HRIA Education Days

Brett Domin, Flaming River

Brett has been with Flaming River Industries for 20 years and is the Sales Manager.

Flaming River was founded in 1987 with a vision to offer quality Steering Systems for street rods, muscle cars, classics and trucks. Our products use all new parts to ensure that we can maintain quality standards, improve the original design, and offer long range product availability as well as lifetime serviceability. Tilt steering columns, power rack and pinions, steering shafts and billet accessories are all made right here at Flaming River by a talented group of car enthusiasts. Brett has been with Flaming River Industries for 20 years and is the Sales Manager.

Rick Love, Vintage Air

I am currently the President of Vintage Air, Inc. I have been involved in the hot rod industry since the late 1970's when I built my first hot rod (a 1940 Chevy Coupe) during my senior year of high school. I built several hot rods in the early eighties, and began a small business wiring and installing a/c systems in street rods, which led me to become a Dealer for Vintage Air products. Through this association, I began to work with them on product development, which led to spending time on the road at shows and eventually a full-time position. I have been employed full-time at Vintage Air since 1998 after working with them for several years on special projects.

Mike Ruth, Heidts

Mike Ruth's journey begins in Chicago with his fascination of anything that was gasoline powered. His first challenge at 12 years old was how to make his minibike go faster. After obtaining a driver's license, his projects became bigger and more complex including a 63 Ford Falcon, a 65 corvette 327-365 hp 4 speed, and many others. In 1979 Mike celebrated the New Year by packing up his tools and moving to Los Angeles, where he opened and built up a successful auto repair business along with a performance/speed shop. In 1995 he purchased Alston Race Car Engineering and relocated the entire operation back to his native Chicagoland to follow his passion of building race cars. After many years, Mike sold Alston Race Cars to Heidts Automotive and went to work for them as their chief applications engineer. When not working, you will most likely find Mike chasing chickens on his small farm or at a racetrack taking his Bob Glidden tribute Nostalgia Pro Stock car down the ¼ mile.

Tim McCarthy, Hushmat & ZyCoat

With over 32 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry, Tim McCarthy is a leading innovator in sound deadening and thermal insulation technology. Tim founded HushMat, in 2003. HushMat brings state-of-the-art solutions to the automotive aftermarket and other industrial markets where the reduction of noise and heat is critical.

HushMat operates in retail and wholesale automotive aftermarket establishments and industrial markets worldwide. In 2016, Tim founded ZyCoat, LLC, which exclusively distributes a revolutionary line of spray-applied thermal coating products specially formulated to dissipate heat from engines and exhaust systems reducing under hood temperatures. All HushMat and ZyCoat products are manufactured in the United States. Visit HushMat at https://HushMat.com and https://ZyCoat.com to learn more. Tim is Chair-Elect of the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (#SEMA-HRIA). Follow these brands at

#HushMatUSA and #ZyCoatUSA

BILL ALEXANDER

Bill Alexander is the Director of Lubrication Technology for Driven Racing Oil. Bill earned his Certified Lubrication Specialist credentials through the Society of Tribologists & Lubrication Engineers and brings over 20 years’ experience with automotive lubrication application and formulation work, including disciplines of fuel performance technologies.

Bill’s proficiency in all that is automotive lubrication is a perfect fit for Driven Racing Oils growing line of motorsports fluids, but he’s a die-hard car-guy with too many project cars to list. His current projects include the building of a twin turbo LS engine for a ’69 Firebird and a 496 Big Block Oldsmobile engine for a ‘71 Cutlass 442 to showcase the proper use of break in oils and engine assembly lubricants.t

The technologies involved in automotive lubrication and fuel enhancements constantly evolve and Bill is extremely enthusiastic towards the science of new materials that lead to higher performing products and advancements in automotive lubrication.

Carl Bush, Wilwood Brakes

Carl Bush is in his 25th year representing Wilwood in a technical capacity as a Product Application and Customer Field Service specialist in the racing and hot rod markets. During his tenure, he has worked hands-on with customers, race teams, car builders, and the internal factory team, with the application and development of Wilwood's extensive brake product line.

Carl's history in motorsports began as a teenager working in a local speed shop stocking shelves and pulling parts for customer orders. Before joining the Wilwood team in 1998, Carl worked for two other prominent aftermarket manufacturers deeply involved with drag racing and oval track. Currently, his primary focus has been the application of Wilwood's product line into the road race markets. His broad based range of experience has provided him with a full and unique range of insights into not only the differences, but also the similarities that all racers and enthusiasts face when it comes to optimizing the performance of their brake systems.

Derek Auten & Eddie Mohr, Ididit

Derek Auten has been with IDIDIT for 8 years as a Sales Associate and Lead Tech. Auten specializes in helping you get your column back together after you have taken it apart. He prides his work on being able to work with customers to be sure their steering column needs are met and also making sure things are done safely and securely. Derek was born and raised in Tecumseh Michigan which is also where IDIDIT is located. Derek has always had a passion for cars, even receiving his degree in Automotive Technologies. He has been in the automotive industry and automotive repair for over 15 years. In his spare time, Derek enjoys working on cars, going to car shows, and spending time with his family and friends. Derek's favorite classic car is a 1969 Dodge Charger, and in case you are wondering, yes he can drive a stick shift!

Jason Latham, Wizards

Whether it was playing in the floor with Hot Wheels as a kid or making modifications to my first vehicle as a young man, I have always had an interest in cars and trucks. I never knew that I would end up working in the automotive field but I have now been doing that for over 15 years. Growing up with a construction back ground, I always assumed that I would end up in that field of work but in 2007 I was part of starting a family business building high end Hot Rods at Big Oak Garage. We compiled a team of extremely talented employees and along with them we were able to put out some of the top cars in the industry. It was there that my passion for cars grew even more. It was there where I learned to perfect the art of buffing and polishing on cars to get that mirror finish. It is also there that I was introduced to Wizards Products.

My Time at Big Oak Garage ended in 2017 and I accepted a position with Wizards Products as a Technical Sales Representative. I have been a very hands-on salesman by teaching customers how to use Wizards Products in their own shops as well as teaching classes in Trade Schools across the country. Wizards Products has given me the ability and products to continue growing my knowledge of quality products and the art of detail. In the past 5 years, I have grown into the roll of PBE Sales & Distribution nationwide. I now work with all of the Wholesale Warehouses and Rep Agencies nationwide providing products, hands on training and product education. With Wizards Products I work a few Shows each year because I love the cars and the people. Some of my best friends are in this industry.

Greg Fuesler, RideTech

An avid hot-rodder from a young age Greg was into drag racing and anything mechanical. He started his 32 year automotive career at Jasper Engines in their Performance Engine Division where he worked his way through a four year Industrial Automotive degree at Indiana State University. While at Indiana State his serves as the Automotive Shop Foreman three consecutive semesters. Since then he has worked in the gas and diesel engine remanufacturing business and then the aftermarket exhaust, cooling, brake and suspension industry. In those industries he has held many positions including Sales and Tech Specialist, Product Manager, Corporate Account Manager and many others. For the past four years he has been the Sales Manager at Ridetech, leading his team to record customer service levels and sales. The most enjoyable part of his job is making people successful, educating customers to help them make better buying decisions and making hot rod projects enjoyable.

Greg Frick, Inland Empire

After serving as US Naval Officer for 4 years, Greg worked for Ryder Truck Rental for seven more. From Ryder he went to work for a lease customer managing Clutch & U-Joint Service in Minneapolis. This period provided the knowledge to for him and his wife Carolyn to start their own company in 1982 at Ontario, California. Since that time Greg has been especially blessed to learn directly from Phillip J. Mazzotti, Vice President of Engineering at Dana/Spicer Corporation and a Fellow at SAE. Today he will present some of what Phil taught him.

Jeff Grantmeyer, Borgeson

Jeff has been working at Borgeson Universal for over 14 years. Jeff currently oversees the entire sales and technical support staff for Borgeson Universal.

Powermaster Tech Team, Powermaster

There will be over 100 years of combined experience during Powermaster's presentation so they'll be able to cover nearly any application or question you may have about alternators or starters. Powermaster has been designing and manufacturing rotating electronics for over 40 years from their West Chicago, Illinois, headquarters.