Salem-News.com Automotive articles

Teaching Sharks to Hunt

CAR SHARKS and CLOSERS is a hard hitting, 374 page training manual geared toward automobile dealers, sales managers, sales closers and salespeople, but applies to everyone involved in the sales business.

(PORTLAND, OR) - Gary Swanson’s book CAR SHARKS and CLOSERS has just been released. It is available in paperback and Kindle formats at Amazon.com.

This book is for professional closers and sales managers, and for those salespeople who wish to achieve the “next level.” This is not entry-level training, but instead it takes over where the professional has already reached a successful plateau and is ready to go to the top.

Remembering Auto Legend Carrol Shelby

R.I.P. Carroll Hall Shelby: 1923-2012

(LOS ANGELES) - The automotive world lost a huge name this week with the passage of auto legend Carol Hall Shelby.

Cars, Planes and Trains

Who did what first and why?

(SALEM, Ore.) - Some of the finest cars on the road, both today and yesterday, interestingly have their roots in the air. Saab is certainly the success story, the Messerschmidt has to be the most unique, and the most grand aspect may be the way the engine of America's finest classic, the Duesenberg; became one of the most widely used airplane engines in the world.

When you think about it, cars and planes are approximately the same age.

Electric Supercar Cruises at 55mph for 375 Miles on 6-Minute Charge!

DBM Energy, a German company, has revealed a revolutionary prototype battery technology that's achieved a quantum leap forward.

(CHICAGO) - Is this the breakthrough in electric car technology that engineers have been struggling to achieve for decades?

The answer is a definite "maybe."

The problem of 'range anxiety'

Dragging the Gut Drives Crowds to Relive The Good Ole Days in McMinnville

Live music, free movies and a sock hop were the precursor for a night of cruising reminiscent of years gone by...

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - McMinnville, Oregon had a real blast from the past over the weekend. A cruising event known locally as dragging the gut that's been banned since 1989, was reborn with a vital resurgence.

Hundreds if not thousands, descended on this semi rural city Saturday night while hundreds of local cars, many put away in garages since the 1989 police cruising ban...

McMinnville Cruisers Return to Drag the Gut

Festival in downtown "Mac" brings back tradition many have missed.

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - “Dragging the gut” is something fairly unique to McMinnville, Oregon. It’s a term most towns didn’t use, one that is perhaps even a bit unappealing to outsiders.

But to very specific small towns throughout America, dragging the gut was nothing less than a really good time.

AAA kicks off annual Car Care Month October 1

Proper Car Maintenance Saves Money and the Environment

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - AAA's annual Car Care Month begins today, and AAA Oregon/Idaho wants to remind drivers that proper car maintenance can not only save money but is also better for the environment. During the month of October, you can take your vehicle to any participating AAA Approved Auto Repair shop for a complimentary 35-point visual inspection (a $60 value) for anyone who calls to make an appointment. Certified technicians will inspect batteries, vehicle belts, hoses, tires, lights and fluid levels, and notify you if any problems are found.

The Annual Night of Fire Lights it Up for Crowds Tonight

Come early or come late, the car show and festivities will be going strong into the night.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Night of Fire is back! Organizers say they have been working non stop to make this Night of Fire the biggest show ever.

The Night of Fire is a wild night full of fun and I hope you can join us on the Friday night going into Labor Day Weekend, Just across from the North Liberty Street Applebees between Fred Meyers and Pine St.

New Technology and Blind Ambition Places Sightless Drivers Behind Wheel

National Federation of the Blind to Debut Car That Can Be Driven Independently by the Blind at Rolex 24; NFB, Virginia Tech, and Grand-Am Form Historic Partnership to Advance Innovative Technology

(DAYTONA BEACH) - The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and other agencies, demonstrated the first street vehicle equipped with technology allowing a blind person to drive independently.

It is scheduled to be demonstrated to the public as part of the pre-race activities at the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races Salutes 100 Years of Alfa Romeo

The event is a fundraiser for the Community Transitional School, a Portland-based organization helps children who are homeless or otherwise at risk of school failure.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo - one of the most iconic brands in motorsports - at this summer's event.

The races take place July 9 through 11 at Portland International Raceway.