Pit Notes

When it rains on the Detroit auto scene it pours, literally. The Detroit News reported that leaks in the roof of its Cobo Center exhibit hall threatened to splash salty…

Hats off to IMPA for its informative November Impact coverage of a timely presentation and Q & A with Efraim Levy, senior industry analyst in Standard & Poor’s U.S. Equity Research Group. . . . Steve Saleen is back in the muscle car business after selling Saleen, Inc. and departing an aborted venture involving a Chinese automaker. He has opened a 150,000 square foot facility in Anaheim, Calif. and plans to produce high performance versions of the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. He provided select Southern California enthusiasts a sneak preview of his first offering, an SMS 570 Challenger prior to its debut at NADA convention in New Orleans

The new time for Autonetwork’s live internet TV show (http://www.autonetwork.com) is 11:00 A.M, EST. Autonetwork.com President and show host Roosevelt Gist advises the show has added live dealer interviews and that they are going to high definition webcasts. They also have agreed to provide a featured blog for a new auto section on www.BlackAmericaWeb.com. . . . The Chicago Auto Show is responding to the financial stringencies of the times by providing a brand-neutral, fully equipped, two-car media conference set for McCormick Place exhibitors during this year’s event.

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The drop in Source Interlink’s stock to 0.335 per share may have something to do with Richard Truesdell’s rant in last month’s Newsletter about his being paid once for an article used twice in different publications from the supermarket distributor and publisher’s stable of many titles.

John Matras reports that his www.Carbuzzard.com web site has been seriously hacked and will not be dispensing its autoworld gleanings for a time. In the meantime the site is being…

Coventry University in England offers an MA in Automotive Journalism.  Is there anything similar in the U.S?  Or a scholarship like the 1500 pounds, trophy and internship presented annually by that country’s Guild of Motoring Writers?

The Consumer Federation of America contends there are serious specific and analytical errors in the recently mandated new fuel economy standards.  Contact: Jack Gillis, CFA, 202-737-0766 or jack@jagillis.com. . . . J.D. Power’s 2008 Manufacturer’s Web Site Evaluation survey of consumers put Kia ahead of BMW, Lexus and Ford. . . . Bridgestone Firestone is taking its “Drive and Learn Classroom Behind The Wheel” to 15 markets this summer.  Contact Susan Sizemore for a complete schedule and information at sizemoresusa@bfusa.com. 

The Trader Media Group in England is re-launching its Top Marques magazine and website this month. . . . VAuto is helping car dealers keep pace with the rapidly changing auto market by providing continual updates on how days supply and gasoline prices affect the market price of new cars on their lots. For more information contact: jcabadas@usautocom.com.  (more…)