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Contents:
Luncheon Presentation
September 8, 2009
Our Diesel Tomorrow?

A Message from the President
Aaron Robinson

Your Board Needs You

Coming Events

Member News

New Members

What We Drive
Jeffrey Zurschmeide’s 
MGA turns 50

Looking Back:
Executive Director
Chuck Koch

Contribute to your MilePost

Maintain your online profile

LUNCHEON / SEPTEMBER 8, 2009: DIESEL PANEL
Our Diesel Tomorrow? 
“The engine of the future is 115 years old, folks.” — Gale Banks
– photos by Pete Lyons for MPG

Left to right: John Stewart, moderator, Lars Ullrich and Gale Banks

The latest of MPG’s lively luncheon panel discussions brought us up to speed on modern diesel power and why compression-ignition engines are becoming more common in the U.S. passenger car fleet. Moderated by John Stewart, Editor-in-Chief of Offroad Industry Magazine, the panelists were Bosch diesel systems marketing director Lars Ullrich and Gale Banks, president of aftermarket power producer Gale Banks Engineering.

John Stewart itemized “four major trends at work here that you might want to be aware of.” Those four were: Diesel power helps meet both CAFE and Kyoto standards; this year’s Green Car of the Year is a diesel (a VW utilizing Bosch common rail technology); diesel fuel is currently cheaper than gasoline even in the U.S. and, thanks to modern advances, diesel can claim growing product appeal here.

Stewart expanded on his last point by saying, “The new diesels are not slow and dirty, like the school bus that you remember.” He then referenced a JD Power prediction that U.S. diesel passenger vehicle penetration will rise from today’s 3 percent to 9 percent by 2015.

Bosch’s Lars Ullrich presented first, pointing out that Rudolf Diesel displayed his pioneering powerplant all the way back in 1897, and that he was talking about biofuel as early as 1912. However, while the diesel combustion principle has long been accepted in commerce worldwide and, recently, by over half of European passenger car buyers, it has been a hard sell to American motorists.

He admitted that in the mid1990s diesel still had a “bad image of being loud, being smoky,” but detailed how Bosch introduced such new technologies as common rail injection systems with high-precision new injector nozzles. These helped make engines that are now 50-state compliant in the U.S., “and diesel all of a sudden is not a dirty word any longer.”

Referring to Gale Banks’ personal diesel-powered VW Jetta on display outside the restaurant, he said this sportwagon model “has actually more than 80 percent diesel take rate, which is an incredible number and shows that consumers actually are craving for the technology.”

As for the future of diesel in this country, Ullrich spoke of the federal mandate to increase fuel mileage by 28 percent by 2016, and pointed out that diesel already offers a 30-percent improvement. But he cautioned that reaching the goal will take other methodologies as well, including hybrid and electric vehicles, depending on a consumer’s particular needs and driving environment.

“What we see is, there is not one single solution which will bring us to this target. We need to rely on all the different solutions,” he said. “We have to get the consumers to understand they have to choose their powertrain as they currently choose their consumer goods.”

Gale Banks’ opening line, “My name is Gale. I’m a torque junky” brought immediate laughter and a cry of “Welcome!” With a grin he added, “There is no 12-step program for my affliction.”

Its bountiful torque is why he enjoys the Jetta he brought to the luncheon. He described a mountain road drive to Yosemite and how “this thing comes off the turns… People were actually pulling into those turnoffs to let me go, and I’m in a two-liter diesel station wagon. There’s somethin’ right with the world!”

Following a short video showing diesel-powered dragsters and Bonneville racers he has built, including a Dakota pickup that hauled its own support trailer to the Salt Flats and then clocked 222 mph, Banks spoke of the future potential of the technology.

“How do we maintain performance in the United States? Well, there are some tools, but they have to be socially acceptable. Supercharging, turbocharging, those are tools.

“Diesel is also a tool, oddly enough. It’s time to change your minds about diesel, folks. It is clean. On the particulate side, the particulate output of the diesels that are coming from Germany today, and can be matched with technology here, is one tenth, one order of magnitude, lower than current gasoline. So the American Lung Association ought to be very happy with that little factoid.”

He also revealed something that even Bosch partner Ullrich hadn’t known: Banks Engineering is working on “what we call super-critical diesel injection. We’re heating the fuel to within 100 degrees of its kindling temperature.

“…through calculation we find that the viscosity of the fuel will drop by one order of magnitude. So we’ll be able to inject the fuel mass quicker, if we so desire. Shape [of] the combustion pressure curve, the energy release of the fuel, will be different. What I’m talking about here is a sea-change for diesel combustion. We predict lower CO2, and lower NOX. And better efficiency.

“You heard it here.”

For a complete transcript as well as a digital audio file of the presentation, including questions by members and guests,click here (no member login required)

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT/ AARON ROBINSON

As Track Day approaches (October 27-28, in case you missed all of the previous 4000 emails and announcements and exhortations to sign up) I wanted to fill you in on developments.

We have over 30 manufacturers agreeing to bring vehicles for you to drive at Auto Club Speedway, including commitments from several companies that are new to the event, among them being Lamborghini. Plus we have several cars coming from high-performance tuner brands. We have a full slate of driving activities and awards, with great prizes donated by our event sponsors.

Speaking of sponsors, we happily now have something in common with Ferrari’s Formula 1 team — we’re pasting a Shell logo on our Track Day as a presenting sponsor!

We have a fabulous banquet planned at a new venue with distractions such as Rock Band games and driving simulators. So if you haven’t signed up already, don’t wait to be told later that you missed the best MPG Track Day yet.

How do you sign up? Simply click here.

..........................................................

If you are reading this, you are probably one of the 42 percent of Motor Press Guild members who deigned to open last month’s September MilePost email. Only 42 percent. How do we know? Our software reports who opens the MPG emails we send and who doesn’t. Yes, we have names!

Math geniuses will have already figured out that 58 percent, or about 430 of you, didn’t look at September’s MilePost — indeed, didn’t even bother to open the email.

Well, at least it’s an improvement from the month before. In August, just 36 percent opened the email and clicked onto the MilePost link, which involved extra steps of logging into the website and downloading a PDF. We thought we were making it easier by going straight email. We were. But apparently not by enough to capture those elusive 430 members.

I’d be lying if I said we aren’t just slightly flummoxed. We think MilePost is an important organ of communication, and much effort and not a small amount of MPG’s budget is devoted to producing it each month. Granted, we’re spending way less on MilePost than we used to, when it was paper-printed and snail-mailed.

What was the percentage of readership then? Maybe it was higher, maybe not, but we had no way to track such things in the paper era.

With today’s squeezed budgets we’re not going back to spending roughly $20,000 of your dues money per year to lay out, print, and mail a newsletter. At least, not while I’m president (which won’t be much longer, for those of you contemplating a coup d’etat; to give yourself a shot, enter your name to run for the Board by November 30).

We’ve considered the various angles of our readership conundrum. More of you are processing emails on smartphones. As a devoted Blackberry user myself, I understand how emails quickly get buried in the sediments of the rushing river of data that flows through those devices daily. And our new in-email MilePost is perhaps not the easiest thing to read on a Blackberry, though our secretary James Bell’s whiz-bang iPhone seems able to render it beautifully, photos included.

We are careful to limit how many MPG mass emails we send, and to ensure that their content is relevant and of a time-sensitive nature so as not to further overload your inboxes. And we are keeping MilePost simple so as not to eat into your storage limit. Even with thumbnail photos, last month’s email newsletter was just 28 kilobytes, a mere crumb of data by modern standards.

So we’re taking all suggestions, crumbs or otherwise, on how to improve MilePost and increase its readership. Feel free to send them to me at president@motorpressguild.com or to editor Pete Lyons at milepost@motorpressguild.org

And thanks for reading!

Aaron Robinson

MPG President

YOUR BOARD NEEDS YOU

Every year, three of MPG’s nine Directors reach the ends of their terms. That means now is your chance to get your hands on the steering wheel! Help guide the Guild through the next three years, work to implement your good ideas, and enjoy an atmosphere of professional fellowship at monthly Board meetings — complete with delicious, free takeout suppers. How can you pass this up???

The formal nominations procedure is detailed in MPG’s Bylaws; see page 302 of the 2009 Media Guide, or search for “Article 5—Elections” in the online edition. Either follow the instructions therein, or simply contact committee chair Dave Kunz (dave.r.kunz@abc.com / 818-863-7626) and express your interest in running. Either way, the deadline for receipt by the nominating committee is Monday, November 30.

MPG wishes to thank K1 Speed in Torrance, CA, for occasional use of a meeting room to hold board meetings. 

COMING EVENTS

MPG’s luncheon meetings are on the second Tuesdays of the months January through September, plus November, at the Proud Bird Restaurant near LAX airport. Guest speakers come from every area of the automotive business, and all industry professionals are welcome to attend. Price is $25 for MPG members, $30 for others. Arrive by 11:30 am for networking, with lunch beginning at noon. Check www.motorpressguild.org for latest details and driving directions.

September 30: Tell your colleagues — this is the LAST DATE to join MPG and be eligible to drive at this year’s Track Day.

October 27-28: MPG Track Day at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana. Online registration remains open until October 16. Click here to register.

November 10: MPG Luncheon meeting at the Proud Bird. Guest speaker is Robert Davis, Mazda's senior VP of product development and quality.

December 2: LA Auto Show opening Media Day, with breakfast followed by the MPG Keynote Speaker, GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson. Media registration opens September 14 at www.laautoshow.com/Press.html

December 8: MPG Dean Batchelor Award banquet.

MEMBER NEWS

“MOTION Performance, Tales Of A Muscle Car Builder,”is a new book by Martyn L. Schorr which chronicles the rise, fall, and then rise of Joel Rosen, the "kid from Brooklyn" who drove and dyno-tuned his way into the AHRA and NHRA record books and the Motion and Baldwin-Motion (1967-1974 Phase III and SS-427 & 454 Chevys) brands. It also details the colorful history of American muscle and low-volume performance cars from the early-1900s to modern times. Published by Motorbooks in October 2009 with a foreword by fellow MPG Member Joe Oldham, the hardcover book has 176 pages. There are 262 period and modern black and white and color photos from private collections and the author’s archives. Gracing the Endpapers are full color reproductions of David Snyder’s painting, MOTION! See more info at www.motorbooks.com/store/ProductDetails_42330.ncm. Media reviewers please contact Nicole Schiele nschiele@motorbooks.com

MEMBER NEWS is an MPG resource to advise fellow members of changes in your contact info as well as new business ventures, products, services, requests for assistance, etc. Entries will appear on a one-time basis here in MilePost (send them to milepost@motorpressguild.org), but you may also post them on the website (send them separately to membernews@motorpressguild.org). Please note that our new, self-service website has rendered MilePost’s old “MEMBERS IN MOTION” section obsolete; see “MAINTAIN YOUR PROFILE” at the bottom of this email.

NEW MEMBERS

Richard Deleonartis, President, Transcend Creative Group, 1043 Sunset Dr., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; 310-344-7595; rdeleonartis@transcendcreativegroup.com. Affiliate

Arthur Henry, Market Intelligence Manager, Kelley Blue Book, 6345 Kester Ave., #206, Van Nuys, CA 91411; 949-267-6387; ahenry@kbb.com. Full-Journalist

Christopher Hoffman, 1561 Josie Ave., Long Beach, CA 90815; 562-799-6060; roadtripchris@mac.com. Full-Journalist

Carter Jung, Editor, Import Tuner, 2753 Sleepy Hollow Pl., Glendale, CA 91206; 714-939-2420; fax: 213-320-2562; ajung637@yahoo.com. Full-Journalist

Ed Kim, Director, Industry Analysis, AutoPacific, Inc., 2991 Dow Ave., Tustin, CA 92780; 714-838-4234; fax: 714-838-4260; ed.kim@autopacific.com. Full-Journalist

Jonathan A. Michaels, Founding Member, Michaels Law Group, 2801 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 270, Newport Beach, CA 92663; 949-581-6900; fax: 949-581-6908; jmichaels@michaelslawgroup.com. Affiliate

Kelly Pion, Marketing Director, Michaels Law Group, 2801 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 270, Newport Beach, CA 92663; 949-581-6900; fax: 949-581-6908; kpion@michaelslawgroup.com Affiliate

Chris Sawyer, Editor, Inland Empire  Automotive Magazine, 5198 Arlington Ave., Suite 617, Riverside, CA 92504; 951-565-3435; fax: 951-354-5638; chris@ieautomag.com. Full-Journalist

Bill Smulo, Forced Induction Specialist, TheWarehouse, 24021 Kittridge St., West Hills, CA 91307; 818-480-1009; fax: 818-623-3121; bse-bill@socal.rr.com. Affiliate

Peter Tarach, Editor-in-Chief, Modified Magazine, 4306 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; 323-782-2213; peter@modified.com. Full-Journalist

WHAT WE DRIVE

Jeffrey Zurschmeide’s MGA turns 50

For each of us in this business, something happened to make us who we are. Something that captured our imagination, or warped us forever, depending on how you look at it. For me, it was my father's purchase of a crusty old 1959 MGA roadster.

I was 9 at the time, and I handed wrenches to my dad as he rebuilt the engine in our garage. I recall how proud he was when a box arrived in the mail containing his brand new Nardi Classico steering wheel. I also remember him carefully explaining to me the difference between a “convertible” and a “roadster.”

When the car was done, dad autocrossed it vigorously, and it made its way to page 148 of Fred Puhn's iconic book "How To Make Your Car Handle" as an example of extreme body roll!

Later on, I would learn to drive a stick-shift in this car and it saw service on many dates. In fact, MGA really does stand for "More Girl Action." This car, more than any other I've driven before or since, made me a "car guy."

Time went by and my dad eventually gave the MG to me before he passed away. It was not running, and it was sun-faded and generally tired. For another ten years, it sat under an old sheet in the back of my garage until one day my wife suggested that we should restore it. She didn't have to say it twice.

As long as I had known this little car it was painted in British Racing Green, but as we scraped the grime off the VIN plate we discovered that this one left the factory in a beautiful shade called Glacier Blue. I decided to return it to the original color as part of the restoration.

After six months of parts-finding, painting and bodywork, and a few key upgrades (disc brakes and electronic ignition), I once again drove the MGA as it was meant to be driven: to victory in the Monte Shelton Northwest Classic Rally.

Driving this MGA is a singular experience for an auto writer. It simultaneously tells me how far the automobile industry has come in the last 50 years and how wonderful a car can be with just the most basic features necessary to move people around.

But more than that, this car has been with me since the beginning — it's part of me, and continues to generate fresh adventures every time the sun comes out (or not) and it's time to hit the road. — JZ

WHAT’S YOURS? Are you the proud owner of a neat vehicle? Want to share its story? Send us about 400 words along with a few photos. Please include yourself in at least one of the pix — this is about what “we” drive, after all. Cars, race cars, trucks, bikes, bicycles, boats, airplanes, steam traction engines…whatever have you, tell us all about it! Send material to milepost@motorpressguild.org

LOOKING BACK/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHUCK KOCH

This year, in celebration of MPG’s 25th anniversary, we have been running retrospectives by many of the Guild’s past presidents. Now, to close out the series, we asked our Executive Director for his thoughts. One of MPG’s longest-serving members, Chuck Koch was in practically at the beginning. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the organization’s past — and nearly all its paper records, too. Why is something done a certain way, or why don’t we do something else at all? Chuck knows. He was there when the original decision was made and, most likely, he can quote the relevant Bylaw about it. Not only does he serve in his paid staff position, he also devotes endless hours of his personal time to organizing and shepherding our annual Dean Batchelor Award process from application through judging to presentation. 

Never having served as MPG President, I’m not really sure why Editor Lyons asked me to contribute this last-in-a-series article commemorating the first 25 years of the Motor Press Guild. Maybe no one else wanted to, or maybe it’s because I have the reputation for attending more Board of Directors meetings than any other living human (assuming one is actually living while attending board meetings). I suspect the former is true.

But, as for the latter, my run as the Cal Ripken, Jr. (in longevity, certainly not ability) of MPG began in 1986, when Mike Anson asked me to serve as Secretary. Having been told that previous secretaries had taken a rather cavalier attitude towards the job, my campaign slogan was that I would attend board meetings. This seemed to carry the day.

And then, to the chagrin of politicians everywhere, I actually fulfilled my campaign promise. It sort of became a habit and, board member or not, 23 years later I’m still attending them.

As things developed, much of the group’s activity in 1986 centered on the Secretary, so my office at Vista Group soon became IMPA-West’s office. And my secretary, Christine Pac, became by default the first unofficial, then semi-official, and finally official office administrator. I blame my MPG longevity on Christine; she was so damned organized, she made me look good.

During the 23 years, and by rough calculation 250 meetings, of my board attendance, I have witnessed huge changes in MPG. From the days of Don Prieto giving the treasurer’s report out of, literally, his checkbook (“We have money in the bank”), we are now a chartered non-profit corporation with an annual budget in excess of $300,000 and the CPA, financial statements and tax returns all that incurs. 

We used to be able to count our membership on our fingers and toes — our first printed member roster was not more than a few pages long. MilePost was a Spartan-like four pages edited by Paul Dexler.

But thanks to the palace coup engineered by Ted Biederman that created MPG out of IMPA-West, followed a few years later by Kevin Smith’s decision to restructure the group, we have grown to be the largest automotive press association in the country. We boast a 300-page Media Guide that’s become a comprehensive directory of the automotive industry, a new state-of-the-art Website, and a digital MilePost. We need a lot more fingers and toes to count us all.

Track Day has gone from a gathering of a few friends, which Ilona Shillman and Helen Hutchings organized on a volunteer basis, to a major event with a paid professional staff and a cast of seemingly hundreds.

MPG now opens the Los Angeles Auto Show with our keynote speaker. Our annual PR Survey has become the industry benchmark. MPG’s Dean Batchelor Award enters its 16^th year as one of the top journalism honors for professionals in our business.

About the only thing that hasn’t changed is our monthly trek for lunches at the Proud Bird…although the food has thankfully improved. Our guest speakers at these meetings cover important industry trends and personalities, attracting larger and larger crowds.

I’d like to think I had something to do with all this growth, but in reality we’ve all had a lot to do with it: The many volunteers who worked, and still work, on MPG programs; the board members who donate so much of their time to give the organization direction; the committee members who look after ongoing MPG business; and everyone who has ever braved the traffic-laced vicissitudes of the 405 to attend a lunch at the Bird. Without all of these, MPG would not exist. At least not at its present level.

So, what do I have to show for those 250 board meetings?  A lot of satisfaction at seeing the group grow and succeed, striving to meet the needs of an ever more diverse membership. That…and a lot of gray hair. 

— Chuck Koch

CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR MILEPOST

Any member is welcome to post items in the monthly newsletter that are of special interest to fellow members, including event announcements and reports, What We Drive stories and photos, job openings, free classified ads or Member News about products and services you offer or awards you may have received, letters to the editor, etc. Acceptance and revision are at the discretion of the Editor. MilePost does not publish general industry PR or paid ads. Items run one time only unless renewed. Deadline is the Monday following each month’s MPG meeting. Send both words and pictures (small JPEGs, please) to: milepost@motorpressguild.org

MAINTAIN YOUR PROFILE

When any of your contact info changes, please go straight to your own online Profile (under “Members” on the MPG website header bar) and “Edit” it to reflect your new data. It is vital that you do this yourself, because next year’s printed “Membership Roster & Media Guide” will draw from this database. Nobody will double-check it for you, so the accuracy of your printed information is now totally your responsibility. Check it now at www.motorpressguild.org.