Motorcycle Ice Racing at the War Memorial

Motorcycle racing at breakneck speeds is thrilling, but add a layer of ice and the consequences are predictable. The Cambria County War Memorial Arena will be transformed to accommodate riders of the 36th annual World Championship Ice Racing Series at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4.
Brent Densford, president of the Myrtle Beach, S.C.-based International Championship Events (I.C.E.), will bring the thrill sport to Johnstown and crown the series’ champions in the final race of the season.

“Ending the season in Johns-town is nice because it has become a great place for us to race, and the fans are enthusiastic,” Densford said. “We have some loyal motor heads in Johnstown, and we hope to keep coming back.”

The event is billed as the  greatest spectacle on ice as the safety glass that normally surrounds the hockey rink will be removed and padding added to the corners and along the boards.
“The first thing that has to be done is an additional 3 inches of ice will have to be made to accommodate the racing machines, which have thousands of razor-sharp studs in the tires,” Densford said.
Metal screws are drilled into the specialized rubber tires to provide traction on the ice. “These modified machines can achieve speeds of up to 60 mph, which is a formula for exciting action,” he said.
Between 40 and 50 of the world’s top professional ice racers will compete for the national championships in manufacturers’ World Cup motorcycles and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles (quads).

“We will award the championship trophies to the two riders who have compiled the season’s most points,” Densford said.

During the event, riders will sprint around the arena on modified motorcycles and four-wheelers that consist of heats to earn the right to race in the final. The bikes are typically 450cc, four-stroke engines that can be found on most showroom models, but riders are notorious for modifying the engines and suspensions and turning them into high-performance machines. Among those on the ice will be two Indiana County residents who are veterans of the racing circuit – Mark Blystone of Indiana and Jason Fisher of Black Lick.

“This is their second year racing with us, and they will be in Johnstown for the event,” Densford said. Ice is more dangerous than dirt because the surface can be unpredictable at times.

Tickets are available at the box office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; Ticketmaster outlets; by phone at (800) 745-3000 ; or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Prices for advance tickets are $7 for children and $17 for adults. Advanced VIP tickets are $27. Tickets will cost $2 more at the door.

Read more: http://tribune-democrat.com/events/x1296865351/Ice-racing-sliding-into-War-Memorial

J.D. Power and Associates names Hyundai #1 in Customer Loyalty

Congrats, Hyundai! J.D. Power and Associates names Hyundai #1 in customer loyalty.

The J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Retention Study shows Hyundai is highest among all automotive brands. It earned the top spot by improving its retention rate from 60 percent in 2010 to 64 percent in 2011.

Following Hyundai in the rankings are Ford and Honda, in a tie, each with a customer retention rate of 60 percent. Jeep posts the greatest improvement in customer retention rate from 2010, improving by 17 percentage points to 51 percent in 2012. Overall customer retention has improved by one percentage point in 2012 to 49 percent, compared with 48 percent in 2010. In 2012, 19 of the 33 ranked brands have improved their customer retention rates from 2010, while 14 have declined.

What's impressive about this study is it does not reflect the current hot-selling generation of Hyundai products but they probably had a lot to do with it. After all, why walk away from a winning brand, especially when you were already a loyal Hyundai customer?

Now in its ninth year, the study measures the rate at which automotive brands retain their existing customers and examines the reasons why customers remain loyal. Most new car buyers, including lessees, typically hold on to their cars for at least 36 months. New car buyers in 2011 would have bought 2008 and older models. They were good but not great.

According to J.D. Power and Associates, Hyundai's increased retention rate is shaped by its expanding model lineup, as well as the fact that perceptions of the brand's quality and appeal have continued to improve during the past decade. The 2012 Customer Retention Study is based on responses from 117,001 new-vehicle buyers and lessees, of which 73,733 replaced avehicle that was previously acquired new. In addition to customer retention, the study also measures the rate at which each automotive brand captures customers from its competitors, known as conquesting.

“We are proud that Hyundai owners show their brand loyalty by choosing to buy another Hyundai vehicle over 60 percent of the time,” said Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president, National Sales, Hyundai Motor America. “Once they experience the styling, comfort and value of Hyundai vehicles, it’s no surprise that they elect to stick with the Hyundai brand. We are thrilled that our vehicles and our dealers are earning the respect and loyalty of our customers.”

One in three new-vehicle owners who switched brands say their previous brand didn’t make the type of vehicle they wanted, indicating that striking the right combination of model offerings and vehicle appeal is critical to retaining customers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Retention Study information that was supplied to TorqueNews.

Read more: http://www.torquenews.com/108/hyundai-tops-all-brands-jd-power-customer-retention-study

Hyundai Elantra Named “Car of the Year” at the 2012 North American International Auto Show!

The Hyundai Elantra was named “Car of the Year” at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit!

The Elantra beat out the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat as finalists for the car of the year. The Evoque beat out the BMW X3 and the Honda CR-V. The finalists were named last month.

John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai North America, said Hyundai has sold more than 200,000 Elantras since the new model was introduced. Krafcik said the award will help to cement Hyundai's reputation for quality and improvement the company has made since it entered North America 1986.

The Elantra, which was designed at Hyundai's California studio, is a compact car that gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

"It's an amazingly competitive segment. To have this honor feels really good," Krafcik said.

Andy Goss, president of Jaguar and Land Rover North America, said the Evoque symbolizes the changes that SUVs and crossovers are going through in the automotive industry as manufacturers adapt to more stringent fuel economy standards.

"I think it will come as a surprise to some that the North American Truck of the Year is a highly capable, luxury four-cylinder SUV that achieves 28 miles per gallon," on the highway, Goss said.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are different from other industry awards because they are given by a jury of 50 veteran automotive journalists from Canada and the U.S.

Most other automotive awards, in contrast, are given out by individual publications or organizations. Before today's awards were announced domestic automakers had won 10North American Car of the Year awards, European automakers had won four and Japanese automakers have won three. Hyundai won one time prior to today.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2012-01-09/hyundai-elantra-wins/52463788/1

Five Reasons To Buy A New Car In 2012 According to Forbes

New-vehicle sales could rise by as much as six to seven percent during 2012 according to Automotive News, due largely to the one-two punch of a stabilizing economy and pent-up consumer demand. Here’s why you should join the crowd and head down to your local new-car dealership in the coming months to kick the tires.

1. Low Interest Rates: Those looking to finance a new-car purchase should continue to enjoy record-low rates over the coming year. That’s because the Federal Open Market Committee recently reiterated it would keep the federal funds rate between 0 and 0.25 percent and would likely to remain at those rates until at least mid-2013.

2. High Trade-In Values: Used-car prices should remain at all time highs during 2012, which in turn means equally steep trade-in values that can be used as more substantial down payments on new models.

3. Generous Leasing Deals: Bargain-hunting consumers have been able to take advantage of some truly unbeatable leasing deals in recent months, thanks to an ideal combination of market forces. “High resale values and low interest rates are contributing to some of the most attractive lease deals we’ve seen in years,”

4. Competitive Pricing: While new-car sales are on the rise, analysts say sticker prices should stay competitive over the ensuing months. Some predict it could become a buyers’ market at some dealerships.

5. Improved Products: It’s no exaggeration to suggest today’s cars are better than ever, with an array of new and redesigned models bringing buyers back into dealers’ showrooms in virtually all car and truck classes.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2012/01/02/five-reasons-to-buy-a-new-car-in-2012/