Warren Brown, Veteran Auto Writer to be Honored

THE WASHINGTON POST'S WARREN BROWN TO RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Leading Automotive Columnist To Be Honored at The 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards

Detroit, MI) November 9, 2011 – Warren Brown, esteemed automotive columnist for The Washington Post will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards on Sunday, January 8, 2012. Covering the automobile industry since 1982, Brown will be recognized as one of the nation's most influential auto writers, at the black-tie gala, held in the Sound Board theatre at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, during Press Week of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The Urban Wheel Awards Show is the "official multicultural event of the NAIAS."

Warren Brown, long considered the "dean" of African-American automotive journalists, has been covering the automobile industry for The Washington Post since 1982.

Interestingly, Brown started covering cars at The Post primarily as a way to ensure his longevity at the newspaper. Advised early on to find something to do that wasn't already being done; and further, to live it and love it, Brown settled on cars.

While he pens detailed accounts of a car's good and bad points, just as many auto reviewers do, Brown also digs deeper. In Brown's world, cars are integral components to modern existence rather than mere accessories to what we do. In his reviews, Brown consistently ponders those generally overlooked aspects of automobiles that, when you think about them, actually bear considerable contemplation.

Over the course of his thirty-plus years in automotive journalism, Brown's passion, enthusiasm and overarching intellect have garnered him the respect and admiration of the entire automotive industry. A pioneer in every sense of the word, Brown's accomplishments have blazed a trail many other African-American journalists, both mainstream and automotive, continue to follow to find success.

The 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards comprise a daylong event expected to attract nearly 2,500 movers and shakers in the automobile industry, as well as auto enthusiasts from across the country. The festivities begin at 2:00 p.m. with a vehicle exhibit, followed by a reception at 4:00 p.m. in honor of William "Bill" Perkins, the first African-American chairman of the NAIAS. The celebrity Green Carpet and VIP reception will be held at 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards show from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The evening will conclude with an afterglow reception from 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. In addition to the Lifetime Achievement award, awards will be presented in the following categories: Dealer of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Executive of the Year, Pioneer of the Year, Company of the Year, Car/Truck of the Year, and Green Vehicle of the Year.

According to R.L. Polk & Co.—the recognized expert for automotive intelligence and marketing solutions—consumers in the multicultural market purchase one-quarter of new vehicles annually. The 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards promotes awareness of their inclusion and honors the companies and individuals who have made progress toward embracing inclusiveness a reality.