Back to the Track.
We’re going back to Willow Springs International Raceway for MPG Track Days.
- Day One (October 6) will be full of opportunities to become a better driver on the track, and to explore vehicles on the street.
- Day Two (October 7) combines track driving, street driving and maybe even a little bit of (intentional) off-roading.
Take the opportunity to drive competitive vehicles back-to-back. Meet the OEM PR staff members face-to-face. See old friends and make new ones.
It’s the event you know and love. Save the date.
Registration details and information will follow shortly.
|
|
September MPG Luncheon: The Next Generation of Jaguar
|
|
|
Tuesday, September 22 // 11:30am-2:00pm // Irvine, CA
|
|
|
Join us at Jaguar Land Rover's Western Regional Office and Training Center in Irvine for lunch and a presentation by Chris Marchan – Executive Vice President Operations, Jaguar Land Rover NA, LLC. More information is coming soon.
|
|
Important Message from the President
|
|
|
Greetings, MPG Members!
This month, I want to discuss a few significant changes that we’re making in two of our flagship events: MPG Track Days and the MPG Awards.
Changes to Track Days for 2015:
|
|
|
This year’s format will be familiar from years past, but with a twist: Driver Qualification.
If there’s ever been a concern in common from the manufacturers who bring their cars to the event and our membership, it’s been track safety. The only qualifications to drive at the event in the past have been Journalist or Analyst membership in good standing and a valid driver’s license. This year, that will change.
In order to drive on the track this year, Journalist and Analyst members in good standing must meet the following qualifications, in addition to possessing a valid driver’s license:
One of the following:
- A valid SCCA racing license
- A valid NASA racing license
- Other recognized racing license or qualification
- Evidence of completion of a track-based driving school within the past 36 months
Any driver who cannot provide one of the above can qualify to drive on the track in one of three ways:
- Attend Track Day One (October 6) and participate in a track driver training course with Danny McKeever’s team, and receive an endorsement from a pro driver.
- Attend Track Day One (October 6) and take a qualifying drive with a pro driver and receive an endorsement.
- Appeal to the Track Day Committee for special consideration based on demonstrated track driving experience and expertise.
|
|
|
Vehicles will be available during Day One for the Street Drive as well as Track Drive training and qualification.
Day Two will be the full experience – both Street Drive and Track Drive, with an Off-Road component also in the planning.
We hope that this new direction will serve all of us well, both MPG Members and OEMs. We have a lot more planned to make this a fun, impactful event. Registration will open on Friday, September 11. Stay tuned.
|
|
Changes to MPG Awards for 2015:
|
|
First and foremost, we’re changing from a free nomination process to a submission process with a fee. In the past, we’ve accepted nominations from members. In theory, members would nominate works by themselves and others (up to three per member).
In practice, what really happened most was that members nominated their own works – which was fine, but not completely transparent. Now, members and non-members alike are welcome to submit their qualifying works, accompanied by a small fee to help cover the cost of producing our awards ceremony.
|
|
Notable changes:
- MPG Members and non-members may submit as many works as they wish
Members: $15 per submission.
Non-members: $25 per submission.
- The winner of the grand prize, the Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism, will receive a cash prize of $500 in addition to a trophy designed by noted sculptor Richard Petruska.
|
|
|
|
Submissions for the 2015 MPG Awards will open on Monday, September 14 and close on Sunday, November 1. Watch your email for details and rules.
|
|
Thanks for your interest in all of the MPG’s events and activities. It’s going to be a wild ride for the rest of the year!
Best,
— Jason Fogelson
President, Motor Press Guild
|
|
MPG Tours the SEMA Garage
|
|
On Tuesday, August 25, SEMA hosted MPG's August luncheon at the newly built SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar. Members had the opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art facility, listen to a presentation by SEMA President and CEO, Chris Kersting and also be treated with a food truck lunch.
photo by Myles Regan / Regan Digital Images
|
|
|
AutoDesignO and MPG present XPLORE
|
|
|
AutoDesignO, this year in partnership with MPG, held XPLORE West Coast Design on September 1st. The event was held at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Newport Beach and featured three one-on-one interview sessions with various designers as well as cars on display from Mazda and Rezvani Motors, plus a virtual reality live demo from Nurulize. photo by Carrie Kim
|
|
|
 AltCar Expo
Friday, September 18 / Santa Monica
MPG Members are invited to attend the 10th Anniversary of AltCar Conference Expo at a discounted price. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased up through the day of the event. Admission includes conference, breakfast and lunch.
To purchase tickets, please visit the registration page at altcarexpo.com. Early bird pricing is $15 through September 7. After 9/7, please use code EXTEB for $20 off the regular $35.00 price.
For questions or more information, please call (310) 390-2930.
Click to download the event PDF with program and sponsor information. |
|
 Passes to Irwindale Speedway are available
Hello MPG Members!
As you might have heard, we all had a great time at the Speedway last month. The on-track autograph session was fun (even if the only guy who actually asked me for my signature had mistaken me for Don Prieto).
If you missed that night and would like to come out for a night of NASCAR racing at Irwindale as my guest, just take a look at the schedule, pick a date, pick up the phone, give me a call* and I’ll set a couple of VIP passes for you and a guest. Simple as that.
We’ll see you here!
Doug Stokes
doug@irwindaleeventcenter.com
626.358.1100 office
626.391.3772 cell
*please call by Friday noon (of race week) at the very latest.
|
|
|
Art Center College of Design's Annual Car Classic
Sunday, October 25 / Pasadena
|
|
|
MPG Members are invited to attend Art Center's Annual Car Classic. Credentialed journalists may apply for FREE admission here, and all MPG members are offered a 10% discount to attend in a non-journalist capacity and/or to register additional guests. Choose “Special Promotions Advance Purchase” toward the bottom of the form and enter the code SPP10 on the registration page for the 10% discount.
|
|
Journalists
- Deborah Drab, tractalk
- Eric Graciano, AUTONOTAStv
- Megan Stewart, MotorTrend
|
|
GARAGE FIND TO GARAGE QUEEN IN SEVEN DAYS
— story by Jim Thomas (Driving Around Motorcars)
|
|
|
|
Pictured above is a ’56 Chevy Nomad built as a “Hot Rod” over a period of 22 years. Hopefully you will enjoy the story and keep believing “they are still out there.”
|
|
|
I don’t have an '80s mustache and there are no tattoos or cheap jewelry adorning my fingers (as seems to be a requirement for a show on Velocity), but after 40+ years in the industry, I am still finding remarkable cars through a network of great friends.
I got a call from a contact that has found cars previously for me (can’t tell you how he finds them, he just does). The Nomad had been in storage for 14 years after the death of the owner. Timing is everything as the widow had recently been thinking about selling it. Her husband bought the car in 1999 from the restorer who owned it and restored it over a period of 22 years (more on this later). Her husband drove it maybe four times before passing away in 2001. She said he would just go into the garage, tinker with it and look at it.
Of course when I got to the car, it was covered with not only a rotting custom car cover but blankets, boxes, assorted keepsakes and 14 years of grime. This 82 year old was quite a hoot with opinions on just about everything and after some friendly discussion a deal was consummated. Since it didn’t run and with old gas and the usual concerns it was a leap of faith the 350 crate motor was intact and the guys at PCH Garage would have it running in no time.
Then I had a dream (nightmare) that led to my learning all about the origin of the car and the builder. The annual Seal Beach Car Show was 8 days away and my “brilliant idea”was to get the car on the road, looking great and entered in the show. The detail of getting it ready isn’t as important as the history. You all know the drill, fuel system, detail, replace or repair aged parts, and on and on. It was all done and in seven days and some nights.
Now, with a nod to the late Paul Harvey, the rest of the story ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
