leave Archives | AutoDepot

Video: The story of NASCAR’s Richie Parker asks you to leave your excuses at the door

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

ESPN: Richie Parker video

This is Richie Parker. He’s a number of things: car enthusiast, engineer, employee, son. He’s a normal guy for his age, working a job in a field he loves. Oh, he also happens to have no arms. After watching this video from ESPN, we can’t help but think that Richie might describe himself in just such a way, with his birth defect a secondary part of his life, scarcely worth mentioning. His story is a remarkable one, about not letting bumps in the road stop you and about finding ingenious solutions to problems you or I have never thought about.

Richie was born with bilateral amelia, a non-genetic birth defect in which limbs aren’t formed. While the idea of not having any arms might be terrifying to many, as shown in the video, having dealt with it since birth has lead Richie to develop a number of interesting solutions. He can ride a bike, open the fridge and microwave on his own, use a computer and drive a car with his feet – virtually everything we can do (and take for granted) Richie can do with a bit of determination and creativity. Not surprisingly, finding those interesting solutions to everyday problems teamed with his love of cars led to a job at one of the finest NASCAR teams in the country. Take a look at the full video from ESPN, embedded below.

After that, perhaps you’d be interested in hearing a bit about some more people who have managed to overcome similar issues in equally impressive ways.

Continue reading The story of NASCAR’s Richie Parker asks you to leave your excuses at the door

The story of NASCAR’s Richie Parker asks you to leave your excuses at the door originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: The story of NASCAR’s Richie Parker asks you to leave your excuses at the door”

Video: Father’s ultra-rare Ferrari to leave family for a good cause

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Luxury

1967 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spyder - video screencap - front three-quarter view, top down

It isn’t every day that the rarest of Ferrari models change hands. In fact, you can count your fingers to get the number of 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spyders that ever existed. The 1967 Ferrari you see here is one of those ten Spyders, and it has stayed in the same family since it was bought new.

The car was bought through Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari’s US importer at the time, by the late Eddie Smith Sr., a Ferrari collector and businessman from North Carolina. Smith kept it – and kept driving it – until the day he died six years ago. Since then, this remarkable machine has been collecting dust. Smith’s son, Eddie Smith Jr., spent some time with Petrolicious to give a history of the car and explain why he and his family are going to do the one thing his father never could: sell it. The catch? All of the money it earns on the auction block will be donated to charity.

“It’ll be a bittersweet thing, because we know the fact that all the money is going to charities that he would approve of,” Smith Jr. said about his father, and it “will really make him smile, because he loved to give back.”

Look for the car at this year’s RM Auction in Monterey next month, where it should net millions of dollars before it gets a new owner. In the meantime, be sure to watch the video below. (And if it doesn’t yank at your heartstrings, please check your pulse or watch more Petrolicious videos.)

Continue reading Father’s ultra-rare Ferrari to leave family for a good cause

Father’s ultra-rare Ferrari to leave family for a good cause originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Father’s ultra-rare Ferrari to leave family for a good cause”

Report: Could Chrysler leave Michigan for Tennessee?

Filed under: Chrysler, Fiat

Detroit’s Big Three could become the Big Two. According to an AP report in The Detroit News, state officials have been lobbying for Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to select Tennessee as the location for Fiat’s joint headquarters with Chrysler Group LLC.

This weekend, Marchionne met with Tennessee governor Bill Haslam at a ceremony celebrating the expansion of a Fiat subsidiary plant in the city of Pulaski. The AP report does not mention any serious talks about headquarters relocation, only that Tennessee officials have been “working me over pretty well,” according to Marchionne.

Fiat hopes to complete its merger with the Auburn Hills-based automaker sometime next year, and earlier reports have stated that the company is seeking $10 billion in financing to buy the remaining bits of Chrysler. If the company were to relocate, it would join Nissan and Volkswagen in having major American automotive operations in Tennessee. Of course, that whole “Imported From Detroit” thing would need to go out the window…

Could Chrysler leave Michigan for Tennessee? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Could Chrysler leave Michigan for Tennessee?”

Report: Red-light camera company exec put on leave after internet misrepresentation

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

red light camera

Bill Kroske, vice president of American Traffic Solutions, Inc., has been suspended after misrepresenting himself on two newspaper websites in western Washington. Kroske claimed to be a citizen in comments he made on both the Everett, Wash. Herald and the Spokane, Wash. Spokesman-Review.

In those comments, Kroske promoted American Traffic Solutions’ red light camera systems, which bust impatient travelers even when cops aren’t available. A reporter at the Herald found Kroske out after tracing comments he made back to Scottsdale, Arizona, where the company is based. That wasn’t the only clue, however.

It seems that Kroske used his work email address and real name to set up commenting accounts on both websites. He then proceeded to extol the benefits of red light camera systems on both newspapers’ sites. Evidently Kroske was ignorant of the fact that comments are moderated, and administrators can track their origins. For all the gory details on Koske’s online bumbling, head over to the Spokesman-Review’s website.

Red-light camera company exec put on leave after internet misrepresentation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Red-light camera company exec put on leave after internet misrepresentation”

Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing”

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

A lot of ink is being spilled over the Chevrolet Volt. There are arguments over whether it is worth even the $33,500 it costs after the Federal tax credit kicks in, or the $350.00 per month lease price (after $2,500 downpayment). There are debates over its real fuel economy, and range. There are debates about whether any vehicle should get a $7,500 rebate to make it decently affordable. The market should decide, the argument goes.

We know the market will decide in the end. Even as the federal government has imposed “Corporate Average Fuel Economy” rules in the hopes of forcing manufacturers to make more fuel efficient vehicles, new vehicle sales show that consumers in the U.S. still like their pickups and SUVs.

What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”

What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”

General Motors board member Steve Girsky, who is a former Wall Street analyst and consigliere to the United Auto Workers, says he has been a voice arguing inside the automaker to make a greater commitment to Volt and extended-range electrics. He also says that CEO Daniel Akerson is another voice pushing for the vehicle and technology despite its high cost.

“GM hasn’t had a leadership vehicle like this in a long time. And Ackerson is insistent that we have that,” says Girsky.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Continue reading Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing”

Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing” originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing””

Leave a Facebook comment, win a pair of Nike DeLorean shoes!

Nike DeLoean shoes sitting on a DeLorean

Click above to leave a Facebook comment and enter!

Black Friday. 7:00 AM. The mall. That was the mission for one Jeff Glucker, Autoblog team member and the person you have to thank for your chance to win a very, very limited pair of Nike Dunk 6.0 DeLorean shoes. Only 1,000 were made and they’re completely sold out, so there are just two ways left to get yourself a pair: pay up to seven times their $90 retail price for a set on eBay, or enter Autoblog’s giveaway to win these kicks that Jeff waited in line to buy just for you.

Couple things to mention before we tell you how to enter. One, these are size 9s. Sorry we couldn’t take requests for sizes, but that’s the way it goes for such a limited edition item. Two, the unbelievably cool gullwing shoebox is unfortunately not included. Those were special boxes made only for promotional purposes and not included when buying the shoes at retail.

So, entering is ultra simple. Just “Like” the Autoblog Facebook page, then check our Facebook page in a few minutes for the Wall post titled “Leave a Facebook comment, win a pair of Nike DeLorean shoes!” (It’s live, click here!). Leave a comment on this Wall post to enter the giveaway. That’s it. Feel free to “Like” the post itself so your Facebook friends can see the giveaway, and remember to allow direct messages in your Facebook privacy settings. So no one gets confused, we’ve turned off commenting on this post since only a comment on the Facebook post will earn you an entry.

To enter the Nike Dunk 6.0 DeLorean Shoes giveaway:

“Like” the Autoblog Facebook page. Leave a comment on the Facebook Wall post titled “Leave a Facebook comment, win a pair of Nike DeLorean shoes!”
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. or Canada, excluding Quebec.
Limit 1 entry per person.
The entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Friday, December 10.
At that time, we’ll select 1 winner from the eligible commenters to receive a pair of size 9 Nike Dunk 6.0 DeLorean shoes (MSRP $90).
Make sure your Facebook privacy settings allow for direct messages to receive notification in the event you win.
Standard giveaway rules apply for everything else.

Special thanks to DeLorean Motor Company California, who let us come out to their shop and do a photoshoot of the shoes with the car that inspired them. Check out the results in the gallery below.

Gallery: Nike Dunk 6.0 DeLorean shoes: Autoblog Giveaway

Leave a Facebook comment, win a pair of Nike DeLorean shoes! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Leave a Facebook comment, win a pair of Nike DeLorean shoes!”

Leave a Facebook comment, win a copy of Gran Turismo 5!

Filed under: Toys/Games

We’ve already said our peace when it comes to Gran Turismo 5, but reports keep coming in that early adopters are having a grand old time playing Polyphony Digital’s opus on their PS3s. Didn’t camp out at Best Buy last week to purchase your copy at midnight? No worries, that’s why you read Autoblog. We’re giving away one unopened copy of Gran Turismo 5 on our Facebook page, and entering is easy peasy.

In order to enter, simply “Like” the Autoblog Facebook page (just click the button above), then check our FB page in a few minutes for this post to appear on our Wall (it’s live now!). Once it’s live, leave a comment on that Wall post (here’s the link again) to enter the giveaway. Done. Feel free to “Like” the post itself so your Facebook friends can see the giveaway, and remember to allow direct messages in your Facebook privacy settings. So no one gets confused, we’ve turned off commenting on this post since only a comment on the Facebook post will earn you an entry.

To enter the Gran Turismo 5 giveaway:

“Like” the Autoblog Facebook page. Leave a comment on the Facebook Wall post titled “Leave a Facebook comment, win a copy of Gran Turismo 5!”
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. or Canada, excluding Quebec.
Limit 1 entry per person.
The entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Friday, December 3.
At that time, we’ll select 1 winner from the eligible commenters to receive a copy of Gran Turismo 5 for the Playstation 3 valued at approximately $60.
Make sure your Facebook privacy settings allow for direct messages to receive notification in the event you win.
Standard giveaway rules apply for everything else.

Leave a Facebook comment, win a copy of Gran Turismo 5! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Leave a Facebook comment, win a copy of Gran Turismo 5!”

Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Last Chance!

Is your DVR set? Are you inviting people over? What plans do you have to watch the premier of Top Gear USA tomorrow (10PM EST/9C on the HISTORY Channel)? While you’re thinking about it, why don’t you spread the word about our last Top Gear prize pack to give away and enter yourself. The winner will receive a prize pack worth $200 that includes a Top Gear-branded remote-controlled car, Top Gear-branded Auto Roadside Kit and History Channel fleece.

In order to enter, simply “Like” the Autoblog Facebook page (if you already have, thanks), then check the FB page in a few minutes for this post to appear on our Wall (it’s live now!). Once it’s live, leave a comment on that Facebook post (here’s the link again) to enter the giveaway. Feel free to “Like” the post itself so your Facebook friends can see the giveaway, and remember to allow direct messages in your Facebook privacy settings. So no one gets confused, we’ve turned off commenting on this post since only a comment on the Facebook post will earn you an entry.

To enter giveaway #3:

“Like” the Autoblog Facebook page. Leave a comment on the Facebook entry titled “Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Last Chance!”
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. only.
Limit 1 entry per person.
The entry period ends at 2:30PM ET on Sunday, November 21.
At that time, we’ll select 1 winner from the eligible commenters to receive a Top Gear USA prize pack valued at $200 that includes a Top Gear-branded remote-controlled car, Top Gear-branded Auto Roadside Kit and History Channel fleece.
Make sure your Facebook privacy settings allow for direct messages to receive notification in the event you win.
Standard giveaway rules apply for everything else.

Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Last Chance! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Last Chance!”

Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Day 2

It’s time to give away another prize pack as we tick off the days on our calendar to the premier of Top Gear USA (10PM EST/9C this Sunday on the HISTORY Channel). Thanks to all who entered yesterday’s giveaway and became new fans of the Autoblog Facebook page. Let’s add some more Likes today by giving away another prize pack that’s worth $200 and includes a Top Gear-branded remote-controlled car, Top Gear-branded Auto Roadside Kit and History Channel fleece.

In order to enter, simply “Like” the Autoblog Facebook page (if you already have, thanks), then check the FB page in a few minutes for this post to appear on our Wall (It’s live now!). Once it’s live, leave a comment on that Facebook post (here’s the link again) to enter the giveaway. Feel free to “Like” the post itself so your Facebook friends can see the giveaway, and remember to allow direct messages in your Facebook privacy settings. And again, so no one gets confused, we’ve turned off commenting on this post since only a comment on the Facebook post will earn you an entry.

To enter giveaway #2:

“Like” the Autoblog Facebook page. Leave a comment on the Facebook entry titled “Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Day 2”.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. only.
Limit 1 entry per person.
The entry period ends at 2:30PM ET on Saturday, November 20.
At that time, we’ll select 1 winner from the eligible commenters to receive a Top Gear USA prize pack valued at $200 that includes a Top Gear-branded remote-controlled car, Top Gear-branded Auto Roadside Kit and History Channel fleece.
Make sure your Facebook privacy settings allow for direct messages to receive notification in the event you win.
Standard giveaway rules apply.

Continue reading Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Day 2

Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Day 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Leave a Facebook comment, win a Top Gear prize pack: Day 2”

Harley-Davidson reportedly threatening to leave Wisconsin after 107 years

Filed under: UAW/Unions, Motorcycle

2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight – Click above for high-res image gallery

Harley-Davidson is looking to cut its labor costs any way it can, even if it takes leaving Wisconsin. The Associated Press is reporting that the 107-year-old company has gone as far as to scout out other (likely southern) states in an effort to reduce its labor costs. Company CEO Keith Wandell says that the company will likely come to a decision in the next month or two, adding that Harley is open to tax incentives that will help keep the motorcycle facilities in the state of Wisconsin. Among the chief concerns of Harley-Davidson executives is the production schedules at its factories. Harley corporate wants to align production with seasonal demand, but as of yet, the union isn’t too keen on the idea, so it’s possible that the threat to move is posturing.

Meanwhile, the city of Milwaukee is already struggling to keep jobs in a down economy and the loss of 1,630 high-paying jobs would be a monumental blow to the community. The city already lost the headquarters of Miller Beer back in 2008, and Schlitz left the city in the 1980s due in part to labor strife. Harley-Davidson also brings tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, bolstering the local tourist economy. But although management is looking into moving its factories, it will reportedly keep its headquarters in the beleaguered city.

Gallery: 2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight

[Source: Associated Press]

Harley-Davidson reportedly threatening to leave Wisconsin after 107 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Harley-Davidson reportedly threatening to leave Wisconsin after 107 years”