances, and will tour the car show circuit. The car will compete in this weekend’s OPTIMA Batteries Ultimate Streetcar Invitational, and is scheduled for featured display at upcoming high-profile shows such as the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals, and 2012 Detroit Autorama.

The Raybestos ’64 GTO-R was built to handle racetrack duty like no other mid-1960s muscle car. While retaining a vintage outwardly appearance, its suspension was entirely re-imagined, nearly 800 pounds of weight eliminated, and was then equipped with a 700 horsepower GM LSX 454 engine and Raybestos NASCAR-spec racing brakes.

“Kevin, Chad and the crew at HRCC built something truly special in this ultra-high performance GTO-R. In a sea of impressive muscle car builds, this one really makes you stand up and take notice,” said Josh Russell, director of sales and marketing at Affinia Global Brake and Chassis, manufacturer of Raybestos Brakes & Chassis products.

During the sweepstakes, the interactive website RaybestosGarage.com offered a behind-the-scenes view of the entire build process. Visitors got the inside scoop on everything from design inspiration, to chassis and suspension fabrication, engine tuning, brake package engineering, custom paint and on-track testing.

The Raybestos brand’s award-winning sweepstakes and promotion programs have consistently captured industry-wide attention, increasing sales and celebrating its racing heritage. In 2012, DIYers, hot-rodders, mechanics and race fans can look forward to several exciting new Raybestos brand initiatives and an all new sweepstakes giveaway vehicle build to be announced soon.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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