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February 2001

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Friday, February 9, 2001

Governor Davis Proclaims February 11-17 as California's Child Passenger Safety Week; Parents Encouraged to Have Safety Seats Checked for Proper Installation

Governor Davis Proclaims February 11-17 as California's Child Passenger Safety Week; Parents Encouraged to Have Safety Seats Checked for Proper Installation

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Feb. 9, 2001--Governor Davis has proclaimed February 11-17, 2001 as California's Child Passenger Safety Week. California will join other states across the nation for the weeklong observance, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). California's Child Passenger Safety ... Continue reading

NHRA 50 Greatest Drivers: Malcom Durham, Number 48

NHRA 50 Greatest Drivers: Malcom Durham, Number 48

In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier when he became the first African-American player to sign a Major League contract. In the 1960s, Malcolm Durham became drag racing's first black superstar. Raised on a family farm in Goldsboro, N.C., Durham gained his initial mechanical experience work ... Continue reading

Nation's 11th Largest Law Firm Continues Detroit Office Expansion; Foley & Lardner Announces New Associates in Business Law, Litigation Departments

Nation's 11th Largest Law Firm Continues Detroit Office Expansion; Foley & Lardner Announces New Associates in Business Law, Litigation Departments

DETROIT--Feb. 8, 2001--Foley & Lardner, the nation's 11th largest law firm, today announced the addition of two associates to the firm's Detroit office. "We are continuing our aggressive effort to attract the most highly talented and qualified local attorneys to our Detroit office," said Gerald J. Neal, partner-in-char ... Continue reading

Myers Industries Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

Myers Industries Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

AKRON, Ohio--Feb. 9, 2001--Myers Industries, Inc. announced that for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2000, net sales were $171.3 million, up 3 percent from the $166.6 million reported a year earlier. Net income was $4.5 million, down 54 percent from the $9.8 million in 1999, and net income per share was $.21, dow ... Continue reading

Midas Bakes Brake Claims

Midas Bakes Brake Claims

The Council of Better Business Bureaus said Midas Inc. agreed to drop claims that its Vehicle Specific Design brakes “perform as well as the original—or better” and clarify claims that its brakes are designed for each “vehicle type” in ads from Euro RSCG/Tatham, Chicago. Ford Motor Co. had ... Continue reading

Coachmen Industries Reports Final Results for 2000

Coachmen Industries Reports Final Results for 2000

ELKHART, Ind., Feb. 9 Coachmen Industries, Inc., a leading full line manufacturer of recreational vehicles and the nation's largest modular home builder, announced that net sales for the year ended December 31, 2000 were $710.0 million compared to 1999's record net sales of $847.0 million. Net income for the year was $ ... Continue reading

Is there a future for the car as we know it?

Is there a future for the car as we know it?

- A Challenge to Designers - MARKHAM, ON, Feb. 9 - Geoff Wardle, controversial automotive designer and academic told an audience in San Francisco yesterday that that manufacturers should stop being car companies and start being mobility companies. Geoff Wardle is the second industry leader in a month to question prolif ... Continue reading

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 9 Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 324,241 units, up from the 284,735 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now totals 1,666,671 vehi ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz Starmark Pre-Owned Program Finishes 2000 With High Sales

Mercedes-Benz Starmark Pre-Owned Program Finishes 2000 With High Sales

Certified Pre-Owned Program Adds a Host of New Components for 2001 MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 9 On the heels of the highest annual U.S. certified pre-owned sales in its history, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is further refining its industry-leading Starmark pre-owned vehicle program. Culminating the year with an extraordinary 26 ... Continue reading

Emerging Company Report: Child Safety on School Buses; Brazilian Diamond Mining

Emerging Company Report: Child Safety on School Buses; Brazilian Diamond Mining

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 9 Emerging Company Report is the nationally syndicated television program profiling emerging-growth companies (http://www.emergingcompany.com), featuring informative interviews with the CEOs, insights into their operations and outlooks for their futures. Featured companies on this week's edition ... Continue reading

Ford Remembers Former Executive

Ford Remembers Former Executive

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 9 -_ Joseph A. Kordick, former vice president and general manager of Ford's Parts and Service Division, died on Feb. 7 in Palm City, Fla. at the age of 69. The former U.S. executive retired in 1989 after 32 years with Ford Motor Company . Kordick began his career in Ford's Finance Staff and held n ... Continue reading

Ford Takes NASCAR Excitement to a New Level With Team Taurus Promotion

Ford Takes NASCAR Excitement to a New Level With Team Taurus Promotion

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 9 February means the NASCAR racing circuit is about to begin, and for Ford fans that means a whole new level of excitement in 2001. Ford Division announced today that it has created "Team Taurus," an Internet-based sweepstakes that allows fans to be part of the racing action and win valuable t ... Continue reading

The Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure, Inc. Reports Strong Quarter

The Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure, Inc. Reports Strong Quarter

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 9 The Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: JVTT) today reports second quarter revenues nearly doubled to $297,000 from the same period a year ago. Loss before amortization and depreciation dropped 80% from a year ago to $20,000. "We are very pleased with the company's performan ... Continue reading

UNIVISION.COM AND GENERAL MOTORS TO LAUNCH AVENTURAS DEL CAMINO `ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD'

UNIVISION.COM AND GENERAL MOTORS TO LAUNCH AVENTURAS DEL CAMINO `ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD'

Los Angeles, CA, and Detroit, MI,-- February 8, 2001-- Univision.com Content Expanded to Include a New Spanish-Language Automobile Travel Related Area Univision Online, Inc., a subsidiary of Univision Communications Inc. and General Motors Corporation announced today an online, one-year strategic marketing alliance. Ac ... Continue reading

Visteon Reaches out to Help Earthquake Relief Efforts

Visteon Reaches out to Help Earthquake Relief Efforts

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 9 Visteon Corporation has donated $25,000 to aid American Red Cross relief efforts for victims of the earthquake that shook the subcontinent of India in late January. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) The quake hit the western state of Gujarat, measuring between 7.6 ... Continue reading

Fidelity Holdings' Major Auto. Posts Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales in 2000

Fidelity Holdings' Major Auto. Posts Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales in 2000

KEW GARDENS, N.Y.--Feb. 9, 2001--Fidelity Holdings, Inc., announced that its Major Automotive division set a record for its pre-owned vehicle sales in 2000 at its Major World location in Long Island City, New York. Major World sold 8,211 used vehicles in 2000 compared to 5,601 pre-owned vehicle sales in 1999, an increa ... Continue reading

Exclusive: Australia: Record Sales -- Cause for Concern for Holden? Asks just-auto.com

Exclusive: Australia: Record Sales -- Cause for Concern for Holden? Asks just-auto.com

LONDON, Feb. 9 http://www.just-auto.com -- Although January 2001 was a good month for General Motors' Australian arm Holden in terms of sales -- it claimed almost one in five vehicles sold -- closer analysis of the statistics will cause concern in the Holden camp. The exclusive report at http://just-auto.com/features_d ... Continue reading

Regular Dividend Declared On Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Stock

Regular Dividend Declared On Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Stock

FINDLAY, Ohio--Feb. 9, 2001--Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced a quarterly dividend of 10 1/2 cents per share on common stock, payable March 30, 2001 to stockholders of record at the close of business March 5, 2001. This will mark the 116th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. ... Continue reading

Consumer Groups Say Dealer Associations Prevent Free and Direct Auto Buying On Web

Consumer Groups Say Dealer Associations Prevent Free and Direct Auto Buying On Web

The Washington Post reported that two leading consumer groups, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union, yesterday called for an end to state laws prohibiting Internet car sales, claiming the restrictions cost consumers an estimated $20 billion a year. A CFA study conducted by Mark Cooper, the federation' ... Continue reading

Exide Technologies to Invest $8.4 Million to Meet Increasing Demand For Sealed Industrial Batteries in Europe

Exide Technologies to Invest $8.4 Million to Meet Increasing Demand For Sealed Industrial Batteries in Europe

PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 8 Exide Technologies today announced plans to invest $8.4 million (9 million euros) in converting the Malpica, Spain, manufacturing facility from an exclusive producer of aftermarket transportation batteries to one which manufactures both industrial and transportation batteries. Craig Muhlhauser, ... Continue reading

Satellite Radio Chipset Finished...Look Out Local Radio And CD's

Satellite Radio Chipset Finished...Look Out Local Radio And CD's

ST Microelectronics to Commence Fabrication WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 XM Satellite Radio Inc., , announced the completion of its production chipset design and ST Microelectronics, the chipset manufacturer, has commenced fabrication to make the components available to radio manufacturers by the end of March, ensuring mass prod ... Continue reading

Robert Brust Elected to Delphi Board

Robert Brust Elected to Delphi Board

TROY, Mich., Feb. 9 Delphi Automotive Systems today announced the election of Robert Brust, 57, to its board of directors. Brust was elected Feb. 7 at a regular meeting of the company's board of directors. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001019/DELPHIAS http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010209/DEF002 ... Continue reading

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Reports Record Sales, 2000 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Reports Record Sales, 2000 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

FINDLAY, Ohio--Feb. 9, 2001--Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Fourth Quarter Highlights -- Earnings per share of 41 cents excluding non-recurring charges -- Tire unit sales increased 8.9 percent -- $92 million in net new automotive business awarded -- Restructuring activities progressing as planned Cooper Tire & Rubber Com ... Continue reading

AIADA Supports Bush Tax Plan

AIADA Supports Bush Tax Plan

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) strongly supports President George W. Bush's tax cut plan, which was presented to Congress today. The proposal includes elimination of the death tax, a top priority for AIADA due to the harmful impact of the tax on family-owned automob ... Continue reading

Auto Recyclers Respond to NHTSA Concerns Over Recycled Air Bags

Auto Recyclers Respond to NHTSA Concerns Over Recycled Air Bags

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) is concerned by recent misleading statements that appear in a letter released by the U.S. Federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This letter, addressing the use of recycled airbags, was written by Frank Seales, Jr., Esq., Chief Counsel of NHTSA, in res ... Continue reading

Does Your Car Rattle and Squeak? That's Good, Says World Congress Author

Does Your Car Rattle and Squeak? That's Good, Says World Congress Author

WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 8 Most consumers want a comfortable, quiet automobile ride. Governments and environmentalists want a reduction in vehicle noise. So why haven't the automakers engineered a completely noiseless car? "Cars have to be noisy," explains Hans Martin Gerhard, Porsche AG, Germany, and author of SAE paper ... Continue reading

Subaru Vehicles Selected as IntelliChoice Best Overall Value

Subaru Vehicles Selected as IntelliChoice Best Overall Value

CHICAGO, Feb. 8 IntelliChoice, today announced its analysis for the 2001 model year and selected three Subaru vehicles for Best Overall Value of the Year. The Subaru Outback AWD 4-Door Wagon was distinguished as "The Best Overall Value of the Year" in the "Midsize/Large Wagon" category. The Subaru Legacy L AWD 4-Door W ... Continue reading

Truck Safety Should be Top Priority in Opening Mexican Border to Trade

Truck Safety Should be Top Priority in Opening Mexican Border to Trade

The Automobile Club of Southern California is warning that if rules change regarding truck traffic over the U.S.-Mexico border, government agencies should add enforcement to accommodate the increased traffic and ensure that all truckers and companies are following U.S. safety standards. As a result of the North America ... Continue reading

MANUFACTURERS: Gary Anderson set to join Reynard Motorsport

MANUFACTURERS: Gary Anderson set to join Reynard Motorsport

Gary Anderson, one of the most respected British motorsport engineers, has been appointed Reynard North America Technical Director and Chief Technical Liaison Engineer and joins the company on March 1st. Anderson, 49, returns to Reynard after ten years in Formula 1, having left the company in 1990 after a two year peri ... Continue reading

CART: Off-Season Testing Continues for PacWest Racing

CART: Off-Season Testing Continues for PacWest Racing

(Sebring, FL) – PacWest Champ Car rookie Scott Dixon returned to the track Wednesday to continue his preparation for the opening round of the CART FedEx Championship Series on March 11, in Monterrey, Mexico. Dixon took to the 1.6-mile Sebring road course for the third time this season as the twenty-year-old Kiwi ... Continue reading

INDY LIGHTS: Conquest Racing Signs Kristian Kolby for 2nd Seat

INDY LIGHTS: Conquest Racing Signs Kristian Kolby for 2nd Seat

INDIANAPOLIS- Conquest Racing Team Owner Eric Bachelart today announced the signing of Danish driver Kristian Kolby to the second seat of his two-car team in the 2001 Dayton Indy Lights Championship, the Official Development Series of CART's FedEx Championship Series. Kolby will drive alongside Brazilian standout Nilto ... Continue reading

NASCAR WCUP: One Dodge Race Ends As Another Begins At Daytona

NASCAR WCUP: One Dodge Race Ends As Another Begins At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla - Dodge and Daytona - two words that will forever be linked in the minds of many stock car racing fans. The two come together again this weekend as 10 drivers take their Dodge Intrepid R/Ts to the track to qualify for the 2001 Daytona 500. When the green flag flies to start next Sunday's race, 500 da ... Continue reading

NASCAR WCUP: The Countdown Ends: Dodge Joins the Starting Grid for Daytona 500

NASCAR WCUP: The Countdown Ends: Dodge Joins the Starting Grid for Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - After a scant 490 days, more than one million man-hours of work and seemingly endless planning and testing, the day has nearly arrived. Almost two dozen Dodge Intrepid R/T NASCAR Winston Cup stock cars, fielded by five teams for their 10 drivers have made their way to the Daytona International Spe ... Continue reading

CART: Championship Auto Racing Teams Exploring Rio 200 Option

CART: Championship Auto Racing Teams Exploring Rio 200 Option

DETROIT - Championship Auto Racing Teams has notified the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that it has reserved its right to cancel the March 25 Rio 200, Round 2 of the 2001 FedEx Championship Series, after the city defaulted on certain conditions of its agreement with the Champ Car sanctioning body. On Thursday, Januar ... Continue reading

FIA RALLY: The International Swedish Rally Preview

FIA RALLY: The International Swedish Rally Preview

After the asphalt of Monte Carlo, the stars of the FIA World Rally Championship switch to snowy, icy forest tracks for the second round of the series, the International Swedish Rally, which starts in Karlstad this evening. The event remains the last stronghold of Scandinavians, since no non-Nordic driver has ever won h ... Continue reading

ASA: Air-on-line.com To Sponsor Ed Brown

ASA: Air-on-line.com To Sponsor Ed Brown

PRINCETON, Ill.--Rookie ASA driver Ed Brown and officials at Champion Air Compressor have come to an agreement that will put the company’s name and new product line, Air-On-Line.com, on the number 60 Chevrolet for the American Speed Ass ociation’s season-opening event February 15-17, 2001 at St. Augustine ( ... Continue reading

NASCAR Trucks: Pickuptruck.com extends relationship wit SMR

NASCAR Trucks: Pickuptruck.com extends relationship wit SMR

Sandusky, Ohio - Pickuptruck.com extended their relationship with the No. 88 SealMaster Racing team as an associate sponsor for the next two seasons. Plans are already in the works to expand the site with unique content and regular updates on the Craftsman Truck Series. "If you check out the site today you will find re ... Continue reading

ASA: Huckaby to Compete Part-Time in 2001 ASA Season

ASA: Huckaby to Compete Part-Time in 2001 ASA Season

Austin, Texas - H & H Motorsports has announced that it has purchased an ASA Racing Series Team for driver Clay Huckaby. The team purchased two 2001 Pontiac Grand Prixs, pit and shop equipment, a 70-foot long Kenworth Truck and a two car trailer, all former equipment used by 2000 Rookie of the Year candidate Tracey Goo ... Continue reading

Northern Light IRL: Indy Racing Northern Light Series Notebook

Northern Light IRL: Indy Racing Northern Light Series Notebook

INDIANAPOLIS - Didier André, teammate of Al Unser Jr. and Casey Mears on the Galles Racing team, passed his Indy Racing rookie test Feb. 7 at Phoenix International Raceway. André, a native of Lyon, France, completed his test in 180 laps during windy conditions. "Today was a big learning day, especially since I haven' ... Continue reading

TRACKS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Adds Five More Video Screens

TRACKS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Adds Five More Video Screens

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has signed a multimillion-dollar agreement with Daktronics, Inc., to add five large-screen video displays on the west side of the 2.5-mile oval’s main straightaway, Speedway officials announced today. The state-of-the-art Daktronics ProStarÒ screens will allow fans ... Continue reading

Northern Light IRL: Longer off-season gives teams time to prepare for intense year

Northern Light IRL: Longer off-season gives teams time to prepare for intense year

INDIANAPOLIS -- The long offseason has been an on season for many Indy Racing Northern Light Series teams. The teams want to be on the mark when the expanded 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season begins with the Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 on March 18 at Phoenix International Raceway. That date is approximat ... Continue reading

INDY 500: Budweiser to serve as associate sponsor for Unser, Mears at Indy

INDY 500: Budweiser to serve as associate sponsor for Unser, Mears at Indy

PHOENIX- Budweiser will be an associate sponsor of the Galles Racing cars driven by Al Unser Jr. and Casey Mears in the 2001 Indianapolis 500, team owner Rick Galles announced today. Unser is a two-time winner at Indianapolis, in 1992 and 1994. Mears, a rookie, is the nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Me ... Continue reading

NASCAR WCUP: Jeff Gordon Foundation to Host Online Auction

NASCAR WCUP: Jeff Gordon Foundation to Host Online Auction

HARRISBURG, NC - The Jeff Gordon Foundation, a non-profit organization, will begin hosting monthly online auctions to raise money for charity. The online auctions will feature Jeff Gordon racing memorabilia and other specialty racing items. Beginning on February 12, 2001, the online auctions can be found on the website ... Continue reading

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