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Millbrook GM European Proving Grounds

European Proving Grounds Millbrook is a 700 acre facility about 40 miles north of London with test tracks and testing facilities for aerospace, military, vehicle production, driver training (Aston Martin), and real-time online vehicle tracking. Here is link to the Millbrook website. Construction began in 1968 for a smaller version …

Auto Body Tems

Automotive Body Terms Every automotive professional has been challenged by their lack of knowledge regarding this particular terminology. Complications arise when the same parts and sub-assemblies are referred to with different names even if everyone speaks English. Furthermore, every automotive technical professional has been frustrated by their lack of knowledge …

Low Speed Vehicles – Neighborhood Electric Vehicles

  LSV Low Speed Vehicles and NEV Neighborhood Electric Vehicles represent a classification for a Federally approved street-legal vehicle that is speed limited to 25 mph.  This United States Department of Transportation [USDOT] legislation was put into effect by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard [FMVSS] 500 in 1998.  Simply put, NEV’s represent a …

Auto Battlefront 2011

Cruze, Focus & Elantra, The 2012 Models King Kong vs Godzilla vs Smog Monster — An epic battle is in the works for 2011 and it is definitely not some of my favorite from the classic 1950-1960’s sci-fi mega-characters. Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra are the three 2012 models that are on the …

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2003 NTSB SAE EDR Symposium Presentation

This presentation is from the 2003 Event Data Recorder Symposium hosted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

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GM Is In Auto Industry Chaos

GM Is In Auto Industry Chaos


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We have continued to follow the saga of GM and Chrysler as they attempt to find direction and a method to be successful automobile manufacturers. 

Success for 2009 is defined many ways but this article will focus on two of paramount importance to the Car Guy – Product & Dealers.  One success track is providing Washington a written game plan on how they will be successful.  When the plan is approved, and funded, then each plan will have to be implemented.  Plan implementation represents a several year commitment and then Proof Is In the Pudding will tell the world, and Washington, if the plan works.  This is definitely not going to be a quick process. … Continue Reading

Top Gear & James May – A Working Day

Top Gear, the TV show, represents something of an organized, disorderly, chaos that ultimately involves every mode of transportLast year your Tribune Editor was asked to assist James May and the BBC Top Gear camera crew with filming James’ attempt to air mail delivery of a letter to John Travolta who used to live at Spruce Creek Fly-In but now lives in Ocala at Jumbolair which has a private runway big enough for his Boeing 707.
L-R - James May, Tribune Editor, BBC Producer

L-R - James May, Tribune Editor, BBC Producer

Top Gear was quite aware that John Travolta no longer lived at Spruce Creek.  However, that did not bother their story line one bit as the writers and producer got all enthusiastic about having James May bring a letter to John’s former house.

BBC Crew and Tribune Editor

BBC Crew and Tribune Editor

Not having had an opportunity to see the episode I can only reflect on some of the fun associated with filming and spending some time with James May and the rest of the BBC crew.  … Continue Reading

Daytona Spring Car Show

dsc_0061-largedsc_0116-largeMarch 27-28-29 were the dates for the Spring Daytona Beach Car Show and Swap Meet.  Although not as large as the fall event organizers expected over 1,600 cars including street rods, classics, sports cars, luxury cars, muscle cars, street machines, and trucks.  Over 1,000 vehicles were expected for sale in the car corral.  Selected photos can be found in the Gallery tab. … Continue Reading

GM — Into The Second Century At Year 101

gm-logoThere is a very strong probability that a reader of the Tribune is an automotive enthusiast, otherwise it is pretty unlikely that you would be following along with this gear-clashing chaos that is breaking out between Detroit and Washington.  Today the top story in the Wall Street Journal and the Nightly News have the lead story about Mr. Wagoner being let go by Mr. Obama.  From the Tribune’s position that makes total sense because reflecting on history associated with the Titanic, just ask yourself if Captain Smith would of deserved a bonus for hitting the iceberg?  Well, Mr. Wagoner’s company has continued to lose about 1% market share since he became CEO in 2000.

Last month the Tribune reported about the GM crisis.

… Continue Reading

Wings & Wheels 2009

dscn2627-largedscn2633-largeSpruce Creek Fly-In is located just south of Daytona Beach, FL and held their annual Wings & Wheels event on Saturday March 28th.  Cars and aircraft began to assemble around 7AM, in advance of the Official start time around 10 AM, and the event finished up around 2:30 PM.  Spruce Creek is a private aviation community built around an airport constructed for WWII training that the government privatized.  Many call Spruce Creek as the World’s Greatest Fly-In Community. … Continue Reading