Axalta Racing Paint Scheme Wows Fans in Charlotte, NC, Fans Treated to Brilliant Flames for Charity Axalta Coating Systems officially unveiled the 2014 Brilliant Flames paint
scheme on the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS race car, driven by four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, last week at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC. When the cover was removed, there were gasps, claps and even an “awesome” could be heard from the crowd. Motorsports announcer, Winston Kelley moderated a panel discussion comprised of race car driver Jeff Gordon; VP Axalta Coating Systems Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, and Nigel Budden pictured with No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS
See Axalta Racing, Page 21
Winter Storms Provide Predictable Business in Tulsa, Bartlesville, and Oklahoma City
pairs are just scratched and dented bumpers. Some bumpers have to be ordered, painted and put back on. Other bumpers just need a little repair work and they’re good as new. Independent auto body owner Nathan Hostetler told local media that this is an usual time of year for him to be doing so much business. He’s usually busier during warm, rainy months. “There’s probably an extra 20 to 25 cars here right now. We’re usually having 40 cars in process and we’ve got near the capacity right now,” Hostetler said. See Oklahoma Weather, Page 6
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Jim Page, with Jim Norton Collision Center at 9809 South Memorial Drive in Tulsa said, “Any time we have weather events like this the shop gets stacked up quick.” Jim Norton’s is a recipient of Toyota’s highest customer service awards, the Toyota President’s Award, and has been servicing the needs of Tulsa Oklahoma for longer than any other Tulsa Toyota dealership. “What we’re seeing a lot of is front-rear hits,” said Page. Collision Centers are estimating one to two weeks turnaround, depending on the amount of damage and paint work. Most winter weather re-
VOL. 32 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2014
Strong Turnout at Louisiana Collision Repair Association’s First Official Meeting More than 180 collision repairers showed up for the Louisiana Collision Repair Association’s (LaCIA) first meeting after officially becoming an association. Lynn Lejeune of Lejeune's Body Works Inc. and chairman of LaCIA called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He also led the group in a prayer. “Tonight has to be about us coming together and agreeing to make a difference,” said Lejeune. Derek Stubbs of Expressway Paint and Body and vice chairman of LaCIA noted the large turnout and made a statement on what it indicated to him. “We’re all here because we care about this business and we care about what happens to it,” he said.
Stubbs also mentioned that they need to put last year behind them and focus on what they need to work on this year. “Last year is over, and we’ll still have battles to fight every day this year, but we need to face these problems together to make a difference. We have national issues that we together have to handle on a state level.” Chris Medine of Medine’s Collision said his son is the third generation of his family in the business, and that’s one of the reasons he wants changes to be made – so his son can have a long career in the industry. “I believe this organization can be a lot of things, and I know good things can happen when we can get together like this,” Medine said.
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
tion contributed to a surge of accidents. Beginning on Tuesday, January 28 and continuing well into the next day, snow and ice accumulating in the southeast brought Atlanta to a screeching halt. While the city nor-
See First Meeting, Page 13
Polar Vortex Continues to Plague Southern States in Late January and Early February As predicted, the polar vortex that wrought havoc at the beginning of the year strengthened and continued moving southward in late January, resulting in more unusually low temperatures and icy winds. This winter storm system impacted most of the country with 34 states being under some sort of winter weather warning or advisory during the last week of the month. While residents in the northern states are more accustomed to harsh winter precipitation, areas in the south were left floundering at the unusual phenomenon of snow and ice that poured down in states that generally enjoy much milder winters. This abnormal weather system raised a lot of concern and caused significant damage in many southern metropolitan areas, particularly in Atlanta, GA, and Birmingham, AL, where the combination of weather and traffic conges-
mally averages a low temperature of 28 degrees and a high of 49 degrees in January, temperatures plummeted into the teens during the last week of January with up to three inches of snow in some places. Slick conditions created by ice and sleet led to accidents which, in turn, caused an increase in traffic delays. Many cars were left abandoned on the roads and See Polar Vortex Continues, Page 40