What's Up Mac? NADA!

By Mac Gordon
Editor at Large
Michigan Bureau

Tar Heel Activist Heads NADA

North Carolina, the Tar Heel state, has been a fountainhead of NADA activism for many years. The new chairman, Dave Westcott, is all out for killing two-tier pricing and predecessor Harold Wells fought equal benefits between country and rural dealers. The state's franchise law is one of the nations toughest in protection of dealer equities.

UAW Ready to Add Non-Union Plants, Dealers UAW President Bob King means business as he launches an allout drive to sign up non-union workers at supplier plants, unorganized assembly plants and publicly-owned dealer groups. The UAW, backed by President Obama, eyes AutoNation's 221 dealers as a first target-with managements giving helping hand to keep the domestic Detroit 3 content.

Clinton Grew UP as Ford Fan

Ex-U.S. President Bill Clinton was a a boyhood friend of Mack McLarty, 66, who served as Clinton's Chief of Staff in the White House and who served as Clinton's Chief of Staff in the White House and whose family owned a dealership group in a Arkansas. Clinton hung out at Ford dealerships as a kid and grew up driving Mustangs. As Arkansas governor, the garrulous Bill Clinton attended every social function of the states' dealers, many with Hillary Clinton.

ROI Panned as Yardstick

Not a few dealers would like to see “ROI” dropped as a metric for getting better vehicle allotments. “It's BS,” says an Ohio Nissan-Infiniti dealer and can be twisted by the factories to suit the manufacturers.”

Dozen Dealers Who Stand Out

Here is a list of outstanding dealers whose present and past records are impeccable from every yardstick: Top financially, best to work for, best to interview, best role models, best in growth, and best business in their communities:

John Bergstrom; Mike Jackson; Roger Penske; Norm Braman; Earl Hesterberg; Scott Smith; Bob Rohrman; Alan Spitzer; Rich Case; Jim Moran; Larry Miller; Don Massey. Sorry to say, none of the 'superdealers' is a woman or a minority representative. Each is a shining star among all dealers.