Lane Changes

Former Atlanta Journal-Constitution auto writer Rob Douthit wants to consider all the breaking auto news he can get for his new blog: Atlanta Auto Beat. It features reviews and news plus content targeted for the Atlanta metro area. He can be reached at robdouthit@hotmail.com . . . Road & Track Specials editor Andrew Bornhop has assumed the duties of retiring managing editor, Ellida Maki. Bornhop has been with Road & Track for more than 20 years. . . . Matt Sullivan has departed his online editor’s job at Popular Mechanics for a senior web editor’s post at Esquire. His replacement has not been named. . . . Bruce Smith has moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to join Randall-Reilly Publishing’s Trucking Media Group editorial team. He will edit Custom Rig and can be reached at: trkeditor@msn.com or trkeditor@cableone.net Smith asks: “please direct all media invitations and press releases to Larry Walton(larry@smith-walton.com) who will be taking over the Editor’s duties of our family run business, Editorial Services/Editorial Services, West. Larry can be reached at: 541.954.5531.

Cliff Clements supplants David Bloom as the automotive contact at the Baytown Sun in Texas, cliff.clements@baytownsun.com.  . . . In an attempt to reduce the oppressive amount of spam coming its way Road & Travel Magazine has changed its editorial email address. Inquiries regarding editorial content, queries, press trips or press cars can be sent to the editor at content@roadandtravel.com. . . Dan Sharp, previously with AutobyTel, is now a video producer for JDPower.com. . . . Alysha Webb is a reporter in the West Coast Bureau of Automotive News. . . . Dave Versical has returned from Bloomberg News to Automotive News as editor of its online edition.

Matt De Lorenzo has been named vice-president and editor-in-chief of Road Track, succeeding Thos Bryant, who retired this year after 36 years with the company. . . . After 40 years as a staff writer and editor Ted Biederman has retired from the Los Angeles Newspaper Group (LA Daily News, et al). That is really good news according to Ted.  More good news (he thinks) is that he will continue as a freelance editor and writer of Motorway and http://www.Motorway.com for the newspaper group. Additionally he will be a contributing editor to Automotive Executive Magazine and http://www.AEmag.com.  As if that wasn’t enough to do he’ll be contributing to several other papers and websites scattered from New England to Texas. His wife still says he needs to do more, but he’ll see about that so he says.

MPG stalwart Louise Ann “Landspeed Louise” Noeth has relocated to Creve Coeur, Mo., where her husband has transferred. However, her business and cell phone numbers remain the same, as does her email: louise@landspeedproductions.biz . . . Steve Kursar has been named the new Southwest Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company in the Plano, TX. . . . Atlanta Journal Constitution’s cut of 85 newsroom positions included Rob Douthit, auto editor for the past three years. No replacement announced. Features editor Jon Brieske continues to be responsible for the paper’s Fall new car and Auto Show special sections . . . Bruce Castleberry, auto editor at the Dallas Morning News for 10 years, has re-joined the journalism side after a sojourn in PR. He is now business editor of the Springdale, Ark. - based Morning News serving northwest Arkansas . . . Larry Webster has moved from Tech Editor at Car and Driver to Detroit Editor for Popular Mechanics . . . . Joe Lorio continues on the staff of Automobile Magazine but has relocated from Michigan to Ossining, New York. Same duties, new base. . . . Tom Appel moves up from Managing Editor to Associate Publisher at Consumer Guide . . . Micki Maynard changed announced plans to move to D.C. for The New York Times. Instead, she will remain in Detroit, covering the airline industry. . . . Monique Valadez has been appointed Manager, Education and Public Relations for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif. Read the rest of this entry »

Highway in the Night: Photo by: Henk

Keith Naughton has been named Midwest Bureau Chief for Newsweek Magazine, adding responsibility for the publication’s Chicago Bureau as well as its Detroit bureau where he has been bureau chief since 1999. . . . Steve Levy and Jonny Lieberman, erstwhile Jalopnik commentator, have launched a new website: www.AutoFiends.com.  Lieberman continues as West Coast Bureau Chief for The Truth About Cars. . . . Rick Cotta has been promoted from Senior Editor to Managing Editor for Consumer Guide’s automotive staff. . . . Brian Chee, formerly an AutobyTel editor, has launched a website about life with cars: www.DriveThruLife.com.  He can be reached at brian_cheeXXyahooXXcom. . . . Bob Beamesderfer, another recent alum of AutobyTel, is freelancing and can be reached at rsb95XXearthlinkXX.net. . . . Tony Barthel very definitely plans to continue his Curbside Auto column and website and in fact, has added a small newspaper chain to its self-syndicated distribution since acquiring the unique Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast Resort on scenic Clear Lake in northern California. . . . Nguyet Le Thomas writes that she is settling in as editor  of the new combination of Styling & Performance and Off-Road Business Magazines at Advanstar Publications.  Former Styling & Performance editor, the peripatetic Mike Anson, will continue as a contributing writer. . . . Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Stoy, ex wrench and ad suit but always a hands-on enthusiast is the new senior editor of Jalopnik. . . .  Mark Glover, auto editor of The Sacramento Bee from November 2000 until the paper’s two weekly WHEELS sections were turned over to The Bee’s advertising department in April this year, is now reviewing motor vehicles in the Northern/Central California Cruisin’ News, published monthly out of Folsom, California.  While Glover is no longer reviewing motor vehicles in The Bee, he is doing stories on the business and alternative-fuel vehicle aspects of the auto industry for the newspaper’s daily business section. . . . Joe Volpe has been named director of Motorsports Activities and Tim Hannen Kart Manager at New Jersey Motorsports Park.  Volpe can be reached at: jvolpeXXNJMotorsportsParkXXcom.

After eight years at www.AutobyTel.com, Brian Chee is now freelancing and can be reached at brianXXthecheesXXcom . . . Mark Ellias has migrated from Automotive Traveler to www.LeftLaneNews.com  where he is responsible for US auto reviews and photography.  He says LeftLaneNews.com is updated throughout the day with automotive industry and vehicle news, new car research, future vehicle information, and reviews.  He can be reached at: melias99XXbellsouthXXnet . . . Donna Alexander has replaced Ray Petevis as Auto Manager at the Wilmington News Journal (Del.). . . . Eric Kaminsky replaced Denise Rounds as managing editor of Amos Automotive’s Pontiac Enthusiast. . . . .R.Chandler succeeds Eric Eckard as auto editor at the Rocky Mount Telegram (North Carolina). . . Christopher Boyce is the automotive and auto manufacturers business editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.