Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is giving NASCAR and NHRA fans a chance to own pieces of racing history and rare collectibles that have never before been made available to the general public, while helping various charitable organizations in the process.

JGR has teamed with the online collectibles auction website GoMotorBids.com to auction one-of-a-kind pieces of race-used memorabilia as well as ultra-rare pre-production prototypes and samples of diecast collectibles. A portion of the proceeds will benefit charities of Joe Gibbs Racing and its drivers.

JGR owns and operates three teams in both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series with a driver lineup that includes two-time and reigning Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart and rookies Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley.

Collectors will now be able to bid on the ultimate collectibles for these drivers, as well as drivers and teams from JGR’s storied past, such as 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte, various JGR entries in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series, plus the NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams campaigned by JGR in the 1990s.

Some of these items have been warehoused within JGR for more than a decade, but now the vault has been opened to race fans and collectors who are clamoring for authentic race-used driver uniforms, crew uniforms, helmets, race car sheet metal, artwork and one-off prototypes of diecast collectibles that are truly unique and highly valuable.

Dave Alpern, vice president of marketing for JGR, said, “We are pleased to now be partnered with GoMotorBids.com. What excited us was the opportunity to raise money for charitable causes, while offering our fans legitimate collectibles from a trusted source.”

As with every auction on GoMotorBids.com, the JGR items will all start with a bid of $1 and have no reserve prices, assuring that the highest bidder wins. This “no reserve policy” is quite contrary to industry standards, where many online sellers try and protect high-profile items with reserve prices or high starting bids. However, that technique is not practiced by GoMotorBids.com, as illustrated by The Home Depot uniform worn by Stewart that GoMotorBids.com auctioned for more than $20,000 to benefit the Jeff Gordon Foundation.

“We couldn’t be happier about opening the Joe Gibbs Racing Online Auction House,” said GoMotorBids.com president Patrick Rainey. “JGR is known as an organization with a lot of integrity in everything they do, so we’re honored they chose us as an outlet for their race-used items and collectible prototypes. Plus it’s great for the collectors, as they get the opportunity to add something to their collection that very few people ever get the chance to own.” [PRWEB]

Racers of all kinds can now see their lap times and other critical data without taking their eyes off the track. The company that pioneered personal Heads Up displays is announcing the release of SportVue® LT1 Lap Timer with Performance Monitoring.

Created by former Indycar racer Dominic Dobson, SportVue LT1 will work on nearly any vehicle, including motorcycles, karts, road racing cars, dirt cars, autocross cars, boats – even snowmobiles. The display mounts onto any full-face racing helmet, and shows the racer’s last lap time and lap count - then compares the last lap with the racer’s session best.

The SportVue Heads Up display technology is similar to that used by Top Gun fighter pilots. Seattle’s Motion Research Corporation owns the patents that bring the technology to consumers. The display gives riders and drivers a constant view of critical data in an n easy-to-use display in the drivers’ peripheral vision, focused at infinity. The technology frees the rider from distracting glances at dash-mounted displays and pit boards, and saves the cost of radios and extra crew members.

Dobson created SportVue with the help of scientists at the University of Washington – and other racers. “I first envisioned this product as a way to boost performance when it matters the most – at 200 miles an hour!” says Dobson. [PRWEB]

This week, over 50 national and local experts gather in NYC to discuss how the city and the country can prepare for higher energy prices, and begin our transition to a low-energy, sustainable society, while slowing global warming.

Higher fuel prices are due to many factors, such as the supply / demand crunch, and instability in oil-producing countries. One critical factor being more widely discussed, with editorials in the New York Times and Newsday, and a report from the Army Corps of Engineers, is that world oil production is expected to peak and begin declining before 2010, driving prices permanently upwards. … [PRWEB]

With gas prices nearing $3 (and rising), industry analyst are predicting they will go higher, much higher before the summer is over. So the question becomes how long can automobile owners endure higher gas prices and how might this effect millions of households throughout America?

Well for one gentleman he didn’t want to wait to find out.

“I had to figure something out…” says Travis Robinson, Jr., author of the newly released guide, ‘14 Ways To Save Money At The Pump – Despite Rising Gas Prices’. “…and I felt that with the right information and attention to some minor details I could figure out how to save more money on my gas and get more miles per gallon from each of my cars than I have before.”

Mr. Robinson’s guide is not only timely but the tips offered are refreshingly good and will make you slap your hand to your forehead and exclaim, “Wow, why didn’t I think of that?!”

‘14 Ways To Save Money At The Pump – Despite Rising Gas Prices’ is not the same old advice that you’ve heard before that everyone seems to be giving out in the news; advice such as get a tune up or don’t run your air conditioner so on and so forth.

No. Mr. Robinson’s tips are much more creative and updated to allow you to take advantage of free resources such as the Internet and credit card companies and trees to lower your gas cost. This guide informs consumers on how many miles you will gain or lose by following these tips or even how you can save money when purchasing your gas. Although the information contained in this guide is not rocket science, it does give you good solid workable information that you probably would not have thought of otherwise.

“This guide is really insightful and actually makes going to the gas station less painful than it has been in the past…” says ShaLisa Dumas a college student from Little Rock, Arkansas.

“…I wish my mechanic knew about this…” says John Purnell, a bail bondsman out of Delaware.

14 Ways To Save Money At The Pump – Despite Rising Gas Prices is a must read for anyone who drives a vehicle who wants to increase your cars miles per gallon and/or save money when purchasing gas. [PRWEB]

Insurance.com reached a major milestone when they sold their 300,000th policy since being online from June 2001. According to Dave Roush, CEO of Insurance.com, “the Internet has become the first place many consumers visit to research and buy products, including all types of financial products.

“Our web site leverages the power of the internet by bringing together the nation’s leading auto insurance companies in a single marketplace where consumers can compare multiple rates, and buy that policy immediately, either online or on the phone from a licensed agent. No other Website offers that kind of convenience or level of service.” [PRWEB]

CarCoverGuys.com, a reseller of Wolf Car Covers, today reported that it is seeing better than average sales despite increasing gasoline prices. One possible reason is that customers are covering large SUVs with premium outdoor car covers.

“Since Hurricane Katrina, the entire automotive aftermarket industry has been seeing a slowdown in sales,” reports Adam Clarke, the senior marketing strategist at CarCoverGuys.com. “Whenever gas prices rise, people naturally cut back on purchases in general, but there is a decidedly higher impact on consumer car and truck products. In many cases, the consumer simply does not want to spend more money on a car that is consuming so much disposable income in gasoline.”

One new consumer trend, says Clarke, is that people are now paying to cover their cars, effectively storing them until gas prices decrease. Because used SUVs are harder to sell, people would rather retain their vehicle’s value while protecting the exterior from outdoor dirt and pollution damage. As a result, sales of car covers have increased in tandem with a spike in gas prices.

Meanwhile, the spring buying season for Automotive Accessories has begun, albeit a few weeks late. Clarke attributes the later than usual buying surge to the mid-March snowstorm that paralyzed the eastern portion of the nation. “People usually think about vehicle care once the snow melts, and in this case it melted a bit later than usual.” [PRWEB]

Automotive pioneer ZAP (NYSE Arca:ZP and PCX:ZP) announced today that it will introduce the nation’s only production all-electric car at the New York International Auto Show, which runs from April 14-23 at The Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan, New York.

ZAP has entered into a manufacturing contract with a Chinese automaker to produce a unique car aimed at filling the need for a gas-free, all-electric cars that are practical and affordable. ZAP Chairman Gary Starr says that the XEBRA project is the offspring of more than three decades of thought and evolution in electric transportation and has been designed to meet the needs of today’s drivers.

“We designed the XEBRA to be unlike anything else on the market,” said Starr. “The use and purpose of electric vehicles is different than gas cars, so the wheel did need to be invented.”

ZAP calls the new XEBRA a ‘City Car,’ a unique design suitable for urban, non-freeway driving. The car is ideal for households that want a fun, inexpensive vehicle for running errands around the city or for municipal and corporate fleet use. Unlike the hybrids currently on the market in the U.S., the ZAP car needs no gas at all—just plug into any conventional outlet. [PRWEB]

Leadpile says many Luxury Automobile shoppers will buy their cars 100% online in the very near future, and may never even step foot in the dealership.

The Luxury car market, which represents relatively expensive cars and trucks that place more emphasis on comfort, appearance, amenities, and performance, will go through many changes in the future due to the Internet, according to leadpile.com.

Leadpile says the Luxury Automobile buyer will be even more demanding in the future. According to J.D. Power and Associates Power Car Media Report, luxury car buyers, or Epictures prefer to drive fully equipped, comfortable cars that seem stylish or elegant.

This group has the second-highest share of women and the highest share of households with household incomes of $100,000 or more. It is this marketplace that leadpile says will be more demanding of their online buying experience.

Andrew Jacob, CEO of Leadpile, says “The Online luxury Auto Space will become more and more competitive in the future. The luxury buyer of the future will have totally different demands than what dealerships have become accustomed too.”

Jacob says, The luxury buyer in the future will have to be serviced at unprecedented levels. I see a day, very soon, when the luxury auto buyer will not even come into the dealership to buy the car. The dealership will have to come to them.” [PRWEB]

Many of the luxury cars put to auction online come with the most exciting innovations like robust car stereos, digital signal processing and automatic cd changer. Such and many other accessories including cd player, satellite radio, MP3 player and video player with lcd monitor can just blow down the typical notion of car accessories

Travel agency and tour operator Select Italy has found a new way to let clients indulge their wild side: luxury Ferrari tours of Italy. Select Italy is the official North American partner of Turin-based Red Travel, Italy’s premiere vendor of deluxe sports-car tours.

Select Italy is known for the depth of its knowledge of the Italian travel market, superior customer service, and its wide selection of travel services. As demand for Italian travel begins to rise, today’s travelers are looking to true Italian specialists to provide unique services that go beyond the usual destinations of Rome, Florence and Venice.

These Ferrari tours provide truly unique and amazing experiences. Custom-tailored for individuals, a small group of friends, or a business group, Select Italy’s makes these Ferrari tours to order with itineraries flexible enough to allow travelers to see and experience Italy exactly as they want.

These trips can function as great incentive programs for companies looking for a unique way to motivate their employees. For example, in October 2005, a major British telecom company used a group Ferrari tour as an incentive trip for their sales staff.

The tours are also gaining in popularity as luxury getaways for couples and groups of friends. Wives have booked trips for husband’s landmark birthdays; grandfathers arrange trips as a way to bond with their grandsons.

Select Italy president and owner, Andrea Sertoli says, “These trips in Ferraris are a great way for clients to reward themselves, their families and their employees with a unique and breathtaking experience, whether as a romantic getaway, a family-bonding trip, a bachelor party or an executive retreat.”

“The Ferrari is an emblem of the best of Italian design and philosophy. We’re so happy to have the chance to let travelers to Italy taste even more of the splendor that this country has to offer.” [PRWEB]

tagTRAX: experience italy | italian travel | car tours | ferrari | travel agency

The Nebraska Autobody Association found that consumers were disinclined to file automotive claims with their insurance company.

Sixty-four percent of survey respondents said they would generally feel hesitant about filing an insurance claim, and eighty-four percent said they might not report a small claim at all since doing so might increase insurance costs.

“Claimants should not have to be afraid of their insurance company or worry about whether or not they received a fair claims settlement, but they do,” said NABA executive director, Norbert Zaenglein.

The survey raises a number of concerns about Nebraska claims settlement practices. When asked if insurance adjusters are trained to reduce legitimate claims payouts, an overwhelming eighty-six percent of respondents agreed. “This finding should raise some eyebrows particularly by the Nebraska Department of Insurance, the Attorney General, and state legislators, Zaenglein added. ”Nebraska market conduct regulation is weak and there is no shortage of insurers who will take advantage of the situation.”

The sheer scope of market conduct problems in the area of collision repair claims settlement practices have been corroborated by numerous studies. “It has became painfully clear that those insurers who want to take unfair advantage of claimants can do so without fear of any repercussions,” Zaenglein added. “Nebraska regulators have repeatedly turned a blind eye to a substantial and credible body of evidence that supports widespread violations of Nebraska Unfair Claims Settlement laws by some insurance companies.”

The survey included statistical summaries of nine additional questions designed to measure consumers’ attitude about the integrity of insurance companies.

The Nebraska Autobody Association is committed to professionalism in the art and science of collision repair and to treat customers, claimants, and insurers in a fair and ethical manner while supporting accurate accounting throughout the claims settlement process. [PRWEB]

tagTRAX: nebraska autobody association | nebraska market | naba | survey | hesitant