NewsPlease visit this page often for the latest news about MPG. Members (and potential members) will be kept up-to-date on upcoming functions and other activities of interest to automotive media and public relations professionals. This is just a brief look at the many benefits MPG members enjoy by participating in MPG activities, and in reading its monthly journal, MPG MilePost. |
NEXT EVENT: NOV 19: |
MPG Breakfast and Keynote Speaker, LA Auto Show.
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008. ________________________________________________________________________ Carlos Ghosn to Open the Los Angeles Auto Show Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Renault S.A., will kick off the Los Angeles Auto Show by delivering the Motor Press Guild (MPG) keynote address the morning of Nov. 19, 2008. The MPG breakfast and Ghosn’s address is open to all credentialed Press Days attendees. A Q&A session will be part of the presentation. For more on the show, Click Here |
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IN MEMORIAM: MIKE HOLLANDER November 19, 2008. There will ge a gathering of friends and familiy of Mike Hollander on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008, at 5:30 pm at the LA Auto Show after the first press day activities are over. Everyone is invited to come and share a few words about Mike and how he affected your life. Or just come and listen to all the stories that will be told. The gathering will be in the Press Breakfast Room 515, upstairs. Friends from MPG, AARWBA, PCG and the general media plan to be there. September 24, 2008. Our world lost a good friend and good man in the early hours of September 24, when Michael F. Hollander succumbed to mesothelioma at the age of 61. A hardworking member of the MPG Board of Directors as well as vice president of AARWBA, Mike was a racing enthusiast well known in every media center as the journalist who brought motorsports news online in 1979. His Racing Information Services and Motor Sports Forum evolved into a pioneer website providing real-time information from events all over the world. Mike also authored books on Mazdas and Datsuns—he was a Datsun fan who kept his beloved 240Z for over 240,000 miles. Friends also knew him as a go-to guy for help with computer and electronics problems. On weekdays, he was manager of information resources for PCGCampbell. A Navy man for eight years during the Viet Nam war, Hollander earned several decorations for his service in the combat zone; unfortunately, that’s when he believed he was exposed to the asbestos that would take his life some 40 years later. It was quite typical of Mike that, upon learning his grim diagnosis on Christmas Day, 2007, he immediately sent out a matter-of-fact press release about it. Also typically, he remained positive in outlook and as active as possible, including his work for MPG. Mike served MPG in many capacities, most recently as a director on the board. He also attended most luncheons and videotaped the presentations so that members who were not present could see the tapes on the MPG Web site and almost feel as if they were there. You can view many of those videos at http://motorpressguild.org/mileposts/ . He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Dr. Sandra Horwitz, Optometrist, and their daughter, Sharon. The MPG Board of Directors, together with the entire MPG membership, extends its heartfelt sympathies to Sandra and Sharon and hopes that some measure of comfort can be found in knowing Mike was a trusted and valued colleague and friend to many of us personally and all of us professionally. |
Mike Hollander doing what he loved most ... being a race reporter.
Mike with his daughter, Sharon, at an MPG luncheon in 2005. |
New Location for the 2008 Dean Batchelor Award Banquet, November 12, 2008. The 2008 Dean Batchelor Award banquet will be held Tuesday, December 2 at a new location. This year's banquet will be at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona. Click Here to register. Special thanks to the sponsors of this year's banquet go to Mothers Polish, Hagerty, Audi, and Subaru. The Dean Batchelor Award honoree is chosen from twelve Best of the Year Award finalists representing four journalistic disciplines: Articles, Books, Photography, and Audio/Visual. Here are the 2008 finalists: ARTICLES AUDIO/VISUAL BOOKS PHOTOGRAPHY For more information, email dbabanquet@motorpressguild.org.
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Dean Case Appointed to MPG Board October 28, 2008. Dean Case was appointed to the Board of Directors Tuesday evening, October 28, at the MPG Board meeting. Dean will serve the remainder of the year in the position left by the passing of Michael Hollander. The Board now consists of: OFFICERS: Aaron Robinson, President; Dave Kunz, Vice President; Louise Ann Noeth, Secretary; Eric Dahlquist, Treasurer. DIRECTORS: James Bell, Jeff Holland, Carl Sheffer, Jessica Tullman, and Dean Case. For more information on the MPG Board of Directors and the committess and staff, visit Contact Us. |
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Track Day A Huge Success at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana October 22-23, 2008. MPG Track Day was held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana Oct. 22-23. This was the first time a different location has been used for Track Day since the Motor Press Guild's inception in 1984, a move made possible through the very generous support from the Automobile Club of Southern California.
- photo by Pete Lyons
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September 23, 2008. A limited number of magnetic name badges is available from MPG. These badges are offered by the Board of Directors at no cost to members who attend functions such as the luncheons. Members must be able to pick up the name badge at a luncheon or MPG event. No badges will be mailed. To have one made for you and brought to a future meeting, e-mail the MPG office at info@motorpressguild.org, putting "Name Badge" on the subject line, and request a badge. NOTE that the supply is very limited and once they’re gone, no more will be available. |
| Jim Press, Chrysler, Reviewed His First Year on the Job
Tuesday, September 2, 2008. Jim Press addressed the MPG lunch crowd in the Grand Ballroom of the Proud Bird, due to the size of the crowd. The packed house heard him talk about the opportunity given him a year ago when he left Toyota after 37 years and went to Chrysler to become vice chairman, president and member of the Board of Managers, Chrysler LLC. He described the experience as going from a position of a sunset in his career to a sunrise. He described the last year as a great year and a great experience for him personally. "We're doing a lot better than people would think," he told the throng of journalists and pr members and guests. For all the details, listen to the audio or read the transcript on the MilePost Online page. For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, Click Here. Press Contact MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org
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photos by Pete Lyons |
Online Collector Car Price Guide Service Offers MPG Members Access August 11, 2008. MPG Members are being offered free access until the end of 2008 to Cars That Matter and Cars That Matter Indexes, online publications of USAppraisal. Cars That Matter is a collector car price guide with a focus on realistic valuations of cars in the condition levels most useful to collectors, tracking values in four different condition categories, #1 (A "perfect" show car) through #4 (very nice "driver quality" cars). Data comes from dealers, owners, appraisers, hobbyists, auctions, as well as Cars That Matter's network of marque experts. An annual subscription is normally three issues for $40. Cars That Matter Indexes is the latest online venture for the company. Modeled similarly to a broad-base stock market index, the Cars That Matter Indexes are dedicated to measuring the investment performance of collector cars from post-war era in the following market sectors: Blue Chip, British Cars, Affordable Classics, Ferraris, Muscle Cars, German Cars, and 1950s American Classics. As of this month, Cars That Matter's extensive databases and expert commentary may also be accessed through PDA or any smartphone device by signing up for Cars That Matter Mobile. MPG Members should Click Here to access the codes allowing them to logon to Cars That Matter for free until the end of 2008. |
Subaru's Tim Mahoney Spoke at the August MPG Luncheon Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Subaru of America, Inc., spoke about Niche and Experiential Marketing. Mahoney is the top marketer within the organization and is responsible for leading and managing the Subaru brand in the U.S. market. Mahoney originally joined Subaru of America in 1984 as a marketing research analyst, and was promoted through the organization holding a variety of management roles in areas including marketing, advertising, merchandising, market research and strategy, as well as product planning. Prior to Subaru, he worked for the Sara Lee Corporation. Mahoney has also worked for Porsche Cars North America, Inc., as vice president of marketing. There he lead the launch of the brand's first SUV, the Porsche Cayenne. He received a bachelor's degree in international studies and foreigh languages from Newberry College and University of Vienna in Austria and went on to earn a master's of business administration in marketing management from Drexel University. He is a member of the CMO Council and CMO Marketing Roundtable. For the audio and the transcript of the presentation, visit MilePost Online. For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, Click Here. Press Contact MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org |
(photos by Pete Lyons) |
Ford's Dan Kapp Spoke to MPG Luncheon Tuesday, July 1, 2008. The demand for implementation of advanced powertrain technology has never been greater, and Ford's Dan Kapp, Director-Ford Powertrain Research & Advanced, came to the July MPG luncheon and covered an array of programs Ford labels its "Blueprint for sustainability". Part of this "blueprint" are the Eco Boost engines of four and six cylinders and the "one percent improvements" that will make a tremendous difference when applied to millions of vehicles over time. For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, Click Here. Press Contact MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org |
 Ford's Dan Kapp speaks with guests before the luncheon. (photo by Pete Lyons) |
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Suzuki's Gene Brown Outlined Ambitious Plans for Growth in a Difficult Market Tuesday, June 3, 2008. Gene Brown,Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, Automotive Operations, American Suzuki Motor Corporation came to the MPG luncheon with toys galore. Brown outlined plans that might seem overly ambitious to most observers, and which he acknowledged were ambitious for Suzuki. There will be four introductions of product over the next two years, which is a great deal for this car company. MilePost PDF now available as well as audio, video, and transcript: For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, Click Here. Press Contact MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org
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Motor Press Guild members and their guests got to enjoy two car shows on the Spring Power Trip Saturday, May 17th. The first car show was in the parking lot of Specialty Transport, where interesting rides began rolling in just as the weather started to warm up. Muscle cars, sports cars, vintage luxury cars and even two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles gathered during the pre-departure hour. Inside Specialty’s offices, Eric Goetz had arranged a “caffeine and calorie” buffet to get participants’ bloodstreams going. At 10:00 am, everyone was gathered and our destination was announced: The Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo. Each driver was given a professionally produced route sheet, complete with mileage numbers and a map, thanks again to Eric. Then, Carl Sheffer handed out sealed envelopes with poker hands inside to each driver. An easy route took us along the shore, then back inland a few miles to the museum for our second car show. The Automobile Driving Museum features a diverse display of vehicles from just about every era, all of which are driven on a regular basis (hence the museum’s name). Director Laurie Lewis and her staff of docents took members through the rows of cars, which are arranged in a giant room that resembles a town square built inside a movie sound stage. At the far end of the room, a huge marquee greeted us with “Welcome Motor Press Guild.” After our tours of the cars, everyone was invited into a special section where Heather Curtin had arranged a catered lunch, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales. Before our hungry group took to the great spread, the drivers were instructed to open the envelopes and reveal their poker hands. Lady luck was with member Jay Parille, as his royal flush garnered him the big prize. He and his son took home a fantastic assortment of car care products, courtesy of Mother’s. Full of lunch, members were free to continue touring the museum, where photography was not only welcomed but encouraged. From the comments overheard during and after our day, this combination of interesting cars and people was quite a success. If you missed it, rest assured there will be another Power Trip in the fall. Don’t get left behind! -Dave Kunz Our thanks to our sponsors:
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Cold Hard Facts About Lemon Law Revealed at May Lunch Courtroom Drama Tuesday, May 6, 2008. This month's meeting went outside the usual guidelines of MPG luncheons. Organized and moderated by our own Don Fuller, who is an expert witness at Lemon Law trials, the presentation was by two highly accredited Lemon Law attorneys: for the plaintiff, William McGee, and for the defense, Brian Takahashi. These men, key players in courtroom battles between unhappy vehicle owners and manufacturers, squared off and explained what Lemon Law is, how it works and what it all means. MPG lucheon guests got to be the jury and make their own decisions. Special thanks to Don Fuller for organizing this luncheon. For complete audio, transcripts, and MilePost PDF as they become available, Click Here or click on MilePost Online on navigation bar at left. |
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Cool Concept Vehicles Were On Display for this Panel Discussion on Automotive Design
Tuesday, April 1, 2008. This luncheon featured cool concepts vehicles and a look inside the world of automotive design. Charlie Vogelheim, MPG Chair of the Speakers Committee, introduced Eric Noble who moderated the panel. Guest speakers included (on left above) Stewart Reed, Transportation Design Department Chair, Art Center College of Design; Tom Matano (center), Executive Director, Academy of Art University; and Mark West (right), Interim Transportation Department Chair at the College for Creative Studies. Special thanks to John Grafman from AutoDesignO for organizing this outstanding MPG event. For complete audio, video, transcript, and MilePost PDF as it becomes available, go to MilePost Online. For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, Click Here. Press Contact: MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org |
For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, Click Here. Press Contact: MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.or
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_0148.jpg) A trio of AMG cars parked outside the Proud Bird. Mercedes-AMG showed the C63 at the MPG meeting on Tuesday. This car was shown to a select few at a press preview Feb 28 and 29 in Arizona. There are only a handful of them in the U.S. right now. (photo by Pete Lyons) |
MPG Office has New Address and Phone Number Saturday, March 1, 2008. MPG Executive Administrator Chuck Koch announced today that there is a new address and phone number for the MPG Office. Office Administrator Whitney Cline will be the voice on the phone when you call MPG at 310-693-4943. The complete contact is: |
_3426.jpg) Whitney Cline, MPG's new Office Administrator (photo by Lorna Lyons) |
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Chuck Koch Named MPG Executive Director and Whitney Cline Named Office Administrator Tuesday, February 19, 2008. MPG Board of Directors named Chuck Koch to be MPG’s new Executive Director, and the Office Administrator will be Whitney Cline.
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Peter Butterfield Entertained MPG Members With "Confessions of a CEO" Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Peter Butterfield, president and CEO of ATK VEGE and long-time automotive industry veteran, was the featured speaker at MPG's February luncheon. Butterfield provided an entertaining look back at the auto industry from the 1960s to today in a candid view of the industry. He called his presentation "Confessions of a CEO: Be Careful Who You Eat Dinner With." Butterfield took a personal look at major political, world and socio-economical events throughout the decades that have shaped the automotive business today. He covered top trends and issues including the rise of the Asian automakers, the decline of the domestics and the privatization of Chrysler, all with his own personal take on events. His look at "unintended consequences" was amusing and entertaining. Prior to consulting, in his five decades in the industry Butterfield, was the CEO of Kia North America, served as executive vice president for Volvo North America, and began his career with Ford Motor Company in 1976, quickly rising through the ranks. Press Contact: MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org
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Robert Genat Submitted the Winning Photo for the Cover of the 2008 Media Guide January 22, 2008. Robert Genat submitted the winning photo in this, the first annual cover photo contest. The contest was a big success with many outstanding photos submitted. MPG wishes to thank all who participated and encourage everyone to submit images next January for the 2009 cover. We want to show off what great photographers we have in MPG. More details about the photo will be available in this space soon. But for now, the image at right is the winning image. For further information, contact Lorna Lyons at lorna@motorpressguild.org
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Ed Peper, General Manager of Chevrolet, Sets the Record Straight At First MPG Lunch of 2008 Tuesday, January 8, 2008. General Manager of General Motor's Chevrolet Division, Ed Peper, is the first important automobile executive to speak to MPG members and guests in the new year. He spoke of "Setting the Record Straight" about Chevrolet, where it has been and where it is going. He presented the idea that Chevrolet was ready to "go on the offensive about our sales," stressing the positive results across the board in 2007, and plans for growth. Peper impressed a large crowd of MPG members and guests with his enthusiasm and humor. For more including the audio and a transcript of today's presentation, see MilePost Online. For more information on MPG Luncheon Meetings, click here. Press Contact: MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org |
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2007 Dean Batchelor Award Banquet December 4, 2007. The Motor Press Guild celebrated outstanding achievements in automotive journalism at our annual Dean Batchelor Award dinner, 6 pm Dec. 4, 2007, at the Petersen Museum.The 2007 Dean Batchelor Award went to Bernard Cahier for F-Stops, Pit Stops, Laughter and Tears. Accepting the award for Bernard was publisher Michael Keyser. The winner was chosen from four Best of the Year categories. The winners in those categories were: Best Article of 2007 Best Audio/Visual of 2007 Best Book of 2007 Best Photography of 2007 The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Tom and Ray Magliozzi ... Click and Clack, or the Tappet Brothers.
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MPG wishes to thank its sponsors of the 2007 Dean Batchelor Award Banquet.
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LA Auto Show Press Days Wednesday, November 14, 2007. Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer for Ford Motor Company, kicked off the Los Angeles Auto Show by delivering the Motor Press Guild keynote address on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 8:20 am. This marks the eighth year MPG has hosted the LA Auto Show's Keynote Address. A Q&A session was part of Mulally's presentation. The MPG breakfast was at 7:30 am. These events were open to all credentialed news media attending the show’s press days, November 14-15. "It's an honor for MPG to help kick off the media preview for the LA Auto Show," said MPG president Mitch McCullough. "The Motor Press Guide chooses and invites the keynote speaker each year, and we thank the LA Auto Show organizers for giving us that opportunity. Alan Mulally graciously accepted our invitation and we were fascinated to hear what he had to say about the future of Ford Motor Company. Providing a forum for leaders in the auto industry is a core function of MPG." See also MilePost Plus for audio and video.
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MPG's Automotive Public Relations Survey 2007 Results The Motor Press Guild announces that Toyota and Chrysler ranked as having the best overall performance in media relations, according to the organization’s third annual Automotive Public Relations Survey. The survey, conducted by the Gronstedt Group of Denver, Colo., measures the media’s satisfaction of seven criteria of the 20 major automobile manufacturers identified as being crucial to the success of their public relations programs. Journalists are asked to rate each manufacturer’s press materials, Web site, ease and frequency of contact, level of a PR staff’s knowledge, product launch programs and more. For more on the Survey, Click Here.
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