As the automobile itself has evolved from a Spartan frame with a hand crank to today’s sophisticated electronics, telematics, and alternative propulsion systems, certain models still stand out as milestones in that evolutionary process. Even before General Motors established the industry’s first full-time in-house design organization in 1927, its cars were setting the trend for others to follow. Since the company’s creation in 1908, it has developed literally thousands of different models of production vehicles around the world, and dozens of them are still considered classics and milestones in design, performance, and innovation. While every automotive historian and car club aficionado has his or her own idea of which production cars have had the most impact, all would agree that GM models over the past
hundred years have earned a prominent place on any list.

The following “Top 10” list of GM production vehicles is just a sampling of the hundreds of GM cars which set design and technology trends across the globe — a proud heritage which lives on today. Everyone who has ever owned a car or truck has a favorite model that stands out from all others. So, which ones would be on your own list? And which ones would you add to your own “Top 10” list of vehicles that stand out from the rest of the pack? This list was initially developed by GM archivists and historians and then reviewed by GM senior leaders. The list of the vehicles is in chronological order.

#2
1964 Pontiac GTO: The First “Muscle” Car
High-performance cars have always been cool, but the Pontiac GTO made them cool to a whole new generation and created a whole new market segment. Before the GTO made its debut, “performance cars” were generally full-size cars powered by the largest displacement engines available. The idea behind the 1964 GTO was to put such an engine in a midsize car to deliver even more power and performance. The first GTO was actually a Pontiac Tempest with a standard 389 cubic inch V-8 engine that delivered 325 horsepower. The GTO also featured 14-inch wheels, a firmer suspension, hood scoops, dual exhaust, and sporty trim. It all added up to the birth of what came to be known as the “muscle” car era. Pontiac’s original plan was to build just 5,000 GTOs for the 1964 model year: it ended up selling more than 32,000 that first year alone and many dealers had to put customers on waiting lists. The GTO quickly became a pop legend, featured in films and television action series and in the classic rock song, “Little GTO,” performed by Ronnie & the Daytonas, which sold more than a million records.

General Motors announced today it will add a 1.2 megawatt solar power installation to the roof of its transmission assembly plant in White Marsh, Maryland.

The system will be deployed under an agreement with SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider. Under the agreement, SunEdison will finance, install, operate and maintain the system.

When fully operational in the third quarter of 2009, the system will be one of the largest rooftop solar installations on the East Coast. The system will consist of more than 8,700 solar panels and will sit on approximately 300,000 square feet of roof space.

The installation will generate about 1.4 million kWh of clean renewable solar energy, which is equivalent to the demand of about 140-150 U.S. households with an average annual consumption of 10,000 kWh. Additionally, the installation will enable GM to displace about 20 percent of the plant’s current power purchased from the local utility with a renewable energy resource, while reducing the plant’s utility bill.

“This project will help GM reduce costs while serving as a clean, renewable energy source,” said John R. Buttermore, GM Powertrain Vice President of Global Manufacturing. “Through innovation and commitment, GM is making a significant, positive impact on the environmental issues facing our world.”

The White Marsh plant reached landfill-free status in 2007, because it no longer sends any production waste to local landfills. All the waste generated at the facility is entirely recycled or reused. The Baltimore plant is GM’s first global manufacturing facility to operate landfill-free and have a solar power installation.

The State of Maryland has made an aggressive commitment to developing and promoting renewable energy sources and the GM project has support from the highest levels of the state government.

“Maryland is quickly becoming a national leader in sustainable energy alternatives,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “We’re proud that GM is making this clean energy pledge at their Baltimore County plant, demonstrating their commitment as responsible corporate citizens to the long-term future of the environment we share as Marylanders.”

GM currently has two of the largest solar power installations in the United States on the roofs of its Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana, California parts warehouses. Upon completion later this year, GM also will have the world’s largest rooftop solar power installation at its Zaragoza, Spain car assembly plant.

“GM is making significant progress in reducing the impact our facilities have on the environment,” said Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “Our expanding commitment to renewable energy sources, like solar power, is part of our coordinated global effort to reduce energy use, water consumption, waste and CO2 emissions.”

Additionally, GM is one of the largest corporate users of landfill gas in the U.S. Landfill gas is the natural by-product of the decomposition of solid waste in landfills. GM is one of the largest users of renewable energy as well. Last August General Motors received the Corporate Energy Management of the Year Award from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). The award recognizes the company’s worldwide leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The GM Powertrain Baltimore transmission plant builds the Allison A1000 six-speed automatic transmissions which are featured in the award-winning Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups. The plant built 189,000 of Allison A1000 six-speed transmissions in 2007. It also builds the Hybrid 2 mode transmission currently used in the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid.

The Trans Am Nationals starts today in Dayton, Ohio...

...and continues through the weekend. For further information visit http://www.78ta.com/nats/

Pontiac Daytona Prototype (DP) teams are on their way to Sonoma’s wine country for round 12 of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series to be run at Infineon Raceway on August 23. 

·         Pontiac leads manufacturer DP points chase

·         GAISNCO Pontiac drivers Gurney and Fogarty top Pontiac DP team in second

·         GAINSCO defending Infineon winners

·         Cheever Racing Coyote receives updates

The track will see the Grand-Am competitors compete for only the third time in series history.  The No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings racing team is the defending Infineon race winners.

Pontiac took over the manufacturer lead after the last race at Watkins Glen.  Pontiac leads the manufacturer chase by four points.

GAINSCO/Bob Stallings racing drivers Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney are still in the DP championship chase.  The duo are back in the points by 49 with just three events remaining.  The team realizes that they must win the last three races to have a chance at repeating their 2007 series championship.

“Infineon is a great track,” Fogarty said.  “It has so many linked corners that require a lot of thought to get right.  You need to be aggressive, but it is not always where you think.  Technical is the best description, but it offers just about everything to challenge the driver and engineer.  I feel fortunate to have run a lot of laps there, it was the first track I ever drove on so I thought they were all as difficult.  Now I am glad I do not have to learn it while in the middle of a championship.  It should be a great track for us as it is mostly a handling circuit- but that hasn't always meant good results, so I am going to say it should be difficult just like Daytona and Watkins.  All kidding aside we have been strong here in our previous two visits and I think this year should be no different.  I really would like to get the pole, it has been a long time and my opportunities are starting to run out.  It has been up-and-down and the only consistent thing has been the inconsistency in our finishing positions.  We just need to relax and do our thing and finish the year with some solid results and remind ourselves that we know how to win championships.”

The Riley-Matthews team of Marc Goossens and Jim Matthews had a short race at Watkins Glen, only making it to the track-out of turn one on the first lap, before being involved in a crash which ended their weekend.  Goossens and Matthews finished sixth last year at Infineon and will be looking to return to their early season form that had them post a win at Mexico City along with two podium finishes. 

“I really like the track because of the elevation changes and therefore the difference to other tracks in the way the corners are laid out,” Goossens said.  “There is a high speed part to the track and on the other side the slower turns make it a challenge to either attack the corners and braking zones or to finesse and be really clean in other corners in order to be fast.   Again here it's the compromise in setup for the different type of corners. We were not very lucky in the race last year, but we were definitely able to show the speed of our car. Hopefully things come our way again and we are aiming for a good result in California.”

The SunTrust Pontiac team has finished fourth in each of the last two races at Infineon.  Max Angelelli is using some reverse psychology in his thought process to help boost teammate Michael Valiante, the team and their new Dallara to a season’s first win.

“I have a very interesting reason for thinking that we will have a very good weekend in Sonoma,” Angelelli said.  “Infineon is a race track that never brought to us a good result, so far. Now, I have looked back at all the race tracks we have gone to this season where we always seemed to have good results in the past, and where we expected to have good results this year because of that, and we have come away disappointed. So, if Sonoma has not brought us good results, and if we go there thinking it will be very difficult again for us this weekend, then I think this time we will have a good result. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Seriously, we are still working hard and fighting our way through various things that need to be worked out with our new car. It’s been hard and it’s been a difficult season, as everybody knows. A lot of times, it seems we are still fighting an uphill battle. But I know I have to be positive. I am positive. It’s just that we keep saying ‘you’ll see, you’ll see, you’ll see.’ Hopefully, this weekend we can have that great result where we can finally say, ‘you see?”

Ricardo Zonta and Nic Jonsson have been knocking on the door of a win all season.  Infineon marks the track that the two drivers partnered for the first time last year.  The new Lola, with its high downforce design, should be suited to the layout of the Infineon track.  The two have managed to lead 76 laps in their new Lola so far this season which has resulted in two podium positions.  .  

“Yes, it will be nice returning to a track Nic and I have driven together again,” Zonta said.  “It makes it a lot easier for us – both in setting up the car and for the race. I know and am a little better prepared for what happens in the race at this circuit. We should be able to use this as an advantage. I only have one thought – it is winning!”

Tracy and Krohn and Eric van de Poele are ready to take on the rolling terrain of Infineon.  Krohn has a lot of confidence in his new Lolas and is looking forward to proving their competitiveness this weekend.

“Infineon, as a driver, is always so fun because of the elevation changes,” Krohn said.  “You have to put the car the proper apex to exit at several blind corners.  Infineon, as a spectator, is one of those rare road courses where, at certain vantage points, you can see most of the track.

Our goal is to show the rest of the paddock what the Proto-Auto DP Lolas are capable of doing.  We are committed to excellence and feel that the car we deliver will be at the top of the podium for a long time to come.  We want to deliver the message that when we begin selling these cars to other teams, it will be a very positive situation in that we will have an "open paddock" regarding parts and developmental pieces we discover for the car.  We want the cars to be equal and may the best drivers and teams win through their efforts and hard work!”

Cheever Racing will introduce some new suspension components on their No. 16 Coyote Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Pontiac this weekend.  Christian Fittipaldi and Antonio Garcia have posted a second place finish at Montreal and came sixth at Watkins Glen two weeks ago.

“We have new suspension bits for Infineon,” Fittipaldi said.  “I'm excited especially because the car ran very good last year. Hopefully we can get more mechanical grip out of the car. If possible, then we should be able to reduce downforce making it quicker on the straights.”

The Florida Buick Olds Pontiac Cadillac (BOPC) show is scheduled for October 25, 2008 at Old Town-Kissimmee.

Awards will be given for best in class, and for best Pontiac. For more information, visit www.premiumcarshows.com/bopc1008.html

On July 15th at 1:30p.m., Thomas E. Bonsall—writer and publisher of automotive histories—passed away at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Towson, Maryland of complications due to two strokes. He was 61.

Mr. Bonsall was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Western Reserve Academy (1965) in nearby Hudson, Ohio. He graduated from American University in Washington, DC in broadcast journalism and speech arts (1969) and briefly pursued his Masters in journalism.

After his experience as an editor and/or publisher of small town weekly newspapers in the early 1970s and as a copy boy for the Washington Post, he founded Baltimore-based Bookman Publishing, a company that specialized in paperback books for old-car enthusiasts. Stony Run Press, founded by Mr. Bonsall in the early 1990s and, briefly, in 1996, Turning Point Press emphasized hardbound automotive histories. During this time, he launched his most prolific contribution to the field of automotive history. Indeed, Automobile! magazine called him "America's Best Automobile Historian." He garnered several awards for his work, most notably the Antique Automobile Club of America's (AACA) Thomas McKean Cup and the Society of Automotive Historians' (SAH) Joseph Cugnot award for his book The Lincoln MotorCar (1981) currently in its third edition. With the publication of Pontiac! They Built Excitement, (1992) he repeated his win of the Joseph Cugnot award.

That year, Mr. Bonsall was presented SAH's Benz Award of Distinction for the article Edsel, the Forgotten Ford. Later, Stanford University Press (SUP) published his complete story of Edsel Ford and the ill-fated automobile in Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel (2002). It landed him an unexpected interview on NPR's MarketPlace. It and his book Avanti! (1979) are the definitive books on their subjects.

Others were published through Stanford University Press including More Than They Promised: The Studebaker Story, The Lincoln Story: The Post-War Years and The Cadillac Story: The Post-War Years.

Mr. Bonsall founded Ride&Drive Features (1980-present) a new-car road-test syndication. Reviews can be found on RideDrive.com. (www.ridedrive.com). His numerous articles about automobiles and the auto industry have appeared in Automotive News, Automobile Quarterly, BusinessWeek, Old Cars Weekly and Special Interest Autos amongst others. Notably, he was the former automotive editor for Palm Beach Illustrated and Palm Springs Life. During his 18 years living in Washington, D.C. Tom helped found the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA).

Fascinated with other modes of transportation he wrote the wildly successful Titanic, The Story of the Great White Star Line Trio: Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic (1987). Under the pen name Paul North, Mr. Bonsall wrote American Steam Locomotives (1988) and a book on trains and railways.

A prize he held dearly was the Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers (2003) for his unpublished suspense novel, Lilac Time. He has created four series and two coming-of-age novels. It was his hope and dream to become a published fiction author.

Mr. Bonsall amassed a large collection of books on Cold War Russia and the Holocaust. He had one of the largest collections of automobile dealer sales literature and car photographs in the world, which he converted to a digital archive.

Mr. Bonsall was a resident of Baltimore City for more than 23 years. He is survived by his partner and companion of 16 years, Kevin Lowery.
By Don Keefe

On September 6th and 7th join your fellow Fiero Enthusiasts from near and far for our annual Fierorama. This year's event is being held at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, Illinois.  St. Charles is located in the Fox Valley area about 35 miles West of Chicago. It is easily accessible via several local roadways including Rt.64 (North Avenue), Rt.25, or Rt.31, all with easy connections from I-88, and I-90.

Pottawatomie Park and St. Charles have many activities to offer. The park is forty-seven acres of beautiful scenic woods, with an enjoyable walk next to the Illinois Fox River. Leisure activities include a 9 hole golf course, a really fun 18 hole Mini-Golf park, a softball/baseball field, swings and tennis. The concession stand and large picnic areas will be open all day serving a variety of food to fuel your Fiero gastronomic engine.  St. Charles and its neighboring city, Geneva, both offer a variety of antique shopping, skate parks, and delicious dining experiences. Something for everyone awaits you, your family and friends.

To relieve the stress of car polishing and bragging rights that typically occurs during car shows, come aboard and cruise the scenic Fox River on one of two paddlewheel riverboats. Enjoy travel from the era of Mark Twain on one of the three afternoon sightseeing trips. The boats have enclosed lower decks and open-air upper decks for unobstructed sightseeing. The four-mile sightseeing trips of the scenic Fox River Valley are about 50 minutes long and depart from Pottawatomie Park at 2,3 and 4pm. No reservations are necessary. Tickets are: $6 adults; $4.50 children 15 & under; and FREE for children 2 & under.

The new Fierorama car show field will be totally visible without any buildings or obstructions. You will be able to see all your fellow Fiero enthusiasts, their cars, and all show activities from anywhere on the field. We will also have more room for cars and attendee comfort than ever before. There are several car washes located minutes from the park and the hotel for your convenience. Tyler Wash at 503 Tyler Road (630) 377-6286 is located a block away from the Holiday Inn, and has both manual and automatic touch-less facilities.

Join in on two days of fun with the many Fiero folks from around the country that attend Fierorama.

On Sunday, plan on arriving at the park anytime after 9am. The show hours are from 12 Noon until 5PM.

Please consider pre-registering for this event. It is so much easier for all involved to plan activities if we have a good idea of attendance in advance. NIFE members and guests are FREE. Non-NIFE member's registration is $10.00 or become a NIFE member for $25 and receive the Award Winning Fiero Focus magazine for the balance of 2007 and all of 2008 and attend Fierorama FREE. For further info log onto http://fierofocus.com or call 630/983-6434

For more than 50 years, hot rodding has been an integral part of the specialty-equipment industry, and with automakers' revival of past styles and growing market sales, it is clear that this hobby has managed to stay current and is far from fading.

In 2007, retail sales for street performance reached $2.19 billion. Retail sales for street rod/custom and restoration reached $1.06 billion and $1.49 billion, respectively. Retail sales for each of these niches grew more than 3.5% from 2006.

The popularity of hot rodding has prompted automakers to revive nostalgic styles in the past 10 years, such as with the Dodge Challenger. The reintroduction of the Chevrolet Camaro, set to go on sale in 2009, is much anticipated by hot rodders and baby boomers alike. The Chevrolet Corvette has remained a popular sports car and musclecar since its introduction in 1953.

Each year, SEMA conducts its Automotive Lifestyle Survey. More than 3,300 automotive enthusiasts completed the survey. Approximately 26% of the total respondents were hot-rod enthusiasts. Of this group, 87% purchased custom parts and accessories for a vehicle within the past year. Of those, 42% purchased custom parts for Chevrolets; 25% purchased parts for Fords; 5% purchased parts for Dodge cars; and 6% purchased parts for Pontiacs.

The top accessories already purchased by this group include: performance air filter replacements; exhaust kits; exhaust headers; intake manifolds; camshaft/valvetrains; cold air intake conversions; brake kits (performance); transmissions (performance upgrade); braided engine hoses; pistons/connecting rods/rings/crankshafts; and performance plumbing.

"The racing and performance side continues to be a cornerstone of the specialty-equipment market," said SEMA Market Research Special Projects Manager Megan McKernan. "The results of the Automotive Lifestyle Survey show that many of the top-selling products purchased by hot-rod enthusiasts are performance-related."

For more specialty-market research and insight, visit www.sema.org/research.

Panama City Beach Emerald Coast Cruizin' Classic Car Show, Frank Brown Park, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway.  Nov. 3 - 8, 2008 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thousands of classic and hot rod cars, vendor marketplace, swap meet, music, cash and prize drawings.  Spectator admission $6 at event and children under 12 are free. To participate with auto, call 888-299-7892 or 662-587-9572 or log onto http://www.emeraldcoastcruizin.com.

The Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), a SEMA council, launched a new campaign to increase attendance at motorsports events and public awareness of the industry. The program is titled “Take a Friend to a Race” and includes a series of ads and promotional pieces that urge enthusiasts to invite and introduce friends, relatives and neighbors who have never attended a motorsports event to do so.

“MPMC members are in the business of manufacturing parts that are designed specifically for race cars,” said MPMC Chairman Bill Floyd. “That gives us a vested interest in the health of the motorsports industry, which translates directly into event attendance. ‘Take a Friend to a Race’ will have a significant effect on motorsports attendance and participation, and will improve communication between the parts manufacturers, track operators and sanctioning bodies.”

A key component of the campaign is the designation of August as Motorsports Awareness Month.

“We are urging individuals within the industry to reach out and physically bring a new potential fan to a race,” continued Floyd, “so they can experience the sights and sounds that television just cannot capture. Auto racing is a family-oriented sport, so families can plan days or even vacations around events. Companies can plan outings to motorsports events. Marking August as the official Motorsports Awareness Month gives the idea an annual focus throughout the industry.”

The MPMC is dedicated to representing the collective interests of all SEMA-member companies that manufacture parts used in sanctioned racing events and to developing effective strategies for dealing with industry-specific issues. Companies interested in joining SEMA and MPMC can contact SEMA headquarters at member@sema.org. More information about the MPMC is available at www.sema.org/mpmc.

The 5th annual "Muscle Car 1000" - the most luxurious collector car adventure in America - has chosen Northern California as its once-in-a-lifetime experience location. Approximately 40 muscle car owners will drive their vintage vehicles 1000 miles, over 5 days, from San Francisco through Yosemite, Tahoe, Sacramento, Napa - for drag racing on Infineon Raceway (Sears Point) - and Half Moon Bay. Half of the $6,450 pricetag is donated to Hunger Relief Organization ("HeRO",) a charity whose goal is to end world hunger. Five-day luxury car adventure tour to drive 1000 miles October 5-9, 2008.

"About 50% of the experience is the thrill of getting on the road, and on the track, with 40 other fellow muscle car nuts," says Muscle Car 1000 founder, Chris Hoskins. "But the other 50% is about what happens out of the cars - access to unique venues, winemaker dinners every night, seeing your car on display. Muscle Car 1000 combines raw automotive excitement with luxurious living."

Muscle Car 1000 defines eligible cars as: 1964-1973 American Muscle Cars (think GTO, Roadrunner, Barracuda); 1955-1973 Corvettes; and 1962-1967 Cobras. Not seen as symbols of luxe living when they were new, vintage muscle cars fetch a pretty penny from collectors, such as Hoskins himself. "I created Muscle Car 1000 because there was nothing like it - a really fun car rally that caters to the upscale lifestyle. That last part was my wife's idea, and it was a good one!"

Another good idea: Hoskins donates half of the $6,450 entry fee to HeRO, a charity he founded to end world hunger. And thanks to Muscle Car 1000, that goal is on its way to being realized. Last year, HeRO opened 7 feeding centers and 1 infant malnutrition center, all in Honduras. Hoskins plans to use money from Muscle Car 1000 to open additional feeding centers. He notes, "Muscle Car 1000 is making a real difference in one of the world's poorest countries."

This year's Muscle Car Itinerary (October 5-9, 2008) is as follows:
.    Day One: Cars on red-carpet "concors d'elegance" display at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco; harbor cruise dinner
.    Day Two: Police escort Muscle Car 1000 caravan through San Francisco; drive to Yosemite; alfresco dining at historic Awani Hotel
.    Day Three: Drive backroads to Lake Tahoe; stay at Squaw Valley Resort; dinner by the waterfalls
.    Day Four: Drive to Sacramento - lunch on the Capitol (potential Governor visit); on to Napa, dinner at Stag's Leap cave
.    Day Five: Drive to Sears Point for drag racing and lunch at Infineon Raceway; on to Half Moon Bay for closing night ceremony at Ritz-Carlton

To participate: Muscle Car 1000 is so popular with participants from the previous four years that only a few spots remain. So if you have an eligible Muscle Car and are interested in learning more or signing up, just go to MuscleCar1000.com. The entry fee, which covers participant plus a guest (riding in the same car), includes all event-related hotel stays and meals. Gas is on you, as is getting your car to the kick off location (San Francisco), and home from the final destination (Half Moon Bay).

ABOUT MUSCLE CAR 1000
Chris Hoskins founded Muscle Car 1000 in 2003, and as the name implies, it is a rally whereby muscle cars drive 1000 miles. Unique to Muscle Car 1000: the rally combines powerful muscle car driving with premium living, to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hoskins, who also founded Hunger Relief Organization (HeRO), a charity whose mission is to end world hunger, gives 50% of the proceeds to HeRO.   Any donations go 100% to HeRO.  In 2007, HeRO opened 7 feeding centers and 1 infant malnutrition center in Honduras. For more information, please visit musclecar1000.com.

The sixth annual Southern Trans Am Regional Show (*STARS*) will be held November 14th - 16th in Fort Walton Beach at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds. It will be INDOORS at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. This is a three-day gathering of all Firebirds, Formulas, Trans Ams, GTAs, and Firehawks.

The show features dash plaques given to the first 150 entrants and 30 classes professionally judged for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards. Also, food, drinks, music, swap meet, vendors, souvenir t-shirts, door prizes, 50/50 drawing, and much more will be offered to delight you.

The proceeds from each year's event are donated to the American Cancer Society and friends affected by the disease.

For further info log onto http://www.starsFL.org

With no end in sight to rising gas prices, consumers should take control of how they drive their vehicle to get more miles per gallon. The Car Care Council recommends the following ways to drive smart and save money:

Combine errands in one trip and get good directions before you head out to minimize driving unnecessary miles.

Lighten the load by getting stuff out of the car, including the trunk, with the exception of important emergency items such as a spare tire, flares and a first-aid kit. Items that are not needed weigh the vehicle down, causing an increase in gas usage.

Stay within the speed limit and use cruise control on the highway. Gas mileage usually decreases when going over 60 miles per hour (mph).

Avoid aggressive driving. Your driving behavior has a lot to do with fuel economy and sudden stops and starts and rapid acceleration decrease your vehicle's miles per gallon (mpg).

Check the condition of the gas cap. Approximately 17 percent of vehicles on the road have loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

Don't idle your vehicle and go inside instead of waiting in long lines at the drive-through window to avoid wasting gas.

Half of Young Drivers Are Driving While Texting, Says New FindLaw.com Survey
New State Laws Aimed at Texting Drivers

Have you ever been driving next to a car whose driver swerves in and out of their lane?  Upon closer inspection, you notice the other driver has one hand on the wheel, while the other hand madly types  a text message.  You are not alone.

Nearly half of the drivers between ages 18 and 24 say they have sent a text message, instant message or e-mail while driving, according to a new survey by FindLaw.com ( http://www.findlaw.com ), the most popular legal information Web site. The survey found that 48 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24, and more than a quarter (27 percent) of drivers 25 to 34, admit to texting while behind the wheel. Seventeen percent of all adults surveyed say they have texted while driving.

Not surprisingly, the incidence of “Driving While Texting” is largely a function of age. While younger, more techno-savvy drivers are more likely to be avid texters even while driving, less than two percent of those age 55 and over say they have ever sent a text message, instant message or e-mail while driving.

Here’s a breakdown of the results by age:

18-24-----48%
25-34-----27%
35-44-----19%
45-54-----11%
55-64-------2%
65+---------1%

Four states – Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington – recently enacted laws that ban sending text messages while driving.  Thirteen other states are reportedly considering similar legislation.

“The potential legal implications of texting while driving go far beyond the possibility of a mere traffic violation,” said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney at FindLaw.com. “In the case of a traffic accident, proof that the driver was texting while driving may be used to help prove liability for the accident, even in states that do not ban texting while driving.”  According to Rahlfs, it’s conceivable that a jury could consider texting while driving as negligent or even reckless conduct.

The FindLaw survey was conducted using a
demographically balanced telephone survey of 1,000 American adults and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus three percent.

Additional free information on traffic laws and traffic tickets can be found at the FindLaw.com Traffic Tickets Center ( http://public.findlaw.com/traffic-ticket-violation-law/ ).

After sifting through more than 18,000 possibilities, Pontiac has chose to keep the name it originally started with, naming the recently revealed G8 sport truck the “G8 ST.”

Thousands of fans submitted suggestions during a “Tame the Name” promotion, which delayed a final announcement until each possibility was considered and cleared for possible trademark use.

As for our suggestion to Pontiac to name the sport truck the Pontiac RK prounounced "aRK," Pontiac had no comment. We even had all the advertisements envisioned for Pontiac: "Two of everything can fit in the new Pontiac RK," with a photograph of two giraffes or zebras poking their necks out from the rear bed of the Pontiac, and a new contest "What two things can you fit in the new Pontiac RK?" Much like the original GTO was called the "Goat" and to this day is known as a "Goat," a Pontiac RK, or "ARK" would have had lasting effect for generations to come.

“Frankly, we were blown away by both the volume and quality of the names that were submitted,” said Craig Bierley, BPG product marketing director for cars and crossovers. “’ G8 ST’ was one of the most popular suggestions, plus we noticed a far broader trend toward simple, easy-to-remember names.”

“El Camino” was also a sentimental favorite, given the G8 ST’s resemblance to the classic Chevy.

“We actually thought very long about El Camino,” said Bierley. “In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honor the El Camino’s unique place as part of Chevy’s heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac.”

Perhaps the ultimate reflection of the blurring line between cars and trucks, the G8 ST will create a unique niche segment in the marketplace: a sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities. Sharing the basic architecture and 361 hp V8 engine as the G8 GT performance sedan, it will offer a 73.9-inch cargo bed that has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry a payload of 1,000 pounds (453 kg) or tow a 3,500-pound (1,587 kg) trailer.

Thanks to its six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management system, the G8 ST should offer some of the best fuel economy numbers for V8-powered vehicles with similar cargo/towing ratings while still turning in zero-to-60 times of 5.4 seconds.

The G8 ST will be available in late 2009 as a 2010 model and will be backed by GM’s industry best 100,000 mile, 5-year powertrain warranty. Pricing will be announced closer to availability.

    Racing a 2008 Corvette Z51 6-speed in a 2005 Pontiac GTO 6-speed.

We are a lucky bunch in the office. We seem to conveniently have a series of racing surfaces, or tracks, on the way back to the office. Our sister publication had their 2008 Corvette press car and decided to play with the HPP GTO. Sadly, the turnout wasn't too flattering for our full exhaust Goat as we were defeated by the lightweight sports car fair and square. From a roll, the two LS-powered muscle cars were about even, but through the twisties, the GTO limped through pathetically while the Vette held on with vigor.

In the drag race, the GTO's wheel hop was all that was necessary to achieve the final stabbing blow from the Chevy. Even with our Goat's mods, the featherweight LS3 Vette accelerated effortlessly.

Hats off to the Vette.

The GAINSCO Pontiac team of Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney finished second Augutst 8 in round 11 of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at Watkins Glen.  On the strength of the 99s finish, Pontiac takes over the Daytona Prototype manufacturers points lead.

The two-hour race started under dry conditions.  Some eight laps in the rain began to fall on the front stretch of the track.  Some teams decided to pit for rains, but the 99 team persevered on slicks.  As the changing weather conditions had team’s guessing, the 99 guys stayed on slicks and up toward the front. 

The drama started on the reconnaissance lap for the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings team.  Racing driver Jon Fogarty had a moment on before the green putting the red 99 in the gravel at the Bus Stop.  He was extricated and was able to start from his fourth place qualifying position.  The duo had the car running as high as second in the race, but were never able to lead.  The finish puts Fogarty and Gurney 39 back in the points.

“The conditions were dry for me,” Gurney said.  “I was running qualifying laps my whole stint.  I didn’t have anything for the 61.  He was too quick all weekend.  The 59 was fast at the beginning and he went by me like I wasn’t even going.  We did everything to hold on to the position.  I lost my shift light with five or six laps to go.  The wire broke off and was swinging around inside the car.  Another good Grand-Am race, close to the end, tough always.  To come out of here in second is a good result.  It is nice to see the 01 way back there.”

Cheever Racing’s Christian Fittipaldi started drove the No. 16 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Pontiac Coyote from the fourth row.  Fittipaldi managed to lead three laps before turning over the Antonio Garcia.  When Garcia took over the handling of the 16 began to fade.  The duo were able to hold on for a sixth place finish which was another good result to go with a second place in the last race at Montreal.  

“If this worse we had it was a good day,” Garcia said.  “The car was not too fast here this week.  It had a lot of over steer, the rear was snappy nervous, it was great in the front.  I was able to keep the guys behind me, so sixth is ok for us today.  Christian was able to lead some laps early so that was good for the team.”

 Nic Jonsson started the No. 76 Krohn Racing Pontiac Lola and was able to move up to fourth position from his 12th   place starting spot, showing some excellent driving in the early changing conditions.  As the weather turned cold later in the race teammate Ricardo Zonta had trouble getting heat in the tires on restarts.  

“I think that fifth place is good for us today,” Zonta said.  “It was hard to keep up the pace with the car that we had today.  We had to save fuel and on a fast circuit like this that makes it hard to compete.  Also the tires were taking four or five laps to heat up after the restarts and that made it easy for cars to get around me.  The cold weather affected us as well, so fifth is not bad today.”

The SunTrust team decided to start on rain tires.  Michael Valiante was able to pass a lot of cars with the wets and then had to pit again for slicks – costing the team valuable track position.     Valiante turned over to Angelelli who was battling with the 16 car to the end and brought the car home in seventh.

“We knew track position is important here,” Angelelli said.  “It’s everything. That basically cut our chances of winning the race. Then I got behind the 16, which was strong, and I had not enough to overtake him. That’s basically it. We were all in agreement that in those conditions we would start on wets. It was a gamble. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. At the end, the car was really fast, so I wonder what would have happened if we didn’t have to make that extra stop. I feel bad.”

Tracy Krohn had a steady start in the No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Lola.  Krohn turned the car over to teammate Eric van de Poele who had the brake problems from qualifying come back.  On lap 58 van de Poele was coming into the last turn for the restart and the brakes locked sending him into the wall and nearly flipping the green No. 75.  Van de Poele drove the car to the pits and the team retired it.  

“The brakes were real loose for me,” van de Poele said.  “I had a big problem going into the Bus Stop and ended up hitting the guard rail.  I then pitted for tires and to put a bigger Gurney wing on the car.  We had to try and get the car more stable.   Going into the last turn on the restart the brakes again locked up and sent me into the wall.”

The No. 4 AT&T Childress-Howard Motorsports Pontiac Crawford was making its first run of the season with Andy Lally taking the start.  Lally experienced some suspension problems that made the car a handful in the rain.  He turned the wheel over to sportscar legend Andy Wallace who experienced drive-line issues and retired the car on lap 42.

"Andy said that the car made a big noise and then he lost drive, I think it was something with the transmission drive-line,” Lally said.  “During my stint for the start we lost a shim in the suspension which really made the car unstable.  Together with the off and on rain that made it a handful in the early going.”

Jim Matthews started the No. 91 Riley-Matthews Pontiac Riley from the seventh row only to have a spinning car in turn one end his day some 200 yards into the race.  The No. 91 suffered severe right front end damage forcing the team to retire the car without completing a single lap. 

Greg Weld, the creative visionary who took racing and custom wheels to a new level dies at 64.

Weld died from undisclosed complications.Welds' revolutionary view and his unconditional desire allowed him to create the finest quality forged wheels in the industry. "Greg Weld was a visionary in the motorsports industry. He raced his way into the record books and into the hearts of many, but more than anything else, Greg Weld was a great friend and will be missed by everyone", said Bob Baker, President of the Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Greg's racing career was phenomenal. He won over 100 sprint car races including the 1963 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing and won the USAC National Sprint Car Championship at the age of 23. Weld raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1965-1972 seasons, with 36 career starts, including the 1970 Indianapolis 500 and qualified as the fastest rookie qualifier. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 4th position in 1970 at Sacramento. He was also the 1967 USAC Sprint Car Series champion.

Greg Weld was also an entrepreneur with a driven desire to build his company and see his goals become reality. In 1970, Greg retired as a professional racer and founded Weld Wheel Industries. Greg started Weld Wheels with $2300 he'd saved from racing and the simple idea of making Sprint Car wheels that performed better. Greg manufactured forged alloy wheels for various vehicles, including racecars, and was an active sponsor of the United States Auto Club series, NHRA and IHRA. In January 2007, Greg started a new company, Greg Weld Competition Wheels. His continuous investments in technology, research and development and talented people positioned Weld to be a pioneer and undisputed leader in the aftermarket industry.

Greg Weld was honored during his life as was inducted into numerous Hall's of Fame including the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1998.

Survivors include his wife Deb, former wife Marilyn Brockman-Weld, daughter Christian Weld-Brown and sons Taylor and Brock. He also leaves behind sisters Delores Wesley, and Marilyn Burasco, and brother Ricky. Greg Weld is also survived by his grandchildren Marin Brown, Sophia Brown, Spencer Brown, Harley Weld, Quinton Weld, Aiden Weld, Lola Weld and numerous nieces and nephews.

Weld was predeceased by father Taylor "Pappy" Weld, mother Ella Weld and brothers Jerry and Kenny.
Services will be held on Friday August 8, 2008 at 10:00a.m. at the Kansas City Baptist Temple, 5460 Blue Ridge Cut Off Raytown, MO 64133 (816) 358-1515

About Greg Weld Competition Wheels

For 40 years, Greg's vision set in motion the philosophy of constant improvements and innovation. Weld built the most dominant racing wheels in the world.

Stevenson Motorsports’ Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis drove their Pontiac GXP.R to the GT class win on August 1 in round ten of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race run at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  Cheever Racing came second in their Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Pontiac Coyote in the Daytona Prototype (DP) class. 

The two-hour timed race became a strategy event for the Rolex Series GT competitors.  The lack of a late race caution rewarded the teams that chose to pit on lap 37 of the 69 lap race.  The Stevenson Motorsports No. 57 GXP.R was one of those that pitted for gas.  The leading cars in the class stayed out, relegating them to mid-pack as they ran out of fuel on the last lap.  Robin Liddell took the white flag, one lap remaining, in third position and crossed the line in first as the front two cars sputtered out of fuel.  The Stevenson crew adds another win to their victories at Mexico City and Virginia International Raceway.

“I was running with the 40 and the 21 early in my stint,” Liddell said.  “I just kept the pressure on them and forced them into mistakes.  The team did a great job with the strategy.  Late in the race I was just pushing as hard I could to try and make up spots.  The cars in front of me were questionable on gas.  With ten laps to go I was wondering if we made the right choice.  I was following the 86 his engine stumbled and went by and then I knew the 87 was running out as well and he stumbled on the last turn and I got by him for the win.  It was a team win today.  Andrew did a great job at the start and the guys had excellent pit work and of course great strategy for our third win.  I was amazed by the number of cars that ran out of gas on my in lap after the checker.”

 The No. 21 Pontiac GTO.R of Connolly Motorsports finished the day in third.  Matt Connolly and Diego Alessi wheeled the Pontiac back from down the field to take the third step on the podium.

 “I drove for nearly the entire race,” Alessi said.  “I had a lot of good battles, especially with the 57 car.  I lost some positions on one of the restarts because we were having radio problems.  Everyone was having fuel problems on the last lap and that really helped us at the end.  The team did a great job with pit stops and the strategy to help us get our second podium in four races.”

The No. 07 Banner Racing Pontiac of Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins ended their day in seventh.  Collins had early contact which resulted in a spin which cost him several places early.  What looked like a sure podium or win became a seventh when Edwards nearly ran out of fuel on the last half-lap.  Collins and Edwards still lead the points by six.

“I was going into the chicane and the 30 car came up alongside, we both braked stood the cars on their nose and then he cut across me,” Collins said.  “I had to maneuver around him and ended up spinning.  We have to be careful with the chances we take for the championship.  We made a call on the fuel and it ended up costing us a podium today.”

 The Banner Racing 06 of Canadian Ron Fellows and Marc Bunting finished tenth.  Fellows was involved in some on-track contact in the Casino turn when he was forced into the 99 DP car.  This ended up costing Fellows valuable track position.

 “My stint was uneventful except for the first lap,” Bunting said.  “I had a spin in turn four.  I was then focusing on running good clean laps to turn the car over to Ron on the lead lap.  I was able to do that and we were looking good for a top finish.  The team had the right strategy we pitted a second time for fuel and were ready to go to the end when Ron got caught up in the Casino turn.”

 The No. 72 Autohaus Motorsport Pontiac GXP.R had a left front tire go down on lap 21 and had to limp the car around the track as the Pirelli delaminated.  Terry Borcheller took over from Tim Lewis Jr. and then had heavy contact on lap 47 in the Casino turn.  The results ended the day early for the team from Florida relegating them to an 18th place finish.

 “When I got in the steering was turned so there was some damage in the front from the tire going on Tim,” Borcheller said.  “I couldn’t see out of the left side mirror as a result of the tire damage.  I was going into the Casino turn and a DP car came up under me, I thought there would be more and there wasn’t, I then lost reference got loose and got into a couple cars in the Casino turn.  I just made an error.”

In the DP class the Montreal crowd witnessed some of the best racing of the season.  Cheever Racing had their Coyote come alive for a second place finish.  The team’s best previous finish was ninth at Daytona in July.  Christian Fittipaldi rejoined Antonio Garcia and the team that he has had history with this weekend to help spark a successful weekend.

 “It was a big team effort today,” Fittipaldi said.  “I am happy for Eddie and Crown Royal and the whole team.  I had a good stint, I was able to run up at the front and really challenge for the lead.  Antonio and I get along really good.  Last year when we ran together we really performed well.  We have some updates coming for the car for the last races so I am hoping to finish the year strong.”

The SunTrust Pontiac Dallara of Michael Valiante and Max Angelelli finished eighth.  The team was a fixture in the top five most of the race and then the car developed some brake fade.

“The car was working really well,” Valiante said.  “It was tough at the start I got into the side of the 61 at the beginning.  We are having a brake issue right now.  After the first laps the brakes started to fade a lot.  The car is working, but we have a bit of a brake problem right now.  It is hard to out brake out there with our issue.  We haven’t tested that much to get the exact combination, so we are doing the best we can.” 

 The GAINSCO Pontiac Riley of Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney finished the day in eighth.  Fogarty started the red 99 from the front row.  On lap 19 he briefly took the lead and it was deemed the pass was made with avoidable contact and he was forced to perform a drive-thru penalty.  After the pit stops, Alex Gurney took over and was able to lead once again on lap 44.   Gurney was then caught up in the Casino turn melee on lap 47 which cost him the lead and valuable track position.

“This race was just kind of symbolic of our season so far,” Gurney said.  “We had a very good car but didn’t end up with much to show for it.  I struggled with the brakes all day but we were good enough to stay out front.  I was managing the gap to Rojas when I had the lead there for the longest time and I just got caught up in a GT incident where one guy missed the brake zone and the next guy hit me.  It was a really hard hit and I actually thought we were out.  It was that hard of a hit and the car steered quite a bit to the left after that.  I tried to get back going again and the car seemed okay but later on I got caught up in an incident with Ricardo Zonta who consistently hits people.  It was just a really frustrating day for everybody on the team.  We made it to the end on fuel but we had the other problems and that was it.”

The No. 75 of Tracy Krohn and Oliver Gavin had a quiet day as they finished 10th.  Oliver Gavin filled in Krohn regular Eric van de Poele and combined with team owner Krohn to finish 10th.

“It was sure nice to have a Top 10,” Krohn said.  “Ollie did a great job! The car was a little bit tentative at first because of the brake situation we’ve had. But after awhile the car settled down. I started running some quicker laps.  I turned it over to Ollie on the lead lap and he took it from there and improved it several positions and ended up in the Top 10. So it was a really good day for us. Of course, this was not the ideal track for this car at this point of the development. But it’s getting better all the time so we’re catching up.”

The No. 76 Krohn Racing Lola of Nic Jonsson and Ricardo Zonta came home in 12th.  The green 76 also spent time at the front of the pack.  On lap 60 with a fading brake pedal Zonta had contact with the No. 99 and had to also had to perform a drive-thru penalty.

“We had a difficult race I’d say, especially because of the brake conditions,” Zonta said.  “Also, we had so much pushing. It was even worse than the brakes because you had to stop the car to turn the car. So the big problem was to stop the car. The brakes were not stable. One time it would lock the front up or another time it would lock the rear brakes. And that made me to hit the 99 car, just because of the instability on braking. I am really sorry and want to apologize to those guys for that.”

Jim Matthews and Marc Goossens finished the 17th today in their No. 91 Riley-Matthews Pontiac Riley.  Matthews started the car and turned over to Goossens who set about climbing the timing chart.  Running in the top ten, Goossens had to pit on lap 44 to clean the radiator.  Matthews got back in the 91 at the end, but a failing gear box had him limping the car to the checker.

“We lost second gear and couldn’t get to first,” Matthews said.  “I had a pretty good start.  The cool weather really had the car handling and running well.  Marc had a little bad luck and we had to pit him to clean out the radiator.  At the end I was running through the slow corners in third gear, because was second was gone and I couldn’t get to first.”

The NHRA announced last week that its television ratings on ESPN2 were up 30 percent and household impressions are up 34% compared to the 2007 season.

The number reflects Sunday race-day coverage through the first half of the 2008 season—Pomona to Norwalk—compared against the first half of the 2007 season. Thus far in 2008, the NHRA has averaged a 0.69 rating and 659,340 households on Sunday versus .53 and 490,357 households in 2007, with rating increases at 11 of the first 12 races,

"This illustrates what we've known all along, that the NHRA has a healthy, loyal and growing fan base," NHRA President Tom Compton said. "These numbers speak volumes about both the tremendous value proposition the NHRA offers to current and potential sponsors as well as the quality of the television broadcast."

NHRA officials point to a number of contributing factors, including additional promotional drop-ins on ESPN's family of networks, the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, a fast-paced format that is appealing to younger viewers, by far the most diverse drivers in motorsports, the consistent prime-time Eastern time zone slots on Sunday for its races, and a number of great storylines.

Among the storylines that have driven ratings are the return of NHRA legend John Force; the diversity of the winner's circle, including Ashley Force (first win by a woman in Funny Car), Melanie Troxel (first woman to win in Top Fuel and Funny Car), Hillary Will (first win in Top Fuel), Antron Brown (first year in Top Fuel after a successful Pro Stock Motorcycle career), and Tony Pedregon; and popular underdog Tim Wilkerson's remarkable rise from career journeyman to Funny Car points leader.


Excerpt From SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 31 - Jul 31, 2008

Do you feel like your head is about to explode?
Have life’s stresses gotten you down? Get out your Pontiac and take a spin. It’s one of the best stress relievers on the planet

Choose a desolate road and let the setting sun be your guide. A simple 30 minute stint behind the wheel will help you gain a new perspective, allow you to step back and see the big picture, and help to prioritize all those annoyances that brought you too this state.

You say your Pontiac is in a million pieces and that only adds to your stress? Do this instead. Take a half-hour and go do something on your project. Clean and paint a single part, bolt a component back on, or even simply organize your work area in preparation for your next wrenching session.  This can accomplish the same goal as the drive in the country because you are still moving forward, and that is what is important when you feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tasks you have ahead of you.

Do you have any Pontiac stress relievers that work well for you? Share them here.

Do you want to make your vintage Pontiac go faster, handle better stop shorter, and look great doing it? Buy the soon-to-arrive November 2008 issue of HPP (on newsstands 8/19/08).

In this issue you can follow the resto mod path of the 1969 Judge cover car or you can glean ideas for your Pontiac project from three different resto mod recipes; low-buck, moderate or big-buck, to fit your budget.

If you have never wondered why the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 would schedule a race in Alabama in July, you most certainly would ask the question now, after a grueling race that ran in 100 degree heat and took its toll on drivers and tires.

After holding onto the lead in the GT class for almost the entire race – the Porsche 250 by Bradley Arant - the rubber on the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports – BryanMark Financial Pontiac GXP.R, driven by Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell, simply burned off with a few laps still left in the race.  Liddell was doing all he could to hold onto the lead but he simply had no grip left and over the last few laps he found his lead burning away.  
 
Liddell: “The car was not close to being a perfect handling racecar, except for the first few laps on new tires, but overall the car was obviously competitive. That being said, we had built a good lead but with the late cautions and the Mazda right behind us we were just a sitting duck.”
 
The heat was a factor in tire wear and driver wear as well.
 
 “In general the tires performed very well, it's not like the tire was destroyed at the end, simply that it was not offering enough grip on a car 600 lbs heavier than another on the same piece of track at the same time.”
 
Since the Lime Rock round, the added weight and 51/49% weight ratio adjustment imposed by Grand-Am has prevented any of the Pontiac teams from taking a win.  At Barber, the Stevenson team applied all of its strategic strength and crew capability to the task but in the end the penalty – and the heat – combined to push them off the podium.
 
Team Manager Johnson is disappointed that Grand-Am has yet to see the adjustments have not leveled the playing field, but instead have put the Pontiacs at a real disadvantage.
 
“It’s a shame when the entire team performs perfectly and we still have no chance of winning.” Johnson said, “Our strategy, pit stops, and drivers were perfect which gave us a huge lead, but the late yellows brought the Mazda’s and Porsches right up to our bumpers, and no driver can block against a 7 mph disadvantage.  The rules are so upside right now that we can only drive around and hope other teams make mistakes, (an approach that has) worked since Watkins Glen.  Hopefully Grand-Am will finally realize the Pontiac is at a disadvantage and let us go racing the last 3 races.”
 

Three Q&As with incoming ARMO Chairman Jim Barber regarding the challenges and opportunities facing the restoration market.

Excerpt from SEMA Member News - July/August 2008

Jim Barber, (ARMO) chairman recently shared his thoughts with SEMA Member News about the industry, the council and important issues facing its members.

SEMA Member News: What is your two-year vision for ARMO as its new chairman?

Jim Barber: My vision is to continue the growth of the council by adding new members from all segments of the restoration industry and to ensure that the council is the forum members use to address their business needs. I intend to have the Select Committee accessible and in front of our membership as much as possible.

SMN: There are specific challenges facing the restoration industry, such as the graying of the hobby, legislative concerns and youth awareness. How do you hope to overcome those challenges?

JB: There are many challenges facing our industry; depending on one’s perspective, some more important than others. Certainly youth awareness and legislative issues are two areas we should never ignore and continue to keep in the forefront of our work as a council. I am proud of the Take-a-Kid-to-a-Car-Show program and will continue to grow this awareness program. Education, I believe, is still a big challenge for us.

At this year’s Hotrod and Restoration Trade Show, ARMO provided a forum for members to learn “who is teaching our youth and what are they teaching them.” I believe ARMO members, especially manufacturers, need to work with the various schools to ensure that the curriculum being taught is correct and meeting the needs of our industry. When students graduate, they will be better equipped to come into our industry with the skills needed. As for overcoming these challenges, last year the council was “reorganized” into two subcommittees with specific task forces. This reorganization will allow the Select Committee to address challenges and industry issues in a much more effective manner than ever before.

SMN: Why should more restoration companies join SEMA and ARMO?

JB: It is simple in my eyes: to benefit the industry and themselves! In my opinion, you are going to get out what you put in to any trade association. By giving one’s time and working on industry issues, the industry and your company both reap the rewards.


ABOUT THE CHAIRMAN
Jim Barber founded Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists Inc. (CARS) in March of 1999 after working at Eaton Corporation as territory manager, sales manager, account manager, OEM account manager and national account executive for the company’s truck division. His goal was to create a restoration business that could serve middle- to high-end restorations, as well as build customs and street rods. Starting with two employees and $90,000 in annual sales, CARS has grown to 25 employees and more than $2.2 million in sales. During that time, the company has received a number of awards, including first place at the Chrysler Nationals, as well as two Concours d’Elegance wins and numerous best-of-show awards, magazine features and cover cars. Several of the company’s creations have also been featured on television segments, and two restorations set world-record prices at Barrett-Jackson events.

In the October 2008 issue of High Performance Pontiac, we feature a '72 SSJ Grand Prix.

Now, there's a website where you can register your Hurst SSJ Grand Prix and see other Hurst SSJ Grand Prixs, too.

It is www.hurstssj.com.