From May 1 through July 31, KYMCO challenged its dealers to a sales shoot-out that would determine the brand’s top producers for the summer season. After three months, the two top sales producers were determined.

The winner in the two-wheel market segment was Robbie DeMeulenaere of K&W Cycle in Utica, Mich. He sold the most scooters during the three-month period. Dustin Sweeten of Powerhouse Motorsports in Pleasant Grove, Ut. took the four-wheel title by moving the most KYMCO ATV and UXV side-by-side models out his dealership’s door.

The two winners will take delivery of the grand prize in their segment. For DeMeulenaere, that’s a new KYMCO Xciting 500Ri Scooter. Sweeten will receive a KYMCO UXV 500 Side X Side.

With  additions to the company’s family of distributor partners, Maruyama U.S., Inc. is organizing training programs designed to successfully introduce the company’s people, products, and programs.

Recently, Chris Martin (Regional Sales Manager) and Jay Larsen (Technical Sales Support Manager) conducted a two-day training meeting for employees at Smiths South-Central Sales Co. in Springhill, La. In attendance for SSC was each of the six territory sales managers (representing Maruyama in the states Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas), the technical services manager, and principals Billy and Robert Smith.

Polaris Industries Inc. today announced the company received orders from the U.S. Army to provide additional vehicles, parts and accessories of the company’s highly successful militarized ATV, the MV700, for operations in Afghanistan. The MV700 already has proven to be a very versatile vehicle in supporting a wide variety of missions conducted in urban, rural, mountain and desert areas worldwide. Values of these orders exceed $6 million and deliveries are planned for later this year.

For the last five years, Polaris Defense has been supplying a family of vehicles to the U.S. Department of Defense as well as other government agencies and US allies. Their mission is to provide the U.S. Armed Forces and its allies with the world’s toughest, militarized ATVs and Side-by-Side Vehicles. For more information about Polaris Defense, visit www.polarisdefense.com.

A Kennewick, Wash. lawn mower business, Farmers Exchange, recently announced its “Cash 4 Junkers” program, a trade-in program for old mowers.

Farmers Exchange modeled “Cash 4 Junkers” on the government auto rebate program, Cash for Clunkers. Toro Co. will head the program, and rebates will be between $40 and $2,000. This program offers new mowers to consumers below usual dealership price tags. The program, while supplies last, will extend through Oct. 1.

To be eligible for Cash 4 Junkers, consumers must trade-in mowers that are 5-years-old or older. The trade-in mowers can be any make and any condition, as they will be recycled for metal.

Ideal Computer Systems has been invited by Bob Clements Intl. to be the official software provider for the new High-Performance Service Department pavilion at this year’s GIE+EXPO.  The expo takes place October 29-31, in Louisville, Ky.

The High-Performance Service Department will serve as a how-to pavilion, simulating how a highly efficient service department operates.  Ideal representatives will be on-hand to help educate dealers on ways industry-specific software can streamline their entire service department, as well as all other areas of their business including inventory control, customer management, sales & invoicing, accounting, purchasing, and reporting.

Bob Clements Intl. is heading the event and will offer training sessions and tours of the pavilion.  In addition to Ideal, several top manufacturers will also be showcasing their best service practices including Ariens, Cub Cadet, Heftee, Husqvarna, Hustler Turf Equipment, Stens, and Stihl.

Polaris Industries has had a tough two months, recalling 4,700 ATVs in July, then recalling 3,800 UTVs in early August in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The July recall involved nine different models of Polaris’ Sportsman XP 850 ATV due to a valve assembly that can fail in freezing temperatures and allow oil to leak into the exhaust system where it could pose a fire and burn hazard to the rider. The company has received six reports of the valve assembly failing in freezing temperatures, resulting in three small fires. Minor fire damage to air boxes, ignition coils and the seat were reported. The units were sold by Polaris dealers nationwide from September 2008 through June 2009.

The August recall involved seven  2009 Polaris Ranger side-by-side, off-road models sold by Polaris dealers nationwide from December 2008 through July 2009. There is the risk of an electrical short which can lead to overheating in the rear tail light wiring harnesses, posing a fire hazard to consumers. The firm has received 46 reports of overheating in the vehicle’s tail light area, resulting in melting of the plastic. In 22 of these reports, consumers reported small flames. No injuries have been reported.

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) held its 13th annual Day of Renewal and Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery this month. Hundreds of green industry professionals helped complete several projects outlined by cemetery officials.

More than 300 companies shut down their businesses for a weekend to spend the day mulching, caring for and cabling trees, installing irrigation systems, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating the soil. In all, over $200,000 in goods and services were donated by the participants.

Stihl brought television personality P. Allen Smith to film segments for his Gardens and Garden Home programs.

“We are proud and humbled to help honor in some small way those members of our Armed Services who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for Stihl Inc. “This is sacred and hallowed ground, and we believe that by helping to maintain its beauty, we honor our nation’s fallen and their families.

Emak USA recently signed AES Lawn Parts and Scotsco, Inc. as new distributors for Efco power equipment.

AES Lawn Parts is located in Olathe, Kansas and will represent the entire Efco line in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Scotsco is located in Milwaukie, Oregon and will cover the states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

For more information about Efco power equipment, visit www.efcopower.com.

Holding company Fieldbury Plc, with shares traded on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, has sold its investment in Dixie Sales Co. to Dixie’s senior management and a group of Fieldbury Shareholders in a transaction completed July 31, 2009.

Dixie Sales is now owned by three groups of shareholders, including members of the senior management team (Harold Reiter, CEO, Mike Rounsavall, President, and Jim Starmer, Executive Director), Barrett Corp. (through subsidiary BMG Holdings Ltd.) and a group of independent investors associated with Barrett Corp.

Officials with KYMCO and Kawasaki recently announced the signing of a joint venture contract to form a high-performance engine manufacturer, Changzhou Kawasaki and Kwang Yang Engine Co., Ltd.(CK&K), in China’s Changzhou National Hi-Tech District (CZND). The new company is expected to commence production in January 2010. Engines from CK&K will be mainly exported to the North American market and distributed around the world under the Kawasaki and KYMCO brands. Anticipated production volume will reach 890,000 units.