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Contents:
Track Day 2009
October 27-28, 2009

A Message from the President
Aaron Robinson

Your Board Needs You

Coming Events

New Members

What We Drive
The David Katz Corvette

Letters

Contribute to your MilePost

Maintain your own profile

MPG TRACK DAY / OCTOBER 27-28, 2009/ Presenting Sponsor Shell
Wintry Wonderland 
Hot Cars Ideal Refuge from Cold Winds
– photos by Pete Lyons and Lorna Lyons for MPG



Overnight, while MPGers partied at the banquet, icy northern blasts were tumbling down from the San Gabriels. Wednesday dawned clear but chill over the Auto Club Speedway. An early winter had fallen on Fontana!

Many journos, caught under-dressed in their stylish summer wear, quickly seized one best sanctuary — a cozy cockpit in the cornucopia of course-scorching cars awaiting their pleasure outside ACS Garage 3.

It’s Track Day. So let’s take to the track!

Hosted by the Auto Club of Southern California for the second year, our Track Day event once again offered a packed program: two solid days of driving marvelous marques — see the list below — on the Speedway’s infield road circuit and/or public streets around the area.


Also available was a team competition on a tricky autocross course, an even trickier solo “multi-tasking gymkhana,” the annually popular Show and Shine display, the even more popular annual banquet and, of course, the very welcome inclusion of an interesting variety of corporate exhibitors and supporters.   Oh, and let’s not forget the Trivia Quiz, the Crossword Puzzle and the Guess What Car Is Under The Cover contest!   For the first time, due to the tireless efforts of new TD producer Larry Rusznak, we even had overall event sponsorship; thank you, Shell!  

Our gratitude also extends to Garmin, Car MD, Toyo Tires, Oakley and Suzuki (some of us really appreciated those loaner helmets).   As for participating automakers, MPG is deeply indebted to Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Big Three Performance, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Roush Performance, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

TRACK DRIVE

Tight and safe, but fast enough to see triple digits, Auto Club Speedway’s road course is a great place for journalist members to test the car's limits, not its maker’s temper. Three laps each was just enough to get a taste, and to whet the appetite for more.   

 
ABOVE LEFT: Lambo Field: Lamborghini brought two of its Italian Stallions, one a Gallardo to drive on the street, the other for Richard Antinucci to give the hottest of rides in this LP 640 on the race track. What speed! What sounds! What a waiting line! ABOVE RIGHT: Porsche Pro: Craig Stanton, star of the ALMS and Grand-Am circuits, was offering ride-along or hands-on instruction, your choice, in this suave Boxster S. Yr. Ed’s. takeaway tip: make later apexes.

STREET DRIVE

Mountain twisties are too far away, but the roads and freeways around the Speedway allow a fair evaluation of cars in everyday SoCal conditions.

TEAM AUTOCROSS

 
Coneheads delighted in this against-the-clock competition. Winner was “Team PR Guys,” whose Greg Whale took top time. His codrivers were John Fitzsimons, John Kiewicz, and Jason Camp. And they stayed for the prize giving.

MULTI-TASKING GYMKHANA

First, figure out how to — correctly, safely — install an unfamiliar child seat in the back of this brand new, equally unfamiliar Merc. Next, enter an address into a Nav you’ve never used before. Drive forward to throw three coins into a bucket. Then reverse as close as you dare to marker cones; the distance will be measured and factored in. Finally, drive back to the starting point. All against the stopwatch. Winner: Mike Caudill in an incredible 110 seconds. An obvious ringer.

SHOW ‘N’ SHINE

Everyone’s a winner in this category, just for coming out, but garnering most votes as “Best in Show” was Frank Bohanan for his tastefully uprated ’65 Mustang fastback with 5.0 power. Morgan Segal’s 1240-lb., 210-hp ’04 Caterham Superlight R with 2.0 Zetec took “Most Unusual” (a category name benefiting from an edit just before prize giving), while declared nicest “Oldie But Goodie” was Harold Osmer’s ’66 Galaxie 500.

MilePost gets no vote, but we do have clout enough to showcase our favorite: Don Fuller’s 1949 Cox Thimble Drome Special. Bet you thought he’d made that name up — ‘cause we did.

EXHIBITOR’S ROW

Shell. As presenting sponsor, this fuelmaker got pride of place for an eye-opening presentation on its Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines. As explained by the company’s Jim Macias (one of MPG’s monthly luncheon guests not long ago), today’s ever more highly tuned engines, especially those with direct injection, are ever more vulnerable to combustion deposits that foul valves and nozzles. Shell’s latest “Top Tier” V-Power gasoline contains five times the amount of cleaning agents called for by Federal standards. Even compared to conventional detergents in rival brands, Shell claims its “nitrogen enriched cleaning molecule” is more stable thermally, protecting the engine against “gunk” in tough conditions.

Big Three Performance. This Halloween orange thing goes like hell. It bellows like doom. You know you want one. They might make 20, total. The raucous beast is a Jim Wangers Signature Edition GTO, honoring the “godfather” of the iconic Pontiac, but Dave Anderson showed us that underneath its ’69 sheet metal you’ll find various Corvette, Ford and Viper components on a Roadster Shop custom chassis. It does have a Pontiac powerplant, 505 fuel-injected cubic inches of it. What a rod. Check it out at www.big3performance.com.

Car MD. "How many of you used to work on your own cars, years ago?" asked company rep Kristin Brocoff. Many hands went up. But far fewer signified interest in even touching today’s computer-complex machinery. That’s where this diagnostic aid can help, interpreting the real meaning of a “check engine” warning so the driver knows what action is really needed — or isn’t. And that’s just one of its money-saving functions (think: scoping out your next used car). 
Learn more at www.carMD.com.

Garmin. Portable personal NAVs are getting more and more sophisticated, and the new Nuvi 1690 is one amazing example. Todd Farnsworth, Account Manager Automotive OEM, showed us how this $399 wonder can even tell you how efficiently you’re driving, thanks to an internal accelerometer. Among many other models at many price points, some are toughened to survive duty aboard a motorcycle (or OR truck?). Contact the company through www.garmin.com

Oakley. Apparel may not make the athlete, but then it never hurts to look the part. Only samples from Oakley’s motorsports catalog were on display at ACS, but from eyewear through racing suits to driving shoes, even wristwatches, it was enough to show how the company could have us covered. (They threw us a swinging Afterglow party, too!) www.Oakley.com

Suzuki. Besides loaner helmets and our Day 2 breakfast, this friendly automaker gave us a scoop — the world’s very first look at four concept vehicles fresh out of the shop and on their way to the following week’s SEMA show. Jeff Holland, American Suzuki ‘s Senior PR Manager (and MPG board member), introduced a trio of Kizashi sedans tricked-out to varying levels of trickness and backstopped by an Equator pickup packing every aftermarket gizmo imaginable. Scoop-hungry journalists gratefully shoveled right in. www.suzukiauto.com

Toyo Tires. They literally support many very different kinds of U.S. motorsports, from autocross to off-road, but the single car the company brought out to illustrate the fact was a beaut: Rhys Millen’s 550-hp Hyundai Genesis Pikes Peak coupe, winner of this year’s 2WD Time Attack class on the Colorado mountain. To ask about that or about Drag racing, SPEED World Challenge or Spec Miata, etc., etc., contact Toyo media man Jay Jones at jay.jones@tmcauto.com; the media site is www.toyoeditor.com

BANQUET

Did you know Laura Burstein plays a beautiful piano? Well, sure you did, you say. But how about Zoran Segina? Yes indeed. Surprises crop up everywhere amongst our talented membership. (photo of Zoran Segina by Albert Wong)

Hosted at the convenient and comfortable Sheraton Ontario Airport Hotel, which extended MPG members a handsome discount, our banquet was just minutes along I-10 from Auto Club Speedway. The food was good, the camaraderie matched and for entertainment, well, our Prez was in rare form.

We also had a special guest — Funny Car race driver Robert Hight, who at this point was leading the year’s NHRA championship standings with two rounds to go. Go Robert!

Graciously, Hight helped hand out awards for the day’s contests and also participated in the applause for the many folk who so generously and tirelessly — well, generously, anyway — pitched in to make MPG Track Day ’09 come off so well. They included TD Committee members Aaron Robinson, Laura Burstein, Dicken Wear, Ron Doron, Christopher Brimble, Lorna Lyons, Pete Lyons, Greg Whale, Don Fuller, Eric Goetz, Heather Williams and Jim Dvorak, plus John Dinkel, Lisa Delaney, Tina Duffus and, of course, Larry Rusznak and his staff, Frank Alvizo, Victor Trejo and Trent Riddle. 

Well done, all!

— Pete Lyons, Editor, MPG MilePost

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT/ AARON ROBINSON 

(PHOTO: Aaron and Track Day Producer Larry Rusznak at the banquet)

As I write this, the final car took its final lap in the 2009 MPG Track Day just 24 hours ago. We at MPG Command are still combing through the final numbers, but here is how it’s adding up so far:

• Total attendance: 290
• Journalist attendance: 136
• Manufacturer representatives in attendance: 97
• Nameplates: 35
• Vehicles: 93
• Wrecks: 0
• Spins by drivers of the Lotus Elise: 5 (per hour).
• Drivers who didn’t realize the AMG CLS63 was going that fast at the end of the first straightaway: 57
• People who think the Honda Crosstour looks way better in person: 212
• Deposits put down on a Road Race Suzuki Kizashi: 8
• Temperature of the brake rotors on the BMW X6 M after a typical lap: slightly hotter than the sun’s chromosphere.
• Average wait for the Chevy Camaro: 13 minutes
• Average time it takes Mike Caudill to install a baby seat in a Mercedes: 6.285 seconds
• Autocross cones picked out of the Dodge Challenger’s grille: 38
• Total miles traveled while sideways by the Lamborghini LP670-4: 7.9
• Percent of attendees who think Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline probably comes out of the pump looking like Veuve Clicquot: 53
• Gallons of gas burned by the Jim Wangers Signature Edition Pontiac GTO: 7 (per lap)
• Gallons of gas burned by the Honda Clarity: 0
• Votes for Dave Kunz’s immaculate Ford Bronco that were scratched out when people realized that Dave forgot to register for the Show and Shine: 16
• Number of people who dropped taco stuffing into their lap: 42
• Pages of notes taken by Mark Vaughn: 89
• Height of the tailfins on a 1958 Desoto Firedome: 19 inches
• Attendees who think Don Fuller should be MPG President next year: 289
• Number of times we’ve thanked the Automobile Club of Southern California for once again hosting us at Auto Club Speedway: not enough.

That about wraps it up for Track Day ’09, except for extending heartfelt thanks to all our members, volunteers, staffers and officers who contributed so much time and labor to making this massive annual MPG undertaking such a great success once again. A callout is also in order for our Track Day producer, Larry Rusznak, and his staff, whose efforts and attention to detail far exceeded our expectations.

The next items of highest importance to MPG members are the Los Angeles Auto Show MPG keynote speech by GM president and CEO Fritz Henderson on Wednesday, December 2 at the LA Convention Center, and the Dean Batchelor Awards dinner and extravaganza at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo on December 8. See you there!

Finally, the MPG board elections are rapidly approaching with three seats up for grabs, so those looking to get more involved need to send your name and ballot-worthy biography to committee chair Dave Kunz (dave.r.kunz@abc.com / 818-863-7626). Deadline November 30. Come on board and help us have all this fun again in ’10!

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.

November 10: MPG’s last Luncheon meeting of 2009 at the Proud Bird. Guest speaker is Robert Davis, senior VP of product development and quality for Mazda.

November 30: The deadline for receipt by the nominating committee for nominations to the board. Contact committee chair Dave Kunz (dave.r.kunz@abc.com / 818-863-7626) and express your interest in running.

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

December 8: MPG Dean Batchelor Award dinner at a new venue, the Automotive Driving Museum, 610 Lairport Street, El Segundo, CA 90245. Click here for a map. Their website is www.automobiledrivingmuseum.org; their phone, 310-909-0950. 

January 12, 2010: MPG Luncheon meeting at the Proud Bird. 

NEW MEMBERS

Emile Bouret, Road Test & Design Editor, Oncars.com, 65 Enterprise, Alsio Viejo, CA 92656; 949-330-7007; emile@oncars.com. Full-Journalist

Kevin Duke, Editor-in-Chief, Motorcycle.com, 13761 Jefferson St., Westminster, CA 92683; 714-901-8425; dukemotorink@earthlink.net. Full-Journalist

Tim Dunne, Director, Asia Pacific Markets, J. D. Power & Associates, 2625 Townsgate Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362; 805-607-0598; tim.dunne@jdpa.com. Affiliate

Michael Larner, Associate Editor, PC Quarterly Review, 9420 Reseda Blvd., #610, Northridge, CA 91324; 818-642-6173; mlarner@pcqreview.com. Full-Journalist

Ronald Montoya, Consumer Advice Associate, Edmunds.com, 1620 26^th St., Suite 400 South, Santa Monica, CA 90404; 310-309-3063; fax: 310-309-6400; rmontoya@edmunds.com. Full-Journalist

Jim Spoonhower, Fast Lane Research, 4095 Terracina Dr., Riverside, CA 92506; 951-961-9853; jim@fastlaneresearch.com. Full-Journalist

J. Mark Sternberg, Los Angeles Times, 7941 E. Windwood Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85255; 480-287-0555; j.Sternberg@gmail.com. Full-Journalist

Brad Stertz, Corporate Communications Manager, Audi of America, 2200 Ferdinand Porsche Dr., Herndon, VA 20171; 703-364-7440; fax: 703-364-7076; brad.stertz@audi.com. Full-Public Relations

C. Van Tune, Producer/Writer, High Impact TV, 35 Mauchly, Suite 8, Irvine, CA 92618; 949-852-5977; faz: 310-362-0357; c.vantune@earthlink.net. Full-Journalist

Chris Williams, General Manager, Page One Automotive, 3296 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90806; 562-256-1240; fax: 562-256-1241; chris.Williams@pageoneauto.com. Full-Public Relations

Matthew Andrew Yngson, Executive Producer, Stoplight TV, 7^th Floor, Strata 2000 Building, F. Ortigas Rd., Ortigas Center Business District, Pasig City, The Philippines 1600; +632-215-1399; fax: +632-631-7543; djmatt@stoplight.tv. Full-Journalist

WHAT WE DRIVE

The David Katz Corvette

Having inherited the car-nut gene from my grandfather and great-grandfather, I was predisposed to be one from birth.  But my fate was sealed after my father took me to my first car show, in Baltimore, at the age of 8 or 9.  

I began my subscription to Sports Car Graphic at age 12 and, when a new issue arrived each month, all homework was put aside while I avidly read about the latest Maseratis, Corvettes, Ferraris and other exotica, followed Grand Prix racing around the world and pictured myself in any number of automobile unobtainia. 

While in high school in the ’60s, I sat in class and drew Stingrays and GTOs (of both the Ferrari and Pontiac variety), daydreaming about some day owning any one of them.  But it would be many years before I could afford to do so.

After college, when I had a ’62 Beetle and ’66 Corvair Monza, my affordable choices were limited to sporty practical daily drivers. I began with my used 1970 BMW 2002 and followed a few years later by a ’73 2002tii — a car which I drove regularly for 12 years. After moving to Southern California in 1987, I bought my first purely fun car, a ’65 Tiger, which spent most of the next 5 years in one shop or another.  In 1994, I sold the Tiger and bought one of the cars I'd always wanted — a ’65 Stingray convertible.

Produced the year I graduated from high school, my Corvette is dark green/tan/tan (those are incorrect colors). It has a 327/365-hp engine with a replacement block but original top-end, with milder cam and hydraulic lifters installed 25 years ago by the previous owner when the engine was rebuilt to accommodate unleaded gas. It also has alloy wheels and few other options.  It's a blast to drive, still looks gorgeous and gets more thumbs-up and smiles than any Ferrari I've ever driven.   

Having made the all-too-common mistake of buying a cheaper example that needed "some work," It ran out of gas and stopped running the first time I took a friend for a drive. That’s when I learned that the gas gauge needed to be replaced.  Next, a wheel nearly fell off while driving down I-5.  Over the next few years, I ploughed much money and time into the ’65 before being able to fully enjoy driving it up to the big car weekends in Monterey and around SoCal.  Over the years, the suspension, clutch, rear end, brakes, wheel hubs and gauges have been rebuilt.  The wiring harness and soft-top were also replaced. 

It's definitely a driver, not a show car.  It will never even be entered in, much less win, any Top Flight or Bloomington gold awards. But that's fine with me.  Unlike many classic car owners, I'd rather feel free to drive it on gravel or dirt roads, in the rain or use it to take my golden retriever to the beach on Sunday mornings without having to worry about whether sand is getting into the carpet and seats, and her slobber is all over the passenger door.  But before driving it with my wife in the passenger seat, I definitely give it a thorough cleaning and detail. 

Oh, and when Marty and I got married this past April, it was our car of choice to drive off after the wedding. No bottles and cans were attached...but a "Dan Gurney for President" sticker was on the bumper.  — David L. Katz

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

LETTERS

(Re. Track Day)

Hi Aaron,

Just wanted to shoot a note about what a great job you and your team did at this year's Track Day event. I was only able to make it to the first day (and am ashamed to say this was my first time in about six years--certainly since we've been at Fontana) but, as a relatively new freelancer, I found the opportunities to drive new products and strengthen relationships invaluable. Hugely appreciated.

I had work to do while I was there, and got my name in the hat for a few potential assignments (maybe even a consulting job) down the road. And even though there was no real 4x4 or pickup representation (I love that stuff), I was still busy and never bored.

Also, huge props to the specific committee members putting the track drive and autocross together. Only event I didn't get to try was the gymkhana. 

Only problem I had (and not really a problem) was noting some of the web/video/tv guys were taking vehicles out longer than normal to get their various hosts and camera crews set up for interviews and b-roll. That usually took longer than a normal drive loop and had some of us waiting or out of luck. As a consequence, I didn't get to drive the Buick LaCrosse or Ford Taurus Ecoboost--two relatively important vehicles. Like I said, quite minor, especially since work and content was still getting done. 

I'm sure there were challenges behind the scenes but none made it into view where I was sitting. Thanks again.

— Mark Williams

(Re. President Robinson’s message in the last issue about the new e-mailed edition of this newsletter)
Aaron,
I for one read the whole enchilada and enjoy it fully. Also appreciate how much work it is, and I commend you.

Many Thanks

— Reeves Callaway

I think it’s a good idea that it’s both in e-mail and on the site. Thanks for doing this!

— Ron Antonette

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 OWN PROFILE

IMPORTANT: Next year’s printed “Membership Roster & Media Guide” will draw from the MPG member database that YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOURSELF. Nobody will be double-checking it for you. So right this minute, go to the MPG website’s main page, log in under “Members” on the MPG website header bar, go back to the same pull-down tab to “Profile” and check your listing. You can easily “Edit” it via the link at the bottom of the page. Remember — the accuracy of your listing in the 2010 printed guide is now totally your responsibility.

If you read this far, click here. Thank you.