Kunzman

Automotive Aftermarket Manufacturers Reps

Event Recap: November 2022

SEMA Show 2022

November 1-4, 2022:

SEMA Show – Las Vegas, NV

The Kunzman Team

SEMA is our main and biggest industry trade show, with every manufacturer from performance, truck accessory, wheel and tire, electronics and electrified specialty attending. Like most of the events this year, conversations are focused on new products and latest trends for 2023. 

The Central and South Halls are still the main hub for the show, and the new addition of the West Hall still wows with more truck-related manufacturers displaying.

VIEW GALLERY

 

 

GoodGuys Scottsdale

November 18-20, 2022:

GoodGuys – Scottsdale, AZ

Mike Sharp

The last event for the GoodGuys event schedule, this Fall show is the one to attend! With approximately 4,000 cars showing over the 3-day event, there are more vendors looking to get the exposure every year. There tends to be more draw of participants to Scottsdale from across the South and Southwest where the field is continually at capacity early morning. Plus, if you are looking for that hard to find piece, we’ve seen a ton of odd-ball parts in the outer ring that is the swap meet of swap meets! MKA continues to support (and enjoys!) seeing everyone out on the road.

VIEW GALLERY

Event Recap: October 2022

Summit Cruise Nigh - Georgia

Summit Cruise Night – McDonough, GA

Duane Blalock

This weekly event hosts a variety of Cruise-Ins that take place every Monday night at the Summit Racing retail store in McDonough. The event additionally had a live band that provided an extra level of fun and relaxation.  Attendees enjoy kicking off their week with Chick-Fil-A and a nice gathering of fine cars and trucks!

VIEW GALLERY

 

 

Auto Value Tech Expo

September 30 – October 1, 2022:

Auto Value Tech Expo – Grand Rapids, MI

Cary Exline and Adam Brown

Cary and Adam have been part of this annual expo for several years!  While normally held in winter, this year’s event was moved to the first weekend of October.  Designed as two events in one, those in the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper network are able to talk with a variety of vendors during the trade show portion, along with signing up for over 60 different classes with exclusive training across the automotive disciplines.  It is a perfect venue for those who want in-person professional training.  Contact Cary or Adam directly if you’d like to join in the next expo!

VIEW GALLERY

 

Pumpkin Run - Ohio

September 29 – October 1, 2022: Pumpkin Run: Clermont County Fairgrounds, OH

Mike Sherrill and Jason Sugden

The 46th Annual Pumpkin Run weekend had 2,400 cars registered. The show brought in donations of $1,380,000 to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati!  Show cars had to be of 1974 vintage, or older.  Registered participants had the opportunity to win a classic 1937 Ford Coupe as the grand prize, and with spectators looking for something to do – Mike and Jason were in full display mode with the MKA trailer.  A great show to walk and check out the cool cars in the Cincinnati area!

VIEW GALLERY

Dragzine: Ageless Wonder: Michael Kunzman Wins MMC Series Title At 80 Years Old

Kunzman & Associate’s founder and owner, Michael Kunzman, was featured in a recent DRAGZINE article after bringing home the 2022 Get’M Performance MotorCity Muscle Challenge Series Title.

As written by Brian Wagner:

Athletes who participate in stick and ball sports have an expiration date on their careers. Racers also have to hang up their helmet at some point, but it’s usually decades after athletic-type sports. Mike Kunzman is 80 years old, but that didn’t stop him from winning Milan Dragway’s Get’M Performance MotorCity Muscle Challenge series this year.

While most people in their 80s are living a relaxed life, Kunzman stays very busy by laying down 8-second passes in the 1/4-mile, and running his business Kunzman & Associates. Since Kunzman’s company works with high-performance automotive companies, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he enjoys spending time at the track. Kunzman’s stunning 1972 Nova that’s powered by a 565 cubic-inch big-block Chevy is the perfect reflection of how much he loves the racing industry and motorsports in general.

Read the entire article about Michael Kunzman at DRAGZINE.com.

Event Recap: September 2022

Sheriff’s JeepFest - Crawl for the Kids 2022

September 1 – 4, 2022: Sheriff’s JeepFest – Crawl for the Kids 2022 –  Jasper, GA

Duane Block

The Sheriff’s JeepFest is a 3-day event that takes place each fall in Pickens County, Georgia. This year, JeepFest was held on Labor Day Weekend. The event is staffed by volunteers from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, public safety offices and local Jeep Clubs from all over North Georgia who put on a high-quality, family-friendly event!

VIEW GALLERY

Frankenmuth Auto Fest

September 9 – 11, 2022: Frankenmuth Auto Fest – Frankenmuth, MI

Jason Sugden and Adam Brown

The Kunzman and Associates team attends the Frankenmuth Auto Fest each year, bringing the MKA trailer with all the goodies! The event is fun for all ages, and enthusiasts enjoy show off their toys before the season winds down.

VIEW GALLERY

 

Fall Hot Rod Run

September 14 – 16, 2022: Fall Hot Rod Run – Pigeon Forge, TN

Mike Sherrill

This year’s Fall Hot Rod Run took place at the Leconte Convention Center. The weekend before was the Shades of the Past held at Dollywood, which makes for a big 9-day car show in Pigeon Forge! Now running for 9 years, both events are very well attended, especially the Fall Hot Rod Run. Our team saw and heard a lot of interest in products despite what is being said about the current state of the economy.

VIEW GALLERY

 

Goodguys Lone Star Nationals

September 16 – 17, 2022: Goodguys Lone Star Nationals – Fort Worth, TX

Bob Harrell, Steve Bornowski, Ed Monte

This is a stretch of September where Texas Motor Speedway hosts Goodguys this with an in-field full of hot rods and classics, followed by NASCAR weekend and the Cup Series just one week later!  The weekend proved to be beautiful, hot, and sunny! Goodguys always draws attendees and enthusiasts from across the country. If you’ve never been, there are two Texas stops every year – one in March and the other in late summer.

VIEW GALLERY

2022 Frankenmuth Car Show

Stop by to see the Kunzman & Associates team this weekend at the 2022 Frankenmuth Car Show!

We will be there with 50 feet of product display and literature; we’d be happy to answer all of your technical questions and address any automotive needs.  Plus, there are tons of activities and hundreds of cars on display at this annual event.

Come by the Frankenmuth Car Show to see us September 9-11, 2022, from 8 am to 8 pm each day.

 

Event Recap: August 2022

August 3-6, 2022: Hot August Nights – Reno, NV

Jon Kunzman, Bob Harrell & Ed Monte – Michigan Area

The 35th Annual Hot August Nights saw a full week’s worth of record crowds and car show participants – including people from Canada, New Zealand and Norway.  If you’ve never been to HAN, the week can be too short to try and see everything in one shot.  The Reno-Sparks area is covered with events at all the major casino/hotels, the Downtown main strip, along with the Summit sponsored Big Boy’s Toys Store at the Reno Expo.  If you look at any indicators of turn-out, note the crowds at the food concessions!

VIEW GALLERY

August 4-7, 2022: NSRA – Louisville, KY

Matt Ross & Mike Sherrill – Midwest Area

After continuing to run the show through the COVID years, we weren’t sure what to expect at this year’s NSRA event – however, we were happy to see that things seemed back to normal! We estimate that the car count was around 10,000, and Friday and Saturday were packed with people. We stayed busy until 3:00 pm every day. The car giveaway started at 3:00 pm, which turned off the tap for the vendors. Rumor had it that ALL the prizes were to given away at that time, which drew the crowed there. 

VIEW GALLERY

 

August 5-7, 2022: Carlisle Truck Nationals – Carlisle, PA

Jay Lambert – NE Area

We attended the Carlisle Truck Nationals in support of the A&A Stores, and set up  in their tent along with several other vendors. There was a mixture of attending trucks, which ranged from gigantic lifted 4×4 trucks to slammed trucks on air suspension and a whole section of conversion vans. There were a lot of people who seemed to be casually browsing parts and gathering information, rather than being on a mission to buy specific items.

VIEW GALLERY

 

August 14, 2022: Rockin’ Rods ‘n Rochester – Rochester, MI

Bob Harrell, Tim Carnacchi & Jason Sugden – Michigan Area

The Rockin’ Rods ‘n Rochester event was very well attended! There was a threat of rain early, so it took a bit to get the crowd there, but they eventually arrived and we had great traffic through the trailer. Customers continued to ask questions about their projects that indicated they are spending money and trying to complete what they started. We saw lots of interest in brake systems, full suspension kits, full cooling systems, rotating assemblies and fuel injection kits. There were no complaints about the price of anything or the issues relating to inflation. There were about 400 vehicles, which is always the goal of the Lions Club who put this on. All proceeds go to the Leader Dogs for the Blind, a great nonprofit organization in Rochester, Michigan.

VIEW GALLERY

August 18, 2022: SEMA Garage Grand Opening – Detroit, MI

Bob Harrell & Michael Kunzman – Michigan Area

The SEMA Garage Grand Opening in Detroit was very well-attended, with over 1,000 people coming through the event. There were a lot of really cool cars at the event, with the building itself being a technological marvel. They are able to run dynos and emission testing, and do just about anything a manufacturer would need for any vehicle. Quite an investment for our industry!

VIEW GALLERY

HOT!!! August Nights

For over 30 years the first week of August transforms Reno and Sparks, Nevada, into a classic cars haven that is long on tradition and nostalgia!  The annual Hot August Nights celebration has become a fixture in Nevada and this year is no exception! The Kunzman team is on hand along with thousands of car enthusiast to take part in the festivities including: Drag races, drifting, cruising, fireworks, a parade, show-n-shine and so much more!

If you’re in the Reno area the first of August, be sure to stop by to say hi! For more information visit the event’s website.

 

Event Recap: July 2022

July 7-9, 2022: Iola Car Show – Iola, WI

Ron Piasecki, Mike Maul & Jeff Martin – Midwest Area

The Iola Car Show, a 3-day consumer event (Thursday – Saturday) in Northern Wisconsin, is the largest cars show in Wisconsin, hosts a huge swap meet and has over 12,000 people in attendance.

This year marked the 50th Anniversary for the Iola Car Show, and there was no shortage of customers as we displayed in the Toys for Trucks Iola Show Complex – a beautiful 60’ x 224’ long metal, NASCAR garage-style building. We had a good flow of traffic each day, with the most concentrated amount Friday morning while it was raining outside. The booth traffic seemed different this year with more sporadic groups of people coming through, as opposed to last year when the crowd was more consistent throughout the day.

VIEW GALLERY

 

Goodguys EventJuly 8-10, 2022: Goodguys – Columbus, OH

Adam Brown & Mike Sherrill – Midwest Area

Adam and Mike attended Goodguys, with Friday experiencing rain early and late in the day. Traffic was light, but steady throughout the day. Customers continued to ask about big-ticket items. Between C10s and the typical Tri-5 Chevy applications, we had customers taking advantage of sale discounts along with asking plenty of tech across the board.  Educating the customers is also a dominant factor at any Goodguys event, especially Columbus being the go-to show this time of the year.

VIEW GALLERY

 

Bloomsburg 4x4 JamboreeJuly 8-10, 2022: Bloomsburg 4×4 Jamboree – Bloomsburg, PA

Jay Lambert – NE Area

This is a selling event! We attended in support of A&A Auto Stores, who brings product to sell.  They have a building on the fairgrounds all to themselves, which draws people in and out of the heat.  Many of the people we spoke with came specifically to buy parts.  There was a mixture of Jeep and truck owners, with a disproportionate amount of them being single cab trucks (typically one or two body styles back from current).

VIEW GALLERY

 

 

Motor State ChallengeJuly 14-16, 2022: Motor State Challenge – Berrien County, MI

Cary Exline & Adam Brown – MI Area

The Motor State Challenge is a three-day, PRO-Touring event based in southwest Michigan. The event features a scenic cruise throughout Berrien County, Michigan, an all-day track session at GingerMan Raceway and a full day of autocross competition at the Tire Rack in South Bend, Indiana.  A long time event by Lane Automotive, customers are signed up months in advance!

VIEW GALLERY

 

Street Machine NationalsJuly 15-17 2022: Street Machine Nationals – Minnesota State Fair Grounds

Matt Ross & Mike Maul – Midwest Area

Matt and Mike worked all three days of this year’s Street Machine Nationals. The car count and spectator numbers were better than we saw last year.  Saturday was the busiest as always and confirmed with Bonnier Events staff that the car count was over 4,000.

Overall, it was a very good show and improved attendance over last year, which was nice to see.  It is a more locally attended show compared to Back to the 50’s with most from MN, WI and IA.  We did hear that next year they have a new corporate sponsor, Mountain Dew!  We are hoping this will help bring in more vendors and better advertising ,which should help the traffic even more. 

VIEW GALLERY

 

July 15-17, 2022: NJ Jeep Invasion – Wildwood, NJ

Jay Lambert – NE Area

The NJ Jeep Invasion takes place on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey. There were about 2,500 Jeeps and over 100 vendors in attendance.

This event has been growing over the years, with this year having the largest vendor area so far.  There were a lot of first time and new Jeep owners in this crowd. This is more of an accessory crowd than a hardcore wheeling one.

VIEW GALLERY

Eastwood Open HouseJuly 23, 2022: Eastwood Open House – Pottstown, PA

Jay Lambert – NE Area

This event grew from last year, with a few hundred cars and 15 vendors. Eastwood is primarily known for tools and restoration supplies, but has been expanding into parts sales rapidly.  They made a big push to get more vendors to attend this year and we think this will help draw more cars and customers next time around.  The event was well attended overall, with a mixture of classic cars and some more modern muscle.

VIEW GALLERY

 

SEMA GalaJuly 29, 2022: SEMA Gala – Anaheim, CA

Ed Monte – West (PitCrew)

SEMA’s Gala, previously known as the Installation Banquet, was held at the new Westin-Anaheim Resort across from Disney this year.  Best-known for a long evening during the Thursday evening SEMA Banquet in November, the Gala now gives appropriate time and honor for this year’s Hall of Fame Inductees. Being celebrated this year were Gene Winfield, Jack Roush and Walker Evans.  Side note – Ed has had the pleasure of working with Walker and his son, Evan, for many years and enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with them at their table and reminisce!  Along with the Inductees, the event allows many of the recognizable faces of the industry to take off their company hats and enjoy time to catch up and tell stories face-to-face again.

VIEW GALLERY

 

OPG Open HouseJuly 30, 2022: Original Parts Group Open House – Seal Beach, CA

Bill Eagan – West Area

Original Parts Group celebrated their 40th anniversary with a maxed-out parking lot of 200 participants on a terrific warm SoCal Saturday.  Special show prices had the counter full of folks taking advantage…parts were being picked up straight out of the warehouse.  Plus, for those who needed information – there were plenty of manufacturer tents on hand to answer consumer questions.  OPG’s Wes Nielsen kept the crowd looking at their tickets for awards and prizes throughout the one-day event!

VIEW GALLERY

Event Recap: June 2022

 

Silver Lake Jeep Invasion

June 2-5, 2022: Silver Lake Jeep Invasion – Golden Township Park, MI

Cary Exline & Adam Brown – Michigan Area

Cary and Adam spent the weekend at the Silver Lake Jeep Invasion. The weather was perfect, and attendance was wonderful – over 1,000 registered Jeeps! They participated in the Lane Automotive Breakfast and cruise to the dunes. The concern over gas prices seemed to keep some away from the cruise, but overall, it was a great weekend and well-attended. Cary and Adam set up in the vendor tent where they were able to show off parts and play in the dunes a bit with Cary’s Jeep!

VIEW GALLERY

 

Carlisle Ford NationalsJune 3-5, 2022: Carlisle Ford Nationals – Carlisle, PA

Jay Lambert – NE Area

Jay attended the Carlisle Ford Nationals in support of A&A Auto Stores and set up shop in their tent.  Far and away the most popular car at the event was the S550 Mustang.  We also saw a lot of the 11-14 cars, but the S550 probably outnumbered everything else 2:1.  There weren’t a lot of classics, and nearly every car they saw was Fox body or newer. This was probably the best-attended Carlisle show in terms of car count and the vendor midway.  Ford had a huge presence, and the midway being so packed was a big draw for consumers.

VIEW GALLERY

CARS Inc.June 4, 2022: CARS, Inc., – Rochester, MI

Bob Harrell, Tim Carnacchi & Jason Sugden – Michigan Area

Tim, Jason and Bob attended the CARS, Inc. Open House event, where over 300 vehicles showed up, leaving the large trailer steady all day. Customers had no concerns about rising gas prices or inflation. Many customers were involved in full rebuilds and were eager to get the parts they needed to finish the job. C-10 was by far the most popular vehicle present. We were able to  send many customers inside with part numbers to place an order with CARS.

VIEW GALLERY

Meyer Customer Appreciation EventJune 16-17, 2022: Meyer Customer Appreciation Event – Jasper, IN

Tom VanBuren & Ron Piasecki – Midwest Area

Ron and Tom attended the Meyer Customer Appreciation Event, which was primarily for truck and Jeep accessory customers. The show was well attended and as usual, Meyer put on a great event for its customers. They make the event so that it is not only a selling show, but also time spent with the customer to build the relationships. Meyer felt the show was very successful, and it gave us the opportunity to get to talk with the jobbers in attendance.

VIEW GALLERY

Back to the 50'sJune 17-19, 2022: Back to the 50’s – St. Paul, MN

Matt Ross & Mike Maul – Midwest Area

As usual, the Back to the 50’s event was largely attended!  From what we saw Friday and Saturday, it was likely the largest event we have ever worked from an attendance standpoint. Sunday was lighter and there were near-record temperatures that likely kept people closer to an air conditioner.

About 50% of the conversations we had were Mustang II ,which is expected at this event, followed by Chevelle, then C-10 and F-100. Dealers like Danny’s Rod Shop, Yogi’s, Speedway and Summit were doing great with customers! 

VIEW GALLERY

 

Car Parts Machine & EngineJune 18, 2022: Car Parts Parts Machine Father’s Day Cruise-In – El Paso, TX

Mike Sharp – West Area

Car Parts Machine & Engine was started in 1920 and has been El Paso’s go-to machine shop for nitty-gritty engine rebuilds.  Now with a modern emphasis on performance and speed parts (and a bar behind the counter!) they’re striving to keep the El Paso community engaged with the latest in tech for today’s enthusiasts!

VIEW GALLERY