Source: Akebono Brake Corporation
Farmington Hills, Mich. – In coordination with WORLDPAC, Akebono Brake Corporation hosted some of WORLDPAC’s best Akebono customers, in an event filled weekend at the 25th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise. Winners of a sales contest were treated to two-and-a-half days jam-packed with entertainment related to the Automotive Industry, in non-other than the birthplace of the automobile, Detroit.
“Early in the year, when the planning for our partnered event started, we came up with the idea of holding it in Detroit,” stated Edward Gerhardt Akebono Marketing & Data Services Manager at Akebono. “What better time or place than holding it in August with the main attraction being the 25th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise?” The symbolic event, which was held on August 17th, and more than one million in attendance, viewing roughly 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles.
The Akebono/WORLDPAC event started on Thursday evening with a guided tour of downtown Detroit by the Detroit Experience Factory driving down the same streets of some of the world’s first automobiles, reviewing history of 100-plus-year-old buildings as well as the remarkable revitalization & expansion of developments, new and old. The evening was closed-out with dinner at the Detroit Shipping Company.
Friday started at Akebono Brake Corporations North American Headquarters for Research and Design, with a formal presentation by Akebono and Industry veteran Bob Peters Chief Engineer of Friction and a facility tour filled with interactive displays. All attendees received a gift bag along with a custom made, personalized brake pad, to remember the event. The afternoon included a trip to Dearborn, Mich. where attendees, experienced Ford’s Rouge Factory Tour, one of many activities at The Henry Ford, where they witnessed the manufacture of, the Ford F-150. Friday concluded with a mostly quiet evening at The Lingenfelter Collection of cars in Brighton, Mich., a private collection of almost 200 cars in the 40,000-sq.-ft. facility. In attendance was Ken Lingenfelter, who met and mingled with the group throughout the evening. The evening ending with a jolt; when the exotic Enzo Ferrari was brought to life, for all to hear, an exotic car with a very unique sound.
Saturday morning started about 9:00 am with the early-birds, gathering at the group’s reserved spot, located along the East side of Woodward, just North of 14 Mile Road in the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise Event. The weather throughout the day was near perfect, which brought out anything and everything imaginable that had wheels and a motor. The evening concluded with a group dinner at the hotel where newly formed friends, shared their unique, personal experiences.
“The event was a complete success, it couldn’t have gone better,” stated Jeff Puccini Brand Marketing Manager at WORLDPAC. “This is one of those things, as you are planning or if you were attending, you think, yeah that sounds fun, it should be OK. This was not just an OK event, I know every person went home completely amazed and will forever remember this experience.”
About Akebono Brake Corporation
Akebono Brake Corporation, North America’s leading supplier of advanced braking systems and pioneer of ceramic friction technology. A leader in ceramic friction material development and production, with a focus on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), analysis and control. Akebono sells Ultra-Premium Ceramic Disc Brake Pads, Made in the USA for the Automotive Aftermarket under the brands ProACT, EURO and Akebono Performance.
About WORLDPAC
Headquartered in Newark, Calif., WORLDPAC is an importer and distributor of original equipment and quality aftermarket replacement automotive parts. With over 120,000 SKUs and 11 million applications covering 41 car lines, the company provides brand recognized automotive parts directly to independent import and domestic service centers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. WORLDPAC also offers customer services such as their highly praised technical and business training, as well as targeted customer marketing solutions.
