The Auto Reporter

Forward Momentum creates home for mini-truck owners

New Years travel tips: 1. Don't drink and drive! 2. Road Trips are better than drinking...

Women are taking more and more automotive leadership positions—something previously barred to them by yesteryear’s social conformities. Mary L. Petrovich, with more than 30 years of business acumen industry knowledge, joins the ranks of only a handful of women to achieve top positions in the automotive sector. Mary Petrovich “I am pleased to join the Nikola Board of Directors,” said Petrovich.…

The first time I drove a 570S was in the winding back roads of Oregon, as part of the 2017 Run to the Sun event. It was 20 minutes of heaven.

So, too, was the event hosted by McLaren (corporate and McLaren Bellevue), JP Morgan Chase and The Shop in Seattle. The road out front was—as expected—riddled with potholes, cracks and uneven pavement. Just the kind of concrete for a $188,600 exotic.

But the 570S is a daily drive-able McLaren. The suspension ate up the terrible roads of Seattle with nary a care in the world. Rolling through SoDo wasn’t spine-jarring or chiropractic-care-inducing, it was serene. The train tracks or bridge girders felt like slips of paper, for all I felt them.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be so comfortable driving on the street. I thought it was going to be a little rougher, especially on the streets right out here. They’re quite bumpy,” Justin Dechant, a local real estate investor invited out to the event. “But, it felt like it could be a daily driver if you wanted it to be.

The carbon fiber-filled interior was comfortable and disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the city beyond. Gripping the Alcantara steering wheel was relaxing. Even though it had carbon fiber race seats, they were pleasantly supple.

I drove a McLaren with the Luxury Package, featuring power sport seats, a power-adjustable steering column, and a 12-speaker Bower & Wilkins audio system (that I didn’t try, instead enjoying the mechanical audio). It also had the Track Pack featured lightweight 10-spoke wheels forged alloy wheels, McLaren Track Telemetry (which I will eventually use), an Alcantara steering wheel and a few more bits and pieces.

While the McLaren can be as smooth and quiet as you want it to be, the best way to experience it with the throttle open. My sidekick offered Sport+ mode for my jaunt down the West Seattle Bridge and I couldn’t help but approve.

Alas, I barely dabbled in its capabilities. I couldn’t tell you how quickly it accelerated when I put my foot down because all too quickly I was coming back from it as traffic rushed forth. It cornered and maneuvered between sedans and SUVs with ease, the lightweight body providing a solid base for a nimble vehicle.

Zero to 62 goes past in a mere 3.2 seconds; 124 mph comes in less than 10 (9.6 seconds, according to McLaren); and the top speed is a breezy 204 mph. And I didn’t even get close (that is definitely not something I’d want to do on Seattle roads… or, well, at least not without permission).

Flappy paddles didn’t quite have the same feedback as a true manual, but I’d rather not have a stick in this car. The 7-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox—a dual-clutch transmission—is lightning quick. Nothing detracted from the driving pleasure of the 570S.

The 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 rumbling behind my ears was a tantalizing symphony of power (562 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque to be precise). Untapped potential reverberated through my fingertips and toes, the car begging to be truly exercised. I like having my driver’s license, though, so will save that kind of activity for the track.

I wasn’t the only person who was given the opportunity to test out this engineering marvel. I spoke with several of the ecstatic drivers/potential owners during my day at The Shop and most were keen to learn more.

“Oh, it was awesome. It was like driving a rocket, it was incredible. Just unbelievable,” said Mark Chamberlain, one of the lucky few afforded the opportunity to drive a 570s.

It was a day of firsts for Chamberlain, as it was his first time driving a McLaren 570S and visiting The Shop. He liked that it was more unique than the Ferrari or Lamborghini, both he and his wife liked the comfort, and the McLaren’s performance was second to none.

“From the moment you decided to go, whoosh, you were just gone. It was a real adrenaline rush,” Chamberlain said. “I’d love to [pick one up], we’ll see after I talk to my wife.”

The Shop has had a spat of manufacturer exposure. Earlier in the year, BMW hosted a driving experience there. Corporate McLaren connected with McLaren Bellevue, JP Morgan Chase, and The Shop to put on the event.

“McLaren felt this was a natural fit, with our restaurant,” Matt Bell, CEO of The Shop Clubs Inc. “I feel very fortunate and lucky. For us, it’s about creating a place of community for all car and motorcycle enthusiasts, and a good experience for our members.”

They are usually allowed to hold a few spots for their members during these driving events—side note for The Shop’s current members.

Though, the 570S wasn’t the only McLaren I got to experience that day. Corporate was kind enough to bring out their prototype 600LT—their next edition of supercar. I didn’t get to drive it, much to my sadness, but it was impressive. Then again, it should be for a base price of $242,500.

More below photo gallery.

“[The 600LT has] styling and performance, it’s really down to those two,” said Gary Van Houten, General Manager of McLaren Bellevue. “Amazingly unique styling with outstanding performance.”

McLaren gave the 600LT a 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 creating 593-hp and 457 lb-ft of torque, but I didn’t get to hear its melody that day.

The display brought plenty of people around, though for most it was just a pleasure to see (not a feasible vehicle to purchase).

Both the 570S and 600LT are available for deliveries. To pick one up, call the friendly people over at McLaren Bellevue.

If you’d like to check out The Shop, drop by any time. Their restaurant and bar, called Derby, is open to the public and they host tons of events.

The Tour de Forest rally was a common event 35 years ago but was last run in 1983 by the Rainier Auto Sports Club. While it is run through the same are as Olympus Forest Rally, none of the roads were the same. Back in the day, it was a 4-year battleground rally between drivers Rod Millen and John Buffum (each taking home the win twice). In 1984, Tour de Forest Rally evolved into the Oregon Trail Rally, which still continues to this day.

“We’ve been working hard to add even more top-level rally events to our 2018 National Series calendar,” said ARA vice president Chris Cyr. “Bolstering our already strong 2018 event line up with the revival of Tour de Forest allows us to provide our competitors with even more quality, proven, and historic rally stage roads this year.”

The overall winners of the 2018 Tour de Forest Rally were Subaru Rally Team’s Patrik Sandell and Per Almkvist, followed by Sam Albert and Michelle Miller of DirtFish Motorsports  (based out of Snoqualmie, Wash.) in second and Mathew Dickinson and Daniel Piker of El Diablo Rally Team.

“This was by far the best event of the season for us,” Albert said. “In the end, our strategy worked and secured us the class win and second overall. I couldn’t be happier to bring this victory home at our home event, especially with DirtFish serving as the presenting sponsor of the rally.”

The American Rally Championship overall winners were David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew of Subaru Rally Team USA, Jeff Seehorn and Karen Jankowski from Seehorn Rally Team with DirtFish’s Albert and Miller following in third.

According to Albert, their vehicle performed perfectly against the conditions. Satuday was fast while Sunday was rain-filled and slick.

“It was a new and exciting experience to compete in a full season championship, seeing the roads throughout the United States!” said Miller. “In addition to racing hard, we always had the championship strategy in the back of our minds, thinking about the big picture and the final outcome of the season. I can’t wait to see what 2019 will bring.”

The next American Rally Association race in next year in Missouri. The 100 Acre Wood Rally — held March 15 to 16 in Salem, Steelville, and Potosi — will start the 2019 season. For more information about the 2019 American Rally Association championships, please visit https://www.americanrallyassociation.org.

Images courtesy of Subaru Rally Team USA and DirtFish Rally Team / DirtFish Motorsports. 

Alfa Romeo Stelvio crowned Run to the Sun winner

Photos courtesy of Doug Berger, DB Pics. 

Run to the Sun is about spirited and enthusiastic driving. An event for the sporty, high horsepower, sleek lined rides in our lives that chug gasoline like its going out of style. And for 2018, an SUV took home top honors. To be fair, though, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio perfectly fits into the Run to the Sun program.

The Northwest…

Car News – New

The curtain fell on the fifth and final, Seattle-area, PNW Ferrari Concours d’Elegance, but they bowed out with style.

Marchionne was as grandiose a figure in the world of mass manufactured automobiles as he was controversial. The straight-talking Marchionne was perhaps best-known for his revival of not one but two failing automobile companies, FIAT and Chrysler. He took charge of the former in 2004 and the latter in 2009, at times when no sane businessman would have ever thrown his hat into either ring.

Marchionne’s success, first at FIAT and then at FCA, depended on a simple principle: sell cars that people want to buy.

FIAT did just that, as it released model after successful model in the world’s largest car markets, starting with the Panda and 500 revivals. On the consumer side, Marchionne was the reason why most young people in Europe and the US do not immediately associate FIAT with “rusty mess”, unlike their parents. Cheap, utilitarian car-making was at the heart of Italian automobile manufacturing after the war, and Marchionne bought into that philosophy from the beginning of his tenure as CEO.

This progress came at a cost, however, for car production in Marchionne’s native Italy. His fiscal tenacity saw the movement of several car plants outside of the country which, in the past, had bailed out FIAT many times over. The results of these moves justified the means to Marchionne,who set his sights on expanding FIAT to north America not long after. The acquisition of parts of a bailed-out Chrysler brand eventually led to a merger which formed the third largest automotive group in the world under Marchionne’s tutelage. The move returned Italian brands to the US for the first time in decades and opened up an entire generation of Americans to a brand-new car culture.

While his successes were seen across America, his influence and directorship was known throughout the industry.

“Sergio Marchionne was one of the most respected leaders in the industry whose creativity and bold determination helped to restore Chrysler to financial health and grow Fiat Chrysler into a profitable global automaker,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company. “His extraordinary leadership, candor and passion for the industry will be missed by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time.”

We see the evidence of his efforts touring the streets of Washington and Oregon: tiny little Fiats roaming around the big cities, a revitalized MOPAR belting out beautiful chords and spewing rubber across roads and race tracks, and a more-hardy, user-focused, and incredibly bonkers Jeep and RAM.

While new CEO Mike Manley, who formerly led Jeep and Ram, is set to take over FCA, it would be naïve to think that future FCA products would be built using the same production philosophies of Marchionne.

For a car scene in Seattle that had just gotten used to treating weekend Ferrari drives as regular cars and coffee meets, it remains to be seen if new design leadership will reset car communities here in the US.

Thank you, Sergio Marchionne. Thank you for your the joy you’ve brought to MOPAR or Italian auto enthusiasts. Your revivalist spirit will be missed.

“We not only [had] close to 100 Ferraris today … we also had singers, Roberto Delmonte, an italian singer, and an operatic tenor, Thomas Sufalo,” said Erik Swensson, an assistant regional director for the local Ferrari club. Along with five food trucks from around the area and plenty of good times.

Next year there won’t be any Ferrari Concours d’Elegance in the PNW area but come 2021 there’s going to be a international event held in Portland. To set the stage for the larger and more complicated event, the PNW Chapter is putting its yearly event to rest (for now at least).

The news that this would be the final Ferrari Concours d’Elegance didn’t hamper spirits at the 2018 event.

“This is my first time coming out here. I was so excited when I found out a week ago from a friend of mine,” said Ming Jacobson, an attendee of the show. “They come here every year, so I decided to go and take a look at it… and enjoy antique cars.”

Jacobson enjoyed the differences between the modern and classic cars. On display were models ranging from 1949 to 2018 with some very unique pieces, such as a one of 36 1962 250 GTO – a sight to behold during the show.

“[The Ferrari Concours d’Elegance] is amazing. I cannot believe how many gorgeous cars are out here and to see them all lined up together,” said Amanda Freedman, general manager of Driver’s Club in Bellevue, a sponsor of the Concours.

Driver’s Club, a membership club for high-end car connoisseurs, brought their own RV with libations for those over 21. The Driver’s Club RV was the place to escape the oppressive heat and enjoy the shadier side of Ferrari culture, and a nice place to discuss their Bellevue location.

More below gallery.

“We are here to support the community of car collectors and people who like to drive their cars … And we kinda brought our own party today,” Freedman said of their RV and libations. Though she enjoyed having the Ferraris lined up, it gave her a chance to see the stark differences between generations of Ferrari.

The show included the operatic echos of local artists, the smells of food trucks, internationally-known artists and a few vendors. As the curtain fell on the last PNW Ferrari Concours d’Elegance, the sounds of Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma whisked attendees away on a mournful farewell.

“We just thought this was a good time to say, ‘that’s it for this area’. We’ve been chosen by the national Ferrari Club of America to be the region that hosts the International Ferrari Club meet,” Swensson said of the specific location in Renton.

Until the international event, the local chapter will still be doing its monthly drives and meetings with members, but no other Ferrari Concours d’Elegance.

“The people that I have met in this club have been tremendous. It’s really a second family,” Swensson said. “As they say ‘The cars get you in the club and the people keep you in the club’.”

Crowds left with the soulful rumblings of Ferrari engines driving off into the sunny afternoon bouncing around their chests and smiles adorned their faces, especially the ones driving off in their Ferraris.

“The weather was great. The people were great. Everybody had a good time. …They came here to show their car and be with friends. You can’t beat that,” finished Swensson.

It’ll be quite a while until a display such as these prancing horses will be assembled again, and it won’t be close for our Seattle readers. Until then, keep tabs on the upcoming public events on the Northwest Region of the Ferrari Club of America Facebook page. Stay up to date on the impending National Ferrari Club of America meet in Portland, Or., by visiting the Ferrari Club of America website.

Stay tuned to The Auto Reporter for “5 Days of Ferrari Galleries” to see all 127 images taken during the 2018 Ferrari Concours d’Elegance. 

Photography courtesy of Claudiu Tudor Bancila, media designer at 25K Auto Design and owner of his self-named media company. To see his full gallery (with hundreds more photos), please visit Claudiu Bancila Media’s Facebook page.

This year’s Drive Revolution was held just across the river from Portland at The Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, WA. This historical site offered a fantastic back-drop to review and drive each vehicle. Member journalists scored each vehicle category and the winners were chosen based on numerous factors such as price, MPG-e (miles per gallon equivalency) ratings, powertrain scores, braking, ride/handling, interior comfort/tech, and overall tech scores.

There were 19 vehicles in total, from four different classes:

Affordable Battery Electric Vehicles

Affordable Hybrid Cars

Family-Sized Plug-In Hybrid

Luxury Green Vehicles

While those attending test drive many of the vehicles entered during other times of the year, this event gives them the opportunity to drive them back-to-back. It’s interesting how each auto manufacturer answers: interior and exterior styling, batteries and range if plug-in or EV, techy bits, etc. The 2018 Drive Revolution “Green Vehicles of the Year” are:

  Northwest Affordable Battery-Electric Vehicle of the Year: 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

The 2018 Chevy Bolt was very responsive and engaging on tarmac toured at Drive Revolution. This rock-solid and hip hatchback was a hoot to drive. The Bolt is easy to see out of, has oodles of safety features, and with an electric range of 238 miles, can be driven long distances without range anxiety. That gets top honors in our book. Without tax incentive deductions the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV tops out at just over $40,000 (MSRP).

  Northwest Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year: 2018 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet brought two category-winning vehicles to Drive Revolution. The 2018 Chevy Volt LT is a spacious sedan boasting lots of tech and connectivity features, such as Chevrolet MyLink (capable of linking various smart phones), XM Radio, On Star, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. This 106 MPG-e grocery getter has all the modern amenities one is looking for these days starting under $35,000.

  Northwest Family-Sized Plug-In Hybrid of the Year: 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

A clear winner in the family-sized facet of Drive Revolution was the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. Pacifica has impressive styling and quality and handling that you’d never guess it’s a minivan. Chrysler has given the 2018 Pacifica Hybrid a slew of family-friendly safety features, such as automatic stopping while reversing and rear cross path detection. The Pacifica’s thoughtful design, safety features, and attention to detail were outstanding make it worth the $39,995 MSRP

“The Pacifica Hybrid’s 84 mpg-e and 33 miles of all-electric range saves you hundreds in fuel costs each year over the average new minivan or SUV,” said Sarah Shelton from U.S. News & World Report.

  Northwest Luxury Green Vehicle of the Year: 2018 Lexus LS 500h

In Drive Revolution’s luxury category, the 2018 Lexus LS 500h stood out. Lexus imbued the LS 500h with beautiful designs, a solid drive quality, and an attention to detail needed in the vehicles nearing the $80,000 price tag. Heated, massaging driver’s seat were wonderful after a long day of test-driving cars. Lexus gave the LS 500h a sporty 3.5 liter 24-valve V6 with various driving modes (Eco/Normal/Sport), making it easy to adjust its performance to your driving style.

  Northwest Green Vehicle of the Year: 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Fiat-Chrysler hit the ball out of the park with the 2018 Pacifica. The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, winner of the 2018 NW Green Vehicle of the Year award, has a low entry cost compared to other premium minivans and is the most eco-friendly vehicle in the minivan segment. Parents will appreciate the easy-to-remove seating, available rear-seat entertainment systems, and the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system for drivers and front-seat passengers.

“What’s particularly remarkable is that you can achieve this fuel economy while also carrying a family of seven in the front and a suitcase for everyone in the back,” Shelton continued. “This, along with a notable amount of standard equipment, makes the Pacifica Hybrid a truly family-friendly vehicle.”

Photography by Doug Berger

At 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, the faint sunshine just cresting over the apartment balcony gave a hope of warmth for the first time in what seemed like forever. For readers out there who are not meteorologists by trade, the past four Saturdays had been absolutely horrendous, weather-wise. This had been a problem for Exotics at RTC.

“Are you ready? Opening Day April 7th, Weather Permitting”. That was the Facebook post on March 24 calling all car fans to descend upon Redmond Town Center for the 10th year in a row to ogle at hundreds of, well, exotic automobiles. That automotive Gjallahorn had to be silenced, however, for four weekends in a row due to inclement weather, until April 5 that is.

Later that day

At 8 a.m., it was time. The car was parked in front of a large restaurant chain and what once was an Orange Julius, I stepped out of my car and started to look for exotics. Looking for exotics, it turned out, was less efficient than simply listening for them. I followed the roars of V8’s and the shrieks of V12’s around the corner until brightly colored carbon fiber panels came into view.

Getting your vehicle into the Exotics at RTC is a “million-dollar question” according to Tom Nault, Exotics Co-Founder. The show has high standards that has kept Seattle-area car perusers to the heart of Redmond for years.

The five weeks of wait did not disappoint. This scrappy group of car guys lured the area’s best looking and sounding cars and it could not have gotten off to a better start. As the cars were still being settled in their parking spots, Astons followed Skylines followed Deloreans down the main driveway. Even before the event had officially started, the setup had turned into a parade of some of the world’s most coveted and hardest to park cars.

“Every year, we have more cars opening day,” said Nault of the 550-car opening day. “We turned away about 50 cars just sitting. Who knows how many drove by and didn’t get in.”  

  Time for Center Stage

Very few showrooms in the country are capable of hosting several millions of dollars’ worth of cars in a 300 square foot space, let along by 9 a.m. Exotics at RTC managed to do just that in the middle gallery as they have done for a decade now. The arrangement of Ferraris, McLarens, Porsches, and Lamborghinis delighted, but the Crown Jewels of the show were not one, but two Lancia Deltas.  

Or at least it would have been, if it wasn’t for the Dust Orange Saleen S7 which rolled in at 10 a.m. Like a long-forgotten outlaw swinging through the saloon doors, its V8 rumble and slung-open driver’s door turned an otherwise rambunctious crowd dead quiet. Only when its engine stopped did the S7 get consumed by amateur photographers and GoPro reps alike.

More below gallery. 

“How do we one-up ourselves?” asked Nick Bergeron, a volunteer at Exotics. “Last year we were the first place in the U.S. with two LaFerraris … this year we had our first Saleen S7, after 10 years it showed up.”

The buzz around the Redmond Town Center was positively electric, even as fans disperse and cars peeled out of parking lots in the most legal way possible. With so many great cars to see in the weekends to come, it was easy to see why people were excited for its return.

The Exotics at RTC shows are held Saturday mornings throughout the summer, obviously weather permitting. You can find more information on https://www.exoticsat.com/.

I began writing The Auto Reporter in the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter papers. My boss knew that the pay was abysmal, but we were both dedicated to journalism. We loved covering the small towns and becoming trusted sources within the communities.

I never expected the newspaper gig to live long, but I always hoped that The Auto Reporter would live on past the column phase. And we have. Today, The Auto Reporter is a well-read online outlet that has garnered local support and – dare I say – fans.

(The emails and messages I’ve received involving the word “fan” have tickled me to no end. Thank you for your encouragement and support!)

I’ve got to give huge props to the Northwest Automotive Press Association – NWAPA – I was awarded their Automotive Journalist scholarship while at the UW and was invited out to meet the group. Those few hours spent at Mudfest 2014 shaped my future. It made me yearn to be, not just a good journalist, but a great automotive journalist. They opened my eyes to the possibility, the potential future.

Since then, I’ve had mini-epiphanies. I’ve warmed up VW Golf-Rs for Tanner Foust while tootling along at Laguna Seca (where I also got my first bit of race track-borne barfing – not in car thank god). I’ve driven Acura NSXs and McLarens, and then later commented in agreement or disagreement with Jeremy Clarkson videos. This has been my dream come true, but yet – I want more.

But, we are what we are today in large part thanks to you readers. Its the dedication of those who send me emails about important local news, suggest shows on Facebook, connect with me about important issues in messenger… And we want to continue this, but with more. More everything.

And when I say more, I do mean more. The Auto Reporter is my baby, my dreams, and my future. I want this to grow into something everyone, everywhere can recognize. The next steps for The Auto Reporter are comprehensive.

We’ve already started accepting freelance articles from journalists (or those in training) from Washington, Oregon, and California. You will start seeing stories of enthusiasts not only in your very local communities, but at events and shows up and down the Pacific coast – from LA to BC – sharing in the glory that is our collective automotive madness.

Our year end goal is to expand to print, produce an app, and host videos from creators across the region, including our own.

Most importantly, we want to keep The Auto Reporter free for readers – because no one should ever pay for journalism – and so we hope to back this venture off advertising. It’s been the backbone of papers large and small for neigh on 100 years and is successfully used by many publications still today.

Print will also herald the return of the Car Center Folds so that all people have equal access to quality teenage bedroom or garage wall art. Because cool cars on walls is the American Dream, right?

But we can’t do it without your support, your readership, or your stories. Much of the content on this site is about you – the tuners, the customizers, the racer car drivers, the enthusiasts (whether stance or classic), the off-roaders and the on-track’ers.

You PNW Automotive Fiends are what make The Auto Reporter special. It’s your stories. It’s your cars. The Auto Reporter is YOU. Just like any community newspaper is a reflection of the community, The Auto Reporter is a mirror of your efforts.

Its those of you that dedicate weekends to helping a friend work on their drift machine, that pull together to raise money for charity, who race for causes or race to lend a helping hand – you are a truly exceptional community that I’m privileged to be part of.

We hope you find as much pride in reading your stories as I have had in putting them together. To the future, my friends! 😊

Your Friendly Neighborhood Auto Journalist,

Deanna Isaacs Founder, Editor-in-Chief, Lead-Journalist, bad Videographer, Sucky Social Media-ite, Dreamer