4 • July 2024 • Powersports Business

After 37 years under Randy and Sheryl Fork ’ s ownership , Honda East Toledo has been purchased by one of the largest family-owned powersports dealership groups in the U . S . The sale marks the fourth dealership sale managed by Powersports Listings M & A ( PLMA ) to the Adventure Lifestyle group within the last 18 months .

Prior deals include Olive Branch Motor- Sports in Olive Branch , Missouri , Tejas Motorsports in Highlands , Texas , and Big Easy Powersports in New Orleans , Louisiana . Adventure Lifestyle is a subsidiary of the privately owned equity management company , The TRNT Group , which focuses on eight major business sectors : powersports retail , automotive retail , construction services , development and design , equipment leasing , property management , outdoor entertainment , and real estate investment .

Adventure Lifestyle ’ s powersports retail sector has grown into one of the largest major brand powersports dealership operators in the U . S . PLMA worked directly with TRNT

Group CEO Kevin Walker and COO David Walker as the buyer principals .

Honda East Toledo is one of the single largest Powersports dealerships by sales volume in the U . S . With roots dating back to 1986 , the dealership represents over 15 brands including Honda , Yamaha , Kawasaki , Suzuki , Polaris , Indian Motorcycle , Slingshot , Can- Am , Sea-Doo , Ski-Doo and more . It sells over 2,200 major units annually from a 35,000 square foot complex of four buildings situated directly along U . S . Hwy 20 in the southwest quadrant of the Toledo , Ohio , Metro area .

Upon the decision to retire , owners Randy and Sheryl Fork contacted Jerry Szopinski , PLMA ’ s president of sales and networking , to confidentially market the business and assist with agreement negotiations . Given Honda East Toledo ’ s massive size , Szopinski knew it would require a large strategic buyer . Szopinski had been working with David Walker of the TRNT Group for several years when he convinced him to visit the Toledo dealership and then make an offer . The full transition of

Honda East Toledo is one of the single largest Powersports dealerships by sales volume in the U . S ., with roots dating back to 1986 . Photo courtesy of PLMA

ownership was recently finalized .

Powersports Listings Mergers & Acquisitions ( PLMA ) in Dallas , Texas , managed the transaction as the seller ’ s representative .

LeMans Corporation has announced the addition of Kipp Podlewski to its team as vice president of Supply Chain . With a rich background of senior-level roles in multinational corporations , Podlewski will bring a high level of expertise to the company .

In his role , Podlewski will be responsible for overseeing Purchasing and all other facets of Supply Chain . This includes developing and implementing innovative strategies for procurement , logistics and distribution , further enhancing LeMans Corporation ’ s position in the powersports aftermarket sector .

Podlewski joins LeMans with over 24 years in diverse roles at Harley-Davidson and a total of 30 years with Supply Chain and Operations . He looks forward to rekindling longstanding supplier relationships and building new ones throughout the industry . His extensive knowledge and expertise are expected to be invaluable in guiding LeMans Corporation through its next phase of growth and development .

Originally from southwest Michigan , Podlewski now calls Waukesha , Wisconsin , home . Beyond work , he spends time with his wife and two sons at family gatherings and enjoys culinary pursuits , hiking , traveling , and riding his Road Glide .

LeMans has also has hired Larry Ruedinger as its chief financial officer . The company shares that , because of his rich accounting background in multinational corporations , Ruedinger brings excellent financial expertise to the business .

Ruedinger has over 25 years of experience working first in public accounting , then for publicly traded and privately held organizations ranging in size from $ 350 million to over $ 15 billion . His primary focus has been manufacturing and distribution with global companies , two of which were in the automotive and powersports markets . He has held all positions in accounting and finance , covering strategic planning , reporting , forecasting , audit , tax , treasury and mergers , and acquisitions .

A Wisconsin native , Ruedinger developed an interest in motorsports from working on cars alongside his father , who owned a garage . In his free time , Ruedinger ’ s interests include taking cars to car shows and

Sloan ’ s Motorcycle & ATV in Murfreesboro , Tennessee , has been sold from Bill Sloan , Curtis Sloan , Matt Sloan , and Julie Link to Cannon Kirk of Kirk Auto Group .

Sloan ’ s Motorcycle & ATV was founded in 1960 by Bill Sloan . His love of motorcycles began over 80 years ago when he purchased his first Harley-Davidson . He decided to develop a side business to support his passion for bikes , which developed into a multi-generational , family-owned and operated business . The dealership grew from a one-line , 1,000 square foot store to a multi-brand 55,000 square foot dealership in the community of Murfreesboro .

Following the sale , Curtis Sloan , president and chief executive officer for Sloan ’ s Motorcycle & ATV commented , “ As a third-generation , family-owned dealership established in 1960 , selling was not on our radar . However , family health issues brought us to consider a transition . Juan Pardo of Performance Brokerage Services visited with us at our dealership and helped us understand the buy-sell process and how we could maximize the value of many decades of labor . Not only was Juan and his team instrumental in finding the perfect buyer

See Sloan ’ s Tennessee , Page 5

Pictured from left to right are Morgan ( Mo ) Kirk , Cannon Kirk , Bill Sloan , Curtis Sloan , Matt Sloan , and Julie Link . Photo courtesy of Performance Brokerage Services

Kipp Podlewski joins LeMans as vice president of Supply Chain and offers over 24 years of experience with Harley-Davidson . Photo courtesy of LeMans

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