He invited me to set up an appointment to visit ATC’s booth at SEMA. So I responded that I would be there at 10 a.m. on Friday of show week, and intended to conduct a sit-down interview with him.

Apparently he didn’t put two and two together. At least at first.

To make things efficient, I put together a list of questions I wanted to ask for our interview. When Friday arrived, I dutifully set off to find ATC’s booth, which was located on the upper floor of the South Hall, somewhat toward the back of the hall. ATC’s booth had one of its 63-inch tires and a 57-inch OTR unit bookending a long table that ran across the middle. The table was set up with chairs on either side, sort of like a family Thanksgiving table…minus, of course, food. And people.

I found Abraham at the far end of the table, fixated on his ever-present laptop. I walked over, introduced myself (we had met last year) and asked if he had time for our interview. I don’t like to be rude in these show-floor situations as you never know if someone has a sales thing to deal with. As I was the only non-ATC person there, it didn’t appear he was too busy. He nodded and smiled and asked me to take a seat.

Then it happened. The woman seated next to Abraham mumbled something in Chinese to him. I could make out two words: “Tire” and “Review.” The jig, as they say, was up.

I sat down, opened my folder and pulled out my digital recorder, and then reminded Abraham that I had responded to his email and set up the interview. He nodded acknowledgement, but said that “now would not be a good time.” I reiterated the appointment, but not too forcefully, trying to give him the opportunity to accept graciously. He didn’t bite, saying that he would be game for “friendly conversation” but would not do an interview “until we are further along with our Washington project.”

Fair enough, I said. But I expressed disappointment that we could not do the interview as scheduled. I suggested that perhaps I could send him the questions and have him respond in writing; he did not discourage me from doing so. We exchanged business cards and I departed. He went back to his laptop.

A colleague asked if I was disappointed that the interview didn’t go down. I never expected it to, but thought I might have a shot for a few questions before he cut me off. The lady seated next to him blew any chance of that happening. “I have all the time in the world,” I answered to my friend. “All the time in the world.”

So, for the sake of total transparency, here are the questions that I emailed to Abraham today. You’ll see the answers, word for word, if and when he responds. In the meantime, make up your own answers and send them along to me. The good ones might make it into this space.

1) What is status of American Tire Distributor’s suit against ATC, and what is ATC’s position. Why did you not respond to the suit in court or even attend any hearings?

2) Explain your past or current relationship with American Seashores International. Does that company still exist?

3) Please update me on ATC’s land purchase in Ephrata, Wash. What is going on there? What are ATC’s plans?

4) What is the status of the 1,000 acres of land in Washington ATC claimed to have purchased in August? Where is that property? Has it indeed been bought? By whom or what company?

5) Why are you choosing to use the name Washington Tire Corp. in connection to your plans in Ephrata?

6) Earlier you claimed to be starting operations in Washington in August. What was started and where? You claimed a 500,000-square-foot facility “for the first phase is almost done.” What is that?

7) Talk about ATC’s attempts to buy Goodyear’s OTR plant. Were they serious? Goodyear claims to have never received correspondence from ATC. What is your response to that?

8) According to your claims, ATC is backed by the U.S. government. What actual backing are you receiving from the government?

9) In September, ATC claimed to be building a mold factory to support its planned OTR tire plant in Washington. Where is that mold facility located? When will it be opened and operating?

10) What is your relationship with the World Hongming Foundation? What does the Foundation do? Are you an employee of the Foundation?

11) At the recent MinExpo, ATC claimed that it wrote $500 million worth of business at the show. That is an extraordinary figure. Are you prepared to back that claim up with actual proof? Who is buying all of those tires?

12) At that same show, ATC claimed that competitors vandalized its booth. What specifically happened? How was ATC’s booth vandalized? How do you know it was competitors?

13) What dealers in the U.S. and Canada are distributing ATC-produced tires?

14) Where are ATC’s tires produced right now? What companies in what countries are producing them?

15) Given ATC’s track record of playing fast and loose with the truth, why should any North American tire dealer do business with you?

If you have comments to share, send to me at [email protected].

– Jim Smith