One person was killed and another seriously injured Saturday when a car collided with two motorcycles on Hwy. 120 in Washington County.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 1995 Ford Explorer was traveling north on Hwy. 120 at 45th Street N. in Oakdale when it hit two motorcycles head-on.
One motorcycle passenger, whose name was not released Saturday evening, was killed. The driver of that motorcycle, 53-year-old Steven J. Silva, was seriously injured. Alcohol was detected in his system, police said.
A third person, 46-year-old Frank M. Turchin, was driving the second motorcyle and had no apparent injuries. His passenger and wife, 52-year-old Karla M. Turchin, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
None of the three whose names have been released were wearing helmets.
The driver of the Ford Explorer, 22-year-old Micaah Rostron, appeared uninjured. No alcohol was detected.
Motorcycle fatalities have skyrocketed in Minnesota this year. As of last month, the 2015 year-to-date tally had nearly reached the total number of fatalities in 2014.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott: “It’s a win for the men’s sheds.” Photo: Cole Bennetts
Aussie men doing it tough will benefit from a Father’s Day federal funding boost for Men’s Sheds across the nation.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott will mark Father’s Day by announcing an extra $4.5 million for the program.
Funding under the government’s shed development grants program had been due to run out in June next year. But Mr Abbott’s announcement means the money will continue to flow until at least 2019.
Tony Abbott gets dirty at the Mosman Men’s Shed: a Father’s Day boost. Photo: Cole Bennetts
“It’s a win for the sheds, the men who use them and the communities that benefit from them,” Mr Abbott said.
“Men’s Sheds reduce social isolation, particularly for older men and people living in rural and remote areas. This funding reflects our commitment to promoting and supporting men’s health.”
Men’s Sheds have become an important part of many Australian communities, serving as meeting places where men can find social support and camaraderie. The government believes they are an important contributor to the mental health and physical wellbeing of men, particularly those who live in remote or disadvantaged areas.
Illustration: Matt Golding
There are now 800 men’s sheds across the country, with more springing up all the time.
The government’s National Shed Development Program provides competitive grants of up to $8000 to allow local Men’s Sheds to maintain their space, buy new tools or start new projects.
Defence veterans, men suffering from alcohol or drug abuse, and men who need support due to relationship issues are given priority under the program’s latest guidelines.
One summer day not long ago I was driving westbound on Interstate 287 in White Plains when I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the blurry image of a speeding motorcycle.
The machine blew by, passing on the right. Then the driver, a thin young man, pulled a circus stunt. In a maneuver worthy of Evel Knievel at his daredevil best, he suddenly shifted his weight, reared back and performed a wheelie. Balancing his life on one rubber tire, he continued down the highway and was gone in a cloud of exhaust.
I watched this with awe. At first, I sort of admired the guy. Way to go. Free to be, baby!
And then I thought: What an idiot.
One bump in the road and Evel would’ve been DOA toast, tossed onto the pavement and splattered like a water balloon. Even if he had survived a fall, I probably would’ve delivered the bloody coup de grace by running over him because there was no chance I could’ve gotten out of the way in time.
As these things always go, there would have been an official inquisition. The story would’ve made the papers — and then another one of those ubiquitous makeshift shrines consisting of a single white cross would’ve sprouted amid the broken glass at the side of the road.
This was an example of uncommon recklessness.
But lately I have become increasingly aware of the driving habits of some motorcyclists, who, either out of arrogance or ignorance, defy the rules of safe driving. They roar above the speed limit, dart in and out of traffic, and tailgate with seeming impunity — and there are more of them than ever.
One particularly dangerous thing they do to circumvent slow moving traffic is illegally cruise down the center of the road between cars. All it would take to cause a collision is a slight swerve of the steering wheel. This summer alone, I could’ve accidentally hit five or six motorcyclists pulling this trick, except that by the grace of God I happened to catch sight of them in the side mirror of my car.
Federal statistics show that the annual number of motorcycle-related fatalities in the U.S. has almost doubled over the last two decades, from 2,320 deaths in 1994 to 4,381 in 2013 — though it has come down in recent years from a high of 5,174 deaths in 2008.
For obvious reasons, most of these accidents occur in the warmer months. Fatalities spiked in August 2013.
I counted 14 regional fatalities over the last 16 months — among them a case involving a pack of a dozen motorcyclists who were cruising at speeds of up to 100 mph on the Sprain Brook Parkway, near I-287. One of the motorcyclists struck the rear bumper of a car that swerved into another motorcycle driven by Scott Phillips, a hip-hop artist who performed under the name DJ Father Shaheed. Phillips was killed.
Three serious motorcycle accidents happened last week — two of them causing deaths and one resulting in severe injuries to a motorcycle operator, a 31-year-old Ossining man who had to be airlifted to Westchester Medical Center.
High speed, poor judgment and twisting roads are common denominators. However, it’s not always the fault of the motorcyclist.
On Sunday, 22-year-old Jeffrey Divine of Stormville was killed when his motorcycle collided with an SUV that was allegedly going south in the northbound lanes of the Taconic Parkway in Putnam County. The accident happened at 3:30 a.m. An investigation continues and no charges have yet been filed against the SUV driver, Melida Espinal, 40, of Danbury, Conn., whose name could well be added to the ever-growing list of wrong-way drivers who have plagued the parkways in recent years.
Whatever the outcome of the police probe, Divine’s tragic death at the very least underscores the vulnerability of motorcyclists who, though they may scrupulously obey the law and operate within the guidelines of safety, are always at risk because they have little protection beyond a helmet and a prayer.
Police said the young man’s Suzuki bike might have hit a wall before breaking into pieces.
Note to bikers: I’m not against motorcycles. They stand for freedom and I’m all for it. Born to be wild. Easy Rider.
I get it.
But when the cold winds blow, I tend to breathe a little easier, knowing that there are fewer of you on the road.
You place too much trust in me. I’m a good driver, but I’m not that good. I don’t have eyes in the back of my head — and neither do you.
Are you anxious to stay visible while running, jogging or biking?
Are you in search of a safety vest that doesn’t compromise comfort?
Then look no further; the Flectson Reflective Vest is exactly what you need! Made of 100% knitted polyester, this reflective vest is visible from 650 feet, which makes it the perfect choice for athletes, runners, bikers, and even children! The mesh fabric makes the Flectson Reflective Vest literally weightless, so you don’t feel you’re wearing an extra layer while exercising. Available in 2 sizes, the Velcro side closures allow you to easily secure the vest for a comfortable, custom fit.
The Flectson Reflective Vest also has an inside zippered pocket to hold any small electronic device you may want to keep safe on you while out running. As an added benefit, the vest is EN471 compliant, keeping you completely safe, and signalling your presence to cars in order to prevent undesired accidents. What’s more, the vest is machine washable, which means that you can safely wash it and it won’t lose its shape or quality.
If you’re planning to go running any time soon, consider the pros of the Flectson Reflective Vest:
The vest is made of 100% knitted polyester
You can customize the fit and size of the vest with the Velcro side closures
Get a vest in size S/M or L/XL for all runners, joggers, athletes, kids and adults
Keep your electronic gadgets safe in the inside zippered pocket
You will be highly visible to oncoming traffic
Your vest will retain its shape and quality even after multiple washes
CLICK “Add to Cart” to get your reflective vest today!
Product Features
• The vest is made of 100% knitted polyester
• You can customize the fit and size of the vest with the Velcro side closures
• Get a vest in size S/M or L/XL for all runners, joggers, athletes, kids and adults
• Keep your electronic gadgets safe in the inside zippered pocket
Crowning glory: Miss Earth Northern Ireland Dearbhla Walsh
Dearbhla Walsh is a beauty queen with a difference. As Miss Earth Northern Ireland 2015, the 22-year-old from Londonderry is on a mission to promote environmental awareness, the cornerstone of the international Miss Earth pageant.
And as BSc Hons student of quantity surveying, the glamorous eco-warrior is the perfect choice to represent the province in December at the prestigious event in Austria, one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world, and one of the most publicised beauty contests in the world.
Share
Go To
“I’m hoping to see where the Sound of Music was made and I’ll be travelling around promoting the eco way of life,” says Dearbhla. “I’m part of the UK team, with Miss Earth England, Scotland and Wales. I’m not sure if all the girls can be described as beauties with brains – I don’t know if they’re doing courses, but they’re all into environmental issues.”
A former Miss Derry, Dearbhla lives at her family home in the city with her mother, Siobhan, a teacher; her father Billy, and younger brother Liam (16). At a statuesque 5ft 11in, with piercing blue eyes, she was a natural for the beauty catwalks from a young age.
“My sister Evan owns a beauty salon and mum always encouraged me to enter competitions,” she says.
“It has been very good for building up my confidence and meeting other girls. It’s a great platform for my career.”
Sporty as well as brainy, Dearbhla is a keen horse-rider and golfer.
And like the current Miss Northern Ireland, Hillsborough student Sasha Livingstone, Dearbhla considers herself a feminist and rejects criticisms of beauty contests as sexist.
“I’m a woman in a man’s world and I like the fact that I can go out and show my femininity,” she says. “I won’t try to hide it. I’m one of three girls in a quantity surveying class of 15 – I’d like to get more girls interested. Boys do get listened to a bit more and I’m out to change that, too.”
Currently single, Dearbhla became interested in quantity surveying through her skill at maths, and was encouraged by a careers adviser to apply for a degree course at a Letterkenny Institute of Technology. She’s now in the third year of a four-year course.
“Dearbhla is an excellent choice to represent Northern Ireland at Miss Earth because she can affect change within the world of construction,” said UK pageant director Louise Brown. “This young lady shall be working as a quantity surveyor advising on building materials to be used within the construction world.
“The theme song of the Miss Earth pageant is Woman of the Earth, I am woman. This epitomises Dearbhla she is also a woman in a predominately male dominated engineering world of construction.”
Throughout the competition, Dearbhla is promoting environmentally responsible and resource-efficient buildings. As part of the pageant’s ethos, participants must devise an eco-message. Dearbhla’s is: Building Northern Ireland for a sustainable future.
“As part of this message, I’m strongly advocating sustainable builds that make use of local indigenous materials – those occurring naturally within our local area,” she explains. “There is nothing novel in this type of build. For thousands and thousands of years housing was built from found materials such as rock, earth, reeds and logs – and no more so than here in Northern Ireland with our ‘waddle cottages’.
“The less energy required to turn an object into a usable building material, the better.”
Dearbhla firmly believes in eco pioneer Mike Reynold’s “earth ship” buildings. The major structural building component of the earth ship is recycled automobile tyres filled with compacted earth to form a rammed earth brick encased in steel labelled rubber. This brick and resulting bearing walls that it forms are virtually indestructible.
Aluminium cans and glass/plastic bottles can also be used to build interior walls, using a matrix technique for strength and durability – with bottles letting light shine through.
“We don’t have any earth ships in Northern Ireland yet, but if I have my way, we’ll get them the as soon as possible,” Dearbhla laughs. “Brighton City Council approved the building of 16 earth ships on Brighton seafront, but the site was proved to be of archaeological significance and the build was stopped, unfortunately.
“There is only one earth ship in Scotland and two in England. They make so much sense: they’re the most economical building ever. Once constructed, you have no bills. Everything is run by wind turbine, rain and solar panels.
“They’re not aesthetically pleasing on the eye yet – that’s another thing I want to change.”
Dearbhla heads to Austria as Miss Earth NI on November 10 for a month, courtesy of her Richmond Centre sponsors, before the final in Vienna on December 5. This is the first year the competition is being held outside of the Philippines. The final will be televised, covering the 110 competing countries.
Dearbhla’s maternal grandparents Marie and Barry McCafferty will be supporting her from their home on Oakfield Road in Derry.
“I’m very blessed to have such a daughter. Dearbhla is a true delight,” added proud mum Siobhan.
A global contest helping women make positive headlines
Along with its rivals Miss Universe and Miss World, Miss Earth is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world.
Miss Earth gained the attention of the worldwide media in 2003 after Vida Samadzai, an Afghan woman, now residing in the United States, competed in a red bikini. Samadzai was the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost 30 years, but the fact that she wore a bikini caused an uproar in her native country.
Miss Earth also made headlines in 2005 when a Pakistani beauty queen, Naomi Zaman, a Miss Pakistan World winner, participated for the first time. She is the first delegate from Pakistan to compete in any major international pageants. Beauty pageants are frowned-upon in Pakistan.
Likewise, Miss Tibet Earth 2006, Tsering Chungtak, the first Tibetan — the first in any major international beauty pageants — made headlines.
Aside from her environmental cause, she raised international attention regarding the Tibetan struggle for freedom.
And her participation in the pageant received approval from the Dalai Lama.
Triumph Motorcycles today launched its Tiger 800 XCA bike in India priced at Rs 13,75,000 (ex- showroom Delhi), consolidating its presence in the adventure motorcycle category.
Triumph Motorcycles India MD Vimal Sumbly said: “For those who like to ride a little more off the beaten path, the new Tiger 800 XCA is the top tier of the Tiger XC family. Adding this variant to our outstanding range of Adventure bikes, we have consolidated in the category in India, taking the ethos of adventure a step further.”
Having received “an overwhelming response” from the Indian market, the company wants to offer the best to its customers here, he added.
Triumph Motorcycles India had sales of close to 2,000 motorcycles across categories in its 20 months of presence here in India, the company said in a statement.
With the launch of new Tiger XCA, the adventure portfolio will now boast of 5 adventure motorcycles within the category and a total of 15 motorcycles in 5 motorcycling categories.
This multi function credit card size tool is complete with ten specialty tools that fit conveniently into a compact case. It can easily be carried anywhere.
Made of sturdy black thermoplastic resin and steel, the holder conceals a serrated steel blade measuring 3.19” in total length with a cut out for 5mm nuts and bolts, a combination can / bottle opener with flat tip screwdriver and small slot used for a phillips screwdriver, 8x power magnifying lens, compass, pincet, toothpick and side ruler. The hidden knife, pincet , toothpick and combination can/bottle opener can all be easily removed from the holder. Serrated edges on the razor sharp knife blade allow it to cut through just about anything.
This GUARDIAN ACCESSORIES MULTI TOOL has an overall length of 3.37-inches, overall width of 2.165-inches and weighs 1.5-ounces.
Its credit card size allows you to put it in your wallet, backpack or tackle box. Use it for personal protection, camping, or just everyday personal use. Either way, feel better because it can be on you at all times with its compact slim size and design.
Durable and at hand, take it anywhere with you. The GUARDIAN ACCESSORIES WALLET MULTI TOOL comes with a 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE… BUY WITH CONFIDENCE – RISK FREE!
Product Features
CREDIT CARD SURVIVAL TOOL : This credit card tool is great to carry in your pocket, purse, backpack, or duffle bag. 10 great tools for you in this credit card tool kit. Removable blade, tweezers, toothpick, and opener make this survival card tool the best.
A GREAT GIFT FOR ANYONE : Makes a great gift for men, women, and college students. This credit card pocket knife is a great birthday gift for anyone with it’s pocket and purse size for your credit card holders. A unique gift for anyone.
STAINLESS STEEL RAZOR SHARP : Serrated stainless steel pocket knife with fixed blade cuts through just about anything with it’s surgical blade technology. Credit card knife tool has a key chain hole or wear it with a lanyard.
TOUGH & DURABLE : Made form hardened plastic it withstands abuse. A credit card survival tool thats actually a tool credit card for you. Use it hiking, hunting, fishing, or just to open boxes.
RISK FREE : 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your money back. Outdoor accessories, gadgets and multitools at their best.
DTS, the supplier of audio-processing and surround-decoding technology, entered into a definitive agreement to buy iBiquity Digital, the developer of digital HD Radio broadcasting technology, for about $172 million.
The purchase “complements our existing suite of technology and content delivery solutions” and will enable the company “to strengthen our position in the large automotive OEM market,” said DTS chairman/CEO Jon Kirchner. He said he sees “a tremendous opportunity for DTS to capitalize on the upgrade to HD Radio technology as cars are increasingly equipped with screens and advanced entertainment systems.”
HD Radio technology, which iBiquity licenses to automakers and CE suppliers, is the sole FCC-approved method for upgrading AM/FM broadcasting from analog to digital, DTS noted. HD Radio got its start in October 2002 when the FCC approved the HD Radio standard.
For his part, iBiquity president/CEO Bob Struble said iBiquity will “benefit from the additional scale and enhanced resources of a larger collective company.”
The number of U.S. radio stations broadcasting an HD Radio signal plateaued since around 2010 at more than 2,200 radio stations out of about 15,358 commercial and educational stations in the U.S., though those stations reach almost 90 percent of the U.S. population in almost 300 metro areas, iBiquity has said.
Although HD Radio has made advances in the OEM and aftermarket car audio markets, it is not widely available in home or portable audio products.
All 36 major auto brands selling into the U.S. offer HD Radio technology on some of their vehicles, many as standard equipment, publicly held DTS said. HD Radio was built into around 35 percent of cars sold in the U.S. in 2014, the Calabasas, Calif., company added. The company expects most North American vehicles to come equipped with HD Radio technology over time.
Struble will lead DTS’s HD Radio business after the acquisition, expected to close later this year. Privately held iBiquity, based in Columbia, Md., employs about 120 people.
The purchase is expected to close later this year, financed through a combination of cash and debt.
The iBiquity acquisition is not DTS’s first acquisition. The company in 2012 acquired SRS Labs for about
$148 million, bringing together two publicly traded companies whose audio-related patent portfolios were complementary, DTS said at the time. The acquisition was designed to accelerate DTS’s expansion into mobile phones and network-connected devices that stream content from the Cloud, the company added.
DTS is the developer of surround-sound codecs such as DTS 5.1, DTS-HD Master, DTS High Resolution, and DTS:X. The technologies appear in such products as Blu-ray and DVD players, A/V receivers, home-theater systems, car audio systems, PCs and game consoles. DTS technologies also appear in set-top boxes, digital media players and cellphones.
JavaScript is used in a variety of ways to improve your browsing experience, such as validating and executing form submissions and allowing interactive content. Below, we have provided simple instructions for enabling JavaScript in the most popular web browsers. To determine your browser version, click on Help in the menu bar of your browser and then select About.
Once you have enabled Javascript on your browser, click here to return to www.rrstar.com.
The following instructions describe how to enable JavaScript for:
MEN of retirement age in Bedfordshire and invited to pool their DIY know-how and woodworking skills at a regional ‘Men in Sheds’ open day.
Men in Sheds, a concept which originated in Australia in 1996 made its way to Bedford in 2012, has since then has attracted around 30 members meeting twice a week to work on projects ranging from gardening to carpentry. The aim of the group is to provide friendship and company for men who have retired and may be feeling lonely, and also to give them the opportunity to become involved in personal and group projects where they can learn and share their personal skills.
The event, which is free to attend, on September 24 in Milton Keynes is being organised as an opportunity to mingle with other ‘shedders’ from across South Mercia and for potential new members to find out more about their local branch.
Registration starts at 9am and guests will be able to browse a range of stands including wood turning, painting, bird boxes, electronics, model making and woodworking. The rest of the morning will be taken up with presentations from each of the South Mercia sheds, with the Bedford shed discussing how to work with others to keep costs down and Aylesbury Shed talking through the pros and cons of setting up a Shed.
An hour’s break for lunch at 12.30 will give guests another chance to visit the stalls and mingle with men from neighbouring sheds.
In the afternoon there will be presentations about how Sheds can support the community, male carers, men’s health and representatives from Age UK, the royal voluntary service and Milton Keynes Community Foundation will be on hand.
The South Mercia region includes Warwickshire, Northants, Bedfordshire, North Buckinghamshire, North Hertfordshire, East Oxfordshire and West Cambridgeshire.
Meet the South Merica Shedders runs from 9am-4pm on September 24 at Milton Keynes Christian Centre, Strudwick Drive, Oldbrook, Milton Keynes, MK6 2TG. To register your interest in the event phone Peter Gallagher, chairman of Milton Keynes Shed on 07831302848
Triumph Motorcycles Agrees to Penalty in Failure-to-Report Case
NHTSA announced that it investigated after the company recalled more than 1,300 motorcycles for a defect that could reduce steering capability, and the company filed a late response to a NHTSA Special Order.
Sep 01, 2015
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Aug. 31 imposed a $2.9 million civil penalty against Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. and Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. for violations of Safety Act reporting requirements and failure to fully respond to the agency’s communications, although $1 million of the total “could become due if the company violates the consent order or if additional Safety Act violations emerge,” the announcement stated.
“Manufacturers must comply with their reporting obligations. The law requires it, and public safety demands it,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
A consent order signed by company officials commits Triumph to paying a $1.4 million cash penalty and spending at least $500,000 meeting requirements to improve its safety practices. The order requires Triumph to hire an independent consultant to audit the company’s safety practices, create a compliance officer position with direct access to the company’s board and senior executives, and submit written plans for compliance practices and employee training for NHTSA’s approval.
“Today’s enforcement action penalizes past violations, and it promotes the proactive safety culture manufacturers must adopt if they are to reduce safety defects and identify them more quickly than they occur,” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said.
Triumph recalled more than 1,300 motorcycles last September for a defect that could reduce steering capability and increase the risk of a crash, according to NHTSA. The agency opened an investigation into whether Triumph had violated the requirement to report the defect in a timely manner, and into other potential violations, in April 2015. In response, Triumph acknowledged deficiencies in the manner in which it collected and reported early warning data to NHTSA and several instances of filing quarterly reports on safety recalls late and failing to meet the deadline to a NHTSA Special Order issued as part of the investigation.
With the nazim elections for local governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa wrapped up, it is time we address the elephant in the room. Across the province’s 23 districts that witnessed LG setups take shape on Sunday, not a single woman could make it to the district and tehsil nazim and naib nazim berths.
Across Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s 10 district nazims, Jamaat-e-Islami’s four, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s three and Awami National Party and Pakistan Peoples Party’s two nazims each, not a single woman managed to break through the glass ceiling which poses questions over the intentions of those in charge. Despite bossing reserved seats, women could still not make the cut.
PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai said, “Our women follow a mindset that in this male dominant society, we are not good enough to take power positions.” She condemned the situation and assured that PTI will set things right soon. “For the first time ever, our party has provided an opportunity to women and the youth. We will continue working towards bringing them into the mainstream.”
Like all politicos all year round, ANP leader Haroon Bilour also agrees with Ayesha’s contention. “ANP gave 33% of the seats to women. We have had women ministers in the past. Why does the PTI refrain from giving them their basic rights?”
Rights activist Shad Begum said women considered as not good enough for such responsibilities is a cultural taboo. “Those who believe in equality need not hide behind excuses.”
She said political activity in the country bears testament to the fact that women are as good as men no matter what the challenge may be. “We should focus on smaller communities since they have the power to influence the whole,” she added.
Brothers in arms
While its slogans and manifestos may contradict, PTI acted no different when it came to the distribution of nazim berths. In the city alone, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s relative Muhammad Asim Khan was chosen over strong candidate Muhammad Younas Zaheer for the district nazim slot. In Peshawar’s Town-II, MPA Mehmood Jan’s cousin Faridullah was elected as town nazim.
The situation in Nowshera was no different. Pervez’s brother Liaquat Khattak was made district nazim. Down south in Tank, MPA Dawar Khan Kundi’s brother Mustafa Kundi was chosen for the berth. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi’s brother was made Lachi tehsil nazim in Kohat.
Meanwhile in Karak, PTI MPA Gul Sahib Khan Khattak’s brother Dr Umar Daraz Khattak was made district nazim. The method trickled down to DI Khan too where MPA Ali Amin Gandapur’s brother Umar Amin Gandapur was made Dera tehsil nazim while Paharpur tehsil nazim Jehanzaib is an uncle of MPA Javed Ehtisham. DI Khan nazim Azizullah Alizai is also the brother of MPA Samiullah Alizai.
In Haripur, MPA Yousaf Ayub’s blue-eyed boys Tariq Khan and Ihsan Shah were made tehsil nazim and naib nazim. In Charsadda, MPA Fazal Mehmood’s relative Fahad Khan was given the district nazim office.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Special Assistant to CM Arif Yousaf said a parliamentary committee made the choices independently. “Imran Khan is against nepotism. However, new people should have been given a chance; something that even I feel didn’t happen.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2015.
BATAVIA — Bill Guilford told a story about his ’37 Harley Saturday morning outside The Manor House on Main Street.
He decided to see how fast he could ride on the flat stretch of Route 246, between Perry and Perry Center about 70 years ago.
“I opened it up, and man, those three miles went by so fast that I see Route 20A coming up, and I started braking and everything else, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stop.”
Guilford and his passenger each threw a leg up, and he laid his motorcycle down on the road, sliding to a halt in the middle of the intersection.
“Of course that was in the ’40s and there wasn’t much traffic anyway,” Guilford, now 88, said, laughing a bit. “I laid out there in the middle of the road, and it seemed like 15 minutes before we got the strength enough to pick it up … They’re hard to get back up.
“It shook us up enough,” he continued. “The speed limit was 35 mph and I don’t think I went above 30 or 35 mph all the way home. It was a sore ride home, to think of that one shot.”
Guilford and friend Don Dillon were among the Manor House residents who chatted during a visit by the 1776 Volunteer Riders. The group brought 10 of its motorcycles to the location and chatted with the residents.
Some, such as Guilford and Dillon, once rode motorcycles themselves, while others simply enjoyed the chance to converse and get an up-close look at the bikes.
Based in Oakfield, the 1776 Volunteer Riders includes a hefty portion of veterans from across the region. They’re dedicated to working within the community, to keep their support local.
“We support the community,” said member Fred Henry. “We do what we can.”
Guilford and Dillon were looking and reminiscing over an Indian motorcycle at the gathering.
“I had an Indian, but it was one of those with the old shifters — down on the tank,” Dillon, 80, said.
Dillon said he hit a bush and wound up going partway up a tree, before his dad took the motorcycle away. Guilford and his wife rode until about 10 years ago, visiting all of the eastern states, and even California.
A few feet away, Vic Jensen talked about growing up on Route 98 between Attica and Alexander. He said he used to see motorcyclists back in the ’30s, making their way through the area, and often with sidecars.
Jensen had always wanted to do a cross-country road-trip on a motorcycle with a tent.
Meeting with the residents was fun, said 1776 Volunteer Riders President John Morton, who works at Stan’s Harley Davidson. He likes listening to the stories, and noted that if you miss out, you’re missing out on a lot.
“We just want to help out the community, and especially the senior citizens,” he said. “Bringing smiles to everybody’s faces. There’s a lot of veterans that also reside here, and that’s one of our missions. To do what we can for veterans. It’s great.”
Created with Sketch (http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch)
Created with Sketch (http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch)
About T.M. Lewin
Established in 1898, T.M.Lewin offers the complete professional working wardrobe for men and women, each shirt and suit crafted using century-old techniques and hand finished to the highest standard possible.
Fiat hopes sales will rebound from a slump during the second half of the year as now that dealers have a full inventory of the 500X crossover.
Four years after Fiat was reintroduced in America the brand is still struggling to find its footing among American consumers.
What’s wrong? Well, for starters, the lovable, stylish Italian brand has run headfirst into two industry trends: Americans are enjoying the lowest gas prices in years and that is accelerating a movement away from cars towards a preference for crossovers and SUVs.
It also doesn’t help that — until June — Fiat dealers could only offer three cars: The Fiat 500 minicar, the all-electric 500e and the quirky, polarizing 500L. What’s more, the 500 was designed in Italy for Europeans and was adapted for Americans — and that’s never the best recipe for customer satisfaction.
The result: Fiat’s annual sales have plateaued at about 44,000 cars annually for the past three years and have dropped 13% during the first seven months of this year 25,033.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Fiat Chrysler workers vote 97% in favor of a strike as part of routine vote
“The brand suffers from the same symptoms of all of the other brands of the same size in the same segment,” said Dave Sullivan, an auto analyst for AutoPacific. “Even vehicles as large as the Ford Focus or Chevrolet Sonic have experienced sales declines and plant downtime.”
At a combined 30 miles per gallon, the Fiat 500 isn’t the most fuel efficient car its size, but Americans typically become more interested in small cars when gas prices are high and lose interest when gas prices are low.
“Coming into the year, we didn’t expect gas prices to fall off the cliff, which shifted segments drastically, and unfortunately, drastically away from where we play,” said Jason Stoicevich, head of the Fiat brand in North America.
Now, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is pinning its hopes on the arrival of the Fiat 500X — a small crossover made in Italy but designed with Americans in mind — to pull the brand out of its sales slump.
Fiat also is planning to reveal another new car, the 124 Spider, at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The Spider, a two-seat sports car, is based on Mazda’s fourth-generation MX-5, is expected to arrive in the U.S. next year.
“A turning point for the brand”
The 500X is a compact crossover that went on sale in the U.S. in June but most dealers didn’t have a full inventory until July.
“All of our attention…is on that vehicle,” Stoicevich said. “That segment is absolutely on fire.”
With its good looks, all-wheel drive and a larger size than the Fiat 500, the 500X crossover is drawing more shoppers to Fiat dealerships, Stoicevich said, and the popularity of the vehicle will be evident next week when the automaker reports August sales figures.
The Fiat 500X, which went on sale in June, is built in Melfi, Italy alongside the Jeep Renegade. It has a starting price of $20,000 for the entry level Pop model and $28,100 for the Trekking Plus.
Both dealers and Stoicevich say the larger 500X is attracting buyers that the Fiat brand could not reach before with its sable of minicars. It also offers all-wheel drive, which is important to car buyers in the Midwest and the Northeast.
“We are going to hit a pretty big month here,” Stoicevich said. “And I think the second half of the year is going to be much better than the first for us.”
Lisa Copeland, owner of Fiat of Austin in Texas, said buyers have been waiting months for the 500X to arrive.
“I fully expect that we will sell 100 new cars in August, and we haven’t done that in a long time,” Copeland said.
Josh Towbin, co-owner of Towbin Fiat Alfa Romeo in Las Vegas, said the 500X fills out the brand’s lineup of models and is the perfect addition because it is a small crossover designed with Americans in mind at a time when crossover sales are booming.
“I think it’s a turning point for the brand,” Towbin said. “Now that we have the four models, its almost surreal. To have them all here at one time is really really exciting.”
But Sullivan said the 500X runs the risk of being overshadowed by its sibling, the Jeep Renegade, which is made on the same assembly plant in Italy and could have a limited lifespan as a popular vehicle once initial demand is met.
Fiat’s early woes
It wasn’t supposed to work out this way. Fiat was reintroduced with tremendous publicity and hype in the U.S. in 2011 after a 28-year absence at a time when gas prices were high and demand for small cars was growing.
It arrived in America as part of Chrysler’s merger with the Italian automaker. About 200 Chrysler dealers eagerly made commitments to open standalone Fiat showrooms — many with the expectation that they would also soon become Alfa Romeo dealers.
But the lovable Fiat 500 stumbled early as the automaker failed to get its dealership network established as fast as initially planned and that delayed a marketing campaign.
After selling just 19,000 in cars in its first year Fiat appeared to gain momentum in 2013 as sales more than doubled to about 43,000. But sales fell slightly in 2013 and then grew slightly to just over 46,000 in 2014.
Last week, the brand finished last among all automotive brands in a survey published by the American Customer Satisfaction Index with a score of 73 out of a possible 100. Lexus finished first with a score of 84.
Stoicevich points out that Fiat is and will always be a niche brand with a limited lineup of small cars and crossovers. And, five years into its arrival in America, Fiat it isn’t too far behind Mini — its main rival. Mini sold just over 56,0000 cars in 2014.
Bright future with Alfa Romeo
Fiat dealers also had to wait longer than expected for Alfa Romeo. Last year Fiat Chrysler finally began importing the Alfa Romeo 4C, a small sports car, into the U.S. and has provided 120 Fiat dealers with franchise rights to sell Alfa Romeo. But the first Alfa Romeo arrived about two years later than initially expected.
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has said the automaker plans to introduce eight additional Alfa Romeo models in the U.S. by 2018. The Giulia sedan, revealed in Milan, Italy in June, is expected to arrive in the U.S. next year.
The arrival of the 500X, along with the future plans for the Fiat 124 Spider and the ambitious plans for Alfa Romeo adds up plenty of cars for Fiat and an exciting future those who have Alfa Romeo dealers, Towbin said.
“I did well and was successful with one car,” he said. “So, I am excited about it? Yes. It’s enough cars for me.”
Copeland also predicts patience will eventually pay off for Fiat dealers, especially when more Alfa’s begin to arrive.
“Did I want Alfa to come sooner? Probably,” she said. “But I am selling every (4C) that I can get my hands on.”
Contact Brent Snavely: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrentSnavely.
Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/1F86hfv
