Why is it people buy Chevy Cobalts? Even with the attractive financing, and relative zippiness - (supercharged 2.0 - so it's not slow) but why allow yourself to be caught dead in this sad bastard? Even the Cavalier it replaces had tons more personality and Chevyness compared to this shapeless, pointless, old-Honda-Civic-wannabe coupe.

Usually - when I see a SEMA car on eBay - I stare at it for a while. Imagining how much better my life could be if I owned it. Big wheels, big speakers, big screens, big ballin, shot callin. Not on this occasion. Even on pretty wheels and with a two-tone paint job, this Chevy still sucks. Remember when they used to make cars?

So our advice is - if you already got at least a 'B' and mom promised you that sporty new car, check out a slower, but less tragic, Scion tc.

Does your pappy drive a van for work? His saws, hammers, drills and duct tape all neatly arranged in a pile - with old newspapers and water bottles sprinkled all over? Well, if he's still in an Astro from the 90s, it's because America's had a van shortage since Chevy killed the Astro, Ford killed the Aerostar and all dad had left is the Dodge Sprint - a rebranded Mercedes that only big, chain plumbers, carpenters and locksmiths could afford.

The rest of the van-driving dads had to get a pickup or keep fixing the old van. Well, now Dodge is striking a blow for the workin man by offering the 2008 Caravan with no-seats-in-the-back (read: commercial). The Crossfire ate doo-doo. The Avenger is ridiculous. Apparently what the Germans didn't understand is - Americans need vans!

Jaguar's a hot little potato right now. Ford's getting rid of it - but not quite yet. Meanwhile, after killing the S Class - Jag's got something brand new for you. And there's absolutely zero reason for you to give a crap. The new Jaguar XF looks like...an Acura or a Lexus or an Oldsmobile Alero how about an Audi. It totally looks like an Audi. In fact, it could be any car at all.

Compared to vintage Jaguars like this bowler hat-shaped Mark II from 1966 or so - the new XF, which the world got to see just a day or so ago boring. And it bores us.

Truth is, there's probably not one coming. But check out how easy GM's Aussie arm, Holden, makes it look. The Holden El Camino (not what it's really called) is everything you want (fast car) with nothing you don't (extra seats, floor, windows).

It's the perfect vehicle. Dump all your crap in the back and go harder. And this one's so damn sexy. And, with a chunky V8 under there, it's just as fast as the original with none of the 'gangs love stealing it' drawbacks.

You can read about all the boring details of this 411 horsepower, high-spec version of the Holden HSV Ute Maloo from Autoblog here.

Let’s hope not, however Champ Car just cannot seem to string much good news together these days.

Many are calling for Steve Johnson’s hide, blaming him for the latest news dump indicating that the Phoenix Grand Prix won’t happen. In today’s press release CC has stated that the Phoenix GP has been cancelled mostly due to a lack of interest of businesses in Phoenix and their failure to embrace the event with sponsorship.

The promoter of the Phoenix event, also the promoter of the LVGP, spent a reported 15 million on infrastructure to be used at both events an amortized over both. The Promoter is now saying that the decision to cancel Phoenix will not have any effect on the LVGP. Well if you believe that I have some – well you know the rest. I couldn’t disagree more, how in the world can a promoter expecting two events to provide economies of scale for a profit say that only one will continue and it will be OK.

If Vegas happens in 08 it could be the last time unless the promoter finds another event the restore the economies of scale he so badly needs to remain in the business. Look for the Vegas 08 rumors to start soon.

As for SJ, I didn’t like him as a pick when he was announced and here’s why. I have never met the man, never interviewed the man but one thing on his resume would have had me putting it on the bottom of all the rest of the applications, his propensity to change jobs! I don’t like someone that moves around job to job as much as he has. I believe strongly in the adage, “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior”. And now we are told that SJ has not moved to the location of his job but has chosen to commute from, Kansas I think it is. That is a huge no no in my opinion.

In a company, large or small, private or public, the performance of the company is directly tied to the leader, the number one in charge. For CCWS that could be said to be Kevin, we can’t really be sure without being there but whomever it is they had better check in at the office before this thing gets away from them.

It’s going to get interesting!

PS How about communicating with us a little more!

Back in the Valley, 818, 106 degrees, lots of shiny new sheetmetal to gawk at from inside my unwashed-in-four-years Mustang drop-top. And I have to ask. How much is too much for gas? What will it take for you to get out of the sweet, sweet, Hummer and into something like....the new Mitsubishi Concept cX concept, premiering at Frankfurt next month.

It's a neat-enough, little car, I guess. And you know the gas mileage will be four times that of the H2 Humvee I so want. But when the Hummer H2 convertible arrives next year, how will you resist? I want to know if the good 'ol US of A will ever become Euro-like and drive tiny, personality-free hatchbacks that get like 50 miles to the gallon. Now's your chance to tell me and the world!!

Opinion Polls & Market Research

The latest who ha over on the Fanatics Forum is a heated debate over the notion that CC might be interested once again in running the I 500. This latest debate was set off by Robin Miller on the latest Wind Tunnel program on Speed.

There Miller said that Tony Cotman had told him that he had dinner with TG and suggested that he would be trying to convince CC to keep the upcoming 2008 schedule open in May as well as convince the teams that they should try to run Indy. Also telling TG that this wasn’t going to be a charity deal, meaning that cc would pay their way.

So the disclaimer is, if there is one, he will be trying to convince basically everyone in CC. Good Luck TC.

CC Teams have difficulty obtaining sponsors and adding the money needed to run Indy to the mix could make it even more difficult. When I look at the field of sponsors in the IRL it just doesn’t add up. There are some big names and some little names. Big like 7-11, primarily a Japanese company, - wonder how that works? The NYSE, what is the NYSE doing sponsoring a team. The point is this league runs Indy and their sponsors aren’t exactly what could be expected so how in the hell is CC, whose sponsors are even less prominent going to get funding for Indy.

However perhaps CC should make the Indy a part of their schedule and here’s why. From a business stand point participating in Indy could in fact make the sponsor thing go a little easier. And IF the project is taken seriously and funded well it might be possible to dominate Indy. If that domination is grand enough it could change the way some think and who knows what happens after that.

How many and which CC teams go to Indy isn’t important, what is though, is that it’s the crème Del la crème. Maybe an all star team or two made up of the best we have! The object is to win and win convincingly. I believe this could lead to an eventual end to the stalemate in OWR.

So how does CC go about making this happen, hey don’t ask me I just blog. But I have some ideas. CC give me a call, I’ll fill you in!

Anybody care to guess what year a CC entry will participate again at Indy?

Fast BMW
By Rebecka Whitlock

BMW manufactures whatever type of vehicle you are looking for, and has been a long-standing, reputable, and reliable car make. You can find BMW motorcycles, sports utility vehicles, sedans, sports cars, and more.

The birth of BMW happened way back in 1913. BMW actually stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke. The first car model was not manufactured until 1928. It was the 3/15 DA 1, an all-steel saloon body style car. In the next year of manufacturing, in 1929, BMW was manufacturing 3/15 DA 2’s as saloons, two-seater convertibles, and delivery vans. Soon came the exclusive Roadster, know as the Wartbury, then the coupe, cabriolet, four-door saloons, sports convertibles, and so on.

BMW grew very quickly as a car manufacturing company, and is still very popular today. It is still considered one of the best vehicles that exist. Being the best, though, can be pricey for customers. BMW is not the most practical vehicle to purchase for someone with a modest income or budget; unless, of course, you don’t mind buying a BMW model that is no newer than the mid-1980’s. Even when you buy one that old, though, you will find yourself with a well built, easy to handle vehicle.

Currently, the car company offers 11 new models. If you are looking to purchase one of the newest BMW’s, you can choose from the following:

3 series


5 series


6 series


7 series


M

M3

M5

M6


X3

X5



Z4


BMW’s X3 and X5’s are there sports utility vehicle models. Their M, Z4, and the M6 models are all coupes, of which the Z4 is their sports car model, and the M and Z4 are convertibles. The 6 series is also a sports car, where as the 3 series and the 7 series are both their luxury car models. The M5 and 5 series models are both sedans. Their M3 models are considered a mid-size car.

To check out models, prices, features, company history, and dealer locations, just get online and search for “BMW”. You will find plenty of websites and site links that will answer any and all questions you may have about these cars.

For more articles like this one, visit http://www.fastbmw.info

RD decided to use the latest in Champ Car race strategies and out witted the rest of the field to win the San Jose Grand Prix.

After crashing into a fellow competitor at the first turn of the first lap he went on to win the race thanks to the timing of a few well placed yellows and a new front wing. Sound familiar?

The new front wing must have had some magic in it as he eventually ended up being the class of the field in the last few laps.

Tracy’s dismal year continued when the he and the team missed the pit call for fuel and he ran out on the track. I see a big story coming from all this! By the way where is Gerry these days?

Bore – day’s point lead has shrunken to a manageable 10 points, perhaps Robert or Will can actually beat him, - but don’t count on it!