Chevy Sonic l Stunts l Behind the Scenes Video of The World's Largest Claw Game

The latest Chevy Sonic Stunt was a record setter! In the world's largest claw game, game-players used a life-size joystick to win prizes including the grand prize an all-new Chevy Sonic.

Fans Can Win by Sharing Next Chevrolet Super Bowl Ad Route 66 grand prize winner to be shown during Super Bowl XLVI

See the full gallery on Posterous

Independent film makers from 32 countries are offering their interpretations of Chevrolet's "Everyday Hero" for a chance to have their 30-second ad aired during the telecast of Super Bowl XLVI. Now, fans can cash in by sharing with their friends their favorite spot among the top 35 entries featured on ChevroletRoute66.MSN.com.

Chevrolet and MOFILM, a global creative community, received 197 entries from film makers across the globe. The best spot as determined by Chevrolet will be shown during the big game on Feb. 5, 2012.

"With Chevrolet Route 66, we wanted to tap into the talents of creative people from every corner of the Earth to discover our next Super Bowl ad," said Joel Ewanick, GM vice president and global chief marketing officer. "The submissions we received show that people from around the world share many of the same values and how Chevrolet plays a role in helping them along life's road."

Beginning Dec. 22 and running through 6:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 25, 2012, eligible fans from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and United States can watch, rate and share their favorite Chevrolet Route 66 film. Those who share their personalized link to the videos most often and give the most creative answer to the question "if you could drive to any destination in your home country, where would you go?" could win up to $10,000.

To engage fans, Chevrolet turned to Microsoft Advertising to create a contest hub to house and share the videos that offers a personalized experience with the ability to localize and share the global films.

"Because Chevrolet is sold in many countries, 'crowd-sourcing' content globally is a great way to find creative advertising that resonates with consumers," said Ewanick. "Using that same concept, we hope to have fans identify their favorite ads for us by voting with their 'clicks' and sharing with friends."

The Microsoft hub will identify registrants with unique user codes that will allow them to accumulate points every time they share with another fan. The top fans as measured by sharing will be tracked by the contest site leader board. To be sure the contest is won by a real person and not a web "bot," the contest site will ask viewers to "confirm" by entering a valid email address.

Fans can enter the contest and view complete program details by visiting the contest website. Winners will be announced the within two weeks following the conclusion of the contest.

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

 

Courtesy of Chevrolet

Green Bay Packers Vs. Chicago Bears – Great Moments From a Classic Rivalry

In the very first meeting between the Packers and the Bears in 1921, there was a single moment that would foretell a future of heated battles. Chicago’s John (Tarzan) Taylor threw a sucker punch that broke the nose of Packers tackle Howard Buck. It would prove to be the opening salvo in what became a long and tenuous rivalry between Green Bay and Chicago.

7,000 fans at Wrigley field watched the Bears shut out the Packers that day by a score of 20-0. While a mere 200 miles separates these two cities, the differences couldn’t be greater. Small town Green Bay vs. big city Chicago. In 1921, Chicago was the 2nd largest city in the country with a population of 2.7 million people. Green Bay was a blue-collar paper mill town with a population of only 31,000 people.

But while the cities’ demographics are at opposite ends of the spectrum, they do share a common bond, one of football greatness.

With Curly Lambeau and George Halas steering the ship, these two teams established themselves early on as the standard to aspire to. The Packers have won the most Championships in NFL History (12) and the Bears are second all-time with 9. The Bears have won 17 Division Championships, the Packers 13.

A total of 52 Pro Football Hall of Fame members ( 28 for the Bears and 24 for the Packers) have played in this rivalry. Names like Bronco Nagurski, Johnny Blood McNally, Red Grange, Don Hutson, Sid Luckman, Bart Starr, Gayle Sayers, Paul Hornung, Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, Walter Payton, Bret Favre.

These two teams epitomized what football should be. As renowned sports author Dick Schaap once said, “If you want to draw a picture of football, you just draw Ray Nitschke’s face and Dick Butkus’ face. That tells you all you have to know about the game.”

Over the ninety years of this rivalry, there have been many moments that helped define this rivalry. Let’s take a look at just a few that epitomize what this rivalry is all about..

1924: Ejected for fighting: The first time players were ever ejected from an NFL game for fighting was naturally during a Packers – Bears game. Bears end Frank Hanny and Packers end Walter Voss were tossed from the game before the end of the first half, as verbal sparring led to fisticuffs. Hanny would be ejected from a Bears – Packers game once again in 1926 and the pattern of nastiness had been established.

1941: WWII can’t stop the rivalry: Exactly seven days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Packers and Bears met in the first and only playoff meeting between these two teams. In a time when the country was devastated by the advent of World War II, an overflow crowd of more than 43,000 fans came to Wrigley Field to watch the Bears defeat the Packers 33-14. The following week, when the Bears hosted the NY Giants in the NFL Championship game, only 13,000 fans showed up to see them win their fourth title.

1964: The Free Kick Game: Vince Lombardi’s Packers were the first team to ever invoke the “fair catch free kick” rule. After Elijah Pitts fair caught a punt on the Packers 48 yard line just before halftime, Vince Lombardi informed the referees that they would be trying a free kick. There was confusion among all. Neither team had ever seen it before or practiced it. The Packers lined up on the line of scrimmage with Bart Starr holding the ball. Paul Hornung stepped up and made the 52-yard field goal as the half ended. Everyone was shocked and the Bears were embarrassed as the Packers went on to win 23-12. Lombardi said after the game it was probably a “once in a lifetime” occurrence. He was proven wrong, however, as the Bears would return the favor 4 years later, beating the Packers on the free kick.

1980: Chester Marcol’s freak touchdown: This is one of the most memorable plays in NFL History. The Packers and the Bears were tied at 6-6 in overtime. A 32-yard pass from Lynn Dickey to James Lofton helped set up a game-winning field goal attempt by Packers’ kicker Chester Marcol. The Bears’ Alan Page managed to break through a block the field goal, with the football hitting his helmet. While it wasn’t immediately clear to the players what had happened, Marcol grabbed rebound off Page’s helmet and ran around the pile for a touchdown and the win.

1986: The Charles Martin Hit List: Packers defensive tackle Charles Martin wore a towel with numbers of specific Bears players he planned to “get” Walter Payton and Jim McMahon topped the list. AFVter a McMahon interception, as he was looking to walk off the field, Martin came up behind McMahon and body-slammed him to the turf. McMahon’s shoulder was separated and he was lost for the season. Martin was suspended for two games, at the time the longest suspension in NFL history for an on-field incident. The Bears still finished the season 14-2, but were upset in the playoffs leaving many Bears fans wondering what might have been if the Bears still had McMahon. If Martin was sorry for his actions, he took it to his grave, as he never apologized for the incident. To Bears fans, Martin is surely one of the most hated Packers of all time.

1989: The Instant Replay game: I can hear Bears fans groaning right now. Trailing 13-6 very late in the game, Packers quarterback Don Majowski is leading the Packers downfield. After advancing to a first and goal from the seven, Majik threw two incompletions and was sacked for a loss. With fourty seconds left and a  fourth and goal from the fourteen, Majkowski scrambled out of the pocket and threw a TD pass to Sterling Sharpe. But an official threw a flag on the play, claiming Majkowski had stepped over the line of scrimmage. Packers coach Lindy Infante challenged the call and after a deliberation of over four minutes, the replay official overturned the call and allowed the TD. Packers win 14-13. Of course Bears fans are still angry over this, but the Packers and their fans were elated. It was their first win over the Bears after 8 straight losses.

1995: Favre ironman act continues: The Packers entered the game trailing the Bears by one game in the standings. A win would put them in a tie and give them a sweep of the season series.  QB Brett Farve’s status for the game was doubtful due to a sprained ankle. He had not practiced all week, but started the game and went on to have a classic Brett Favre game. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 336 yards and five touchdown passes as the Packers won the game 35-28.  This game was a key turning point for the Packers of the late 90s. Just 5-4 coming into the game, this win started the Packers on a streak of winning six out of their last seven games to win the Division Title with an 11-5 record. They would make it to the NFC Conference Championship game that season and to the Super Bowl the next two seasons. This was the game that put Green Bay on the winning track and sent the Bears in the opposite direction.

Of course, there have been many more great moments in Packers – Bears history. There have been better played games and even more important games than those listed here. But these were chosen for the effect they had on building and intensifying the rivalry that is Packers-Bears.

And one shouldn’t mistake rivalries for matchups. True rivalries take a long time to develop. In most cases, geography and defending ones turf was a motivating factor. As we have become more national in focus, regional rivalries have become less important. Certainly, nobody can say that Packers vs. Bears means as much today as it did earlier in the century, or even as recently as the Nineties. But reveling in the history of this classic rivalry can only help.

 

Courtesy of NFL Touchdown

Chevrolet Route 66 - Share to Win!

This contest experience will share 50 unique films from aspiring film makers all over the world who are looking for their big break. (Their big shot is that their film could be shown during the telecast of Super Bowl XLVI.)

What's in it for you?

This contest asks visitors to register and watch and share films for a chance to win a portion of a $15,000 purse prize. All this for simply sharing films with friends and climbing the leaderboard for a chance to win.

FAQs

1. How do I make it to the top of the leaderboard?
This is a sharing contest for the films shown on this site. The more people you get to come back and confirm your referral, the higher you move up the leaderboard.

2. What can I win? What is a purse prize?
The total purse prize is $15,000. You have a chance to win a part of that:

• 1st prize is $10,000 (U.S. dollars)
• 2nd prize is $3,500 (U.S. dollars)
• 3rd prize is $1,500 (U.S. dollars)

It's easy: Share and win, and a part of the $15,000 can be all yours.

3. Do I have to submit a film to win?
No. This is not a film-submission contest. MSN, MOFilms and Chevrolet have selected 50 films from a group of 500, so all you have to do is watch and share the best ones for your chance to win.

4. Why do I have to register?
We want a real human to have a chance to win this contest. By registering you are opening an active account for this contest. It will track the amount of referrals you make that return to the site. You can share films with friends without logging in, but you won’t get credit.

5. Why do I have to have my friends come back to count my referral?
Again, we need to confirm that your referral went to a real person. You will be asked to confirm CAPTCHA codes and have your friends confirm to ensure we have people — not bots — voting.

6. When can I find out who wins?
Keep track of who is at the top by checking in with the leaderboard. We will be announcing our winner within two weeks of the closing date of the contest, which is January 25, 2012. If you are the winner, you will be notified via email.

7. Will I know what film makes it to the Super Bowl?
If you miss the commercial spot during the Super Bowl on February 5, 2012, come back to watch the winning spot here after the commercial has aired. You can come back and watch it until approximately February 12, 2012.

  REGISTER TO WIN SHARE TO WIN CONTEST RULES

Think you might want to submit your own film because you are an aspiring film maker? Want information on how to submit videos and get involved in upcoming Chevrolet contests?

 

Courtesy of Chevrolet

Fort Wayne is GM’s First U.S. Landfill-Free Assembly Plant

General Motors’ Fort Wayne Assembly Plant, where Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks are built, is the automaker’s first U.S. assembly plant to reuse, recycle or convert to energy all the waste created in its daily operations.

Fort Wayne recently received zero-landfill designation, joining 78 other GM landfill-free manufacturing facilities around the world.

“Assembly plants are challenged with a large amount of waste streams and byproducts, from varying types of plastics and metals to expendable packaging and containers,” said John Bradburn, GM manager of waste-reduction efforts. “Fort Wayne has succeeded in finding sustainable options for these materials while working with other GM plants and suppliers to improve its impact from an overall systems perspective.”

Nine GM operations that supply Fort Wayne with stampings, engines, transmissions and components are also landfill-free.

“We look at our waste-reduction efforts from a larger perspective…it’s not just about Fort Wayne, it’s about greening the overall footprint, including the supply base,” said Bradburn.

A key to Fort Wayne’s landfill-free designation was a process and material change in its paint shop enabling the recycling of processed wastewater treatment sludge that formerly was sent to landfills because of regulatory requirements.

The plant also participates in “closed loop” recycling, repurposing its manufacturing byproducts into new car parts.

• Absorbent pads used to soak up oil and water from the plant floor are cleaned and reused up to three times. Afterward, GM will begin to recycle the material into Silverado and Sierra air deflectors, which also contain some of the plant’s recycled packaging plastic.
• Cardboard packaging from the plant is recycled into Buick Verano and Lacrosse headliners to provide acoustical padding that reduces noise in the passenger compartment.

Fort Wayne generated more than $2 million in recycling revenue last year.

The plant’s sustainability progress goes beyond waste reduction. Like GM’s Orion Township, Mich., assembly plant, Fort Wayne is powered in part by methane gas produced from a nearby landfill, saving the plant $1 million per year.  Beginning in early December, GM will commission another boiler to run on landfill gas, resulting in additional savings and increasing the amount of landfill gas used from 15 percent to 21 percent. The renewable energy program, which started in 2002, supplements natural gas to fire one of the plant’s boilers. Additional plant efficiency results include:

• Reducing electricity use by 36 percent between 2006 and 2010 on a per-vehicle manufactured basis.
• Tracking real-time electrical use and conducting departmental meetings monthly to review energy performance and cost-reduction opportunities. 
• Converting high bay lighting to efficient T8 fluorescent fixtures, saving approximately $600,000 annually.
• Reducing volatile organic carbon emissions by 18 percent on a per-vehicle produced basis between 2006 and 2010 due to paint shop efficiencies like batch building vehicles by paint color.

Like many GM plants, sustainability efforts extend to Fort Wayne employees, who spread their environmental knowledge to the community.  Each year, volunteers participate in litter and household hazardous waste collection efforts and mentor area students on how everyday actions impact local watersheds through the GM Global Rivers Environmental Education Network program.

Fort Wayne recently received a $275 million investment to build the next-generation full-size pickups, creating or retaining 150 jobs.

 

Courtesy of General Motors

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Air Filters

What is it?

The air filter stops airborne contaminants from getting sucked into your car's engine. It's a paper filter that stops debris such as dust, leaves and wayward pelicans before they get inside the engine and do damage.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

Yes.

Why do I have to do this?

Because, eventually, your air filter will get plugged up.

What happens if I don't do this?

If your air filter gets too dirty or clogged, your engine won't be able to suck enough air into the combustion chambers. The engine will then run rich (i.e., too much gas and not enough air). When this happens, your car will lose power and run roughly. Your Check Engine light also may come on.

If you really neglect the air filter for a long time, your car may stop running altogether. While permanent damage is unlikely, it is possible. If an air filter were sufficiently dirty and damaged, it could allow harmful, abrasive contaminants into the combustion chamber.

Courtesy of CarTalk

IIHS announces 115 Top Safety Picks

The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.

In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn Top Safety Pick. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations. The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection. Because the federal government now requires all 2012 and later passenger vehicles to have electronic stability control to help drivers avoid loss-of-control crashes, ESC no longer is a requirement to win as it was in prior years.

The winners' circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012, while 97 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.

"For the second year running a record number of models qualify," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority."

That commitment to protecting people in crashes is evident in the fast pace of design improvements automakers have made during the past year. Initially 66 vehicles qualified for last year's award as less-than-perfect rollover ratings held back many contenders. Later the number climbed to 100 as manufacturers redesigned roofs to make them stronger or introduced new models to win. The Institute's rolling test schedule allows for recognition of additional winners throughout the year, so many 2012 models qualified for a 2011 Top Safety Pick.

Again this year every major automaker has at least one winner. Subaru remains the only manufacturer with the distinction of earning awards for every model it builds. Subaru picks up 5 awards, including one for the redesigned Impreza, a small car.

About the award: The Institute awarded the first Top Safety Pick to 2006 models and then raised the bar the next year by requiring good rear test results and ESC as either standard or optional equipment. In 2010, the Institute toughened criteria by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash.

The Institute groups winners according to vehicle type and size. Lund advises consumers to keep in mind that size and weight influence crashworthiness. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better occupant protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones. Even with a Top Safety Pick, a small car isn't as crashworthy as a bigger one.

How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a 5th percentile woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a displacement rate of 0.2 inch per second. To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a 2-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man.

Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.

Chevy's Winners:

Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Sonic
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Equinox
 Chevrolet Traverse

 

Courtesy of IIHS.org

Chevy Sonic | Stunts | Bungee Jump

 

The Chevy Sonic is ready for anything you throw at it... and anything you throw it off of. Not only does this compact skydive, it bungee jumps, too! Watch the video to see the action.

 

Talk about a road trip! On this day, 100 years ago, Amundsen became the first explorer to reach the South Pole.

Norwegian Roald Amundsen becomes the first explorer to reach the South Pole, beating his British rival, Robert Falcon Scott.

Amundsen, born in Borge, near Oslo, in 1872, was one of the great figures in polar exploration. In 1897, he was first mate on a Belgian expedition that was the first ever to winter in the Antarctic. In 1903, he guided the 47-ton sloop Gjöa through the Northwest Passage and around the Canadian coast, the first navigator to accomplish the treacherous journey. Amundsen planned to be the first man to the North Pole, and he was about to embark in 1909 when he learned that the American Robert Peary had achieved the feat.

Amundsen completed his preparations and in June 1910 sailed instead for Antarctica, where the English explorer Robert F. Scott was also headed with the aim of reaching the South Pole. In early 1911, Amundsen sailed his ship into Antarctica's Bay of Whales and set up base camp 60 miles closer to the pole than Scott. In October, both explorers set off--Amundsen using sleigh dogs, and Scott employing Siberian motor sledges, Siberian ponies, and dogs. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen's expedition won the race to the Pole and returned safely to base camp in late January.

 

Courtesy of History.com

When it comes to the military, Chevy runs deep.

IN HONOR OF THE TROOPS AND IN CELEBRATION OF THE  ARMY-NAVY GAME PRESENTED BY USAA, WHICH AIRED SATURDAY, CHEVY PROUDLY PRESENTS THE STORY OF THE ACHILLES FREEDOM TEAM OF WOUNDED VETERANS AT THE THE DETROIT FREE PRESS / TALMER BANK MARATHON.

“AT ABOUT 20 MILES YOU HIT A WALL.” The athlete pauses, staring pensively through the immense glass wall of the Winter Garden; south across the river toward Canada. His thoughts drown in the zip-zop of ratchets and the whizzing of free-wheeling gears. It’s eight in the morning, the day before the Detroit Free Press Marathon, and the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans is hard at work prepping their handcycles for tomorrow’s run. Corporal Justin Gaertner, USMC, a young marine with boyish good looks, spiky ginger hair and a patchwork of military tattoos, rests on his cycle after a quick shakedown. He wears two prosthetics above the knee, but you probably wouldn’t know it if you saw him on the street. His left arm is still physically recovering, only recently gaining enough strength to row the gears without taping his hand to the grip.

Justin is humble. He doesn’t see himself as courageous. However, surrounded by the flurry of activity, it’s obvious that his uncommon courage is a trait each and every one of the athletes share. These are men who know comebacks. It’s why they ride. It’s also why Chevy chose to help bring them here, to Detroit. To a city that knows what it means to be down and what it takes to rise again. Surveying the hardworking riders scattered amongst the oddly out-of-place palm trees of the Winter Garden, in the shadows of the aptly named Renaissance Center, the home of Chevrolet Headquarters, it quickly becomes clear that no matter what Justin says, there are no walls here.

THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THE ACHILLES FREEDOM TEAM AND CHEVROLET HAVE CROSSED PATHS. In 2009, Chevy was working closely with Cell Phones for Soldiers and the Travis Manion Foundation, but they wanted to do more. So when word got out about the Freedom Team’s participation in marathons across the country, Chevy jumped at the chance to help. Most visibly with the contribution of a new Silverado Heavy Duty pickup and a national television ad honoring the athletes during the 2010 Army-Navy Game. Given that Chevy’s military tradition goes back nearly a century, from before World War II’s Arsenal of Democracy to today’s GM Military Discount, there’s little surprise that they’ve gone all in with Achilles.

Dan Akerson, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, presents the Achilles Freedom Team with a new Chevy Silverado Heavy Duty during halftime at the Annual Army-Navy Game.

Founded in 1983 by Dick Traum, the first man to complete the New York City Marathon — or any marathon — with a prosthetic leg, the original Achilles Track Club was created to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics. In their words, “to restore sense of mission, enhance self-esteem and lower barriers to fulfilling life.” It’s a noble goal, but one that really came into focus with the influx of wounded veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. The flood of injuries was overwhelming the system, and the troops needed a way to move beyond the struggles of their individual situations. Out of this adversity, in 2004, the Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans was born.

Some of the athletes run. Most handcycle. They are introduced to handcycling early in recovery, either at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the East or at Balboa Naval Hospital in the West. From there, Achilles provides the support and training to take on a new challenge: 26.2 miles of blood, sweat and gears. That’s where Chevy shines, the Silverado Heavy Duty hauling handcycles to and fro across the country — just the right kind of support to get the right hardware where it’s needed most. For today, that place happens to be right here in Detroit.

IT’S 5:00 A.M. IT’S DARK. IT’S COLD. AND, FRANKLY, IT’S ELECTRIC. 10,000 runners, an epic event in any city, let alone Detroit, form up in a massive snake behind the starting line. At its head, rock music pounds from massive concert speakers, spotlights stab the sky and steam pours in thick columns from street grates as the handful of Achilles riders coast their handcycles into position. The intensity is evident. Burning from their faces; their eyes. Justin stares intently at the road ahead, completely in the moment. Others gnash gum and shake the chill out of their arms, checking their handcycles in practiced pre-race ritual. A moving prayer issues from the speakers. A race official flicks on the digital starter clocks. Suddenly, time freezes, as if mired in molasses. 3… 2… 1…

At the klaxon the riders leap ahead, tearing en echelon into the darkness, leaving the bright lights and enthusiastic cheers of the starting line behind. They dash through the streets. Over the bridge at sunrise. A brief Canadian visit, not long enough to stamp a passport. Then back through the tunnel beneath the turbulent gray waters of the Detroit River, emerging into tentative morning sunlight beneath Chevrolet Headquarters in the Renaissance Center.

Sprinting through downtown, 20 miles comes and goes. Some riders slow, visibly straining with effort. Pushing deeper into themselves with each turn of the crank, driven on by the cheers of the ever-growing crowds. Standing at the thunderous finish line, where the klaxon sounded just hours before, the first man appears through the steam in the distance. Then another. And another. One by one they slip across the finish line into the heady reality of victory. 

Justin arrives mid-pack, and coasts to a shaky halt. He tears his helmet off revealing a sweaty spike of close-cropped ginger hair and a broad, exhausted smile. In the heat of the moment, Achilles crew members slip a medal around his neck and press water into his excited hands. No walls. No stopping. No giving up. Just one more successful story in the Achilles Freedom Team book. And just one more example that, from one challenge to the next, Chevy Runs Deep.

Courtesy of Chevrolet

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Tari! Congratulations on your new car!

"Jake made my first real all-by-myself "buying a new car" experience straight forward and relatively simple.  Best of all, I love my new vehicle!" -Tari

Chevrolet Volt - Winter Driving Efficiency

Larry Laws, the Energy Integration Engineer for the Chevrolet Volt shares some ways drivers can maximize their efficiency when temperatures drop.

Green Bay Packers sell stock, first time since '97

MADISON, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers' latest stock sale got off to a fast start Tuesday as fans snatched up more than a thousand shares in the opening moments.

Packers President Mark Murphy said the team received 1,600 online orders in the first 11 minutes of the sale. The team website received so many hits that some fans were complaining about the wait and Murphy found himself reassuring people the site was working.

"It's just a question of volume," Murphy said. "Fans are excited about this opportunity. We just encourage fans to be patient."

The team has put 250,000 shares up for sale at $250 apiece, plus a $25 handling charge per order. Murphy said the team hopes to generate at least $22 million to help defray the cost of a $143 million renovation project at Lambeau Field. Plans call for adding 6,700 additional seats, new high-definition video screens and a new entrance by 2013.

The sale marks the fifth time in the Packers' 92-year history that the publicly owned team has offered stock, though it's really not an investment in the traditional sense. The value doesn't increase, there are no dividends and it has virtually no resale value. But it does qualify the buyer as a team owner and conveys voting rights. It also qualifies the holder to attend the annual stockholder meeting at Lambeau each summer before training camp begins. They also get access to a special line of shareholder apparel.

Murphy said the timing for the sale is excellent given the Packers are coming off a Super Bowl victory and just clinched their division last weekend at 12-0.

"First and foremost, (buying stock is) a way for them to support and help the team," Murphy said. "And it does give them bragging rights. They can say they're the owners of a Super Bowl champion team."

Before the sale, there were 112,205 shareholders who own a total of 4.75 million shares. The sale runs through Feb. 29, subject to an extension. Stock can only be purchased by individuals, not businesses, and there's a 200-share cap, a figure that includes any stock purchased during the last sale in 1997.

Being a shareholder won't help when it comes to the season-ticket waiting list, which has more than 81,000 names. The offering was also limited to people with addresses in the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Soldiers and U.S. residents who are currently overseas have to use their U.S. addresses.

The Packers have been a publicly owned nonprofit corporation since 1923. The team held its first stock sale that year, followed by sales in 1935 and 1950 that helped keep the franchise afloat even as other small-market teams were sinking.

At the time of the most recent sale 14 years ago, then-team president Bob Harlan was looking for ways to cover stadium renovation costs. He recalled that other owners balked, worried that the Packers would use the money to compensate their coaches or improve their roster in a way other teams couldn't.

It was only after Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney argued in favor of the idea that the proposal passed. Rooney said the Packers deserved unanimous support because they were a vital part of NFL history.

Some 400,000 shares went on sale that year for $200 apiece. About 120,000 were sold, raising $24 million.

The Associated Press via USA Today

 

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Oil Changes

An oil and filter change involves draining out the old motor oil and replacing it with fresh, new motor oil. The oil filter also gets replaced at the same time.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

In general, yes. Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.

However, there's a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work -- how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving -- it's an inexact science. Owner's manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That's our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:

• You drive like a knucklehead: jackrabbit starts, heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
• You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
• You often drive on dirt roads
• Your engine is old and burns oil
• You frequently carry heavy loads (several mothers-in-law or other cargo)

Why do I have to do this?

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant (read: expensive), parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.

Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.

Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can't absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.

What happens if I don't do this?

Your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Courtesy of CarTalk

Bill Destler – An evangelist for the Volt

Chevrolet once had an ad campaign that sang about baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. Dr. William Destler has his own personal campaign that includes banjos, blogs, the environment and the Chevrolet Volt.

Destler is an unapologetic believer in environmental sustainability. He is president of the Rochester (NY) Institute of Technology (RIT), and he told us that “RIT is probably the world leader in what I would call industrial sustainability. That is, helping companies improve their bottom line by using less materials, using less energy, reusing materials and remanufacturing products.” When asked about the concept that such environmentally-focused steps might cost jobs, he vehemently disagreed. He said, “That’s nonsense. In reality, the average company that we work with actually increases its profit margin as a result of these activities, and that helps to grow the business, and that usually results in the hiring of more people as well.”

Bill drives a Chevrolet Volt. When we asked him if he drove it because it was more environmentally-friendly than some other vehicles, he replied, “It’s very simple. The Volt is the most technologically-advanced automobile in the world, and being an American engineer and the president of one of our largest engineering schools nationally, I think the fact that this was designed by American engineers and produced by American workers is something to be proud of. So I drive one with pride.”

That covers the last two items in Destler’s campaign, but how about banjos and blogs? Destler explains that he has a collection of more than 150 banjos, plus a few other stringed instruments such as guitars and mandolins. He said that the collection started innocently enough. “I started playing the banjo in graduate school and when I was looking for one to buy – one to learn on – I had friends who said ‘Don’t try to find a new one they’re no good. Try to find an old one.’ That was the worst piece of advice I ever got because I searched around antique shops and flea markets. Then I found one made in the 1890s, and that started me on a collecting habit that has gone on to this day.” You can see more on his Bill’s Banjos Web site here.

On the blog front, Bill has been writing a number of articles about his experience with his Volt. He’s not compensated for spreading the word about the Volt; he just wants to share his learnings with a wider audience. He said, “My first article was why the Volt gets such good equivalent mileage, because people think it’s because electricity is cheap. It’s the same price as gas (Editor’s note: Depending on fuel prices and electricity rates in your area.) It’s because the electric drivetrain is so much more efficient.” He wrote a couple of follow up articles. One compared his Toyota Prius to his Volt, and another discussed the Volt in cold weather, and strategies for using it in cold weather.

“Banjos, blogs, the environment and Chevrolet Volt” may not sound like music to your ears, but Bill Destler is singing a happy tune with an engineering program focused on developing sustainable solutions for industry and a vehicle that he describes as “practical transportation meeting everyone’s needs while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

Courtesy of Faces of GM