Archive for August, 2007

Country Song Download From Jeep

Friday, August 31st, 2007

For those who love listening to country songs and for those who want free music downloads, this post's for you.

Tim McGraw, the popular country musician and Faith Hill's lucky hubby, is partnering with the Chrysler marque. The partnership between the automaker and the artist reached a new high when McGraw and Jeep collaborated for the "Jeep presents Soul2Soul Tour 2007".  And while the tour is already over, the tie-up between the automaker and the hitmaker continues as Jeep is offering free music download of a Tim McGraw song which has never been released.

The song entitled "Louisiana" is the song that you can download from Jeep's brand site.  If you want this, you better hurry because it's only offered for free for the first 10,000 downloads.  After that, the song will still be streamed on the site.  The song was only performed once by McGraw and that was during the 2006 TV special "Reflected".  The song which you can download for free is a tribute to the artist's roots.  McGraw was born and raised at Start, La. 

The autochannel.com reported this and quoted Pete Hollinshead, the Senior Manager for Jeep Events, saying:  "While it was Tim and Faith's personal Jeep story that brought us together, it has been the ability to continue to expand our partnership that has made it so successful.  Tim is one of the most popular artists on the charts right now, so we're pleased that we can offer his fans and ours the opportunity to download one of his songs exclusively at jeep.com."

So if you want that you song, you can download it here.  There must be a lot of Tim McGraw fans out there especially with the recent success of his "Let It Go" album which gave him his ninth release to debut at No.1 in the country album sales chart.  The album's first single "Last Dollar" also gave McGraw his 27th career No. 1 hit.   So I suggest you hurry up.

And while you're there, you can also check out Jeep's new offerings.  The automaker has now seven current models and I think that most of them if not all will be offered with the New Chrysler's industry-leading Lifetime Powertrain Warranty. 

Fueling The Passion For Hot Wheels®

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

A joint project between Hot Wheels® and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) was announced a few days ago for the annual automotive aftermarket convention that will take place in Las Vegas Nevada. The convention is entitled “Fueling The Passion For Hot Wheels®” that will be incorporated with the well-known Hot Wheels® logo which will be showcased on all 2007 occasion and show-related matters.

“Hot Wheels has been a participant at SEMA for many years, and we’re thrilled to kick off our 40th anniversary with an even bigger presence at this year’s show,” said Geoff Walker, the vice president of Wheels Marketing, Mattel Brands. “The theme of ‘Fueling the Passion for Hot Wheels’ captures the influence the automotive industry has had on the Hot Wheels brand over the years, as well as our influence and inspiration on the industry.”

The partnership between Hot Wheels® and SEMA will launch the “Hot Wheels® Design Award” on the show that will happen this year which will be given to four modified vehicles that represent the true spirit of the Hot Wheels® trademark which includes speed, power, performance and attitude! “Best Custom Car” and “Best Custom Truck” awards will also be presented by Hot Wheels® for these are both the latest additions to the annual SEMA New Products Awards Breakfast.

“What makes Hot Wheels a great partner for SEMA is that the renowned die-cast brand truly mirrors all of the various areas within the automotive specialty equipment market,” said Peter MacGillivray of SEMA. “And, to have a celebrated brand like Hot Wheels play such a large role in our show, gets us, and our show participants, revved up for this year’s convention.”

Hot Wheels® will build up its mark all the way through the convention center with full-scale Hot Wheels® vehicles during the week-long show; memorabilia and collectibles, a variety of brand objects as well as participating in a range of show events that commemorates the die-cast 40th anniversary of the brand.

The SEMA show will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center this coming October 29 – November 2.

Princess D’s Chicago Rolls Royce Entrusted To Volo Auto Museum

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007

There are so many people from around the world who miss Princess Diana after her tragic death several years back. She will always be remembered as one of the most luminous icons of all times! The compassionate princess has established a lot of charities and did a lot of fund raising activities and events to help needy people from all over the world. Back in those days when she was probably active in so many charitable activities, the princess, of course, took rides in various luxury cars.

One of these vehicles especially intended for Her Royal Highness is the black Rolls Royce. This vehicle played a significant part in Princess D’s life. The Black Rolls Royce was used during her visit to Chicago and Evanston. This luxurious ride took her from the airport down to her hotel, to hospital bedsides, symposiums and extravagant social events where she raised funds intended for cancer research. According to news from TheAutoChannel.com, Vermon Smith was the one responsible for arranging the transportation service for the Princess when he was assigned by the British Consulate back in 1996.

Today, this car is permanently displayed at the Volo Auto Museum located at Volo IL. The black Rolls Royce was a part of Princess D’s historic visit which is among the princess’ last U.S. visits before she passed away 14 months later in Paris, France.

"Princess Diana's car has found its final destination here at the Volo Auto Museum where it belongs. When I learned that this car was for sale, I knew it had to be where the public could see it. There is no more perfect place for this car than right here," says Greg Grams, the museum founder and owner.

In the present day, the black Rolls Royce lies in a majestic space that displays Princess Diana’s portraits and several photographs which was taken during her glorious visit to Chicago. An exhibit was organized for media and some invited guests this coming August 24, 2007 at 10 a.m. Friday at the Volo Auto Museum, 27582 W. Village Road, Volo IL.

The presentation of the remarkable Black Rolls Royce will consist of a slide show and a little discussion by Holly Rodgers of Stuart-Rodgers Photography which won the special contract to take pictures of the Princess' visit in Chicago. On the other hand, Northwestern University Assistant Police Chief Daniel McAleer, the one who drove the Rolls Royce, would also be there to share his experiences with the dearly departed princess.

"Suddenly you're driving on the tarmac of the airport and you're getting on the tollway and the whole tollway is closed to everyone but you and the police escorts. You're driving this fantastic Rolls Royce, you look in your rear view mirror and you have this incredible woman in the seat behind you," recalls McAleer.

Carfax’s Carbon Neutral Campaign

Monday, August 13th, 2007

Carbon… sounds very harmful, right? But Carfax, the pioneer of the vehicle history report has found a way to come up with an innovative environmental endeavor! According to the news that I just read a while ago at TheAutoChannel.com, Carfax will drive a campaign that will turn the company completely carbon neutral!

In cooperation with the Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org, Carfax’s business operations will counterbalance carbon emissions daily like their marketing and sales operations, corporate travel and company-sponsored events. This campaign will be launched associated with the Carfax 250 NASCAR Busch Series race that will happen at the Michigan International Speedway! This eco-friendly campaign will mark a significant history this weekend as Carfax hosts the first-ever neutral stock car event! Carfax will keep on functioning strongly with its environmental associates to advance the expansion of the carbon neutral campaign in the future.

“Making positive contributions towards global climate change is a major corporate and personal concern for us. Starting with our single largest marketing initiative, the Carfax 250, we’re taking the first step to reducing our carbon footprint. It’s a lot easier than most people think to get started, but we realize there’s still a long road ahead. Through the help and support of our environmental partners, we’ll figure out those next steps," said Larry Gamache, the communications director at Carfax.

"Climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. The fund applauds Carfax for its industry-leading approach to addressing this challenge. By demonstrating a market-based approach to conservation we can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard critical wildlife habitat, protect our nation’s air and water, and enhance public recreation areas for current and future generations,” said The Conservation Fund’s President, Larry Selzer.

Carfax will be giving out donations to Carbonfund.org to purchase and withdraw carbon offsets for its operations and all programs related with the Carfax 250 NASCAR Busch Series race. This will include members of their staff, employees and fans.

"Carfax has taken impressive steps toward fighting climate change by not only taking responsibility for its own corporate carbon dioxide emissions, but also the emissions resulting from Carfax-sponsored events such as the Carfax 250. The leadership demonstrated by Carfax on climate change is critical to this generation and future ones as well,” according to Eric Carlson, the Executive Director of Carbonfund.org.

Carfax will continuously work with The Conservation Fund on a long term carbon lessening arrangement. The groups’ future plans will include prospects for Carfax dealer customers and used car shoppers to balance the carbon emissions for the vehicles they want to buy and drive. Furthermore, Carfax would recommend its staff opportunities to help decrease their carbon traces too!

Watch Out Kid!

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

Caveat: more children are dying after being left unattended, found the recent Associated Press study.

Kids are mischievous and naughty at times. And this could expose them to significant risks. Worst, it could result in fatalities.

Already this year, at least 16 children have died in this country after being trapped in a hot car. Since the mid-1990s, the number of children who died of heat exhaustion while left inside vehicles has risen dramatically, totaling to around 340 in the past 10 years. One reason was a change parent-drivers made to protect their kids after juvenile air-bag deaths peaked in 1995 – they put them in the back seat, where they are more easily forgotten, reported AP.

"They belong back there because they are safest. But it's a bit of out of sight, out of mind," the president and founder of the nonprofit group Kids and Cars, Janette Fennell, told The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

The Associated Press conducted study of children who died after being trapped inside hot cars over the past 10 years and analyzed 339 fatalities involving more than 350 responsible parties. July is by far the deadliest month, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total.

"I think it really must say that our society holds moms more accountable for taking care of the children than the father," Fennell said. "You hear so many times, fathers are baby-sitting. You know, and moms really are the ones in charge of the children. But that was a bit of a surprise, when you really, you know, crunch the data and look at it. But that's what the figure showed."

The AP's analysis was based largely on a database of fatal hyperthermia cases compiled by Fennell's organization. The AP contacted medical examiner's offices in several states where this most often occurs, and the group's numbers coincided almost exactly with recorded hyperthermia deaths.

Some of these children crawled into cars or trunks on their own, but most were left to die by a caregiver. Most often, it was a parent who simply forgot the child was inside.

Texas leads the nation with at least 41 deaths, followed by Florida with 37, California with 31, North Carolina and Arizona with 14 apiece, and Tennessee with 13. There were deaths recorded in 44 states – most in the Sun Belt, but many in places not known for hot weather.

Fennell said that the deaths most often result from parents changing their routines and forgetting what they are doing because they are rushed. She said parents have to find ways to remind themselves about what they are doing.

“We would really like to get people in the habit of always checking the backseat when they arrive at their destination. You know, put your – your employee I.D. or your cell phone or something that will remind you every time you arrive at your location to open that back door to check and make sure no one's been left behind.”