World Car of the Year awards

At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Mazda2/Mazda Demio was declared the 2008 World Car of the Year.

Steering Column March 20

As schoolchildren in Duncanville head back to school following their spring break, drivers in school zones are forewarned to hang up those handheld cell phone devices.
Beginning March 24, the new “Use of Hand-held Mobile Telephones Prohibited in School Zones” ordinance takes effect. Drivers may not operate a non-hands-free mobile (cell or sat) phone or communications device in an active school zone.
According to the city of Duncanville website, this ordinance only applies to hand-held mobile phones and texting devices, not two-way radios (CB, ham or business) or laptops.
Breaker 1-9, looks like we got us a convoy …

Good news for GM Arlington

Despite reports from some local media outlets about limited production capabilities at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington due to the extended strike of American Axle workers, here is the official word from GM:
“We continue to run as scheduled. We’ve completed our acceleration plan for the Hybrid Launch and are running at a steady state. Regarding the American Axle Strike, we are good indefinitely. We continue to monitor this on a daily basis but as of right now we are good.”

Steering Column March 13

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage treated the motorsports media to lunch recently during the annual TMS media day. Interviewees included Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick and his wife and Nationwide Series team owner Delana Harvick, Craftsman Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday Jr. and live via satellite IndyCar drivers Helio Castroneves (who answered “Dancing With The Stars” questions including one from Harvick posing as a reporter) and Danicka Patrick, who spent half her time defending her layout in the SI swimsuit edition.

Dodge does Dallas

Dodge swung through Big D today showing off their newest Ram pickup (set to go on sale this fall) and a new Crossover Utility Vehicle, Journey.

Coastal Woes

For those of you contemplating a trip to the Texas Coast for some fresh shellfish, we bring you this warning:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20080307.shtm

The ‘hits’ keep coming

Ford Motor Company is taking another hit in the recall department this week:

WASHINGTON — Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 100,000 2008 F-Series trucks because the front driver’s seat does not conform with federal standards.

Ford says the weld connecting a bracket and the driver’s front seat back could crack on a small number of vehicles. As a result, the vehicles do not comply with federal rules for seat back strength.

The recall covers F-250 through F-550 Super Duty trucks. More than 87,000 of the trucks are in the United States and 14,000 are in Canada.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said Thursday that no injuries have been reported. Ford discovered the issue after receiving reports of the weld cracking.

Owners will be notified of the recall later in March. For more information, owners can call Ford at (800) 392-3673.

March 5 Briefs

The Cruisers Club will be at the Sabor a la Mexicana Restaurant located at 715 Skyline Drive in Duncanville for their first scheduled Classic Car Show of the season benefitting the Bridges Safehouse March 8, 2-6 p.m. Everyone is welcome and spectators are free. Dash plaques go to the first 50 entries, trophies awarded in 12 classes with participant judging and the entry fee is $15 per vehicle. For more information, call Bobby Kight at 972-291-3837.
Sabor a la Mexicana and Caddy’s Customs are the club’s new sponsors with a great show facility in Duncanville.
Bridges Safehouse in Cedar Hill is a place troubled mothers can go for safety during family disputes.
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Just as some domestic automakers make gains in quality, the Detroit 3 are taking hits as well. Striking suppliers have idled some GM plants, Chrysler is fighting with their plastics supplier (while being criticized for interiors being too “plasticky”) and Ford … poor Ford. The same week the government says consumers have responded too slowly to a massive cruise control safety recall, the iconic Mustang makes the recall list over passenger side safety equipment. At least they made it to the winners podium Sunday in Las Vegas.
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Freeman Honda is on the move again. The good news is that they are just moving right next door to the I-20 service road location they have occupied since moving back from Oak Cliff several years ago. Even more good news for them is this tidbit from Consumer Reports:
“Overall, the best cars sold in the U.S. are still made by Honda, according to the Automaker Report Cards published in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue. Honda also led the pack last year, the first time the country’s largest expert, independent, non-profit consumer product testing organization issued such information.”
• • •
February sales figures just came out and the news is not good for most. Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan all posted positive monthly sales numbers over the previous year while BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM and even Toyota all took hits. Detroit automakers are looking at cutting output in the second quarter to reflect slumping sales in the large SUV and truck segments as well as other poor performing models. Experts blame the sales drops on rising fuel prices and the slump in the housing market.

TMS open for more track testing

FORT WORTH, Texas (March 4, 2008) – Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage has given NASCAR an open invitation for further testing in preparation for the TMS debut of the new Sprint Cup Series car at the upcoming Samsung 500.

In the garage – Range Rover Sport Supercharged

Talk about a great way to blast through all that snow they are threatening us with tonite – Land Rover sends me their 2008 Range Rover Sport – in supercharged form no less.
We tested these in Moab, Utah when they were first introduced – simply awesome. Bring it on Mother Nature…