Friday, May 9, 2008

Motorcycle Misadventures May Newsletter

In May, at the Esalen Institute on the coast of Big Sur one can soak in hot spring-fed baths poised dramatically on the cliff side while watching barnacle-crusted whales passing by on their northern migration. I spent a week there as a fiftieth birthday treat, without laptop, without telephone, without even putting pen ... Continue reading

Rowe's rapid rebound keeps his JEGS ProMod Challenge title hopes intact

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (May 9) -- Any realistic chance Danny Rowe had of winning the 2008 JEGS ProMod Challenge title could have been lost Friday night in St. Louis when his Hottinger Group Camaro got away from him and impacted both of Gateway International Raceway's retaining walls. But instead of giving up, Rowe and cr ... Continue reading

Hawk Announces Record 2008 First Quarter Sales and Income from Operations

- Net sales increase by 21.4% to record $65.8 million - Income from continuing operations, after taxes increases 100.0% to $3.8 million - Company raises earnings guidance for 2008 CLEVELAND, May 9 -- Hawk Corporation (AMEX:HWK) announced today that net sales from continuing operations for the first quarter ended March ... Continue reading

INDY 500 - PRACTICE MAY 9

INDIANAPOLIS - Practice Friday for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed: 1. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 226.968 2. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 226.710 3. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallar ... Continue reading

PENSKE RACING - INDY 500 INTERVIEW

PAT SULLIVAN: Welcome. This is always a special day in our Media Center when we have our annual visit from Team Penske. Obviously, it's been an interesting week thus far, and we're all anxious to get going. So we really appreciate all of you taking time out of your schedules before we get on the course. We turn our att ... Continue reading

Bobby Allison dedication ceremony highlights free fan activities at the Monster Mile during the May 30-June 1, 2008 race weekend

DOVER, Del. — The astounding sight of the 46-foot Monster Monument, an abundance of new entertainment options celebrating “40 Fast Years,” and the return of NASCAR’s biggest stars will give race fans at Dover International Speedway plenty to cheer about during the May 30 – June 1, 2008 race wee ... Continue reading

DARLINGTON RACEWAY ANNOUNCES FOURTH CONSECUTIVE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SELLOUT

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 9, 2008) – For the fourth consecutive time since the race moved to Mother’s Day weekend in May 2005, reserved grandstand seating for the 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 is a sellout, Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning announced today. “The staff at Darlington Raceway has worked h ... Continue reading

Deja vu all over again' would please Coughlin in Bristol return

BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 8) -- Yogi Berra's famous quote, "It's like déjà vu all over again," would suit reigning series champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. just fine as the 52-time national event winner returns to Bristol Dragway May 16-18 for the eighth annual O'Reilly Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals. Coughlin had a banner weekend ... Continue reading

Dialed in: Radio host promotes tourism from MIS

BROOKLYN, Mich. (May 9, 2008) — Detroit radio personality Paul W. Smith promoted tourism throughout the state of Michigan this week so it’s only fitting that his annual radio tour ended Friday at Michigan International Speedway, one of the state’s largest tourism destinations. The morning show host for N ... Continue reading

WILL UTAH BE THE FASTEST?

Audi and Acura will be among the marques looking to set American Le Mans Series speed records at Miller Motorsports Park. That's the $64,000 question as American Le Mans Series teams ready themselves for the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels. For the first time ... Continue reading

5.9Ford 09 Escape to sell in China market next year

Ford 09 Escape to sell in China market next year http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/6384/Ford-09-Escape-to-sell-in-China-ma rket- next-year.html Shanghai, May 9 (Gasgoo.com) Ford Motor unveiled the all-new Fiesta and 2009 Escape at the recent Beijing auto show. The Ford 2009 Escape, the first gas-electric hybrid SUV, is e ... Continue reading

5.9Cars in Beijing Olympics to achieve "zero emissions"

Cars in Beijing Olympics to achieve "zero emissions" http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/6381/Cars-in-Beijing-Olympics-to-achiev e-zer o-emissions.html Shanghai, May 9 (Gasgoo.com) The Beijing Olympic venues will achieve "zero emissions," first in the history of the Games, with the use of more environmentally-friendly vehi ... Continue reading

5.9Dongfeng Citroen exports 2.3 mln-euro auto parts in Q1

Dongfeng Citroen exports 2.3 mln-euro auto parts in Q1 http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/6378/Dongfeng-Citroen-exports-2-3-mln-e uro-a uto-parts-in-Q1.html Shanghai, May 9 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile, the French car maker's Chinese venture with Dongfeng Motor, earned a total of 2.3 million euro in it ... Continue reading

Harbin Electric Reports Record Revenues and Operating Profits for the First Quarter 2008 -- Sales Grew 65% Year-Over-Year

First Quarter 2008 Financial Highlights -- Total revenues were $22.5 million, an increase of 65% compared to $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2007 -- Operating profit was $8.6 million, up 68% compared to the first quarter 2007 -- Net income was $5.4 million, a 57% increase from the first quarter of 2007 -- Diluted ... Continue reading

BMW Group: 2008 Awards for four BMW engines and a MINI power unit.

Munich / Stuttgart. With six awards for five engines gained at this year’s “International Engine of the Year Awards”, BMW has successfully defended its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of efficient high-performance power units. For the second time in succession, the 3-liter inline six en ... Continue reading

Three Metaldyne Plants Recognized by Ford for Outstanding Supplier Delivery Performance

PLYMOUTH, Mich., May 9 -- Three Metaldyne powder metal facilities in three countries were recently recognized by Ford for outstanding supplier delivery performance, Metaldyne Corporation said today. Metaldyne Sintered Components Espana received recognition from Ford of Europe for five years of 100 percent supplier deli ... Continue reading

Lincoln and Hip-Hop Superstar Common Announce the 'Lincoln Spotlight' Grand Champion Lyricist

DEARBORN, Mich., May 9 -- West Hollywood, California resident and aspiring lyricist Jael Gadsen has been chosen the grand champion of the Lincoln Spotlight online music competition by a panel that included Grammy Award-winning hip-hop superstar Common, Grammy-winning music producer Bryan Michael Cox, VIBE magazine edit ... Continue reading

Metaldyne Completes Closure of Three U.S. Locations

PLYMOUTH, Mich., May 9 -- Metaldyne, LLC has completed the closure of two of its U.S. manufacturing plants and one commercial office to adjust for excess capacity caused by lower vehicle sales from its North American customers and to reduce structural costs in fiscal 2008. "The economic dynamics in North America has cr ... Continue reading

Nick Heidfeld Tests BMW HP2 Megamoto

Munich 05/07/2008; Just before making his spectacular appearance in his Formula 1 vehicle on the site of the BMW works in Munich, Nick Heidfeld found the time to take a closer look at the extra special high-performance two-wheeler. The exclusive BMW HP2 Megamoto is an uncompromising, lightweight motorcycle, with a desi ... Continue reading

SORL Auto Parts Announces Reporting Date for First Quarter 2008 Earnings Results

ZHEJIANG, China, May 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SORL Auto Parts, Inc. , a leading manufacturer and distributor of commercial vehicle air brake valves as well as other auto parts in China, today announced that the Company will report its first quarter 2008 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, ... Continue reading

Get Ready to Walk Like MADD to Eliminate Drunk Driving

MADD Leadership Joins State Assembly Member in Support of Ignition Interlock Legislation See Interlock Technology in Action HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) leadership will join 500 local supporters on Saturday, May 10 at Huntington City Beach to participat ... Continue reading

BMW Motorcycles Offer Special Allowances on All Models to Members of US Armed Forces

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 9, 2008... In appreciation of the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women serving in the US armed forces, BMW Motorrad USA is pleased to announce a special motorcycle purchase program for all active members of the US armed forces. The program -- which runs through December 31, 2008 -- is ... Continue reading

Growth Fuels Hybrid Leasing

CINCINNATI, May 9 -- Resulting from both rising fuel prices and environmental consciousness, hybrid vehicle registrations were up in 2007. According to R.L. Polk & Co. figures recently released, there was an increase of 38 percent in the hybrid segment when compared to 2006, meaning 350,289 new hybrids hit the road las ... Continue reading

Auto Affordability Best in Six Years Comerica Bank Chief Economist Reports

DETROIT, May 9 -- The purchase of an average-priced new vehicle took 23.9 weeks of median family income in the first quarter, according to the Auto Affordability Index compiled by Comerica Bank. The latest reading is down 0.6 weeks from the fourth quarter and 1.1 weeks compared to a year ago. Including finance charges, ... Continue reading

GEM Purchase Incentive for AFVI Attendees

Las Vegas, NV – Global Electric Motorcars announces a special offer to registrants of AFVI’s 2008 conference on their next purchase of selected GEM neighborhood electric vehicles. This offer can only be obtained at the GEM booth (#205B). The AFVI 2008 conference is being held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel in Las ... Continue reading

Toyota to Continue Providing Residential Fuel Cell Cogeneration System for Government Project

<http://www.japancorp.net> Toyota to Continue Providing Residential Fuel Cell Cogeneration System for Government Project Tokyo, Japan, May 9, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that it plans to provide, for the third year in a row, home-use fuel cell cogeneration units as part of a g ... Continue reading

Toyota 2008 Financial Results-Good; Forecasts-Bad; Enhanced With Video Report

May 8, 2008 - Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced operating results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. On a consolidated basis, net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 totaled 26.29 trillion yen, an increase of 9.8 percent compared to the last fiscal year. Operating income increa ... Continue reading

Autodelta announces the Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C Q-Tronic

Autodelta now makes Q-Tronic 6-speed automatic transmission available to its bespoke Brera J5 3.2 C conversion, widening further its high-performance range based on the Alfa Romeo Brera sports car. ... Continue reading

Smart Car Could Be Smart Choice for Drivers - VIDEO STORIES

Smart Cars Gain in Popularity as Fuel Prices Rise GREENSBORO, NC and AUSTIN, TX - March 9, 2008: Daimler-Benz' Smart Car looks to be taking advantage of the soaring price of gasoline and consumer need to maximize fuel efficiency, as these two local TV news stories point out. ... Continue reading

Porsche Wins ''Best Performance Engine Award''

911 Turbo-Engine named the world's best performance powerplant ATLANTA GA May 8, 2008; For the second year in a row, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, has won an award in the International Engine of the Year competition. By winning the coveted “Best Performance Engine Award,” the 911 Turbo engine has underscored P ... Continue reading

Continental: "Good chance"' for Chevrolet Volt EV Win

DETROIT, May 8, 2008; Kevin Krolicki writinfg for Reuters reported that Auto supplier Continental AG (CONG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), in the hunt to supply advanced battery packs for the upcoming all-electric Chevrolet Volt, sees a "good chance" of winning that high-profile contract from General Motors Corp (GM.N: ... Continue reading

Hyundai halts US pickup truck plan on oil prices

SEOUL, May 9, 2008; Cheon Jong-woo writing for Reuters reported that Hyundai Motor Group, the world's sixth-largest automaker, said on Friday it had shelved plans to produce a pickup truck in the United States amid concerns surging oil prices will hit demand for gas-guzzling vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group had planned to ... Continue reading