Fifth Annual 'Car Guy of the Year' Award Goes to Tom Gale;
Detroit Announcement Occurs at SAE 2001 World Congress
DETROIT, March 8 In a salute to all of the best and
brightest "hands-on" automotive personalities in the global automotive
community, celebrated design and product innovator Tom Gale has been named Car
Guy of the Year(TM) for 2000 by a select group of automotive industry
representatives and was presented with the award at the SAE 2001 World
Congress.
The announcement and presentation of the fifth annual Car Guy of the Year
award was at the Public Relations Society of America Automotive Council tour
of the 2001 SAE World Congress.
"On behalf of the entire committee of automotive colleagues that made this
vote, I am honored and pleased to be announcing Tom Gale as the most deserving
role model," said Lorraine Schultz, international director of the Women's
Automotive Association International and member of the Car Guy of the Year
Committee.
"We reviewed a number of outstanding individuals this year, and the
vigorous discussions and careful selection process that this unique award
includes gives the Car Guy of the Year award special merit," Schultz added.
"It means more than a general 'success' in the car world. This award salutes
an achievement in making a notable contribution to the car community that also
reflects a requisite combination of a genuine passion for cars, proven product
insights, involvement in the enthusiasts' arena and respect among peers."
PAST WINNERS
Previous award winners of the Car Guy of the Year award include Jacques
Nasser, Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company -- 1999; Bob Lutz, Chairman and
CEO Exide -- 1998; Dick Guldstrand, race car driver and president of
Guldstrand Engineering -- 1997; and Bob Sinclair, former president of Saab
Cars, USA, and industry consultant -- 1996.
AWARD HISTORY
"Here at the SAE 2001 World Congress one of the great things about the
industry is reflected in the vast number of different languages that are being
spoken by industry colleagues who are visiting from around the world," said
Steve Ford, award co-administrator and host of The Car Guy(R) Show radio
program.
"Yet, the one language that we all speak and the one that brings us
together is 'cars.' And we began this award five years ago to provide a
unique salute to those who speak this language best in any given year," he
noted. "You can call a person who likes cars a car buff, motor head, gear
head, car nut, or car enthusiast, but a 'car guy' is distinguished from all of
these. This award is a salute to the best in the world."
Ford explained that the annual award plaque is sponsored by Auto Zone,
Birmingham, Mich., and media relations services are sponsored by PR Newswire.
CAR GUYS OF THE ROUND TABLE
The Car Guy of the Year 2000 Committee includes:
Mario Andretti: International race car driver and racing/OEM industry
consultant.
Bob Bondurant: President, Bondurant Schools; race car driver; racing/OEM
industry consultant; founder STP Products Corporation.
Cynthia Claes: Automotive industry enthusiast and motorsports journalist;
marketing communications professional.
Steve Ford: Automotive print/broadcast journalist & automotive technology
instructor; award co-administrator.
Andy Granatelli: Automotive industry/aftermarket entrepreneur; race car
driver/team owner; founder STP Products Corporation.
Dick Guldstrand: President, Guldstrand Engineering; race car driver;
racing/OEM industry consultant -- Car Guy of the Year '97.
Chuck Jordan: Automotive design consultant and former V.P. design,
General Motors.
John Lypen: Editorial Director, Hearst Publishing's Motor Magazine and
Motor Systems, Inc.
Bob Lutz: Chairman and CEO, Exide Battery Corporation; former president,
Chrysler Corporation -- Car Guy of the Year '98.
Roy Miller: Automotive Historian & Concours d'Elegance circuit judge;
owner, East/West Motors (Jaguar), Santa Barbara; award co-administrator.
Heinz Prechter: Chairman and founder, ASC, Inc., specialty automotive
manufacturer/customizer; OEM industry consultant.
Lorraine Schultz: Founder/International Director, Women's Automotive
Association International; former director of the Auto Leather Guild of
America.
Bob Sinclair: Automotive industry consultant; former president, Saab Cars
USA; Car Guy of the Year '96.
Don Sommer: Founder of Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance; President of
American Arrow Corporation.
TOM GALE BACKGROUND
Tom Gale served a thirty-three year career at Chrysler that culminated
with his earning the title of member of the board and executive vice
president, product design and development at DaimlerChrysler prior to his
retirement at the end of 2000.
Best known for leading a series of concept and later production vehicle
introductions that began to change the Chrysler and Dodge brands from
conservative, boxy-styled automobiles to bold, clean and forward-looking
vehicles, Gale and his team introduced the "cab-forward" design architecture
to mainstream automobiles. He began his career in 1967 as a body engineer in
the engineering office.
With his retirement, Gale's plans include continued involvement in the
automotive industry as a design consultant, with ongoing work with the
Chrysler Group, as well as new consulting in the automotive aftermarket. Gale
is a graduate of Michigan State University with respective B.A., M.A. and MBA
degrees. He is a member of the board of trustees for the Center for Creative
Studies and is a charter member of the national advisory council of the
Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters.
THE CAR GUY SHOW
The Car Guy Show is broadcast on WPON 1460 AM radio Detroit, and live and
archived via the Internet at http://www.thecarguy.com . TheCarGuy.com website
includes additional information and past announcements of the Car Guy of the
Year award winners. The Car Guy and Car Guy of the Year award are respective
service and trademarks of The Car Guy Show. WPON 1460 AM radio is an
independently owned and operated broadcast and Internet radio station.
