Happy New Year!

Driver’s New Years Resolutions

Since it’s almost 2013, it’s time to decide what habits you want to make (or break) going into the new year! Make 2013 the year you resolve to stay safe when driving. Try following these 10 New Year’s safety resolutions from Consumer Reports:

1. Always buckle up. Seat belts save over 12,000 lives a year by protecting passengers from hitting hard vehicle surfaces or being ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
2. Not use my cell phone behind the wheel. In 2010, over 3,000 people died in crashes related to using a cell phone or texting while driving. Put the phone down or pull over to use it.
3. Never drink and drive or drive drowsy. Over 10,000 people die in drunk driving car crashes each year. If you plan on drinking, make sure you have a designated driver or hand over your keys.
4. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians make up 12 percent of all motor vehicle deaths each year and bicyclists about 2 percent. Drivers need to be especially diligent around crosswalks and remember to look both ways for bikes even on one-way streets.
5. Drive the speed limit. Speeding is a factor in about one-third of all fatal crashes.
6. Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Studies show that the use of motorcycle helmets is 42 percent effective at preventing deaths and 69 percent effective at preventing head injuries.
7. Model good behavior when driving children around. Children learn from their parents. Don’t show them bad habits.
8. Always use a proper car seat. Children under age 8 should be secured in a proper car seat and all children under 12 should be in the back seat.
9. Stop at red lights. Red light running killed 676 people and injured 113,000 in 2009 and most of those killed were occupants in other vehicles. Stop at red lights and slow down on yellow.
10. Maintain your vehicle and tires. Performing regular tire checks and routine maintenance will help to ensure your vehicle will stay in optimal condition.

Read the original article here: http://bit.ly/vnfxkR

How Do Turn Signals Work?

Your turn signal can not only notify other drivers of your intentions, it can help pedestrians know what you’re planning to do. If you fail to signal, you could put your car and its passengers in danger. Want to learn more about the interesting technology behind your signal? Read more:

In the American southeast, which up until recently was comprised mainly of small towns, it's said that drivers don't use their turn signals because everyone knows where you're going anyway. Turn signals may be the most underutilized device on a car. Yet signaling is one of the most important actions you can take as a driver, warning other drivers of your impending moves to minimize hazardous surprises. You might not see a car in your blind spot, but that car's driver might see your turn signal start to blink before you move into his lane. Failing to signal may be the cause of quite a few accidents, and is probably a big source of "road rage" as well.

Get the full article here: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turn-signal.htm

Keep Your Ford Sparkling Clean This Season

A Ford truly shines when it’s sparkling clean. If you’re interested in showing off the beauty of your card, check out these tips straight from the manufacturer on how to keep your car in great condition:

Removing sticky spots
Bugs, bird droppings and other sticky gunk should be removed as soon as possible. If you aren’t able to get to the spot before it dries and don’t have Motorcraft® Bug and Tar Remover on hand, try removing it with a soft cotton cloth and a bit of cooking oil or grease. Then be sure to clean the area with soap and water afterward to remove the oil.
Exterior cleaning
Hose off any accumulated grime, especially in the wheel wells and under the bumpers. Scrub your vehicle with a clean sponge and Motorcraft® Detail Wash. Rinse, then dry it with a terry-cloth towel. Wax your car with Motorcraft® Premium Liquid Wax.
Paint touchups
To fix chips or scratches in your paint, you’ll need to find the correct color of touch-up paint. This information is usually located on a sticker in your driver’s-side door or in your Owner Guide. If you can't immediately apply (or get) the paint, dab the chip or scratch with some clear nail polish. The polish will prevent corrosion under the paint and resultant rust.
Cleaning windows and mirrors
Traditional ammonia-based glass cleaners can leave streaks that become blinding in bright sunlight. Instead, use a non-ammonia-based automotive glass cleaner, such as Motorcraft® Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner or a mild mixture of water and vinegar.

View the original article and get more tips on Ford’s site here: http://bit.ly/RB9prD

Top 5 Signs of Engine Trouble

5. Warning Lights: If your car is working properly, these are what Audra Fordin of "What Women Auto Know" calls "hello, good morning" lights. You fire up theengine and the dashboard lights up like carnival. This is the car's computer checking everything out. One by one, each of the lights turns off and you're ready to drive.

If they don't turn off, though, that's bad. Either very bad or slightly bad, depending on which light remains lit. These lights are connected to sensors that monitor everything your car does. If something seems out of whack, the computer will use these lights to tell you what it is. It can't use its words; it's not KITT, you know.

The lights you'll probably want to pay the most attention to are:

• Check Oil/Oil Level Low
• Oil Pressure Low
• Check Engine

The "Check Engine" lamp is perhaps the most troubling of lights because it could mean so many different things, from "you didn't screw the gas cap on tightly enough" to "look out for pistons flying through the hood and into the stratosphere." The easiest way to find out what this light is telling you is to hook your vehicle up to a scan tool. This diagnostic tool looks a little like an oversized calculator and plugs into a communication port inside the car. After you instruct it to perform the scan, it "speaks" with your car's computers to find out exactly what's prompting the light to turn on.

You can purchase your own tool from an auto parts store for less than $100, but then what? You're probably not going to put on your coveralls and crawl under the hood yourself. Instead, visit a service station, where a technician will use the scan tool to identify the trouble.

4. Doing the Jerk: Driving should be free of jerking, surging, or stalling. It should be smooth and easy, more like ballet than Beyonce. What's cool in the club is not cool in an engine.

But if your car is popping and locking, that's a pretty strong sign of engine trouble. It could be due to fouledspark plugs, clogged fuel lines or fuel filter, the main computer reading the driving situation wrong, or many, many other issues.

The last thing you want is for your vehicle to take its own sweet time accelerating, or to give out entirely, as you're merging onto a busy highway with other vehicles barreling down behind you. Likewise, high revving at idle or acceleration that's out of your control are situations you should have a qualified technician investigate and repair as soon as possible.

Preventive maintenance, including regular oil changes and belt replacements at recommended intervals help to keep you out of the danger zone.

3. Rude noises: A tapping or popping that sounds like Barney doing deep knee bends (which never happens), for instance, could indicate detonation taking place within the engine's cylinders. This happens when gasoline ignites prematurely in the combustion chamber of the cylinders and can potentially result in expensive piston damage.

If you hear a grinding noise when you attempt to start your car, your starter motor might need to be adjusted or replaced. If you hear grinding when shifting between gears, it could be transmission replacement time! It's not as fun as it sounds. And if you're driving a manual transmission, do not listen to Uncle Barney when he says, "Grind it 'til you find it."

In most cases, a little bit of noise from either your car or Uncle Barney -- like a mild ticking or clicking -- might be normal. Cars with roller rockers in their valve trains, for instance, emit some ticking noise; and fuel-injected vehicles also produce slightly audible clicks from the injectors [source: 2CarPros.com].

If in doubt, listen intently, try to track down the general area of the noise as best you can and then attempt to explain it in as much detail as you can to a qualified service professional.

2. Foul Smells: Cars rarely smell delightful. They're burning gasoline or diesel fuel, there's hot metal under the hood, and your brother ate a burrito just before he got in the passenger seat. There's not much you can do about your brother besides open all the windows and monitor his lunch intake, but any other automotive smells that make it into the passenger compartment spell trouble.

The scent may signal oil or coolant leaking from their normally closed-loop systems, or it may indicate dangerous exhaust gases invading your car's interior. Car and truck exhaust contains toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, so if the inside of your car smells as if you were standing behind your car, get out and get it fixed. Fight the urge to take a little nap first. So sleepy. That's the carbon monoxide talking, friends. At least open a window on your way to the shop.

The smell of burning rubber could mean you just did an awesome smoky burnout, or it could be telling you that drive belts or accessory belts beneath the hood are damaged, loose, or worn out. It could also mean that a rubber hose carrying important fluids is touching something that it shouldn't -- something that's too hot and is melting the rubber.

In any case, it's a good idea to act sooner rather than later, as these nasty smells could be linked to a much more crucial and expensive component.

1. Smoke Signals: Smoke can come from the front or back of the car, and it's not good in either case. But the tailpipe will send-up colored smoke in attempt to tell you what the problem is. Here is your secret decoder ring:

Blue smoke: Oil is escaping from its intended passageways within the engineand is being burned along with fuel. Of course, you could always keep adding engine oil to the crankcase to prevent it from being all burned up (and risking serious engine damage), but the smart thing to do would be to take the car in to have any worn or damaged seals repaired [source:Torbjornsen].

White smoke: Water condensation or antifreeze has mixed with the fuel supply. Again, adding coolant or antifreeze to your car's cooling system will keep your car from overheating for as long as you remember to keep feeding the reservoir, but the wise move is to have it checked out as soon as possible.

If the smoke is coming from under your hood, that probably means you ignored white smoke coming out of the tailpipe, and now your engine is overheating. Or maybe you completely forgot to add coolant at all, and the engine overheated.

Article courtesy of: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/diagnosing-car-problems/mechanical/5-signs-engine-trouble.htm#page=5

Christmas Boutique at the Windber Museum

Safe driving tips for Thanksgiving travel

Planning to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday to visit with family and friend? You won’t be alone. The AAA forecasts 42.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, marking a 4-percent increase over last year. Before you embark, consider these tips to help prepare you and your car for whatever challenges might be faced on the road.

1. Fuel up. Don’t head out on a long trip without a full tank of gas. In addition to topping off the tank, also check fluids and tire pressures before you leave.

2. Be prepared. Bring supplies in the event of an accident or medical issue. Stock your car with an emergency kit—especially a flashlight, blanket, first-aid kit, and some basic tools. Also, bring water and extra snacks, just in case.

3. Pack smart. Check your vehicle’s load capacity to make sure you aren’t putting too much weight in the car. On most new cars, the total weight you can carry is printed on a placard (sticker) inside the driver’s door jamb. This load rating includes all the passengers and cargo. Also, make sure your gear is packed properly and will not be a hazard if you stop short.

4. Track it. A portable GPS navigation system will help you get where you’re going, making it easy to find gas stations or restaurants along the way. Traffic-enabled devices can warn of roadway congestion, and all units can assist in finding an alternate route. Also, a navigator can help direct emergency services to your location, should something happen. (See "Video: Don't let a GPS navigator steer you wrong.")

5. Kid prep. If you’re driving with kids, make sure you pack enough snacks, water, games, videos/DVDs, and music to keep them occupied during your journey. (See our "10 tips for a stress-free road trip with kids" for more advice.)

6. Traveling with pets. Be sure to secure your pets, either with harnesses and seat belts or by placing them in a crate. Animals can be a dangerous distraction when driving and physical threat in an accident, should they travel about the cabin or escape onto a busy motorway. Bring water, food, toys, leash, and clean-up supplies—you never know.

7. Be patient. During busy travel times, expect to hit traffic. It may make sense to drive late at night or early in the morning to avoid the rush and ensure you get to your destination on time and with minimal stress. A GPS device with traffic information and an exit guide can help you navigate around congestion and help find desired pit stop locations.

8. Don’t be distracted. Cell phones and driving don’t mix, so if you need to send a message or make a call, hand your phone to a passenger or pull over. It’s not worth risking your life or others on the road.

9. Buckle up. Always use your seat belt, make sure children are properly secured in a car seat and are seated in the rear seats if they are under 13.

10. Watch for weather. If you’re driving in wintry weather, make sure you clear off the snow and ice for better visibility, allow for longer braking distances, and reduce your speed. (Check out our winter driving guide if you are headed to a snowy location.)

11. Keep control. There could be a variety of scenarios on the road, but if you stay calm and be prepared you can get through any challenge. Check out our story “Surviving the worst-case scenarios” for more on driving in fog, snow, or if you car has brake failure, overheats, or your tire blows out.

And finally, be safe and patient. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Article courtesy of: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/11/safe-driving-tips-for-thanksgiving-2011-travel.html

Avoid “Turkey” of a Weekend with Pre-Trip Vehicle Check

One way to avoid a turkey of a Thanksgiving road trip is to make sure the vehicle you will be driving is running well. A 10-minute pre-trip check is small potatoes compared to a big helping of inconvenience if you break down many miles away from home, according to the Car Care Council.

“A pre-trip vehicle check provides peace of mind, helping reduce the chance of costly car trouble and providing an opportunity to have any repairs performed by one’s own trusted technician before hitting the road,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken to ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving road trip.”

The Car Care Council suggests the following 10-minute vehicle check to help ensure safety and reliability on the road:

• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check lighting to identify any problems with exterior and interior lighting as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen.
• Check wipers. Wiper blades should be replaced every six months. Make sure the windshield wipers are working properly and keep the reservoir filled with solvent.

The Car Care Council also recommends that motorists restock their emergency kit. To save on fuel costs during the trip, the council suggests that motorists avoid aggressive driving, observe the speed limit and avoid excessive idling. Gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing should be replaced to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.

Courtesy of: http://www.carcare.org/2012/11/avoid-turkey-of-a-weekend-with-pre-trip-vehicle-check/

How to Protect Your Car’s Interior

Try to add up the hours you spend in your car. It’s a lot, isn’t it? Commutes, errand runs and road trips can have you sitting in those bucket seats for hours on end, and during that time, you and your passengers are actually living in the interior. That means smudges on the windows, scratches on the dash and food in the seat crevices accumulate and leave you wondering what happened to the spotless interior you swear it had when you first bought the car.

A Quick Clean

Luckily, it’s not that difficult to keep a car’s cabin from looking a little too, well, lived in. First things first, get something to stuff your trash into. Just use a plastic bag or a container you don’t use around the house and throw it in the backseat. You can even affix a temporary hook to the door or seat to keep things even neater. Every once and awhile, take it out and relish in the fact that you haven’t spent an hour cleaning up. Keeping trash off the floor also preserves your carpets, which can get stained from any number of items.

The idea of taking a rag to your dash and leather seats is made easier if you have them on-hand. The key here is to just use a little bit of soapy water to wipe the surfaces of your car – some cleaning products contain alcohols that prematurely dry and age the materials by reducing the flexibility in the vinyl. Store a small spray bottle of your homemade cleaning fluid and a rag under your seat or in a storage bin for access when you’re waiting for your kids to get out of school or sitting in that crazy-long drive-through line. This will also come in handy when an emergency spill happens. Lastly, keep your car smelling like roses (or at least a laundromat) by adding dryer sheets under the seats.

Weather Resistant
You can’t discount the impact weather has on your vehicle either. In summer, sandy feet can quickly make a mess of an interior, and dare we mention the destruction caused by mud and snow? If you spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place.

The sun’s rays can also wreak havoc on your car’s surfaces, causing vinyl to crack over time and materials to fade. A simple solution is to regularly put a sunshade on the windshield. They’re inexpensive and help to keep your interior looking new.

Saving money on repair work and cleaning comes more easily when you take the time to make preventative care a priority. Not only will these tricks make your car a nicer place to be, keeping grime out of your ride will cut down on large maintenance costs in the future and will help to retain its value over time

The Haunted Acres

The Haunted Acres (located at 207 Mindish Road Sidman, PA  15955) is a 20 minute walk through the chilling woods that will take you through many different themes and Scares.  There will be strobe lights, artificial fog, black lighting, and creatures that will make you jump and scream!  You will not be touched on the trail, and we ask you do not touch the creatures or props.  The trail is not recommended for children under the age of 7 (Except on our Kids Night show event date).

Our "Kids Night" show scheduled for Nov. 3rd from 4pm until 6pm is for those who want a little less fear and a little more fun.  For the adults who want to experience both...come back on the 3rd from 7 to 10:30pm and get in free.

Currently, all events scheduled for this week have been cancelled. Right now, the Kids Night is still on for Saturday. For more information please visit http://www.thehauntedacres.com or call 814.619.8903

Tips for Driving on Snow and Ice

It’s that time of year again, winter! Check out tips from The Weather Channel on how to drive on snow and ice.

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.

Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions.

It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Read more: http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/snow.html

When To Get New Tires

When it comes to driving safely, you have to start where the rubber meets the road. Your car's tires are the only surface that contacts the asphalt, so they affect braking, steering, and general auto performance. HowStuffWorks.com has written an article on warning signs that your tires are getting old or worn out. Keep informed to keep safe, and check out their tips here.




source: howstuffwork.com

Ford's E-magazine Covers the Life of Carroll Shelby

If you're a Ford owner who can't get enough, or who just wants something to read on a Sunday afternoon, Ford now has an e-magazine to keep you up-to-date. In their current edition, they cover the life of one of their original racing gurus, Carroll Shelby. If you know anything about Ford and racing, you've heard the name Shelby. Click here to read more about this racing legend.

 

source: www.myfordmag.com 

What To Do When You Take The Car In

Taking the car in for repairs can lead to a discussion with a mechanic who knows each part of every last car, but how do you know that the suggestions you get are worth your dollar? Car and Driver reports on which extras to choose when you go in for a check-up:



Any time we take a car into the shop and someone starts a sentence with “You know, while we’ve got it in here . . .” our BS meter goes off. Is he looking to help us out or just to make a quick buck? We asked longtime C/Dfriend, master mechanic, and auto-service instructor Russ Ferguson his thoughts on several common upsells. Their utility is rated on the Ferguson scale, which is to say out of five stars.

Read the full story here.

Source: blog.caranddriver.com
 

Businesses get Creative with Support for United Way

The local Tribune-Democrat reports on how businesses are getting creative in their support for the United Way.



Dave Sutor

dsutor@tribdem.com

— Businesses across Cambria and Somerset counties find simple, creative and fun ways to raise funds for the United Way of the Laurel Highlands every year.

There are car washes, Wii competitions, dart tournaments, gift-card giveaways, paid days off, limo lunches, turkey trots and more. Some companies offer easy payroll deductions.

Read the rest of the story here.

How to Share the Road with Truckers

Everybody has a horror story to tell about an encounter they've had with an 18-wheeler on the Interstate, and how they were nearly killed by the inattentiveness of the truck driver. News programs like Dateline NBC and 60 Minutes feed this fear with selectively edited stories regarding truck safety. But what nobody seems to consider is that they themselves may have caused the problem because of ignorance about what is involved in driving a truck, or by engaging in righteous driving behavior that did nothing but endanger their own lives and those of the people they care most about.

Personally, we've seen rude truckers hog the road, and we've seen dimwitted drivers set themselves up for what could be a very painful, if not deadly, lesson. Furthermore, not all trucks traveling the nation's highways are properly maintained, due to a lack of finances or pure laziness. But for most truck drivers, who are paid by the mile and are held responsible for damaged goods, their lives and livelihoods depend on driving a well-maintained truck carefully, and getting freight to its destination on time.

Tractor trailer trucks are responsible for carrying nearly 30 percent of all the cargo shipped in the United States. Technology and improved roadways have allowed the use of trucks for shipping to increase steadily since the 1920s, resulting in larger vehicles and heavier loads. Yet, traffic fatalities involving trucks have steadily declined during the past 50 years, except for a small spike upward in the early 1980s right after the trucking industry was deregulated. Fatalities due to accidents involving semi trucks total 5,000 annually on average, with the vast majority of those fatalities suffered by occupants of passenger vehicles that collided with a truck. As motorists who must share the road with semi trucks, we can do our part to help reduce this number even further if we simply take the time to follow a few simple driving rules and try to understand how difficult it is to maneuver a tractor-trailer in traffic.

We asked Michael Taylor, transportation special programs developer for the Tractor Trailer Training Program at Triton College in River Grove, Ill., what the top five pet peeves truckers had with fellow motorists were. Here is his list:

1) Riding in a trucker's blind spots. Trucks have large blind spots to the right and rear of the vehicle. Smaller blind spots exist on the right front corner and mid-left side of the truck. The worst thing a driver can do is chug along in the trucker's blind spot, where he cannot be seen. If you're going to pass a truck, do it and get it over with. Don't sit alongside with the cruise control set 1 mph faster than the truck is traveling.

2) Cut-offs. Don't try to sneak into a small gap in traffic ahead of a truck. Don't get in front of a truck and then brake to make a turn. Trucks take as much as three times the distance to stop as the average passenger car, and you're only risking your own life by cutting a truck off and then slowing down in front of it.

3) Impatience while reversing. Motorists need to understand that it takes time and concentration to back a 48-foot trailer up without hitting anything. Sometimes a truck driver needs to make several attempts to reverse into tight quarters. Keep your cool and let the trucker do her job.

4) Don't play policeman. Don't try to make a truck driver conform to a bureaucrat's idea of what is right and wrong on the highway. As an example, Taylor cited the way truck drivers handle hilly terrain on the highway. A fully loaded truck slows way down going up a hill. On the way down the other side of the hill, a fully loaded truck gathers speed quickly. Truckers like to use that speed to help the truck up the next hill. Do not sit in the passing lane going the speed limit. Let the truck driver pass, and let the Highway Patrol worry about citing the trucker for breaking the law.

5) No assistance in lane changes or merges. It's not easy to get a 22-foot tractor and 48-foot trailer into traffic easily. If a trucker has his turn signal blinking, leave room for the truck to merge or change lanes. Indicate your willingness to allow the truck in by flashing your lights.

According to "Sharing the Road," a booklet distributed by John Deere Transportation Insurance, the three most common types of accidents involving heavy trucks involve the following:

1) Crashes caused by the truck's inability to stop in time.2) Crashes caused by a motorist trying to pass a truck on the right while the truck is making a right-hand turn. Also known as the right turn squeeze.3) Crashes caused by a motorist riding in the trucker's blind spots. Use the following rule of thumb: If you cannot see the truck driver in his mirrors, he probably cannot see you.

By taking simple common-sense steps to protect yourself and your family when driving near large trucks, traffic fatalities will continue to drop. Over the years, the trucking industry has improved the quality of truck drivers by making it more difficult to qualify for and keep a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Mandatory drug testing has also been instituted. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published the following data in 2008. The intoxication rate for drivers involved in fatal accidents was:

27% for motorcycle riders 23% for light truck drivers (pickups and SUVs, that is) 23% for passenger car drivers 1% for truck drivers

Still, more work must be done to combat tightly scheduled deliveries, overbearing stacks of paperwork and driver fatigue caused by federal regulations that work against the human body's natural circadian rhythm.

After meeting with truck driving instructors at Triton College, with representatives from the Illinois Transportation Association and learning what it takes to pilot a tractor-trailer by taking the wheel myself, we joined Taylor for a ride in a brand-new empty tanker truck.

We covered suburban roads during a half-hour loop just to the southeastern side of O'Hare airport. During our 30-minute ride, two motorists turned left across traffic directly in front of the truck. One young woman in a Toyota Celica crossed no more than 50 feet in front of us as she zoomed onto a side street. An older couple in a Dodge Grand Caravan turned in front of our International tractor, and incredibly, slowed so they wouldn't scrape the van on a steep driveway apron to a convenience store. A dude in a Camaro RS blasted by on the left, cut in front of the truck and stopped at a red light we were approaching. When the light turned green, he turned right.

These are the kinds of driving habits that we must break for truck-related accident rates to drop even lower. After a day at truck driving school, we left Chicago for Denver in a Subaru Outback. During that evening and the next day traveling I-80 and I-76, we were keenly aware of the needs of the truckers with whom we shared the road. We behaved more courteously toward truck drivers and fellow motorists than usual, and exercised more patience. We doubt very much that by driving more defensively and less aggressively we arrived in Denver any sooner than we would have had we not let that Kenworth into our lane back in Iowa or had we tried to beat that Freightliner to the construction zone near Lincoln, Neb. We do feel, however, that our trip was a safer one, that we had done our part to make highway travel better. Now it's time to do yours.

Source: Edmunds.com

Win a New F-150 and a Weekend Tour with Toby Keith!

What do the new 2013 F-150 and superstar Toby Keith have in common? They can both be yours in the Toby Keith Live in Overdrive Sweepstakes. Enter today for a chance to win a new F-150 with EcoBoost and a weekend on tour with Toby Keith. What are you waiting for? http://goo.gl/VNIeF.

How Moms Saved Ford

As Mother's Day comes once again, we are reminded of the role they've played throughout history and in particular the role they've played in the history of the Ford Motor Company. The Joplin Globe has a great brief piece on this story:

Sunday is Mother’s Day, a time to honor those who raised us. For one auto family, the holiday symbolizes something even more profound: mothers who saved the family business. The company in question? Ford.

Henry Ford established Ford Motor Co. in 1903 at age 40. Five years later, he introduced the Model T, a car that changed America forever.

Ford retained an iron grip on the company despite his advancing years. Always unpredictable, Ford grew more so as he aged. No one knew this better than Henry’s only son, Edsel, who served as Ford Motor Co. president. The elder Ford often undermined his son in an effort to toughen him up.

On May 23, 1943, Edsel, then 49 years old, died of cancer and undulant fever. Incredibly, his father, age 80, appointed himself president of Ford.

The U.S. government became concerned as the company’s condition deteriorated. Ford was one of their largest wartime contractors. Edsel’s wife, Eleanor, and his mother pressured Henry to turn it over Ford Motor Co. to their grandson, Henry II. The old man was reluctant.

Only when young Henry’s mother, Eleanor, threatened to sell her stock did old Henry relent. The government released Henry II from military service and, on September 21, 1945, Eleanor’s son took the helm and soon returned Ford to health.

Two mothers — Henry’s and Edsel’s — had saved Ford Motor Co.

Ford Focus EV

Ford's forthcoming Focus EV is set to have a feature unique amongst EVs—wireless charging! Using a floor-placed disc which will wirelessly transfer power to the vehicle when in position, you won't even have to plug it in. The San Francisco Chronicle has a great article on the upcoming technology:

You’re likely to be hearing a lot about Ford’s 2012 Focus Electric this week. Ford is in town with its new electric car, and will be giving test drives to members of the media, “electric auto enthusiasts, stakeholders and curious members of the public for this event.”

The event is set for 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, May 10, at Hermann Square Park, 900 Smith Street – directly in front of City Hall.

Ford reports “the all-electric Focus is capable of fully recharging in three to four hours at home using the available wall-mounted 240-volt charge station – charging in half the time of the Nissan Leaf.”

Plugless power is a new concept of hands-free, wireless charging stations. The Plugless Power by Virginia-based Evatran is a disc you park on the floor of your garage. The disc relays the charge wirelessly and automatically via a receiver mounted to the underside of the vehicle that’s been hard-wired to the EV’s existing on-board charger.

The wireless system does not connect with or affect the external “outlet,” so you can still recharge conventionally, with a cord and plug, at any plug-in charging station. Right now, Plugless Power is available for the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, but is also being expanded to include other models.

Meanwhile, Toyota and Mitsubishi are partnering with Massachusetts-based WiTricity on a different system of wireless recharging. Although this system also requires a device embedded in the vehicle to connect with an energy-transmitter in the parking spot, the two systems differ in how the electric charge is transmitted. This one uses magnetic resonance, not inductive power, and it’s several years from real-time testing.

We can't wait to see the results when this hits the market!

Education Matters

We posted about this a while back but wanted to give it some more focus, as it's quite an achievement for our home town. From the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat:

A regional magazine’s analysis shows a large disparity in test scores among Cambria and Somerset county school districts.

Windber Area topped the area districts, ranking 67th out of 500 in the state. Turkeyfoot Valley Area, at 478th, and Greater Johnstown, at 477th, trailed the local pack.

The Pittsburgh Business Times published the rankings in its April edition, based on three years of Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam scores.

“It shows consistency,” Windber schools Superintendent Rick Huffman said. “It is not just a good group (of students) that comes through. It shows you have a process in place.”

Windber moved up from 83rd on last year’s report and from 118th two years ago.

“We are now in the top 15 percent,” Huffman said. “We are very pleased with that.”

You can read the full story here.

“Go Further” Ad Campaign Begins Tonight!

Tonight, Ford will take a dramatic step out of the box with the launch of a new advertising campaign featuring some of our most exciting vehicles – the Ford Fiesta, Focus ST, 2013 Escape and the all-new 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid.

This also marks the external debut of our new Go Further global brand promise here in North America.

For the first week of this campaign, none of the vehicles featured in the ads will wear the blue Ford oval and there will be no mention of the Ford brand. This unique – and somewhat unconventional – approach is designed to catch the attention of consumers who have perceptions of the Ford brand that don’t match up with the reality of today’s Ford Motor Company.  By running the ads for the first seven days of the campaign without any reference to Ford, we’re confident that the fuel economy, technology and design of our new vehicles will speak for themselves. 

After one week, re-edited versions of these spots will take over and be fully Ford-branded, but look similar in tone and feel to the first set of ads. These will air in a big media push for an additional six weeks.

To read more about this, including Jim Farley’s perspective click here.

Watch for the ads tonight during some of your favorite television programs like House, Smash, Dancing with the Stars and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

And you can go here to see the 60-second version of the unbranded ad…and since changing the perception of our Ford lineup to match reality is so important to growing the business, we ask that you actively share the ads with your family and friends.

Thank you for your support Ford Fans!

One of the Most Fuel-Efficient Crossovers Available

The 2013 Ford Escape is "one of the most fuel-efficient crossovers available," according to the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/sns--2013-ford-escape-gets-33-mpg-highway-scion-f-20120425,0,4298032.story

Ever wonder how cars get designed? Ford shows off the VR they use to test out designs: http://www.buffalonews.com/business/article804923.ece

The 2013 Ford Taurus gets a bit of a makeover just two years after the introduction of this generation of Taurus. For full details, check out the story at Automobile magazine.

NASCAR fans, how do you feel about Penske switching to Ford?

Penske racing team set to switch to Ford cars: http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/7633498/penske-racing-switching-ford-dodge-2013

Road Trip Activities for Kids

 

Going on a road trip this Spring?  Keep the kids calm and happy by trying out a few of these road trip games:

Hunting for Bottled Treasure

Create a self-contained buried treasure game that your kids can do together. In "Bottled Treasure," you fill a 2-liter bottle or other plastic container about three-quarters full with rice or birdseed. Then add a variety of small household objects such as paperclips, buttons, marbles and different colored toy Army men. Be sure to keep track of how many objects you put in and what they are. Most importantly, seal the container tightly so you don't get rice or seed all over your car.

Your kids can then shake the bottle and try to find all of the treasures you "buried" in the bottle. If you've got a long trip ahead of you, they can also guess what the objects are. Once they've found everything on the list, reward them with a treat, like choosing the music for the next hour.

Fun With Maps

Maps are not just essential for knowing where you are on the road; they can also be the source for many great car games. Another plus to using map-based games is that you can teach your children map-reading and geography skills.

Give your children each a map and let them mark it up to help them keep track of where you are in your journey. Let them color, draw on it, highlight your route or use stickers to help them create their own personalized mementos of your road trip. As you pass different towns and landmarks, they can note them on their maps.

Older children can maximize their map-reading skills to figure out how many miles you have left until your next stop, and they can also calculate how long it might take to get there based on your speed.

Counting Cars

When you have younger children who are learning their colors and numbers, your fellow drivers on the highway can provide the perfect opportunity for them to practice. Come up with fun, yet age-appropriate challenges like being the first to find five green cars or 10 semi trucks. Engage older children with guessing how many of a certain type of vehicle you'll see in 10 minutes. Let the winner choose the next DVD or hour of music.

If you're traveling with teens, make the game a bit of a surprise. Have everyone in your family choose a color and when you find 10 vehicles of that color, you have to provide a reward for the family. Whether it's dessert at dinner or a family activity like mini-golf, it's a way to engage older kids who may want hide behind their iPods and cell phones during the trip.

Looking for more ways to keep the kids engaged as you hit the road?  Check out the full article here:  http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/destinations/road-trips/10-noise-free-road-trip-games-for-kids.htm

Reba McEntire will Perform at the War Memorial March 14th

“An Evening With Reba” will bring the reigning queen of country to Johnstown at 7:30 p.m. March 14 at Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St.
War Memorial general manager Michael Silva said McEntire’s show is being made available through a partnership with a local business, McAneny Brothers Inc. of Ebensburg.
“Ticket sales are going really well,” Silva said. “There are a few left to sell, so now is the time.”
McEntire earned her 64th Top 10 hit and her 35th No. 1 song with the lead single, “Turn on the Radio,” from her current album, “All the Women I Am.”
McEntire has sold more than 56 million albums worldwide, taking the lead as the female artist with the most Recording Industry Association of America sales certifications in country music history and more No. 1 albums than any female in the genre. McEntire’s string of No. 1 hits spans four decades and Billboard, Country Aircheck and Mediabase have recognized her as the biggest female hitmaker in country music history.
The multi-platinum recording artist was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and earned an Academy of Country Music Career Achievement honor.
She has won 15 American Music Awards, 13 Academy of Country Music Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, six Country Music Association Awards and two Grammy Awards. McEntire began her musical career in 1974 when she sang the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma. She released her first album in 1977 and as other albums followed, McEntire got her first No. 1 single in 1983 for “Can’t Even Get the Blues.” McEntire’s first honors came in 1984 when she won a CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year and an ACM Award for Top Female Vocalist of the Year.

Read more: http://tribune-democrat.com/events/x290305077/Reigning-queen-of-country-to-play-arena

 

Ticket information:

Tickets: $57, $67, $77, plus facility fee.
Information: 536-5156, (800) 745-3000 , ticketmaster.com or warmemorialarena.com.

DealerConnection Vehicle Showroom (VSR) for Ford and Lincoln Debuts

FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchise dealers,  launched a new web 2.0 platform, based on SiSTeR's Technologies' VSHOC and Publisher platform, DealerConnection Vehicle Showroom (VSR) for its Ford and Lincoln dealers. FordDirect VSR seamlessly integrates with a dealer's digital marketing or social media platform including blogs, Facebook and their YouTube pages so that consumers can search the most current new and used vehicle inventory without clicking out of their original destination.

The service will be available to all 3,500 Ford and Lincoln Dealers that have DealerConnection websites, and offered for no additional charge to dealers that currently have both DealerConnection Elite and DealerConnection Premier Advanced Inventory Service (DCPAIS) web services.

The VSR's unique interactive filtering and keyword search functions provide users with their desired selection in real time. Furthermore, unlike other video inventory tools, VSR switches automatically to an HTML 5.0 version for users who access it via a smart phone or tablet to maximize the users' experience and the dealer's ROI.

DealerConnection VSR maximizes the effectiveness of a dealer's digital marketing and social media platforms and enhances the user experience by offering consumers the ability to not only search for a new vehicle by make, model and price, but can also submit an inquiry directly to the dealer or refer a vehicle to others without ever leaving the digital or social platform. VSR also automatically displays the desired vehicle on the dealer's website for visitors who come from YouTube and, if such a vehicle is sold, lists of similar vehicles are displayed, saving the users from the annoying "search again" issue.

"We are finding that consumers are turning to social media and other digital platforms to initiate their research for a vehicle purchase, so it's important for Dealers to capture their attention with the most current information in an interactive way," said Valerie Fuller, COO of FordDirect. "DealerConnection Vehicle Showroom provides consumers with an enhanced online experience so that they can find the vehicle that they are looking for and be able to connect with a dealer without the hassle of having to visit numerous websites."

A recent study from Autoguide.com states that 2.4 million in-market shoppers used Facebook in some way to make a vehicle purchase decision. In addition, 58 percent of consumers are likely to mention their new car and/or buying experience via social media and 82 percent of mentions about car purchases on social media are positive.

For more information, visit www.forddirect.com/dealercenter .

Five Fords Among the Best for the Money for 2012

Congrats, Ford!

Ford was the best-selling auto brand in the country in 2011, and as a recent study by U.S. News & World Reports shows, there’s a good reason for that kind of performance: Ford also won the most categories in the publication’s recent rankings of the “Best Cars for the Money 2012.”

“The award-winning vehicles have the best combination of praise from car reviewers, lower upfront costs and lower long-term ownership costs than their competition,” according to U.S. News & World Reports. “The winners aren’t just good cars or good values. They’re both.”

And for Ford, those winners were:

Ford Fiesta—The top choice in the Subcompact segment, as well as the highest-rated Hatchback, the Fiesta combines clean good looks, available high-tech features like Ford’s SYNC AppLink, an MSRP that starts at just $13,200, and EPA ratings that finish at 40 mpg highway. The Fiesta is offered in a sedan body style, too.

Ford Fusion—The Fusion beat out 18 other entries to take honors in the Affordable Midsize Car category, which is likely no surprise to the record 248,067 customers who purchased one in 2011. Further, the car’s high value proposition is about to get even higher, with the stunning all-new 2013 Fusion set to debut later this year.

Ford Taurus—The No. 1 Affordable Large Car was the Taurus, recognized for “its good performance, stylish design and excellent cabin electronics”—including its available SYNC in-car connectivity and infotainment system. The Taurus also is a Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Ford Fusion Hybrid—The Best Hybrid Car for the Money was the Fusion Hybrid, which, like its traditionally powered sibling, will get a complete overhaul for the 2013 model year. Not only will this next-gen version boast significantly higher fuel efficiency than the hybrid versions of rivals like the Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata, but it also will debut with a second hybrid powertrain with plug-in capabilities—and a higher miles per gallon equivalency rating than the Toyota Prius Plug-in or the Chevy Volt.

Ford Edge—Now capable of an eye-opening 30 mpg highway, the Edge bested all competition to be named the best Affordable Midsize SUV with Two Rows. The difference-maker? The Ford’s new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, which also enables 21 mpg city and 24 mpg combined, while still mustering a robust 240 hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque.

Read more: http://www.fordinthenews.com/five-fords-among-the-best-for-the-money-for-2012/

Ford takes top honors in Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards

Congratulations, Ford!

Polk has handed out its annual Automotive Loyalty Award for 2011, and Ford walked away with a total of six honors, including two of the highest. The Dearborn-based automaker took home the top nod in both the Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer award as well as the Overall Loyalty to Make award categories. The manufacturer received both awards in 2010 as well. Ford also received the African American Market Loyalty to Make, and the Ford F-Series and Ford Escape brought down wins in the Mid/Full-Size Pickup and Compact SUV categories, respectively. Additionally, the Lincoln MKZ drove away with the Luxury Car category.
Polk prides itself on organizing and distributing the industry's only fact-based owner loyalty award, and the organization analyzes over 4.5 million household records and consumer transactions each year to determine the winners. Polk also examines state registration and lease information.

Read more: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/ford-takes-top-honors-in-polk-automotive-loyalty-awards/

'Augmented-reality' windshields and the future of driving

Imagine a future in which icons flash on your car windshield, hologram style, as your car approaches restaurants, stores, historic landmarks or the homes of friends.

Simply point your hand at them, and the icons open to show real-time information: when that bridge over there was built, what band is playing at that nightclub on the left, whether that new café up the street has any tables available. Wave your hand again, and you've made a restaurant reservation.

Mercedes-Benz showed off this vision of the future of driving -- complete with augmented-reality and gesture-controlled features -- this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

CES is the world's biggest technology trade show, and carmakers are becoming a bigger presence here. Visitors climbed into a little cockpit at the Mercedes booth and took a brief, interactive and virtual ride through nighttime San Francisco -- with the high-tech windshield as a guide.

Cars are becoming platforms to participate in the digital world in a fully networked sense, just like your tablets can and your phones can," said Venkatesh Prasad, a senior technical leader with Ford Motor Co.'s innovation division. "It's our job to take those computing services people are used to at 0 mph and make them available at 70 mph."

"All of our technology is voice-powered," Ford product manager Julius Marchwicki told CNN's sister network HLN. "So instead of fumbling with your phone ... you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road."

Ford this week introduced five new apps for its pioneering Sync hands-free entertainment system, including Roximity, a daily-deals application that provides real-time discounts relevant to a driver's location. Ford is so committed to morphing its vehicles into digital platforms that the company is recruiting developers to create apps for Sync and plans to open a research lab in Silicon Valley this year.

he boldest advancements in automotive tech, however, may be a few years away. All the major car companies are working on systems that would allow vehicles to talk to each other about road conditions, weather and traffic snarls. For example, a car swerving to avoid a tire in the road could send an instant message alerting surrounding vehicles to the hazard.

Ford also is developing technology that takes a more holistic approach to driver safety and welfare. Instead of focusing on preventing collisions, for example, a car could help diabetic drivers by employing wireless sensors to monitor their glucose levels, said Gary Strumolo, Ford manager of vehicle design and infotronics.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/tech/innovation/ces-future-driving/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6

How Detroit Stole the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

For the first time in a very long time, Detroit is the positive center of the Detroit show. And by Detroit I mean Ford, Chrysler and GM showed off the cars that people were talking about. In fact, I didn’t hear a whole lot of non-American cars being discussed at all. Some inside baseball for you: a typical greeting from one auto journalist to another on the show floor goes something like, “So, what do you like?” And a typical answer is listing off your top three favorite cars. During the 2012 North American International Auto Show I asked that question at least a dozen times, and I heard the same answers again and again and again. With one big exception, they were all domestic. Now, it wasn’t all rainbows and homeruns for the Big 3 – the 2013 Buick Encore being a particularly underwhelming effort. By and large however, the Detroit show belonged to Detroit.

2013 Ford Fusion
Like the Dart and the ATS, the new global Ford Fusion is a car that people couldn’t stop talking about. Everywhere I went it was Fusion this, looks tailored that, plug-in hybrid the other. Ford also seemed to have the most square footage of booth space at the show, and almost everywhere you turned or walked, there was a new-look Fusion. Of course, unlike the others, there was a little bit of negative scuttlebutt concerning the new Ford: it looks just like an Aston Martin. Specifically, I think, the little Cygnet. Ford design boss J Mays told us that the new Fusion would borrow heavily from the stunning Evos design concept. And while it does, it really looks British, in a quite specific Aston way.

In the super all important midsize family sedan segment, the Fusion is mondo-distinctive. That’s important because the new Camry looks like the old Camry and shockingly Honda’s new Accord Concept looks JUST LIKE the current Accord. I think new and different is going to be key, but we shall see, we shall see. In the meantime, I think Ford will be basking in the afterglow of the very positive Detroit show Fusion coverage for some time, even if I’m not fully sold.

Lincoln MKZ Concept
I like the MKZ better than I like the Fusion. I feel better now that I have that off my chest. And, at Motor Trend at least, I’m not alone. Executive editor Ron Kiino said the same thing to me as soon as we walked up to the car. It’s just lovely, stylish without being formal, elegant without being stuffy. As to all the naysayers out there crying in their Cheerios because the MKZ Concept isn’t RWD, I have one word for you: Audi. Remember, every car Audi makes save the R8 has front-wheel drive architecture. Doesn’t seem t hurt the four-ringed brand any. The biggest problem for Lincoln has been that the cars look like tarted up Fords. The MKZ doesn’t. More importantly, the whole show was buzzing about the concept, and I counted many more likes than the inevitable and frankly wrongheaded dislikes.

Also, and this will probably make the most sense to other auto journalists but I’m going to say it anyhow because I think it’s important, Lincoln’s booth was inspiring. I attend at least four car shows per year and I always come away most impressed by the booths the Germans build. Sleek, stunning and a little bit intimidating (there’s always a booth babe or two standing behind a podium, checking your credentials), the German carmakers always seem to do it right. But I think Lincoln has just done it better. The Lincoln booth was just as impressive looking as what Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Volkswagen had going on, but it was also warm and inviting. An egalitarian form of luxury, which — let’s face it — is exactly what Lincoln should and needs to be. The brand seems to be at a real crossroads, an actual turning point. Let’s hope I’m not reading the situation wrong.

Read more: http://blogs.motortrend.com/how-detroit-stole-the-2012-detroit-auto-show-20463.html#ixzz1jLbhTbEd

The History of Lincoln Cars

Lincoln and Cadillac had a common founder: the stern, patrician Henry Martyn Leland, "Master of Precision." Leland and his associates formed Cadillac in 1902 from the remains of the Henry Ford Company -- which is why his first Cadillac and the first production Ford, both named Model A, are so similar. William C. Durant bought Cadillac in 1909 for his burgeoning General Motors. Leland, meantime, went off to build Liberty aircraft engines during World War I. Then, with son Wilfred, he returned to the car business by forming Lincoln -- named for the U.S. president, one of his heroes. When this enterprise ran into financial trouble, Leland came full circle by selling out to Henry Ford in 1922.

At first, Ford Motor Company did little to alter or update the Lincoln Model L that Leland had designed around 1920. Powered by a 385-cid V-8 with 90 brake horsepower, it was beautifully built and handsomely furnished. But by 1930 it was an anachronism: unfashionably upright and sluggish next to contemporary Cadillacs, Packards, and Chrysler Imperials.

Then Henry and son Edsel brought forth the 1931 Model K (why they went backward in the alphabet remains a mystery). Its new 145-inch-wheelbase chassis carried a modernized, 120-bhp V-8 that retained "fork-and-blade" rods and three-piece cast-iron block/crankcase assembly, Leland engineering features that let ads dwell lovingly on "precision-built" quality.

The new chassis was massive, with nine-inch-deep side rails and six crossmembers with cruciform bracing. The transmission gained synchromesh on second and third gears. Like the L, the K employed torque-tube drive and a floating rear axle. Other features included worm-and-roller steering, hydraulic shock absorbers by Houdaille, and mechanical brakes by Bendix. Stylewise, a slightly peaked radiator led a far longer hood, punctuated by twin-trumpet horns and bowl-shaped headlamps. The K was also longer, lower, and sleeker than the L, and it offered an improved ride, greater stability and, with its extra power, faster acceleration and higher top speed.

The artistic Edsel Ford transformed Lincoln styling, updating the standard factory-built bodies, and secured a plethora of custom and semicustom styles from the cream of America's coachbuilders, including Brunn, Dietrich, Judkins, LeBaron, Murphy, and Willoughby. The result was some of the finest expressions of Classic-era design and an evolution of the Lincoln Model K. A cautious move toward streamlining began with the 1932 models and was more evident on the '33s, which wore a rakish Vee'd radiator with a chrome grille. Also new that year were hood louvers (replacing shutters), drawn-down "skirted" fenders, Vee'd front bumper, and redesigned trunk racks.

With sales slow in the Depression-ravaged market, Lincoln consolidated for 1934 around a single 414-cid V-12, a bored-out KA unit with the same 150 bhp as the old 448. Differences included aluminum cylinder heads and 6.3:1 compression. The latter was unheard of at the time, but made possible by the advent of 70-octane gasoline, which was nearly as potent as contemporary aviation fuel.

Most 1934 Lincolns could reach 95 mph, helped by the 414's broader rev range compared to the 448. Chassis specs were virtually unchanged, but Murray custom bodies were eliminated and radiators were now lacquered in body color. Smaller headlamps, parking lamps, and color-matched metal spare-tire covers helped clean up appearance. Sedans and limousines also received sloped tails, fairly radical for the day. Like Pierce, Packard, and Stutz, Lincoln was reluctant to abandon the graceful "oh gee" fenders so characteristic of the period -- but it would after 1935.

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/lincoln-cars.htm