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. . . . The late Ray Plumly, has been replaced as auto editor at Safety and Research by editor president Sean Kane. . . . Greg Rager, long-time Mopar writer for Amos Publications and its predecessors, is now freelancing and can be reached at gregragerXXaolXXcom. Although retired, Jim Meachen continues to serve the Goldsboro News Argus as contributing auto writer. . . . Ari Natter has succeeded Earle Eldridge covering trucking and government regulations for Traffic World. . . . James Amos has replaced John Norton at the Pueblo Chieftain. . . . Dan Passe is now Director of Communications and Marketing for Penske Racing in Mooresville, NC. . . . Jennifer Capasso departed Ketchum Public Relations to manage PR at Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca, CA. . . . VINTAGE RACECAR JOURNAL named veteran writer/editor John Zimmermann as an associate editor.