May 1st is the 15th annual International Female Ride Day. As a returning partner, Polaris Slingshot announced its ‘Women Behind the Wheel’ initiative, an experiential program designed to create an inviting space for like-minded women who share the same passion and enthusiasm for driving.

Kicking off in Houston, Slingshot’s Women Behind the Wheel initiative will welcome women and aspiring riders to a full day of driving. The one-day event will focus on bringing women together and get them out on the road behind the wheel of a Slingshot. Guests will have the opportunity to demo the 2021 Slingshot lineup, ask questions during product walkarounds, and meet female Slingshot owners. Following Houston’s Ride Day event on May 1st, Slingshot’s Women Behind the Wheel program will activate once per quarter in different cities around the country.

“We proudly celebrate the female riding community. As more and more women are turning to powersports as a recreational hobby, we want to empower those aspiring riders and welcome them,” said Collett Mazula, senior marketing manager for Polaris Slingshot.

The National Museum of Military Vehicles announced that it will hold a public ceremony May 15 to honor the veterans who participated in the Mayaguez rescue on the 46^th anniversary of the Vietnam War battle.

During the ceremony, a Mayaguez Tribute Truck escorted by Patriot Guards Riders will be donated to the museum. Once the Tribute Truck reaches the museum, the names of the 41 Americans who fell during the battle will be read and honored with TAPS, followed by a reunion of surviving Mayaguez veterans.

“The Mayaguez rescue performed on May 15, 1975 was the last battle of the Vietnam War,” said Doug Cubbison, Curator of NMMV. “The names of the 41 Americans who perished in this battle are the last 41 names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The 46^th anniversary of the battle is a fitting occasion for the museum to publicly remember and honor both the fallen and the survivors of this battle.”

“Terry Brooks, a veteran of the Mayaguez rescue, created a Tribute Truck to ensure that the sacrifice of those who fell during this battle is always remembered,” said Alynne Catron, Executive Director of NMMV. “Terry is donating the Tribute Truck to our museum to preserve and share in perpetuity with the public.”

The Mayaguez incident: On May 12, 1975, a U.S. flagged cargo ship, the S.S. Mayaguez and its crew were seized by a Cambodian Khmer Rouge naval vessel. President Gerald Ford ordered military action to force the Cambodians to return the ship and release its crew. This rescue mission by the Marines, Navy, and Air Force took place on May 15, 1975. During the ensuing combat, 25 Air Force pilots and crew, two Navy Corpsmen, and fourteen Marines were killed in action while another fifty Americans were wounded. The Khmer Rouge released the Mayaguez and its crew unharmed.

The ceremony commemorating the Mayaguez rescue will begin at 10 a.m., May 15 in Dubois, Wyo.

Automotive Finance Corporation (AFC) has promoted Will Mitchell to chief operating officer. In this position, Mitchell will oversee AFC field and business operations with a continued focus on business development and commercial operations.

“Mitchell is an incredibly strategic thinker and vision-driven leader with a proven track record of success,” said Jim Money, president of AFC. “In his expanded role, Mitchell is responsible for leading AFC’s operations strategy and execution to ensure we are positioned to continue serving our customers in their preferred manner, either in person or digitally.”

As chief operating officer, Mitchell will draw on his deep understanding of the needs of the independent dealer to ensure AFC continues to provide industry leading, customer-first services and solutions. He will also continue to lead AFC’s product development and market partnership efforts with a focus on forging and strengthening strategic partnerships.

“I’m thrilled to extend my focus to empowering our team with valuable tools and resources that provide timely service and convenient solutions for AFC’s customers,” Mitchell said. “AFC has been a leader in the automotive financing industry for over 30 years and I look forward to building upon that legacy.”

Mitchell joined AFC in 2015 as director of strategic initiatives. In 2018, he was promoted to vice president of business development and commercial operations. In that role, Mitchell was instrumental in the launch of several new AFC products, including Daily Tab and Rebuilder, as well as aiding in the company’s continued digital evolution. Prior to his time with AFC, Mitchell worked for various companies in business development roles specializing in strategic initiatives.

John Brasher will join the executive leadership team at EBlock as the chief operating officer, focused on the company’s rapid expansion into the U.S. market.

Brasher brings more than 30 years of automotive auction knowledge and experience to the senior leadership team. He joins EBlock from ServNet, where he held the position of executive director. Prior to that, he was president of Brasher’s West Coast Auto Auctions from 2001 to 2016. He worked for two years as a general manager for ADESA, and was a founding partner of AuctionPipeline in 2005, which is now Auction Edge.

“The transformation to digital in the auction space is happening now and it’s happening quickly,” Brasher said. “The automotive wholesale business needs a partner that is committed to meeting their customers where they are. I believe EBlock is that partner, and I’m excited to be part of this exciting chapter in our industry.”

“We are excited to have an industry icon like John join EBlock,” said Jason McClenahan, president and CEO of EBlock. “EBlock is seeing tremendous growth, both in Canada and the United States. His experience and passion for the industry, will only accelerate that momentum. I look forward to working closely with John as we shape the digital auction landscape, to the evolving needs of our customers.

Brasher, a third-generation automotive entrepreneur, has served on numerous industry boards and association committees, and has played an active role whenever possible in the remarketing industry. He steps into his new role as COO of EBlock on May 3.