plus 4, Text Size - Chicago Tribune

Text Size - Chicago Tribune
Pass Rates Soar For Bristol Academy - PRLog (free press release)
Schumacher, Johnson, Spies Make Historic Runs at Mario Andretti Trophy - FOXSports.com
Saudi automobile sector to grow 30% to post SAR94b in sales by 2013 - MENAFN
Saudi Car Sales Likely To Jump Over 30% By 2013 - Zawya.com

Posted: 14 Dec 2009 04:21 AM PST

BIKE THE DRIVE DISCOUNT All those wanting to Bike the Drive next May can get $7 off the registration fee by signing up now. Bike the Drive opens all 15 miles of Lake Shore Drive to only bicycle traffic from 5:30 to 10 a.m. May 30. Early-bird fee is $42 ($37 for Active Transportation Alliance members) until Dec. 24. Youth registration is $15. Visit www.bikethedrive.org.

HAPPY HOLIDAY RAILWAY Take a train ride through holiday light displays and visit with Santa Claus and his elves at the Illinois Railway Museum Dec. 19 and 20. Children on Santa's "good" list will recieve a gift. Trains run every two hours at the museum in Union. Visit www.irm.org or call 815-923-4000 or 800-BIG-RAIL (244-7245).

MOTORCYCLE SWAP The Walneck Motorcycle Swap Meet is set for Dec. 20 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. Admission to the meet, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., $6 with vendor booths $40. Visit www.walneckswap.com or call 630-985-2097.

BOAT SHOW The 80th annual Chicago Boat, RV and Outdoors Show sails into McCormick Place North Jan. 13 through 17. Hundreds of the latest product s and accessories will be featured along with the Huck Finn Trout Pond and green boating zone. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan 13, 14 and 15; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan 16 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan 17. Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for kids 13-15 and free for those 12 and younger. Seniors 65 and older will get $2 off Jan. 13. Visit www.ChicagoBoatShow.com .

STRICTLY SAIL Strictly Sail Chicago will be held Jan. 28 through 31 at Navy Pier. The event will include the latest sailboats and products, along with seminars and a kids activity center. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan 28 and 29, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 30 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 31. Adult admission is $12 Jan. 28 and 29 and $15 Jan. 30 and 31. A two-day adult pass is $24. Children 15 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Visit www.StrictlySailChicago.com.

AUTO SHOW BLACK TIE The Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Feb. 11 on the show floor at McCormick Place. Eighteen Chicago-area charities benefit from the black-tie event. Tickets cost $225 each. Visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.

CHICAGO AUTO SHOW The 102nd Chicago Auto Show hits McCormick Place North and South Feb. 12-21. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 12-20 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 21. Tickets cost $11 for adults, $7 for seniors 62 and older and children 7-12 and free for kids 6 and younger with a paid adult. Visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.

Having a public event? Rides would like to list it. Please send the information--event name, time, place, admission/fees and contact information--to What's up, Rides, 435 N. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611 or e-mail to transportation@tribune.com at least two weeks before the event. Submissions will be accepted in writing only.

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Pass Rates Soar For Bristol Academy - PRLog (free press release)

Posted: 14 Dec 2009 04:21 AM PST

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 14, 2009 – A Bristol-based training academy has attained a record achievement rate for its Advanced Automotive technician apprentices.

S&B Automotive Academy on Princess Street, Bedminster, attained an achievement rate of 91%, smashing national attainment levels which currently stands at 70%.

The academy, which specialises in training apprentices for the motor industry, offers a variety of apprenticeships including light vehicle technician, heavy vehicle technician, motorcycle maintenance, vehicle body repairer plus other vital qualifications now required by the automotive industry including Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA).

Chief Executive Jon Winter said: ""Our pass rate this year is really something to be proud of. We have been offering training for 30 years now and have gained the reputation as being the best academy in the UK and our latest pass rate proves this.

"As cars become more sophisticated so the need to be able to diagnose the problems and fix them has become more technical.

"Not only that with a drop in new car sales due to the recession means people are having to repair their existing cars instead. This has lead to a greater need for skilled car technicians.

"We offer companies the chance to take on technicians who are learning the latest developments in the motor industry as they work, while the apprentices are given hands-on experience as well as a salary."

The academy currently trains 600 apprentices, aged between 16 and 24, per year and offers a range of apprenticeships providing varied career paths within the motor industry.

For information on training on offer at S&B Automotive visit the website on http://www.sandbaa.com or call: 0117 953 3001.

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger

Schumacher, Johnson, Spies Make Historic Runs at Mario Andretti Trophy - FOXSports.com

Posted: 14 Dec 2009 01:58 AM PST

"What an incredible year for racing," said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. "Whether you are a fan of two wheels or four, nitromethane or gasoline, road courses or ovals, all of these guys delivered amazing performances ... picking one winner is going to be a tough call."

Johnson, a three-time winner of the Andretti Trophy, scored his fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title, a feat unmatched in the history of the sport. Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus dominated The Chase in 2009, scoring four wins in 10 races and winning the championship by a margin of 141 points over second-place Mark Martin and 179 over third-place Jeff Gordon.

Schumacher, a runner-up for the Andretti Trophy in 2008, lost longtime crew chief Alan Johnson and most of his crew when Johnson formed his own team with Sheik Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar at the end of last season, yet won his unprecedented sixth consecutive Top Fuel championship and seventh overall. Schumacher accomplished the feat in his U.S. Army dragster with the help of crew chief Mike Green, who had never won a Top Fuel championship before teaming with Schumacher. "The Sarge" won the title by two points -- the closest margin in the history of Top Fuel racing -- over the Johnson-owned car driven by two-time champ Larry Dixon.

Spies, a rookie on the World Superbike circuit in 2009 and a SPEED Performance Awards nominee for Rookie of the Year, needed no time at all to adjust to his new surroundings, dominating the series with 14 race wins in 28 starts and a record-breaking 11 pole positions. In a single season of racing, Spies already is tied for 12th on the all-time World Superbike career wins list.

Other finalists for the 2009 SPEED Performer of the Year are Jenson Button (Formula One), Joey Saldana (WoO), Dario Franchitti (IndyCar), Scott Dixon (IndyCar), Kyle Busch ( NASCAR ), Valentino Rossi (MotoGP), David Brabham (ALMS), 2007 SPEED Performer of the Year runner-up Donny Schatz (WoO), James Stewart (Supercross), Mark Martin ( NASCAR ), Alex Gurney/Jon Fogarty (Grand-Am) and Sebastian Vettel (Formula One).

The 2009 SPEED Performer of the Year will be selected by a panel including Andretti, "Wind Tunnel" host Dave Despain, veteran broadcasters Bob Varsha and Ralph Sheheen, SPEEDtv.com writers Robin Miller and Tom Jensen, versatile racers Tommy Kendall and Dorsey Schroeder and a select group of SPEED motor sports producers. The winner receives the Mario Andretti Trophy, created by bronze artist Elie Hazak.

Nine additional "fan chosen" SPEED Performance Awards are open for voting at www.speedperformanceawards.com through Dec. 20, with winners being announced as part of a one-hour television special in February.

SPEED(TM) is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 79 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.

Photos/MultimediaGallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6118174&lang=en

http://www.businesswire.com

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger

Saudi automobile sector to grow 30% to post SAR94b in sales by 2013 - MENAFN

Posted: 13 Dec 2009 10:30 PM PST

(MENAFN Press) Car sales in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's largest automobile market, are expected to jump over 30 per cent from around 676,000 in 2010 to 880,000 in 2013 as the Kingdom remains economically and commercially resilient against the global downturn. Moreover, the increasing availability of credit financing as a result of steady regional market revival is projected to boost domestic car sales from under 50 per cent to over 70 per cent in the next few years.

The Saudi automobile market is presently worth around SAR33.75 billion, inclusive of commercial automobiles and transport infrastructure. Sales are expected to grow to SAR69.49 billion next year and swell to SAR94billion by 2013. The Kingdom remains the largest market in the Middle East and fifth in the world for auto parts, accessories, service, and garage equipment. Sustained consumer confidence in the Gulf automobile market and in Saudi in particular is reflected in the strong anticipation towards the 2009 editions of Riyadh Motor Show and Saudi Autoshop, two of the biggest auto industry events in the Middle East.

Held under the patronage of KSA Minister of Transport H.E. Dr. Jobarah Al-Suraisry, the show opens today (Saturday, December 12, 2009) and will simultaneously run till December 16, 2009 at the newly-built Riyadh Exhibition Centre.

"The past months saw Saudi's automobile sector managing more than SAR2 billion growth in car sales amidst the global slowdown. The coming year will attract even more purchases as credit becomes increasingly available in light of the Gulf's proven economic stability. Riyadh Motor Show and Saudi Autoshop provide perfect platforms to reveal the present and upcoming performance, style and pricing options to Saudi and Gulf automobile consumers, businesses and enthusiasts," said Mohammad Al Hussaini, Deputy General Manager at Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Riyadh Motor Show 2009 – The 27th International Exhibition for Motor Vehicles will focus on passenger cars, station wagons, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV), pick-up trucks, motorcycles, Special Purpose Vehicles, and 4x4 vehicles. Special automobile financing and insurance packages will also be offered during the event. Saudi Autoshop 2009 – The 13th International Exhibition for Auto Repair Equipment, Tools, Parts and Accessories, on the other hand, will highlight the latest automobile accessories and repair service equipment; gas station equipment; automobile parts; tires, exhausts and batteries; and automobile care products of more than 50 exhibitors.

Organised by Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC), Riyadh Motor Show 2009 and Saudi Autoshop 2009 gathers automobile and automotive companies from the KSA, Turkey, China, Thailand, UAE, Germany, among others. Both events are expected to attract more than 180,000 trade and public visitors and easily post a combined 35 per cent increase in participation over 2007. The Riyadh Exhibition Centre, a four-hall modern international exhibition complex comprising 15,000 sqm of indoor exhibition space and 5,000 sqm of outdoor area, complements the importance of the upcoming shows in dictating the tempo of the KSA's automobile and automotive market in 2010.

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger

Saudi Car Sales Likely To Jump Over 30% By 2013 - Zawya.com

Posted: 13 Dec 2009 08:43 PM PST

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009

Gulf News

Riyadh Car sales in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's largest automobile market, are expected to jump over 30 per cent from around 676,000 in 2010 to 880,000 by 2013 as the Kingdom remains economically and commercially resilient against the global downturn.

Moreover, the increasing availability of credit financing as a result of steady regional market revival is projected to boost domestic car sales from under 50 per cent to over 70 per cent in the next few years.

The Saudi automobile market is presently worth around 33.75 billion Saudi riyals (Dh33 billion), inclusive of commercial automobiles and transport infrastructure. Sales are expected to grow to 69.49 billion riyals next year and swell to 94 billion riyals by 2013. The kingdom remains the largest market in the Middle East and fifth in the world for auto parts, accessories, service, and garage equipment.

Sustained consumer confidence in the Gulf automobile market and in Saudi in particular is reflected in the strong anticipation towards the 2009 editions of the Riyadh Motor Show and Saudi Autoshop.

Held under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Dr Jobarah Al Suraisry, the show opens today and will simultaneously run until December 16 at the newly-built Riyadh Exhibition Centre.

"The past months saw Saudi's automobile sector managing more than 2 billion-riyal growth in car sales amidst the global slowdown... The Riyadh Motor Show and Saudi Autoshop provide perfect platforms to reveal the present and upcoming performance, style and pricing options to Saudi and Gulf automobile consumers, businesses and enthusiasts," said Mohammad Al Hussaini, deputy general manager at Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

international Exhibition

focus on passenger cars

The 27th International Exhibition for Motor Vehicles will focus on passenger cars, station wagons, SUVs, pick-up trucks, motorcycles, special purpose vehicles and 4x4s. Special financing and insurance packages will be offered during the event.

Saudi Autoshop 2009, the 13th international exhibition for auto repair equipment, tools, parts and accessories, on the other hand, will highlight the latest automobile accessories and repair service equipment, gas station equipment, automobile parts, tyres, exhausts and batteries and automobile care products presented by more than 50 exhibitors.

Organised by Riyadh Exhibitions Company, the Riyadh Motor Show and Saudi Autoshop will gather automobile and automotive companies from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, Thailand, the UAE, and Germany.

— Staff Report

Staff Report

fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger