Auto Racing Ads Reach D-l-Yers

Home improvement stores increasingly are looking to auto racing to carry their message to do-it-yourselfers.

Research shows that racing fans are loyal to their favorite drivers and the drivers' corporate sponsors. In addition, motorsports fans tend to be d-iyers.

"The typical NASCAR fan that shops our store spends 25Vo more than the average customer does," says Robert Tillman, chairman and ceo of Lowe's Cos.

Lowe's, which has sponsored a car in the Winston Cup races since 1995, will spend more than $20 million this year on racing-related advertising.

The company plasters its name and logo all over a car driven by Mike Skinner, even under the hood.

Home Depot joined the fray this year and will spend far less, but , says advertising manager Dick Sullivan, "hopefully, we'll outsmart them."

In February, Home Depot began sponsoring a car owned by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, with driver Tony Stewart.

"We intend to make a total commitment to NASCAR," Sullivan says.

"We will build three 53-foot rigs, the largest on the road, to carry our message to our more than 700 stores. At as many as he can make, Tony will be there to sign autographs and sometimes talk to our guests."

Depot is distributing 80 million ad inserts featuring Stewart and Gibbs' Pontiac. estimated to reach 80Vo of U.S. households. In a cross-promotion with Coca-Cola, Stewart's visage will appear on thousands of vending machines at Home Depot stores.

The chain also acquired the rights to become "the official home improvement warehouse" of NASCAR.

In response, Lowe's paid Speedway Motor Sports Inc. to become "the official home improvement warehouse of Speedway Motorsports." As part of the deal, Lowe's is the only home improvement chain that will be allowed to erect billboards at the six tracks operated by Speedway. And, the Charlotte Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., has been renamed Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Auto racing promotions, advertising and sponsorships also have been successful for product manufacturers and other retailers such as Ace Hardware and True Value, which awards $2,500 to the "Hard Charger of the Race," the drivers who run the most laps in the top three positions.

Wood Vs. Concrete Study

Wood construction is faster and less expensive than concrete construction, according to two studies commissioned by the Florida Wood Council.

The first compared the cost, under the South Florida Building Code, of a two-story concrete block home shell and an identical wood-framed shell.

Designed to meet ll0 mph winds, the shells were engineered with a formed and poured bond beam at the second floor and roof line. The concrete home took eight weeks from the pouring of the slab to the completion of the shell, while the wood shell took five weeks.

The second study, based on state adopted alternatives to meeting wind loads, compared identical single story structures built according to the Standard Building Code.

Both showed an approximately 2OVo cost advantage of wood over concrete.

Randy llunter is the new sales mgr. for Metcalf Lumber Co., Metcalf, Ga., replacing Osborn Chastain, who has left the company.

Darrell Pace, previously with Great Southern Wood heserving, is the new mgr. of the treating division at McKinney Lumber, Muscle Shoals, Al.

Don Kennon is now senior v.p.strategic planning & rcal estate for Scotty's, Winter Haven, Fl. Bob Bruner is senior v.p.-merchandising, and C.R. Gaines general mgr. of Scotty's 57 hardware stores.

Bobby Smith, Morris ToIIy, Greg Turnage and Bob Lanier have been promoted from area mgrs. to area v.p.'s at Pelican Companies, Inc., Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Sean McDonald is the new mgr. of 84 Lumber, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Jim Robinson is mgr. in Wilmington, N.C.

Karl Brohammer has left the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association.

Ricky DeZayas is mgr. for Home Depot, Pharr, Tx. Bob Graff is mgr. in Decatur, Al.

Randy Luebe has been promoted to v.p.-business development at Distribution Management Systems, Inc.

Robert Niblock has been promoted to senior v.p.-finance for Lowe's Cos., North Wilkesboro, N.C. Marshall Croop succeeds him as v.p. and treasurer. Gary Demster is mgr. of the new store in Murfreesboro, Tn., with Mike Cooper co-mgr.

Thomas M. Green, Senco hoducts, Inc., has been elected chairman of the board for the International Staple, Nail and Tool Association. Craig A. Hindman, Paslode, is vice chairman.

Tom Wood, ex-Cameron Ashley Building Products, has formed Channel Marketing Solutions, Dallas, Tx., a consulting firm.

Rustin Shields has been named manufacturing mgr. of ceiling and fiberboard manufacturing plants for Celotex Corp., Tampa, Fl.

Phil Bishop, Graham Manufacturing Co., has been elected chairman of the Window & Door Manufacturers Association. Rick Liddell. V-T Industries, Inc., is vice chairman; Peter Dempsey, Jeld-Wen, Inc., vice-chairman, window division, and Ken Hallgren, Hurd Millwork, treasurer. New directors: Clare Knechtel, KML Windows, Inc.; Kurt Heikkila, Andersen Corp.; Kurt Liebich, Trus Joist MacMillan, and Brian Ennis, Truth Hardware.

Jim Marsh, ex-Ricerca Inc., is now with Griffin, Inc., Valdosta, Ga.

Todd Christiansen has been promoted to business mgr.-specialty products for L.L. Building Products, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. Jason Gatt is product mgr. for HVAC products.

Michael J. Giglio has joined AEC Info as a mktg. director based in West Palm Beach, Fl.

Ryan A. Barry has been appointed Florida regional sales mgr. for General Products Co., Inc., Fredericksburg, Va.

Rick Hagel, Burns, Morris & Stewart, L.P., Nacogdoches, Tx., has been elected president of the Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers Association. New directors include Brian Greber, Weyerhaeuser Co., Hot Springs, Ar.

David Shell has been named senior v.p.-human resources at Cooper Industries, Houston, Tx., replacing Carl Plesnicher, who is retiring after 3l years.

Larry Porcellato is the new president of Stanley Works' mechanics tools division.

Jodi Lower Mahon has been promoted to v.p.-business & corporate development for General Cable, Highland Heights, Ky.

Chris Morgan has been named marketing coordinator for the National Hardwood Lumber Association, Memphis, Tn. Terry "Buck" Bridges, ex-Powell Lumber & Kilns, Bryson City, N.C., and Richard Wilson, ex-Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods Inc., Winchester, Tn., are new inspectors.

John Brennan, executive director, Southern Pressure Treaters Association, has received the 1999 Award of Merit from the American WoodPreservers' Association.

Neil Moss has been promoted to director of technical services at Triangle Pacific Flooring Group, Dallas, Tx. Dave Tompkins is mgr. of retail development; Randall Weeks, marketing services mgr., and Kefly Stowers, trade show mgr.

Craig Mclntyre has been named president of Mclntyre & Associates, Walls, Ms.

John Makuvek III is the new eastern sales mgr. for laminated power products at Anthony Forest Products Co.

Rep. Allan Ritter, Ritter Lumber Co., Nederland, Tx., has been appointed to the following Texas House committees: House Business & Industry, Local & Consent Calendars, and State Recreational Resources.

Tony Goodman, CB Goodman & Sons Lumber. has been elected president of the Kentucky Forest Industries Association, Louisville, Ky. Mitch Crews, Woodstock Mills, is v.p., and Dean Carter, sec./treasurer. George Crawford, Somerset Wood Products, is a new director; Kerry Anderson, Anderson Forest Products; Dave Feldman, Feldman Lumber, and Ray White, Harold White Lumber, were renominated. Tim Queary is assistant executive director.

Bill Prindle, director of building programs, Alliance to Save Energy, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Fenestration Rating Council.

Pierce Deere is now selling studs at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

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Personals

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Donald Elder. Elder Forest Products, Sulphur, La., is observing his 45th year in the lumber business.

Heather Martin has been aPPointed communications mgr. for Do it Best Corp. Tom Burroughs is new as general counsel.

Thomas D. Robinson is the new director of credit operations for Payless Cashways.

Carl Gates, 96, lumber broker, Dobbins Forest Products, Birmingham, Al., reportedly the oldest man in the industry, was honored as an "Outstanding Older Worker" at the second annual Frime Time Awards Dinner given by Green Thumb, Inc. He hasn't taken a vacation in 60 years.

Radu Craciun is the new technologY mgr. at ISK Biocides, MemPhis, Tn.

Dr. Richard Fisher has been elected second vice chairman of the American Forest and Paper Association,Washington, D.C., rePlacing Pat Noonan. Paul Hansen continues as chairman and Barbara Weber remains vice

Stock

l'trD chairman. Gerry Rose has joined the expert review panel, succeeding Marvin Brown, who has retired after four years.

Rosemary Colvin has been named president of Jackson Sawmill Co., Inc., Jackson, Al., succeeding her late father, J. Roy Whitehead. Her husband' William J. "Bill" Colvin, is now general manager.

Southern Association News

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Hardware Co., Morristown, Tn.

T"he llo%o Award was presented to Ken Lawson Jr., Thriftway, Inc., Owensboro

The Vendor of the Year Award went to Willis Corroon Corp., the Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealer Association's benefits advisor/insurance broker for 25 years.

Louisiana Building Material Dealers Association has set its summer conference for July l5-18 in Point Clear. Al.

Lumbermen's Association of Texas is putting the finishing touches

AI,I.-PIJRID0SE AI,TDIINATIVD

on its annual convention and buying market April 28-May 2 in San Antonio.

National Hardwood Lumber Association is sponsoring a grading short course April2l-23 at the NHLA Educational Building in Memphis, Tn.

Instructors for the course are Rich Hascher, director of NHLA's inspection school, and Terry Ryan, inspection school assistant.

American Wood-Preserverst Association will hold its annual meeting May l6-19 at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort. Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Sessions include: ave money on your inventory by stocking cypress in place of redwood and cedar. This beautiful, versatile, all around species, for exterior and interior use, finishes better than cedar or redwood and is more stable than southern pine.

We millto your specs-any pattern siding, plus finish, S4S, fine bevelhungalow sidings, 1" sidings, paneling, ceiling, wainscot stock and flooring. All kiln dried, from finish to common grades. No order too small. Call Carey Elder

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"Marketing Tips to Win in the Building Products Market,"

"Assessment and Remediation of Soil and Groundwater Contamination at Wood Treating Sites,"

"Optimizing Treating Plant Operations,"

"Wood Poles: Availability & Strategies for Optimizing Performance," and . a research symposium and technical forum.