New Scholarship Opportunities

This just in from AMN and the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium:

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee has announced that the Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast (Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi) will be collaborating in creating an online scholarship resource for students planning to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket.
This industry association cooperation will allow students interested in aftermarket careers to submit one application for 2008 scholarships online at www.automotivescholarships.org and receive consideration for the following scholarships: Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (AAACT), Automotive Parts & Service Alliance (APSA), the Breslow Foundation, California/Nevada Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) and Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). Applicants must meet the individual scholarship qualifications to be considered.

“This is a valuable resource for students seeking careers in the automotive industry. We are pleased to have APSA of Illinois as part of this important effort to promote this investment in our industry’s future,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee.
“We appreciate very much the efforts of Mr. Kornafel and the GAAS organization in offering this great opportunity for intra-industry cooperation and communication. Those interested in furthering their education and looking to a career in the automotive industry, along with the industry itself, will be the real winners here,” said Randal Ward, CAE, president of AAAS. “I know that is the number one objective of each individual organization involved in this effort. Speaking for Foundation Chairman Jimmy Edwards of A-1 Auto Parts in Philadelphia, MA, I can say we are very happy and proud to be part of this team,” he added.

The GAAS scholarship program awarded 142 scholarships in 2007. Including this year’s awards, GAAS has presented more than 1,300 scholarships and more than $1.3 million since it was formed. Details about the GAAS scholarship program are available at http://www.automotivescholarships.com/.
Over its 13-year history, the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) has become the premier industry conference for senior-level aftermarket executives. All of the net proceeds from the event go toward funding industry scholarships. The 2008 event is slated for Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago. Speakers and registration details will be available soon at http://www.globalsymposium.org/.

Teen Drivers and Accidents: Top Three Tips for Safe Teen Drivers

I thought this information would be relevant to our readers, because it's relevant to me! (How's that for self-absorption? And we thought only teens and pre-teens believed the world revolved around them.) Last Tuesday, I was hit by an SUV and my car was seriously damaged (to the tune of $4,600 and change). It was a classic situation of a young driver, headed for an accident: 20 years old, male, with two passengers in the vehicle - one was 19, the other was 21. Fortunately neither drugs nor alcohol were involved, and even better, no one was seriously injured, though all three were transported to the hospital. It was very unnerving to hit another vehicle at a decent rate of speed, and then watch as the other vehicle swerves and rolls.

I found the following article on the Ask Patty website (mentioned earlier this year).
By Yvonne T Williams
A recent OECD Global report on young drivers entitled ‘Young Drivers: The Road to Safety’ found what most of us instinctively know - that young drivers are over represented in crashes and road fatalities. The report also stated that road crashes are the single greatest killer of 15 – 24 year olds in the industrial world. In the USA 5,699 kids in the 16 – 20 age group were killed on the roads in 2005, so we are not immune to the global trend affecting young drivers. The OECD report made a number of important recommendations. Supervised driving hours were highlighted – the OECD recommends an extension of pre-license practice for teen drivers of 120 hours supervised driving.In countries such as Australia, where they’ve already adopted extended supervised driving hours, crashes involving newly licensed drivers in the 2 years following introduction of such changes, reduced by 40%. With thousands of new teen drivers hitting the US roads in 2007 we must spare a thought for all the Moms and Dads who will be taking on the role of driving coach for the first time. Make no mistake, being a driving coach for your child is one of the most important and difficult jobs you will be called upon to do. What you teach your teen drivers will have a major influence on how they behave on the road when they eventually get their license.What you may not realize is that your kids have been ‘driving’ since they were in their baby seats. They’ve picked up every good and bad driving habit that you have and will take your driving style with them when they get out on the road.The first important piece of advice we can give every new Mom and Dad driving coach is to take a very long, hard look at how they, themselves perform as a driver these days. Bad habits creep into our driving without us even being aware of it. If we talk and text on cell phones while driving, if we don’t wear seat belts - or if we run amber lights, or play loud music while the car is full of passengers and un-restrained pets, then how can we expect our teens to stay safe when they start to drive.
Like most parents, you’re leading a hectic life these days, but the hours you spend with your teen supervising their driving, will pay you back in so many ways. Give your young drivers the best chance they can get at staying safe on the roads by trying just a couple of our coaching tips.
1. Give them at least 120 hours of supervised driving under all sorts of conditions. They need practice on freeway driving, country driving, night driving and in difficult conditions like rain, fog or snow. Driving to school or the supermarket is important, but they also need to clock up their hours in a wider variety of driving situations.

2. Driver distraction and inattention is the number one driver killer. Whenever you and your learner get behind the wheel – switch on your attitude like a racing driver and be ready for anything.

3. Teen drivers need to concentrate at all times so make sure you never have loud music, pets or passengers in the car while they’re practicing.Always do the right thing and set them a great example – you are a vital role model in this critical but exciting phase of your teen’s life.

If you have any questions or issues on coaching teens you can always contact the Coach a Rookie help desk at http://www.coacharookie.com/. We have driving instructors, advanced driver trainers and road safety educators available to help you with any driver training issues.

Yvonne is a road safety educator and member of the Australasian College of Road Safety. She is also a freelance journalist and co-founder of a global road safety education web site – http://www.coacharookie.com/. She has two grown up children Yvette and Tristan and a husband called David. They just love cars and motor sport of any kind and they are really into V8 Super Cars in Australia and the US Nascar Series. Yvonne is a motoring writer for a number of newspapers and web sites so she is passionate about driving new cars and writing road tests.

Federal Mogul Celebrates 100 Years of Champion Spark Plugs

Extensive New Print, Online Ad Campaign Invites Millions to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Champion(R) SparkPlugs --
Innovative Campaign Featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. Expected to Generate Nearly 120 Million Brand Impressions

SOUTHFIELD, Mich--Aug. 9, 2007--Federal-MogulCorporation (OTCBB:FDMLQ) has introduced an extensive new print and online advertising campaign that invites millions of vehicle owners and maintainers to join the celebration of the Champion(R) spark plug brand's 100th anniversary. The innovative "Always a Champion" campaign, featuring NASCAR Nextel Cup superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr., invites do-it-yourselfers andautomotive professionals to experience the advantages ofperformance-driven Champion products. Each ad also invites consumersto visit the new virtual-reality AlwaysAChampion.com Web site, wherethey can explore the Champion Garage, enter the "Performance-DrivenSweepstakes," play the "Crew Chief Challenge," look up Champion sparkplug listings, and earn anniversary prizes. The campaign features a series of ads highlighting Earnhardt'soff-track passions - including his Corvette, all-terrain vehicle, dirtbike and boat - that are powered by Champion spark plugs. Championplugs are offered for virtually every type of vehicle: two or fourwheels, on or off the track. The program is expected to generate nearly 120 million brand impressions. "Champion is one of those rare brands that defines an attitude and a lifestyle," said Garth Cole, director of marketing, Aftermarket,Federal-Mogul. "Millions of enthusiasts, including Dale Jr., have embraced the Champion brand because they understand the value of performance-driven technologies. Our new ad campaign - and every element of our 100th anniversary program - celebrates the extraordinary bond between Champion and today's consumers." Champion is the "Performance Driven" brand of spark plugs and other leading automotive products from Federal-Mogul, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of original equipment and aftermarket solutions. Established in 1907, Champion is celebrating its performance-driven heritage by looking forward to the next generation of innovative products. The brand's iconic red-and-black bowtie logo is a familiar sight for racing fans and millions of other consumers and is displayed at professional and amateur racing venues; in service garages, parts stores and national retail locations; on car and truck windows and fenders; in video games and movies; and in leading automotive collectibles catalogs. This unusually strong brand presence has led to the introductionof a growing range of performance-driven Champion-branded products,including automotive specialty performance additives and lubricants,batteries, starters and alternators.

About Federal-Mogul: Federal-Mogul Corporation is a leading global supplier, serving the world's foremost original equipment manufacturers of automotive, light commercial, heavy-duty, agricultural, marine, rail, off-road andindustrial vehicles, as well as the worldwide aftermarket. The Company's leading technology and innovation, lean manufacturing expertise, as well as marketing and distribution deliver world-class products, brands and services with quality excellence at a competitive cost. Federal-Mogul is focused on creating value and satisfaction for its customers, employees and stakeholders. Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899. The Company is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs45,000 people in 35 countries. Federal-Mogul's aftermarket products are sold under a variety of brands, including but not limited to, AE(R) engine products, ANCO(R) wipers, Champion(R) spark plugs and wipers, Fel-Pro(R) gaskets, Ferodo(R) brake pads, Glyco(R) bearings,Goetze(R) piston rings, Moog(R) chassis products, National(R)wheel-end components, Nural(R) pistons, Payen(R) gaskets, SealedPower(R) engine products and Wagner(R) lighting and brake products. Visit the company's Web site at http://www.federalmogul.com/.

I checked this website out this morning, hoping to play the Crew Chief game and review all the gizmos and gadgets within the webpages. I experienced a few problems. Portions of the website were slow to load, some never loaded. I presume they'll get all the bugs worked out within the next few days. Overall, it's not a bad website. They have "virtual" rooms within shops and I found it a little weird to see people walking by throughout the website. Overall - I'd recommend you take a peek.

AYES Announces 2007 Instructor of the Year Finalists

AYES announced its 2007 Instructor of the Year (IOTY) finalists. They are: Randy Baker from East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, AZ, Bruce Harris from A.E. Smith Career & Technical Education High School in Bronx, NY, Michael McGhee from Arlington Career Center in Arlington, VA, Michael O'Hara from H. B. Ward Technical Center in Riverhead, NY and David White from Parkside High School in Salisbury, MD.
"All of our AYES instructors work very hard, not only to educate and prepare their students but on their own continued education and certification," said AYES President Larry Cummings. "We are proud to be able to have the opportunity to recognize some of the very best instructors in the AYES program."
The IOTY award is based on several contributing factors, including, intern placement success, school and instructor certification and compliance with AYES guidelines. Instructors are responsible for educating students in the classroom and helping to place them in internships, as well as continually communicating with the student and his or her mentor while they are working in the dealership.
A team of AYES management staff reviewed the self-nomination forms to determine the finalists and winner. This year's 7th annual IOTY award was announced at the farewell dinner during the instructor's conference on Thursday, July 19. The IOTY received his award from AYES President Larry Cummings, and SPX representative, Gina Tuttle, Vice President, OEM Programs and Daily Support Services NA.

Forza v. Dirt: Which Would You Drive?

Here's something cool I found from the Associated Press:

Car wars: FORZA outclasses competition
By LOU KESTEN, Associated Press WriterWed Aug 1, 2:29 PM ET

Just a few years ago, it was somewhat of a surprise when a NASCAR driver said he used video games to get ready for real-life races. Nowadays, virtual racing is a standard element of the training regimen of professional drivers, particularly the young guns who probably learned to drive on a Nintendo long before they got behind the wheel of a stock car. Elliott Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are just a few of the NASCAR drivers who have acknowledged a debt to video games. As graphics get more realistic, a virtual track can provide good practice for the pros while letting the rest of us feel what's it's like to do a few laps at Daytona._"NASCAR 08" (EA Sports, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99; PlayStation 2, $39.99): The first 360/PS3 version of this franchise includes vivid recreations of just about every track in America, from the basic oval at Bristol, Tenn., to the twisting road course at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Most of the time you're racing against more than 40 other cars, so you really get a feeling of claustrophobia along with a sense of the strategy required to make it to the front of the pack.Unfortunately, to pull off that strategy you need really sharp steering. The controls in "NASCAR 08" feel so loose that you have to keep adjusting them even when you're just trying to drive in a straight line.The "Chase for the Cup" mode is frustrating as well. It starts you off with small challenges, like learning how to pick up speed by closely following another car, and works up to full-blown Nextel Cup events. It's a good way to learn the sport's intricacies, but many gamers won't have the patience to endure all the tests that are required before entering a career race. Two stars out of four (but add a star if you're a NASCAR fan)._"Forza Motorsport 2" (Microsoft, for the Xbox 360, $59.99): The second edition of Microsoft's flagship racing franchise offers a lot more breathing room, mainly because you're usually racing only seven other cars. It also has a wider variety of courses, ranging from California's sun-splashed Laguna Seca to a fantasy track in the middle of Times Square."FM2" lets you pick a car (from more than 300 models) and jump into a race right away. There's no messing around with tutorials and licensing tests; instead, novices get some on-screen assistance and are pitted against slower opponents. Eventually, you'll make enough money to buy a new car or upgrade your old one, and there are so many ways to calibrate a car's performance that you could spend a couple of days in the garage alone.There's a lot to love about "FM2," from its gorgeous graphics to its incredible attention to detail. But its most impressive feature is its driving physics; it simply feels more realistic than any other racing video game. Three-and-a-half stars._"Dirt" (Codemasters, for the Xbox 360, $59.99):

"Dirt," the latest in Codemasters' "Colin McRae Rally" series, is in some ways the opposite of "Forza." Instead of zipping around slick, paved tracks, you're slogging your way across bumpy, muddy terrain; endurance and brute force are more important than speed and slick steering. But "Dirt" goes head-to-head with "Forza" in one respect: It's one of the best-looking racing games on the 360."Dirt" has a decent selection of off-road vehicles, from nimble buggies to lumbering trucks, and a good variety of events. Sometimes you'll be racing solo up a hill; other times you'll be swapping paint with your opponents on courses that abruptly shift from paved to unpaved.Most of the courses are rocky enough to make your teeth rattle, but the controls don't always feel spot-on. At times it feels like you're floating around curves, and the cars almost feel too responsive given all the abuse they're going through. "Dirt" is fun and pretty, but doesn't feel realistic. Three stars.__On the Net:_"NASCAR 08": http://www.easports.com/nascar08/_"Forza Motorsport 2": http://forzamotorsport.net/_"Dirt": http://www.codemasters.com/dirt/

More Photos from the Ford/AAA 2007 Championships

We were pleased to be one of the sponsors of this year's competition. In addition, Ed Sunkin, Andrew Markel, and I were honored to judge three different teams in the blazing Dearborn sunshine.

50 states were represented by 50 teams of two. At the sound of the starting bell, all teams were off their mark in a shot, running to their respective Ford vehicle.

Ford/AAA National Auto Skills Competition 2007

And the winner is....

Austin Castro and Daniel Lehmkuhl

from Grover Beach and San Luis Obisbo.

Congratulations!