Ford to Host Five-City Focus ST Performance Academy

DEARBORN, Mich., May 30, 2012 – For sport compact fans, the only thing better than driving the new Ford Focus ST is driving the Focus ST on a course with professional instruction and timed autocross hot laps.

 

That, and more, is what Ford is bringing to driving enthusiasts in New York; Washington, D.C.; Boston; San Francisco and Los Angeles this summer, beginning June 30 in New York.

 

The events will happen on Saturdays in June, July and August in each market. Events will include 48-foot race trailers, a fleet of Focus STs for training, timed competition, as well as pre-event racing instruction.

 

Events will open at 9 a.m. and run all day through 6 p.m. Locations and dates are:

 

• New York, IZOD Center, June 30
• Washington, D.C., FedEx Field, July 14
• Boston, Gillette Stadium, July 21
• San Francisco, Candlestick Park, Aug. 4
• Los Angeles, Dodgers Stadium, Aug. 11

Pre-registration is live at http://www.drivefocusst.com/. Participation will be limited and will be honored on a first-registered, first-served basis.

 

“Our fans have expressed extremely high interest in this car, but we know the proof is in the pudding,” said Lisa Schoder, Ford Focus ST Marketing manager. “We want ST fans, as well as drivers of competitive vehicles, to be able to taste this car firsthand.

 

“What better way to do it,” she added, “than to bring the car to the people with the help of professional driver instruction on closed courses.”

 

Focus ST, Ford’s first global performance car, will integrate a collection of advanced and sport-oriented technologies previously unavailable to North American customers. The combination of these technologies into a refined, yet high-performance sport compact will elevate the category and further cement Focus as the most complete compact car range sold in North America.

 

Among the more visible options will be the Tangerine Scream metallic color that will be offered exclusively on Focus ST, as well as race-inspired Recaro^® seats with matching color accents.

 

Ford is offering drivers who preorder a 2013 Focus ST the GoPro^® HD Hero2 Motorsports Edition camera pack upon delivery. Already a staple in the motorsports and action sport communities, a GoPro is the ideal camera to capture a spirited drive or Focus ST track day. The first 1,000 presale orders placed between May 1 and Aug. 20 are eligible for the GoPro HD Hero2 camera system. Cameras will be sent after vehicle delivery.

 

More information regarding Focus ST can be found at http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/focusst/ or https://www.facebook.com/OfficialFordST.

Father’s Day Is the Perfect Time to Kick off Restoration of America’s Favorite Classic, the 1964-66 Ford Mustang

DEARBORN, Mich., June 12, 2012 – With the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang less than two years away, this summer is the time to begin restoring your classic pony car so that it can be ready for one of the most important milestones in American automotive history.

“Working nights and weekends, and as your budget allows, it takes roughly two years to do a complete wheels-up classic car restoration,” says Brian Martin, director of automotive restoration development at McPherson College in Kansas. McPherson is the only school in North America that offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in automobile restoration.

Martin says with careful project planning and outsourcing of some specialized jobs such as painting and transmission rebuilding, a father and son following a detailed plan can easily restore a first-generation Mustang in a good-sized

 home garage. What’s needed are basic hand tools, proper manuals, good mechanical skills and a realistic budget.

Restoring a classic Mustang is a great father and son project, and this Sunday, June 17, is Father’s Day – a great day to kick off a Mustang restoration with the goal of having the car ready for its 50th anniversary on April 17, 2014.

Jonathan Brand and his dad have restored three classic Mustangs in their home garage, a ’65 coupe and two ’69 models. It was an experience Brand says he will never forget.

“My dad and I weren’t as close before we restored the Mustangs,” says Brand, an artist who now lives in New Haven, Conn. “It definitely brought us closer together, all those hours working on the cars. He taught me a lot about cars, and we had a lot of fun.”

Brand’s advice: Have patience, manage the budget and use Ford-licensed restoration parts, especially for the sheet metal repairs.

“We tried using panels from junkyards, but when you consider the time it takes to get them off and then to get them to fit properly on your car, it just isn’t worth it. We found the new parts fit really well,” Brand says.

95 percent of classic Mustang parts available

America’s love affair with the original Mustang is still going strong after nearly 50 years. Debuting in April 1964, the original Mustang sold more than 1.2 million units – including more than 174,000 convertibles – before its first redesign in 1967.

The original Mustang has long been America’s most popular classic car of the postwar era and is usually No. 1 or 2 on the list of most popular cars Hagerty Classic Car Insurance of Traverse City, Mich., insures.

Ford Motor Company aggressively supports the original Mustang with thousands of high-quality, officially licensed reproduction parts available at www.fordrestorationparts.com.  These replacement parts look, fit and perform exactly as the originals. Many Ford restoration parts are actually made from the original Ford tools that have been preserved for the restoration market. About 95 percent of all the parts needed to build a “new” classic ’64 to ’66 Mustang are available today.

“We offer everything from a door handle to a complete Mustang body,” says Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. “We just recently launched a 1965 Mustang convertible body – the complete assembly, all the sheet metal from the hood to the trunk. It is designed to enable fans of the original Mustang to build the classic of their dreams using a body that is stronger than the original.”

Reproduction Mustang bodies are available in every classic model year from 1965 to 1970 along with the ever-popular 1965 and 1967 convertibles. All cars feature modern welding andassembly techniques and are made from high-strength, modern automotive-grade steel. Officially licensed fenders, bumpers, door skins and other body parts for project cars that have restorable bodies are available to replace parts susceptible to rust or damaged in accidents.

Mondrach says it is nearly impossible to pluck a restorable 1964-66 Mustang or such parts as fenders, bumpers and grilles from scrapyards. Most have been wrecked, or rusted, and Mustangs with any parts good enough to be reused were long ago picked clean by restorers.

Classic Mustang restoration: Easier than you might think

Because the original Mustang uses technology that was state-of-the-art for mass-produced cars in the 1960s, the car is extremely easy to work on compared with today’s vehicles.

Also, the Mustang’s mechanical components have always been easy to find and affordable, further adding to the car’s appeal among collectors. In addition, the car can easily be modified with better suspension, performance and safety options that were unavailable at the time.

Ford Racing, for example, offers many optional crate engines and performance options to meet the needs of every Mustang enthusiast.

Mondrach suggests starting a restoration with a Mustang whose body is sound and not in need of major rust, welding or accident repairs. “The costs add up quickly when you are cutting out and replacing damaged body panels. It may be more cost effective to start with a complete new body and use the engine, transmission, suspension and major trim from a donor car,” he says.

Martin, of McPherson College, recommends refurbishing the drivetrain, suspension and other mechanical components before the body and paintwork. He says a reasonable budget for a complete restoration is between $30,000 and $50,000, but that would include a new or rebuilt performance engine, transmission, rear axle, brakes, suspension, cooling and electrical systems, as well as all the trim, paint and interior parts to be as good as new.

Before starting a restoration, experts say, knowledge is the first and most important thing to attain. “Join a club. Buy the original Ford-issued repair manuals,” Martin says. “Ford service manuals from that time were really good. They were designed to speak to mechanics with a high school education, not like today’s repair manuals that assume you have an engineering degree.”

Other tips for restoring a classic Mustang

• Decide how you will use the car when it is done. This will influence the cost of the restoration. Building a 100-point show car is far more expensive and time consuming than building a very clean weekend cruiser
• Keep track of all the money you spend on parts, service and supplies, says Jonathan Klinger of Hagerty Insurance. You will need to document your costs to prove to the insurance company what you have invested, and receipts will be required when registering a custom-built “assembled vehicle” for title
• Join the local Mustang club, a good source for used parts and knowledgeable members

Week- long series of bicycle races begin June 28 in Oxford

Professional cyclist Michael Chauner of West Chester and his Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA team will participate in the inaugural week-long Chesco Grand Prix, beginning June 28 in Oxford.

Chauner began racing competitively on the road at age 14 and steadily improved through the junior ranks, collected state and national championship medals and developed a strong interest in both endurance track cycling events and international competitions on the road.

In 2004, he was selected to compete with the Junior National Team in Belgium, France and Holland and later in the season helped his Pennsylvania team decisively win the National Team Pursuit Championship, qualifying him for that year’s World Track Championships in Los Angeles.

Chauner recently returned from Europe and has four wins to his credit this season, including a recent victory in Kalken, Belgium.

“The Chesco Grand Prix will be through the downtowns of some beautiful sections of Chester County,” said Crosby Wood of the Chesco Grand Prix. “The races are for elite and professional cycling teams that travel throughout the United States. Cycling is growing rapidly in the area and these races are perfect for individuals and families. We’re expecting large crowds.”

The dates for the races are:
Thursday, June 28: Oxford Criterium

Friday, June 29: Malvern Criterium

Saturday, June 30: Phoenixville Criterium

Sunday, July 1: 2nd Annual Coatesville Classic

Tuesday, July 3: Chesco Time Trials, Unionville

Wednesday, July 4: Chesco Road Race and Holiday BBQ, Unionville

Thursday, July 5: Parkesburg Criterium

Friday, July 6: Kennett Square Criterium (Finals)

Sunday, July 8: The Chesco Tour (recreational ride through Chester County)

The Chesco Grand Prix is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of competitive cycling.

Chauner graduated from Bucknell University in 2008 and collected 11 collegiate cycling victories throughout his academic career making him the top Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference winner during 2004 through 2008. As a freshman in 2005, he became the ECCC Champion and achieved a top-5 performance in the Collegiate National Road Championships.

He has a personal coaching business for other cyclists alongside his own racing career. After developing under the tutelage of Olympic silver medalist Brian Walton for seven years, Chauner now works with Sweden’s top cycling coach and exercise physiologist, Mattias Reck.

Chauner will join Bobby Lea. a member of the United States’ 2012 Olympic Cycling Team, on the five-man squad from the Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA .

Wood said, “This annual event is destined to become one of the prestigious bike races in the United States, especially when the national Velodrome is constructed in Coatesville.”

“We haven’t forgotten the area leisure riders as we have a tour scheduled for Sunday, July 8,” Wood said. “The county’s back roads are wonderful places to explore by bicycle. Cyclists of all abilities and skill levels will be able to choose a 20 mile, 40 mile or 75 mile route, starting and finishing in the historic village of Marshallton. Each route will sample the quiet roads of the Brandywine Valley, ending at the Marshalton Inn and Four Dogs Tavern where Chef David Cox will serve award-winning food and refreshments.”

Six of the nine venues will host a card of multi-lap “criterium” races for amateurs, elite women and pro men with all races held on downtown circuits of between 1 and 3 kilometers (.6 to 1.5 mile). The featured pro races will all be 50 miles with shorter distances for amateurs and women. The time trial and road race on July 3rd and 4th will be held on circuits through West Marlborough Township, an area known for its preserved wide open spaces and expansive horse farms.

The professional races will be invitational for 90 registered elite level and professional cyclists, most will be member of five-man teams. Points will be awarded for the top finishers toward overall team and individual prizes. A total of at least $25,000 in prize money will be awarded throughout the series.

The Chesco Grand Prix is endorsed by the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, the official Tourism Promotion Agency for Chester County whose mission is to promote Chester County and the Brandywine Valley as a tourism destination.

Initial sponsors for the Chesco Grand Prix include the Sheraton Great Valley Hotel, PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak and Victory Brewing of Downingtown. Sponsor interest is high and additional sponsors will be announced soon. The Greater Media’s Philadelphia radio group will promote and cover the Chesco Grand Prix. The stations include WMMR, WMGK, BEN-FM and 97.5 The Fanatic/950 ESPN.

Diesel Keeps Picking Up New Fans

Just in time for the Memorial Day travel weekend that involve long-haul journeys for many Americans comes a reminder of the benefits of clean-diesel technology – one of which is the ability for a vehicle to go a long way on a tank of fuel, especially in highway-cruising mode.



Got Clean Diesel?



With that as the backdrop, one of America’s leading advocacy organizations for diesel technology is making the case that most of diesel’s expansion in the auto market is still ahead of it, not behind. More than 10 new clean-diesel cars and light-duty trucks will be introduced in the U.S. market in the next two years by Audi, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes and Volkswagen, notes the Diesel Technology Forum.

“The resurgence in new diesel autos in the U.S. market will greatly increase the popularity of clean diesels throughout the nation,” said Allen Schaefer, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Forum, in a news release.

Of course, Audi and Volkswagen have been at the forefront of the clean-diesel push in the U.S. market, with an increasing variety of clean-diesel versions of some of their most popular models comprising a rising portion of overall sales of those nameplates.

Audi also has been instrumental in pushing for positive popular perceptions of diesel power through TV advertisements and other means.

According to Schaeffer, the combination of capable and attractive diesel-powered cars, and advocacy of the technology, is working. Only 3 percent of U.S. sales so far are clean-diesel powertrains, compared with about half of all new sales in Europe.

But diesel has been running about neck-and-neck with U.S. hybrid sales even though there are many more hybrid models available. And diesel sales increased for each of the last two years and then rose again, by 35 percent, in the first quarter of 2012, the Forum said.

Clean diesel’s edge of 20 to 40 percent in fuel economy over gasoline has been increasingly relevant to Americans at a time of near-$4-a-gallon gasoline, Schaeffer noted. And “in many parts of the country, diesel fuel prices are at or below the cost of premium unleaded” that is required in many of today’s cars. “Diesel could well be the more economical choice.”

First Audi overall victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours

Erratic weather, an extreme pace, tough competition, bitter setbacks and a great triumph: Audi emerged from a genuine emotional roller-coaster ride as victor of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. In the 40th running of the Eifel classic the brand recorded its first overall victory with the new Audi R8 LMS ultra. The German driver quartet Marc Basseng/Christopher Haase/Frank Stippler/Markus Winkelhock shared driving duties in the car entered by Audi Sport Team Phoenix. Christian Abt/Michael Ammermüller/Armin Hahne/Christian Mamerow from Team Mamerow Racing completed the one-two success.

Audi has achieved yet another milestone in endurance racing within just eleven months: in June 2011 the brand celebrated its tenth victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the R18 TDI LMP sports prototype. Last July the customer racing R8 LMS race car also won the 24 hour classic at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the first time. The Nürburgring triumph now rounds off the endurance record. The competition around the Nordschleife was regarded as a particularly brutal test of endurance this year. The pace of the eight different brands represented in the GT3 class was unusually high, many leading teams were struck by technical defects and numerous accidents whittled the field down still further. While the Audi GT3 race car, which is derived from a production line car, ran technically reliably for 24 hours, the Audi teams did not escape unscathed from accidents either.

In this way, the Audi R8 LMS ultra with start number ‘2’ driven by Christopher Mies at the time was hit by an opponent in the rain while leading. The repairs took 53 minutes and stole any chance of victory from him and his team mates Marcel Fässler and René Rast – they were fifth at the flag. In the night the car with number ‘4’ from Speedhunters Team WRT lost a huge amount of time after a collision with a competitor damaged the steering. The Belgian team finished 32nd. Team Raeder Motorsport held a promising fifth position after 17 hours of racing when Thomas Mutsch was unable to avoid a lapped car as it changed line. After hitting the guardrail any it was impossible to contemplate driving further in start number 9. The Audi race experience finished in 17th place with Christian Bollrath/Pierre Ehret/Peter Venn/Marco Werner. The sister car driven by Luca Cappellari/Florian Gruber/Warren Luff/Alexander Yoong retired due to damage caused in an accident.

In the closing stages the pressure to succeed in the overall classification weighed heavily on the start numbers 3 and 26. Audi Sport Team Phoenix won its home race thanks to a combination of balanced pace, clever driving and reliable pit work. It was overall victory number three for the team from Meuspath and the first with Audi. Almost simultaneously Ernst Moser’s squad clinched third place as best Audi team in the third DTM race at Brands Hatch. Team Mamerow Racing also clinched an excellent result. Team director Peter Mamerow only changed his allegiance to Audi this year. With the support of Audi Sport customer racing the team fielded an R8 LMS ultra with Christian Abt/Michael Ammermüller/Armin Hahne/Christian Mamerow on board. Second overall is richly deserved for the private team from Castrop-Rauxel.

“We are absolutely delighted about this long desired victory,” explained Dieter Gass, Head of Racing Commitments at Audi Sport. “For three years the Audi R8 LMS was always the best GT3 car at the Nürburgring. Now we have taken overall victory in the fight with seven other brands. Over the last 24 hours nothing whatsoever was handed to us on a plate. Our victorious drivers and teams produced a fantastic, consistent and error free performance. My sincerest congratulations go to our winners. This victory in a race car closely related to the production based car once again proves that Audi Sport customer racing provides its customers with a well refined, versatile and successful race car.”
Race result

1. Basseng/Haase/Stippler/Winkelhock (Audi R8 LMS ultra), 155 laps
2. Abt/Ammermüller/Hahne/Mamerow (Audi R8 LMS ultra) + 3m 35.303s
3. Frankenhout/Simonsen/Kaffer/Arnold (Mercedes-Benz) + 11m 31.116s
4. Leinders/Palttala/Martin (BMW) – 1 lap
5. Fässler/Mies/Rast/Stippler (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 4 laps
6. Abbelen/Schmitz/Brück/Huisman (Porsche) – 4 laps
7. Müller/Müller/Alzen/Adorf (BMW) – 5 laps
8. Hürtgen/Schwager/Bastian/Adorf (BMW) – 5 laps
9. Klingmann/Wittmann/Göransson/Lamy (BMW) – 5 laps
10. Zehe/Hartung/Rehfeld/Bullitt (Mercedes-Benz) – 5 laps
17. Bollrath/Ehret/Venn/Werner (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 10 laps
32. Jarvis/Piccini/Sandström/Simonsen (Audi R8 LMS ultra) – 20 laps

Porsche of Delaware is hiring!

Porsche of Delaware, located on Ogletown Rd./Rt. 273 in Newark and a member of the Winner Automotive Group, has an immediate opening for a qualified sales consultant to join our team as a Porsche Sales Consultant.

The successfull candidate will have experience selling either high line vehicles, furniture or real estate.  High line automotive sales experience a plus.  Additionally, you should be detail oriented and willing to put the customer first.
 

The responsibilities of the Salesperson are centered on the process of understanding and meeting customer needs.  In order to sell, this person must have a basic knowledge of automotive systems and a thorough knowledge of prices, models, series, options, and other variations of the manufacturer's products, and should also know much about the competition's products and prices.   Most importantly, this person should have sensitivity toward the customer and a strong interest in exceeding the customer's expectations.  

This person must have polished communication skills with customers, including the ability to present the company's products and the ability to discover, by questioning, exactly what the customer's needs are.   The Salesperson must calculate cost allowances, fees, taxes, down payments, and discounts to arrive at the price of a vehicle, and, in addition, must work with the Sales Manager in completing a sales contract, which meets the customer's need.

Additional Requirements

• Knowledge of sales procedures, processes, and follow-up
• Ability to meet and greet customers
• Ability to effectively relate to customers of all backgrounds and to focus on customer satisfaction
• Knowledge of automotive systems in general
• Knowledge of company products (prices, models, series, options, warranties, colors, standard equipment, specifications)
• Ability to prospect and ask for referrals
• Ability to counsel customers (likes, dislikes, finances, needs)

The Winner Automotive Group offers competitive pay plans, a comprehensive benefits package that include medical, dental, vision, matching 401k plan as well as paid vacations and a demo allowance.

Interested candidates should apply online today!

Go with a Winner!

EOE

Audi Wilmington to Host Audi quattro Cup 2012

It is no coincidence that in the same year Audi of America shattered its all-time sales record by selling over 117,000 units, it also hosted 60 local quattro Cup tournaments throughout the United States which drew a record-breaking 6,400 participants. As sales continue to accelerate, the demand for this unique brand experience is higher than ever, and Audi Wilmington is excited to announce it will be hosting the Audi quattro Cup 2012 local competition at Fieldstone Golf Club on June 18th, 2012.

With over 79,000 competitors worldwide, 2011 proved the Audi quattro Cup is the largest amateur golf tournament in the world for a reason: participants raved about their experience, especially those fortunate enough to advance to the U.S. Final at the legendary Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI.

This year, golfers will find even more competitive inspiration as the 2012 U.S. Audi quattro Cup finals will transpire at one of the world’s most coveted golf destinations: the unrivaled Pebble Beach Resorts. The Pebble Beach Golf Links have hosted some of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, including five U.S. Open Championships and the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.  Staged over two unforgettable days along the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean, the fairways of both The Links at Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach Golf Links will host the culmination of a tournament season defined by performance and the realization of countless amateur golf dreams.

“The Audi quattro Cup immerses golfers in the absolute best of the brand,” said Michael Hynansky.  “Audi Wilmington is proud to bring this unique experience to Delaware and be part of something that really was created to celebrate the excitement of amateur golfing.”

Audi Wilmington is one of 80 dealerships hosting local competitions nationwide, a new record for the brand since the tournament was first played stateside in 1999. Each dealership will in turn advance its winning twosome to the U.S. Final (August 23–26) to decide which two amateur teams Audi of America will send to represent the United States in the World Final at the end of the year.

Registration for the local competition ends June 8th,. Please contact Audi Wilmington at 302-661-2100 for more information or to register your twosome for play.

To learn more about the Audi quattro Cup Experience, please visit audiusa.com/quattrocup.