Russo and Steele’s 2010 Catalog Party

Celebrating Ten Years of Distinction in the Industry with class and ALL RESERVE

Bill and I went to the Catalog Party for Russo and Steele on December llth on The River Walk in downtown Scottsdale. The party was outside and the atmosphere was as electric as Drew’s personality and his auctioneers. The who’s who of exotics, vintage, muscle and just plain enthusiasts were all in attendance.

We met up with Brighton Motorsports owners Karen and Shane, as well as their team sales manager, Vince. They brought along for display one of their rare treasures; an Allard. that actually turned more heads than some of the women of Scottsdale in attendance.

Josephine, Stephanie and her staff did a fabulous job. Drew and his team are the same genuine people they were ten years ago when they started their business. It is nice to see that one triumph after another doesn’t change the man or the team!

DRIVE ONE 4 UR SCHOOL…

You Go Camelback Ford Lincoln Mercury !!!

When Sunnyslope High School needed to raise money for their Journalism class and trip to Washington DC, they figured they would be doing car washes, selling candy or begging their parents for the dollars needed.

Fortunately Melanie, who is the X of Boomer and X, is the journalism teacher at Sunnyslope High School. She received a call from Camelback Ford asking them if they wanted to participate in the Drive one 4 UR School. This program, sponsored by Ford Motor Company, paid the school $20.00 for each test drive that occurred during the selected hours on one chilly day in October.

Parents and students alike came out to drive a new Ford product. Bill and I did our share for the school, despite the fact we had been in the entire Ford lineup including the Mustang. The feedback to the vehicles was fantastic, and the staff at Camelback Ford was pressure free and lots of fun for the students and adults.

The Journalism class earned enough money to help with the conventions cost for the Washington Trip and keep our future journalists enthusiastic about their possible future profession.

Sunnyslope H.S. was grateful to Community Tire and Two for the Road USA radio show for helping with giveaways and publicity.

LINCOLN MKT at Bondurant

I don’t know what it is for me, but I am such a fan of the Lincoln brand.

I picked the MKX as my #1 car for 2008 and now I get in the MKT and I love it.

Bill tells me it’s the FLEX on sophisticated steroids and I guess I agree in some ways, but WOW…the grille, the interior luxury and the performance peeked my interest at first sight. I couldn’t bring myself to think of it as a wagon…

Ford put on a super showcase, and even though Bill couldn’t make this event due to another automotive commitment in California, he stayed close in touch as we did text back and forth.

The MKT is a vehicle for a family, with young children or long legged teenagers and me (the boomer). I liked it especially for travel with grandchildren. Check out the cooler in the second row of seating.

Bill and I will do a full review when we receive delivery to test for a week in Phoenix. In the meantime, I just can’t say enough about its beauty.

Here are some photos out at Bondurant where we did our press conference. They include Mike Hagerty from Channel l5, Larry Edsall, Nick Calderone and our other press association colleagues.

Our radio partner, Sanderson Lincoln Mercury on Bell Road, would be happy to give you a test drive.

THANK YOU GENERAL MOTORS

Thanks GM for the opportunity to drive your newest products. A great course, and
Professionally run, we thank you. Not only did the press have an opportunity to get behind the wheel of some very nice cars, so did the public.

Bill and I drove around Desert Ridge in Scottsdale, Arizona with an organization called P.A.P.A. (Phoenix Automotive Press Association.) Bill and I have been members for eight years and have experienced some of the most informative and exciting events.

We both picked Camaro’s for our photos… wonder why?

RUMBLE AT RAWHIDE

December 13, 2009

There were beautiful cars, motorcycles and vendors ranging from kettle corn to camshafts. The Rawhide venue was the perfect setting for the nostalgic cars and dressed up motorcycles. The new management team was out and about meeting and greeting and making sure everyone was happy.

I was there representing Silent Witness with Cindy Kjos and Neal Sheiner, Bill Z. was at the LA Auto show and unable to attend. He would have gone crazy taking photos for his Cool Car Corner site; for each vehicle was prettier than the next

No matter how hard we tried, at our Silent Witness table indoors, we couldn’t stop looking at the cars. When we did finally pack up to leave, we wandered around the polished and waxed beauties and stopped by a few unusual cars to get the scoop.

I picked my favorite; it was ’51 Mercury. Since it was the same year I was born I felt like both the Merc and I had held up okay. The Merc however had an obvious advantage, a face lift and some new softer leather inside. Oh! And my rear has gotten larger, the Mercury’s looked the same.

Thanks to Jim Mayor and Ethan Schwartz of Rawhide http://www.rawhide.com/ for a free booth for Silent Witness

Brighton Motorsports Second Annual Road Rally

We joined Shane and Karen Mustoe last Sunday as they hosted their second annual rally that began at their facility in Scottsdale. They offered Two for the Road a pristine 65 MGB from their collection so we jumped at the chance so Cathy and I along with about 50 other couples in some of the most beautiful cars on the planet took advantage of a beautiful sunny Arizona afternoon and cruised the streets of Phoenix giving the public a rolling car show. There will be more to follow soon including some video we shot of some really fantastic cars on the road

A Gala Event at Sanderson Lincoln/Mercury

We were on hand when Lincoln and Sanderson Lincoln/Mercury introduced the all-new Lincoln MKT along with MKS with EcoBoost and Lincoln MKZ by allowing the press and the public to test drive the new cars. It was one of the biggest one-night events ever put on by Lincoln with over 1,200 dealers across the country participating.

A big beneficiary was the Susan G. Komen foundation which received a $20.00 for each completed test drive taken by a customer during the event. Along with getting some wheel time, visitors also had an opportunity to enter a sweepstakes at the dealership to win a 65-inch plasma TV, a home theater and installation.

The MKT is Lincoln’s entry in the mid-size CUV market was a big success with people showing a lot of interest in it. The event allowed people to get an up close look at the vehicles and experience some very cool technical innovations like the Active Park Assist and the latest SYNC with new turn-by-turn voice activated driving directions.

There is a lot of buzz about the 355 horsepower EcoBoost engine and rightfully so as it received The Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards, now in its fifth year, of recognizing products and celebrate innovations poised to change the world. Ford is the only automaker this year to receive a Breakthrough Award which says a lot about the EcoBoost engine.

I spent a week in the Ford Flex that was equipped with the EcoBoost and was very impressed with the performance so I am looking forward to driving the MKT for a week to experience it in that car.

As usual Sanderson Lincoln Mercury put on a great event and helped a lot a people learn more about Lincoln and help a great organization, The Susan G. Komen Foundation. Find out more by going to Sandersonlm.com.